Moira never acted anything less than competent, unwilling to let her charge see her emotional upheavals. Which brought on a wave of guilt for suggesting loved ones might be dead. Jules missed the concept of his brother, even with no memories of the actual man. Moira had raised her two fledglings. “It’s okay, Moira. I know you miss our world,” he said more quietly. “But we’re not there; we’re here, and I don’t want to live my entire life waiting for something that might never come. What if no one sends for me until I’m fifty? Should I live alone on the mere chance of finding a mate one day?” What if they turned out to be a total jerk, leaving Jules to live out the rest of his days in regret?
“You’re young. Fifty years seems like a long time. It really isn’t for our folk.”
“Moira, I want to live now. I don’t want to wait.” Was Jules possibly wearing her down? “I want friends, to go to movies and to make the most of my situation while we’re here. How many of our kind get to experience the human world? I'm missing a great opportunity.” Not to mention seeming terribly out of place at school, not knowing what other students knew.
His dragon remained quiet, not expressing an opinion.
Moira seemed to remember herself, snapping to attention. “You are Prince Jules, son of the late King Roc of Family Craigh of the Sandy Shoals Court. Brother of Donovan, current court king. I swore on my life to protect you and see that you came to no harm until such a time as your brother arranges a match for you to help promote peace.”
With her final proclamation, Moira rose and stalked out of the room.
Leaving Jules feeling lonelier than ever. The phone number in his backpack came to mind. Moira dashed back in, wrapped Jules in a bone-crushing hug, whispered, “I love you,” and rushed back out of the room.
Maybe not so alone….
Chapter Five
Elouan had discovered the empty warehouse early in his Terran days and took pains to ensure it remained off-limits to anyone else. Amazing what a few “Hazardous Materials” signs could do. The few curious folks he had to run off wouldn’t be back soon. A few well-timed roars worked wonders.
He sat on an old wooden chair he’d found in an office area, staring at the nearly naked man before him. “You’re trying too hard. Close your eyes and look inward. Do you feel a presence?”
“I…think I feel…something.” Curtis’s hesitation didn’t instill confidence.
“Focus on the presence, get to know it, work with it. You have to be attuned to your dragon in order to shift.” Elouan tried to recall his own training and what he’d said to Daire and Anrai when they were learning to shift.
What his father had said to him. No. Going there would only bring pain. He’d avenge Father one day, but he’d have to getback to Adrakus first. That was the future. The here and now included a half-dragon who wanted desperately to shift.
Curtis closed his eyes. “I feel…I think I feel…” He opened his eyes. “Gone now. Are you sure I even have a dragon?”
“Last year you felt nothing. Now you feel something.”
Elouan’s dragon purred encouragement.
Elouan rose and placed a hand on Curtis’s shoulder, looking him directly in the eyes. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” Especially if Curtis felt more inadequate each time.
“No, I want to. I just wish I wasn’t wasting your time.”
“You’re not wasting my time. You never waste my time. I want to ask you something though. Is this what you really want, or are you trying to make someone else happy? Fit in with friends or something.”
Curtis stepped back, out of Elouan’s reach. “No! I mean, I want this. It’s just so frustrating.”
“What say I treat you to pizza and we can find some movie to watch.” Elouan waggled his brows. “Something with hot guys would be nice.”
Curtis laughed, as Elouan had hoped. “Cute guys it is.” He dressed quickly, meeting Elouan at the door.
Elouan wrapped his arm around Curtis’s shoulders. “If you really want this, it’ll happen. And I’ll do everything I can to help you.” If only Elouan could work some kind of magic so Curtis could shift and fly, he’d gladly give half his hoard.
But while Elouan could easily feel his dragon, neither of them felt anything remotely dragony about Curtis. Not then, not during dinner, not while sitting side-by-side on the couch while watching hot guys in tight suits fight crime in an Avengers movie.
It didn’t matter to Elouan if Curtis ever shifted. Human, dragon, half-dragon. He was still Elouan’s friend.
The drudgery of work couldn’t keep Elouan from replaying the memory of Jules in the alley. He’d have waded in for anyone in need, but to round the corner and find the man he’d been admiring sent both him and his dragon into protective mode. How dare those four assholes attack Jules!
Jules had stood up for himself, but the alpha in Elouan wouldn’t stand for bullies. Nor for someone to walk home alone after such an encounter. The urge to go stalker drove Elouan and his dragon to pursue, to make sure the man stayed safe.
Maybe the man in question didn’t want or need Elouan’s help. Jules had his number. If he wanted to, he’d call or text.
Elouan’s latest act of futility had him checking his phone for the fifth time during lunch break. Or was that the sixth? Still no text. Not that he really expected one, since Jules didn’t have a cellphone, but he could hope, couldn’t he? He sat on his usual perch, watching the coffee shop and hoping not to be too obvious. Ah, there. Jules settled at his normal table and ate whatever he’d bought. Five days with no calls and no texts. Was he really not interested, or was not owning a phone the problem?
