Page 7

Riley

Stockholm Syndrome

“Come here, baby.” I pulled my big, orange furball of a cat from the carrier. Dobby swiped at me with a hiss and scrambled out of my arms, bolting under the bed.

“I know. It’s a lot of change, really fast.” Tears misted my eyes again.

Something was wrong.

I hadn’t been able to turn off the waterworks all morning. Lucan had brought me my suitcase and cat. I’d shoved him outside the room, needing a moment to put on fresh panties and collect myself. It was like my eyes were leaking for no good reason.

I was a mess.

It wasn’t the fun kind of mess I used to be before my ex made me start to worry too much. This was more of an emotional rollercoaster ride I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

Except maybe Drew—because fuck him.

Seriously, that narcissistic prick never would have brought me clothes. I couldn’t even imagine crying around him. He would’ve berated me for being weak. And he definitely never would’ve carried me inside the house.

Not like Lucan…

Stop right there. I pushed the heels of my palms into my eyes. You are not going to be this woman.

I wasn’t running from one monster just to fall into the arms of another. So what if there was bacon and baths and kindness?

The dude still kidnapped me.

“Don’t get too comfortable. You can use the litterbox and get some water,” I told Dobby as I put on fresh clothes and then zipped up my suitcase. “Hurry, because we’re getting out of here.”

∞

“There you are,” Ember said. My bestie was glowing as she clung to Kieran’s arm like she couldn’t stand on her own if he wasn’t around. “This big guy had me worried sick. Willow is still freaking out, but she calmed down a bit when we got the phone call.”

“Yeah. I was worried too.” I forced a smile.

Ember wasn’t talking about Kieran, though. I’d thought he was big when we first met him, but Lucan had twice the shoulder width and a few inches on the other dragon. Admittedly, it did make sense that all dragons were big in human form.

My eyes dropped to Lucan’s crotch.

He’d put on pants at least.

There’d been too many tears in my eyes to get a decent look at his manhood when he’d marched naked through the garden to get me.

So embarrassing.

“My apologies for the confusion with my cousin,” Kieran said as I dragged my gaze up to meet his. “I was fortunate to already be living on my mate’s property when we met. Dragons are very territorial and I shouldn’t have sent Lucan away like I did. If I’d known you were mates, I would’ve been less hostile.”

Ember squeezed his arm.

“This is exciting. Isn’t it?” She winked at me. “What are the odds of you meeting your mate too?”

“I wouldn’t have bet on it.” I glanced at Lucan. He stood there stoically, like a statue in the garden, listening to the conversation.

His expression softened as our eyes met and I quickly looked away.

“Once Willow calmed down, and I stopped screaming at Kieran, we figured this wouldn’t be so bad for you. Apparently, Lucan is a good guy,” Ember said as she left Kieran and pulled me to the side. Her walk was a little bowlegged.

“Are you okay?” I chuckled, wondering if her funny walk was from riding the dragon over here or riding the dragon like she’d been doing non-stop over the past few weeks.

“I’m perfect.” Her eyes were wide as she motioned to Kieran with an appreciative look and mouthed, “Oh-my-freaking-God-I-love-him.”

A real smile teased my lips.

She was happy.

If anyone deserved that, it was Ember. She’d been through life’s wringer and hadn’t let it harden her—even when she thought it did. Ember was tough around the edges, but she had a heart of gold and always made sure we were okay. She was the glue that kept us together. The ride-or-die friend who picked us both up time and time again.

I suddenly felt awful for ruining her romance story and messing up her special day.

It wasn’t fair of me to be this upset and cause a big commotion, demanding she take me back to the cabin. There were bigger things at play here. I could suck it up and make the best of the situation.

Find your gratitude.

It could always be worse.

At least I wasn’t dragon food.

“Are you hungry?” Lucan asked, breaking his brooding silence and I realized he’d been watching me intently.

Not a great feeling.

I nodded, hoping for a chance to escape. “I can go make us lunch.”

“Sit with your friend.” His brow furrowed as he pulled out a wrought iron chair from the patio set. “I’ll bring you some food.”

Out of principal, I wanted to refuse his order. But Ember let out a dramatic sigh as she took a seat.

“They have a big thing about feeding their mates,” she said, as if that explained everything. “Did he mark you yet?”

“No.” My face flushed as I dropped down beside her.

Lucan was already heading toward the house and I had to keep my eyes on Ember so I didn’t turn to watch him walk away.

I’d forgotten about Ember’s mark and the whole apocalyptic prophecy thing, which might’ve said something about my mental health at the moment.

