Chapter 24

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Rose

While they were giving each other grief, I let what Isaac said sink in. I hadn't thought about whether I would come back or when. But it sounded like if I was gone for any length of time it would have drastic repercussions back here.

"I need to talk to my parents," I blurted out.

All three of them turned. Magnus eyed me curiously. "We just left them behind. Why would you want to talk to them again so soon?"

"Because it might be my last chance. I'm still upset with them, and that isn't going to change any time soon. But if I can only see them once more, I need them to know that I do still love them. Despite everything. Or maybe even because of it. They sacrificed their lives to save mine. I didn't even ask them what they might have given up to take me on."

"I guess that makes sense..." He didn't sound convinced that he meant what he said, but I'd take it.

"Is that all? Is there anything else you've left out of this scenario?"

"I mean there's tons of things you don't know about the fae realm," Kitra said. "But those are all the high notes."

I looked to Magnus for assurance and he nodded. I trusted him to at least be straight with me.

"Do you have a decision?"

"No. It sounds like I shouldn't rush into anything. I need to think, and to think, I need some peace and quiet. Is there somewhere I can go?"

"I'll take her upstairs." Magnus reached for my hand and I didn't resist. I let him lead me away from the others and up a grand staircase to the second floor.

"Where are we going?"

"To the perfect place. I've only been here once, but I did investigate the estate thoroughly. And as soon as the decision was made to come here, I knew where you would want to nest."

"Nest?"

"Of course. It's what Omegas often do when they are in heat."

I stopped mid step and pulled my hand free. "I thought we were done with this talk?"

He smirked. "Hardly. Your heat will come in waves. Ups and downs, per se. If nothing else, we should be prepared for when it hits again."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? Are you grooming me for sex again?"

"There's no grooming necessary. I like you just the way you are."

I shook my head. He clearly misunderstood what I'd said, but what he'd followed with had only made it worse. "Just show me to my room. I need that peace and quiet more than ever now—alone."

He made a displeased face, but for the first time, he didn't say anything. I didn't know whether to cheer or worry. He was as volatile as they came but, I was cranky and tired and frustrated so he could join the party.

By the time he opened the door to what I hoped would be my room, I'd worked up a head a steam and was ready to take his off if need be. Fortunately, it wasn't necessary. He stepped aside and motioned for me to precede him.

I ducked under his arm and walked into a small room tucked under a dormer with a huge round window overlooking the sea. "Oh my gosh. Wow. I hurried over to the window so I could see the entire view and found myself instantly mesmerized. I loved being near any body of water, but the ocean was by far my favorite. Especially on a day like today.

It had begun to rain on the drive in, as it did so often here in Scotland and the gray pallor and soft rain on the water below made me both perfectly happy and suited my tense mood perfectly. All I needed was a big comfy chair and maybe a journal to keep me company.

I needed to take some notes. Get the facts all straight in my head.

I glanced around the rest of the room. There was an extremely large bed, but that didn't come as much of a surprise. This house belonged to a family of dragons who obviously needed a lot of space.

"Looking for something in particular?"

"I was hoping for a comfortable chair that I could put right here in this window." I whipped back around and leaned forward, pressing my forehead to the glass. “I want to sit right here and not move.”

"I'm sure I can accommodate that. There are a lot of rooms in this house. I'll be right back."

I started to stop him and clamped my mouth shut. There was so much information being thrown at me, that if I could actually get some time curled up in this window to think through everything I'd learned, then I had to take it. I needed it.

Too much had happened in a short amount of time and I had a lot to process. Normally, just seeing Magnus morph into a giant dragon would have been too much. But these people had rapid fire hit me all day long.

"How is this?" I turned in time to see him squeeze an enormous plush round chair through the doorway and cross the room.

"Wow. That's perfect."

"I grabbed some extra blankets and pillows as well. You should have plenty of materials to build whatever you need. But if you want something else just let me know." With that, he turned and walked back to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Giving you the peace and quiet you asked for." My heart stuttered at the simple kindness. Not just now but pretty much all day long. For a volatile dragon, he'd been amazingly accommodating.

"What made you pick this room for me?"

"It reminds me of your cottage. The wood beams, the view of the ocean, the soft green on the walls, the plants..."

