Page 57 of Claimed By the Dragon

Trahern asked,What is this place? Can you give me any more details?

This is the barrier between the two areas of your mind. Usually, the human half is unaware of its existence. So it’s strange you’re here, for sure.

He tucked that information away for later.So how do we go through since it’s solid under our feet? Is there a ritual or multistep process?

Not a ritual, but more you need to have the determination towantto go through it. And before you ask, I had your voice to guide me through as a child.

But not now. Was that the only way you were able to get through? By using a voice guide?

His dragon grunted.I think so. It was only when I got so lonely on this side that I finally tried to break through the lake. Eventually, I found myself on the other side.

Trahern had never really thought about how solitary it must be for inner dragons as a child. Even if he’d been alone most of the time as a kid, he’d had the options of books or TV or going to school.

His inner beast hadn’t.

Maybe there was a way he could help young dragons break through earlier. However, to do that, he needed to get out of here and wake up again.So, do you have an idea of how to pass through the lake? Can I even exit it?

You have to. Somehow, some way, we need to reach Grace and Eddie and Eli.

A flash of Grace’s brilliant smile, as the sun danced off her glossy black hair, sent a rush of longing through him. Even more so as she waved Eddie and Eli’s little hands at him in farewell, as she often did when he left for work in the morning.

His chest ached, almost as if he were missing something. Which was ridiculous as he was a mental projection.

After sighing, his beast spoke up again.It’s your love for Grace and our sons. Whilst it may be mental, technically, it can affect your body’s responses.

As he tried to digest this—his friend Emily had tried to explain that to him once, but he’d been unable to accept it at the time—a voice rough from overuse filtered through.

Trahern, if you can hear me, open your eyes. Each passing day makes the doctors worry. They try to hide it, but I can tell. Even the boys are fussier than normal, probably trying to figure out why you never move.

The catch in her voice shot straight to Trahern’s heart. He said to his beast,Let’s try passing through the barrier. I can’t bear Grace’s sadness. I just can’t.

His dragon grunted.Right, then let’s give it a go.

As they stood on the mirror-like lake, Trahern focused on the feeling in his chest—the sense of tightness and emptiness, and how much he wanted to hold Grace in his arms before playing with the boys again.

At first, nothing happened. The surface remained firm. But the more he accepted how much Grace meant to him, how much he believed he loved her—he still wasn’t sure if that’s what this all meant—the surface softened slightly.

Slightly, but still not enough.

Then Grace’s voice finally stopped, replaced with crying, and a sense of urgency rushed through him. Trahern focused on Grace and Eddie and Eli. He couldn’t let them suffer. He needed them too, and wanted to be a better male. For them.

And for himself.

For his dragon.

His beast hummed and glowed faintly as they started to sink through the glass lake.

Don’t panic, his dragon said right before they disappeared under the surface and returned to darkness.

Chapter Nineteen

Grace pinched the bridge of her nose and then drank more tea from her mug. After so much talking, she was losing her voice.

It’d been nearly three days since she’d arrived at this secret location. And while Trahern was breathing on his own now, not much else had changed.

Scarlett had just left with the boys, taking them to the childminder so they could sleep. Apparently, this super-secret facility had daycare.

If she weren’t so tired and worried, she might’ve laughed.