Page 17 of Enchanter of Dragons
“Oh.” Fersen was taken aback. “Then what?”
“Come back to Valzerna with me.”
It wasn’t a solution as simple as that. “I have nowhere to go, and the victors’ bonus money you gave me isn’t anything close to what I would need to make my own home in a forest away from people.”
“I know you do not care to live around people, but you would be safe in the Valzerna castle. You could work as one of the Enchanters, which would let you earn your own money. That would give you the freedom to not depend upon me or anyone else.”
As much as Fersen felt he should protest, the offer was the best option he had for not only finding a place to live safely but also having money to take care of himself. “But I don’t want to be a burden?—”
“You would not be a burden. It would give me great peace of mind knowing you were safe within our walls where I can protect you, instead of out in the woods by yourself, at risk from anyone who hears a rumor about a mythical unicorn shifter and wants to take you for themselves.”
It was a valid and very real threat Fersen faced when alone. “You would still want to protect me?”
Jaega’s expression softened. “Of course. It is my honor to protect you, although you will obviously be in no danger at the castle.”
“What would I do without you?” Fersen asked, tearing up again. He had too many emotions swirling within him.
Jaega reached over and caressed Fersen’s cheek. “Thankfully, you will not have to find out the answer to that question.”
Fersen didn’t have the wherewithal to figure out what Jaega meant by that statement. But he really hoped the dragon shifter was interested in him as more than a mere ward. It would be too heartbreaking if Fersen was the only one feeling the pull of attraction between them.
* * *
When Fersen awoke in the morning, he realized two important things: his heat had begun, and Jaega was on the opposite side of the cave instead of curled around him like they had been last night. Was it because Jaega was disgusted by him? Fersen couldn’t judge from Jaega’s expression, but his amber eyes were rimmed with the glowing orange of his dragon.
“I-I’m sorry,” Fersen stammered, feeling like he had failed Jaega somehow. It was ridiculous when he had no control over his heat, but it was unbearable thinking that Jaega was keeping his distance in distaste.
“There is no need for apologies.” Jaega’s voice was a dark rumble, even more so than normal. It sent shivers down Fersen’s spine as heat pooled in his belly and spread all over. “You are fine.”
“Am I?” Fersen asked with a borderline hysterical bubble of laughter. “Because my heat is the last complication I needed right now. And now you’re over there in disgust and?—”
“Do not mistake my distance as disgust,” Jaega said, the orange glow in his eyes brightening as more of it overtook the amber. “We—Iam over here for your protection.”
The comment baffled Fersen. “Protection? From what?”
“My dragon. He is quite taken with you, so I separated myself to keep him in check.”
Fersen’s flushed cheeks weren’t only because of his heat. “He is?”
“Very.” The single word came out as a sensuous purr that made Fersen ache for Jaega.
It was a difficult question to ask, but Fersen had to know the answer. “He’s interested in me, but you’re not?”
Chapter11
Jaega
The hurt in Fersen’s voice pained Jaega and his dragon’s heart. It frustrated him that Fersen was mistaking his restraint for repulsion when that was the furthest thing from the truth.
Jaega didn’t want to confess and burden Fersen with his feelings, but he didn’t see any other way of making the unicorn shifter feel better. “It is not just him.”
The color in Fersen’s cheeks deepened. “Oh?” He looked almost coquettish in an all-too-tempting manner.
“I do not wish for you to think I am selfishly taking advantage of you or your heat, so?—”
Fersen interrupted. “I don’t think that at all. There’s nothing selfish about you.”
“Still, I am quite certain you would find the current thoughts running through mine and my dragon’s mind objectionable at best, offensive at worst.”
