Page 26 of Real Scale Blazer
“Usually not with dragon-sized displays of dominance.” Gerri’s laugh filled the room. “Human women, especially independent ones like Quinn, need to be courted, not commanded. Show interest in her work. Ask questions. Let her teach you about her passion.”
“I am interested in her work.” Even if he didn’t understand half the technical terms she used.
“Then show it. And for heaven’s sake, stop having your guards shadow her everywhere. She has noticed, by the way. Called it your ‘not-so-subtle surveillance squad’ just this morning.”
Kai winced. “I’m trying to protect her.”
“Try protecting her sanity instead. Give her space to breathe. Court her like a human, not a dragon.”
“And how exactly does one court a human?”
Gerri’s grin widened. “Well, for starters, flowers are usually more effective than territorial growling...”
An hour later, armed with Gerri’s advice and Darian’s barely contained laughter, Kai found himself in the palace gardens,studying the local blooms. According to Gerri, Earth women appreciated flowers as romantic gestures.
“Not those,” Darian called out as Kai reached for a cluster of luminescent blue blooms. “They’re mildly hallucinogenic to humans. Unless you want her seeing three of you...”
“That would be her nightmare,” Kai muttered, moving to another patch.
He finally selected a bouquet of crystal-petaled flowers that resembled Earth roses, their centers glowing softly with stored sunlight. Perhaps a bit obvious, but Gerri had stressed the importance of “classic romantic gestures.”
Finding Quinn proved easier than working up the courage to approach her. She sat cross-legged on the library floor, surrounded by ancient scrolls and modern data tablets, her dark hair escaping its usual neat bun. The sight of her so comfortable in his domain made his dragon purr.
“I brought you...” He cleared his throat when she jumped at his voice. “These are...” The flowers suddenly seemed ridiculous in his massive hands.
Quinn blinked at the bouquet. “Are those bioluminescent?”
Not quite the romantic response he’d hoped for.
“Yes. They’re called Starlight Roses. They’re native to the northern peaks and—” He broke off as she reached for the flowers with academic interest rather than romantic appreciation.
“Fascinating! The petals appear to be silicon-based rather than carbon-based. The crystalline structure is remarkable.” She pulled out a small device and began scanning the blooms. “The light emission suggests some form of natural energy storage. Do they photosynthesize differently than Earth plants? The implications for evolutionary adaptation in high-altitude environments are incredible!”
Kai stood frozen, wondering if he’d somehow managed to turn a romantic gesture into a scientific expedition.
“The cellular structure is unlike anything I’ve seen,” she continued, completely oblivious to his intentions. “Do you think I could take a sample? For research purposes, of course.”
“They’re meant to be... decorative,” he managed.
“Oh.” She finally looked up, really looked at him, and her cheeks colored slightly. “Oh. These weren’t for... I mean, you weren’t trying to...”
“Apparently not successfully,” he said dryly.
A small laugh escaped her, surprising them both. “Sorry. I get a bit carried away sometimes. They are beautiful, though. Even if their scientific implications are more exciting than their aesthetic value.”
Progress, of a sort.
TWENTY-ONE
Encouraged by her softened demeanor, Kai tried another of Gerri’s suggestions. “Would you... explain your research to me? I’d like to understand what you’re discovering about our land.”
The smile that lit her face made his heart stutter. For the next hour, he sat beside her as she enthusiastically detailed her findings, her hands gesturing animatedly as she described fault lines and tectonic movements. He understood perhaps a third of what she said, but watching her passion ignite made up for his confusion.
“...and the crystalline formations in the eastern range suggest a completely unique form of mineral evolution, possibly influenced by the ambient magic in the environment. It’s revolutionary! None of my Earth colleagues would believe—” She stopped abruptly, seeming to realize how long she’d been talking. “Sorry. I’m rambling.”
“Don’t apologize. Your enthusiasm is...” Beautiful. Captivating. Absolutely adorable. “...informative.”
She snorted. “You understood maybe ten percent of what I just said.”