Page 10 of Dragons & Dumplings
Instantly, ice-cold relief poured into me, banking my internal fire like a candle flame under a waterfall. His wintery magic traveled through every inch of me, coaxing scales back into skin and claws back into fingers. And when I felt his hand on my lower back, I forgot all about menus and feasts and ancient feuds.
There was only this moment, and the strange sensation of ice meeting fire, and mixing instead of burning or melting.
When he pulled back, I nearly followed, catching myself even as I blatantly stared at him in shock. Had Yuri, an ice dragon, the enemy of fire drakes like me, really just kissed me?
“Feeling better?” His tone was cold, but his eyes remained warm. His pretty scales were quickly replaced by skin.
Blinking the world back into focus, I suddenly realized I could breathe again. The weight of my new responsibilities was still there, but it wasn’t suffocating me like it had been just a few moments before.
“Yes.” My cheeks flamed with my complete and utter mortification. I could hardly believe I’d let anyone see me so vulnerable like that. I was usually able to find a closet to hide in before the panic overwhelmed me to that extent.
Yuri must have been worried my temperature was rising again, because he placed a hand on my cheek. His soothing touch was gentle, and I had to resist the urge to close my eyes and lean into his hand.
“I’m sorry. I didn't want anyone to see me like that. I could have… Did I… Did I burn you?” I finished in a whisper, almost too afraid to check.
He scoffed. “I think the words you are looking for are ‘thank you.’ Or is that a foreign concept for a fire drake?”
His words should have stung, but they lacked the biting edge they’d had when we first met. Almost as if he were falling back on old habits. And the hand he slowly let fall back to his side remained gentle.
“Thank you, Yuri.” I slowly raised my eyes to his, catching a flicker of surprise before it vanished. “I didn’t burn you, did I?”
My eyes dropped to his lips. They looked pinker than normal, but there were no blisters or excessive redness that I could see. My pointed ears warmed—when had I noticed the shade of his lips?
“This time, I was ready for the heat.” He rubbed the hand he had burned on his plate almost sheepishly.
“Good. I’m glad.” I exhaled with relief.
His lips parted in surprise, but before I could ask him why, I heard Kiki calling my name, and realized I’d been neglecting my other tables.
“I should get back to work. And, um…your meal is on the house today.” I flashed Yuri the brightest smile I could manage before bustling off, back to work.
I hung up my apron, turned off the lights, and grabbed my bag on my way to the front door. Keys jangling in one hand, I stepped out into the night and was immediately buffeted by a chilling gust of wind. I drew the collar of my coat closer around my neck as I fumbled to fit the keys into the lock.
Once I heard it click into place, I turned on my heel, ready to fall into bed, and promptly slipped. Scales instinctively started forming along my back and sides as I clenched my eyes shut and braced for impact.
But instead of the sensation of scales meeting pavement, I felt a strong arm wrap around my waist. Blinking open my tired eyes, I saw Yuri peering down at me with the strangest expression on his face. It was almost as if he couldn’t decide whether to be amused or exasperated, and was stuck somewhere in between.
“And here I thought fire drakes were supposed to be tough.” The hint of a smile curved the corners of his lips. Lips that had been on mine earlier today…
“Iamtough…” I trailed off as he set me on my feet, though he kept an arm around my waist. “Most of the time.”
“Is that right?” His raised eyebrow spoke of his skepticism.
“Yes,” I said a tad defensively. “I’ve just…had a lot going on recently.”
Yuri’s expression softened. “What happened earlier that made you so upset?”
I hesitated. Just as I was about to give some lame excuse about work being hard or feeling tired, a big, fat snowflake landed on my nose. I went cross-eyed, staring at it in surprise, and Yuri actually chuckled.
We both looked up at the dark velvet sky to see the first few snowflakes of the season drifting lazily down around us. No wonder it felt so cold. I shivered, and Yuri’s arm tightened around me.
“Would you…like to go for a stroll with me?” I knew I shouldn’t be spending even more time with the ice dragon. I knew what my parents would say. But in that moment, I felt too tired and too lonely to care what anyone else thought.
“That is just what I was in the middle of doing.” Yuri turned and started walking, his arm slipping back to his side. “I wouldn’t mind the company.”
I matched him stride for stride as we moved down main street, past the illuminated windows of some of the other shops, like The Broom & Bean, and Bubbles & Bobbins.
“I suppose I owe you an explanation for earlier,” I started, trying to find the right words.
