Chapter Sixteen: Cassie

Cassie was swept away by Byron. With his arms around her waist, he spun her around and around.

And then he kissed her.

Or did she kiss him?

She didn’t know. One minute she was looking into his eyes, lost to the connection she felt with him. The next, their lips were touching, a tentative kiss that quickly deepened. His heat enveloped her, the sensation both thrilling and frightening in its intensity.

“Ah, Brushworth!” Stan’s voice came from the corridor outside, and Byron tensed, the moment broken as he let her down gently.

“Come on.” He threaded his fingers through hers. “We’re not the first to escape and we don’t want to be the last.”

“Of course…the competition,” she murmured as she hurried after him back along the corridor to the bar area. Her lips still tingled where they’d kissed, and she longed to pull Byron into her arms and kiss him some more.

But they were not mates. This was fake. They had both simply been caught up in the moment.

They stepped out of the room into the never-ending corridor, blinking against the light, and headed for the sound of bubbling voices from the bar area.

“Byron and Cassie,” Morwenna announced as they stepped out of the corridor into the sparsely populated bar area. “Welcome to the land of escapees.”

“I knew you would do it!” Kengar said as he approached, his great green arm outstretched.

“Well done, Cassie.” Nyara came to Cassie and hugged her as Byron and Kengar shook hands. “Tell us about your room.”

“So, they were all different,” Cassie said. “We thought they had to be.”

“We had a dungeon,” Kengar laughed. “What an adventure that was.”

“It seemed you felt right at home.” Nyara playfully slapped him on the arm. “It was practically medieval in there.”

“Ours was a cabin in the woods,” Nancy said. “Stan nearly freaked out. He’s watched far too many of those silly movies where a group of teenagers gets terrorized. I, for one, found it quite pleasant to have a countryside escape.”

“Drinks?” Stan asked brightly and nodded to Morwenna, who was loitering at the bar.

“I think it’s time Flint came back inside,” Morwenna huffed. “He is the bartender, not me.”

“But you’re so good at it,” Stan replied and fluttered his eyelashes at her as the group moved toward her.

“Don’t expect flattery to get you any discounts.” Morwenna began pouring drinks from the bottles shelved on racks above the bar.

“Ours was a library,” Cassie said as she gratefully accepted a glass of gin and took a sip. “Oh, this is good.”

“I don’t suppose you have some coffee…” Byron clamped his mouth shut as Stan shot him a warning look and a quick shake of his head. “Gin would be perfect.”

“A library…” Nyara began, but before she continued, there was a rush of voices from along the corridor. Another couple emerged, looking a little flustered, but relieved.

“How many have escaped so far?” Byron asked as he took a gulp of his gin and looked across the empty room.

“That makes five couples now,” Morwenna said. “Stan and Nancy were first. Then there were another two couples, and then Nyara and Kengar.”

“That’s all?” Byron asked. “The time’s nearly up.”

Morwenna shrugged. “Then there will be a lot of losers very soon.”

“I think most of the escapees left already,” Kengar said as he took a sip from a tankard. “Didn’t want to risk getting trapped again, maybe.” He chuckled.

“So, we don’t have to stay and wait for everyone to get out?” Cassie asked.

“No,” Morwenna replied. “In fact, I invite you to leave as soon as possible so that I can get back to my non-bartender duties. Oh, good, more escapees.” Morwenna darted around the side of the bar and strode to the tavern door. She pulled it open, inviting in the sounds of the ongoing street party outside. “Flint! Time to get back to work!”

“I am working!” he called back.

“But not in here,” Morwenna replied. “Which means I’m having to work.”

Flint’s large frame appeared in the doorway. “Are you telling me you don’t want to serve the people out here? I’ve never seen this street so busy.”

But the people out there had obviously taken the open tavern door as a sign and they began spilling into the tavern, carrying Flint along with them toward the bar as they cheered and whooped. It was hard to tell if they were cheering for the contestants, or simply that they were able to get into their favorite drinking hole. It was a party atmosphere, but Cassie didn’t want to get swept along in it. She was tired and emotionally drained.

Not to mention that she needed time to process their kiss.

