Page 27 of Dragon Compelled
She offers a half-smile. “Show me.”
I uncover the dish in the center of the table to reveal the main course.
“Spaghetti and meatballs?” Her eyes light up. “You clearly know the way to my heart.”
“I remember you telling me it was one of your favorites.”
“And you’re a good listener.” She presses a quick kiss to my lips. “How did I get so lucky?”
“No, darling,” I tell her, catching her chin with my hand so she can’t escape just yet. “I’m the lucky one.”
I kiss her again, just deeply enough for her to know she’s dessert when we’re finished here.
* * *
I lieawake in the darkness of our bedroom, listening as Paige’s breath slows to a steady rhythm. Checking to see if she’s truly asleep, I glance over at her, and for a moment, I’m completely caught up in her angelic beauty. Her dark hair is splayed across her pillow, nearly glowing in the moonlight coming in through the window. She looks more peaceful now than she has been in weeks, which only makes me more determined in my mission.
Climbing out of bed, I pad silently across the room, grabbing the pair of pants and the shirt from the floor where I tossed them earlier. I dress in the living room, not bothering with lights as I shove my feet into my boots and lace them up.
When I’m done, I let myself out of the apartment and take the elevator down to the library’s main floor. According to the posted schedule in Paige’s office, Blossom is on duty tonight, which means somewhere in these stacks is a unicorn with the answers I need to protect Paige from whatever threatened her earlier.
Winding my way through the stacks, I strain to hear some sound that will help me find the unicorn shifter. The library is massive, and with only one keeper to watch over it at night, she could be anywhere.
After several rows of shelves yielding no sign of her, I catch the sound of low voices coming from the far end near the folklore section. One is female and sharp—clearly Blossom, but the other is a male, his voice low enough that I can’t quite identify him.
My senses go on alert immediately, and I hurry forward, trying not to imagine Constantine doing to Blossom what he did to Hoc. But when I get closer, I realize it’s Mag, the gargoyle, speaking with the unicorn, and neither one sounds particularly happy right now.
“...not what you think,” Mag says. “I told you, they enthralled me.”
“I bet they did,” Blossom says. “You’re so fucking predictable, you know that?”
“And you’re paranoid.”
“What did you call me?” Blossom demands.
I wince because their arguments are nothing new, but this one seems particularly charged.
“Have you not been paying attention at all?” Mag retorts, and I decide to cut him off before he can say something that will result in Blossom removing his tongue from his mouth.
“Good evening,” I say as I step around the corner and into view.
Blossom whirls, eyes blazing, which isn’t unusual when she’s interacting with Mag, but just in case, I keep my distance. “What the hell are you doing here?” she demands.
“I came to speak to you,” I say, “unless now’s a bad time.”
Blossom frowns but shakes her head. “Not at all. What can I do for you?”
“Wait,” Mag says, stepping forward. “First, tell her I wasn’t flirting with those sirens, man. You saw it. They used their powers on us.”
“On you,” I correct.
“What?” he demands.
“They used their power on you,” I tell him. “I’m immune.”
He looks at Blossom. “See? I told you!”
She rolls her eyes but otherwise ignores him. “What’s up, Aries? Is Paige okay?”
