Page 29 of Dragon Me Through Space

“Did you find anything else interesting on your adventuring today?” Preston asked.

So, they did have a way to track me on the ship. Good to know.

I shrugged. “Just that there is one locked room, but nothing else too interesting.”

They all looked at each other, bodies tensed.

“Don’t worry, boys, I’m not going to try to invade your private room. Everyone is allowed their privacy and secrets,” I said.

“Do you want beef or chicken?” Zeke asked.

“Beef,” I answered immediately.

“If you show me your necklace or tell me what it is that you’re searching for, I will allow you into the locked room,” Preston offered.

I stared at him with wide eyes. He didn’t know me that well yet, but curiosity was one of my weaknesses. Over the years, I’d gotten myself into a lot of trouble just because of it. “No, thank you,” I whispered in reply, fighting the urge to immediately agree.

He shrugged and resumed preparing the food. “Okay.”

That jerk. Now I was going to be thinking about that until either I gave in and accepted his offer, or I broke into the room.

“Why are you being so secretive about your necklace?” Wayne asked. “It’s not like we’re going to laugh at it or try to steal it.”

“Why are you being so secretive about your room? It’s not like I’m going to light it on fire or steal things from it?” I asked back, anger seeping into my tone.

He blinked in silence.

“Sorry,” I said softly and rubbed a hand down my face. “Ignore that comment.”

“What’s going on in here?” Gage asked.

“We’re making dinner,” Preston answered.

Wayne walked over and hopped up to sit on the counter beside me.

Gage walked over to inspect the ingredients on the counter. “What are you making?”

Wayne leaned over and whispered, “If you’re in need of a little … release, I can help you with that.”

It took me a minute to understand what he was saying. My entire face felt like it was on fire. I hopped down from the counter and glared at him. “Even if that were a problem, which it’s not, I wouldn’t ask any of you to help me!”

The other three turned to look at us.

Wayne shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

Screaming at him wouldn’t fix anything, especially not my pride which was really hurting because he was completely right.

“Egotistical assholes,” I growled and stalked out of the kitchen.

“What did you say to her?” Gage demanded.

I hid in my room the rest of the night, not even answering when Zeke knocked to tell me food was ready.

My inexperience made me embarrassed, but I didn’t want to admit to them that I had only slept with two people, one time each. I didn’t need them either vying to be the first to sleep with me or treating me like a loser. In my life, I had experienced both reactions and they sucked.

Someone knocked on my door again.

I stayed silent.