Page 48 of The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas
Avery glanced around his room, suddenly feeling very small. Uncertainty rippled through his body. “And that is bad?”
He’d wanted Jack to like his home. He’d wanted Jack to like him. He’d wanted to impress the man. And Jack thought him to be what? Too rich and wealthy?
Avery had always had money. In fact, his father had warned him when he befriended the butler that people would try to get close to him for his money. That people would use him. Turned out his money did the opposite with Jack. It made him dislike Avery. It kept Jack away.
“I don’t understand.” Avery’s brows furrowed. “You don’t like me because of my money?”
Jack looked away. “I don’t dislike you. But it just makes us too different. I share a room with my brother. My family’s apartment, which held ten of us before Ordelia moved out, could fit in this one room. And it held twelve before my parents died.” Jack’s brown eyes bored into Avery, his tone intense. “I couldn’teven get a job in a house like yours. I’m too coarse and rough. I don’t belong here.”
Avery opened his mouth to protest. He wasn’t looking for a servant. He wanted Jack to be his mate.
Jack rubbed a hand at his hair. “The first time I came here, I worried about sullying and dirtying your house. When I broke the vase, I felt wretched because I knew I couldn’t afford to replace it.”
“I didn’t want a new vase,” Avery said softly. “I just wanted you. I just wanted you relaxed in my home. It made me so sad how uncomfortable you were. Then you ran off.” He stared down at his hands, pain spiking inside him.
“I kept wondering what I’d done wrong. I never wanted you to feel bad in my home. I don’t care if you damage or dirty things.” Avery sagged. “And I thought we were having a nice time together tonight. Don’t you like my library?” A whine started in Avery’s chest. He suppressed it.Dragons don’t whine.
“I do like your library,” Jack said softly. He reached out and touched Avery’s wrist. “I’ve really enjoyed spending tonight with you.” He smiled.
Avery perked up. “You have?”
“I do. But…” Jack closed his eyes. “It’s hard to explain.” He exhaled heavily. “When my parents died, I was only fifteen. My brother was seventeen, and we were the eldest of the ten siblings. So we took charge. It was shit. Really shit.” Jack swallowed. The muscles in his throat tightened.
“We had to scrimp, save, and count every penny. We worked hard. We worried about money constantly,” Jack said, voice strained. “There often wasn’t enough food or clothes or anything. Grady and I often went without. Grady and I both got jobs working at night after the bakery closed each day. We barely slept. We barely ate.” His jaw ticked. “It was a horrible time.”
“I’m so sorry, Jack.” It hurt Avery to think of a young Jack, grieving and having to struggle to get by. He wished he had the power to go back in time and help him.
“When I see all this, all I can think of is how different it is to the world I know.” Jack looked around the room. “And when I see all you have and how you spend money, it’s hard for me to comprehend. It’s hard for me not to be reminded of how absolutely horrible it was for us back then.”
“No one helped you?”
“We asked my uncle and aunt for help after my parents died,” Jack said, voice bitter. “They’re servants, but they work in a good part of the city. Like this area.” He hugged himself. “But probably less nice and rich. They sneered and mocked us, said we looked like beggars in rags. Then they slammed the door in our faces.”
Red blurred Avery’s vision. Anger pumped steadily through his veins. He straightened.
He would find them, this aunt and uncle who’d turned Jack away when he was in need. He’d find this supposed family and teach them not to harm his Jack. “Where do they live?”
“Avery?” Jack sat up straight. “Your eyes!”
“They should have helped you,” Avery growled. “You needed them. They should have looked after you. I would have looked after you. I would have protected and cared for you.” The air trembled as Avery reached out and placed a hand that did not look very human on Jack’s cheek. “I would keep you safe always.”
Avery could feel that he was on the verge of shifting.
Jack’s mouth fell open, gaze snapping over Avery’s face. He looked wary. Nervous.
Avery didn’t want that.
Closing his eyes, he dropped his clawed hand and took a deep breath. He tried to release the rage that burned inside him. He breathed in and out.
Calm. I need to calm myself.
He kept breathing steadily. After a few moments, his claws shifted back. The anger ebbed away.
“Sorry.” Avery’s voice had returned to normal. “When I feel strongly, sometimes my dragon comes out.”
Jack nodded, eyes wide.
Avery cleared his throat. “But they should have helped you.”
