I’d noticed. And I liked it. I’d more than liked the way he’d stood in front of me so closely, protecting me. I squashed those thoughts, remembering my promise to Jack. Remembering, more importantly, thereasonfor my promise to Jack. Even if Archer had been interested in me—and he so obviously wasn’t—it would be a disaster big enough to eclipse even the incident with the nail gun if I were to cause this dragon experiment to fail by banging my host.
I sat in the chair closest to the fire and tried not to imagine being nakedly entwined with Archer Talbot on the rug in front of it, lit by flickering firelight. Not entirely successfully, if I were honest.
ARCHER
I couldn’t sleep. We’d all gone to bed at about the same time, and I’d been yawning as I headed up the stairs. But in the silence of my room, all I could think was there was a strange dragon in my home. In the heart of my territory. I didn’t trust him.
The more I thought about Ollie, the more I thought I’d been set up. He’d been so careful to tell me how he’d tagged along by accident to the moot. He’d disarmed Mia and, to some extent, me with his prattling and excitement about the house. But every family would have considered long and hard which dragons to take to represent them at the moot. Ollie wasn’t what he seemed. The bright chatter was a cover. It had to be. No one confronted life with that constant level of excitement.
He was also very young to have been a family representative. Early twenties, I thought. That, and the fact he was so damn attractive, made me wonder if he was a honey trap. It was difficult to see howanyonecould resist the way his light-hearted grins lit his face.
I’d make sure I was ultra careful with the information I gave him. Over supper, which the three of us had shared around the kitchen table, he’d asked questions about my family. Theycouldhave been innocently interested questions, but I didn’t think they were.
Although…what he’d said about me springing his arrival on Tim had actually been right. Damn it. Clenching my jaw, I reached for my phone.
I shouldn’t have brought a strange dragon here without giving you a heads up. His name’s Ollie Shaw and he’s staying for up to three months. I’ll fill you in tomorrow.
About to tell him there were leftovers for him in the fridge, I noticed it was gone midnight. He’d either have already found them, or he’d be staying with a friend. At least, that was where Ithought he went when he stayed out. But I didn’t know, and he wasn’t going to tell me.
Tomorrow, I’d have to introduce Ollie to the wider family. The whole point of this experiment was to get us used to having an unknown dragon on our territory in a somewhat unplanned way. Which meant, to be true to the spirit of what Margaret was trying to do, I should let Ollie mix in his own way with the rest of the family.
I didn’t want him to do that. I didn’t know what he might discover and report back to his family.
Shit.My head was pounding, Tim had left me on read, and across the landing, Ollie Shaw was undoubtedly sleeping peacefully. He probably looked like an angel with those knowing, bright blue eyes closed.
There was no way I was going to get to sleep. I threw back the covers and climbed out of bed, only then realising how cold the room was.I’d watched the way Ollie, with apparent casualness, had laid his coat over his lap earlier. He’d be used to insulation and double glazing. I couldn’t afford to heat the whole house just to make him comfortable, but I’d taken a heater from the library and set it up in his room a couple of hours before bedtime. It should have taken the chill off the air.
There was only one way to settle myself and that was to fly. Heading outside, I shifted and flew around my home, marking the boundaries of the land, though not of my territory. That encompassed all of Winchester and some way beyond. Sometimes, I loved that fact. Sometimes, like tonight, it was a burden.
There were so many threats to keep track of, so many ways my family could be harmed if I wasn’t constantly vigilant. And now I had a new threat—one I’d invited into the heart of my family. I’d had no choice in the matter, but that wouldn’t absolve me of responsibility if things went wrong.
Even the beauty of the stars above and my home below me didn’t ease my fears. Not tonight. Not now Ollie Shaw was here.
OLLIE
I could have kissed Mia for how easy she was to talk to while Archer sat and brooded, first over supper and then over hot chocolate in the sitting room. I was beginning to realise that, though brooding was sexy, it was kind of limiting when it came to conversation.
The bedroom I’d been given was much more comfortable than I’d feared it would be. I’d expected formal furniture and an ancient four-poster bed, in which I’d have worried all night about creepy-crawlies falling off the rotting canopy onto my face. Although the wardrobe was an imposing antique, the bedside-table was modern, and a bed straight out of Ikea made the room welcoming.
I messaged Jack.So far, so good. No need to mention the hot-chocolate stain on the rug in front of the fire. I didn’t think Archer or Mia had noticed, and I was determined to find some stain remover in the kitchen cupboards tomorrow so I could get rid of it. I thought about creeping downstairs to do it now, but I wasn’t sure where Tim was and how well he’d taken on board the fact I was a guest.
Jack replied instantly.What are the rest of them like? What are they asking you? Remember not to tell them anything useful.
Archer said I could call him Archer. Somehow, my words failed to communicate the thrill of having been given that permission.So far all they want to know is if I have any allergies or food preferences. You should see this house—it’s right out of Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre or something. Hang on a minute.
I scrambled out of bed, drew back thick, velvet curtains, and opened the casement window. Holding my phone out, I took a photo and sent it to him.
???? All I can see is black.
It’s a moat. A MOAT!
Shit! I can’t believe I passed on this.
Which, belatedly, reminded me.How’s Lisa?
That led to a whole bunch of pregnancy talk. I was happy to hear she was doing better now, but even happier that she’d decided not to attend the moot. Because otherwise, I’d never have come to this house with a moat.
And I’d never have met Archer Talbot, who practically made me swoon every time he looked at me. My old tutor had contaminated my vocabulary by making me read all those Victorian novels, butswoonwas the only word that fitted. I wanted so badly to bang Archer, but I also wanted to sit and stare at his dark beauty and tremble at his commanding presence, and—yeah. Ms Darrow’s love ofJane Eyrehad definitely done something to my brain.
