Corrin will win her heart; however, my judgment seems rather misguided in the realm of Cait’s heart. Never did I consider Dante would see her as more than a mere fascination; that he would fall for her, stumble beyond intrigue and into the unfamiliar territory of love, and yet I cannot deny the evidence.
Ambrosia. The sweet scent of a deity falling in love.… And the destiny within Cait responds.
A shiver runs through me at the thought. I called him and asked him to come meet my first human ward, my first female ward. I brought this on myself, though my greatest mistake is quite obvious: believing for even a single moment I am any different from my brothers. Feeling the familiar burning, I pull off my t-shirt, having gotten comfortable before making my calls, preferring to relax at home in worn jeans and nothing on my feet (far more natural) and go to the private balcony doors, swinging them wide.
The sky is a moonlit speckled blanket covering the lights of the city as I jump onto the railing with the balance and reflexes of a dragon. A dragon: it is what I am and I must not forget that, must not allow myself to entertain ideas that Cait will see me as more, would truly want me as a man, or could ever love me. Looking down to the street thirty-two stories below, the burn deepens in my back and along my shoulder blades, the shimmering of the shift beginning, and I will it to come.
The wind blows my hair around my face as my chest muscles constrict in response to the partial shift, my human form reacting to the unfurling dragon wings at my back of the deepest emerald green as they spread out beyond the length of the wide balcony. Stretching my arms out, I stand tall above the city, using my wings to counter me from falling over the edge.
But I know a part of me has gone over the edge, seeing Cait with Dante, and knowing she is with him at this moment.
This is what I am, who I am, with the wings only a small part of my natural form, free of such emotional ties, frightening and dangerous to all who bring darkness into the world, and destined to go on for eternity… but not destined for Cait.
Cait deserves something more than a dragon. I love her because love makes me more beholden to protect her by honor, a code of chivalry far older the human concepts of nobility and gallantry. The honor of the House of Pendragon is unquestionable. However great my honor may be, a dragon does not deserve the love of a woman such as Cait. I should have seen this was best. A husband from the High Realm suits her station, and Dante is most acceptable.
Letting my head fall back, I stare up at the sky. I cannot lose her to Dante. She was never mine, never more than my ward. What I want does not matter. I must allow her free will.
To each our own destiny.
“Holy… What the baz are you doing, you crazy dragon?”
Caught unexpectedly by Cait, I pull my wings in close, willing the shift to shimmer them away as I spin around, still balanced on the railing. Despite cursing at me in Penfaeryn and calling me names, she’s devouring every inch of me with her eyes when I face her. I wear only a smirk and a pair of faded blue jeans. She may fall in love with Dante, but I will not fail to appreciate what attention she gives me.
Her face flushes. I would like to think it is in reaction to me, though I saw the three empty wine bottles in the kitchen. She opens her mouth, closing it again without speaking, hiding her face in her hands then dropping them to her sides and shaking her head.
“What are you doing, Theo?” Cait’s tone cuts the silence with a sharp-edged blade.
I run both hands over my hair, not wanting to be honest, but unable to lie outright to my ward. Glancing at the city lights, I take a deep breath. “I needed a bit of space and fresh air, a new perspective.” That isn’t untrue. There is not enough room in the apartment for Dante kissing Cait and me knowing it to be in the same vicinity.
She nods. “Oh, is that so? And
Ambrosia. The sweet scent of a deity falling in love.… And the destiny within Cait responds.
A shiver runs through me at the thought. I called him and asked him to come meet my first human ward, my first female ward. I brought this on myself, though my greatest mistake is quite obvious: believing for even a single moment I am any different from my brothers. Feeling the familiar burning, I pull off my t-shirt, having gotten comfortable before making my calls, preferring to relax at home in worn jeans and nothing on my feet (far more natural) and go to the private balcony doors, swinging them wide.
The sky is a moonlit speckled blanket covering the lights of the city as I jump onto the railing with the balance and reflexes of a dragon. A dragon: it is what I am and I must not forget that, must not allow myself to entertain ideas that Cait will see me as more, would truly want me as a man, or could ever love me. Looking down to the street thirty-two stories below, the burn deepens in my back and along my shoulder blades, the shimmering of the shift beginning, and I will it to come.
The wind blows my hair around my face as my chest muscles constrict in response to the partial shift, my human form reacting to the unfurling dragon wings at my back of the deepest emerald green as they spread out beyond the length of the wide balcony. Stretching my arms out, I stand tall above the city, using my wings to counter me from falling over the edge.
But I know a part of me has gone over the edge, seeing Cait with Dante, and knowing she is with him at this moment.
This is what I am, who I am, with the wings only a small part of my natural form, free of such emotional ties, frightening and dangerous to all who bring darkness into the world, and destined to go on for eternity… but not destined for Cait.
Cait deserves something more than a dragon. I love her because love makes me more beholden to protect her by honor, a code of chivalry far older the human concepts of nobility and gallantry. The honor of the House of Pendragon is unquestionable. However great my honor may be, a dragon does not deserve the love of a woman such as Cait. I should have seen this was best. A husband from the High Realm suits her station, and Dante is most acceptable.
Letting my head fall back, I stare up at the sky. I cannot lose her to Dante. She was never mine, never more than my ward. What I want does not matter. I must allow her free will.
To each our own destiny.
“Holy… What the baz are you doing, you crazy dragon?”
Caught unexpectedly by Cait, I pull my wings in close, willing the shift to shimmer them away as I spin around, still balanced on the railing. Despite cursing at me in Penfaeryn and calling me names, she’s devouring every inch of me with her eyes when I face her. I wear only a smirk and a pair of faded blue jeans. She may fall in love with Dante, but I will not fail to appreciate what attention she gives me.
Her face flushes. I would like to think it is in reaction to me, though I saw the three empty wine bottles in the kitchen. She opens her mouth, closing it again without speaking, hiding her face in her hands then dropping them to her sides and shaking her head.
“What are you doing, Theo?” Cait’s tone cuts the silence with a sharp-edged blade.
I run both hands over my hair, not wanting to be honest, but unable to lie outright to my ward. Glancing at the city lights, I take a deep breath. “I needed a bit of space and fresh air, a new perspective.” That isn’t untrue. There is not enough room in the apartment for Dante kissing Cait and me knowing it to be in the same vicinity.
She nods. “Oh, is that so? And
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