How Not To Fall For A Dragon
Chapter 137 137- Never Forget Hoards Are Romantic Proposals
LEXI
200
“I want you… but I am absolutely terrified of that,” I admit, the words quiet but steady, even though my chest feels tight saying them out
loud. It feels too honest, too exposed, but if we’re doing this, if we’re really trying to fix things, then I don’t think I get to hide behind
half–truths anymore. I swallow, forcing myself to keep going.
“What do you want?” I add, a little more nervously, because somehow that feels even harder to ask. Plake doesn’t hesitate, but there’s something careful in the way he answers, like he’s choosing every word with intention.
“I want to keep trying,” he says.
“But I want you to WANT to stay with me.” His gaze holds mine, steady, searching.
“I know I broke your trust earlier. So tell me how I fix that.” He asks. I let out a slow breath, my fingers twisting slightly in the fabric of his shirt as I try to organise my thoughts into something that actually makes sense.
“I don’t want to… make you change,” I say slowly.
“Or turn you into someone you’re not. I know we don’t always agree on… the right way to go about things. But I think we can still figure things out.” I hesitate, then push forward anyway.
“You were right, that time when you said I’d forgive you for what happened with Aaron. I did. I do. I don’t like it, it makes me…. beyond uncomfortable. And I think if you were doing things like that all the time, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. But…” I glance at him,
searching his face.
“You wouldn’t do that for no reason… right?” I don’t even give him time to answer, shaking my head slightly as I continue, almost
thinking out loud now.
“Right. So… I think… I want to… not apologise for being angry, or for wanting space. I think that was fair. But I think it was unfair of me to leave things so… unclear. Like I just walked away and expected you to figure it out on your own.” My voice falters a little at the end, but I push through it. Blake shakes his head immediately.
“It’s okay, I did screw up. All you did was avoid me for an afternoon. I probably deserve worse.” He says seriously.
“You’re allowed to make mistakes, Blake,” I tell him softly, meeting his eyes again,
“And I’m allowed to forgive you for them. But I guess… we both still have to deal with the consequences of those choices.* 1 admit, taking a steadying breath, my heart starting to race again as I move into something harder
“So… I think the answer to what you asked, how to fix things… maybe we need to set some boundaries. So we both know what’s okay and what isn’t.” I tell him. Blake nods slightly, encouraging me to continue. I inhale slowly, bracing myself
1/4
13:37 Sun, Apr 19
Chapter 137 137- Never Forget Hoards Are Romantic Proposals
“Okay. I’m going to start.” My voice wavers for just a second, but I don’t stop.
“I can’t be locked away, Blake. Or hidden. Or trapped. I just… can’t.” I shake my head, my fingers tightening slightly
“I love you, and I appreciate that you want to keep me safe. I really, really do. Recently… the only time I actually feel safe is wisers I’m
with you.” I pause, swallowing past the lump in my throat.
“But there’s still a part of me that’s scared, because I don’t fully understand your feelings. I know you like me. I know you valor me. Bot I’ve seen how you are with your hoard, and I’m scared that one day you’ll treat me the same way. That you’ll want to hide me away w it. That you’ll care more about the fact that I’m a unicorn than… me.” I admit. It feels awful to say it out loud. My chest aches with it.
“And I love you,” I continue quietly, forcing myself not to look away,
“So it would be really easy for me to just go along with that. To pretend I didn’t notice. But I don’t want to lose myself either…” I trail
off.
“So… yeah. That’s how I feel. Honestly. And I’d really like to hear yours.” I ask. I wait, my stomach twisting with nerves, and, if I’m being honest, a little nausea that might have more to do with my head than the conversation. Concussion. Right. That’s probably not helping
“It won’t happen,” Blake says finally, his voice firm enough that it makes me look up properly.
“I know I messed up. But I won’t do it again.” He says, and he means it too.
“But you were worried about it happening yourself,” I point out quietly. I want to know what changed.
“I was,” he admits without hesitation.
“But I’m not anymore. And I have three reasons for that. One, being told off by you worked. I realised what I was doing, and I NEVER want to feel like that again.” A small, almost amused edge creeps into his voice.
“Two, you stood up to me. I know you won’t lose yourself. When I’m acting like an ass, you’ll tell me.” He actually sounds pleased about it. Despite everything, I let out a small, breathy laugh.
“And the third?” I prompt, He hesitates,,
“And the other reason is…” he starts, then exhales slowly.
“I haven’t been completely honest with you either.” He admits. My brows knit together slightly.
“You know I haven’t. Because you’ve asked. About the gifts. Why I keep giving you things. What it means His gaze drops for a moment before returning to mine,
“I should have told you earlier. But I thought it might come across a little… strong.” He reasons. There’s something almost unfamiliar in his expression. Nervous.
(
2/4
13:37 Sun, Apr 19
Chapter 137 137- Never Forget Hoards Are Romantic Proposals
94
“And… you’re finally going to tell me?” I ask, a little hopeful despite myself. Instead of answering, Blake stands and walks over to his desk. He opens a drawer, rummaging for a moment before pulling out a single sheet of paper. Even from here, it looks familiar in a way I
can’t quite place. He walks back and hands it to me.
“Blake… are you the one who took the pages about dragons from the shifters book?” I ask, staring at it. He nods.
“Yeah. I knew you’d look it up. So I tore it out. Sorry.” There’s a faint grimace.
“It’s not the most… flattering description of dragons. Although, I suppose it is accurate.” He says with a frown. My curiosity spikes despite everything. I’ve wanted to read this since my first day here.
