Page 4 of To Fall for a Dragon

“The night our worlds joined together in a cacophony of spells. Three very different ones occurred at the same time, creating a perfect storm of chaos and rituals. It drew our worlds together in a giant overlay of land and buildings. The most challenging aspect has been the living creatures. We aren’t getting along as well as everyone had hoped."

“Humans don’t with themselves, so why would they with other creatures?” Poe slow-blinked at Hakko. “I can’t believe that happened here. This was such a small and uneventful town.”

Hakko tilted his head and eyed Poe. Granite wasn’t boring on a good day. And from what Hakko could judge, it’d been a very long time since Poe had been to Granite. “It’s a lively place with some growing pains. You just need to see it in a better light.”

“The people at the café earlier weren’t ones I’d associate myself with. There was much…” Poe furrowed his brows and bit his lip. Hakko ached to rescue the cherry red flesh from the abuse Poe was inflicting on it. “You have bad men in your midst.”

This wasn’t news, but Poe’s knowledge required some answers, and since he had him trapped in his cozy home, Hakko thought he’d take advantage of that. “That is an understatement, but how could you tell?”

Poe ducked his head and clenched his fists so tight that Hakko wished he could take back the question. He didn’t mean to make Poe unhappy or uncomfortable. Poe needed to smile, even just a tiny one. “I went to a coffeehouse earlier before, and a large group of people came tumbling in. One of them was familiar to me.”

“Oh shit. You did stumble onto a hornet’s nest, didn’t you?” Hakko whistled. The café on the corner was cryptid-safe most of the time. Hell, it was run by a wampus cat. However, after every town meeting, the loud ones, the naysayers, always gathered there. To have Poe, who was the odd man out, get caught in their frenzy was terrifying.

“There was a vampire named Sawyer, and he… well, what does it matter… Anyway, he’s a bad man who is in it for himself. He was being introduced to the gathering by a yellow man with bright teeth.”

“Elijah, the mayor,” Hakko nodded. Hakko had been at the meeting and saw the vampire beside Elijah at the front table. He didn’t trust the man. “Sawyer was also there, sitting beside the mayor. He had a presence.”

“He’s an ass. Avoid him when you can. Anyway, I’m not here to deal with him or anything. I just—what’re you doing?” Poe reared back as Hakko came around the island. Hakko winced as he realized that Poe's nerves were still on edge and that approaching him without warning was not a good idea.

“I was just getting the kettle. My apologies for not letting you know. I will not attack you or anything, I swear,” Hakko grumbled. He hated that Poe’s instinct was to strike those near him. Hakko was a good dragon whose job was to protect and provide comfort, something Poe required but was afraid to receive.

A dragon never questioned their urge to offer a shelter. It was innate to them as breathing fire, though Hakko hadn’t done that in millennia. Hakko had to wonder if this desire to save Poe had anything to do with his mistake with Adam Green Man. He had fucked up completely there, and maybe this situation was a chance to rectify that? Hakko pondered the question for a minute. No, something else drew him to Poe, and it was a tickle at the back of his head.

Right now, Hakko would follow Poe’s lead and see where it took them. Hopefully someplace safe and good.

ChapterThree

Poe looked at his shaking hands. The dragon had come close to him, and he had to force himself not to fling himself into Hakko’s thick arms. This quest of his was turning into a bigger ordeal than he had expected. Meeting Hakko and being drawn to him was terrifying. He didn’t have the mental capacity for any of this shit.

This whole side trip was supposed to be fast. Grab the letters and go back to home where he could hide away for another ten years or so. Ever since he returned to this awful town, nothing had gone according to his plan. Poe’s goal had been to grab his mementos. Instead, he found his sire, met a handsome, caring dragon guarding Poe’s treasure, and rediscovered a place in the beginning stages of a minor apocalypse.

He didn’t have time or energy for this. He was tired and ached to return to the ground. A mug of steaming hot chocolate with a rich and enticing scent was placed in front of him. Hakko sat back across from him and eyed him. A smile hovered over his lips as Poe sniffed the drink. An odd aroma hit his nose, and he couldn’t place it.

“I couldn’t find good enough tea for you. I thought you should have something with a bit of oomph to it. So, I made hot chocolate instead. I didn’t do anything but pour hot water. It’s safe.” Hakko scowled as Poe peered into his mug.

Poe pursed his lips and leaned back. He didn’t know Hakko enough to believe him on faith. So often in the past Poe had been taken advantage of, and he was done with trusting his fellows. He was tired of his gullibility.

“It has a scent. I don’t like it,” Poe said frankly. He pushed the mug away, even though the warm ceramic was heavenly on his hands. “I appreciate your hospitality; however, I don’t have time to dilly-dally.”

Hakko snorted and sipped his drink. His glare was intimidating. “I invited you to warm up. You’re still shaking and shivering, and I haven’t gotten you close to the fire yet.”

“This is me as I am,” Poe muttered. “Anyway, I should stop bothering you. Thank you for the drink.”

“You just got here.” Hakko jumped and moved to block Poe from exiting. “Please sit by the fire. You need it. Have some chocolate. I promise it’s safe. Please?”

Poe made a face and glanced around. Everything in the kitchen spoke to him with its cluttered counters and scarred table. He could hear the crackle of a fire in the front room. He longed for this to be real. Hakko’s beseeching face made his resolve wobble. He wasn’t supposed to get attached. He had to find a small space where he could be alone. “I saw an ad for a basement room at the Nokk and Enter Inn. I must arrive before they lock their doors.”

“I can take you. I can phone Jassa now and let her know to expect you in an hour?” Hakko bargained. His big eyes were doe-like and did something to Poe’s fragile heart. He reached for a small phone and held it for Poe to see.

Poe wavered. He didn’t admit that the warmth was nice. It’d been such a long time since he’d been comfortable and in the company of someone who liked his presence. “Fine. Only 'til the drink’s gone. Then I’m not staying here.”

“That’s okay. More than okay. Excuse me for a moment.” Hakko pressed a button on his phone and turned away. The conversation was warm and brief. When he hung up, his bright gold eyes were molten with delight and joy. “Jassa will wait. A room will be ready for you and your specifications.”

Poe scowled. “That should have been discussed between me and the innkeeper. Not you.”

Hakko’s brightness dimmed before he shook it off. He grabbed the two mugs from the counter and carried them through the door to the front room. Two wingback chairs were angled toward a large fireplace. A small table was set in the centre, and Hakko placed the drinks on the surface. “Tell me about yourself. Not the, umm… vampire stuff or Sawyer. But about you?”

Poe stood on the edge of the room. Sitting by the fire and getting cozy with a dragon was a terrible waste of time. He had plans. He needed to rest and take stock of the situation by himself. This whole night was becoming a jumble of new information and emotions, causing Poe to crack under the weight of it all. “This was my home years ago. I went away and then I came back.”

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