“Wyvern…?” Diana hadn’t heard of them before – although, now that she thought about it, she was pretty sure that there was one in a fantasy book that she’d been reading with Ash when he was younger, but she’d been pronouncing itwye-verninstead ofwivvern.
Whoops! I’d better let him know I got it wrong at some point.
“It’slikea dragon,” Calvin said kindly. “But better.”
“Did the wyvern make you say that?” Diana laughed.
Calvin grinned. “You catch on quick.”
“Don’t worry,” Diana said. “I think it’s safe to say that I like wyverns better than dragons now. Not that I know any dragons.”
“Probably not,” Calvin agreed, as if it was a completely normal topic of conversation. “There aren’t many dragon shifters in the world – it would be unusual if you’d met one.”
This was all a bit much! She knew that she would have a million questions and everything would take some time to sink in, but she just wanted to cover a few basics now.
“Are there people who shift into other things?” Diana asked. “Goblins? Bears? Pool cues?”
“Bears are the only ones from that list I can confirm,” Calvin said seriously. “But I wouldn’t rule anything out.”
“Bears,” muttered Diana. “Okay.” She thought for a moment. “And just to be clear: you turned into a – a wyvern, and protected me from the falling branch?”
Calvin nodded, looking pained. “It was an instinct – sorry, I really didn’t mean to startle you. It was my intention to try to explain everything first, but when I heard that sound and saw the branch falling toward you, the wyvern just took over. It knew that if I didn’t shift and protect you, then…” He grimaced again. “I’d never felt anything like it – the pain of possibly losing you, when we’d only just met.”
Diana’s heart fluttered. Not at the idea of Calvin feeling pain, of course, but at the idea that someone would put themselves on the line to protect her. It was something she knew so few people in the world ever experienced, and to think that a man she’d just met by chance yesterday would feel like that about her… well, it would take some getting used to.
Especially since the concept of dating had been fraught for her, ever since she’d split up with James. She knew that her being a single mom was a dealbreaker for a lot of guys. The fact that Calvin hadn’t even seemed to hesitate after he’d met Ash and knew that he and Diana were a package deal had already impressed Diana.
He’d been nothing but kind to Ash in the short time they’d spent together, and he’d still obviously been keen for their date to go ahead. But the fact that he’d put his own body on the line for her was on another level entirely! It only confirmed what she’d sensed about him to begin with.
“And you didn’t get hurt at all?” she asked, concerned. He seemed fine, but that branch had been huge.
He shook his head. “I was a bit sore, but the pain’s already gone. Shifters heal fast.” His eyes seemed to burn with intensity. “I would do the same thing a thousand times over for you.”
“Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Diana laughed, feeling a little awed at Calvin’s level of devotion. “The trees around here are generally pretty sturdy, so I think we’d have to be unlucky to encounter a situation like this again.”
“Still,” Calvin said. “If anything ever does happen, I’ll protect you. And Ash and Bella as well.”
There is no way Calvin is real,Diana thought, slightly dazed.He’s too perfect.
“Is there anything else you’d like to tell me while we’re getting things off our chests?” she asked. “Is the whole thing where you make things cold part of being a shifter, too?”
“It’s a wyvern thing,” Calvin said. “Other shifters have their own powers. For example, pegasi can control water, while dragons have the power of good luck.”
“Pegasi?” she muttered, feeling dazed, before adding, “Good luck? I’d love to have that power.”
“Itwouldbe handy,” Calvin said, his hand coming up to cup her face, his thumb stroking her cheek. “But I don’t think I could get any luckier than I already have been, meeting you.”
“Oh,stop,” Diana said, feeling her face burn hot.
“It’s true,” Calvin replied. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
“Well, I guess that would make me the luckiest girl in the world,” Diana said as she leaned into his touch. “And I do think that’s true. I can’t really explain how I feel about you, Calvin – as cheesy and ridiculous as it sounds, it almost feels like we’re fated to be together.”
Calvin froze abruptly, his thumb stilling against her cheek, and Diana felt sudden suspicion building inside her.
“No,” she said. “Noway.”
“… Would that be a problem?” Calvin asked, sounding almost sheepish.
