Page 38 of Ancient Promises
“Did you ever accidentally set anything on fire?”
“Definitely when I was younger. It’s really easy to do. The fire is unpredictable when a dragon is young, even once he or she comes into their shift. When I was fourteen, I was angry at a bad grade in school and my dragon just went off and I singed the teacher’s eyebrows.”
“Holy crap!” She covered her mouth to stifle her laugh.
“He was fine,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “They grew back. Not well, mind you, but they did grow back.” He leaned forward conspiratorially. “He never gave me a bad grade again, though, and he kept his distance. I did apologize, more than once, but I can laugh about it now.”
“I accidentally clawed a girl in the pack,” Diem said. “We were out on a walking trail and there was a place where the trail was really narrow and there was a pretty far drop. I slipped on some rocks and reached out for help, but in my panic my claws came out and sank into my friend’s arm.”
“Did you still fall?”
“No, thankfully. Her older brother was with us and he grabbed both of us. Fortunately she was old enough to shift and heal the wound, otherwise she would probably have hated me forever.”
“Was that before you knew if you’d be a full wolf or not?”
“Even without my lion fur color, I would still have been exiled once I could shift, because hybrids aren’t welcome in my original pack.”
“They let you stay for a while, though.”
“Yeah, until I was eighteen. They could have made me leave right away after I shifted, so I was always grateful they let me have two more years with my dad.”
“Speaking of your dad, we need to video chat with him. I’d like him to know I have honorable intentions with you.”
She arched a brow. “Oh yeah?”
“Hell, yes,” he said emphatically as he lifted a piece of pizza. “I want to marry you and start a family.” He frowned. “Crap, I didn’t even ask what you’d like for our future.” He put down the pizza and took her hand. “Tell me.”
She hummed with a chuckle and gave his hand a squeeze. “I want that too. And my dad will love you.”
“I wonder what a hybrid and a dragon’s offspring will look like,” he mused as he released his hold on her hand and picked up the pizza.
She reached for her third piece. “I don’t know, but they’ll be hybrids. Maybe dragons with wolf or lion coloring. I suppose it depends on whether the dragon is more dominant than the wolf and lion.”
“Whatever they can or can’t shift into, I’m thankful we live in Cider Falls where they can grow up without worrying about being exiled,” he said.
“Me too.”
They finished eating, both too full to have dessert, and headed out into the cool spring night. “I have an idea,” he said.
“A sexy one?”
He grabbed the door of her car and chuckled. “I’m always thinking sexy thoughts about you, sweetheart, but I was actually wondering if you’d like to see my treasure.”
“Really? I’d love to. Where is it?”
“In a storage facility not too far from here.”
“Do dragons normally show people their treasures?”
“Only their mates. And their parents when they first get started.”
She went onto her toes and kissed him. “I’d love to see it.”
He nodded with a smile and helped her into the car, then went to the driver’s side and got in.
“You’re only the second person to see my treasure. The first was my dad, and that was only when he helped me start the treasure in a cedar chest at the foot of my bed.”
“How long did it take to outgrow the chest?”