“Meaning?”
“I’m glad they stay isolated and don’t come off their ice island. Why they’re allowing this auction to be held here, I have no idea. But I plan to find out.”
And she was definitely glad she wasn’t in her dragon body. She’d never experienced cold like this. As a dragon, she’d be inert from the freezing temperature. No wonder her people had never even thought of coming this far north. Or fighting with them.
Brr...
She had no idea anyone could shiver this much and continue living. Every part of her body felt brittle and stiff.
“Are you all right, Dragon?”
“No.” She let out a puff of breath to marvel at the cloud it formed around her face. “Have you ever seen cold like this?”
“Not quite this cold, but close to it.”
“Why?”
He laughed. “Our winter months can get rather nippy.”
“Again, why?”
“We’re born with fur coats, not scales. Although, I’d think you’d be more tolerant of the cold given the degree of fire you can make with a single belch.”
“I’d like to be burping that heat right about now, too. Especially, feeling it in my belly.”
He paused on the narrow trail. “Here.” He took her hands in his.
Tanis gasped as she felt warmth spread from his touch to every inch of her body. “What are you doing?”
“Tiny bit of magick to warm you.”
It was doing a bit more than that as she met his gaze. Really, she didn’t need his magick when he looked at her like that. His presence made her feel rather hot all over.
“Why are you always so nice to me?” she asked.
“I’m not nice.”
She arched a brow. “What would you call it, then?”
He shrugged. “Nice is when you derive pleasure from something.”
“Nice is when you show kindness to someone, beast.”
He scoffed. “There’s nothing kind about me.”
She reached up and cupped his whiskered cheek in her hand. “Dash... You’ve been nothing save kind since I met you. Please tell me that you know that.”
Dash didn’t know what to say. He’d been called every type of name he could think of. Insulted with a great deal of creativity.
But kind...
That was one epitaph no one had attached to his name.
Not even Renata.
He didn’t know how to respond.
And before he realized it, she was pulling his lips to hers. Dash closed his eyes as he tasted the most amazing thing in his life. But what amazed him most was the innocence of it. This wasn’t a demanding kiss.
