Page 70 of Dragon Charmed

He and Megan said their good nights, but Tessa couldn’t get herself to leave. At least not yet. “Lily is going to be fine.”

He turned to her. “You don’t know that.”

He was spiraling and she needed to help him. “I do. For two reasons. First, you will do anything to help her.”

“I will, but—”

Tessa interrupted him before he went back down the rabbit hole. “And second, Lily has already showed us what is going to happen. She drew the picture of the two of you with wings. You are both going to be fine.”

He blew out a hard breath. “I want to be able to help.”

Tessa stepped forward and rested her hand on his arm. “You will. And you are helping. Do you not see how happy Eric, Sienna, and Marcus are to have you back? Wait until your clan knows you’re alive. They will be thrilled.”

His face relaxed. “How do you always know what to say?”

“I’m brilliant. Just ask Marcus and your brother. The first time they met me, they said, Tessa Stuart is brilliant. We should listen to everything she has to say.”

Ben laughed, which had been her goal.

“They were right about that.”

Those brown eyes—Did they have flecks of gold too? Step away from the lumbersnack. She had just told Megan she wouldn’t complicate things for Ben right now. And for her. Because she was falling for a man who didn’t know about his past.

When he did, would he want her to be a part of his future?

Chapter 27

No pressure. A small group stood on the cliffs as Eric worked with Ben to release his dragon. He was bare-chested and exposed and willing his dragon to come out of hiding. So far nothing had worked. He took in the anxious faces. Marcus, Sienna, and Eric had been working with him with several failed attempts. Ian was standing by to help as well. Megan and Evelyn stood a few feet away with Tessa. He glanced at her to try to calm down. Seeing her usually helped when he was spiraling. Not today.

Lily stood next to him, and when she watched him with adoration in her eyes, his heart cracked in half. He was failing this little girl.

“Ben.”

Failing all of them.

“Ben! Look at me.”

Ben blinked and then focused on a determined face with denim eyes. He was becoming addicted to those eyes.

“Listen,” Tessa said. “You are overthinking this. Maybe you aren’t the one who needs to do this.”

“What do you mean? Ian said Lily is linked to me.”

“Lily’s dragon has linked to your dragon. I mean that your dragon needs to do this. Do you trust me?”

He nodded. He trusted her more than anyone.

“Put your hand on Lily’s shoulder.”

He did what she said.

“I’m going to try something.” Tessa rested her hands on his bare chest.

He sucked in a breath, and something rumbled deep inside.

“Close your eyes.”

He followed directions even though he wanted to look at her, especially when she was so close. He could feel her breath on his chest.