Chapter 55

I think love is stronger than habits or circumstances. I think it is possible to keep yourself for someone for a long time and still remember why you were waiting when she comes at last.?

―Peter S. Beagle,?The Last Unicorn

Charlotte stared at the interior of the luxury jet. "Holy cow, you weren't kidding!"

Rurik leaned against the plush leather seat closest to him as he watched her. A smile crossed his lips, one he couldn't seem to stop, nor did he want to. She made him want to hoot and holler like a child, her innocence was so infectious.

"I'm glad you're pleased." He found he wanted to be more formal around her now, to play the gentleman the way he had with the queens and princesses of old. Charlotte brought that out in him; it was amusing and a little disturbing. He'd always been good at adapting to the changing times, yet with Charlotte he felt his past self coming back, the old-fashioned side of his dragon that would cherish and guard her.