Page 98 of Touched By Moonlight

Kara’s palm was warm as she squeezed my hand. “That was close. Too close. I should have seen it coming. Lavender’s power didn’t fully manifest itself untiltoday.”

“Thank you for watching overme.”

“Wish I could stick around, but I have a few loose ends to tie up at work. Cover up the mess, offer a logical explanation. Part of the services. I’ll put in your resignation for you. Arrange it so Randall won’t rip you off this week’spay.”

Save me the trouble as well. I thanked her. “Where will you go now? Another assignment? What does a mercenary dragondo?”

“Whatever she can to survive.” Kara folded herarms.

“What about yourfamily?”

“Dead,” she said briefly. “One reason I took this assignment. I need the money if I’m going to live away from my people. They’re pressuring me to return to them so I can choose a mate and make little babydragons.”

Judging from the torment in her eyes, it wasn’t an easy decision tomake.

“Do whatever you must to make you happy,” I toldher.

Grayson returned, bearing two keys. Kara hugged me. “Good luck, Sienna. Don’t stay alone if you have to. It’s a hard thing, not having friends in theworld.”

She stepped back, nodded at Grayson. The silver dragon replaced the woman, blinked once and rose into the air. My hair billowed back from the currents created by herwings.

Grayson looked upward, his expression contemplative. Keys jingled in his hand. “Come on, Sienna. We’ll get dinner at the restaurant and then a good night’ssleep.”

I slept in his arms after dinner, and in the middle of the night, woke with a scream. Grayson pulled me back into his arms. We made love until the screams died in my throat, replaced by moans ofpleasure.

The next morning, Grayson drove me to hisplace.

As he stopped outside the gate, I put a hand on his arm. “I’m not sure if it’s safer for me to simply leave. Your people don’t like me. They may try to drive meout.”

“My people will do whatever I say. You’re staying.” A deep frown creased hisforehead.

Unlike my previous visit late at night, two wolves prowled behind the fence. They sat on their haunches as Grayson punched a code into the security panel. We drove through and one wolf shifted into a human and closed the gate behindus.

Several wolves patrolled the grounds as we pulled into the driveway. They all sat as their alpha drove up, and bowed theirheads.

Two men carrying shotguns stood guard at the front door. The peaceful mansion had turned into an armedcompound.

I knew it was because of what happened back at my office. Grayson hadn’t wasted time tightening security. The sight of all those fangs and guns reassured me a little, but I knew what Ifaced.

Shifter magick cannot defeatKallan.

Then again, what was Grayson? No ordinary shifter could do what he’d accomplished back at the lake. My enemies closed in around me, but did Grayson and his pack present the greaterthreat?

For now, I had to seek refuge until formulating a plan. All the safe places I’d known were gone. The Timber Wolf Retreat offered the only security, with strong, reinforced magick to defeatKallan.

At least temporarily. Even if most of the pack dislikedme.

Nicolas and Stephan met us in the driveway. Without words Stephan rushed over, lifted me off the bike and engulfed me in a tight hug. He buried his face against myneck.

“I was so scared for you, Sienna. When Grayson called and told us what happened, I feared theworst.”

I rubbed soothing circles on his back. Of my three wolves, Stephan was the mostsensitive.

The most fierce and unapproachable, feared by others, hugged me next. Nicolas, who kissed my cheek and framed my face with his callousedfingertips.

“Sienna. Youokay?”

I nodded. “Considering whathappened…”