"Bas and Bridget, swap seats with Apollo and Lachie, and teach her. You have two hours," Cosimo instructed. He had a certain depth of authority to his tone that had Marcella's thighs clenching in response. The side of Cosimo's mouth twitched into an almost smirk. Marcella tried to hide her embarrassment that he had caught her instant response. She fought the urge to cross herself in self-defense.
Luckily, she was spared from any further embarrassment as Bas started to teach her to build walls around her mind to keep anyone from prying.
"Roses. Interesting," Cosimo said after she had been working on it for an hour.
When Bas had told her to pick something to use as a visual wall, like high fences, Marcella had thought of the roses that her mother had let grow over one of the stone walls around their property. It had been easy for her to focus on it, because tending to them was one of her first memories.
"Roses are pretty but full of thorns," Bridget said approvingly. "It's good to have sharp bits for people who like to pry."
"How did you know?" Marcella asked Cosimo, and then she felt the slight prod in her mental shield. It was like a brush of smooth, hard scales against her skin, making her body tighten up.
You're looking particularly lovely today, Cosimo's voice whispered silkily inside of her head.
"Stop that!" she gasped.
Cosimo laughed. "I was only checking if you would notice me in there. Kids? Test her."
Marcella was mentally pushed and prodded for the rest of the ride. It was exhausting, but it also helped keep her distracted and not anxious about returning to Forli.
They were coming to the outskirts of the city, and Marcella sucked in a breath.
"What is it?" Cosimo asked, his fingers tightening on hers. They hadn't moved for the entire trip, and she had tried not to think about it too hard.
"I can feel it. The city's energy." Marcella closed her eyes and opened up her senses. It didn't matter that the wheels of the car separated her from the earth. She could feel its energy rising to meet her.
"How long has it been?" Cosimo asked, voice gentle.
"Ten years," Marcella replied, keeping her eyes closed against the tears that were welling up.
"No matter what, we will keep you safe," Cosimo said, the steel back in his voice.
"I know." And Marcella did. With his hand on hers, Cosimo kept her anchored and steady enough for her to open her eyes once more.
She directed them through city streets until they stopped in front of a terracotta and cream-painted hotel in a side street off the main piazza.
Marcella sat frozen in her seat, trying to stop the sudden panic from rising up her throat. The last time she had been at that hotel, she was fleeing for her life.
Cosimo opened the door for her. When she didn't move, he gestured to the others to get their bags.
"Look at me," Cosimo said, his hand tilting her chin up. Marcella's breaths were almost pants, but she focused on his purple eyes. Still using that voice that was pure authority, he said, "Breathe with me."
He took her hand and held it to his chest. He inhaled, and Marcella took in a shaky breath. He held her gaze until they were breathing slowly and deeply, their hearts beating in time with each other. The fear slowly loosened its grip.
"I hate that I am like this," Marcella admitted. "It was so long ago, and..."
"It's still trauma,tesoro. Don't make yourself feel guilty because it still hurts. Try to remember you're not alone this time. You were strong enough before without all of us to help you. You are a survivor, and we are here to back you up when you need it." Cosimo brushed his thumbs over her cheeks, swiping away the few tears that had escaped. "They can't keep you here, you know why?"
Marcella shook her head, too mesmerized by his warm voice to answer him. Cosimo leaned in until their noses almost touched. His eyes shone with inner fire.
"Because you are mine, that's why," he said, and heat burst inside of her chest. "And dragons cherish our treasures. We don't toss them away."
Marcella was still stunned as he moved back and helped her out of the car. The rest of the Greatdrakes were all chatting and laughing in front of the hotel, none of them aware of the interaction that had just happened.
Marcella touched the charms hanging around her neck for strength and fixed a smile on her face.
"Let's get inside," she said, clapping her hands to hurry them. She needed to get a locked door between her and Cosimo before she tried to figure out whateverthatwas. Apollo had tried to warn her that he would be intense, but she hadn't understood what he really meant by it. Now, she did.
When she tried to take her bag, Cosimo was there to carry it, and she didn't bother arguing about it.
