Page 20 of Dragon Compelled
She grins and pulls away. After sitting back down, she takes a sip of her wine. But as soon as she pulls the glass away, I see that her smile has faded. “I’m sorry I’ve been so distant lately.”
I cross to where she sits, taking a seat beside her and brushing my thumb over her cheek. “Don’t apologize. You’re under so much stress. I only want to keep you safe and well.”
She sighs. “I am lucky to have you.”
“I am the lucky one,” I tell her. “And everything will be okay. We’ll figure this out.”
“Aries... I have to say it because I feel like an asshole if I don’t.”
“What is it?”
“I have to be here because I’ve been chosen and because Hoc needs me, but you could go home—”
“Absolutely not.”
“—and check on your world, at least. Make sure your people are safe. I could release you from the library’s employment, and Mag could open a portal to your book—”
“Paige.” I grip both of her hands in mine and look her in the eye. “Listen to me because I don’t want you to doubt this ever again: Youaremy home, and I will never, ever leave you alone.”
“But your family—”
“Will understand. And when I do finally return home, it will be with you by my side. You’re mine, Paige. And I’m yours—forever.”
“Thank you, Aries.” Her shoulders sag, and she smiles though there’s a sadness in it that makes me wonder if she truly believes we’ll ever be able to leave this place behind. “You’re my home too.”
I pull her into my lap and breathe in the scent of her, letting it soothe my senses. She melts against me, content to sit in silence, doing nothing. It’s another sign she’s more stressed than usual, especially since she hasn’t brought up work or how behind she is in her tasks once since I carried her up here.
Before Hoc was taken, Paige had agreed to return to my world with me—for good. But since Hoc vanished, she hasn’t once asked me about my promise to take her home with me. I tell myself it’s her stress that has her distracted. That bringing it up would only add to her current problems, not make her feel better. But really, I know it’s because I can’t bear the thought of hearing her answer.
So, I close my eyes and remind myself, not for the first time in the last few weeks, that maybe it’s better not to ask the question…yet.
Chapter6
Paige
Alight knock sounds on the door seconds before it opens and Oliver steps in, a wide smile on his face. He’s handsome, but I don’t react to him the same way I do with Aries. With my dragon, it’s a bone-deep connection. One that reaches all the way to my soul and makes my heart beat only for him.
With Oliver, I feel nothing but distrust given that he’s new and his partner is determined to see me fail.
“Morning, Paige,” he greets.
“Morning.” I push up from my chair. “Are you ready to get started?”
“In a minute.” He takes a step closer. “I want to get to know you, first. That way, we’re on the same page.” He grins, clearly waiting for me to acknowledge the play on my name.
“Do you not have access to our files?” I ask, unwilling to concede a friendship just yet, which I can clearly see he’s aiming for. “Or the memories of your predecessor?”
“Sure. But my predecessor never met you personally, and files don’t tell us much about the actual person. Your connection with this library is more than a file, Paige. It’s personal. When you take over as head librarian, you become a piece of this place.” He crosses over to me and takes my arm. Then, he runs his thumb over the tattoo that appeared when the library chose me.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs, staring dazedly at the inked design.
I shiver at Oliver’s touch, unease churning in my stomach.
“If we’re going to work together, I’d like to know something about the person behind the title.” His thumb rests over my hammering pulse, and based on his smile, he clearly thinks it’s my reaction to him rather than my own fear about answering his questions.
I pull my hand away as the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. No one outside of this library knows I came from a book whose world was destroyed in the process. That I am the thing that this very library is here to keep contained. “What do you want to know?”
“Where did you grow up?”
