Page 34 of The Mating Claim

Drust braced his hands on his knees. Finally he nodded. When he lifted his head, anguish filled his blueeyes.

“It is quite lonely, a loneliness you will never understand, I hope. You remain trapped in your own cage, regretting all the mistakes you made as a mortal. If not for Tristan and Nikita, I suppose I would remainthere.”

He glanced at her. “That is a story for another time. You need rest. Go back tobed.”

But she did not want sleep. She wanted to curl up on the sofa with him, listen to him talk about his life, know more about him and how he became a wizard. Lacey no longer wanted to antagonize Drust. She wanted to know more about him, maybe even do exactly as he wished, for he did state he cared abouther.

Maybe she could make them a late drink, and they could stay up and talk and truly get to know eachother.

For a moment, she almost suggested it. Words failed her. Instead, all she could do was stare at him, licking her lips as if she’d seen something quite tasty, but did not dare risk tryingit.

Yet.

“Lacey.” Drust’s voice deepened. “Go to bed, unless you wish me to join youthere.”

This time her mouth opened and closed like a goldfish’s. “My v-vibrator, I mean, therabbit.”

His smile widened. “If you have need of it during the night, I will bring it toyou.”

Laughter followed her as she scurried back to the safety of herbedroom.

But she left the door unlocked thistime.

Seldom had she ever dreamed.And if she did, she never remembered her dreams. Lacey had always supposed that was a blessing, for she used to have nightmares about her childhood and Melanie, such visceral and real nightmares that she woke up drenched in cold sweat, biting back a scream from hermouth.

After a month of suffering through that and worrying her real mother, Lacey taught herself to fall into a deep, dreamless sleep. Alwaysworked.

Untiltonight.

Tonight, she did not dream of her nightmarish childhood. Instead she dreamed of a young woman, perhaps in her early twenties, wearing strange, medieval clothing – a long cloth gown, perhaps homespun brown, her long brown hair bound back and kept away from herneck.

She was filling a wood bucket from a well, in the middle of a townsquare.

Her sweaty grip on the bedsheets eased. Nothing harmful about a well or abucket.

Lacey fell deep into thedream.

Her name was Lucinda, but everyone called her Lucy. Everyone except him. He called her Minda. HisMinda.

Such a clear bright day, the blue sky cloudless. Blue as the eyes of her secret lover. They must keep their love a secret, he’d told her. In public, he would ignore her and perhaps even insult her. But she could know it was all to cover up his true feelings from his peers and friends, for he was of noble dragon blood, and high in position to King Emer, the Fae King who ruled over themall.

And then her blood quickened as she caught his scent, woodsy and spices, and heard his deep voice. Heard his infectious chuckle, the laugh that lightened herday.

Minda finished pulling up the water. A little sloshed over the side from her trembling hands. Knowing she would see him tonight, in their secret place in the woods, where they would kiss and make love until dawn streaked the sky and he had toleave.

He had no mate, for his mate had died two years ago. But he was highborn and carried muchinfluence.

While I am a simple peasant girl, sometimes mocked by hisfriends.

Minda set the bucket on the well’s lip as her lover drew closer. Then she gathered her composure and dared to turnaround.

Head bent as if in concentration, he walked with two companions she recognized. Tristan Kearney, a Lupine shifter and noble who fought for King Emer. Tristan was kind, but the other was a Fae, and arrogant and cruel. Sir Hugh of Balreath held King Emer’s ear, but was no warrior likeTristan.

Or her lover, Drust, Tristan’s bestfriend.

Then her lover lifted his head, his burning blue gaze meeting hers. For an instant perhaps, his expression turned tender. Then he looked arrogant oncemore.

Seeing Tristan’s curious look at Drust, and then at her, she put a hand to herchest.