I almost rested my hand on his knee to comfort him, but it was only a passing temptation. “Do you think Fieran is trying to predict my dragon? Or that he dragged me here because he thought some dragon in particular would choose me?”
“Maybe. But you have to realize that he’s always spinning a hundred plots.”
“Are there any dragons that have chosen a mortal shifter before?”
“There’s neverbeena mortal shifter before.”
“No.” The word came out forcefully. “I can’t be special. There’s got to have been mortal shifters before.”
He looked dubious, but said, “I’ll ask the archivist.”
“Thank you. And could you get me a book about the Clan Bismyth dragons?” That must be the book Fieran studied most, to understand the members of his clan, and I might be able to unravel what dragons were likely to claim me.
Maybe if I could figure out what dragons might choose a mortal, I’d figure out why Fieran had dragged me here.
He nodded. “I’ll slip it to you tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” That was all I needed, but for some reason, I didn’t want him to leave. Something about Ander’s presence felt comforting. He hadn’t made a move to leave, either. “Do you have any stars you watch?”
“No. Do you?”
I nodded. “My sister and brother.”
His gaze sought mine. “They’re going to be all right, Cara.”
He must’ve seen weakness that prompted that reassurance, and I just studied the stars, willing him to forget it. “You really don’t have any stars?”
“Those stars faded long ago.”
No wonder Fieran thought he was lonely.
“I have my clan,” he said, as if he’d guessed my thoughts. He stood, the dots of light circling overhead scattering over his face and hair. “Don’t hesitate to call on me again. Even if it’s something small. Even if it’s just because you need to talk to someone who isn’t Fieran or one of his sycophants.”
Before I could say anything in response, he added, “I’m going to go sit by the fountain. Come out in a few minutes so it doesn’t look as if we were together. I’ll watch over you until you get back to Bismyth.”
“Thank you, Ander.”
His lips ticked up on one side. “We both know what it’s like to be caught in one of Fear’s traps. It only seems right I try to help you unravel his intent.”
He was almost at the door when I asked, “Did you escape his trap?”
He turned back, one big hand gripping the doorway. He lookedawe-inspiring in his own right, in his leathers and the fitted tunic that stretched across his broad shoulders and chest; barely-revealed tendrils of tattoos crawled up his neck. “Doesn’t it seem like it, when I lead my own clan?”
When I waited him out without answering, his faint rueful smile returned.
Then he was gone, making sure I couldn’t ask any more questions.
Twenty-Nine
My dreams that night were dark and troubled. I dreamed of ashes raining from the sky, of an unseen dragon’s fire blistering my skin as I screamed. I jolted awake, then lay in the dark for too long, waiting for morning to come.
When dawn did arrive, I washed and dressed. The lavish room still seemed too quiet and lonely. I wondered what it was like behind the door into the dormitory; I’d been groggy when I was in Fieran’s room. Did it feel more like a kind of home on the other side?
When I stepped out of my room, I almost tripped over Rees. He was sleeping against my door, and he looked up reproachfully.
“Well, I didn’t step on you,” I defended myself. “I didn’t know you’d be there.”
He rose and walked into my room as if I had been wrong to lock him out. I blew out a perplexed breath. He was probably just searching my room for treats.
