10. Paige
Paige
D id I seriously just defend three gnomes and a raccoon to a dragon? Survey says yes. Yes, I did.
Hearing myself say it out loud does sort of remind me how weird my life is—even for a supernatural. I’ve never heard of raccoons being domesticated in any other world but this one. And Aries’ expression makes it clear he hasn’t heard of it either.
“True warriors?” he questions.
“Yes,” I snap. “They protect the library.”
“I see.”
I narrow my gaze then shove my finger into his chest. “Listen here, asshole, you do not get to come into my world, my library, and start insulting my friends.” Riding the adrenaline high from nearly dying, I glare up at him, preparing to throw down if it comes to it.
Though, why I’m pissed at Aries is beyond me.
He’s not the one who tried dropping a light fixture on my head.
Aries grips my wrist then pulls me forward until I’m a mere breath from him. “I meant no offense, Paige,” he says in that gravelly voice of his.
Fucknugget. That voice. Like the velvet wrapping on decadent chocolate.
“Fine.” I rip my wrist free and take a step back so his scent will stop invading my lungs. “We have bigger problems, anyway.”
“Bigger problems?”
“You said you felt whatever was upstairs?”
A muscle in his strong jaw twitches. “Yes.”
“Well, whatever it was nearly killed us.” I drop down onto my couch and close my eyes.
The seat dips with Aries’ weight as he takes a seat beside me, though he doesn’t say anything.
“Along with that lovely twist of events, the chaos it rained down on us tonight will surely have everyone on high alert. Which is going to make part two of our plan immensely more difficult.”
“You should have given me a weapon,” he says. “I could have slayed the creature and saved you all this frustration.”
“Oh, could you have?” I crack open one eye. “And how would you have managed that without being seen?”
Aries is frustrated. His expression is one of controlled anger. So controlled I can practically feel him vibrating with it. “I am not accustomed to being so damned helpless.”
“Or being told what to do,” I say, and his eyes narrow.
Despite his irritation, my mood softens some.
It’s not his fault that he’s here, it’s mine.
So whatever burden that mistake brings with it will be mine alone to carry.
I blow out a breath, my misplaced anger deflating.
“I’m sorry. I was just seriously hoping to get you home tonight. ”
Pushing to my feet, I make my way into the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine from above the fridge. After opening it, I pour two glasses then hand one to Aries and take my seat beside him again.
He sniffs the liquid. “Wine?” he questions.
“Yes. In this world, we drink when plans blow up in our faces.”
“In my world, we do the same,” he says then downs half the glass.
I stare, rapt, as he swallows the liquid. A small muscle at the base of his throat pulses, and my breath catches. How did I get so lucky—and so cursed?
He lowers the glass, and I look away, pretending I hadn’t found a man’s throat muscles sexy as hell. Again.
“Glad to hear some traditions are true in all worlds,” I manage to say. Then I lean back and close my eyes, refocusing on the problem at hand. “What are we going to do?”
Someone raps on my door.
“Paige. Open up!” Blossom.
“Fuck a duck!” I whisper loudly as I jump to my feet. “Get in my bedroom! Quickly!”
Aries stands then hesitates. “Are you going to be safe?”
“Yes! For fucks sake, she’s my friend. Just go!”
He turns and walks quickly toward my room, disappearing inside, though the door remains cracked.
“Paige? I know you’re home. Open up, or I’m kicking it in!”
I take two deep breaths then set my wine down. “Coming!” Forcing a smile, I stride across the living room and pull the door open. On the other side, Blossom’s cotton candy pink eyes are sharp as she studies me.
“What took you so long?” She breezes into my apartment, stopping just inside the door. Blossom’s trained gaze travels around my space until it lands on my single glass of wine. I exhale quietly, relieved Aries thought to take his glass with him.
“I was in my bedroom. Is everything okay?”
“Not sure.” She turns back to me. “We had a disturbance downstairs.”
“Oh damn. Really? What kind of disturbance?” I’m a terrible liar. Always have been. But with Aries’s life and my future on the line, I manage to conjure up a look I seriously hope conveys shock.
“Someone cut a chandelier down near the stairwell. Ted, Ned, and Zed are still looking for clues.” She cocks her head to the side. “You sure you’re okay? You’ve been up here the entire time?”
“Where else would I be?”
