Page 34 of Under the Dragon's Spell
"You said he was human." And I'd immediately felt at least a little sympathetic. Living as human among dragons couldn't always be easy. I knew the same fate awaited me when I had Tyrel's child, but I pushed that thought out of my mind. I could handle it.
"He was," Tyrel said. "A weak little human."
"Has he died?" I asked, noting his constant use of the past tense.
Tyrel shook his head. "He hasn't. But I haven't seen him in the past ten years, so he might as well have. My mother and he…" He paused, as if he wasn't quite sure what he'd wanted to say. "Theirs wasn't a good relationship," he finished. "I don't know why she wants me to mate a human, considering how little luck she's had of it herself."
"Did they have problems because she was a dragon and he a human?"
Tyrel seemed to consider this. "I don't know if that was all of it, but in part, yes. You have seen my mother. She has a certain rather controlling personality streak."
Which you might just have inherited.
"Did she use magic on your father?"
Tyrel cringed. Looked like I had hit the nail on the head.
"She might have, but…" He sighed. "I really can't blame it all on her."
A feeling of dread settled in the pit of my stomach as I realized what had likely happened. "Did you?" I made myself ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
For a long time, he said nothing. Then, "I wasn't very good at controlling it."
His words broke my heart. Not just what he said, but how he said it. The moment he uttered his confession, his rich guy, powerful dragon attitude was gone, and when I looked into his eyes, I felt like I could see his soul. And what I saw was a child who hadn't wanted to hurt anyone.
But then he tore his gaze away and the moment was broken.
"My mother used to boss him around, yes, didn't treat him much like an equal partner the way you say you want to be treated… She might believe that's the reason he left. But I know it was me he was truly afraid of."
Part of me, a big part of me, wanted to hate Tyrel's father for making him feel that way, but another part of me realized that Tyrel's power was something to be afraid of indeed. I wasn't sure why I wasn't more afraid of it. It scared me, yes, but it was like I just didn't care because it also turned me on, and apparently, my body was now groin-controlled.
"Could he feel your magic? I mean, was he aware of it when you used it on him?"
Tyrel narrowed his eyes, as if thinking hard. "I want to say no, but he must have been, somehow. He knew it was me. One night, he took my brother and ran."
"Because your brother doesn't have powers?"
Tyrel nodded. "That's what I assume. He's a dragon, but he can't do the mind control trick."
"What else can a dragon do?"
Tyrel smiled, and then he breathed fire. It was only a small flame that shot out of his mouth into the night air, but it still made me open my mouth wide in surprise as I felt the sudden heat spike.
"I thought you had to be shifted for that."
His smile grew wider. "Weak dragons have to be."
"Can you shift?" I asked, hopeful. His dragon form had to be stunning.
He shook his head. "You know I'm not allowed. Believe me, I want to, but apparently large flying fire-breathing creatures scare humans."
"You wouldn't scare me."
"No, but you're different."
"I guess…" Because I had this power. Because maybe I was his fated mate or something. I wondered whether his father had been like that for his mother. Whether that was why he'd been aware of his son's magic.
"I'll make you a promise," Tyrel said.