Byron, Cassie, and their small group sidled to the edge of the bar to avoid the swiftly growing crowd. Morwenna held up the cocktail shaker as if it were a crucifix, trying to hold back the throng of people as she began to frantically make drinks.

“I’m going home. I need food and time to prepare for tomorrow’s trial.” Cassie downed her gin, the rush of alcohol making her lightheaded.

“Good idea.” Byron mirrored her and finished his drink and slipped his arm around her waist, sending chills through her body as he shielded her from the mass of people still pouring into the bar.

She should have politely pushed him away, and put some distance between them, set some boundaries. But as they fought against the tide of people entering the bar, she was grateful for his strong, protective presence. His arm around her felt both comforting and exhilarating, a confusing mix of emotions she was too weary to decipher at the moment.

As they made their way through the crowd, she could feel the heat radiating from him, and she wanted to reach out and touch him, to stroke his hot flesh.

No. This was no good. She really needed to clear her head. And she could only do that if she was alone. Something about being around Byron recently made her head spin.

But as they reached the tavern door and went outside into the cool night air, Byron said, “Let’s grab some food to go. There’s somewhere I’d like to show you. And someone I’d like you to meet.”

“To meet?” she asked. “It’s late. And I’m not really up to any more social interaction.”

“My dragon will not rest until he’s met you in person,” Byron told her. “And I want to be able to sleep tonight as well.”

“Your dragon?” Cassie repeated. Well, that might just change everything.

“Yes, we agreed we would fly and dance.” He guided her to one side of the alleyway, where it was quieter. “Please.”

“Cassie! Byron!” Harry’s voice rang out, and Cassie turned to see him waving a spatula at them.

“Food!” Byron said, looking over her shoulder toward Harry and Burt’s barbeque. “I’ve been thinking about those burgers ever since we walked out.”

Cassie let Byron lead her toward the two Regulars.

“How did it go?” Burt asked. “Did Stan make it out?”

“He did,” Cassie said from Byron’s side. “He and Nancy were the first, I believe.”

Harry snorted. “Nancy is a force to be reckoned with.”

“And not just in this competition,” Harry added.

“They make a good team,” Byron said, practically drooling over the burgers sizzling on the grill.

“You look like a man half-starved,” Burt said. “How about you have these last burgers on the house?”

“Are you sure?” Byron asked as he inhaled the scent of the cooked meat.

“Absolutely,” Harry said. “Looks like most people have gone inside the tavern now. And Burt and I would like to do the same.”

“So, we’re doing you a favor by taking the last of your burgers?” Byron certainly seemed to like that idea.

“A prize,” Burt suggested. “For completing the escape room.”

“Yes, a prize,” Harry agreed, eying the door to the tavern nervously.

“A prize,” Cassie smirked. “Are you afraid of what Morwenna might say if she knew you were giving away free food? I didn’t realize you were affiliated.”

“Afraid. Of Morwenna?” Burt laughed nervously. “Certainly not.”

“Terrified is the term I’d use,” Harry said.

“Petrified, even.” Burt grinned.

“Regardless, we gratefully accept your prize,” Byron said magnanimously.

“Great!” Burt and Harry quickly prepared the last four burgers and wrapped them in paper emblazoned with ‘The Lonely Tavern’, and then handed them to Byron and Cassie.

Cassie looked down at the paper wrapper. She had no idea that the tavern was making a break into the takeaway food market. Maybe Morwenna didn’t even know.

“Enjoy!” Harry said and then he and Burt turned to packing up their pop-up BBQ stall.

“Thanks.” Byron tilted his head in amusement. “Shall we go and enjoy our burgers somewhere special?”

“What did you have in mind?” Cassie asked, her mood lighter now that they were away from the crowded tavern.

“It’s a surprise,” Byron said. “But I think you’ll like it.”

“And is this somewhere a dragon ride away?” she asked, the warmth of the burgers seeping through the paper. Her mouth watered and her stomach grumbled at the thought of sinking her teeth into the delicious food. But a ride on the back of a dragon trumped even the tastiest of food.

“Yes.” He reached for her free hand and entwined his fingers with hers. A familiar warmth spread through her veins as he tightened his hold on her and pulled her along the alleyway. “I promise it’s not far and the burgers will still be warm when we get there.”

