Page 8 of Dragon Compelled
“Is a keeper,” I remind him. “And for some reason, this is something only the head librarian can do.” Though, even as I consider it, I honestly believe she’d probably be better at it than I am. Without waiting for him to respond, I look back down at the computer and hit accept, allowing the requestor to send his book for shelving in our mythical creatures section.
My chair is pulled back, and I glare up as Aries lifts me from it and throws me over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” I demand, squirming in his grasp.
“You are eating.”
“Aries! Put me down!”
“If I have to force it down your throat, I will,” he replies as he opens the door and stalks out into the hall.
“I don’t have time to eat.”
“Yes, you do,” he replies firmly and continues walking, not breaking stride as he makes his way up the stairs toward my apartment.
As soon as we’re inside, he sets me down and cages me against the door, both muscled arms pinning me on either side. My pulse hammers as lust overtakes my anger. “I need to work,” I insist, but the words are weak.
And his grin proves it. “You need to eat, my love,” he purrs, leaning in to gently press a kiss to my throat, just above my pulse. “Do you want me to feed you?” he asks. “I could tie you to a chair…slip grapes between those gorgeous lips.”
I swallow hard. I mean, it wouldn’t be the worst thing—“No. I’ll never get any work done then.”
He chuckles and pulls away. “Then come, and I will make you a sandwich.”
I stare up at him, searching for any weakness but finding none. Aries is my rock. My protector.
And if it’ll make him happy to see me eat, then I suppose sparing some time isn’t so bad.
Especially given my current view of a sexy dragon king.
Chapter3
Aries
With arms crossed, I stand before the piles of books stacked in the basement of the library. They don’t make a sound or so much as tremble as we pass. If anyone from the outside of this library were looking at them, they’d think them nothing more than lifeless tomes.
Books containing fictional worlds where you can let your mind wander and not be at risk of losing life or limb.
I know better.
For the last two weeks, I’ve spent my days venturing inside them one at a time in order to hunt for Hoc Novensile. I glance at the stack of those we’ve already searched and groan. It’s not even a quarter of what we have left.
Still, as exhausted as I am, I know that Paige will not rest until he is found. Which means I cannot rest until she is whole again.
My thoughts sour as I think of her mood when she finally came to bed last night. Even now, I can sense her pain though the mate connection between us remains un-solidified. In fact, Paige still has no idea my dragon has chosen her as its mate. But it’s something I can’t even begin to consider bringing up, given everything already on her plate.
Mainly because I know she can’t choose me. Not while her world is in turmoil. Losing her is not an option either; therefore, I don’t allow her to make that choice.
The only time Paige finds peace is wrapped in my arms each night.
If only being in my arms could heal what is hurting her heart. In all my years, I’ve never felt more inadequate than I do right now. Even back home, waiting for a mate I never thought I’d find, I still managed to feel like I could do something. But now? There’s no enemy I can fight. No army I can destroy.
I have to search and hope that I find the one person who can put Paige’s mind at ease.
My dragon snarls at me to take her out of this place, to remove her from the threat, but there is nowhere in the world she can escape the pain of losing her father. I know that better than most. Instead, I remain by her side, committed to her even above my own kingdom.
Wondering about the state of my world, and my family, brings a darkness to my thoughts I try to avoid.
Shoving thoughts of home aside, I study the books we collected from the floor around the site where Hoc disappeared, trying to select the right one for today’s hunting trip. If I choose correctly, maybe we’ll find him. Even better, maybe we’ll find Constantine. The monster who took Paige’s family away from her. My hands tighten into fists at my sides. He deserves to die a very slow death, but if I must choose between delivering torment or bringing Hoc home, I’ll make it quick.
Either way, I’ll relish killing him when the time comes.
