Page 46 of The Black Dragon
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Three nightswith Justin as her lover. Ariel never imagined making love could be so passionate andglorious.
Or so heartbreaking, for she knew their contract had ended. Three days after it began, she was free to leave. So washe.
She didn’t want lose him. The blackdragon had instilled in her a sense of adventure and confidence she’d longed for all herlife.
Maybe they could find a new life together some place. Maybe if she showed him the Mage community where she and Leo once frequented before her mother died, he’d grow to likeit.
Ariel knew she could never fit into the world of dragons. They could never accept her, not after Leo’s cruelties.Dragons had long memories. They did not forgive easily, from what she’d read ofthem.
Neither didJustin.
The morning after their third night together, Justin made her breakfast of oatmeal with the fresh strawberries she loved. They ate on the terrace, sayinglittle.
Finally Ariel pushed away her half-eaten oatmeal. “I don’t want you toleave.”
Surprise flared in hisdark gaze. He sipped his coffee. “I can’t stayhere.”
The sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach surely wasn’t caused by oatmeal. She toyed with her spoon. “I suppose we should have this conversation about what youplan.”
Up until now, her vacation from reality had been pure bliss, the nights spent tangling in passion with Justin, dreaming of a future with him. Why did the sunhave torise?
“Everything we spelled out in the contract,Ariel.”
Ariel. Not the endearments he’d been using. She sensed him distancing himself, which hurt. Last night she felt they’d grown so close to each other. Had it only been the passion, and now, in the light of day, he’d grownpragmatic?
“I read it. You’ll allow me to live here, rent-free. But it’s yourhome.”
Justin turned to stare at the distant red cliffs. “I don’t have a home. Except for the open sky. I’m a tumbleweed, little bird. I go where the wind blowsme.”
The quiet tone in his voice gave her pause. The fact that he was allowing her to stay, rent-free, was no shock. The fact he didn’t feel at home anywhere was a hugeone.
“I don’t know if I can stay here any longer.” She lookedstraight at him. “Not if it means going back to my old life withoutyou.”
For a minute she saw interest flicker in his dark eyes. Then his expression turned remote and distant oncemore.
“We both have decisions to make. I have to get into that cave of dragons before I go. As for you, I know you can make it on your own, Ariel. You don’t need your father or anyoneelse.”
Ifthis was a pep talk, it failed, because she sensed the veiled intent behind it. He wasn’t exactly inviting her to joinhim.
“Where will you go?” She felt proud of the steadiness in her voice, though her insides feltshaky.
“I don’t know yet. Haven’t decidedwhere.”
She had to keep him here. Because as soon as Justin left, he’d take the light with him. She’d be plunged intothe darkness of safe and comfortable oncemore.
Having experienced love, and life, Ariel had no wish to let it slip through her fingers. Once Dell, her father’s assistant, called dragonsbeasts.
He’s mybeast.
Ariel decided to take a leap of faith. “Why don’t you come with me on a road trip before you make up yourmind?”
At the Mage community, Justin could share thestory of the dragon cave. The older Mages, like Vern, might have a clue on how to deal with the creature guarding the caveentrance.
She had to tread cautiously first, and introduce Justin to the community. Let them get to know him, and what a good man he was. Not the dangerous dragon her father had warned themabout.
He set down the cup. “Road trip? You don’t want to fly with me,sweetheart?”
