Page 14 of The Baby Dragon Cafe (The Baby Dragon #1)

Chapter 14

A iden was just setting another mark down when suddenly he heard Saphira’s voice. The next thing he knew, he was pushed over. He stumbled, then turned to see flames, and Saphira falling.

“Saphira!” Her name ripped out of him, a panicked cry. He fell to his knees by her side, gently turning her over so she was lying flat. Her arm was burned, red and blistering.

Aiden’s stomach gave out. Dark spots clouded his vision as pain cleaved through his chest. Sparky bounced over, eyes wide.

“What did you do?” Aiden cried. Sparky tried to approach her, but Aiden held up a hand. “No. Stay away.”

With a growl, Sparky stalked off into the field, tearing into a piece of wood with his paws. Aiden didn’t have time to worry about the baby dragon’s tantrum. He rushed to his car, rummaging around for the first-aid kit he kept there. Inside, he found a salve for dragon burns.

Aiden ran back to the field, carefully lifting Saphira onto his lap to apply the salve onto her arm. Aiden applied the medicine generously, and the red skin already looked a bit better—but why was she unconscious?

He touched two fingers to the pulse in her throat. It felt so faint.

Panic poured over him. He shook her shoulders, trying to rouse her, but she didn’t make any movement.

Emotion overwhelmed him, and his eyes pricked with tears. Aiden began crying, cupping Saphira’s face, her body leaning against him.

“Please open your eyes,” he whispered. He didn’t know what was wrong, what had happened; all he knew was that he couldn’t lose her. What would be the point of anything if he lost her?

Then Sparky was there, knocking his head into Aiden’s arm. Aiden looked over to where the baby dragon looked to be concerned. Sparky licked Aiden’s hand, consoling him.

“I’m sorry for snapping,” Aiden whispered. “I got so scared. I know I said I was going to be better, and I’m trying, I promise.”

Sparky nuzzled against Aiden’s side, letting him know all was forgiven. Then he climbed onto Saphira’s lap, rubbing his nose against her face. After a moment, Saphira groaned.

Aiden’s heart started again. Slowly, Saphira opened her eyes.

“What happened?” she asked, trying to sit up. Aiden helped her, holding onto her hand.

“Are you alright?” he asked. “You got struck by dragon fire and fainted.”

“Oh god.” Her eyes widened as she remembered. “I’ve been so tired, and I think I forgot to eat today … and last night …”

“Saphira, you can’t do that,” Aiden scolded, upset. “You have to take care of yourself.”

He was still reeling from seeing her unconscious. He felt as if he was going to be sick himself.

“I know, you’re right.” Saphira looked down at the burn, cringing. Sparky noticed it then, and the baby dragon hissed. Before either of them knew what was happening, Sparky wiped at her arm with his paws, rubbing off the salve.

“Ow!” Saphira cried, as Sparky’s paws scratched against her burned skin.

“Sparky!” Aiden snapped. “Stop!”

He went to pick Sparky up and away, but Saphira said, “Wait a second.”

Having removed the salve, Sparky began licking the burn, and Saphira released a long sigh of relief.

“It’s helping,” she said, looking up at Aiden. “You know dragon saliva heals dragon burns.”

Particularly the saliva of a dragon and its own rider. Aiden vaguely recalled learning this at some point, but he had completely forgotten it in the intensity of the moment.

No wonder Sparky had thrown a tantrum when Aiden told the baby dragon to go away.

As if reading Aiden’s thoughts, Sparky turned around and gave Aiden a seething glance. Aiden returned with a sheepish look.

Saphira sat up fully, still holding onto Aiden’s hand. “Sorry for fainting,” she said.

“Don’t apologize,” he scolded, feeling agitated. Not at her, but the situation. “Now you need rest. That’s enough training for today. I’m taking you home.”

She nodded, and he helped her stand. But then a thought struck her, and she said, “But you wanted to watch the sunset!”

