Page 38 of To Fall for a Dragon

“I see.” Hakko didn’t think anything else needed to be said.

Once Hakko was sure nothing was amiss and no dangerous energy was left behind, they went back to the main part of the museum. Caden wandered off to the upper floors, and Darius meandered toward the letters. Hakko watched Darius as he touched the glass cabinet with a small amount of reverence.

Hakko understood that Darius shouldn’t be alone, so he remained with him. Without disruption, Hakko discreetly adjusted the Valentine’s Day decorations and brushed crumbs off the chairs. He peered into the other displays to make sure everything was still perfect. He wished that he could have stayed longer at the gala to witness people’s reactions to his exhibit.

“Did you know that some of your letters have magic winding through them?” Darius asked, hushed. Hakko peered around and saw he was still looking at Poe’s letters.

“I do,” Hakko said. He was curious to see where Darius went with this line of questions.

“It feels like the author went into my heart and poured everything out on the page. It’s disconcerting.” Darius’s voice cracked, and he sounded so raw it physically hurt Hakko.

“I thought you had friends?” Hakko asked delicately. He wasn’t sure why Darius seemed so lost when he was one of the most powerful people in town. He was a confident bastard, willing to hurt someone if it meant they saw the truth.

“Mentor, big brother. Isaac is my best friend but still so new. Adam and Trey are a challenge. They think I have all the answers and get fucking pissed when I don’t have what they want. I’m such a fucking fraud.” Darius didn’t look at Hakko. His attention remained on the cabinet in front of him. “I’ve racked my brain so many times. I’ve gone over everything so often, and I just don’t know where the fuck I went wrong. I’m not a saviour or hero. I’m a goddamn loser.”

Hakko took a deep breath and released it. Darius’s dark words concerned him. The game face he showed the world was cracking, and underneath, Hakko could see the fear and the worry defeating him.

“Would you like to come to my apartment later to speak with Poe?” Hakko offered, and he cringed as the words exited his mouth. Would Poe be willing to meet with Darius?

“I don’t want to interrupt your evening. This is bloody stupid. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just these letters and then what your Poe did. I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“Stop by mid-evening. Bring Bale and talk to us. You need this, Darius. You’re going to crack if you don’t share,” Hakko said firmly. Darius’s wavering sealed his fate. He needed an ear and a shoulder, it seemed.

When the sun finally set and the museum locked its doors to the public, Hakko found himself in his workroom, hovering around the closet where Poe had sequestered himself. It wasn’t the first time he had done it that day. His ear found its spot against the steel door, and he listened for sounds, even though Poe was silent in his death state. Feeling his presence soothed the dragon within Hakko.

Bones popped and creaked, and the first gasp warned Hakko that Poe was waking up. He restrained himself from barging in. He didn’t want to interrupt any rituals Poe might have as he greeted each day.

The door creaked open, and Hakko laid eyes on his Poe.

“Hakko? What are you doing?”

“You left. You weren’t there, and I was worried,” Hakko complained before sighing. That wasn’t supposed to be the first thing he said. He was going to give Poe time to explain.

“Were you here all day? Really? Hakko.” Poe frowned and shook his head. “Your room wasn’t good for me. Vampires have an instinct to go to the safest spot when dawn approaches.”

His movements were sluggish as he shuffled to Hakko and rested his head on Hakko’s chest. He hugged Hakko in his odd way before continuing on. Hakko followed him, baffled by the situation.

Poe wandered to Hakko’s apartment, where he waited patiently for Hakko to open it. Hakko pursed his lips as he tried to understand what Poe was doing, but Poe was acting so random that Hakko shook his head and went to the kitchen to make a drink.

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Hakko admitted. He stood by the mug cupboard, touching Poe’s mug. Poe had been there less than a week, and he had his own mug. It would break Hakko’s heart if Poe said he needed to leave.

“Me neither. But this place, I feel safe. So, I thought we could talk here?” Poe suggested, meeting Hakko’s eyes. Hakko studied Poe and saw happiness and confidence in Poe’s bloodred eyes. Hope and acceptance with a dash of fear gazed back at him.

“Really? Really? You want to discuss your future with me?” Hakko’s heart filled with effervescent joy. He had been willing to wait for Poe. If Poe had decided to go back north, Hakko would have accepted it, grumpily, grudgingly, but he would have agreed. He would have been content to be at Poe’s side without a declaration. But Poe bringing the topic up on his own meant everything to Hakko.

“I thought maybe it would be a good idea? Because honestly, Hakko, you’ve and I’ve… I’m happy.”

Hakko came around the island and kissed Poe, all his emotions overflowing. He gathered Poe in his arms and set him on the island top, still kissing him. Tears trickled down the side of his face as he told Poe without words what Poe had done to him.

Poe wound his arms around Hakko’s neck, touching Hakko’s cheeks with gentle fingers. “I didn’t mean to make you cry. This wasn’t that kind of news.”

“I don’t care. These are good tears. Dammit, Poe. What you do to me,” Hakko whispered. He offered his heart through his kiss, and Poe accepted it reverently.

“I didn’t want you to worry about me. Not when you seem to have so many other issues to be concerned about.” Poe swallowed, but the light in his eyes was clear. He had resolve, and that was the important part.

“Oh, Poe, my love. We have all the time in the world. I believe in the people of this town and that mess will resolve itself soon enough. Darius, my friend—he’s determined to rid the town of this monster.”

“It doesn’t matter though. I made my choice when you did everything in your power for me. No one else had ever done that, and I like it.”

---