Page 12 of To Fall for a Dragon

Poe blinked back stinging tears. He hadn’t expected emotions to overwhelm him. He didn’t think he had any left. He had survived on existing. “He’s… he was a great guy.”

“I’m sorry, Poe. I didn’t mean.” Hakko trailed off.

Poe shook his head and blew out some air. Now wasn’t the time to talk about that shit. Those emotions and feelings were buried deep inside himself. “I’m shocked they survived.”

“It means you weren’t forgotten.”

“None of my concern. Seeing them once more was all I cared about,” Poe lied. He wanted them. He longed to see them burn. No reason for anyone to witness his undying devotion to a man who couldn’t love him back. Hakko might think good of him, but Poe had almost ruined a man’s life by sending those letters.

“Right.” Hakko pursed his lips together and straightened his shoulders. “When the previous people were renovating the museum to make it more exhibit-friendly, we also stumbled upon a handbound book. It was a love story between a?—”

“Stop talking. This has nothing to do with that.” A full-body shiver went through Poe. He didn’t expect Hakko to chat about anything but the letters and then he brought up the book as well? An item he thought he had kept hidden for so long? No, Poe wasn’t going to hear this at all.

Hakko went quiet. He cocked his head to the side and studied Poe with the intensity of his dragon before speaking in a low tone. “It was well done, and I enjoyed the story very much. When it was first written.”

“Doesn’t matter. Anyway, look at that. I’ve warmed up. I should probably?—”

“Poe.”

One word stopped him from gathering up his things. One word filled Poe with longing. Fucking dragon. Poe didn’t have time for this. He had plans. He had a life to return to.

“You—”

“You know what? Maybe I’ll retrieve my letters now. I’m here, I’m fed. I have the energy and then I can get out of your hair once and for all. Sound good? Good.” Poe scraped the chair across the tile floor as he stood. He’d brave the angry house with its deadly spirits to steal the piece of trash. The story wasn’t meant for anyone’s eyes but his. It was his darkest dreams and nightmares all at once. He walked to the door separating Hakko’s home from the rest of the house. Just as he turned the doorknob, Hakko wrapped an arm around his middle and swung him around to the cozy room.

“Listen to me, Poe. I found that story a long time ago. It was aimed at me. I read it when I had no clue that Granite existed. Somehow it crossed dimensions to land on my lap,” Hakko said, and he bullied Poe into the room with the big fireplace.

Poe refused to listen. It was childish and dumb, but if he didn’t hear what Hakko was saying, he could pretend nothing important had been said, that Hakko hadn’t known his story. He’d knock Hakko unconscious and then grab his letters and disappear. Ontario was big. No one had been able to find him before.

“Poe, are you listening to me?” Hakko asked grumpily. Poe blinked and found himself the focus of golden reptilian eyes and an unhappy dragon. His brown horns were pointed, and smoke steamed out from his nostrils.

“Did you always have horns?” Poe asked, trying to remember. He’d never noticed them before. Or maybe he had. Hakko's emotional upset was distracting.

“Yes, Poe, they’ve been there since we met. Now pay attention to me. Whatever you’re thinking, whatever your intent is, I need you to not. You’re threatening to steal something from me, and I cannot, will not, allow it. You have thievery on your mind, and it’s pissing me off.” Hakko sat on his haunches in front of Poe.

“How do you know? And by the way, I’ve been planning this for a long time.” Poe crossed his arms. A frisson of fear and confidence wound its way through Poe, making him cocky.

“Your intent is pretty much concrete. I realize those letters are yours, technically. But they’re mine,” Hakko said with a roll of his shoulders.

“What? No, you can’t do that. That’s not fair.” Poe blinked, and his need to reclaim what was his disappeared as Hakko’s point was made. “Why do you get to keep them?”

“Finder’s keepers.” The draconic anger staring Poe in the face faded until the calm Hakko was all that’s left. “Poe, I’m a dragon.”

“I got that from the scales, horns, and smoke,” Poe retorted on reflex. He itched to touch the small horns on Hakko’s forehead, curious to know their texture.

“Dragons hoard and get very grumpy when things are removed without their permission from the hoard. Your letters, my story…” Hakko paused as though waiting for Poe to react.

“As much as you say they're all yours, I was the one who wrote them.” Poe rallied once more, but the steady glazing in Hakko’s eyes had him retreating. “This isn’t worth the hassle. I’m done for the night. So, I think I’ll call it. Thank you for the, umm, tea and talk. It was nice.”

“Poe.” Again, with his name. Poe struggled out of the plush chair and pushed the stubborn dragon out of his way. He went to the back door where Hakko wouldn’t become too cranky.

He reached for the cuff of the big sweater he wore and paused. It was so warm, and it smelled like home. When he held onto the shirt's waistband longer than necessary, he gave up and left. Hakko could afford to purchase another sweater. Poe needed a small token of this visit.

His letters would be in his hands as soon as he woke from the day sleep. He’d take a chance when Hakko was distracted and then Poe would disappear. Hakko would forget all about him, and he'd be okay with that. He’d done it before, and Poe was willing to try his luck again.

The cold was biting, and Poe was tired. He refused to glance back at the lit cottage, knowing that he was walking away from his dreams. Hakko offered something that Poe had never hoped for or felt that he could have. He deserved must and mould, decay and darkness. He was a vampire, for fuck's sake. He was the progeny of a sociopathic asshole. Poe was going to steal from a bloody dragon. How on earth was that the action of a good person?

What Poe was doing was the right thing. He’d leave well enough alone, and Hakko would be all the better for it. He didn't need a broken-down vampire holding him back.

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