Page 46 of Feathers and Scales
Daxton released the strap of the duffel. Izzy dipped sideways from the weight of the bag. Pressing her hand against his back, she caught herself. His mind centered, and the chaos from his dragon subsided. He took a calming breath like she taught him, centering himself away from his fear.
Please don’t move. I need you…
Her touch disappeared, forcing him to tame his once-again tense beast. But the breathing helped.
“I apologize for my behavior,” Izzy said in a hesitant voice. She stepped out from behind Daxton. “You’re Keiran, I presume?”
“Yes,” Keiran said. “Centurion of these great parts, and you are Izzy? Sarah has told me about you.”
She blinked, but to Daxton’s surprise, she didn’t break eye contact when most humans would have turned away from Keiran’s searing gaze. “It’s nice to meet you.”
He nodded in greeting and turned toward Daxton. “I wish I were visiting under better circumstances.”
Daxton did as well. He’d been foolish to believe Keiran wouldn’t track him down for his selfish behavior.
Silas sighed. “On that note, I’m going to go get breakfast.”
To break the searing eye contact with Keiran, Daxton faced Silas.
“Don’t wander off too far,” Daxton shouted.
Silas stopped and grinned. “Think you can take me?”
“You know I can.”
Few dragons could handle Daxton’s complete arsenal, and sparring was a natural outlet among their kind. He itched to let his power loosewithout fear of hurting someone or losing control. Plus, he still needed to battle Silas for the pent-up aggression he caused earlier.
He’d expected Keiran to check Silas’s ability to wipe her memory, but scaring her with the cliff edge crossed a line for him. Silas could have dropped the Illusion for both of them, but at least Daxton had been aware it existed. It’d been too late for him to warn Izzy.
“We’ll meet again after your lashings,” Silas muttered.
Keiran cautiously stepped forward. “May I inspect our new visitor?”
Daxton froze, growling on the inside as territorial and protective instincts tensed his muscles. Because Keiran had given him the choice and hadn’t made any demands, Daxton inhaled sharply to calm himself. Stepping aside, he provided room for Keiran but stood ready to intervene if needed.
“Do I have permission to smell you?” Keiran asked Izzy. “I want to know why everyone believes you are human.”
“Do you mean to use your Insight?”
His nod included a glance in Daxton’s direction.
Yeah. Just add “I shared too much information” to the list of things to yell at me about.
“Okay,” Izzy said.
She stood tall as he leaned into her neck.
Daxton tensed, body alert and itchy with protectiveness at Keiran’s approach. Keiran kept his hands crossed behind him as if he understood Daxton’s struggle. Daxton touched the small of her back, offering comfort. The curve there was the perfect nook for his hand, and the contact affected him once again, lessening his dragon’s restlessness.
Keiran took a deep breath before stepping away, his expression contemplative. “Human, through and through.”
Daxton continued the physical contact.
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me,” she said. “Anyway, as I have warned Daxton, I’m not ambassador material,so I’d love to skip the civil chitchat and start with requests. I propose an exchange. He mentioned you have records, while I shared a book about my kind with him.” Her nose wiggled as if warding off a frown. “Since I assume I’ve passed your tests, I beseech you to let me review what you allow while he fills you in on the Fallen.”
Daxton smiled. She wasn’t shy about the information she sought, especially considering she made such a bold request of the Centurion.
Keiran’s smile erred on the side of cruel. Daxton stiffened, but he kept himself from jumping between them. This was a battle for Izzy and the Fallen.
