That was when I saw him. Tane. Past the pool fence I could see half the garden. And movement. He was out there. Working. He wore a white brimmed hat but I knew it was him. He had said no one helped him with the garden except to take away the trash.
I grabbed my sandwich and ran to the stairs. There was a window at the end of the second story hall. I looked out. Now I could see the entire back acreage and had full view of the garden.
Tane wore a baggy off-white shirt and black jeans. I couldn’t see his face but it was him, the way he moved, the way he knelt, his hands pressed to the cool earth. Saliva filled my mouth and I gulped. He looked—content. And somehow—beautiful. Iimagined his scent and the memory filled me as if he was standing right in front of me. My heart rate quickened.
I leaned on the sill and stared. This man. He was the one who’d bought me. But not for himself. Why? Why did he think I could be such a great gift to his son? He hadn’t bought me as a whore. I knew that by the way he acted around me. He wasn’t the type. What was going on with him? He looked content, yes, but also alone. Was that why? Was he just tired of it all? Of work and life and being alone? He had everything, like my own father. But he wasn’t like Rohan at all.
Suddenly, Tane threw off his hat and gazed up at the sunny sky. He began to undo his shirt, then slipped out of his pants and shoes. My mouth dropped open. I couldn’t see details, but I could see he had a slim, tan, muscled physique. Not like the foolish kids I’d known in my younger years, but a real alpha. Grown up. Mature. He looked strong. Vibrant.
Then he began to shift.
My breath caught. Green. Gold. Turquoise. The dragon’s narrow head turned right and left, viewing its surroundings. Small spikes went from the top of the head all the way down to the tail tip. He was amazing. About the size of an elephant if not larger. The scales flashed in the sunlight like shining armor. I'd never seen anything like it.
I pressed my face to the window as the dragon’s wings rose high and began to flap. The tallest flowers in the garden bent under the wind. Then the dragon rose slowly up and up. Like a dream.
Something moved behind me. There was a quiet tapping like servant footsteps. I turned quickly as if caught doing something wrong.
Malin stood several feet away, arms crossed, frowning.
“What are you doing?”
8
Tane
When I returned from my flight, the house looked the same as always. Quiet. Huge. Empty. Except it wasn’t. There was someone else living here now. Kirion.
For two days I’d tried not to concern myself with him. He was a grown man. I’d given him permission to do as he pleased.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
In the garden, I dressed slowly, then went into the house. Taking my first breath, I noted the indoor scent had changed. I sniffed the air. Malin?
Elias approached. “Will you be requiring lunch alone again, sir?”
“Did my son return?”
“Yes, sir.”
All I could think about was Kirion. Did Malin come for him? “Did he bring home more friends?”
“No, sir. He was alone.”
I moved quickly past him, my heart pounding.
“Sir, about lunch….”
I waved my hand through the air as I hurried toward the stairs. “I’ll let you know later.”
“Very well.”
I rushed up to the second floor and turned into the hall. Voices drifted from Malin’s room. I couldn’t make out the words until I got closer. Malin’s door was ajar.
“You can't just wander about without a leash.”
“I had permission.”
“From who? Not me, that's for sure. And I'm your owner. What do you think you were doing nosing about?”
