The Dragon's Gem (6 page)

***
Draco
***

As I watched Aurora closely throughout the day. I couldn’t help but wonder how I kept screwing up where Aurora was concerned. I was usually good with the opposite sex. They were naturally drawn to my good looks and my flattery, but she couldn’t see me at all and so far, she hadn’t really heard me say much that was nice. I really had not meant I was sorry she was blind; it didn’t matter to me. She seemed more capable than some seeing people I knew and I was actually ashamed of how I let the idea of her blindness upset me when I was initially told about her condition. Of course, then I had been angry and filled with disgust that my father and the council were forcing me into a corner. All I had thought about when they decided to bring her to our town had been how it affected me. I never considered how it might be for Aurora and if I was being honest, I hadn’t really cared. Now, though, I cared. I cared more than I was comfortable admitting, more than was good for us both.

The bell ra
ng signaling the end of the day and I waited along with Ryan for the class to empty. After a few moments, Aurora stood, gathered her books and Ryan took her arm to escort her to her locker so she could gather her things. As they walked, he talked about the school, taking the time to describe everything that was going on around them. She seemed to enjoy his descriptions. In fact, she was smiling from ear to ear by the time we reached her locker and I made a mental note to try hard to do the same if she was ever willing to spend time with me again. Quickly and efficiently, she gathered her belongings and closed her locker door with a soft bang before turning around to face me.

“If you are going to stalk me
, you might as well take me to the car and let poor Ryan off duty for the day.”

I was
stunned. I hadn’t thought she knew I was around, but as I was finding out Aurora was full of surprises. “I am not stalking you,” I said lamely.

Her lips stretched thinly and she placed her hand on her hip. “Really? You have followed us to every class today.”

“I have the same classes you do,” I answered, proud of myself for thinking quickly.

“
And I suppose you always hover around the girls’ bathroom between those classes?” she countered.

“I stopped to get
a drink from the water fountain.” She was far too astute and I was running out of answers. I nodded to Ryan and took her arm. We walked to the car in silence where Henry waited opening the door as we approached.

“Good afternoon
, miss, I assume you had a good day?” She smiled brightly and nodded. “Good, good.”

“I thought maybe I would go outside when I got home
, Henry. What is the weather looking like?” she asked as she slid into the car.

“The sky is darkening
, miss. I expect today is not a good day to venture outdoors,” he told her as I slid in next to her. “Might I offer another option?” She nodded. “Master Draco is headed to his father’s facility, where they have a beautiful atrium filled with exotic plants and flowers. I could escort you there. I am sure your father would be glad to show you around.”

“It sounds lovely
, but I wouldn’t want to be a bother to anyone.”

I hated that she said that. No one could spend time with her and think her a bother, but I kept my mouth shut, afraid to upset her yet again.

“No bother
, there are usually one or two interns around the building doing nothing,” he assured her, giving me a pointed look that I knew meant I should chime in.

I jumped in to assure her he was right. “Yes, my father always keeps a few of our best students around to give them experience for their future aspirations. I am sure we can wrangle one up to escort you.”

I saw the excitement in her eyes at the idea, but then she shoo
k her head in the negative. “Thank you, but I have kept my father from work far too much this last week. Maybe I will go another time.”

I interjected immediately
, wanting only her happiness. “You’re being silly. It is no inconvenience to anyone at all. Henry, drive us there, I will make all the arrangements once we arrive.” Henry nodded happily and closed the door, but her expression showed her irritation. “What?” I asked perplexed by her anger.

“I could have g
one another time with my father. I hate to force a stranger to parade me around like some kind of pet.”

Immediately
I was sorry that I hadn’t considered how she might feel being passed off to stranger. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry. I just wanted to do something nice.” She sighed and turned in my direction, tears pricking her beautiful green eyes, her lips quivering slightly, making me feel even more like a heel and I had to think quick to come with an answer that might appease her. “How about if I take you around the atrium? I mean, I know I’m not your favorite person, but you let me help you this morning and this afternoon, so I’m not a complete stranger.”

She looked uncertain
. “Don’t you have work to do?”

“
Not really, the research department I work in is kind of at a standstill, so I have time.” I knew my father wouldn’t object: he would be only too happy to see me spending time with Aurora, which in itself might present a problem. I hadn’t made any decisions about our relationship yet, and I didn’t want him pushing me.

“If you’re sure I won’t be a problem.”

“You could never be a problem,” I assured her.

“Sir
, we are here. Would you like me to take you to the private entrance?” Henry asked from the front seat.

I looked to Aurora
, who was frowning, and shook my head. I didn’t want her to think I was hiding her or was ashamed to be seen with her. “The front entrance will be fine, Henry.” I was rewarded with a smile from Aurora and knew I had made the right call.

“Good choice
, sir,” he said with a grin as he parked just outside the massive glass doors that were the entrance to the Pendragon Research Center.

I took Au
rora’s hand as the door opened, helped her from the car, and escorted her to the entrance where the automated doors slid open, revealing the massive modern lobby. As we walked inside, I noticed more than one employee stop to stare at us. It was not a shock since everyone in our community knew how badly I reacted to being told Aurora was moving to our town, but it made me feel like I was under a microscope, which was uncomfortable.

One of the elevators on the far wall
dinged and the metal door slid open to reveal my father, who was smiling as if I had done something brilliant as he strode across the lobby towards us, his secretary, Maynard, close on his heels. My father was a large man and he had an air of authority that very few could muster. His presence commanded attention and just by walking into the lobby, he gained the gaze of everyone in the area. The women stared at him with longing, and the men stared with awe, but he didn’t notice; he was focused solely on us. “Draco, you didn’t tell me you were bringing Aurora by today,” he said warmly, clearly thrilled to see us together.

