Ailis’s smile was slow as it tilted up the corners of her mouth. “Deal.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Elation rushed through her so quickly that Ailis was dizzy with it.
But another emotion swirled within her, as well. One she didn’t dare linger on—or name. Her heart raced, and her breathing was shallow. She was suddenly all too aware of standing on a realm that wasn’t hers with a man who could shift from mortal form to dragon. He offered everything she wanted, but there had to be a catch.
There was always a catch.
She tried to look away from his pale green eyes, but they held her captive. She had never seen such a color before. The way he stared at her, almost daring her, made her blood quicken. Her mind drifted to his naked body she had feasted her eyes on. She dragged herself away from thoughts she had no business thinking.
Ailis caught a spark of worry, a drop of fear he shuttered quickly as he searched her face. She swallowed, feeling that same hesitation. She didn’t know if she could fight him with her magic and be victorious. She didn’t want to find out which of them was stronger.
If the Dark had taught her anything, it was that only a fool put their trust in strangers.
Yet Lennox was her key to experiencing this world—and doing it safely. He could’ve attacked her when they first met, but he hadn’t. It could have been a ruse to get her to lower her guard, but she didn’t get a sense that it was—not that she was a master at that. Even with the doubt that plagued her, she didn’t want to leave. Whatever awaited her with the dragons was better than the Fae Realm.
“I can mark the doorway for you,” she offered. “That way, you know where it is.”
Lennox’s probing gaze intensified. A muscle ticked in his jaw, bringing her attention to the ruggedness of his face. She was used to her kind. The Fae were striking creatures, the males just as pretty as the females. But Lennox was all male. He wasn’t pretty. He was ruggedly striking, heart-stoppingly handsome.
She tried to ignore it, fought not to drink in the sight of him, but it was like ignoring the sun. She yearned to run her hands over his hard body and the rippling muscles. Wide shoulders begged to be caressed. And his chest, with its dusting of hair, tapered to trim hips and muscular legs. He was unabashedly male, blatantly masculine.
And it made him impossible to ignore. Her knees were weak, her insides trembling. She had never felt anything like this before.
His dark golden hair was parted on the side and fell past his shoulders. His face was all hard plains as if cut from rock. His full lips were sensual and entirely too seductive. She wondered how they would feel on her mouth. On her body.
Around her nipples.
Heat scorched her veins. Her breasts swelled, the peaks hardening at the image alone.
“You could lie about the doorway’s location.”
It took her a moment to return to herself and realize he had spoken. It took another second for her to compute what he had said. “I could. But I’m not. I won’t.”
He continued to stare, no doubt weighing his options. She didn’t like that he was probably rethinking his offer. He had no reason to trust her—or her, him. But someone had to make the first move.
“I had no way of knowing you couldn’t see it,” she said.
“There could be hundreds more, and we wouldna know.”
She looked around until she found some rocks she didn’t have to dig from the earth and then set them on either side of the doorway. Ailis straightened and looked at Lennox. “That outlines the door. I’ve locked it. No one can enter from either side.”
Lennox stared at the space where the door was. She watched as his gaze searched the area for something solid to lock onto.
“I could take you through to my world if that would make you feel better.” She swallowed, shrugging. “We don’t know each other. I’m a stranger to your world. There are reasons for each of us to distrust the other, but I came here simply to explore. Nothing more. I’ve dreamed of crossing realms. So many of my people said it couldn’t be done.”
“But you did it.”
She smiled, still getting used to the idea. “I did.”
“You could return to tell them. They would want to see what you’ve found.”
Unfortunately, that was true. She hadn’t thought about that when she stepped through the doorway. Her only thought had been getting away before the soldiers found her. “I don’t want to go home.” She looked out across the mountains. “There’s too much to explore and too many adventures to be had here.”
“There are no others like you on this realm.”
Her gaze skated back to him. “You look like me now.”
“Aye,” he said with a sigh.
As she studied Lennox, she couldn’t deny his commanding presence. King of Dragon Kings, she recalled him saying. That meant there were other Dragon Kings. He might rule over them, but could he hold them back if they went after her? Did she even want to find out?
Ailis had an adventurer’s spirit, but unlike Bea, she didn’t ignore warning signs when it came to her life. She had created the doorway to this realm. She could create another somewhere else. Not that she would be welcomed anywhere else, but she wasn’t keen on facing one dragon, much less a horde of them.
“You’re regretting your offer,” she stated.
Lennox shrugged one shoulder. He walked to the doorway and moved his arm between the two piles of rocks. Then he pushed his hand forward only to be blocked. “No’ exactly. I see the benefit of learning from you.” He glanced at her. “There’s something here.”
“A doorway,” she said with a quick grin. “I locked it to prevent anyone from accidentally going through on either side. As for your hesitation, I understand it. Others might not see a reason to learn from me.”
“Aye,” he said with a nod. His gaze slid to the doorway. “We’re protectors of this realm. I know the value of being prepared. Unless you can tell me that your people wouldna attack.”
Ailis thought about the war ramping up between the Dark and Light. Conflict was a part of Fae culture—or at least it seemed that way. “I can’t tell you that. And even if I did, you wouldn’t believe me. But the dragons could go through and attack my world, too.”
“We could. But we willna. It isna our way.” Lennox shook his head. “I willna rescind my offer. I could send you away, only for you or someone else to return. That is a chance I can no’ take. We will share information.”
She had been so excited at his proposal that she hadn’t realized the implications. But she did now. “Will you really share anything of importance? After all, I could be the enemy. What if I take what you tell me to my people, and we return in force?”
“As you said, trust has to begin somewhere. You claim to be a peaceful explorer. Prove it.”
“How?” she asked, quirking a brow.
Lennox’s lips curved into a small smile. “How would you want me to prove it to you?”
“A question with a question. I’m beginning to see why you’re the King of Dragon Kings.”
He chuckled. “Let’s no’ do this in the open. I’ll tell the Kings about you and my ability to now change into your form, but no’ until I have more information.”