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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

M elora? Ridiculous?! Never ! Her words from the day before swam through Aurie’s mind, making his vision turn red. It hurt that she thought so little of herself. Especially since she was becoming increasingly more important to him. He never wanted to let her go.

His tail flicked and thumped against the ground as he paced the magic solarium. He loved her devotion, the way she protected her sister from their father. He admired her tireless passion in caring for others, her quiet humility that never sought praise. Here was someone whose kindness flowed as naturally as breath, matched only by her unwavering work ethic. Mountains of gold didn’t tempt or change her. She was honest. Plus, her unprecedented beauty? Any man would be lucky to marry her.

And now her father and that horrible brute of a suitor were looking for her. She deserved better than the life she had. She should be treated like a princess.

He paused to take several deep breaths. His anger stoking his dragons’s flame. At least he had added that extra protection to his magical border to keep dangerous animals from crossing. He headed to his magical potions shelf, where numerous jars of liquids, powders, and herbs lined the gilded wall, his claws clicking against the tile. It only took him a moment to find the crystal container he was looking for: mirror powder.

Thank Vilastoria, he had thought to place the tracker that allowed him to see and hear what was going on around it shortly after Melora’s arrival. Especially after finding those blasted wolves. He was determined to do everything in his power to protect her. What must her life have been like if her own father wouldn’t protect her?

He sprinkled the mirror powder into the reflection bowl carved seamlessly from stone as part of a Corinthian-style pedestal. He hated the idea of such a beautiful soul being trapped and treated so abominably. He couldn’t regret bringing her here. If only he could shift back into a human and let her know that she wasn’t alone in this. Unfortunately, his anger was too high and he couldn’t shift. He huffed in irritation, smoke curling out of his nose. He could do only so much as a dragon.

Thankfully, magic was one of those things.

It was time to put the mirror powder to use once again. The last two times he had tried since returning from their flight had proven fruitless. Staring into the bowl, he spoke the name of the tracker he had placed days prior. An image of the inside of Melora’s cottage, along with two men, rippled upon the water. He had tossed the small enchanted pebble through the window to glean better information. Thankfully, it had gone unnoticed.

“—mean they brought back nothing? I thought you said you paid a mage to cast a spell on them to find her!” Aurie’s heart raced and his senses tingled as he recognized the angry man. This is what he had been waiting for: proof that her father and former fiancé were responsible for the bewitched wolves.

“I already told you. Some kind of magic blocked them! They were close to her. I’m certain we just need to follow the wolves to find the dragon. And if we find the dragon, we find Melora.”

“We’ve wandered all over those woods already. There is no dragon or gold. Perhaps you remember wrong or you wish to cheat me out of what you promised!” The speaker pounded the table, making the older man jump. “I’m through with playing games!”

Aurie sighed in relief. His obscuring spells were working against the wolves and the men.

Soft footsteps sounded nearby. He waved his claws over the water, erasing the image. No need to upset Melora over this now.

A gentle knock tapped upon the door.

Come in.

Melora poked her head around the door. “Excuse me, Mr. Dragon. I’m sorry to bother you, but have you seen Mr. Aurelius recently?” She stepped further into the room, moving toward him. “I’ve looked everywhere and even knocked on his door, but I can’t seem to find him anywhere.”

He stared at her petite form in shock while his heart fluttered with joy. She was looking for him? This made him wish he could shift even more! Especially since she was wearing his golden jerkin. What did it mean? He shook his head, unable to speak.

She pursed her lips and folded her arms, looking irritated. “After practically demanding I spend time with him yesterday, I was certain I’d see him again, but it seems I was wrong.”

His heart pinched. Was she angry at him still? But she was wearing his jerkin.

“I mean, I thought he at least wanted to spend time with me, but it seems he is licking his wounds. That ego of his.” She shook her head. “He probably just vanished to annoy me and hopes that I’ll miss him.” She released a groan. “Has he always been like this? Sometimes he is just so annoyingly pompous and arrogant! Assuming I’ll want to do something without even asking, especially when I tell him no. But at other times he seems so tender and thoughtful…” She shook her head as if shaking away her unpleasant thoughts.

It felt like a rock had lodged in Aurie’s throat. What could he say to that? She thought him pompous and arrogant? Perhaps it was a good thing he was still a dragon and wasn’t being humiliated right now. I, uh… I’m certain he wants to see you. It was a good thing dragons couldn’t blush, because he was certain he would be blushing. Until he met Melora, he'd never been a blushing man. What was she doing to him?

