Page 25 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

It was then I realized I was going to have to get naked infront of her. Clothes were not something I considered much until I left Kerani. Not that I spent my life naked, but clothes or not made no difference to my life or the lives of those around me. I merely wore them for convenience when they were convenient and didn’t when they were not.

Now, I was so conscious of stripping down in front of this female, allowing her to see me. I had to have a stern word with myself and just do it before I could overthink it more.

I whipped my tunic over my head and bent, lowering my pants and kicking them away.

Then, before I’d even fully stood, I shifted, filling the landing with my huge form, and gave myself a shake, stretching out my wings.

Then I turned to face her, showing her what I truly was.

TWELVE

KIERA

Stunning.

That’s what he was.

It was worse than I feared. I knew plenty of dragons and I saw them all the time. I’d even briefly seen Jaxus before when they first arrived, but there was too much drama that night to really register how he looked.

I think I’d know this dragon was Jaxus even if I hadn’t watched him shift. He was the color of a gorgeous sunset over the Middle Sea. A sun-kissed golden blush, just like the fae himself. I wanted to reach out and touch him. Run my hands over the metallic-looking scales. But I refrained.

“So?”His rich voice seemed more powerful in my mind when he was in this form.“How do I smell?”

I rolled my eyes.“Don’t fish forcompliments.”

“Oh? There are compliments available? Tell me more,”he teased.

It was bizarre as if his confidence soared in his dragon form. He was usually so reserved.

“You smell fine—for a dragon.”

“Well, thanks.”He preened.“And how do I look?”

How did he—? Was this the same fae who is always so—so— ‘Umm—excuse me—I’m sorry to trouble you.’ This had taken a sharp turn and I didn’t know what to make of it.

“You look—”I paused and then gave in, reaching out to stroke the scales on his flank. They were silky smooth and yet tough. He watched me over his shoulder and I suddenly felt self-conscious and began to pull back my hand.“I’m sorry. I should have asked first.”

He turned on a pinpoint, facing me in a heartbeat. The agility he had to move his bulk so quickly and precisely was incredible. I stepped back, my hand still half extended. Jaxus dipped his mighty head and nuzzled my hand. Showing me without words, he was okay with touch.

His warm breath caressed my hand, and I stared into his eyes in wonder. They glowed against his sunset hues like the dying light of the evening sun. I was speechless.

He huffed into my palm, and his amused voice filled my head.“So, I smell fine, you know, for a dragon at least, and my looks have you mute. You really know how to charm a dragon.”

“I—”I had nothing. Was he flirting? He was flirting. I was sure. I couldn’t see which way was up for a moment, he was a living, breathing paradox.

I flicked his muzzle and he flinched back, his tail whipped across the landing in reaction. The bench that he had set a few feet from the edge, was swiped clean off the landing and plummeted to the ground below.

My hands flew to my mouth as I pictured the children playing in the courtyard. But in a flash of wings and scales,Jaxus was gone. He poured himself over the edge of the landing, and I was left standing there, too afraid to venture to the edge to see what had become of the children. The healer in me was readying for an emergency.

Only seconds passed, but I was ready to run to the healer’s wing to do what I could when Jaxus shot up past the edge, carrying the bench. Then, he flapped his massive wings to lower to a gentle landing, setting the bench down carefully as he did.

“The children?”I gasped.

“Fine. It never even got close to the ground,”he assured.

I heaved a breath of relief.“Thank the Goddess.”Then I took him in. “And thank you. How did you move so quickly? That was incredible.”

His wings flared slightly.“It wasn’t anything special.”