Page 27 of When the Baker Met the Dragon

“I would love that.”

Outside, the stars are a dusting of sugar on the black sky. Spark and his mate, Moonpetal, are chasing one another through the new leaves of the oak that towers over the front of the tavern. Their little bursts of flame are bright in the near dark.

Devin chuckles and eyes me. “Is it safe for them to be doing that in a tree?”

“We can keep an eye on them and call for Laini and Tully if need be.”

Devin takes my hand, and I start to pull away, but stop. This is fine. This is what one does on a date, right? I honestly have never really been on a date. I’ve only been with one person in my life, and that was a clumsy youthful tumble that did little to dispel the mysteries that surround love and lovemaking. I basically know nothing.

He leans against the tavern wall and pulls me gently against him.

“I am so happy your friends introduced us, Kaya. You’re beautiful. I think we suit one another. What do you think?” With one hand, he brushes my hair away from my face, and with the other, he braces my back so I’m firmly pressed into his chest.

“I do, yes.” My cheeks are hot, but not because I’m aroused. It’s more like I feel uncomfortable. But I’m not sure. Is this how it’s supposed to feel?

His mouth is close, and I’m not so ignorant that I don’t know what he is physically hinting at. Even though I’m not feeling swoony or anything, I want to give him a chance, so I tip my head back and shut my eyes.

His kiss begins nicely enough, but his mouth turns rough and demanding, his tongue driving between my lips before I’m ready. I pull away, and he looks confused as to why.

“Thank you for the fun game of chess,” I say. “I’m going to head home now.”

As I start to leave, he grabs my arm. Anger darts through my body. I whirl around and jam my knee into his stones. He shouts, releases his hold on me, and doubles over. I stumble backward and fall onto my back.

A whoosh sounds behind me, and I leap to my feet as Cyrus lands in his wild, fully dragon form.

Chapter 15

Kaya

Cyrus releases a torrent of crackling fire, then partially shifts back to his more human-looking form. His wings remain very large and his eyes are still reptilian.

“What in the fuck is going on here?” he spits out.

Devin straightens even though he’s gone a bit green in the face. “It’s none of your business, monster.” The merchant reaches forward and yanks me toward him.

A flash of gold and green blinds me momentarily, and Devin yelps.

A wall of flame now separates the wool merchant from me. Cyrus’s fire isn’t hot against my skin, even though it’s so close that it should be burning me. Instead, its warmth is comforting.

“Are you all right, Kaya?” Cyrus’s voice is booming and shaking the very ground.

I swallow and take a step away from the wall of flame and get closer to Cyrus. “I am fine.”

Black smoke pours from Cyrus’s nostrils and ears. His taloned hands are curled like he’s ready to rip Devin’s throat out.

“Eh,” I say softly. I set my hand carefully on Cyrus’s arm. The scales that cover his forearm and hand in this half-shifted formare hot to the touch, but I maintain contact. “I’m okay. Let’s breathe together, okay?”

His dragon gaze snaps from Devin to my face. He eyes my body like he’s looking for damage.

“I’m fine. Breathe,” I say.

“This is madness,” Devin says. “I’m getting out of here.”

Cyrus’s wall of fire spreads and surrounds Devin. “Apologize to her or die twice.”

“Twice?” Devin says mockingly, even though he is sweating and darting nervous glances at the magical fire. “Don’t think that’s possible, dragon.” He says the word like a curse.

“Won’t stop me from trying, asshole. Fire first, then I shred you into pieces she can dance on.”