Page 28 of Dragon Cursed
Not fear.
Wonder.
The dragon practically preened.
Observe, fool, he informed Alsander smugly.Mate likes rain.
You cannot possibly know that.
The dragon ignored him entirely.
Mist curled through the chamber, drifting around the dragon’s enormous body.Water hissed softly against black scales still hot from fire.Tiny curls of steam rose wherever droplets touched him, wrapping him in silver vapor that made the great beast look less like a predator and more like some ancient god dragged out of legend.
And through it all, his focus never left her.
Not for a heartbeat.
The dragon lowered himself slowly onto his forelegs before her.Careful.Controlled.One massive wing unfurled partway, curving overhead to shield her from the heavier runoff cascading from the center of the cavern.
Shelter.
The gesture hit Alsander somewhere deep and defenseless.
Three centuries alone, and the dragon already knew how to make room for another heartbeat beside their own.
Mate should be treasured, the beast said simply.
Poppy stepped closer.
Rain silvered her hair.Dampened the shoulders of her sweater.She lifted one tentative hand toward the dragon’s lowered muzzle.
Alsander panicked instantly.
Too close.
The dragon remained perfectly still.
Even the smoke stopped.
Her palm touched black scales.
The entire beast shuddered.
Not violently.Not with hunger.
With something so profound Alsander nearly lost hold of himself inside it.
Joy.
Pure and terrible and ancient.
Mine,the dragon thought softly, no longer triumphant about it.No longer possessive.
Only awed.
Ours.
Her eyes widened with awe, not fear.
