“I’m saying I can change my form. Several centuries ago, as a way to survive, some dragons found a wizard and convinced him to use his magic to help them blend in. I’m descended from those dragons. I understand the Asian dragons found a way to do the same thing, but I’m not sure how. We look human most of the time, but if necessary, we can return to dragon form.”
“Any time now, you can give up and tell me you’re joking. I won’t hold it against you if you admit it—soon.”
Damn, she still doesn’t believe me. But at least she didn’t appear ready to run off, so he blundered on.
“I have a few advantages in my alternate form. As a dragon, I’m fireproof. It comes in handy when fighting fires—I just wish I could let my chief in on that little fact. And my vision improves tremendously. Think about the first time you saw my eyes glow gold.”
“It was during the fire. I couldn’t see you well under all the protective equipment you were wearing, but I did notice your eyes.”
“I had to shift when I was inside the building. The fire was so hot, and flames were everywhere. If I hadn’t taken on my alternate form, I might not have survived, and I certainly couldn’t have seen through the flames and smoke to find my way out.”
She reached out and touched his cheek. Her expression was deadly serious. Maybe he was reaching her, at last.
“You don’t have to go through this alone, Drake. We’ll find you a good doctor. I’ve heard with medication they can treat all kinds of delusions.”
Oh, crap. We’re back to square one.
“Bliss, honey. I’m not delusional. I can show you my dragon transformation, but I don’t want to scare you. If you see me as a dragon you might be afraid, but I can assure you, I’d never hurt you.”
“I believe that. If you didn’t hit back when that awful biker chick was kicking you in the ribs, I don’t think you’ll hurt me for giving you a little ribbing. Although, you might rib me back. I’m pretty sure that’s what you’re doing now.”
He dropped his head and let out a deep breath in a whoosh. I’m still not getting through.
After a long silence, she lifted her chin. “Okay. Prove it.”
“Really? You’ll let me show you my transformation?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Think about it. If you see something you really don’t believe in, it’ll change your perspective forever.”
Bliss flopped onto her back and threw her hands in the air. “Do you want to show me or don’t you?”
“You won’t be scared?”
She rolled back onto her elbow, propped herself up, and looked him right in the eye. “I won’t be scared.”
“Promise? Because it would be perfectly normal to be a little bit nervous.”
“I’m not perfect, nor am I normal.”
“You’re joking again.”
“That’s how I cope.” After a long pause, she worried her lip. “Okay. I guess I’m a little afraid for you, but I’m not afraid of you.”
That was good enough. This is it. Now or never.
Drake got up off the bed and backed away a few feet. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his dragon form. His back vibrated, letting him know his wings and tail were ready to emerge. When he opened his eyes, he saw Bliss still on the bed and not running for the hills. The shimmer he knew could be seen in his eyes colored his vision for a matter of seconds. He transformed briefly but didn’t flap his wings or tail. He truly didn’t want to scare her.
Her eyes had rounded and grown huge throughout the process. Perhaps she wasn’t moving because she was frozen in fear. He’d made his point and didn’t need or want to impress her. All he wanted was her trust—and for her not to doubt him anymore. He quickly closed his eyes and concentrated on his human form. The tingling stopped and the glow faded.
As soon as he could speak with his human mouth he asked, “Are you okay?”
As if she couldn’t quite make words come out, her mouth moved a little before she said, “I… I guess.” She shrugged a shoulder, but he thought he saw it tremble.
He wanted to gather her close and hold her, but he didn’t know if she’d welcome him. He had never let a human see his transition before. Hell, he wasn’t supposed to let anyone see it now.
Maybe if I just tell her that… “I’ve never shown this side of me to anyone else.”
“G—good. I imagine it would scare the pants off most people.” She backed away for the first time since they’d begun talking.
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m good.” She grabbed her clothes with shaking fingers.
“Bliss, there’s more I have to tell you.”
She groaned but didn’t stop pulling up her sweatpants or fastening the drawstring. “Uh—can we do it later?”
“Not really. The whole reason I had to tell you about dragons was to warn you.”
“Warn me?” She finished tying her drawstring, then dragged her T-shirt over her head. “I thought you said you’d never hurt me.”
“I won’t. I promise you have nothing to fear from me.”
“Then why do you have to warn me?”
“Because I’m not the dragon who means you harm.”
She froze. “Are you saying there are more who do?”
“Just one. Possibly.”
She jammed her hands on her hips. “How possible is this possibility?”
“It’s a pretty good possibility. Remember the biker chick who kicked my ass?”
“Fuckin’ A!”
“I know…” He started to stroll toward her until she held up one palm to stop him.
“I need a minute, Drake. Maybe a whole lot of minutes. This is a crazy amount of information to process.”
“I understand. Please don’t be afraid. Let me help.”
“Help? What can you do to help? If you’re fireproof, I expect she is too. And you can’t possibly stand guard over me day and night.”
“I know. That’s why I need to come up with another way to protect you.”
“Can you… you know, breathe fire like in the legends?”
“No. My family lost that ability centuries ago, but I don’t know about other clans.”
“There are clans? Is that because you’re Scottish, or… Oh, fuck it. I don’t even know what questions to ask.”
“I’ll answer any questions you have, later. Right now it’s important to come up with a plan to keep you safe. I can’t lose you, Bliss.”
“Especially not to someone like her. I imagine that’s why she wants to get rid of me—so she can drag you off to Hanalei or wherever it is that dragons live happily ever after.”
“I can’t lose you to anyone, Bliss. Not for any reason. I wouldn’t have told you any of this—and you can’t imagine how many rules I’ve broken—but it was important that you truly understand the danger. I’d never forgive myself if I could have warned you but didn’t because of my own cowardice.”
She stroked his cheek. “A coward is one thing you’re not, Drake Cameron.”
It had taken Drake another hour to calm Bliss down to the point where she could sleep. The one thing he wanted most was for her to be safe. When he suggested she move back with her parents, even temporarily, she about lost her mind.
He couldn’t tell her what to do. He could only make suggestions and hope she’d see the wisdom in listening to him.
She moved in his arms and mumbled something unintelligible, as if having a restless dream. Drake stroked her hair until she calmed down and her breathing returned to the long, slow breaths of deep sleep.
He couldn’t tell her that he was under orders from the Supernatural Council. They had expressly forbidden him from sharing any knowledge of their existence. He had also been told not to reveal his own paranormal identity, but he had promised Bliss he’d be honest with her, need-to-know basis or not. And yes… she needed to know.