I feel flustered going in to work this morning. Taran kissed me. There were many times I thought about kissing him and him kissing me. Saying I’m not happy it happened is a lie, but I hate how I reacted.The kiss was so sudden and surprising. I wish that I reacted better. I should’ve kissed back, but instead, I tensed. Then I felt embarrassed and quickly tried to hide my feelings by leaving the room.Tonight Taran and I need to talk about the kiss. I left things awkward between us. It was stupid of me to walk away as I did.At least work is busy, so it’s a distraction from my thoughts about how I could’ve handled things better. Finally, at the end of the day, I pack up and lock the clinic. Since I am the last to leave, it’s my job to make sure the alarm is activated, and all doors are locked.I walk outside and find Bryan standing by my car. I inwardly sigh. Lately, our conversations haven’t gone great. He’s tryin

I stare at Taran. My thoughts seem to stop, and the numbness has completely taken hold. “I don’t know. My mind was racing, but all my thoughts have now stopped.”Taran’s suggestion of a temporary claim stuns me. His willingness to risk outsiders knowing he’s a dragon is surprising. Especially since he is risking it to save me from a possible life of misery.In a soothing voice, Taran says, “It’s overwhelming.” He is still hovering over me with a look I’ve never noticed from him before. I’m not sure what it means. Taran normally looks stoic and emotionless. This look isn’t. There is emotion—a tenderness in his eyes that conveys his sincerity of protecting me at all cost.I still can’t manage to say anything. My mind is numb. The questions I should ask aren’t pushing through. Even if they did, I don’t think my voice would ask them.“I’ll make you some tea a

This morning I woke to find Taran’s head on me and one of his arms around me. I lightly run my fingers through his hair. There are not many men in this world that can pull off the “Prince Charming” look, but Taran does. His hair is curly and silky but not at all frizzy. His strong jaw and broad shoulders make him seem powerful. And his blue eyes make me feel safe.I continue stroking his hair until he begins to stir. As I pull my arm away, he says, “Don’t stop. I found your petting soothing.” Taran sounds groggy.Taran begins to shift, and I think he’s about to move off me. Soon, I realize he was only adjusting. Taran’s arm adjusts, so it’s now under my body before snuggling back on my chest. He moves his head and makes a sound of satisfaction. I let out a sigh, “Taran, I thought you were going to let me get up, not pin me down more.”I can feel his smile against me as he responds, “But this

I finish up on Thursday and lock up to find Taran next to my car. Since he came back, things are different. I can’t explain it, but something is different in him.Tonight we are flying to see Willow. I’m nervous but also excited. I don’t know what to expect or if she will even be friendly towards us. From the little information I gathered through the ancient dragon texts, Willow only wants peace in the forest. She comes off as unyielding, but if we present information that will aid the forest, she will gladly partner with us.Taran smiles as I approach, “How was work, dove?”I smile back, “It was an easy day. Just a few check-ups.” I unlocked my car and gestured for him to get inside, “Ready?” We plan to drive out to a heavily wooded area for Taran to shift. I pack a bag this morning with a few items we might need. Each of us has a change of clothing, and I brought some snacks and bottles of water and a first

Taran I carry Tru in my arms as I follow the hydra. She passed out after asking what happened. Our clothes are soaked, even the ones in the bag, so I left them hanging in a tree to dry. I took the backpack to easily carry Tru, Willow’s gift, and supplies to take care of Tru when she wakes. It took some convincing, but the hydra agreed to take me to Willow. They take me deeper into the woods, and I wonder if bringing Tru was a bad idea. She’s fragile and could easily get hurt. If it came down to a fight, Tru would only slow me down. Like with the griffins, if she weren’t with me, the fight would’ve taken half the time. The forest clears, and a large willow tree sits in the middle of the clearing. I watch her face appear, “Well, look who it is? To what do I owe the honor, former crown prince? I already told your mother everything I know. You’re wasting my….” Willow looks with interest at Tru. Instinctively, I press Tru closer to me. “You’ve spoken with