Page 77 of Claimed by the Savage Dragons

His eyes widen. ‘And…’ he sighs. ‘My dragon. He doesn’t like many. But he likes you. A lot.’

I remember at the dam how Tor and Brax both had trouble controlling their other sides around me and I wonder if it’s the same thing with Drey. Do all dragons feel this way around me? No. That can’t be it. Those two in the hallway were fine, and I never saw even a hint of Dominick’s other half. So, why these three? Is it the same reason that I feel so much better when I’m around them? That my body heats in their presences and I want them to?—

I feel my cheeks getting warm at the thoughtI don’t haveand I hope Drey doesn’t notice.

He doesn’t seem to, thankfully.

‘Anyway,’ he says, turning away. ‘I have to get going. Del will be coming over later to give you some vitamins and make sure you’re healthy, but I’ll be back by then.’

‘Why?’

He glances back with a frown, his eyes dipping to my stomach. But he doesn’t answer my question. Instead, he gives a small sigh. ‘I promised you that you would be safe, and I meant it, even from the baby that’s growing inside you. Okay? I don’t make promises lightly, Mari, and I never break them. Okay?’

‘Okay.’ I whisper.

And then he’s gone and I’m alone.

I go to his kitchen first. I have no idea how to work anything except the kettle to boil water because I saw him do it this morning. I take a mug from the cabinet and rifle through the next one for one of the little bags he said contained chamomile tea.

I find one and give myself a small, ‘great job’ whoop.

I take the tea over to the couch, but the TV isn’t like the ones I’ve seen before, so I grab a book on pre-Fall history off the shelf and start reading that.

I must doze off because the next thing I hear is the click of the main door.

I don’t know what it is, but I’m scared suddenly. I’m off the couch and in the kitchen, cramming myself into one of the lower cabinets under the counter opposite the breakfast bar because I noticed before that they’re almost empty.

Several pairs of heavy footsteps go across the room.

‘I thought you said she was here!’ growls a voice I don’t recognize.

It’s muffled by the wood I’m inside, but I can still hear clearly. I just hope I can’t be scented through it.

‘She should be,’ another answers. ‘He’s in the Hall. She’s not there. Where else could she be?’

‘Smells like her…and Tor…and Brax.’

There’s some sniggering.

‘Course it does. She’s been living here for a month.’

‘Think the Commander has had a taste too?’

More sniggers.

‘I might if Aziel lets me.’

Someone snorts. ‘He’s not gonna let you have the Tribute. She’s his trophy. At least until he’s tired of her.’

‘She’s not here. Fuck! He’s gonna be pissed we failed. Should have got her from the kitchens when we had the chance.’

‘She’s probably with the fucking doctor. Fuck. I can’t wait until all these human-lovers are strung up like the scum they are.’

‘She won’t be strung up,’ a third one chuckles. ‘The females have to be saved to breed. Haven’t you been listening to him?’

Another one laughs. ‘Can’t wait to get in line to fuck Del into a mattress. Serve her right, uppity bitch.’

‘You might even breed her. He says if you breed one successfully, you’re a mate match. That means you get to keep her chained in your room to fuck as much as you want to make as many younglings as you can. Can you imagine? Getting to fuckthatwhenever you wanted?’