Page 8

Truth. “Do you have family there?”

“No.” Her chest shudders. “Someone is coming.” She freezes in fear.

“Laken, back the fuck up,” I bark over my shoulder. Saylor folds into herself. Fear saturates the air.

“I was coming by. Is everything alright?” Laken stops abruptly at my command.

“What is he?” Saylor asks, her voice trembling.

“He’s a dragon. A friend,” I assure her. “He won’t hurt you.”

“Are you sure?” She bites her lip, regretting her show of vulnerability.

“I am,” I say firmly. “I would never put you in danger.” I’m restraining myself from touching her with my hands. I don’t want to scare her, but also I fear I will never let her go once I did. I slowly lower my palm to the front of her neck. The fast beat there troubles me. I sense her urge to flee. “I’m going to turn to talk to him. Do not run.” I flex my hand to emphasize my point. “I will chase.”

I wait for her barely-there nod.

I remove my hand and pivot to my friend but keep my body close enough to grab her.

“Laken, will you get me my clothes? I left a pile fifty feet to your left at the bottom of a tree.” It is convenient to leave clothes at random spots. Even though we are careful when we shift, a human could be hiking or wandering around while I’m shifted. I can’t strut around naked back to my house. I keep my gaze on his retreating form, but my attention is centered on the woman behind me. “I’m going to get dressed, and then we are going to walk to my place.”

“Do I have a choice?” she says snarkily. The strength is coming back to her voice.

“Of course,” I say, offended. “But just to warn you, I will follow wherever you go. My animal knows we just found our mate. Hedoesn’t want you out of his sight. I won’t do anything you don’t want. All I want to do is talk.”

Laken walks over slowly, placing the pile at my feet, and quickly backs up. “If it would make her more comfortable, we could go to our house. Penny is there. Your mate might feel more at ease with a woman around.”

“Would you agree to that?” I ask as I pull on my jeans.

“Yes,” she admits, licking her lips.

“Good. We will accept your invitation.”

“I will meet you there.” He moves away to warn Bishop and Penny company is coming.

I put my shirt on, and her eyes follow the movement. I leave it unbuttoned because my animal likes her eyes on him. We both agree on that fact. I crouch to put my boots on and notice her claws gouging the tree. I stand slowly and move to her. Reaching out slowly, I run my fingers over her hands.

“Retract them,” I demand. She does immediately, watching me carefully. Her hand is stiff in mine. I turn it over and trace the lines on her palm. “No one will hurt you.” I do the same with her other hand. The bark left impressions on her skin.

“I don’t know why I believe you,” she says, her forehead wrinkling.

“You can sense it. Your animal knows I’m your mate and would never harm you.” I have the urge to kiss her. I want to erase her fears. These are new feelings. I pick up my hat and give her some room.

She swings her backpack over her shoulder and shoves her hat inside, cautiously watching me. I motion with my arm and take a step. It’s hard to tell what she is going to do. I have barely taken my eyes off of her, and she hides so much. She can’t fake her body’s reactions to my presence.

Her steps beside me are light, but I am grateful she is willing to come with me.

“Laken is a dragon?” she asks.

“He is. He has a twin brother. They recently mated to Penny. She was a human. They bonded, and she was turned.”

“I’ve never seen a dragon shifter. I couldn’t recognize the scent.”

“There are not many left.”

“How did you meet a dragon?”

“He moved in next to me at the place I lived before. We became friends, and now he can’t get rid of me.” I grin in her direction. Her eyes dart away. “He would say I forced my friendship on him.”