He frowned.

“I’m not worried about the sunset,” he gritted out. “I’m worried about you.”

“Oh.” Her mouth softened, and then she did not protest.

Aiden led her to his car, where he helped her sit, Sparky in the back. He drove her home, his grip on the steering wheel tight. Once they arrived, he parked and helped her inside, Sparky trotting behind them.

“Really, I’m fine,” Saphira insisted, unlocking her front door. “You can go, I’m sure you have things to do.”

Aiden put a finger to his mouth to shush her. She was not fine, and he wasn’t leaving until she was the picture of health once more. Saphira pressed her lips together, biting back a smile.

Upstairs, she let him into her apartment. It was small and cozy, so much like her. He was hit with the scent of roses and took a deep inhale, the dreamlike sensation of being enveloped in her arms overcoming him.

Hand at her elbow, Aiden helped Saphira sit down on the couch, which was a vibrant green color, decorated with floral pillows. Aiden placed one of the pillows behind Saphira’s head, gesturing for her to lie back. He pulled up her legs and slid her shoes off, his hands lingering on the point of contact, the soft and delicate skin of her ankles.

Aiden grabbed a throw blanket and spread it over her body, tucking her in. Saphira settled in, a small smile on her face.

“A girl could get used to this,” she said, pleased.

It was his opinion that she should get used to this treatment. It was very little compared to what he would do for her if she was his.

But that was a dangerous thought. He pushed it away, feeling better now that she was comfortable. He had been restless before but was glad to see her relaxing.

Until he recalled she had said she hadn’t eaten anything. Aiden didn’t trust her to feed herself, so he went to the kitchen on the other side of the room.

“I’ll make you something,” he said. “Just sit still for a few minutes.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he gave her a stern look and she pressed her lips together. “Okie.”

He gave her a glass of water, then went back to the kitchen to take an inventory, looking around to see what he could make. He spotted a few ingredients, a recipe coming together in his head, but his thinking face must have made him appear lost, for Saphira started to get up.

“No, no, stay,” Aiden said, holding up a hand. He looked at Sparky, who was lying down on the kitchen tiles. “Spark, go make sure Saphira doesn’t get up,” Aiden ordered. Sparky perked up, then marched over to Saphira, jumping onto her lap.

“Oof,” Saphira said, as Sparky got comfortable. There was no getting up now.

In the kitchen, Aiden started boiling a half-bag of pasta.

“The cheese is in the drawer!” Saphira said.

He chuckled. “Hint taken.”

She gave him a guilty smile, cheeks pink.

“Where are your vegetables?” he asked, searching the fridge. There was a half-moldy cucumber that he promptly threw out.

“I have potatoes in the cupboard,” she said.

“I mean real vegetables. You know, ones with nutritional value.”

“Um …” She laughed. “Well, I don’t really need vegetables.”

“Riiiiight.”

Luckily, he found a frozen pack of peas and carrots in the back of her freezer, which he pureed into the sauce to trick her.

Ordinarily, he didn’t enjoy new places, but he liked her apartment—probably just because he liked her.

A fact that he needed to grapple with now, one he could no longer ignore. Especially after seeing her hurt made him feel like he’d been punched in the gut. The memory of her fallen body was a painful one, underscoring just how much he cared.

He pushed that agonizing image away and focused instead on right now. His gaze strayed to her on the couch, where she was petting Sparky, talking to him in her baby-voice. Aiden’s chest ached with fondness.

He had never been good at relationships, which was why he’d been single for longer than he’d care to admit. And which was also why he needed to tread slowly and carefully. The last thing in the world he wanted was for her to get hurt—not to mention the fact that he had to be extra careful with Sparky involved.

Sparky adored Saphira, so Aiden needed to ensure his behavior didn’t jeopardize the baby dragon’s relationship with her.

It was probably wise to just stay away entirely—but then he saw her smile, and he knew that would be impossible.