"Whatever you want," he said, and we settled into silence, the kind that speaks volumes.
In the stillness, I realized that this was more than a fleeting moment of passion. This was a step, a leap, toward something enduring. As the night deepened, so did the sense that maybe, just maybe, I was ready to fall after all.
Chapter 26
Ashton
"Want to go for a hike?"I asked Erin, keeping my voice casual to hide the churn of nerves beneath. The sun was hanging low, painting the horizon in hues of orange and gold, the perfect backdrop for what I needed to do.
It was time to introduce Erin to my dragon, er, again, sort of. I only hoped she didn't freak out.
"Sure." Erin's eyes sparkled with excitement, lightening the gravity weighing on my heart. She dashed out of the room, her energy infectious, and emerged moments later with her hiking boots on and a short-sleeve shirt and jeans.
I led the way out of the inn, trying to steady my breathing as we stepped onto the path that wound into the woods. With each step, the canopy thickened overhead, filtering the sunlight into a dappleddance upon the ground. I could sense Erin's curiosity growing, her gaze flitting between the trees and back to me, but she didn't press for conversation. It was as if she sensed the importance of this walk, the silent prelude to a revelation that might shatter the tranquility between us.
We hadn't gone far when I found the spot—a secluded clearing, beyond view of the inn. Here, it would happen; here, I would change everything.
"Erin," I stopped and turned toward her, my heart thudding against my ribcage like a caged bird desperate for escape. "There's something I need to show you."
Her eyes met mine, wide and trusting, reflecting a thousand unspoken promises. I couldn't bear to think of them breaking like delicate glass against the hard truth I was about to reveal. It had to be done. For love, for trust, for the hope of a shared future, she had to know.
"Okay," she said simply, reaching for my hand, a lifeline offered in the face of the unknown.
The surrounding woods seemed to lean in closer as I steeled myself for the transformation that would bare my soul and my true nature to the woman who might just be my heart's undoing.
I guided Erin to a fallen log. We sat side by side, her knee brushing against mine, sending a current of nervous energy through me. This was it—the moment I'd been dreading and craving in equal measure.
"Erin," I said quietly, "there's an old story, one that's been... incomplete for most people. It's about dragons." I watched her face, searching for signs of disbelief or mockery. "They've been living among humans for hundreds, maybe thousands of years."
Erin's giggle stopped the thickening tension between us, a light sound that felt so out of place in the gravity of the moment. "So, what is this? Have you decided to become an author and now you're practicing your fantasy novel on me?" Her eyes sparkled with amusement, but my reality pressed down on us both. She cut off her laughter as I spoke again, and something flickered across her face. She was remembering seeing me as a dragon. She hadn't imagined it, as she'd likely convinced herself.
"No, I'm not writing a book," I said, "I'm not doing this very well at all." I took a breath. "I need to show you something, but I need you to understand that you are completely safe, and no matter what you see, nothing bad will happen to you." I meant each word, hoping my sincerity would bridge the chasm of disbelief between us.
Her smile wavered, replaced by a flicker of curiosity as she tilted her head slightly. "Okay."
I took another deep breath. The next part would shift everything. "Do you remember how you got away from the cabin when you were kidnapped?" I watched herclosely, her expression turning serious as memories surfaced.
She sat straighter, shaking her head slowly, her laughter completely gone now. "The kidnapper drugged me. It's all a blur. I'm not sure what I saw." Her hands clasped together tightly, as if holding on to the fragments of that day.
I leaned closer, ensuring she could see the honesty in my eyes. "You did see a dragon that day. You weren't drugged or crazy. The dragon that saved you, he was me." The words hung between us, heavy and implausible, yet irrevocably true.
She stared at me, blinking a bit rapidly. I kept my tone barely above a whisper as her eyes searched mine. "Do you trust me?" The silence hung heavily in the air, charged with a gravity that seemed to still the forest around us.
She hesitated, then nodded slowly, her brow furrowed with concern. "Yes, Ashton, I do. But you're scaring me."
"Can you keep an open mind? Please?" I needed her to grasp the enormity of what I was about to reveal. "Know that I would never hurt you?"
"Of course," she said, though her voice trembled slightly.
I could see the trust she held for me, teetering on the edge of uncertainty. It was now or never. Taking several steps back, the distance between us grew, not just physically but emotionally, as I prepared to cross a line there was no returning from.
"Please, just... wait there," I said, holding up a hand as she rose from the fallen log we sat upon. "Remember, no matter what you see, understand that youaresafe."
Her eyes widened, rooted to the spot by my tone more than my words. She nodded again, silent now, the playful skepticism replaced by an intense curiosity and a touch of fear. Her gaze fixed on me, unblinking, full of questions yet void of any sound as the forest held its breath with us.
I called my inner dragon who was roaring to come out and show his impressive self to our mate. My body tensed, preparing for the transformation to begin. It started from within, a surge of ancient power coursing through my veins. My bones reshaped, muscles expanding and stretching beyond human limits. Scales erupted across my skin, shimmering with a kaleidoscope of colors that reflected the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy above.
"Erin," I managed to croak out before my vocal cords totally changed. My voice came out very distorted. "Don't be afraid."
