Page 73 of Dragon Charmed

What a pair. “Well, I hope you don’t mind me interrupting?”

Lily pointed to the chair next to them and Tessa sat. “I brought you something, Lily. To celebrate you meeting your dragon.”

Lily sat up from her slouch against Ben and took the bag from Tessa. She removed the tissue paper, and her eyes widened as she pulled the stuffed dragon from the bag. It was purple and had a stubby nose with a grin sown under its snout. Around its neck was a neckband that had a moonstone attached to it. Lily ran her fingers over the stone.

“There is something else in the bottom of the bag.”

Lily pulled out a small box and opened it. Inside was a necklace with a matching moonstone pendant. Tessa helped her put on the necklace. “What do you think, sweetheart?”

Lily threw her arms around Tessa’s neck, and Tessa’s breath caught. Especially when she saw Ben’s expression. Tessa wasn’t sure if she could categorize the emotions that seemed to play across his face. Happiness? Gratitude? Heat…anticipation?

“That is an amazing gift, Lily,” Ben said.

“Uh-oh, Lily. I think Ben might want your dragon. Should I have gotten him a gift too?”

Lily let go of Tessa and hugged her dragon tight.

He chuckled. “I’m fine.”

“Are you going to name your dragon?” Tessa asked.

Lily nodded.

“How about Waldo?” That was a good name for a stuffed dragon.

Lily shook her head.

“Sassafras?”

The little girl rolled her eyes at that, so Tessa started listing any far-fetched name she could think of, which got Lily giggling and Ben laughing at her choices.

Tessa finally held up her hands. “Well, I am all out of ideas. What name do you want, Lily?”

Lily pointed at Ben and he blinked.

“You want the dragon to be named Ben?” Tessa asked.

Lily shook her head and pointed at him again. Tessa exchanged confused looks with Ben. And then a chill ran up her back. “Adam? You want it to be named Adam?”

Lily beamed and held up her dragon to knock the point home. They hadn’t told Lily that Ben had a different name, had kept her from overhearing the serious conversations they’d been having. But nothing this little girl did surprised Tessa.

Lily’s face had lit up as Tessa told a story about a baby dragon and his best friend, Lily, flying across the sky. This little girl constantly caught Ben off guard, and Tessa? She was a walking, talking revelation. She was outspoken, brave, and kindhearted, which was sexy, sexy, and more sexy. But when she was with Lily, holy Fates, that combination brought him to his knees. He wanted to wrap his arms around them both. To protect them and his clan. What if he had the way to break the curse locked in his head to keep them all safe? Could he get his memories back? Could someone help him find the truth?

He couldn’t get lost in what-ifs right now. Not with Tessa standing next to him. Lily had gone inside to show everyone her new dragon, Adam. And wasn’t that a kick in the gut. She knew his name. They had no idea how powerful Lily truly was.

“A dollar for your thoughts?” Tessa said.

“I thought it was a penny?”

She smiled. “Inflation.”

Ben chuckled. “I wonder if my memories could be a key to breaking the curse. And if so, how do we bring them back? I need to do something.”

“We’ll figure it out. You’re not alone now. As much as I hate the idea, I’ve been thinking it might be time to bring John into the conversation about you and Lily. Maybe he can clue us in to something from his dusty memory bank.”

“It can’t hurt to hear what he has to say. And if he has information on oracles that could help Lily, all the better.” He turned to her. “That was so thoughtful of you to get Lily a gift. She adores it.”

Tessa smiled. “Well, she adores you, obviously.”