Page 12 of So I Dared a Dragon (The Mating Game #6)

twelve

. . .

Aarix

Calista’s face fell. She’d lit up the moment she started telling me about painting and had enthusiastically started recreating the mountain range—the painting was still in its early stages, but her talent was already clear.

She put down the brush and took a hearty sip of wine.

“You didn’t come for me after all, did you?”

“I said I was considering someone,” I repeated. “I never felt a bond with anyone until I met you.”

Her lips curled into a wobbly smile. “But still, you want to liberate them.”

“Yes, I do.” I sighed. “I didn’t mean to make you doubt my loyalty to you. But it’s important that we’re honest with each other.”

A human might not have realized she jumped, but I certainly didn’t miss it. My mate was questioning me.

“What do you think you might find in those mountains?” she asked.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been inside the Rocky Mountains.” Even in the darkness, they were an imposing presence on the horizon. “Nothing on the outside looks the same as I remember, of course. They were an advanced thunder, and they had an amazing village. But there’s no telling what they would’ve been able to accomplish inside the mountain.”

“I’m looking forward to finding out,” she said, but she was slightly distant.

It was only a first date, and we were far from alone, I reminded myself. And everything was different this time. I was nervous too.

And I had a feeling there was something she wasn’t telling me about her pack. How could her family abandon her so easily?

“Do you want to try?” She offered the paintbrush.

“Yes.” The brush was too small for my hand. My talons hadn’t shifted away. I dipped the brush into the water, dropping it and making it splash onto the table.

“You don’t have to paint,” she said, sliding the box closer to me. “The nice thing about art is there aren’t any rules. It’s all about the vibe. How you’re feeling. It gives you a way to express yourself when words aren’t enough.”

“You never seem like you’re at a loss for words.” I considered the supply box and pulled out a cylinder of gold glitter.

“There are a lot of things I hold back on,” she chuckled. “I’m so excited to see what you do.”

My gaze was squarely on her. “I don’t want you to hold back on anything. Whatever you want to say, you can tell me. No secrets, no misunderstandings.”

She nodded. “I’m glad you told me about the dragon from the Rocky Mountain thunder.”

I poured out some of the glitter and tapped my fingertips into it.

“Careful,” Calista warned. “Glitter tends to stick around.”

“So do I.” I grinned as I pressed my fingers carefully onto the canvas. I didn’t want to ruin what she’d done. “I never thought I’d see stars again.”

“I can’t imagine.” Her voice was breathy. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

“The stars were worth the wait.”

“So were you.” Her breath caught in her throat. “I don’t know if it’s my place to say this, but I’m glad you didn’t shift completely to human. I would’ve really missed that if you had.”

“I’ll shift again.”

“I know. But once you get settled into life here, you’ll be surprised how much time you spend human.” There was sadness in her voice. “The world isn’t built for our animals.”

“I realized I’ve never seen you as a wolf.”

“Sometimes it feels like I have a separate being inside me.” She knotted her hands together in her lap. “I feel like I’ve abandoned her.”

“We’ll fix that,” I growled.

“I love how you’re not intimidated by the modern world,” she said. “You’re not afraid to be different. It’s so refreshing.”

“You’re pretty brave yourself.” I concentrated on the stars, making sure I added the right amount. “I have a feeling you would’ve stood up to the Night God.”

She laughed. “I’m sure he would’ve taken it really well when I told him to kiss my ass. You did what you thought was best at the time. Sometimes, hindsight can be a real bitch. You can’t change the past, and you can’t control the future.”

“He would’ve admired that insight.”

“Are you saying that I’m evil?” She raised a brow.

“I’m saying that you have better survival instincts than you give yourself credit for.”

She brightened. “I missed you, Aarix. Everyone else just thinks I’m mouthy and reckless.”

“Good thing I’m keeping you this time.” The conversation had taken a heavy turn. My mate had planned a fun date, and I wanted to make sure she didn’t run again. I loved that she was reckless. I turned my attention to the painting. “What do you think it needs?”

“Totally your call. I want to see what you come up with.”

“And I want to make you happy,” I added.

“Okay,” she drew out the world playfully. “I’d be really happy if you rolled up your sleeves. I miss your scales.”

“I have a better idea.” I moved the paints closer to me and opened another vial of glitter.

I tapped her fingers, encouraging her to offer her hand to me, which she did willingly. This coy little wolf didn’t blink in the face of danger, but I didn’t take her trust for granted. I pushed up her sleeve, revealing the velvety soft skin of her forearm.

I dipped my talon into the water and then scraped it into a circle of paint. Goosebumps broke out on her skin when I made contact, but it wouldn’t deter me.

“You’re giving me scales.” The words were little more than a breath.

“So many nights I dreamed about what you’d look with them,” I said softly. I worked with the fiery red of her hair and used the terracotta of the mountains and the stars in the sky as my inspiration. I covered her forearm with the design.

“I love that you frown while you work.” She was doing anything but. “Every true artist has a face they make when they’re in the zone. It’s kind of like a sex face.”

“I’d never frown while I was fucking you, sunshine.”

She gasped, and it did things to my dick that were dangerous. I wasn’t used to holding back with Calista. When she came to visit me in the caverns, it was understood she’d consented to let me use her body as a playground. If we were alone right now, the only thing she’d be wearing were these scales and the light of the moon.

“You’re not happy with your creation.” She picked up her arm and considered it. “Do you want some guidance?”

“Please.”

“It needs dimension,” she offered. “Possibly some texture. If you put a little black, or mix some black into the red on the edges of each scale, it will give them more depth too.”

“You should teach,” I suggested as I studied my work, deciding how to implement her advice. I wanted to wow her. Not be a clumsy, uninspired dragon who hadn’t found the place he belonged on this side of the mountain.

“It’s something I’d like to try.” She watched me work with great interest. “One more piece of advice. Art has no right answers. It’s all about feeling.”

I closed my eyes for a long blink, recalling that image of her, painted with my scales. We weren’t the same color, but we complemented each other. Somehow, I brought those images from my imagination into being.

“Oh, when Calista suggested a paint night, I never thought you’d use each other as a canvas!” Bibi proclaimed. I’d been so immersed in my work I didn’t notice her approach. “That’s quite impressive.”

“It’s amazing.” Calista said. Her smile made the blood sing in my veins. “I wish I could wear it forever.”

“You inspired me.” I pressed a kiss against her forehead. “And I had the best teacher.”

Bibi put her hand on her heart. “That’s so sweet.”

“That’s not something I hear often,” I chuckled and met Bibi’s gaze. “I remember you said the production team would know when it was time to leave Calista and me alone.”

“Aarix!” Calista exclaimed. But the blush that rose in her cheeks told me she didn’t think it was a bad idea. “I know it’s not technically our first date but—"

Bibi’s expression soured. “Tonight wouldn’t be a good night for that.”

I furrowed my brow. “Is it not the custom? Have I disrespected Calista?”

The two friends shared a look that made that song in my veins stop. Calista turned to me.

“When I got to my trailer tonight, there were roses and a box of candy. At first, we thought you sent me a gift.” She swallowed hard. “But when I opened the card, I found another note.”