I mean, who wouldn’t rush to spend time with you? You are kind and beautiful, and you honestly care about all those around you, even terrifying dragons. Not to mention you are hardworking. I can hardly get you to stop cleaning. Valhalla! Your dedication to labor is unprecedented. I swear you would have polished the entire staircase to within an inch of its life had I not slipped and almost fallen down the stairs on top of you.

She chuckled at that. “I’m afraid that’s what I’m used to. We grew up without a mother. Papa said she died giving birth to Nerissa. He didn’t take her death well and began drinking and gambling. Growing up, I did my best to care for Nerissa even though I was just a kid myself.”

And that is exactly what I was talking about. You are an exceptional woman, Melora. Most women your age are only concerned with wealth and making an advantageous marriage, not with taking care of their families.

Aurie remembered the ladies of the court well—they would never have looked at him if not for his title. And after it was swept away? He might as well had been executed.

Melora looked down, fiddling with her dress. “Oh, I’m nothing special. I’m certain there are loads of other women in a situation similar to mine.”

But that’s just it, Melora. You are exquisitely special. There is no one else quite like you. You are exactly the person the Great Creator meant you to be.

A sweet smile danced about her lips, and her eyes glistened as she stood on her tiptoes to wrap him in her embrace, her tantalizing scent weaving through his senses.

Could he love this woman more? Her story made him ache for little Melora, trying to take care of everything and protect her sister on her own. Everything about her was beautiful. Yet now he saw more clearly than ever before that, despite her physical beauty, she was kind and humble. Never had he met someone with a purer heart. He longed to turn into his human form and press her close to kiss her the way she deserved to be kissed.

He groaned inwardly.

Except he was a dragon. And even if he wasn’t a dragon, it would be impossible for him to even touch her. For perhaps the first time, he began to regret the golden curse. When his mother first turned to gold, he had longed for some way to have both her and his miraculous touch.

But Melora? She was worth breaking the spell over. He looked down at the beautiful woman before him in her simple dress with his golden jerkin wrapped around it. Melora was everything he had ever wanted, and she didn’t seem to care about his wealth. Unfortunately, if her words were anything to go by, she also didn’t seem to care for him.

He huffed.

She was still wearing his jerkin… perhaps there was still hope. As for Aurelius, perhaps he improves as you get to know him. I’m certain he didn’t mean to be rude to you.

She laughed humorlessly, her posture stiffening as she raised her chin high. “Didn’t mean to be rude? Not only has he demanded I spend time with him several times, but he woke me before dawn to see the sunrise I had specifically told him I did not wish to see! All he wants is to impress me with his gold anyway—it’s not as if he cares about me! What does he want? For me to ooh and ahh over his wealth? If that’s not rude and arrogant, I don’t know what is!”

He winced. Her words were sharper than a double-edged sword. The rock in his throat turned into a giant boulder. He’d meant to impress her, not alienate her. What, indeed, had he been thinking?

While he regretted his actions—waking her to show off his place had clearly been a colossal mistake— he was determined to shift back into a human and redeem himself. He refused to allow her to continue to think so poorly of him.

Surely as she got to know him better, she would see him as he really was.

* * *

“A letter’s arrived for you Miss.” Lyra interrupted Melora as she was just finishing breakfast, holding out a tray with a crisp letter.

Melora’s heart pounded. Who would be sending her a letter? Who would even know she was here?

Lyra practically bounced on the balls of her feet. “I do hope it’s good news. It’s always delightful to get good news, isn’t it?”

Melora pressed her lips together to contain her mirth. “Yes, thank you, Lyra.” While she liked the younger girl, she was desperate for some privacy to read the letter, especially after seeing her sister’s name. Her heart pounded in her ears. As soon as Lyra left the breakfast room, she ripped the letter open.

In her letter, Nerissa explained how directions had mysteriously arrived for how she could reach Melora, so she was writing posthaste. She then laughed about how Sir Calix had run away with his tail between his legs when the dragon arrived. Apparently, he had returned to the cottage a few times to speak with Papa.

Melora sighed. Nerissa’s words were lighthearted. Everything seemed to be well with her. She could still take in laundry and squirrel away the funds for later. Papa hadn’t lost his temper with her, but then, would she say if he had?

Melora walked down the hallway, tapping the letter against her hand, contemplating all that her sister had said.

She knew she should have done something more before now. There was no telling what was going on that Nerissa hadn’t mentioned. Still, she was profoundly grateful for her letter. The light, happy message lifted Melora’s spirits.

Just then, the letter slipped from her fingers. It fluttered to the ground, skittered across the slick floor, and slid right under a closed door.

Blast!

Light filtered through the crack at the bottom of the door. Heart thumping, she reached for the golden doorknob. She couldn’t remember what was on the other side of this door. Hopefully, it wasn’t another forbidden room.