“I can see someone else did
, though,” I answered smoothly, looking to Maynard who I knew must have spotted us on the state-of-the-art security system the minute we exited the car. He was eagle-eyed and never missed a thing, which was why my father kept him around despite his rather severe personality. I couldn’t recall a time I had ever seen him smile or laugh and I often wondered what had made him so miserable.

My father
gave me a droll look, then turned his attention to Aurora. “My dear, I hope you’re feeling better and that everyone is treating you well?” He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a kiss on the back before letting it fall back to her side.

“I’m much better
, everyone has been very nice and I love the house, it already feels like home,” Aurora answered with a charming smile.

“Everyone?” m
y father asked, looking to me with a raised eyebrow.

She smiled and turned in Maynard’s direction, holding out her hand, surprising him. “Maynard, it is so nice to meet you again.”

To my disbelief, Maynard
smiled widely and took her hand, shaking it gently. “Same to you, miss. I assume the young master has seen to your comfort since the accident?”

She looked thoughtful
, but did not rat me out for my bad behavior. “Draco has been trying very hard to make me comfortable.”

Both men turned to me
, looking doubtful, but neither called me on it.

“So what bring
s you here?” my father asked.

“Aurora wanted to see the atrium. I thought I might take her around if it’s alright with you.” As I expected he had no objection, but I should have known he wasn’t going to let it go that easily.

“That is wonderful and s
ince you’re both here why don’t we have dinner after, I have been trying to arrange it since your arrival.” It wasn’t really a question; he expected our acceptance and turned immediately to Maynard. “Call Trevor’s and make an appointment for four, at six o’clock, and let Aurora’s father know that we are all meeting for dinner.”

“Father,” I murmured
, angry he was taking over where I didn’t want him to interfere.

“Son, you had best get moving, it’s four o’clock now and we wouldn’t want to be late for dinner.” He kissed Aurora’s cheek and
I could swear I saw his eyes turn misty, but then he blinked and turned back to Maynard, all business once again. “I will see you two later. Come, Maynard, we have a lot to finish before I go to dinner with….” He looked over his shoulder at Aurora and smiled warmly, “the newest member of our family.”

I could have throttled
him, but I kept my anger in check, which was something I had a hard time with usually, but with Aurora so close, it was almost easy to suppress it. I supposed instinctively I would never do anything that might put her in danger even if I wasn’t ready to claim her as mine. “So, I promised you some plants,” I said taking her arm and walking through the rest of the lobby, ignoring the probing stares of the employees we passed.

Stopping at another
glass-enclosed wall that kept the atrium separated from the rest of the building, I let go of Aurora’s arm long enough to let the computer scan my eye and acknowledge my identity. I retook her arm as the glass wall slid open letting out a burst of warm tropical air that fanned my face and made me smile for the first time since entering the building. No matter what my mood, the warm lush feel of the tropical atrium calmed my beast and comforted me. We took a few steps inside and the wall slid shut behind us with a soft thump. The sudden hiss of the air locks let me know it had sealed of the rest of the world from us. I looked down on Aurora, worried that she had been so quiet, only to find her with her eyes closed and a beautiful smile gracing her face.

“It smells like the rainforest in here,” she said softly.

“You have been to the rainforest?” I asked with surprise.

“One of my father’s many research trips to find a cure for my bli
ndness,” she told me sadly.

I
squeezed her hand and was overcome with her disappointment that the trip had been a dud, but oddly it wasn’t for herself she felt sorry. No, her sorrow was for her father, whom she felt she had held back her entire life. It was a revelation to see how very much she loved him and how sorry she was that he had not been able to live his dreams because of her. It made me realize again what a jerk I had been most of my life. I mean I loved my father, but I never really gave any thought to how much he must have given up to raise me by himself after my mother died. In fact, I never gave much thought to the feelings of anyone in my life until I met Aurora the day before. She was brave and giving, so concerned about everyone else that I dare say she gave very little thought to her own difficulties in life, if indeed she even saw being blind as a difficulty. I felt small just thinking how very self-centered I had been in my life. Concerned only with my feelings, my wants and needs, so cocky about my position in our society that I took for granted all of the wonderful things I had been lucky enough to receive in my life. It was ironic that I had been worried her blindness would define her, make her needy and unable to be someone I could be proud of, when what I found was that I was that I was the one who was not worthy. I was the one who was truly blind.

“Are you alright?” Aurora asked next to me.

I looked down on her five-foot-five frame, and smiled. How could anyone not be all right with such a beautiful young woman standing next to them, I didn’t know. With her mass of silken hair tumbling down her shoulders, curly and unruly thanks to the humidity of the atrium, her pale creamy complexion, that I would bet anything burned easily in the sun, to her brilliant emerald eyes that sparkled like a thousand stars, she was simply perfection. She turned to face me and looked up as if she could see me, and for a moment, I felt my heart stop. Slowly she raised her hand and placed it upon my chest. The moment she touched my chest my heart began to beat again, thumping under her fingers until it began to beat in time with her own.

“It’s
a little humid in here,” I managed to say, my voice thick with emotion. I wanted nothing more than to turn and run in the other direction. To get away from her and the feelings she stirred in me, but I could not. Something held me there, something I had only heard about from those lucky enough to find it, something so strong I knew I was well and truly hooked just like Nate had said, and I could feel her reeling me in without even trying.