Page 13 of Sanctuary with a Dragon
When the meal prep was finished and our chicken and vegetable bake was sizzling on the stovetop, Alaric sat down with me at the kitchen table, his expression serious.
“Everly, the letter your Gran wrote didn’t explainmuch about the paranormal world, and yet you found your way here. Did you feel called to come?”
I bobbed my head.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Again, I wondered what color it was. Brown? Blonde? It could even be gray for all I knew. “There’s a lot to get into, but I don’t want to overwhelm you.” He met my gaze. “Let me know if I do, okay?”
I bobbed my head again. I could do that, but I wanted information more than comfort, so I probably wouldn’t say anything, even if I was overwhelmed.
He nodded, his shoulders easing, as though my promise mattered to him on some deep level. When his eyes found mine again, I instinctively braced myself.
“In our world, I’m what’s called a mythological shifter. Dragons, phoenixes, unicorns, and a few others fall into this category. Then there are regular shifters like you and others—wolves, bears, tigers, lions, etc. Are you with me so far?”
I blinked at him in shock. I was right. I knew before he said another word that he was a dragon. A real, fire-breathing, foot-stomping, princess-saving? dragon.
While I was busy cursing my Gran under my breath, Alaric continued to explain.
“I’m a dragon.”
I knew, but still, my bird legs grew wobbly, and I had to sit down before I fell down.
I’d been called to a dragon for help. I was trying to wrap my brain around that thought when Alaric got upfrom his chair and came around the table. He crouched close to where I was still doing bird yoga.
“Everly,” he said gently. “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”
His voice was so soft and kind that I poked my head up again and looked at him. He was less than a foot away, and I could see it now. I wasn’t sure at first, seeing it in raven wackovision, but I could see the fire backlighting his eyes when he was emotional.
Like right now.
And those deep reds in his body that moved through him like blood? I’d bet that was his dragon fire. Even from a foot away, he radiated heat.
My heart trembled. I was not cut out for adventures. I wanted a refund on this life experience.
And yet… hadn’t I flown for days, navigating only by the feel of his call? I’d been out in a whiteout. I’d clung to a tree for survival. I’d even fought off a peregrine falcon! Nasty little bully that he was. I wasn’t a child anymore, and if I’d learned anything from my failing health, it was that I could do hard, scary things.
Alaric clenched his hands, like he wanted to touch me but was holding himself back. At his somewhat devastated expression, I softened. Dragon he might be, but he was gentle. I hopped closer to him and nuzzled his hands with my head.
He sighed in relief, and a small smile lit his eyes with warmth. He returned to his chair, giving me space—which I appreciated.
“The rest is… difficult for me to talk about,” he said quietly. “A few years ago, I became sick. My dragon and I lost mental contact then, and we also lost the ability to shift.” He laced his fingers together on the table, his expression tight with pain. “The disease also comes with some emotional and mental struggles, mostly anxiety.”
I warbled sadly. Anxiety was the worst.
His face softened. He seemed to understand my sounds surprisingly well. “The good news is that we’re getting better. I’m hoping he and I will be able to speak to each other within a day or so. We’ve been able to communicate via emotions fairly clearly, but it will be good to actually talk again.”
I bet. It would be awful to suddenly have a friend—or your other half—go silent. And they’d been dealing with this for how long? Years?
I trilled in sadness and settled my legs beneath me, fluffing my feathers.
Alaric continued, “It’s been his emotions, actually, that have guided me with you. He can hear your thoughts.”
I startled. Really? Then smiled.Hi, Alaric’s dragon.
Alaric laughed, his expression lightening. “He just startled. Did you try communicating with him?”
I nodded, grinning—probably looking like a maniacal bird—and Alaric laughed again. “I think you surprised him. I wonder if he expected you to be put off by his being able to read your thoughts.”
I settled further into my fluff. Good to know I could surprise a dragon.
