“Two women. They followed me home and told me that if I didn’t go with them willingly, ‘someone a lot uglier and less charming’,” she emphasis with air quotes, “would come get me. Guess they sent those guys after you.”
Are we really bonding over shared abduction stories? “It’s not like I would have gone willingly,” I admit.
“What, the promise of free food and housing wasn’t enough?” she laughs humorously. Fucking Fate, is that what they bribed her with? Basic human rights?
“More like I would have eaten whoever they sent.”
Her jaw drops. “What are you? Wait, don’t answer that if it’ll get me killed or some shit.”
I can’t believe it. She’s teasing me. Before I can respond, my dragon surges forth, eager to announce himself. “I am theking.” She freezes in place, paling suddenly at the deep, rumbling voice of my inner beast.
Congratulations you asshole, you’ve scared her shitless. His answering rumble startles her out of shock.
“What the fuck was that?” she whispers, and I sigh.
“That was my dragon.” I can feel him peering through my eyes, both of us anxiously waiting for her reaction.
“A… dragon.” Any moment now she’ll run.
“Yeah.”
“How does…that…” she ventures, gesturing vaguely my way. Pointedlynotrunning.
Itoldyou to just speak to her.
“Uh,” I stutter. I don’t think I’ve ever had to actually explain this. “He’s… the other part of me.” I shrug, lost for words.
“Sure. Totally. Makes sense.” She nods sagely, but the glint of humor in her eyes is playful, and… I don’t know how to react.
This is uncharted territory.
“So, are we talking like, Toothless or Game of Thrones? Is it rude to ask if you have a treasure hoard?” The dragon chuckles low in my chest, bemused, surprisingly the both of us.
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” he purrs. After a pause, she shakes her head.
“I guess boys will be boys no matter what species, huh?”
“You’re taking this surprisingly well for someone who’s only known about magic for a few weeks.”
She shrugs, smile faltering slightly. “Adapt to survive, and all that. You know how it goes.”
“Yeah, I do,” I answer quietly. An awkward silence grows between us, but she gives me a strained smile.
“You think the coast is clear by now?”
“Huh?”
“The three stooges out there. Think they’re gone?” Oh, right.
“Uh, probably. I could—” I scramble not to sound desperate as she gathers her things. “I can walk you to your dorm, if you want. Just in case they’re still trying to start shit.” Her eyes fill with an expression I can’t decipher, but even so, I know what she’s going to say.
“That’s okay. You’re probably sick of me by now,” she brushes me off, pausing before she turns to walk down the hallway. “But, maybe we can meet up here again? You have my number, right?” I swallow thickly at her olive branch.
“Yeah. I’d like that.”
“It’s a date. ‘Night, Ramsey.” She waves her fingers in goodbye, and I can only watch as she walks away, tracking her scent until it fades from the air, even as it burns in my lungs.
18
