Page 62 of The Mating Claim

“Danica, stop it. Back off,” her mother chided. “The Shadow Wizard is here on matters other than hair styling. Do you forget he is our judge and we need his guidance in the matter ofdemons?”

“Oh,” she said softly. “Mybad.”

Caderyn frowned. “No, you are notbad.”

“It’s a modern expression, my friend. Don’t worry. You’ll learn.” Silently laughing, Drust waved a hand and dematerialized to Lacey’shouse.

It didn’t take long for him to see that she’d packed a suitcase and left. Her aging car was gone aswell.

She couldn’t have gone far. Transporting the book required her human form. Lacey’s car was old and lacked sufficient power forspeeding.

Drust headed for an alley, and shifted into dragon. Taking to the air he flew toward theEverglades.

Halfway across the state, he spied her red car, parked in the lot of a recreational area. A truck with an empty boat trailer was the only othervehicle.

Lacey sat on the edge of the boat ramp, head resting on herknees.

He landed in the parking lot, clothed himself in jeans and a forest green short-sleeved shirt and boots, and headed forher.

“I knew you would find me.” A heavy sigh fled her. “Better you than something or someone else, if I’m todie.”

A little surprised, he sat next to her. “Do you think I came here to killyou?”

“Why not? I broke a big rule, stole a book and ran away from you. Just do me a favor. Make it quick. I hate pain. I mean, I really hateit.”

Almost absently, he put a hand on her back as if to stroke her. She winced and jerked away. For a moment he thought she was afraid of him, and then insight struckhim.

“Take off your shirt,” he toldher.

Trembling, she buried her face into her knees. “No.”

“Lacey.” He used his gentlest tone. “I will not hurt you. Take off yourshirt.”

“Fine. You could force me into it anyway, or remove my clothing.” With an angry huff, she tugged the bright pink T-shirt over her head. Beneath it she wore a white lace bra, but as pretty as that lingerie was, it held no interest forhim.

A deep hiss escaped him as he gently turned her around and saw the deep groves carved into her skin. No wonder she felt bitter atlife.

Drust touched the scars, his fury rising as he remembered reading her file. Even though he knew the answer, he needed to hear it from her. “Who did this toyou?”

A bitter laugh. “My foster mother, the woman I’ve vowed to give the same treatment to. Part of the reason I wanted the book. But now…” she sighed again and shrugged back into the shirt, still averting hergaze.

When her eyes closed, Drust put a gentle hand on her back, sending healing tendrils of power into her body. Not only was she depleted of magick, but as he’d feared, the book was draining her aswell.

A deep sigh fled Lacey. Tension fled her as her muscles relaxed and a little smile touched her mouth. He kept sending the positive energy into her for a few moments more. With each pulse of renewing energy he directed, he felt warmth flow back intohim.

Not any warmth either. This was purely sexual. Troubled, Drust pulled his handaway.

Her eyes flew open. “Wow. Thanks. That felt terrific. Better than a Swedish deep tissuemassage.”

I give good massages as well, but you would have to be naked for that.Blinking, he scowled at the thought. He provided healing energy, nothing more. Would have done the same for any of his charges indistress.

And yet he could not deny Lacey was different, and the connection between them strong andsexual.

Nor could he deny the overwhelming feeling they had known each other intimately in the past. Yet it made no sense. He remembered every detail of his mortal life. Why could he not remember her if they had beenlovers?

Her eyes widened. “Hey, you’re wearing regular clothing. You look good. Not as ancient as you usuallydo.”

“Thank you,” he saiddryly.