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He did exactly what I expected: run.
He loves you.
He loves having a pet human who can pop out kids.
I pulled my attention away from my inner monologue. Although the open door tempted me to run, I didn’t know where to go and didn’t have the right gear. We’d trashed the mud-covered hiking clothing. And all I had were the shirts and boxers I kept stealing from Tyson. Even if I scrounged up basic supplies from around his apartment, I could only put together a day or two worth of rations. Nothing he had would help me escape from an island under complete magical shifter control.
I brushed the mate mark Rehan left under my ear. Even without my magic, I knew the little wave-shaped scar did morethan protect my virtue. From what I remembered about shifters, Rehan could probably find me anywhere in the world.
Or maybe he couldn’t. Fuck, it felt like puckered skin. Without my magic, I had no idea.
Even if he could find me, he probably wouldn’t. No doubt my inability to have kids would destroy that connection as well. My heart squeezed. In the eyes of these dragons, I didn’t have a purpose. Back in Graeagle, I didn’t have one either. Hell, even before Graeagle… I blinked a few times. Where had I been before Graeagle? I wintered in Greece this year, right? Or was that the year before?
A hazy image of a cabin in a pine-filled wood drifted before vanishing.
My life is so dull I can’t even remember it.
…
A rare, very brief moment of silence entered my thoughts. I grimaced, trying not to read too much into it.
Slowly, I walked to the door and pulled it shut.
I cried myself to sleep. Sometimes, no matter how strong I thought I was, I had to let the waterworks out.
Tyson never returned to his bed, and I tried to forget the safety I’d found in his arms as I tossed and turned. After a fitful night, I woke with the sun. Instead of pretending to be someone I wasn’t, I flung open the doors to his balcony and dropped into my push-up and sit-up routine. The warm morning rays sank into my skin as I sweat. I loved the feel of my burning muscles. They reminded me I was still alive.
The Ley Lines had called to me. Magic had called to me, and I’d spent my life following its lead. Power was my purpose then, and it was now. I needed to remember that. No one should make me feel inadequate – especially not a young, stupid, handsome dragon shifter who didn’t know the whole story.
And not yourself, Jay.
Easier said than done.
With sweat streaming down my face, I returned to the room, showered, and pillaged Tyson’s closet. A drawer I’d not explored contained a few pairs of women’s undergarments. The dragon shifter with the rose gold hair momentarily filled my vision, as jealousy reared its ugly head. I pushed it down. Tyson didn’t want me, and that was that.
The panties were tiny, and the bra too big, but I gained some support and dignity with some creative cutting and tying. Next, I found a pair of khaki shorts and a belt. I would give anything to avoid putting on one of Tyson’s shirts again, but I didn’t have another option.
Why did he have to smell so good?
No, Jay, it’s dragon magic, not your real feelings.
Are you sure, girl?
Yes, be quiet.
Dressed for the first time in days, I raided his fridge for everything meat. I had no idea how vegans survived. With a massive protein-filled omelet on my plate and a coffee cooling with some milk, I picked up the tablet and looked for the internet.
Though I found the icon, someone deactivated it along with every other form of communication. I wrinkled my nose and flipped back to my paperwork, looking for any clue as to who actually filled it out.
The door to the apartment burst open, and a shrill squeaking scream escaped my lungs. I clasped my chest to calm down.
Deep bags hung under Tyson’s eyes. His gaze latched onto mine as he marched into the room. Two men followed him. Anger bunched the shoulders of an older man about Tyson’s height with the same bone structure and sharp features. I immediately tried to gather my magic, but the fucking stuff was still gone.
The third man eyed my wiggling fingers through exceptionally bushy salt and pepper eyebrows, and I glared at him, daring him to say something.
Tyson stopped just out of reach. “Betty.”
I rolled my eyes. Right, we were back to that.
