Page 45 of Heartflame

“Of course,” Aeron nodded. “He’s the only family I have. My parents were killed by dragon hunters long before I hatched, so he’s all I’ve ever known.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. “I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be,” he said, giving me a dismissive wave. “It’s hard to miss what you’ve never known. And my grandfather has taken very good care of me. I owe him everything.”

I smiled, reaching across the table to take his hand. As he laced his fingers through mine, I found myself wondering how Professor Blackwood could suspect Elder Thaddeus of any wrongdoing when he’d done so much good. But then I remembered Greg and his rumors about our missing teammates. Maybe people were just scared, and that’s all it really was. And that’s why Aeron was here in the first place, to try to put them at ease.

Maybe he was less of a dickhead than I expected.

When we finally left the coffee shop, it was past midnight. The streets were empty, the town quiet except for the occasional car passing by. Aeron took my hand again as we walked back toward the empty lot where he’d landed.

“Thank you,” I said, as we approached the spot. “For tonight. For all of this.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he said with a mysterious smile. “We’re not done.”

He shifted again, his dragon form emerging with that same burst of red-gold light. This time, I wasn’t afraid. I climbed onto his back with practiced ease, settling into the familiar position between his neck ridges.

“Hold tight,” he rumbled, and then we were airborne again.

But this time, instead of heading back toward Widdershins, he flew higher, climbing until the town disappeared beneath a blanket of clouds. We broke through into a clear night sky, and I gasped. Above us, the stars stretched out in impossible numbers, a vast tapestry of light that seemed to go on forever. The moon hung full and bright, close enough that I felt like I could reach out and touch it.

“Oh my god,” I breathed, unable to tear my eyes away from the spectacle.

Aeron’s wings caught the starlight as he soared, and for a moment, we seemed suspended between earth and sky, between the possible and the impossible. I felt something shift in my chest. This moment, this feeling… I was going to remember this for the rest of my life.

We flew for what felt like hours, though it was probably only thirty minutes or so. Aeron took me on a tour of the world from above, showing me valleys and forests, a river that gleamed like silver in the moonlight, a small town I’d never heard of twinkling in the distance.

When we finally turned back toward Widdershins, I was exhausted and exhilarated in equal measure. Aeron landed smoothly outside the wards, shifting back into human form as I slid off his back.

“I could get used to this,” I said, still breathless.

“Good,” he replied, pulling me close. “Because I don’t plan on stopping.”

He kissed me then, soft and sweet, under a sky full of stars. And I let him, because at that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to care about the complications or the dangers or the thousand reasons why this was probably a mistake.

When we finally made our way back through the wards and across campus, there was no one to be seen. Aeron walked me to my dorm, and I was grateful to see that the halls were empty too.

“When can I see you again?” he asked at my door.

“Tomorrow?” I offered. “After classes?”

“I’ll be waiting,” he said, and he meant it. I could hear the certainty in his voice.

I watched him disappear down the hallway before I slipped into my room. Lysander was asleep, so I didn’t have to endure an interrogation. I changed into pajamas and crawled into bed, but sleep didn’t come easily. My mind was too full of starlight and dragon wings and the feeling of Aeron’s arms around me.

One week, I reminded myself. We had one week.

But as I lay in the darkness, I began to wonder if a week would ever be enough. Maybe I wanted more.

Maybe I wanted… forever.

Chapter 19

Aeron

Icouldn’t sleep after dropping Quill off at his dorm, not after how wonderful our night had been.

I flew instead, shifting forms the moment I was clear of the wards once more and letting my wings carry me out over the dark forest. The night air was cool against my scales, but it did nothing to calm the restless energy thrumming through my body.