Page 73 of Dragon Unleashed
“Listen, Aries—” I look up and stop in my tracks as horror and shock war in my stomach in a swirling frenzy.
Hoc stands in my living room beside Aries, a glass baking dish in his hand. He’s left his robe behind for once and is instead dressed in khakis and a button-up, which is pretty much his most casual and normal look. But that’s where the normalness ends. Because his lips are quirked in a strange smile, his brow arched. And the fact that he’s standing here beside my new dragon booty call is the most un-normal thing I’ve ever seen.
Shitballs.
“Paige.” He is only a foot taller than my dragon, which is impressive given he’s basically a giant. But right now, I can’t be bothered with that fun fact. Not when panic is making me wish Aries would douse me in fire so I could incinerate myself right where I stand. I seriously consider throwing myself into the mysterious stalker passageway in my closet and never coming out again.
When I finally manage to utter real words, what comes out is, “Shit.”
Hoc turns to Aries and chuckles. “Humorous, right?”
Aries snorts. “It was.”
I glare at him because he’s showing no signs at all of worrying about his inevitable death-by-father-figure even though he should be, and then I turn back to Hoc. “I can explain. Hoc, this is—this is my—Aries this is Hoc.”
Without waiting for an answer, I move into the kitchen and grab a glass. Then I open a bottle of wine and fill my cup to the brim.
“We’ve met,” Hoc says as he sets the glass dish on my counter. “What I’m more curious about is why you felt the need to hide him from me. I know you’re a grown woman, Paige. You could have been open with me about your new friend.”
“Ugh.” The suggestive way he says ‘friend’ makes me cringe. Over Hoc’s shoulder, Aries makes a face like he’s trying to pretend he’s not enjoying this, which only makes it all worse.
I lean closer to Hoc and whisper, “Can we not have the birds and bees conversation?”
Hoc grins. “Wasn’t planning on it.” He removes the foil covering his infamous wildebeest casserole, and my stomach grumbles traitorously. “Good thing I made plenty. Come on, let’s eat.” He shoots me a knowing look and gestures to my glass of wine. “Drink up, darling. You’ll feel better.”
Aries actually snorts at that.
“Do not say a word,” I warn him, moving aside when Hoc returns with a serving spoon and goes to work, dishing up the food.
Thankfully, dinner is less murdery than I expect. Aries compliments Hoc on the meal and then the two of them share a friendly conversation about baseball. Which, thanks to his new TV obsession, Aries is able to discuss without alluding to the fact that he’d literally never seen it before a few days ago.
Not once does Hoc ask Aries where he’s from or how we met. But neither does he seem suspicious about those things either. By the time we’re finished, I’ve convinced myself that just maybe we’ve gotten away with this. And for some reason, that thought is what pushes me over the edge. Maybe it’s insanity and I’ve finally snapped, or maybe I’m desperate to have Hoc on my side again so he can give me answers, but either way, I can’t let this lie go on.
“I’ll handle clean up,” Aries offers as he stands and gathers our plates. I don’t argue or insist on helping because having a few moments alone with Hoc is what I need to alleviate this weight on my chest.
He’salwaysbeen there for me.
And I’ve repaid him by lying.
“I need to tell you something,” I say when we’re alone in the living room.
Hoc turns to me. “I rather like Aries. He seems quite fond of you, too.”
“Yeah. He’s great. Seriously, Hoc. I need to talk to you.”
“And I, you,” he replies. Before I can launch into the whole fucked up story, he pins me with an arched brow and a knowing gleam in his eye. “Paige, do you honestly believe anything happens in this library that I don’t know about?”
I sit back as if his words are a physical blow. And honestly, they might as well be. My stomach fills with rocks, a pit of dread ready to swallow me whole.
“I know that you released Aries from one of the books,” he says softly, keeping his voice low.
I gape at him, too far gone to think about denying it. “What? How?”
Hoc smiles. “My dear daughter, I felt the shift in magic the moment it happened.” Shit. Of course he did. He’s the head librarian, and this damned place is like a living, breathing stalker. Ugh. “Why did you not come to me?” he adds.
“Are you actually asking me that?” I scoff. “You would have killed him.”
Hoc’s expression shifts to one of guilt. “Is that what you truly think of me?”
