“Nope.”
“Bas, why would you tell me that? Do you know how dangerous it would be for anyone knowing that? If crazy people find out, they would torture the information out of you and would try and wake him up.”
“Crazy people already did, sweetheart. We stopped them, and that’s why we are now his guardian,” Bas said. He picked up a copy of Moon Knight. “If you were to be the avatar of any god, which would it be?”
“Who would you be?” she countered.
“Let’s say it at the same time. Ready? One, two, three...”
“Hermes,” Bridget said.
“Thoth,” Bas said. He beamed down at her. “You really are the perfect woman.”
“Ha! Said no one ever,” Bridget replied.
Bas touched her lightly on the cheek. “I’m standing here, saying it right now.”
Bridget stared up at him, the vulnerability in her eyes smacking him in the guts. “It might take some time to believe it. I haven’t had the greatest life, Bas.”
He pointed at the wall of newspaper clippings, the ones all about the fae.
“You said they saved your life. Does that have something to do with it?”
“Yeah, it does,” she said and swallowed hard. “But you’ll need more than cookies to get it out of me.”
“Hmm, so it’s more of a chocolate and hazelnut torte situation?” he replied, trying to chase the shadows from her eyes.
Bridget huffed out a laugh. “Definitely a torte worthy conversation. Rum involved. Lots of rum.”
“When you are ready, let me know. I’ll get out my grandmother’s recipe for it and raid the cellar,” Bas replied, holding out a hand. “Let me carry that, or Marge will rip shreds off me.”
“I can carry my own bag,” Bridget grumbled but still passed it to him. “She’s going to heckle us anyway, and it’s your own fault.”
Bas only smiled and let her go first down the stairs. She waited at the bottom and then took his hand. “Just to keep up appearances.”
Bas’s heart tripped as her slender fingers twined with his. He didn’t dare open his mouth and risk her letting go.
“Okay, Marge, we are leaving,” Bridget called out through the stacks as they wended their way to the front door. “Stay off the damn ladders while I’m gone, and no online gambling or flirting with anyone who claims to be an African prince who just came into his fortune.”
“You want to ruin all of my fun,” Marge said, coming around the corner with a pile of books under one arm. “Remember to use protection and hydrate, you crazy kids.”
“We will,” Bas replied and winked.
“Oh my god,” Bridget groaned. “Go. Now. Or she’ll start suggesting positions.”
When Bridget didn’t let go of his hand when they were out of the store, his heart soared. Bas knew their dating ruse wasn’t real, but his dragon didn’t know that. He was happy in the knowledge that Bridget would be tucked safely under his wings…where she belonged.
Yeah, it was definitely time to talk to Taranis.
13
Bas showed Bridget to the guest rooms and left her to settle in. The sky was starting to darken, and he was already thinking about what he had available to make everyone for dinner. He needed to talk to Taranis, but he didn’t want to bother his uncle with his troubles just yet.
He had a brother who was having issues with his own dragon impulses that he could talk to first.
Bas loaded up a plate of cookies and made some of Apollo’s favorite tea. He would also need to make Bridget a fresh batch of cookies.
Bas didn’t like Apollo being upset, and he should be made aware that a woman was in the house and that he probably shouldn’t walk around not dressed properly.
