Chapter 26 - Lex

I shift as I land on the rooftop and hurry downstairs to my office. I feel a lightness I haven't felt in months. I love Nic! I'm going to claim her as my soul mate! Sure, I'll have to tell her that I'm a dragon shifter, but she already suspects that I'm more than just an ordinary man. And yes, it might come as a shock to her, but I'm confident that she'll get over it.

As soon as I reach my office, I grab my phone and dial her number. It keeps going to voice mail. No matter. I'll show up at her door with flowers.

I put my plan into action and soon, I am standing outside the door of her apartment with a massive bouquet of flowers.

I knock impatiently, finding it difficult to wait for even a second longer. When the door opens, it is Nic's roommate Penelope on the other side. I have a tough time masking my disappointment.

"Whoa! Are those for Nic?" she asks, holding the door wide open for me to pass through.

"Yes. Where is she?"

"She left me a note saying she's going to her mom's place for a few days."

"Oh. Did she say why?"

"No. I thought you guys had a fight or something. She hasn't really been herself for the last week or so. Did you have a fight?" she asks, narrowing her eyes at me.

"Of course we didn't." I can't keep the defensiveness out of my voice.

"Why the flowers?" she asks, cocking an eyebrow and placing a hand on her hip. She's evidently not convinced.

"Look, Penelope, I have something very, very important to tell her. Where does her mom live?"

She eyes me for the longest time, perhaps trying to decide if she should give me Nic's whereabouts or not.

"Pittsburgh. Let me get her address."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I say giving her a one-armed hug before she heads into her room. She comes out with a piece of paper with Pam's address on it. I want to grab it out of her hand, but she pulls it out of my reach.

"You promise me that you won't hurt her."

I suddenly feel like a schoolboy caught in a wrongdoing under her steady gaze.

"I was a moron until now, but I've seen light. Nic belongs to me. I promise you that I won't intentionally hurt her ever."

She smiles and hands over the paper to me.

"Here. You take these. You have been wonderful," I say, hugging her again, thrusting the flowers at her. She relieves me of my burden with a laugh.

I run down the stairs, taking three steps at a time. Chuck is waiting in the usual spot. I instruct him to take me back to the office. I have to tell the others that I'm going to Pittsburgh. And the only way I will reach my destination fast enough is if I shift.

There is a huge grin on my face and my heart feels as if it will burst with joy. But there is also a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. In fact, I have been feeling this ever since I read Nic's note. At that time, I put it down to shock, but it has only steadily increased instead of abating, even after I made the decision to claim Nic as my soul mate. What is even more worrying is that my dragon is all fidgety and uneasy instead of being ecstatic.

Could something have happened to Nic? Is she in danger? Has the unseen peril finally manifested itself?