Page 71 of Guardian's Dilemma

“Yes. At least for a while. Just until he’s old enough.”

“He?”

“My greatest treasure, bar one.”

“Who is it?”

“Alfie. He’s such a little innocent. He’s holding all the potential of the Somerville clan in his hands, and he doesn’t even know it. He’ll decide the Somerville fate.”

I told myself not to ask but I had to know. The need burned in my gut like a hot coal. “Who’s your greatest treasure?”

Glimmer shook his head, amused. “You, Kingsley. You’re the greatest treasure I could ever have.”

And fuck if I didn’t swell up with pride at being called Glimmer’s treasure.

“I’ll stay with you,” I promised.

All the remaining tension in Glimmer’s body seeped out. He’d been holding himself tightly for days, worried about that, but he trusted me completely. I’d said I’d stay. He believed me.

And I’d show him that I kept my promises. I didn’t want to admit yet to that tiny piece inside me that was starting to feel a lot like a dragon. The piece of me that thought of Glimmer asmine. What I did know was that it felt natural to make that promise, and that was all that mattered.

Chapter 25: Glimmer

Ishould have expected trouble. I’d finally managed to clear the air with Kingsley, in a way that I hadn’t even considered before, and it made my dragon relax inside me. I hadn’t realised that it had been tense for days, expecting our mate to vanish on us.

It still made me chuckle to remember the expression on his face when I’d told him he was my greatest treasure. He’d looked like he’d never even considered the possibility. I was a bit angry that nobody had treasured my mate before when that was what he deserved. On the other hand, I was mostly glad thatIwas the one who got to do that.

But my progress with my mate meant that something else had to break. And, in this case, it was a summons from Lord Somerville.

I felt the guilt swirling inside my gut all the way up to the castle. I walked, taking the back route so that nobody would see me. I needed time to think.

I had the horrible feeling that this wasn’t going to go well.

As I walked, I turned over all the things it could be, all the reasons why I would be summoned up to the castle. And I couldn’t think of a single one that was good.

By the time I got to Lord Somerville’s office, I still hadn’t worked out what I would do. It was such a strange new feeling for me, this indecisiveness. Before, I’d always known what to do. Protect my treasure. That was it. That was all I’d needed for my dragon to be happy.

Now, though, it… well, it still needed that.

It was just that I’d found Kingsley, too, now. I hadmoretreasure.

I stood outside the office and took a breath. I couldn’t wait too long because they’d have heard me approach and I didn’t want them to think I was afraid, but I needed that breath to calm myself. My heart-rate had sped up and I was annoyed at it. It wasn’t helping me to feel calm.

When I knocked on the door, Lord Somerville’s voice barked out a curt, “Enter,” and I pushed open the door to his office.

The first thing I saw was Rhod, standing beside the large mahogany desk with his trusty clipboard. Only he was clutching the clipboard too tightly, his fingers white.

Lord Somerville was sitting behind his desk. His mouth was drawn into a thin line and his pale silver eyes were like chips of ice.

“You have left the territory.”

It was an accusation and I stood there, silently. There was nothing I could say to defend myself. Ihadleft the territory.

And, as I faced the consequences of that, a wave of guilt rose inside me. I had been pushing it aside for days – eleven days to be exact – but I had known all along that leaving the territory was wrong. I just hadn’t been able to stop myself from doing it. Just as I hadn’t been able to stop myself from returning when I’d been curled around my mate in bed and my dragon had nudged at me to go, check on my treasure, guard the territory.

I shouldn’t have left.

Lord Somerville waited a second, realised I wouldn’t deny it, and his eyes became, if possible, colder. The air in the room turned frosty, pressing against my skin.

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