Page 12 of The Mating Claim

With a wave of his hand, the Silver Wizard extinguished the blaze. Timbers fell upon each other, and the stench of smoke added to herguilt.

“Lacey.” Tristan sighed and turned toward her. “I did not save you from your childhood home so you could turn it into a barbecuepit.”

She shrugged. “Why not? It’s the south. Everyone loves a goodbarbecue.”

“Destroying property will not destroy thepast.”

Pride rose up. She scowled at him. “Maybe not, but it feels damngood.”

“As good as the dream of finding your father comingtrue?”

Not far. So not far. She turned away from him, emotions tumbling together. Nevercry.

But Tristan came behind her, and touched her shoulder. “You had a dream when you were young, Lacey. You longed to meet your mother and have a real home. I wished to fulfill it for you. But sometimes dreams do not turn out the way they should. Nor does life. Remember this when you think of your birth father. Sometimes the fantasy of a person does not meet your expectations, especially when you’ve held it in your heart foryears.”

“Tell that to your fellow wizard, the one who killedhim.”

A sharp intake of breath. Lacey cringed. Why did her mouth always get her into trouble? She braced herself, expecting a sharp sting of energy as punishment. But instead Tristan turned heraround.

“Do not blame Drust for doing his job and saving many from your father’sdestruction.”

Lacey searched the wizard’s ageless, dark gaze. “Why are you being so lenient withme?”

His expression shuttered. “You will find out in time. For now, know this. You will answer to Drust from this time forth. It’s best if you do whatever he says regarding the Book ofShadows.”

“Drust is my enemy,” she blurted out. “He’s not as nice asyou.”

A brief smile tugged at his mouth. “He may be much nicer to you than you realize. Obey him, Lacey. This is the last time I’m saving yourass.”

With a wave of his hand, Tristanvanished.

“Hey, it’s a nice ass,” she yelled at thesky.

A whistling sound, and something descended from the sky, hitting her in the face. She flinched and plucked the soft fabric from the ground where itlanded.

Juicy, bragged the pink embroidery across the bottom of the white shorts. Lacey looked at the label. Her size aswell.

She gave a grudging laugh, unable to stay mad at Tristan. “I like the color bluebetter!”

Another pair of shorts, cobalt blue, descended from the sky. This pair had Hot & Juicy embroidered in white across thebutt.

“Thanks,” shemuttered.

After shifting into dragon, she clutched the shorts in her claws and flewhome.

Maybe after alterations, Evie could wear the whitepair.

In the meantime, she had a business to run. A book to consult and money tomake.

A smile widened her dragon mouth. ObeyDrust?

Kiss my juicy ass,Tristan.

Chapter 4

It deeply botheredDrust that he could not get a handle on Lacey and what mischief she plotted. Nor could he effectively envision herwhereabouts.

Worse, he had no clue where she’d hidden the Book ofShadows.