Page 58 of The Mating Claim

She shrugged. “Fine. How much time do Ihave?”

“Ninety minutes.” He pointed to the clock. “No longer. Find the book, keep it shut, and talk to noone.”

“An entire ninety minutes. You’re so generous.” She traced a line on the counter. “All right. I’ll do as youask.”

Drust went to her, gently squeezing her shoulders. “You are a dragon and my charge, Lacey. I will do everything in my power to see this through without you suffering any harm.” He stated this with quietassurance.

He hoped she would believehim.

But a nagging voice deep inside warned she wouldnot.

She had openedthe door to hell, and there would be hell to pay – with herlife.

Even though Drust tried to assure her that was not thecase.

How did one trust a figure of ultimate authority with the power to terminate herlife?

Youdidn’t.

You trusted your gut, which screamed flight. Right now. The real kind of flight a dragon could make. Except she couldn’tshift.

But she had two strong legs and a car thatworked.

Too many in the past had let her down – those in authority who made similar assurances she wouldn’t be hurt. Her foster mother. Tristan, the Silver Wizard.Friends.

After Drust vanished, Lacey wasted no time. She needed time to think things over, figure out a plan. Here, she felt too pressured andpursued.

She didn’t know how she’d remembered the vanquishing spell, only that it came to her as if from a long-buried memory. Maybe even a memory she’d buried onpurpose.

Because her foster mother hatedwitches…

Inside a cabinet was a leash she kept for emergencies. Clipping it onto Lucky’s collar, she led him down to Tara’sshop.

The silver bell over the door tinkled. At this hour, only a few customers lingered at the tables or lounged on the overstuffed couches, talking. Tara wasn’t in sight. However, her daughter, Danica, read a book behind thecounter.

A gentle, peaceful energy radiated throughout the shop, one she knew Tara deliberately cultivated. She was a skilled white light witch. A fragrant scent of freshly ground coffee, along with lavender, eased the tight tension in Lacey’s shoulders. This was a good place, and they would treat Lucky likefamily.

With me gone, you won’t turn into demon fodder, buddy.Emotion tightened her throat.Knew it was a bad idea to have you with me. I’m nothing but badluck.

Danica glanced up, her pretty face brightening. “Oh hi Lacey. Mom told me what happened. You okay? You look like someone whacked you across the knees with a2x4.”

“I feel like someone did the same,” sheadmitted.

For a moment she envied Danica with her gentle blue eyes, red hair curled at the edges, her soft skin and soothing manner. Nothing bad ever seemed to happen to her. She worked as a hairdresser and never seemedunhappy.

And then she remembered…the pretty hair was an expensive wig, and Danica had lived a hard life on the streets before changing herlife.

Everyone haschallenges.

Setting down the book, Danica came to the counter and peered over. “Oh, hi there Lucky! What are you doing here….oh.”

Sympathy filled her gentle eyes. “We’ll take good care of him, honey. Really good care. You’re in a lot of trouble,huh?”

She could only manage a slight nod. Good thing Danica was also an intuitive witch because suddenly Lacey could not form words. Her throat tightened further. It wasn’t easy admitting you were a total screw-up.

“Lacey, is there anything we can do? You don’t have toleave.”

She shook her headagain.