Page 28 of The Dragon Maiden

I walked over to the couch, clearing away the papers and books before sitting down and patting the spot next to me. “Come here, my Lord,” I said gently.

Without a word, he stumbled over and collapsed onto the couch. I took his shoulders and laid his head in my lap. Slowly, I stroked his hair, pulling my fingers through his mussed, long locks. His eyes watched my face as I massaged his head, rubbing his temple and the crown of his head.

“I told you to call me Dracul when it was just us two,” he said softly, his eyes beginning to tug closed.

“Well, right now, you just need to rest,” I said. “From the state of things, it looks like you did not take care of yourself while I was gone.”

His head began to fall to the side before he jerked himself awake, his gaze frozen on my face.

“Shh,” I said, continuing to massage his temple and brow. “I will be here when you awake, I promise, Dracul. For now, just rest.”

Once more, he closed his eyes, and soon, his breathing turned even.

Soon after he fell asleep, a couple servants entered the cave, their arms laden with platters of food. I motioned them to clear off the nearby table and set the food there, holding a finger to my lips to signal them to keep quiet. They nodded, silently completing their task before scuttling off.

I continued to run my hands through his hair, slowly working out the tangles.

* * *

After half an hour, Dracul began to writhe in his sleep, making small sounds of distress. I tried to massage his head more, to comfort him, but the dreams were too much as he began to thrash around on my lap. His face scrunched in agony and moans of anguish escaped from him. My heart split at the sight of him in obvious pain, but no matter what I did, it did not help.

Soon after his nightmare began, he shot awake, sitting up on the couch. His head spun to look around the room, his entire body relaxing when he spotted me. It was at this moment I realized what he had been dreaming about, and warmth filled me. Dracul truly had been worried about my well-being. His affection for me was genuine.

He lifted a hand towards me, cupping my cheek, and I leaned into it. A small gasp escaped him, almost a sigh, and I could see the relief in his face.

“I told you I would still be here,” I said, smiling gently.

“I know, I just…” He trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

“Food arrived while you were asleep,” I said, gesturing toward the table. “I’m guessing you haven’t had a proper meal in a few days. You should eat something.”

Dracul rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “I actually ordered that for you,” he said. “I know you haven’t eaten since you’ve been in the Whispering Pool.”

I moved towards the table and prepared two plates of food. “Let’s eat together then,” I said, placing one of the plates in his hand. “What kind of Dragon Maiden would I be if I allowed my Lord to starve?”

We ate in silence for several minutes before I remembered what Kessland had told me before disappearing. “What doesdragariamean?” I asked.

Dracul immediately started choking on the bite he had been eating, coughing for several moments until he could catch his breath. “Where did you hear that term?” he asked, his face paling.

“It was something Kessland said I should ask you,” I said, frowning over his reaction. “Is it bad?”

He shook his head. “No, it’s not bad,” he said. “But now is not the time to discuss that.”

I gave him a look.

“Please Valora, trust me. I will eventually tell you what it means, so please don’t look for answers elsewhere. And please do not ask any of the other Maidens or Lords what it means either.” He fixed me with a serious gaze, and I nodded. I had already betrayed his trust by trying to escape. I was not about to push this topic any further.

“I will wait,” I promised.

Dracul sighed with relief before continuing to eat.

Once we were both done, he sat next to me on the couch again, fidgeting slightly.

“Do you want me to stroke your hair?” I asked, somehow knowing what he wanted.

He nodded. “Yes, please,” he said.

We stayed silent as I ran my fingers once more through his cobalt-blue tresses, occasionally pausing to massage his temples. The silence was surprisingly comfortable, and I felt myself relaxing, too, as we listened to the sound of the other breathing. Eventually, I could feel myself drifting off, my hand slowing to a stop. I was vaguely aware of Dracul moving to maneuver me to lay down instead, his hands combing through my hair the way I had done for him. At last, I was able to drift off to a restful sleep.