“Fair enough. I just wanted to make sure that whatever caused the disturbance is gone and not hiding up here.”
“Just me.” I force a smile even as the lie is toxic on my tongue. “Thank you for checking on me.”
“Anytime. Can you come down and help me do a walk-through? We can cover more ground if it’s the two of us. I called Mag, but he didn’t answer. Fucker’s probably drinking to avoid admitting what a disappointment his life has become.”
“Sure. Let me just run to the bathroom. It’s where I was headed when you knocked. Meet you downstairs in five?”
I’m about to shut the door when Blossom presses her hand to it. Her eyes narrow. “What’s that smell?”
“Smell?” I swallow hard.
She sniffs then gives me a look that makes my heart trip over itself. “You have company in there?”
“What company would I possibly have? The only person I hang out with in this place is you.”
She looks unconvinced, so I add, “The gnomes brought me this weird incense with my last supply order.”
“Huh.” She looks mildly placated.
“You’re welcome to come in and see it, but didn’t you need me to help you do that walk-through?”
There. The glint in her eyes shifts back to the problem at hand, and I know I’ve effectively distracted her. For now.
“I’ll meet you downstairs, but hurry up. And watch your back.”
“Will do.” I shut the door behind her then turn around and nearly run smack dab into Aries’ massive chest. “What the hell, Aries.”
“You are not going out there.” His tone is sharp and leaves no room for argument.
“Excuse me? You do not get to order me around.” I take a step back and place both hands on my hips so I can glare up at him. Given our height difference, I have to crane my neck, but I manage.
His eyes are narrowed on me. Azure pools that I could drown in should I just allow myself to take the leap. “It is not safe. You’re not leaving this apartment unaccompanied.”
“And just what do you expect me to say to Blossom? ‘Oh, sorry, B, my new dragon overlord has decided I’m not trustworthy enough to step foot outside of my house without him.’ Yeah, that’s going to go over real well.
” I shove past him and move into my bedroom.
I don’t have to turn around to know he followed me.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as every nerve in my body fires at once. He’s directly behind me, his body so close I could lean back and rest against him.
“You could have died tonight.”
“Yeah. And we will both die if I don’t get my ass out there and look normal.” I turn to face him. “Blossom has my back. Plus, the gnomes. Not to mention Bingo. Whatever is out there will be outnumbered.”
Aries’s nostrils flare, and he growls. Low and deep, it vibrates through me even though we’re not touching. Heat pools between my legs, lust burning a hole through me.
“No.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do, Aries. If I don’t go down there, she’s going to know something is up and come looking. Do you want her to find you? Want her to kill you before we have a chance to get you home? Because that is exactly what she will do.”
“If my death means you survive, then I will gladly be that sacrifice.”
I stare at him, trying to decipher whether he’s serious.
But one look at the blue flames burning in his gaze and I know he is.
A dragon I’ve known barely a day is willing to die for me.
A strange feeling ripples through me, settling in my chest before I can figure out what it is.
Nor do I want to know. In fact, none of my feelings have any place here.
He’s probably suffering from Stockholm Syndrome or some shit. Being confined to a tiny apartment cannot be easy for a beast used to flying free.
“For shit’s sake.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “All this broody book boyfriend energy needs to get packed away. I am not the person to use it on, Aries. You understand?”
“What’s a book boyfriend?”
“Ugh, I am not explaining that.” I meet his gaze then press my hand against his chest and shove him back a step. “I’ve been on my own for practically my entire life. I can take care of myself, and you being here does not change that.”
He leans down, close enough I can make out flecks of gold in his eyes. “You’re wrong, Paige. It does change that because I am the one you are risking your life for, and I am not okay with it.”
“I let you out! It’s my fault you’re here!”
“You’re wrong. Are you the path that led me to this world? Yes. But I do not believe in chance. I am meant to be here. Likely to save you from whatever seems to be trying to kill you.”
“It was a distraction,” I say, dismissing it. “I just happened to be in the way.”
“You could not sense the being,” he replies, tone deadly. “ Evil radiated from it. You were very much the target. Why? I cannot know, but I do know that, had I not been there, you would have died.”
Our gazes lock, the tension between us palpable. I’m frustrated, obviously, but more than that, I want desperately to kiss him again. To feel his hands on my body, his lips on mine.
I want it more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.
Which is precisely why I take a step back.