Page 54 of Forged Flight

The insecurity that crosses his face makes my stomach curdle. I instantly hate every person who ever made Lucan feel ashamed of his body.

“Hey.” I squeeze his hand. “Look at me.”

His blue eyes meet mine.

“You’re perfect, Lucan.” I brush my thumb across his knuckles. “I’m not made of glass. You won’t hurt me.”

His expression softens into something tender, almost disbelieving. He tilts my chin and kisses me softly.

I close my eyes, surrendering to the warmth of his embrace, my fingers curling around the back of his neck. His lips move against mine with hesitant sweetness, and my heart swells until I’m certain it might burst.

For all the things Lucan thinks make him too much, I can’t understand how anyone could ever look at him and see anything less than extraordinary.

I pull back just enough to rest my forehead against his. My palm settles over his chest, and beneath it, his giant heart thuds steadily against my hand.

For a moment, neither of us says anything.

We simply stay like that, wrapped around each other in the quiet warmth of his bedroom.

Then—

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

We both freeze.

Another scratch sounds against the bedroom door.

I bite back a laugh. “Maple?”

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Lucan carefully untangles himself from the blanket and me. He crawls out of bed with a groan. I watch as he crosses the room, a smile tugging at my lips.

The moment he opens the door, Maple darts inside.

The tiny dragon lets out an excited chirp before hopping onto the bed. She marches across the mattress, circles twice, and promptly curls herself on top of the blanket.

I stare down at her. “Well, I suppose that answers where she’ll be sleeping.”

Lucan laughs and climbs back into bed.

I smile and shift closer to him, resting my head against his chest. His big arm wraps around me, pulling me securely against his side. Between us, Maple snuggles next to Lucan’s thigh, her tail tucked neatly against her body.

Lucan’s fingers gently comb through my curls.

I close my eyes.

The warmth of his body surrounds me. His heartbeat thuds steadily beneath my cheek, while Maple’s quiet breathing fills the space between us.

I tighten my arms around Lucan and let myself sink into the warmth of the two creatures I’ve come to cherish most.

Chapter Fifteen: Micah

The sound of approaching hooves draws me to the window.

I glance through the glass just in time to see a horse-drawn carriage rolling to a stop in front of my cottage. Its wooden wheels crunch over the gravel, and the pair of black horses toss their heads, their breath misting in the crisp evening air.

My stomach flutters.