Bracing herself for whatever would happen, she transformed into her human self so that he could finally see the truth of her.
And waited.
Then waited some more.
Urian stood there, completely stunned and unable to move. Rage and betrayal warred within him. They mixed with grief to such a level that he didn’t know what to think. How to react. He’d come here for comfort and now …
Who and what was she?
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her long auburn hair shimmered in the dim light. In all honesty, she was exquisite in her fey beauty. Her green eyes practically glowed. She was, indeed, the woman he’d seen earlier. The one who’d touched his hair.
“I was afraid to.”
He swept his gaze over her. Dressed in a flowing bronze-colored peplos, she was a goddess. Her lips were perfectly formed and made for kisses.
And her body …
Urian had a hard time reconciling this woman with the dragon he’d known all these years. At least until he saw her pointed ears. There was something strangely apropos about them.
She stepped toward him.
He moved away.
“Urian—”
“Don’t, Xyn.” He needed time to accept this. The fact that she’d lied to him all this time.
Well, maybe not lied. Misled or withheld.
Whatever it was, it left an ache inside him.
“Please, understand. I didn’t want to hurt you. I know there’s nothing for us. You’re Apollite and I can’t feed you.” Tears welled in her eyes and made her lips quiver. “I’ve loved you all these years.”
Urian winced as he realized how much he’d loved her, too.
And there was nothing they could do. Because she was right. This was beyond cruel.
To both of them.
How could they be together when the only way for him to eat would be to take his nourishment from another woman, knowing that the feeding would drive him to have sex with someone else? Or else he’d have to go back to his disgusting bladders of congealed blood …
That wouldn’t be fair to her or him.
She cupped his face in her hands and pressed her forehead to his. “I’ve snuck off to see you so many times.”
Pain burned his throat as he realized how many times he’d glimpsed her among the people of their town. “I know. Now that I see you … Yours is the face I’ve seen in the crowd so many times.” Fisting his hand in her soft, vibrant hair that stood out among their drab paleness, he kissed her and growled at the bitter sweetness of her mouth.
She was so much to him. His best friend. His touchstone.
His dragon.
And he could never have her.
Never.
His heart breaking, he let her go and stepped away. Tonight, he hadn’t just lost his mother. He’d also lost his dragon and best friend.
