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“Among other things.”

“So many fear what you are.”

“They always will.”

“Not necessarily.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “How so?”

“Even if that sort of fear can’t actually be overcome, it can be mitigated. And something else can be put in its place. Like reverence for what you are. And, more importantly,whoyou are as a person, irrespective of your abilities and all the complications, judgments, and expectations that come along with that.”

“That’s a nice sentiment.” Her eyes narrowed. “Butyoudidn’t befriend me, or prepare this striking picnic because ofwhoI am, as you don’t even know me. You did it, and you’re drawn to me solely because of my power.” She stepped up to me,animosity breaking forth and a whole lot of indignation. “So, tell me, what do you want from me? What exactly do you want my abilities for?” She gestured at the picnic. “Let’s cut the shit and get it right out in the open, shall we? Move things along.”

Whoa.She really was an enigma. The face she showed to the world wasn’t her real one. She’d seemed downtrodden and kind of like a pushover, somebody who just went along with what others wanted, especially where the whole Kai Hunter thing was concerned. But this that she was doing here, confronting me and even calling me out, it was a far cry from that.

It wasstrong.

She was being commanding and refusing to take the bullshit.

And it was honestly turning me the fuck on.

I fuckinglovedit and respected the hell out of it.

“I need a spell imbued with Celestial might.”

She arched an eyebrow. “You’re going to need to be much more specific.”

“I can’t be, gorgeous.”

“Why not?”

I grinned. “Because I’m screwing around. I don’t want a spell. I don’t need your power for anything specific. That’s not what this is about for me, nor why I was drawn to you. I mean, your might technically was, but I wasn’t drawn to you for the purpose of using you to do something for me.”

“I don’t understand.”

I folded my arms across my chest and shifted my weight. “I’m a freak on a pedestal. Just like you. Or, just like you think of yourself in relation to others.”

“What? You’re a dragon. There’s an entire realm of beings just like you.”

“I’m the strongest of my kind, my power unmatched. And there are also certain things I can do that others can’t.”

“Certain things?”

“I can’t share that with you at this stage. Not until trust is built.” I stepped closer and she stood there unmoving watching me determinedly, but curiously. “But when I felt your power the day you reached magical maturity, I felt a kinship of sorts, a connection that I’ve never experienced before, one I never thought possible for me. So, when I was cast out and sent here due to a violent misunderstanding, it wasn’t all bad, because I knew I’d run into you, the one who I felt.”

“Dragons are notorious for latching onto might and becoming fixated on those who hold it.”

“This is different. I connected to the outcast in you. The abomination that you believe you are, that I am as well. Now, I don’t give a fuck that others see me that way, I embrace it. But itisa lonely existence. You, though, you change that last part irreparably. Andthat’swhy I want to befriend you and be around you, to get to know you, be in your presence.”

“That’s… brutally honest.”

“Well, you made it clear you wouldn’t stand for any bullshit. Strange, considering the Kai situation.”

“Don’t you worry, Kai will be getting that message soon enough.”

“Huh. So, what’s changed?”

“It doesn’t matter. What does is that you’ve convinced me.”