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“Probably. He thinks I’m twenty-two, so he will know when I see him next that Adara took steps before he met me.”
Rhadan ran a finger lightly over her shoulder. “Finding out you are twenty-three is not what upset you. What else happened?”
She smiled against his chest. “It wasn’t all bad. I could see the temple with my own eyes. It was ancient and beautiful. It reminded me of a Scottish castle.”
“I’m glad. Hopefully, when she is at full power and in our world, she will be able to correct your sight, but what did she say to upset you?”
Tempest sighed. “Adara told me she could restore my sight, since I didn’t lose it in the car accident. Devlin had Allorin use a spell on me, so he could manipulate me and my mother. He orchestrated my father’s death.”
Rhadan growled. “Devlin killed your father. He is lucky he is dead.”
“Yeah. Mara described his death. I guess being incinerated is rare for a dragon.”
“It is. Remind me to thank Legion for dispatching your parents’ murderer.”
“I’m not sure what gave us away, but Devlin noticed my mother. He suspected I would be druid as well. I remember that last day with my father as if it were yesterday.”
“You rarely speak of him.”
“He was a professor. He always had his head in the books. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we were happy, and I would have given anything to retain my childhood. He loved Christmas. Strange for a man in an academic field, but he would help me make paper snowflakes and popcorn strings to put on the tree every year. After he died and my mom was with Devlin, we had lavish Christmas parties, but I couldn’t see the tree or the decorations. While I’m sure they were expensive and beautiful, they lacked the love and laughter that I’d known as a child.”
“This Christmas you will string popcorn for the tree and every year after that, in remembrance of your father. He was an innocent victim. His death, the simple result of loving a woman Devlin wanted.”
“After all these years, I can no longer remember his voice. It’s just glimpses of him behind his desk or us decorating the tree. It’s sad, really.”
“When Adara is restored, we will seek out your father’s family. And see if you have any cousins.”
She tipped her head up. “I never thought of that. We never spoke about my dad after he died. I have no idea if there’s a family on his side. Thank you.”
“It is my pleasure. I will do anything to ensure your happiness. If they are not druid, then you will not be able to tell them about this part of your life, but we have human businesses and lives. One of Mara’s and Natalie’s best friends is human.”
Tempest smiled. “Jake. He is really nice. I’ve always liked him. He has a new girlfriend, and they are deliriously happy. We should go for dinner with them sometime. They’ve asked to take me out several times and I keep postponing.”
Rhadan sighed. “Your life with me will be a burden, and for that, I am truly sorry.”
She pressed on his chest. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“Your human friends will be affected by my power. I must limit my interactions with them. You saw what happened at the shop. When you wish to go for dinner or shopping in public places, one of my brethren will accompany you and the other ladies. I will never interfere with your human relations, but you will inevitably venture to locations that would be unwise for me to attend.”
While she had led a sheltered life after her father’s death, Rhadan’s had been far lonelier. He was the most beautiful creature on the planet, and he had hidden away as if he were a monster. “You don’t go anywhere, do you?”
“No Tempest. It is not safe for those around me.”
The memory flashed in her mind of Rhadan. He was much younger, and his hair was only shoulder length, but he was crying and cutting the skin on his face. “Oh god.”
“I’m sorry. I was young, and didn’t understand my power. In my ignorance, I believed if I was disfigured, others would avoid me. Dragons heal, but if we maim ourselves enough, it takes days to recover. Even with my flesh in shreds, my parents couldn’t deter those around me.”
How much guilt did a child have to feel to mutilate himself? “I can imagine the pain you were in, but I don’t want to live half a life. We will do things together or we won’t do them.” She winked. “Well, except for shopping with the girls. Kell has learned to be inconspicuous when the girls go out. Or so I am told.”
He chuckled. “You are a miracle to me.”
She pursed her lips. “You avoid all interactions? Is there anything that is... safe?”
“What you saw at the shop was nothing. The store is warded and has natural protections. It lessens my affect, but it can’t create a full barrier for my power. Those women were attracted to me, but they were not disrobing in front of me. Only beings with power are safe around me for extended periods, but I limit all interaction, even with the other dragons.”
“You have lived a very lonely life, Rhadan,” she said.
“More so than you can imagine.”
