Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
L ogan sat across from her, his gaze steady and composed, betraying none of the turmoil that burned within him. His dragon was insistent, urging him toward her. Whispering of destiny and belonging. But Logan knew restraint; he knew the importance of keeping his emotions veiled beneath a mask of stoicism, even as his fascination with her threatened to consume him.
She was everything he had ever envisioned in a mate. Graceful, strong, with eyes that held both vulnerability and resilience. Yet, beneath the surface of her beauty lay a darkness, a shadow cast by the circumstances of her life. Her family. He could sense the weight of her past pressing down upon her slender shoulders.
The thought of the uncle she worked for, the one who should have protected her but held power over her life, made his dragon roar in his mind. He understood the danger she had faced, the precariousness of her situation. If she had left, her family’s retaliation would have been swift. She feared them, but didn’t yet understand that the dark dragons were far scarier monsters than her criminal family .
Despite the risks, despite the darkness that could engulf them both, Logan felt a pull toward her, unlike anything he had ever known. He sensed her loneliness, her isolation, and it mirrored his own in a way that pierced his heart. Though he had known the depths of solitude, the ache of longing for connection, hers seemed even more profound and more unbearable.
As he sat there, studying her with a mix of curiosity and concern, Logan knew that destiny had stepped in. And as he looked into her eyes, haunted yet resilient, Logan knew that he could not walk away—not from her, not from the bond that tethered them together, woven by fate’s unyielding hand.
“There isn’t much to tell,” she said quietly.
Emily was pulling away from him again. She had done the same thing when he had tried to heal her. She likely wasn’t aware she had erected a shield before he could send her more of his strength. He wanted to finish the process, but she looked like she was one breath away from running or passing out.
He had considered using herbs in her tea as well. His mother had an affinity for them, even though she wasn’t a daughter. Logan’s mother had been a rare druid that had been coveted by the druids and dragons alike. She had been beautiful and kind. An instructor to the other druids and, idolized by the dragons, she helped.
Her power of transmutation was so rare, and while many druids could learn it after years of practice, she had been able to help them along the way with her magic. The memory of his mother transforming into a dragon formed in his mind. She always chose to be a purple when she flew with his father, but she often teased Magnus by turning into a small gold. The previous dragon leader had adored her. Like every other dragon mate, she had helped Solara transform into a smaller version of her husband. Every clan member loved it when she chose to take their hue in the skies. She was excellent in the air and more skilled than any other female in the skies. Logan had felt blessed to have a mother that could teach him to fly.
“What was that?” Emily asked.
He blinked, not realizing he had shared the memory. He had to be careful. His mind was naturally attuned to hers, and she wasn’t ready to have his entire life downloaded into hers. “I apologize. Your story about your mother made me think of mine.”
Emily leaned forward slightly. Her interest in his story, obvious. “The small dragon, that was your mother?”
“Yes.”
“I thought she would be a druid.”
“She was. But her power was transmutation. She could alter the makeup of anything she touched. People, plants, rocks, and more importantly, her own body.”
“Can all druids do that?”
“Druids can learn to alter their own physical makeup in time; it’s an advanced spell, but only a druid with the power of transmutation can affect her surroundings.”
“You read my mind. Does this mean I can read yours?”
Logan nodded. “If you wish to. I am always here for you, Emily. Simply reach for my mind, and we will converse telepathically. We have a special connection.”
She put the teacup to her lips. “What kind of connection?”
He had already messed up by revealing the mating ceremony. She asked about dragons, and he told her a very specific part about them. She was barely comfortable with him in the room. “All dragons speak telepathically, and you will eventually be able to speak to any one of us if you choose.”
She nibbled her lip, and his entire body hardened. How had his brethren maintained their distance at this sensitive juncture of claiming one’s mate? Legion had briefed him when he awoke that women were different and, with the druids unaware of their heritage, it made the process more delicate. His dragon didn’t care about the treaty the dragons had with the druids, about waiting until their twenty-third birthday, or the fact that his mate had no idea she was his. He simply wanted her in his arms.
“The dark dragons have telepathic abilities, too?”
“Yes, but they are no longer connected to the clan. Is this how Laren found you?”
Emily took a bite of the cracker. “He didn’t find me. Another man did. Well, another dragon, I guess. I’m not sure what his name is, as I thought he was a delusion at first. A nightmare that I didn’t wake up from.”
“When did you last connect with him?”
“I was procuring a rare diamond from an arms dealer. The heist went off without a hitch, but as I was dropping off the item to my uncle’s contact, one of the security guards from the building found me. I have no idea how, but I used a disguise, and slipped away. When I got home, that thing was in my head.”
“Did you use magic?”
“No,” she said.
He knew she wasn’t lying, but there was more to this story. But her eyes were drooping, and her shoulders began to sag.
“A blue diamond?” he asked.
Her eyes widened. “How did you know?”
Logan recalled the dream. He hadn’t seen her face, but he had seen a blue diamond and had the feeling of running. He hadn’t understood the dream, but his dragon had. It had pushed him to wake far sooner than he had planned.
“A premonition of sorts,” he said, wanting to tell her the truth but not wanting to scare her.
She appeared to lower her head as if she was thinking. It wasn’t until her breathing became even, that he realized she was asleep. Few humans could slumber in such a position, but he assumed she had learned to rest in the most unusual places due to her job .
As Logan rose from the table, a determined resolve settled within him. With measured steps, he moved around the table until he stood before Emily. He scooped her into his arms, still surprised by how slight her frame was. She seemed so fragile, so delicate in his arms, like a porcelain doll crafted with exquisite care. But Logan knew better than to underestimate her strength. She had been forged in the crucible of adversity.
The weight of her past hung in the air like a dark specter. Logan couldn’t help but wonder how she had survived such a perilous existence, how she had endured the trials that had shaped her into the woman she was today. He was determined to break her free from the chains that bound her, to offer her a chance at a new life, a life untainted by fear and oppression.
As he carried her to her bedroom, Logan couldn’t shake the feeling of powerlessness. It was a rare feeling for a dragon, and he found he didn’t like it. He could demand all he wanted, but he knew that true liberation could only come from within her, from the depths of her own courage and determination. With a silent prayer on his lips, he gently laid her down on the bed, tucking her in the blankets with a tenderness born of longing and concern.
He hesitated, uncertain whether to join her in the bed or to keep his distance. In the end, he chose the latter, settling into the white chair in the corner of the room. From this vantage point, he could watch over her as she slept, a silent guardian in the darkness, ready to shield her from whatever danger hunted her.
The moment he had been in the room with her, he had known she was his. While his dragon had urged him to grab her and take her back to the safety of the cabin, Legion had warned that the new era didn’t allow such action. He was out of his depth in this new world, and he knew he needed some guidance.
Legion.
Yes, my brother.
I have found my mate .
That is excellent news. Are you bringing her to meet the others soon?
She is in trouble, but I do not know the full scope of it yet.
What concerns you?
She has a dark after her, but there is more to it. Her human family are criminals and she is wrapped up in it. I need them investigated before I make a rash decision. My dragon wants to grab her and go, but that could have unforeseen effects.
I agree. Your dragon will act on instinct. You must control him until the time is right. We will investigate this criminal family. Siro is on his way back to you.
I will remain inside with Emily.
Send me everything you have on the family. We will extract her from this mess one way or another.
Agreed. He cut contact with his leader, thankful he had a family that would always have his best interest at heart. Emily had lost that when her mother died.
And as he sat there, bathed in the soft glow of daylight, Logan couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for them, whether she would find solace and redemption in his arms, or whether the shadows of her past would forever haunt their steps.