Page 29 of Don't Fae With Dragons

“I bet they do,” Cory muttered under his breath, but I chose to ignore the jab, refusing to let him get to me—at least on the outside.

“Unlike those dragon teachings, which aren’t as wise as you might think,” I shoot back, feeling a spark of defiance. “Isn’t there a saying that goes,‘Claws and fire may scorch my scales, but words shall never hurt me?’Hmmm, that’s a good one—unless, of course, the words come from a faery like me tonight. Then it’s not your scales or your muscles that end up bruised; it’s your ego that’ll be limping away from dinner on crutches!”

I smirk, feeling the tension ease just a bit as some of the commanders stifle nervous chuckles, their eyes flicking to Cory for reassurance. But instead of giving them the nod to relax, he decides to fire back.

“Oh really? Well, what about that fae proverb,‘What you don’t know can’t hurt you?’ Sounds nice, but I guess that only holds true until you find yourself sprinting toward an activevolcano and accidentally plummeting into one of its hidden chasms. Then ignorance takes on a whole new meaning of pain! Unless, there’s a magnificent dragon around to save you.”

He leans back, a glint of mischief in his eyes. The laughter around the table grows louder, but a few commanders, including Mordre, glance my way, clearly uneasy. They sense I’m not one to back down without giving as good as I get.

“How dare you! That was an accident! What about the dragon saying‘Fae may sparkle like dew, but even the brightest gems fade in the shadow of a dragon’s might.’What’s that supposed to mean anyway?” I huff, crossing my arms.

Cory raises an eyebrow. “That’s not a dragon proverb, it’s more like our motto.”

Suddenly, the whole table erupts in laughter. I try to hold back, but the sound is so contagious that I can’t help but join in. I glance at Cory, and to my surprise, he’s breaking into a smile, his serious demeanor softening.

“It’s not every day we get to enjoy dinner like this,” Cory says, his gaze locking on mine. “But then again, it’s not every day I have the brightest gem at my table.” A hint of warmth flickers in his eyes. “Maybe it’s for the best we finally met. Now we can start clearing up some of the cultural misunderstandings between us.”

After a moment, Cory chuckles, shaking his head, he continues. “Honestly, I have no idea what that saying is about. It’s just something my elders threw around, probably just to annoy the fae.” He looks away for a moment, his gaze drifting toward the table’s edge as if he’s lost in thought. It’s likehe’s hiding something beneath that playful exterior, a weight pressing on him that he’s not ready to share.

The laughter dies down, and I take a breath, wondering what could be bothering him. “Cory, is there more to it than you’re letting on?” I ask gently, sensing that the connection we just built could quickly unravel if I push too hard.

“Some things are better left unsaid, Milica. Let’s leave it to that.”

He meets my gaze, a fierce determination in his eyes, and the weight in the air shifts again, leaving me so curious and intrigued about what lies beneath the surface of this dragon man.

“It’s OK to call me Mili you know.”

“Mili,” he echoes, his gaze never wavering, then leans forward just slightly. “I’ll be saying it again and again.”

CHAPTER 19: CORY

Mili offers to help clean up after dinner, but there’s no way I’d let a woman like her handle household chores. My shadow guardians and I handle that ourselves - it’s a matter of discipline and respect toward one another. And though she wasn’t exactly invited, she’s a guest—a special one, at that. So I insist that she receives the special treatment she deserves.

I can’t help but laugh when she asks if there are any servants. Why would I need servants? My commanders and I are equals, and we do everything ourselves. We’re self-sufficient. Yes, I’m the alpha in charge, but otherwise, we stand shoulder to shoulder. That’s the kind of leader I am.

After we exchange good-nights, Mili turns to leave, making her way back to her quarters. I feel a pang of reluctance—saying good-night feels too final, and I’m not ready to let her go just yet. Part of me still can’t believe she’s really here, with me, in my volcano; vulnerable, her magick drained, in need of my protection.

I follow her down the dark corridors. It’s easy to lose your way in here if you weren’t born in this volcano; the passages twist and turn like a maze, sharp angles casting cold shadows that seem to close in. The volcano rumbles now and then—a low,steady pulse that I feel deep within my chest. Its heartbeat has always been connected to mine, yet I can’t help but wonder if each tremor unsettles her.

I probably shouldn’t have put her quarters so far from mine, but I had to. Knowing she was close, I’d never think straight - let alone get any sleep. I need a clear mind if I’m going to figure out what must be done next to ensure the town’s survival, and how to best protect her.

As I walk behind her, silently, dragon-like,predatoryher scent fills the air—sweetmagnolia and lavender. I could find her with my eyes closed, her presence is that vivid.

Suddenly, she flings herself sideways against the wall, ready to launch herself at me. I catch her mid-motion, my arms closing around her as she twists. I hold her from behind, her hair soft as silk beneath my hands, radiating a beauty and warmth that makes it hard to let go.

“It’s me,” I murmur softly, close enough that my breath brushes her delicate, pointed ears. They twitch at the touch, reacting to me. Those soft, sensitive ears ... what I wouldn’t give to trace them with my tongue, to feel her shiver in my arms.

“Cory?” she asks, her voice breathless.

I let her go, I have to. As she turns around and backs away from me, I smile and a blush breaks out over her cheeks.

“I wanted to help you get back to your chambers.” It’s not exactly a lie. Sure, I wasn’t ready to part from her just yet, but I was also worried she might get lost in these winding corridors.

When she raises an eyebrow skeptically, I scowl, leaning in just enough to remind her, “Will you please get it throughyour head that I have no desire to harm you? Oh, and my nose is fine, by the way.”

She smirks. “I’m sure it’s seen worse.”

I huff. “Not much worse, mind you.”

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