Page 53 of Guardian's Dilemma

Those vials of blood shattered and burned. I forced the flames into a narrow arc, burning and burning them. I wanted all traces of them gone. Not a drop left.

When I was sure, I backed out of the store room and sent a final burst of flame in. Kingsley had been working by the door, splashing solvent around, and it caught easily and spread to the rest.

“Come on,” he said, and set off. I followed. And, it was a strange thing to pause and take note of, but I realised Kingsley had picked up my clothes and was holding them in a little bundle. I was used to picking up the bundle in my claws, if I wanted to take my clothes with me, but he’d thought of it first.

Dragons couldn’t smile in our dragon form, but I gave it a really good go.

Getting out was a matter of timing. Kingsley led us out the back, away from the main training grounds where the rest of theridirewere meant to gather in the event of a fire alarm. Behind us, the fire blazed and I hoped it would cause enough of a distraction for us to get out.

We’d already had the discussion about flying. Kingsley hadn’t wanted to fly on my back, I’d insisted I wasn’t leaving without him right there with me, and Douglas had ended the argument by saying, “You’ll fly, Kingsley, or we’ll arrest you and you’ll be tried by the Council.”

The way he’d said it made me think it was a death sentence.

I wasn’t going anywhere without my mate on my back.

Once it was decided, though, Kingsley was practical. He moved with a surety and grace that made me want to sit back and just admire him, like a work of art.

As soon as we were outside, shielded from view of the courtyard by the long, low kitchens, I pressed my belly to the ground, trying to get as low as possible, and Kingsley barely hesitated before placing one warm hand on my neck and then swinging his leg over my shoulders and straddling me. His weight felt solid and reassuring against my scales and I stood up again, testing his balance. He held firm.

“Hurry, Glimmer.”

I spread my wings and beat them, rising up. With powerful thrusts, I rose quickly and swooped over the heads of theridirebelow. There was a shout and I got the impression of wide-eyed surprise, and then I felt the first sting of spells strike me.

I didn’t have any corners to stick to up here, in the open sky, so my own power was weak, but Kingsley brushed his hands over my sides and I felt the defensive magic he was working. For me. Protecting me.

I’d felt that before, when Seren had layered his protections all over me. That was really the only time I’d felt it, though. Felt… treasured. Normally, I was the one doing the protecting. That was my duty. Only Seren ever thought to protect me in turn.

And now Kingsley.

I beat my wings as hard as I could, propelling us through the sky as quickly as possible, afraid that a stray arrow of a spell would catch my mate, but I felt only a few grazes, heard the shouts and curses, and then we were away.

My mate stayed silent. He thought he was keeping his secrets but he wasn’t. I could smell him, sitting on my back, reeking of sorrow and frustration and fear.

I flew for ten minutes and covered miles before I felt it was safe to land. He leapt from my back, landing on his feet, and left my clothes pointedly in a neat pile. I ignored them.

He had his back to me. Still trying to keep his secrets. But that wasn’t going to wash any longer.

I shifted and walked up to Kingsley, putting my hand on his shoulder.

“Get dressed,” he said. His voice was thick.

“That was a lot.”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

Damn. I’d shot myself in the foot there. I couldn’t make him talk.

I stood there, keeping my hand on his shoulder, and he let me. He was letting me touch him and it wasn’t much comfort but it was something I could give him.

“They don’t deserve you,” I said at last.

“Excuse me?” He turned and my keen eyes saw the traces of salt on his cheeks and the lingering pinkness around his eyes, though he could probably fool anyone else.

“They don’t deserve you. You’re loyal and brave and skilled. They betrayed you by lying and by using blood magic; you couldn’t stay to be one of them now, whether you’re my mate or not.”

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