Page 39 of Dragon's Code

He throws his hands up into the air like he gives up and turns and walks into his room.

“Kashton Wystan, do not walk away from me.” I storm into his room after him.

“What do you want from me, Athena?” His tone is angry but I don’t feel like that’s what it really is, I feel like he’s frustrated because I won’t just let it go.

“I want you to talk to me. We just got through one of the biggest secrets a person can have and that didn’t seem like it was a big deal.”

“I’m not obligated to tell you everything.”

The tone in his voice stings almost as much as his words. “Okay. You’re right. You’re not. I’m sorry I pushed you. But I have another thing I want to talk to you about.”

He sighs and moves until he’s facing me. His arms are folded over his chest. His feet are spread enough that it looks like he might take off at any moment.

“I know that things are not easy for supernaturals or anything. I know that you’ve told me you’re in the middle of a war. But I have a question for you.”

“Spit it out, Athena.”

“Can you turn anyone into a dragon or just your mate?”

His brow pinches, and his frown deepens. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know how any of this works. You said that a mate claims his mate with a bite and that the women have been turning into dragons. If you were to bite me, would I turn into a dragon?”

His hands drop to his side and then he drags his hand over his face. “Why?”

“If I’m a dragon, I’m harder to hurt, kill, and I would be able to protect myself better. I saw what you looked like. As a dragon you’re a powerful creature and I’m willing to bet you have powers that extend to you while you’re in your human form too.”

“Athena…” He shakes his head, his expression turns grave. “I’m not going to turn you into a dragon.”

“Why not?”

“First of all, I don’t know if it’s possible to turn someone into a dragon without the claiming ceremony. Second of all, I’m not turning you into a dragon without you knowing a lot more than you do right now. It’s not the answer to your need to feel safe. It just comes with a new batch of problems.”

“But then I could just stay with you and your family.”

“Athena, you can do that anyway.”

“I thought humans and dragons weren’t really supposed to fraternize.”

“It’s not forbidden to be friends with them,” he says in an unconvincing voice.

I give him a “oh please” look.

“It’s not looked upon well.”

“Since when do you give a shit about that?” I snap. The bristle of rejection stings. He doesn’t want me to be part of his family. He’s too afraid to go against the Elders and probably other dragons.

“I give a shit about you. I don’t want anyone hurting you. I can keep you safe if I’m at a distance. If you become one of the forbidden dragons…for all we know the Elders destroyed the Obsidian Clan. And we don’t know why. We don’t know enough right now. We don’t know that they won’t fucking do it again.”

This time I toss my hands up into the air. I give up. He’s not going to stop being stubborn about this shit and I just don’t know how to convince him. My chest aches where I feel the sting of rejection the most. Why wouldn’t he want me to be a dragon?

The thing I’m coming to realize is that I’m not safe anywhere. No one is. I can set up all the cameras, boobytraps, restraining orders, bars on the windows, and never step outside or trust anyone, but it’s never going to keep safe without also turning me into a prisoner.

Maybe I never stopped being a prisoner.

Now I have a possible fae stalking me for some reason. Either he wants to take me and do all sorts of horrible things to me or he wants something from me. The dragons are in a war and they’re forbidden to really engage with humans unless necessary, it sounds like. Where do I fit?

Then something occurs to me.

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