Dragons are among the most individually powerful of all shifter types. They also tend to be the most socially isolated. Unlike many other shifters, dragons do not form packs, clans, or communal structures. They are largely solitary creatures outside of direct family units, and even those bonds are often limited in scope. Whether this isolation is a deliberate preference or the result of other species‘ unwillingness to remain in close proximity to dragons is a matter of ongoing debate. What is clear, however, is that dragons do not rely on social cohesion for stability. Their strength is singular, self–contained, and heavily reinforced by magic.
Central to understanding dragon psychology is the hoard. Dragons are instinctively linked to their hoards from a young age, and this connection is not merely cultural or symbolic. A dragon can feel their hoard when it is touched by anyone other than their chosen mate or child, experiencing it as a form of intrusion. Hoards are intended to serve a practical and biological purpose, to demonstrate a dragon’s ability to protect and provide for their family. They function as both proof of capability and preparation for providing for future offspring and building their hoard. However, dragons frequently lose perspective. Many become obsessively fixated on accumulation and protection, allowing the hoard to eclipse relationships, responsibilities, and even their own children. Dragons are not indiscriminate in what they collect. They are strongly drawn to items, knowledge, and individuals they perceive as rare, valuable, or difficult to obtain. This valuation is not necessarily tied to practical usefulness, but to perceived uniqueness and status. Objects that are common, easily replaced, or freely given rarely hold a dragon’s interest for long. This selective attraction contributes to the intensity of hoard fixation and helps explain why dragons often become dangerously focused on specific targets. Once something has been classified as ‘valuable‘ by a dragon, relinquishing it is not instinctively considered an
option.
Dragon customs further complicate their interactions with others. Courtship traditionally involves the offering of gifts from the hoard to their prospective mate. These gifts are commonly rejected, repeatedly, as part of the ritual. Among dragons, this resistance is interpreted not as refusal but as an expectation to persist and continue to prove themselves. Convincing a partner to accept a gift is viewed as equivalent to convincing them to accept the dragon. The moment a partner asks for a treasure is considered decisive, it signifies the partner’s claim over the hoard and, by extension, the dragon. This dynamic is ethically questionable at best. Historical accounts of dragons kidnapping potential partners who did not know what they were accepting, are common, and are regarded as cautionary examples of coercive behaviour rationalised as instinct, Becoming part of a dragon’s hoard is not metaphorical. Individuals claimed in this way often experience loss of autonomy, possessive control, and a reframing of their identity as an extension of the dragon’s wealth rather than an independent person.
While dragons are theoretically capable of forming genuine bonds, this capacity is unreliable and inconsistently expressed. Dragons are known to prioritise their hoards above nearly everything else, including their own safety. Damage, theft, or unauthorised claims upon a hoard are met with extreme responses. Dragons whose hoards are threatened commonly enter destructive rampages, targeting anything in their path until the item is recovered or the dragon is killed. Such events often result in significant collateral damage and reinforce public fear of the species. The possibility that a dragon might value a person over their hoard is generally regarded with scepticism by non–dragan scholars, who note that even well- intentioned dragons remain instinctively bound to possession and control.
Magically, dragons are formidable. They possess strong innate magic, early shifting capability, and immense physical strength. Their power,
3/4
13:37 Sun, Apr 19
111
Chapter 137 137: Never Forget Hoards Are Romantic Proposals
Aowever, tend toward hrute furre rather than precision Dragons are territorial and become highly distressed when separated from their hoards. for extended perch Despite their individual strength, then solitary nature renders them vulnerable to coordinated attacks. Dragons have no natural predators, but thene that attract attention through theft or excessive aggression are often hunted by large, organised groups. Without allex and anchored to the defence of their hoard, even a powerful dragon may be overwhelmed.
Dragons are, despite popular assumption, highly intelligent. They demonstrate strong abstract reasoning, long–term planning ability, and an innate curiosity about complex systems. Dragons are particularly drawn to riddles, puzzles, and challenges that test logic or ingenuity, and many will actively seek out problems that cannot be solved through brute force alone. This intellectual curiosity is often cited by dragons themselves as evidence of their sophistication. However, this trait should not be mistaken for wisdom or empathy. Dragons tend to approach puzzles in the same way they approach hoards, as things to be acquired, mastered, and possessed. Their interest in riddles and intellectual challenges Dequently overlaps with their territorial instincts, especially when knowledge or secrets are treated as prizes to be claimed.
Socially, dragons are feared, distrusted, and largely disliked. They are tolerated within broader society not through acceptance, but through apprehension. Many dragons sustain themselves by undertaking tasks others cannot or will not perform, such as large–scale destruction, heavy transport, or high risk magical labour.
Dragons are relatively rare. Long lifespans, social isolation, and low reproductive rates contribute to small population numbers. Most dragons produce only one or two offspring, often later in life, and many live entirely alone. This scarcity does little to soften perceptions. Dragons are not dangerous because they are misunderstood, they are dangerous because their instincts prioritise possession, persistence, and power over consent
and community
In summary, dragons are undeniably powerful, but poorly suited to coexistence. Their strength lies in magic and dominance rather than connection. The species as a whole demonstrates a consistent pattern of obsession, isolation, and control. Those who involve themselves closely with dragons are strongly advised to do so with caution, if at all.
Comments
Rossella Marika D’Alterio
14 Comments >
I loved this chapter too! Miss Author thank you for your work, thank you for allowing us to read such good story
12 hours ago
وه
ப்
03
17
SHARE
4/4
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
