Page 38 of Under Gorse and Stone

“My kind?”

“Humans,” he says simply. “Alas, it is an old magic. Humans have long turned their back on the magic world, and now you cannot see it.”

I stare at him. “You mean it’s there to be seen?”

“But of course,” he says simply. “It is all around you, Cary.”

I blink. “It is?”

He cocks his head. “You sound surprised.”

“Of course I am.”

“But you have seen a dragon tonight.”

“Yes, but that was just you.” He stares at me, so I elaborate. “For some reason, it was almost not a surprise. Does that make sense?” He seems struck dumb, so I carry on. “I’ve had so many strange things happen over the last couple of days, and you were the cherry on top, and somehow even standing in front of me as a man now, you’re still a bit—” I search for words. “—dragony.”

He laughs, the sound merry and mischievous. “And what does that mean?”

“Warm and strong and just somehow more.” The words come out as if I’d practised them. I flush and change the subject. “So, the weird things that happened, such as the waitress at the hotel, the brambles, and the strange dream. That was all real?” He nods. “But how did I see that when humans can’t?”

“But you are not just a human. You are the human for?—”

“For what?”

He runs his hand through his hair, the silky strands like pale fire on his skin. “Pardon?”

“You just said?—"

“But you cannot see the full world of magic.”

Regret makes my stomach sink. “I wish I could,” I say wistfully.

He hesitates for a moment and says, “Would you like to?”

“How?”

“I can give you the gift of the second sight.”

“You can do that?”

“Of course. I am of that world. It would be my gift to you.”

“Why would you do that?”

His golden eyes flicker as he holds my gaze. Then his long lashes sweep down, hiding his eyes. A moment later he looks up, and he’s just Sigurd again. “Would you like that, Cary?”

I lick my lips. “I would love that,” I say, the words flying out of me, sure and certain.

His wide grin is my reward. “You must be prepared,” he says solemnly. “It is a shock to the system at first.”

“I’m ready,” I say breathlessly, watching as he moves behind me. “What are you doing?”

“Close your eyes, Cary.”

I obey and feel his big warm hands come over my eyes, covering my sight.

“You saw my scales tonight?” he whispers.