She glanced nervously from side to side. It wasn’t as if she were doing anything bad. She simply wanted her letter. Inhaling, she pushed the door boldly open, only to feel resistance and hear a thud as it hit something on the other side.

She gasped.

“Styx!” a rich, low voice grumbled.

“Aurelius! Are you okay? I’m so sorry!” She rushed into the room to see Aurelius pressing a hand to his head, his expression pained.

She advanced, pulling out her handkerchief. “Are you bleeding? I feel horrible. I didn’t expect anyone to be on the other side.”

He stumbled backward, arching away from her. “I’m fine. See?” He lifted the hand he’d pressed against his forehead, revealing a nasty bump already purpling with a slight laceration.

Almost unconsciously, she reached out to soothe the wound, while her heart squeezed with concern. “Oh, Aurelius! I’m so sorry!”

“Please, Melora, it’s fine.” He tripped and fell back with an “oomph” onto a nearby chair as he hastily backed away from her.

She tried not to laugh at the picture he made, awkwardly sprawled over the arm of the chair. Her fingers pressed against her lips to contain her mirth. “Oh dear. I seem to make things worse, don’t I? I really should have knocked.”

He grunted.

She reached out a hand. “Here, let me help you up.”

Before she could move closer, he jerked away. The oddest gasping cry tumbled from his lips. “No! No thank you, I-I’m perfectly comfortable here.”

A laugh bubbled out as she clasped her hands together. “I’m not going to hurt you. Are you quite certain? You don’t look comfortable there at all.”

He folded his arms and scrunched down into the seat. “What are you even doing here?” Something about the timbre of his voice made her shiver.

“My letter, it slipped under the door.” She backed up a few steps. “It’s from my sister. I’ve been worried about her. When I dropped it, I didn’t think before pushing the door open to retrieve it—I didn’t imagine you’d be on the other side.” Her eyes flicked to his wound once more. She flinched, covering her eyes in shame. What had she been thinking, bursting into the room like that?

A rustle followed by footsteps tapping against the gold tile made her freeze. The air seemed to thicken around her as Aurelius closed the distance between them. “Please, don’t blame yourself. It was an accident. Of course, you need the letter from your sister. How is she?”

Her breath caught as she looked up at him, noticing again his strong jaw and smooth, rich skin with those piercing blue eyes. The air vibrated between them while tiny dragons seemed to flutter within her. “She seems to be doing well. Reading her letter was a comfort. She said directions for where to send the letter mysteriously arrived one day. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

The smile that creased his lips warmed her right down to her toes. “I may know something about it. I thought you might need to hear from your sister for yourself. Since I know you were worried about her.” He really had done this for her!

She pressed a hand against her stomach as her body leaned toward his, their breath mingling.

Then he looked down and stepped back, breaking whatever had been brewing between them. She straightened, confused, but not completely surprised. The man clearly didn’t like to be touched.

“That must be the letter from your sister.” He indicated a small white rectangle upon the floor.

She nodded.

“Who knew that such a small piece of paper could cause such a scene?”

She chuckled, the tension from earlier seeping out of her. “My sister never knows the trouble she causes.” Melora bent to retrieve the letter. As she stood, she took in the rest of the study. Instead of a classic wooden desk and chair, everything was golden, just as she had come to expect with the rest of the house. And were those paintbrushes? Their black brushes stood out upon the desk among all the gold.

“Do you paint?” She blurted, glancing toward him. Several awkward moments stretched between them, his expression so stricken she felt like she needed to make it right. “I’m sorry, it’s none of my business what you do in your spare time.”

He sighed and shook his head. “Melora, you needn’t apologize, especially not for asking about me. I like that you care.”

Her heart fluttered, and her eyes flew to his. Why would he care about what she thought of him?

“I just…” He pressed his lips together. “I’m not that good of an artist, but yes, I do paint.”

She thought of that gallery filled with beautiful paintings. Were some of those his? “Will you teach me? I’ve never painted before.” Her smile stretched across her face as she thought of watching an artist at work.

His usually confident expression turned somehow bashful. “You want me to teach you to paint?” His eyes flicked nervously around the room. “I’m…I’m not exactly qualified.”

The more she thought about it, the more she warmed to the idea. She had never seen him look so vulnerable. “I’ve never painted anything before, so anything you know will be more than I know.”

“Never?”

“Never had the time or resources.”

Those blue eyes of his were suddenly so intent upon her that she felt like he was going to ignite her insides. “Well then, we’ll have to rectify that.” The smile he flashed her before turning to collect his supplies practically had her melting into a puddle on the floor.