He’d taken notice of all of that, both here and there. It struck me hard. I was so used to being alone and fading into the background, I often forgot that I wasn't the only one capable of noticing my surroundings.

"Thank you," I said simply, hoping he understood how truly grateful I was.

He grunted and flatly closed the door behind him, enclosing me into the peace and quiet I'd asked for. What if he?—

I sprinted for the door and turned the knob, relieved to find it unlocked. For a second, I'd thought maybe he'd locked me in and that's why he'd so easily left me behind. I eased it closed again and leaned back against it while taking in more details of the room.

There were beautiful paintings on the wall in gilded gold frames that looked quite expensive. And the far wall was covered in what looked to be thousands of books on rows and rows of shelves. Normally, that would be my first destination, but today I wanted to focus on all the information swirling in my head.

I had a decision to make.

I sat on the big round chair in front of the window and sank into the plush cushions and soft fabric. I wrapped one of the blankets around me and fixated on a dark spot out in the ocean. A tiny island I'd guess. I tried to imagine living here and couldn't. A house this size would be far too big to live alone. But if I wasn't alone...

I violently shook that thought from my head. I had no business going down that road. Right now I was supposed to be thinking about the impossible choice I'd been given. Follow Magnus into the unknown of the fae realm and maybe discover who and what I really was, or stay here and have whatever legacy I came from permanently revoked.

The time thing was the real clincher, and the hardest thing to wrap my mind around. Not that the knowledge that fae and dragons were real wasn't messing with my head too.

Two worlds basically running parallel to each other, but on different timelines. How was that even possible? No science course in college had gotten very deep into that kind of thing. That was an entirely different discipline that I'd had no interest in.

Now I was kicking myself for not at least dabbling in it. What could I have learned that would help me now? The decision I had to make mattered little on science and focused entirely on emotions. Particularly love and fear. Fear of the unknown, and the idea of never seeing my loved ones again.

I grabbed one of the pillows next to me and buried my face in it and screamed at the top of my lungs. Knowing I was adopted was one thing. But this...

I didn't think anyone had any reason to lie to me about who or what I was. But was I willing to give up finding out the truth without even trying? I wasn't sure I could stand to live the rest of my life not knowing, or not experiencing this opportunity.

Those thoughts continued to go around and around in my head for what felt like hours. I lost track of all time, and it wasn't until the sun was peeking above the horizon I realized exactly how long I'd been sitting there trying to decide.

And then I noticed something else. I was hungry. No. Ravenous. And not just for food.

"You should have called me sooner," a grumbling voice came from the now opened doorway, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin.

I clutched at my chest as my now racing heart rate beat more erratically. "Do not sneak up on me."

Magnus frowned. "I couldn't have made more noise coming up here if I'd tried." He entered carrying a tray of food, and while that was good, it wasn't what drew my attention. He placed the tray on the small table in the opposite corner and made his way over to the chair.

His nostrils flared and his eyes widened, and all I could think about was how good he looked standing over me.

"Sit with me," I invited, scooting over so his large frame would fit on one side of the chair.

His body went stiff, his spine straightening and his muscles flexing from his shoulders to his fingertips. A knot formed in my throat as I imagined those fingers on me, stroking me, inside me...

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"How am I killing you ? There are important decisions to be made that I don't have time to be distracted from. And Kitra is waiting for an answer. But all I can see is you, touching me."

"And I can smell what those images are doing to you. And since I already know just how delicious you can be when you are like this, I'm having trouble holding myself back." He'd moved a few inches closer and I could feel the increasing heat from his dragon reaching out to caress my skin. I desperately wanted to lean into it. Maybe even take off my clothes and let it wrap me up tight and safe where for a moment I might not have to think about consequences and danger and the unknown.

"Then don't."

He leaned forward and placed his hands on each side of my hips, sinking down a little into the chair until his gorgeous face was level with mine.

"Are you sure about this? Last time, neither of us really focused on the implications. But this time, with us having spent more time together and gotten to know each other a bit more, it will be different. It won't be just my knot."

I thought about everything that had happened and how I'd felt the first time. I craved that full feeling and the way my nerves had lit up when he had fully settled in. Already I could feel the prickles across my skin like popping candy erupting everywhere at once.

But what I really needed right now was far simpler.

I scrambled to my knees within the confines of his arms, grabbed his beautifully scarred face, and pulled him into a kiss.