Page 42 of Dragon Mine (Dragon Kings 2)
Chapter Sixteen
Eurwen didn’t know if it was hearing about what’d happened from Vaughn, being at Dreagan, or a combination of both, but the story impacted her in ways she hadn’t been prepared for.
She knew the story. Erith had told her and Brandr multiple times, but the goddess either hadn’t known some details or had chosen not to tell them. Whatever the reason, learning the specifics altered Eurwen’s perception. She had seen the pain in Vaughn’s eyes, heard the distress in his voice.
Felt the bitterness and ire through his grip on her hand.
Walking through Dreagan Mountain and looking at the dragon carvings had been like a punch in the gut. They were so detailed, so beautifully done that even a blind person would’ve seen the hope and promise in them. All of that, coupled with learning that Vaughn had had a stillborn with a mortal, nearly brought Eurwen to her knees.
The raw emotion as he spoke of that event, even so many millennia ago, choked her.
They stood with the Silvers for a long time, silent and lost in their respective thoughts. Eurwen wanted to take the dragons back with her. However, she wanted all the Kings to come with her to see her world—a place like they had once had. She knew it wasn’t possible, but she wished she could make it happen.
Despite everything the Kings had endured, they remained optimistic and sanguine. She wasn’t sure she could in the same situation. And if she were to believe Vaughn, that was all because of her father. Constantine, King of Dragon Kings.
“Show me more,” she urged Vaughn.
With a smile, he turned and drew her with him as they walked from the cavern back to the tunnel. She glanced down at their joined hands, wondering why it felt so right that they were touching. Without Brandr there to judge her, she accepted not only enjoying Vaughn’s touch but also craving it.
He took her through a door out of the mountain that brought them to the conservatory in the manor. Eurwen was amazed at the number of plants in the room. Each was lovingly cared for. She walked through them, unable to contain her smile.
Vaughn grinned at her. “It’s one of my favorite places.”
“It would be mine, as well. There’s something peaceful about being surrounded by plants.”
Once they left the conservatory, he took her on a quick tour of the downstairs, showing her the enormous kitchen, the dining room with a table that went on for days, the jaw-dropping library, sitting room, and on and on. Eurwen couldn’t wait to explore both the library and the kitchen more. Though, she was curious about the dining room. She’d like to take a closer look at the pictures and pieces of art.
But she forgot all of that as Vaughn led her up the stairs to the fourth floor. There were so many doors.
He pointed to the left. “Ryder’s computer room is all the way down there. He’s our computer and electronic expert, and his mate, Kinsey, is nearly as good. If you ever need something from him, bring him some jelly donuts, and he’ll do anything you ask.”
Eurwen laughed, wondering what the computer room looked like. Most likely, it held all the latest and greatest gadgets from the tech world.
“My chambers are this way,” Vaughn said as he led her to the right.
Eurwen’s blood pumped faster with every step. Finally, he paused midway down the corridor, stopping in front of a room on the left. His Persian blue eyes met hers as he turned the handle and pushed the door open. He swept his hand before her, urging to go first.
Eurwen stepped inside and let her eyes roam over Vaughn’s possessions. To her right was a black marble fireplace with a jet-colored decorative mantel. On it was a large picture of a beautiful stag with a dark background. On the left side of the painting were two gold and two silver candlesticks with simple cream candles. On the right side was a single gold candlestick and two silver. The darkness of the frame and the picture sinking into the black fireplace made it almost appear as if the buck were jumping out at them.
Two striking and unique leather chairs with a lived-in and worn look were situated near the hearth. Beneath them lay a simple cream rug that added texture to the wood floors. Her gaze swept along the outside wall, painted an off-white, the windows framing a stunning view of the mountains. A sword hung between the two windows, its blade pointed down, a focal point of the room. The baseboards, crown molding, doors, and window trim were all done in a stunning shade that fell somewhere between black and charcoal gray.
Then she saw the bed. The king-sized frame sat large and impressive against the soft cream color of the walls. Somehow, Eurwen wasn’t surprised to find that his bedding was tweed. The texture and colors complemented Vaughn perfectly.
When she was able to tear her gaze away from the bed, she spotted two doors. One was most likely the toilet, and the other his closet. She wondered what kind of clothes he had within. As if reading her mind, he walked to a door and opened it with a smile.
Eurwen happily walked in, then came to a halt as she saw the size of it. His suits were hung perfectly spaced apart and color-coded. His dress shirts, regular shirts, jeans, and jackets…everything was pristine. His sweaters were folded neatly and set on shelves. His ties rolled and settled in a pull-out drawer. But it was his footwear that awed her. One entire wall from floor to ceiling was filled with shoes.
She would’ve remained, opening other drawers, but he took her hand and led her to the other door. Eurwen’s mouth fell open. Just like the bedroom, the bathroom was Vaughn. The floor was white tile. A black clawfoot tub with a white interior rested against a black wall. A black vanity with white double sinks sat below a mirror with a black frame that hung on a wall with tan houndstooth wallpaper. Black towels hung on black rods near a shower of black tile with white and tan accents.
“What do you think?” Vaughn asked.
She turned to him. “It’s beautiful. And very you.”
“Will you stay with me here tonight?”
“Yes,” she replied with a nod.
