Page 92 of Dragon Tempted

Talk to her dragon? Sure, Sienna had listened to Veronica’s pointed comments and off-key singing her whole life, and she would shush or threaten her when she needed quiet, but she hadn’t had an actual conversation with her. Why would she? She thought Veronica was part of her self-conscious, saying things that Sienna thought but wouldn’t say out loud. Now she finds out that she’s real?

She watched John walk over to the bench in the courtyard and take a seat. Sienna faced the valley and sucked in a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

“Veronica?” Sienna whispered. She wasn’t sure why she was whispering or why she was speaking out loud for that matter, but she went with it.

Ye-esss.

“Have you been listening?”

I’m inside your head. Of course I’ve been listening.

Sienna blew out a breath. “Are you my dragon?”

Am I?

“Veronica!”

How would I know? I mean, what does being a dragon feel like?

That was a legitimate question. She looked over her shoulder and beckoned John over to her.

He made his way back to her quickly. “What is it?”

“I asked Veronica if she’s my dragon, and she said she doesn’t know. She asked what being a dragon feels like?”

John’s eyes widened. “That actually makes sense. Since you’ve never turned into your full dragon, she doesn’t know that she is one.”

“Can you describe it to her?”

“I can try. Um. Hi, Veronica.”

Hi. Sexy Grump.

Sienna stopped herself from rolling her eyes. “She heard you.”

He seemed to be gathering his words before he continued. “When I still had my full dragon, he talked to me. He was my voice of reason. I was never alone. When I’d turn into my dragon, it was like he would burst outward and surround me. We could finish each other’s thoughts. Energy would bubble in our chest, especially when he soared over the earth. He said he felt like he was part of the sky and the life around him.”

Sienna watched his face as he described his dragon, and her heart ached for him. Not only was he alone because he’d lost his family and friends, but he also lost his dragon too. A voice that probably comforted him over the years before fading away along with his dragon body and finally his wings. A lump formed in her throat as he finished.

That sounds amazing, Veronica announced. But that doesn’t tell me what a dragon feels like.

Sienna repeated what Veronica said, and John frowned.

“Do you feel your dragon at all, John?” Sienna asked.

“Very little. Some rumblings sometimes, why?”

“Maybe Veronica could feel him too? Can we try?”

He reached for her hand, placing her palm on the middle of his chest. He closed his eyes and blew out a breath before refocusing on Sienna and nodding.

Are you there, dragon? It’s me, Veronica.

Sienna bit the inside of her cheek to stop from saying anything. But after a moment, warmth pulsed though her palm. John’s eyes widened. He must have felt it too. Just as quickly the sensation passed.

“Could you feel him, Veronica?”

Yes. He’s grumbly like his human. He says he misses John too.