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Lifting my head, I meet Yazmine’s eyes in perfect timing, breathless as I stare into her soul.
Then the realization hits me like a freight train coming full speed at me.
I have unwarranted feelings for the human. But she’s already made up her mind. She may be a weak, fragile human, but she’s capable of making her own choices. Like choosing to agree to my initial behest—have my children and leave the island. Because of that, I will have to let her go. Because of who she is, I don’t have a choice.
Chapter 24 - Yazmine
“What does it feel like?” I inquire as we stand amid an empty field. I’ve just watched the other dragons shift and fly off toward the sunset, and curiosity gets the better of me.
Aragon turns to me with equal curiosity in his eyes. “You mean the shift?”
I nod.
“Well…” he begins, pursing his lips in contemplation. “It doesn’t really feel like anything. It’s become a natural part of who I am,” he shrugs. “It just kinda feels like I become stronger. Invincible.”
I nod slowly; my curiosity always gets the best of me. It goes hand in hand with being a paleontologist—always seeking new knowledge and information about what I’m studying. Although I haven’t been studying anything, the dragon shifters keep my interest piqued.
Particularly Aragon. Though we haven’t picked up our conversation from the other evening, I can’t help but wonder if he actually wants me around.
“What if I don’t want you to leave?”
His question lingers in my mind, haunting my soul and causing restless nights. He hasn’t touched me since, which is quite unnerving. Truthfully, I think he’s battling demons of his own.
As Aragon shifts into dragon form, the urge to bring up his question hangs on the tip of my tongue. I don’t have the guts to do it, anyway. I’m afraid of what he might have in mind, my fear of true intimacy affecting me more than I’d like to admit.
I hop into his waiting arm, holding his neck tightly before he whisks us off toward the sunset. The beautiful wedding we attended to watch Draco and Lily happily tie the knot for her family’s sake is probably why I’m afraid of having the conversation with him.
I’m afraid of that level of commitment, which I dismissed as my intense desire to fulfill my destined career. Now that I’ve had some time away from work, I’m faced with a new challenge.
Having guzzled countless romantic novels on my Kindle reader, true romance wasn’t as jaded as Aragon is. I still haven’t figured out why he’s as cold as he pretends to be or what happened out here to have him build up walls I can’t get through.
As we enter the hemisphere of the island, I’m met with the most stunning view of the place. There’s so much to be explored, so much to uncover, that I immediately decide that I can, in fact, live out the rest of my life here.
It’s possible.
Glancing at Aragon’s dragon face as he screeches to inform the others of our arrival, I decide that the least I can do is to learn all the layers of the dragon shifter. There are many, that much I’m sure of.
***
Staring at my reflection in the mirror, a stray tear falls from my eye. It’s been a week since we’d come back from Seattle, and Aragon is avidly avoiding me.
It’s taken a toll on my self-esteem, prompting me to hug my arms across my chest and tap on my shoulders. I shouldn’t be feeling this way, but the influx of insecure emotions has really bubbled to the surface this morning.
I sniff back the urge to cry, trying to convince myself that he’s just busy. With Draco and Lily away on their honeymoon, Aragon has had to step into his role as the brother of the alpha.
I’m just being silly; I nervously laugh under my breath as I stare into my teary eyes. It’s not personal…
Unless the dragon shifter is taking my own avoidance personally. Perhaps he saw my hesitation in Seattle and decided to give me some time to think.
What if he does want me to stay? I sniffle again, my brows knitting to a frown. What if he does want me?
Mechanically moving closer to the mirror, I entertain the idea that he cares about me. Would it be so hard to digest that? After everything he’s subjected me to, deep down, I don’t believe that I’m not exactly where I’m meant to be.
I try smiling at myself, lifting a hand to cup my cheek as I close my eyes. I imagine Aragon’s touch and absence over the past couple of days. Just like that, my heart falls as I once again think it’s impossible that he might want me to stay.
Jeez! I have no idea where these conflicting emotions are coming from. But the moment I snap my eyes open, bile rises in my throat. I cup my mouth when I gag, eyes flying wide when it’s more than just bile that has me rushing to the bathroom.
I keel over the toilet, bringing up everything I had for breakfast and more. Coughing and spluttering, I empty out my guts when a pair of hands move my hair from my face.
