Page 39 of Under Gorse and Stone

I nod, swallowing hard. “You’resobeautiful.”

There’s a pause, and his voice sounds astonished when he speaks. “Am I?”

I pet his hand, touching skin but remembering the feel of his scales. “Such pretty colours and your scales felt all silky and warm.”

After a beat of silence, he says hoarsely, “We all have scales, Cary. You humans carry them over your eyes. Do you give me your permission to remove yours?”

I take a deep breath and fasten my hands around his strong wrists, feeling a thrumming energy beneath the skin. “I do,” I say firmly.

Chapter Six

“Breathe in and out,” he instructs. “Deep breaths.” His low voice, with its beautiful accent, makes me shiver, and he steps even closer, warming me with his big body.

I obey him, inhaling his scent. With my eyes covered, the crackle of the fire sounds loud.

His hands tighten ever so slightly. Is it my imagination, or are they getting warmer?

I put my fingers over his. Theyarewarmer. An intense scent billows around me. It’s gingerbread baking in the oven, the sweetness heady in the air.

“That’s so lovely,” I murmur.

The heat intensifies, but not alarmingly. Then I hear him softly speak words in another language—one that stirs my blood. The cadence evokes images of wild adventures and derring-do. Of secret caves, magic, and creatures that slumber long forgotten by man.

“Keep your eyes closed.” His hands fall away, and he sets them on my shoulders, squeezing them comfortingly. “Open,” he whispers, and I can hear the excitement in his voice.

My eyes flicker open, and I immediately gasp and fall back against him. His arms come around me, and he lowers his chin to my shoulder.

“What do you see, Cary?”

“Oh mygod.” I stare around the room. Lights twinkle pink and gold, dancing along the shelves of books. They touch the portraits, and sparks rise as they bounce off the walls. Every time they touch something, more sparks appear, until the room seems to glow. A strange humming noise rises and undercutting it is the sound of a low buzzing.

“Sigurd,” I gasp, and he squeezes me.

“Peace. It will be fine in a few minutes. It is overwhelming to see magic for the first time. Some men run mad from terror.”

“Andnowyou tell me that?”

I feel him shrug. “You have me here. There is nothing to fear.”

“It’s beautiful,” I breathe.

He sighs and gives me a hug. “I should have known you would think so. Maybe the vestige of magic in your blood is stronger than I first thought.”

“What are the lights?”

“Ah, that is my magic in the room. It roams, you see, and left unchecked, it becomes mischievous. Once, a man stayed here, and the room turned into a zoo. He departed very quickly when a lion tried to eat him.”

I start to laugh and turn to face him. “Why would your magic do that?”

“Ah, it disapproved.”

“Of what?” He gives me a rueful look, and I chuckle. “Was it your tarty ways?”

“Aye. My magic knew what waited ahead and…” He bites his lip like he shouldn’t say more.

I get the feeling he won’t respond to any prompting, so I ask, “Was the man alright?”

“Yes, of course. He will have forgotten all about me by now.” Firelight gilds his cheekbones.