Page 21 of Dragons & Dumplings
“I amperfectlyfine. You told me to always keep my armor on, remember?!” I gentled my tone at the look on his face.
Yuri stared at me for a long moment, before he threw back his head and laughed. It was a rusty sort of sound, as if it had been ages since it had last been startled out of him. I watched him, agape.
Once the laughter became low chuckles, Yuri removed his outer blazer and draped it around me. “I’m glad you remembered.”
“That makes two of us.” I drew the fabric closer, surprised by the warmth it contained.
He sobered, apologetic eyes meeting mine. “And I’m sorry for not taking your concern seriously. I should have.”
“It’s alright.”
“No, it’snot,”he growled, running a hand through his hair. He began to pace, three steps right and three steps left. “I, of all people, should have known better.”
“What if you hadn’t—” The temperature around him dropped, snowflakes forming on his eyelashes and drifting down to the sand. His movements became more agitated, sharper and more precise, with every pass.
His breathing sounded rough, and I could hear his heartbeat picking up.
Was he having a panic attack?
Was that how he had recognized it in me? Why he had been so quick to act?
If that was the case, then hopefully, I could distract him the same way he had distracted me.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed his face and kissed him. His slitted eyes went wide, before his pupils dilated so far they nearly eclipsed his blue irises. He closed them and wrapped his arms around me, melting into my touch.
Everything else faded into the background, as his lips on mine became the focal point of my world. And based on the way he pulled me close, I was hopeful it was the same for him, too.
He swept his lips against mine, seeking entry. I granted it, and nearly gasped as our magics collided. Frost shivered along my scales and steam flushed his almost pink.
When we finally broke apart, he pressed his forehead to mine. Our breaths mingled in the space between us, mixing magic I never thought could be mixed.
“Feeling better?” I asked, mimicking what he had once said to me.
He smiled. “Much better.”
I wanted to stay like this, and pretend the Feast, the diner, and all of my problems didn’t exist.
But ignoring my problems or running away from them would only transform a problematic snake into a raging dragon.
“Did you find any traces of Glacius before I triggered the trap?” I asked reluctantly.
“Not yet.” Though Yuri moved back a step, he laced his fingers through mine.
“Maybe I should wait outside the cave while you search, just in case that wasn’t the only trap.” I kicked at a few of the wooden bolts—or stakes—at my feet. Had I been a vampire, getting one of these straight to the heart would have done me in.
He scowled. “What if I covered you in a thin layer of my frost magic? Then any remaining traps would perceive you as an ice dragon.”
I hesitated. Too much magic of an opposing element could harm the fiery core of my magic. Did I trust Yuri to only use a little, and to promptly remove it after we left? As I gazed into his solemn eyes, I knew my answer.
“Only if it’s extra thin,” I agreed.
He brought my hand to his lips. Frost magic whispered over my skin from the point of contact, rapidly expanding until it covered me completely. I shivered. Was this what it felt like to be cold? To my utter surprise, I found I didn’t entirely hate the sensation.
“There, that should do it.” Yuri lowered my hand, but kept a gentle grip on it. “Now, shall we explore a little?”
I nodded, and Yuri led the way deeper into the cave. I doubted he needed to hold my hand to keep the layer of frost active, but I was happy when he didn’t let go.
The cave itself smelled strongly of the briny sea, and the soft sand beneath our feet soon gave way to pebbles. Sea glass glinted in the gaps. Perhaps that was what had attracted Glacius’ interest in the first place.
