Page 19 of A Savior for the Arrogant Dragon

“The Heart of the Ocean is a mysterious place,” Mateo said, and they all turned to look at him. “I warned Max when he decided to build his resort here, strange things happen on this island.”

There was a short silence, then they all turned to Max, “What exactly does he mean?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at Max. “Did you know that something like this might happen?”

“No, of course not,” Max said, instantly defensive. “Besides, we can’t be sure it was the island.”

“You’re kidding me, right?” Simon asked. “Look at me, what else could it be?”

“I don’t know,” Max shrugged. “Maybe it will go away.”

“Not until he learns his lesson,” Mateo said, shrugging his shoulders. “Now that you’ve started down this path, there is no turning back unless you want to stay that way forever.”

“I didn’t want to look like this in the first place,” he said, then paused, remembering his conversation with Max right before he fell asleep. “Oh, God, I did ask for this, I wished for it, but I never thought it would come true. I didn’t really mean it. I want to be me again! I don’t need to learn a lesson, tell the island, tell it right now.”

“I’m sorry,” Mateo said, shaking his head. “The island won’t listen to me. You will have to follow this through to the end.”

“What am I supposed to do?” Simon asked. “Tell me, and I’ll do it.”

“Only you can figure that out,” Mateo said, a look of pity on his face. “The only advice I can give you is to follow your heart. It will lead you in theright direction.”

“That’s it?” he asked. “I have to live with this until the island decides I’ve been punished enough?”

“You’re looking at this all wrong,” Mateo said, an impatient look on his face. “You’ve been given the opportunity to learn something, to see the world from another man’s perspective. Don’t waste it.”

“I think I need some fresh air,” Kira said, getting shakily to her feet. “Yes, fresh air would be good.”

“I’ll come with you,” Mary Beth said, getting to her feet and giving the men a dirty look. “This was not how I planned to spend my day.”

When the door closed behind them, he sank down at the kitchen table, “How am I going to go out there looking like this?” he moaned. “You saw Kira, she was horrified by me.”

“Oh, stop whining, that’s what got you here in the first place,” Max said. “She wasn’t horrified by your looks, she’s in shock, you idiot. Put yourself in her place, and think about someone besides yourself for once.”

“I’m not very good at that, and you know it,” he snapped back, then took a deep breath and looked up at his friend. “I’m scared Max, I don’t know what I’m going to do, how I’m going to function……like this.”

Max was silent for a second, then he sat down across from him, “I’d be scared, too,” he finally said. “Simon, I’m sorry this happened to you. I don’t know if the island really is to blame, and I wish there was something I could do to fix this, but I think the only one who can do that is you.”

He looked up, “And how exactly am I supposed to do that?” he asked, desperate for an answer. “Just tell me that.”

Max shook his head, “I don’t know,” he said. “I think you’re going to have to go out there and find out.”

He looked out the window, “I don’t know if I can face the world looking like this,” he finally said. “It would be easier to hide in my cabin for the rest of the trip.”

“I think that’s the point,” Max said. “You’re going to have to do some hard things before this is over, and stepping outside looking like you do now is the first one. You’re not ugly, Simon, not compared to most people. The world isn’t going to run screaming when they see you.”

“No, only Kira did that,” he said, getting to his feet. “I’m going back to my cabin. Hopefully, this is just a bad dream and when I wake up, everything will be back to normal.”

***Kira***

Kira stumbled out of the cabin, sucking in huge gulps of air, her head spinning, her mind unable to accept what she’d just seen. She paused for a second at the top of the stairs, then started down. It was a relief to feel Mary Beth right behind her, but she didn’t stop. She had to get away from the cabin and the man inside before she passed out again, she needed some distance, some time to……. well, she wasn’t sure what.

“Hey, slow down, I don’t feel like running,” Mary Beth said, jogging up to her. “I know that you’re upset, and I don’t blame you. I’m in a bit of shock myself, but breaking your ankle isn’t going to help.”

She glanced over her shoulder, relieved when she couldn’t see the cabin, “I’m sorry, I just had to get away,” she said. “I shouldn’t have left you behind.”

They walked in silence for a few minutes, then Mary Beth looked over at her, “Are you okay?” she asked. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“I don’t think so,” she said, shaking her head. “I keep thinking this is a bad dream, and I’ll wake up soon.”

“Why?” she asked. “Isn’t this what you wanted? Simon isn’t rich anymore, and he doesn’t look like Prince Charming, more like his less fortunateyounger brother.”

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