Cassia knew she really shouldn’t be eavesdropping. Especially if the man was going to divulge a secret or personal information. She stepped back, attempting a silent turn toward the house, but a twig snapped beneath her feet. She stared in horror as the dragon’s snout lifted and its ears tensed backward. The sound had been far too faint for Darkwood, but Ember had noticed.
“What is it, boy? Is someone here?” Darkwood whirled around. Then Ember seemed to nod, and a quick burst of fire exiting its mouth. His eyes darted in Cassia’s direction. He was on all fours in a moment, ready to pounce.
She didn’t know what kind of power or temperament a dragon had, but she supposed it was fierce. Should she run, and hope it wouldn’t find her? No. Doubtless the large animal could easily outstrip her on foot, or by air. And it had just proved it breathed fire.
She was caught. If she wished to live, anyway.
“Hello, there,” her voice let out shakily. What could she possibly say to fix this situation?
“Who is it? Show yourself,” growled Darkwood, as he stepped beside the dragon in her direction. He placed his hand on the dragon’s neck, as though preparing it to bound away if necessary.
“It...is Miss Cassia.” She wondered if he could sense the pain and embarrassment in her voice.
“Oh,” he heaved, his tensed muscles relaxing. Then his eyes narrowed, full of suspicion. “What are you doing here?”
Cassia’s eyes shut and she forced a swallow. This was not going to go well.
With the timidity of a murine creature, she stepped forward.
High Mage Darkwood waited in a tense attitude, arms now decidedly crossed, poised like a headmaster ready to bestow a reprimand to an exceedingly vexing schoolgirl.
She pressed forward, despite his glowering eyes, and as soon as she made it to the clearing, he appraised her from head to foot.
And then...he laughed. She squared her shoulders against his amusement.
“Are you really alone?”
She bobbed her head in ascent once, not quite master of her voice.
“Your independence might be your ruin, someday. You love your solitary nature, to be sure.”
He remembered that detail from last night. She swallowed. “It would appear that way, sir,” she finally let out.
“Well, I generally try to be discreet in personal matters, but it seems you have walked right into something I cannot hide.” Darkwood gestured toward Ember, who paced back and forth, sniffing the air, “It’s okay, boy,” whispered Darkwood, and as the dragon did another pass, he bestowed a pat between the creature’s partially folded wings. Wings that moved like silk. Wings she suddenly yearned to touch. And its scales, which shimmered like sunlight on water. The great dragon ceased its patrol and settled again onto its hind haunches.
The sensation of Darkwood studying her face registered and she shot her gaze back toward the dragon.
“You may come closer,” he said, reading her desires perfectly. “If you wish, you may touch him.”
For one moment she forced her stare to break away from the animal, who’s glassy, globe-like eyes had been fixed on her own. As she approached, High Mage Darkwood stood so near her she could feel his exhale on her neck. She ought to be repulsed by that fact, but something about him, about all of this, urged her on. He did not seem quite as awful now. She glanced over her shoulder at him and his face drew into a smile. A roguish one, which at once was terribly becoming and equally alarming. What did he mean with such a countenance?
“Go ahead,” he urged. “Like this.” He placed an outstretched hand just below the space between the animal’s eyes, on the long part of its nose. High Mage Darkwood gazed back at her.
“He won’t hurt you, I promise,” He reached out his hand for hers. How many times Gynelle had told her to wear gloves she couldn’t remember. In this instance, she wished she had taken her sister’s counsel.
High Mage Darkwood’s skin on her own would have chilled her, she was sure, but the heat of the dragon seemed to have the opposite effect. A warmth between her and Darkwood rose to an exceeding degree, despite the damp air which clung in these woods. His fingers grasped her wrist gently as she outstretched her palm, her hand inching closer to the dragon. Then, before she realized it, the tips of her fingers met the creature’s nose. The dragon scales felt slightly rough to the touch, like a cat’s tongue when it licked. She allowed the rest of her palm to roll downward until her whole hand made contact with the beast. She realized then that Darkwood had let go of her wrist and placed his large palm over her whole hand. This gesture remained only a moment until he withdrew it and stepped back. He appeared a little shocked, but his voice was steady as he said, “See, he’s nothing to fear.”
A surge of some kind of energy ran through her as her hand remained on the dragon. Where had it come from? Cassia stared at her hand and then into the deep, dark eyes of the dragon.
* * *
Gaius had to remove his hand for several reasons. First, and most importantly, to analyze all he had tried to learn. Because they knew each other as children, he and the dragon had a connection. Touching the beast’s scales could inform him of things, send him impressions. The dragon was a better judge of character than any man he knew. That was the reason, too, he had broken all sense of propriety and placed his bare hand on Cassia’s. Connecting through a dragon clarified and strengthened magic even better than a relic on his person. Not that hehadhis relic at the moment.
Ember approved of her. That was clear. What else the dragon had tried to tell him had been indiscernible, except that he couldn’t learn about Cassia through the dragon. It was this overwhelming realization that caused Gaius to pull back so quickly. He had tried to use his dragon to his advantage, to discern Cassia’s thoughts. He had sworn never to do that.
Gaius looked down and kicked at the roots below his feet. When would he learn to care about those close to him—like Ember—instead of bending their will to serve his own desires? Well, the dragon had shown him. Unlike most people around him, Ember hadn’t given in.
And then there was Cassia. Gaius knew he ought to be furious that someone would come upon him in this grove, but he couldn’t find it within himself to harbor anger toward her. Not when his dragon liked her so much. The great dragon was now, in fact, purring lightly as she stroked its nose. It was probably Cassia’s presence that kept Ember from narrowing his great glassy eyes and sulking away with fiery huffs directed at Gaius for trying to use him.