He stopped and turned to face her before letting go of her hand and stepping away.

“You’re going to shift here?” Cassie hissed, looking around. But the alleyway was now empty apart from Harry and Burt, who were too engrossed in clearing away as fast as possible so they could get inside the tavern.

“Yes.” Byron winked and then rushed forward and handed her the burgers. “Here, can you hold on to these?”

“Won’t I need free hands to hold on to… I don’t want to fall off your dragon.”

“Oh. Yes.” Byron gnawed on his bottom lip for a moment and then unbuttoned his waistcoat.

“You have to get naked before you shift?” Cassie asked in a high voice.

“No.” He flashed her a smile that made her stomach flip. “This is for the burgers.” Byron unknotted his tie and spread his waistcoat on the ground.

“Oh, I get it.” Cassie blushed furiously, her mind still full of images of a bare-chested Byron as she placed the burgers on the waistcoat. Then Byron tied the waistcoat with his tie, fashioning it into a makeshift pouch.

“There.” Byron looked up, their eyes meeting, their lips inches apart. Was he going to kiss her again?

She swallowed down her desire and inched away from him before picking up the pouch of burgers. No more kissing.

Byron slowly uncurled his body and stood up, his eyes dark and unreadable as he said, “Ready?”

“To meet a dragon?” Cassie nodded. “Sure.”

Byron backed away, and then the air around him seemed to shimmer and crackle as he faded away.

For just a moment, she was alone, but then a large shadowy figure loomed above her. The shadow was tinged with red before its features filled in as if the dragon was walking toward her through the summer mist that filled the alley. The dragon had to pull its wings in tight to fit down the narrow street.

“Oh, my!” Cassie gasped, staring in wide-eyed amazement as the immense beast took shape before her. It was larger than anything she’d ever seen, shimmering scales covered his body, glinting in the faint moonlight. His eyes were an intense emerald green, piercing and full of intelligence, and despite being serpentine still looked like Byron’s.

It was terrifying and yet breathtakingly majestic. An awe-inspiring creature, both fearsome and beautiful.

And yet it was Byron. There was no doubt about it.

With a low, resonant rumble that vibrated the air around her, Byron’s dragon bowed his enormous head to her.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward, her hand outstretched as she placed her palm on the dragon’s wide forehead. “You are incredible.”

As the dragon rubbed his head against her palm, she wished more than anything that this creature belonged to her. That man and beast were her mate.

But she’d just have to settle for friendship. And a ride on the magnificent beast’s back.

The dragon lowered himself toward the ground, dipping his left leg as he nudged her around to his side.

“I guess Byron doesn’t want to eat cold burgers.” She chuckled nervously as she hooked the makeshift pouch over her shoulder and then clambered onto the dragon’s forelimb.

Then, with a great deal of huffing, puffing, and wriggling, she made it onto the dragon’s back.

He waited until she was securely in place, her hands gripping the rough ridges of his scales before he moved. The muscles under his scaled skin rippled with power as he crouched low and then, with a mighty leap, he pushed off from the ground, launching them above the roofs of the buildings that hemmed them in.

For a brief moment, her heart lodged in her throat as the world dropped away beneath them. Cassie clung on for dear life as they ascended rapidly, the wind whipping her hair about in a frenzied dance. It was a sensation, unlike anything she’d ever imagined—frightening yet thrilling.

The dragon rose above the rooftops, and then banked left, heading for the distant mountains.

Stars littered the night sky above them, a myriad of sparkling jewels that seemed almost within reach. The chill air stung her eyes and whipped through her clothes, making her shiver, but there was an unmistakable sense of exhilaration tingling her entire body. The wind whistled in her ears, drowning all other sounds except for the rhythmic beating of Byron’s expansive wings. Cassie dared look down, her breath hitching as the ground below was nothing more than specks of light and shadow, a world so distant and irrelevant at this moment. She tightened her grip on the dragon’s scales, her knuckles turning white under the pressure, and felt more alive than she ever had.

And in that moment, she knew she didn’t want to settle for friends.

She wanted to be a couple. With Byron.