Romilly had come here as a boy when the weight of what he was going to inherit sat too heavily on his child sized shoulders. He’d never brought anyone to his sacred space.
He eased Archer down on the bench before returning to a standing position. While he’d have loved to sit with his mate in his arms, there was far too much restless energy in his body to keep steady.
Archer looked all around him, curious eyes wide and eager. “This place is beautiful. What is it?”
“I’ve never gotten a straight answer as to its purpose. When I was younger, I used it as a quiet escape. No one ever comes this way.”
The carefree state of Archer’s body faded. His gaze went to Romilly and stayed there. Patient, open. Ready for whatever the other man would say.
Yet another reason this little human was his perfect match.
Every plan he had of what to say fled his mind. There was only Archer and him. Only the sounds of the wind floating through the trees around them.
"There are things I should have told you sooner," Romilly started. "I want to explain why I did not, because I do not want you to think it was about distrust. It was about not wanting to overwhelm you. You had been through something terrible and were healing. I told myself I was giving you time to settle. I think I was also afraid."
In any other scenario, the way Archer’s brows rose would have brought a laugh from deep in his chest. This time it proved Romilly’s thoughts that his mate had no clue what to expect next.
And how would he?
Humans didn’t know of their kind except for in a few instances. Archer couldn’t have known.
"What were you afraid of?" Archer asked.
“Of telling you and watching you look at me differently. From the very beginning you looked at me with a trusting gaze. I have not always had that. People tend to fear me. Or they make assumptions based on my family.”
His mate went quiet for a long moment. “Is this something you must tell me? Or can we not talk about it? I don’t want you to be anxious.”
Romilly paced in front of Archer, his mind flying over all the ways he could explain the truth. He pondered briefly if he could agree to not talk about it and pretend all was well.
But when Archer found out, he’d be devastated.
The thought was enough to stop Romilly in his tracks. He went over to Archer, then kneeled before where his little human sat on the bench.
“I do need to tell you. No more delay.”
“Then tell me, please. I don’t think it will be as bad as you’re thinking.”
Only one way to find out.
"San Noctis is not an ordinary town," he began. "The people who live here…not all of them, but many, are not human. They are supernatural beings who have lived alongside humans for a very long time. Most humans here know nothing of it. Some know everything. The town itself is protected by old magic that keeps the balance."
His mate didn’t scream or stand to run away. As Romilly watched him closely, a series of emotions flickered over his little human’s face.
Curiosity.
Apprehension.
Romilly continued his explanation since there was even more to reveal. "We are dragon shifters. We being my family. My mother, my father, my siblings. The horde, our community, is made up of dragons and has existed for a very long time. I lead them. I am King. It is not a metaphor or a title in the decorative sense. It is… that is what I am."
Archer opened his mouth, then closed it. He blinked rapidly a few times before he muttered, "The eyes.”
“I’m sorry?” Romilly couldn’t believe those were the first words from his mate after all he’d said.
“Your eyes flash gold." Archer said, voice turning excited. "I've seen it. All of you. I kept telling myself it was the light, or I was tired, or maybe I was on medication that was doing something to my perception. Oh! Oh, wait…I wasn't on any medication, was I?”
Romilly reached out then, his hands landing on Archer’s knees. A touch meant to sooth. Meant to connect.
“What you saw was real. When the dragon is close to the surface, it shows in the eyes. If the shift progresses further, it appears in the hands and more of the face.”
