Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
“How do I know that’s true?” Seeing one cup of her bra showing through the torn fabric of her shirt, Ciel tried to shield herself and grimaced at the smear of blood left on the fabric.
“I know about Silly, Little one.”
“Silly?” she repeated, as if she didn’t have a clue what he was talking about.
“A silver dragon you wouldn’t leave the toy store in Wyvern until your mother bought him.”
There was no way he knew about Silly unless someone in her family had told him. She took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to calm her thudding heart.
Studying him, she scanned in his handsome face. She wasn’t usually a beard fan, but the facial hair softened his chiseled jawline. And those eyes. The unusual color of ice blue. They seemed to look through her.
“Where did the dragon go?” she asked.
“I’m the dragon, Ciel. I’ll fly us back to Wyvern when you’re ready,” Argenis told her.
“My mom sent a flying lizard to save me?” At this point, Ciel was sure she was hallucinating.
“Dragon.”
“Sorry, Dragon.” That seemed to be important to him.
“Thank you. You were unaware of the dragon guardians of Wyvern?” he asked and seemed to be baffled.
“My grandmother told me stories about them, but I thought it was like a legend,” she admitted.
“We did too much to hide ourselves,” Argenis said, shaking his head.
“There are more of you? Dragons?”
“Wyvern has nine dragon guardians. There are others scattered around the world.”
“How is that not on the evening news?” she asked, pressing one spot on her ribcage that stung. Her hands came away stained with a small amount of blood.
“You hurt yourself, Little one. I will not allow that. It’s time to get back so I can tend those wounds,” he said, walking forward.
“Are you really here to take me home?” Ciel asked, ignoring his statement. Why would he take care of her?
“Yes. You belong in Wyvern.” He placed a hand on the small of her back to help her up to the road.
Once she was there, he stepped back to scan her body. Before she could protest him checking her out, he reached over his head to grab a handful of his shirt. The breath wheezed out of her lungs at the sight of his chiseled chest. Afraid she was making a fool of herself, she tore her gaze away.
“You’re bleeding.” He used his shirt to wipe her arms clean and dabbed at the injuries revealed by the tear in her shirt and another one in her jeans. “I’m sorry I frightened you, Ciel.”
“You only scared part of me,” she answered defensively.
“I’m glad, Little one.”
After flinging his shirt over his shoulder, Argenis held his hand out for hers. “Let’s go home.”
When she placed her hand in his, a sharp heat built on her skin. She pulled her hand free, joking, “Now I know not to touch you. Dragons are hot.”
His eyes blazed silver, and he held out his hand for hers. “You’ll be fine now,” he assured her.
Ciel tentatively touched his skin and when she felt nothing but normal body heat, she rested her hand fully on his. “Better. I guess I’m lucky you can turn that off.”
“The mating heat is normal. It passes after the first touch.”
He helped her back up on the road as she considered that statement. “Mating heat?”
“May I explain everything to you when we get back to Wyvern?” he asked.
“Definitely.” At home, she could be safe and figure out what was going on. He seemed normal, but…
“Let’s head to that cleared space.”
His hand pressed against the back of her shirt as he guided her. Ciel instinctively stepped a bit closer, so her arm touched his bare chest. She didn’t understand, but she needed the contact. His arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. Yes. Better.
“Is it different there?” she asked, to distract herself. Maybe her home would be unaffected.
“It’s safe. Technology is gone everywhere.”
Ciel shook her head as the reality of how much her world had changed. “I should have skipped finals.” Or the last two years, she thought dejected.
“This is a good place. I’ll have you home soon.”
His voice was soft and comforting. That one bit of kindness broke her. Tears burst from her eyes as all the struggles of the last twenty-four hours registered on her. She’d even lost her childhood friend. “He took Silly.”
“Who took your stuffie?”
“A man on a bike with a trailer. He stole my suitcase and threatened me with a knife.”
“I spotted him about three miles in front of you. He’ll be further now. Let’s go get Silly.”
“You’d bother with a stuffed dragon?” she asked, amazed as the world fell apart, this man—beast—cared.
“Yes, Little one. Come. We’ll pick up Silly and head home to take care of you. When I change, step on my front foot and climb up to straddle my neck. You will need to hold on.”