Page 56 of Jace

It was suddenly clear that he wasn’t a man who could sometimes turn into a dragon. He was both a dragon and a man, at all times, even if she couldn’t see it.

“Susannah,” he rasped.

She stared at him, paralyzed with shock.

He blinked a few times, and his eyes were normal again. When he stepped toward her with his hands out, his posture had turned back into that of a soldier.

“It’s only me,” he told her as gently as if she were a wild stag-mount. “I was allowing the dragon closer to the surface to try to figure out what the scent is that I’m picking up.”

“Did it work?” she asked, finding her voice again.

“A being was here recently,” he told her, taking her hands. “Not Bard, and not us. I can’t say anything more with certainty. The rain is washing things away faster than I can pick them up.”

“Oh,” she said, a shiver going down her spine.

“I’m going to stay out here all night, to be sure it doesn’t come to the house,” he assured her. “The storm is no bother to me. I will protect you and Zeke. But you have to stay inside.”

Zeke murmured his agreement from his place in the sling. He didn’t seem to mind the rain too much, but she didn’t think that would last.

Jace began to lead her back to the cabin, and she allowed herself to be led.

“I saw something,” she remembered. “I was looking out the window to be sure you were okay, and I saw a flash of red fur. I thought I saw the same thing in the woods just outside the clearing where we had our picnic earlier today, when I asked you about the foxes.”

“Thanks for the warning,” he said. “I’ll keep my wits about me.”

She thought of his glowing eyes and hulking posture and felt a little relieved. She was pretty sure no fox would mess with him.

When they reached the cabin, he squeezed her hand.

“Make sure all the doors and windows are closed up and locked tightly,” he told her. “I’ll see you in the morning. And remember, you don’t have to worry. I will protect you.”

He turned and headed back into the storm before she could thank him.

22

Susannah

Susannah awoke the next morning from dreams of wild foxes and glowing, ice-blue eyes.

She sat up quickly and realized that the sun was just rising. The soft light coming through the windows was the palest pink.

She hopped out of bed and hurried through a shower with the door open, in case Zeke woke up and cried for her. Dressing quickly, she tried to imagine what they were going to do with their day. Would Jace just want to stand guard outside?

She felt a pang of guilt over him going without sleep just to keep them safe. She decided she could at least bring him some breakfast.

Just as she made the decision, she heard the sound of Zeke cooing.

“Hello, little one,” she sang out, jogging to his room.

He grinned and danced his legs in the air when he saw her.

She scooped him up, inhaling his sweet baby scent.

“Let’s get you changed and ready for a great day,” she told him.

She was feeling more confident now about how to handle his diaper and how to fit his little arms and legs into a new outfit. Though he was tiny, he was chubby and sturdy. She knew now that if she was gentle and patient, she wasn’t going to hurt him.

Once he was suited up and gurgling on her shoulder, she headed to the kitchen.

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