Page 21 of Charming the Dragon
Although try as hard as she could, her feet wouldn’t move.
The dragonman walked over and put out a hand. “We’ll find a way out, I promise.”
She searched his eyes. While it was a sort of platitude, the fact he was trying to help her pushed down some of her anxiety. Placing her hand in his, he squeezed gently, and more tension left her body. “Okay.”
“Right, then let’s start searching.”
And so they headed for one of the doors.
Chapter Six
Nathan could tell they weren’t the first to ever trigger the revolving fireplace because of the lack of dust and new-ish candles and matches. However, the more important question was who’d known about this secret set of rooms—had it been friend or foe? The latter could mean booby traps or danger in general.
Before he could run through who it might be, he noticed Hayley. From her tense posture, quick breaths, and eyes darting around the room like a trapped animal, he guessed she didn’t like enclosed spaces.
His dragon spoke up.Then help her.
I was about to.
Then stop stalling.
Nathan moved closer to the human and offered his hand. Once she took it with a weak smile, a jolt shot through his body.
Not wanting to think about why he’d reacted that way, he focused on Hayley again. Once he squeezed her hand in reassurance, he stated, “We’ll find a way out, I promise.”
She searched his face and said, “Okay.”
He didn’t like her uncertain tone, so he squeezed her hand again and felt her relax a little more. “Right, then let’s start searching.”
She merely nodded, and he continued to squeeze her hand every so often as they walked. For some reason, he wanted to help ease her fears and make her forget where they were.
His dragon said,You can try and say it’s for her. But every time after the first was because you wanted to.
What are you talking about?
Her soft and small, yet strong hand fits perfectly in ours. Not to mention you felt the tingle as soon as our skin touched hers.
He had. But Nathan still tried to ignore it.
His dragon said,But for how long? You should kiss her.
No. Not going to happen. Now, shut it whilst I try to find a way out.
His beast sniffed and fell silent. Probably because Hayley’s anxiety had upset him as much as Nathan.
Another huge red flag about something he refused to think about.
Focus.They reached the closest door, and he offered the candelabra to Hayley. “Take it for a second.”
As soon as she did, he twisted the handle, and it opened. Inside was another room, but one that looked more like a storage closet of some sort. He reached for the candles. “Give it here.”
Hayley handed it back and asked, “Are those tins of food and jugs of water?”
They moved further inside and he lifted the light. “I think so. Some of it looks like the Protector rations we use for assignments. Kind of like military survival food.”
“But why would that kind of stuff be stored here in such an out-of-the-way place? Plus, you’re a Protector, so if they kept it stocked on purpose, wouldn’t they have told you?”
“Maybe, maybe not. Kai is the only one who knows every secret inside Stonefire. Although why he’d maintain a secret bunker and not tell the other Protectors, I have no idea.”
