Page 27 of To Fall for a Dragon

Poe blinked at the change of plans. Hakko had been the one who insisted he come to the gala, and now he was telling Poe to hide? “But Hakko, you said you wanted me to see the party. And I agreed. I was going to peek in for a minute and go away. Too many people, remember?”

Hakko shook his head. “No, it’s not worth it. The demon has made no bones about having you for his own. If he sees you, he will take you, no matter the consequences. I refuse to let that happen.”

“You can’t decide my life for me, Hakko. I know how to defend myself from monsters. I’ve been doing it for a long time.”

“This is different. You’re mine. People will have to go through me to get to you. If I have to lock you up, I will,” Hakko hissed. “I won’t risk your safety or wellbeing. He won’t steal you under my watch.”

“You—you can’t do that either.” Poe crossed his arms defensively as he tried to grapple with Hakko’s declaration. Being that important to Hakko was his every dream, and it put a target on Hakko’s back, which he couldn’t allow. His dragon, whom he was beginning to adore, had grown cold. The warmth he associated with Hakko disappeared, sucked away by the anger and possessiveness riding the dragon. Poe needed to not be here with Hakko. He had to remove himself from the situation. “Hakko…”

“But you’re mine, and you’re here. I can do what I need to make you safe. You understand that I have your best interests at heart, right?” Hakko insisted, stalking Poe.

“It doesn’t work like that, Hakko. I’m not property. I’m not even your… sweetheart. You don’t get to decide what works for me,” Poe explained, frustrated by his lack of skills to communicate. He took a cleansing breath and tried again to be more concise. “Take the time to calm down and think about your highhandedness. You aren’t being rational. I’m going to get cleaned up, and you fix the lobby. It can’t look like this for your guests.”

Poe strode away, tall and unwavering, even as his instincts demanded he scurry. Abandoning an argument was probably not the best tactic when dealing with a frantic dragon, but Poe had to do this, or he would be another man’s property. He’d been down that road when Sawyer stole his life from him. He couldn’t allow Hakko to put him in a cage.

He wasn’t prepared for this Hakko, with his one-track mind. Poe wasn’t sure what to make of it or how to deal with the emotions that came with it. Slipping on his thin coat and worn shoes, Poe exited the building. He’d give Hakko time to ponder his highhandedness, while Poe examined this connection to the cemetery everyone assumed he had.

It was unlikely that Hakko would back down from his stance. He wasn’t the sort of person to give an inch when danger was around.

The wind was bitter as he trudged through the crunchy snow. The ice crystals were sharp on his ankles as he fought to make a path to the abandoned graves.

Once there, the wind vanished, and snow barely covered the ground. It was a cathedral of loneliness and hope. Poe glanced around and sighed. This was his place.

“Uh, hi?”

No one answered. Not that Poe expected anyone to. It was trees and graves. The sense of comfort and familiarity was a relief. He touched the cold stones reverently as he explored each row. Some names were familiar, others not so much.

“I don’t know what makes me so special. People have these big plans for me, and I don’t get it. I just died here. I didn’t do anything.” Poe rolled his shoulders as he spoke. So much pressure was on him.

“Sawyer—you remember him—says the mayor needs me because I made the land sentient. But that was shortsighted on his part. You were always listening,” Poe said, his words catching on the still air. “It’s not a surprise though. I’ve always imagined you as comfort and support. You’ve been kind to me for a lifetime.”

Poe cocked his ear to catch a sound but heard nothing. He continued his vigil around the graves. “I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye to everyone. I was ashamed. Am ashamed. I never should have… this was so dumb. So fucking dumb. Why me? Why would anyone choose me to be their caretaker?”

The trees took exception and rustled threateningly. Poe froze and looked up into the canopy. Nothing was there. The space settled into a stillness that worried Poe.

“You say that I’m your hero? Again, why? You have Hakko. He’s a fucking dragon, and I’m—I live in Northern Ontario in a bush. I have no skills. I don’t know anything!” Poe shouted, and he winced as the trees cried out.

“Poe?”

He spun around and found Hakko standing on the edge of the cemetery.

“I don’t want to be trapped, Hakko. I’d break if you did that to me.” Poe thumped against a tree, done with everything that had happened. He ached to hold on to Hakko, to allow him to give Poe shelter. But if the shelter became a cage, how would that be any different than living in the poorhouse? It wouldn’t; it’d be the same.

“I’m sorry, Poe. So sorry,” Hakko apologized. He gingerly stepped into the secret space of lost souls. The expression on his face shifted to an emotion near to awe and joy. “Oh, the trees. They’re happy and so sad. They wish for you to realize you are a good man. They like you because you chat with them. No one does that anymore. They’ve become lost, and they’re scared. Even the young green god is terrified, and no dryad has taken residence in their trunks. They aren’t scary, are they?”

“You can understand them?” Poe asked. He glanced up at the rustling branches and back at the Hakko.

“I’ve always heard what the land says. I am its caretaker, but you are the one they love. They want you to be happy. No one else was like you. They kept you alive because you deserved a better life than the one you had. You wrote your letters in this location, didn’t you?"

Poe ducked his head, embarrassed at being so open. “It was the safest spot. No one would venture out this way. Too many ghost stories.”

“Poe.” Hakko whispered his name before stepping close enough to gather Poe into his arms. “I’m sorry. I never want you to feel trapped or lost. I’m just terrified the King in Yellow will… anyway. He threatened the museum. He threatened everyone, and I couldn’t stand for that. And you caught me in the aftermath. I said some terrible things.”

Poe nodded and rested his head on his spot, above Hakko’s heart. He could hear the unsteady beat and the pulsing of blood rushing through every artery. “I don’t want to be caged.”

“And I won’t allow you to be,” was Hakko’s swift response. He set Poe away and gazed deep into Poe’s eyes. “You—I never should have said that. I am so sorry. You will always be free to do what’s best for you. My home is a shelter.”

Poe inhaled. He’d accept Hakko’s words for now. But he’d see what Hakko was like after the gala.

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