Page 4 of Her Dryad Dom

The air around us crackled with tension, and I could feel the heat of her gaze on me. Her lips parted as if to speak, and I braced myself for another barrage of questions.

"Dom, I need to know about the barrier," Aspen insisted, her voice firm yet laced with desperation.

Annoyance surged through me, and I spun around to glare at her. My heart raced, torn between irritation and the undeniable allure she held over me. "You shouldn't have come here in the first place. You don't belong in Beastly Falls," I growled, my words dripping with bitterness.

"You've already said that." Her blue eyes glistened with vulnerability. "I had to come. I couldn't seem to stop myself." She hesitated, then added, "I felt drawn here, like something was pulling me."

"Everyone who ends up here feels that way," I admitted begrudgingly, my chest tightening at the thought of her being trapped in this godforsaken town.

"Then tell me more about the barrier, please. What is it? Why can't I leave? What is this curse?" Aspen pleaded, her determination unyielding.

I clenched my fists, the rough bark on my knuckles digging into my flesh. "I told you," I spat out. "The town's cursed."

"Tell me more." Aspen's gaze bore into me, an unwavering mix of curiosity and stubborn determination. Her voice was soft, but held a steely edge.

"Details don't matter," I barked, branches quivering. My guilt threatened to overwhelm me as I recalled my role in maintainingthe barrier... The very thing that kept her, and everyone else, trapped here.

"Please, Dom," she implored, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "There must be a reason why you're so reluctant to talk about it."

"Because I'm responsible for it!" I roared, unable to hold back the truth any longer. The words spilled forth like a torrential downpour, washing away the fragile defenses I'd built around my heart. "It's not my fault this town is cursed, but it's my fault we're all still trapped here!"

Aspen's eyes widened at my confession, but she didn't shy away. Instead, she stepped closer, her determination unrelenting. "How?"

I couldn't stand the intensity of Aspen's gaze any longer, so I did what I always did in moments like this... I retreated. My body twisted and contorted as I transformed into a tree, my limbs becoming branches and my skin turning to bark. I towered over Aspen, hoping she would take the hint and leave me be.

"Really?" she huffed, clearly annoyed by my sudden transformation. "You think you can avoid me just by turning into a tree?"

Aspen fell silent for a moment, studying my wooden features. Then, with surprising tenderness, she reached out and traced her fingertips along the grooves of my bark face. Her touch sent shivers down my spine, the sensation both unfamiliar and alluring.

"Dom, I don't know what it is, but I feel drawn to you," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to help you, even if it means staying here in Beastly Falls."

Hearing her say those words shattered something inside me, and I couldn't resist her any longer. I shifted back into my man-ish form, the hardened bark receding from my face and limbs,leaving a softer one in its place. My eyes locked onto hers, torn between gratitude and irritation.

"Fine," I grumbled, cursing my own weakness. "I'll tell you more about the curse, but don't expect any miracles."

Aspen nodded, her expression determined as she waited for me to continue. I sighed, knowing there was no easy way to explain the town's dark history.

"Beastly Falls cut itself off from the rest of the world," I began, my voice heavy with regret. "Anyone who enters can't leave, and most people can't even get close to the town. They're repelled by the barrier, like they can sense the danger lurking within."

"Except for some," Aspen added, her eyes narrowing. "Like me."

"Like you," I confirmed, my gut twisting at the thought of her becoming trapped here. "There are a few who manage to slip through the cracks. The spirit of the town decides to let them pass through the barrier. And once they're in, they're bound by the curse just like everyone else."

A shudder ran through Aspen's body, and I could see the fear flickering in her eyes. But she didn't back down, her resolve unwavering.

"Thank you for telling me," she said softly, her hand finding mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Fine, you know some things now," I snapped, my voice rough with emotion. I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore the urge to pull her into my arms and shield her from the curse that threatened us.

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