Page 22 of Samuel
“Most of my kind have gone into hiding,” Samuel explained, his voice calm but firm. “But some… some have gone rogue. The one I’m hunting is dangerous, Blake. More dangerous than you realize.”
I didn’t know how to process this. The thought of dragons—actual dragons—being real, living among us, sent my mind spinning.
But it wasn’t just the revelation that rocked me.
It was the way Samuel looked at me, the way the bond between us hummed with life, with power.
There was something raw in his gaze, something that called to me, even though I knew I should resist.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Samuel’s eyes softened, the golden hue fading.
“I didn’t want to scare you,” he said.
I laughed bitterly. “Too late for that.”
For a moment, we just stared at each other, the silence between us heavy with unsaid words.
My mind was racing, trying to make sense of it all—dragons, rogues, the bond between us that felt like it was tightening around my heart, drawing me closer to him even when I wanted to pull away.
But the truth was, I wasn’t scared of Samuel. Not really. I was scared of what being near him made me feel.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Blake,” Samuel said softly, as if reading my thoughts.
“I know,” I whispered back, surprising myself with how much I meant it.
His hand reached across the table, his fingers brushing mine, and a jolt of electricity shot through me.
The bond flared, and for a moment, I could feel the depth of his emotions—his protectiveness, his possessiveness, his desire.
And just like that, I realized I was in deeper than I’d ever thought possible.
I wasn’t sure what scared me more: the fact that I was sitting across from a dragon shifter, or the fact that I was starting to feel like I didn’t want to leave.
“I’m still leaving,” I said, though the words sounded hollow even to my own ears.
Samuel’s lips twitched into a knowing smile. “If you like.”
The strange, almost tender moment between us shattered when we both heard a loud thump from outside.
My heart leapt into my throat.
Samuel’s face hardened instantly, the warmth in his eyes replaced with the sharp focus of a predator sensing danger.
“Stay here,” Samuel ordered, his voice low and firm.
Of course, I didn’t listen.
As he moved toward the door, I was right behind him, my own fear tangled with the strange sense of protectiveness I felt toward him.
Maybe it was because of the bond.
Maybe it was because, for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t facing something dangerous alone.
But there was no way I was staying back.
Samuel’s hand shot out to stop me, holding me back with an almost casual ease.