But I’d just been kidnapped by a dragon, so I decided to give myself a break.

“Did you and Kieran figure it out?” I motioned to the little tattooed rune on her neck.

“We didn’t have time to meet with Bemouth and the other scholars yesterday.” Ember stared pointedly at Lucan’s backside.

Something had broken inside me because I felt that little flare of jealousy again.

I leaned forward to block her view. “Sorry about that.”

“Why are you sorry?” She huffed. “He’s the one that went all caveman, dragging you up to the mountains.”

“It’s not a cave,” I looked around the garden, feeling the urge to defend him.

I needed therapy.

“You’re right, it’s pretty nice up here.” Ember sighed. “It must be exciting to get time alone.”

“About that…”

Ember’s phone started ringing.

“I knew Willow wouldn’t wait for our call.” Ember laughed as she answered, turning the phone to face me.

“How did you get service up here?” I asked as Willow’s face filled the screen.

“Same password as Kieran.” She shrugged.

“You’re alive,” Willow cried.

“I am still in the land of the living,” I muttered, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt under the table.

I hated when they fussed over me.

“Swear to me that you’re all right or else I’m coming to get you,” Willow demanded.

“Can I come too?” Harper called from the background.

Willow’s eyes were red-rimmed from crying and I felt sick about worrying her.

“I swear I’m okay.” My smile was genuine and I hoped she’d relax for me.

“Good.” Willow blew out a heavy breath. “They said you’d have service there so turn on your phone and we’ll talk every day. Your charger is in the soft pocket of your suitcase. I packed up your clean clothes, but let me know if you need anything else.”

“I don’t. Really. You’re doing too much. Everything is okay.” My cheeks hurt from smiling. “Better than okay.”

Willow put her fingers in her ears, motioning off-camera for Harper to copy the motion.

When she was satisfied, she turned to me again. “I’m glad you’re both getting lucky, but you don’t have to rub it in.”

“I want to get lucky!” Harper said.

“You have elephant ears,” Willow groaned.

“We’ll talk to you later.” Ember laughed as she hung up the phone.

Then she saw the mortified look on my face and sobered up. “You aren’t… getting any?”

I feverishly shook my head. “No.”

“It’s only been one night.” Ember smiled as she clasped my hands between hers, leaning forward to whisper, “And don’t freak out, but it’s huge and ribbed and if it’s anything like Kieran’s, it’s beyond amazing.”

If my cheeks could burn hotter, they’d ignite into flames. I squeezed my thighs together, trying to ward off the sensations Ember’s words invoked.

If I hadn’t been crying so much earlier, I might’ve gotten a better peek.

“There’ll be none of that,” I giggled nervously, wishing I could escape to the kitchen with Lucan. Was it too early for Stockholm syndrome to kick in? Because I suddenly missed the quiet presence of my captor. “We’re still getting to know each other.”

“That’s why you’re lucky to have all this alone time.” Ember sighed wistfully. “We’re going to be elbows deep in the scrolls and texts for the foreseeable future until we figure this prophecy thing out. He’s even got these witches coming over to assess the new rune. And, no pressure, but Kieran has a theory that you may have a part in this too.”

“In the magical apocalypse prophecy?” I asked to make sure. First hot guys that turned into kidnapping dragons, and now this.

“It makes sense, right?” Ember didn’t miss a beat. “What are the odds of you also being a dragon’s mate? Kieran said before we arrived, they didn’t even know dragons and humans could be fated mates. It’s got to mean something bigger. In every book, this is the start of a great adventure.”

“I think I’d prefer a ring instead of a tattoo.” I touched my unmarked neck, trying to make a joke.

“Wrong story.” Ember rolled her eyes.

I thought it was funny, but she was right.

I needed to be serious. “What exactly does it mean to be a dragon’s mate?”

“Lucan hasn’t told you yet?” She looked to the kitchen window where Kieran stood next to Lucan inside fixing up sandwiches for lunch. That love-drunk look in her eyes suited her romantic little heart.

“We’re still working out the details,” I mumbled, leaning back in the chair.

I couldn’t ask her to take me away. She wouldn’t understand why I wanted to go, not when she was clearly so Team Dragon.

And now they were all waiting to see if I’d somehow get a magic prophecy tattoo. Didn’t I owe it to the world to at least try and see where this situation led?

Sometimes being a responsible adult sucked.

“I’ll have to let Lucan explain the intimate parts of the fated mate relationship to you.” Ember patted my knee. A conspiratorial glimmer shone in her heart-shaped eyes. “But trust me, you’re going to love this part.”