It takes Rominy’s eyes a moment to adjust to the sudden darkness, and Elowyn tosses out another magic light.
When she steps toward the dragon, Rominy forces himself not to pull her back.
She lowers her head and offers the circlet, which apparently is for the dragon, though where it came from is still a mystery.
Then, to Rominy’s shock, the dragon extends a foot—paw?—and Elowyn moves even closer.
Stars above. She’s fearless.
She slides the jewel-encrusted ring onto the creature’s leg, and the dragon lowers its foot back to the ground.
It wasn’t a circlet at all. It was a dragon-sized bracelet.
“Come here, Rominy,” Elowyn whispers, and he forces his feet forward. “Hold out your hand and don’t move. Do you understand? Don’t even flinch.”
“Elowyn—”
“Trust me. Please.”
Exhaling slowly, he does as she says, bracing himself for whatever she thinks is going to happen.
For a moment, she holds her hand over his heart before thumping her own chest. And then, to his dismay, she hovers her hand over his, leaving a fireball swirling just above his palm.
What magic is she doing? Is she trying to convince the dragon he has fire, too?
This is terrifying. He doesn’t dare move. The heat from her fire warms his hand, and sweat breaks out on his brow.
And now the dragon’s moving straight toward Rominy.
Memories of their last encounter flood him, and his knees wobble beneath him as he stands frozen in place.
The dragon stares at him, though its gaze looks unfocused. Nausea rises in Rominy’s stomach as the dragon moves closer, its spiked tail twitching behind it.
The warm huff of the dragon’s breath ruffles Rominy’s hair as he closes his eyes, waiting for the sting of that tail to slice through him.
Dragons. Why did it have to be dragons?
I Want You
Episode 59
Anymomentnow,thattail will slice into him, or the dragon’s fire will burn him to a crisp.
A warm surge of air blows around Rominy, and his eyes flash open at the sudden darkness behind his eyelids.
“He accepted your fire,” Elowyn murmurs, and Rominy almost tips over.
Stars above. Is that what they were doing?
“It knows the fire wasn’t mine, doesn’t it?” Rominy whispers.
“Dragons understand the bonds between mates. My fire is your fire. He accepted that you and I are mated.”
Her choice of words sends Rominy’s thoughts spiraling before he reins them back in. Now is definitely not the time.
“How do you know it’s a male?” Rominy asks.
“Look over there.” Elowyn points at something in the shadows, and bile rises in Rominy’s throat.
