Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Instantly bristling at the thought that Argenis had shared her secret, Ciel bristled and glared at the beast in front of her.
Calm yourself, Little one. He addresses you like this because I’m here on business. Climb down, please.
Descending, she sent him a harrumph!
I am noting your unhappiness and disrespectfulness.
Wait? Am I in trouble?
Argenis didn’t answer, but shifted to his human form. “Stay here, Ciel.”
She crossed her fingers as he approached the man in front of them. Could dragons get sick?
Straining her ears, she tried to hear what they were discussing. She could tell from the man’s posture that he was unwell. Her heart ached at the thought of everyone suffering from all the challenges and illnesses cropping up in the aftermath of the big change.
Argenis turned and scanned the parking lot. She suspected he was looking for any threat. His gaze met hers.
Scream or make noise.
She nodded.
Argenis walked forward and disappeared inside the building.
The breeze over her skin reminded her she still wore her bikini. Quickly, she put on her shorts and T-shirt. Ciel stuffed the bra and panties into her pocket. The swimsuit would replace them for a while.
Ciel watched the door, waiting for him to return. It was just a few minutes but felt like forever. When he appeared, Argenis carried a large package balanced on his shoulder. She knew that was the reason for their trip away from Wyvern.
Ater trying to figure out what could be in the brown cardboard box and giving up, Ciel noticed the other man had not reappeared. She hoped that wasn’t a bad sign. When Argenis was about halfway to her, he exploded into flames.
“Argenis!”
She rushed forward several steps before noting that the fiery figure kept moving forward. Bad movies flashed into her brain, and she took several steps backward. Ciel prepared to turn and run. She froze in place as the fire died out.
Argenis emerged unscathed and nude. Mesmerized by his powerful body striding across the parking lot on full display, she tried not to look at his private parts while staring at the same time.
Oh, what big eyes you have, Little Sky!
Ciel could feel her face heating and knew that she was blushing. Forcing herself to raise her focus above his body, she noticed that burned wispy bits of paper floating to the ground. They appeared to be the destroyed packaging around the box on his shoulder. The part that remained was sooty, with bits gleaming in the sunlight.
“What is that?” she asked.
“Something for your birthday.”
“My birthday? I don’t even know what day it is.”
When he set it on the pavement and continued forward, she asked, “Can I see it?”
“Not yet.”
In a flash, he regained his dragon form. When he lowered his head, she knew she was supposed to climb up on his shoulders. The allure of the object before them made her try to dart around him to see what it was.
“Eek!”
Argenis caught the back of her shorts easily in this mouth and lifted her off the pavement. Bending his long neck, he placed her on his back. In position, Little one.”
She felt him move forward and watched him grab that mysterious item with his claws. Feeling his muscles bunch, she scurried into position. In a flash, he was back in the clouds.
Chapter 12
Waiting for her birthday was interminable. She had two more days to find out what Argenis had collected for her.
Trying to entertain herself, she enjoyed playing her new favorite game—guess what’s in that sooty container.
She knew Argenis had used his fire inside to harden a large vat, making it possible for the community to boil water to make it safe. The grateful man had given him the package. Ciel had some hint that her gift hadn’t been there by accident. Argenis had gone to get it and then helped.
By combusting his body and the gift after leaving the area of illness, Argenis eliminated all the germs he might have encountered. And given her a show that she had replayed in her memory many times already. Watching him stride toward her—all hard muscles and manliness. Mmmm!
She’d decided to look around. If she happened to find the container, it wouldn’t be her fault he was a bad hider.
Wandering through his immense home, Ciel couldn’t believe that she still got lost as she explored. How crazy was that? Thank goodness there was a central hallway that ran from the front to the back.
Today, she chose to start in the library. Argenis often worked in the gorgeous room. Since he was out surveying the land around Wyvern, she had free rein to check it out without worrying about bothering him. A huge tome that appeared to be the twin of the one passed down to her lay open on a elegant walnut and metal bookstand. She ran her fingers down the hand-inked designs. They certainly didn’t create books like that anymore.