“Why don’t”—I have to clear my throat to keep my voice working—“you live here?” This seems like the perfect spot for her. Above her business and near the heart of town.
Did she need more space because she doesn’t live alone? Did Esme find a partner while I was gone?
I couldn’t—wouldn’t—blame her even if I have the overwhelming need to find the shadowy figure and tear their throat out with my claws.
“I used to, but people don’t respect closing hours when you live above your business.” She fiddles with her key chain as she talks. “There’re only so many times a girl can get a knock on her door at eight p.m., asking about a clothes pickup, before she snaps and moves. So, I did. Got myself a little place on the other side of town.”
“Just you?” Despite my sore throat, the question sneaks out without help.
The harpy smirks, so adorable with her playful expression that I almost kneel at her feet and beg her to let me be hers. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Yes. I want to know everything I missed.
She hands me the key and leads me downstairs, telling me to stop by the shop if I have any questions or problems.
Though I’m terrified to leave her sight, sure she’ll disappear when I turn away, I force myself to go with Xavier.
“Changed your mind yet?” he asks once we’re in his truck, heading to his house to pick up the few belongings he gifted to me.
I shake my head as I watch the vibrant greenery speed by the window, still thrown off by so much color after years of white and gray.
Xavier grumbles low in the back of his throat, “Guess I learned my lesson. Never make a blood oath without all the facts.”
The dragon rubs a small mark on his wrist, a pale white scar from where a knife drew blood. I have a similar one on mine, but it’s not as obvious among my many other healed wounds.
When Yuito helped me escape, he gave me the name of a dragon in Folk Haven—Xavier. But when I made it here and found the man, I refused to tell him who I was until he swore not to share the information with anyone without my permission. I made him swear not to interfere with my purpose in Folk Haven. Dragons talk to each other, and even with Yuito’s good word, I wasn’t sure of the stranger’s loyalties. In turn, Xavier only agreed to enter the blood bargain if I swore I’d hurt no one in town unless first attacked. An easy enough agreement to make. I’m done fighting.
We cut our wrists and spoke our oaths as the blood mixed.
Then, I told him my name and reason for returning, and he growled a whole string of curses at me.
“Just …” I watch him grind his teeth, no doubt struggling with words that come too close to interfering. “Thank you,” I say, getting the sense this dragondoeswant to help me. But I cannot allow him my full trust. Not with the betrayals that lurk in my past.
He’s done what I asked, and now, I can complete this task on my own.
Without disrupting Esme’s life or causing her pain, I will discover if my mate remembers me.
2
Eighteen Years Old
I can still tasteEsme on my tongue as I hike through the dark woods back to my house. Still hear the way she squealed and laughed and moaned when I snuck my head between her legs and licked her delicious nectar. Just the memory has me half hard. How I can manage that after going through three condoms is a mystery for the gods.
When I catch the hint of lights between the branches, I pause.
They’re awake. They’re waiting for me.
Knowing that the magic of this night is about to be broken by my parents, I hesitate. Not because I’m scared to face them. But because I want to partition off the joy so their scolding can’t taint the gift Esme gave me.
Her first, just as she was mine.
I tried to be gentle, but my eager harpy dug talons into my back and demanded I be rough. She is a force and a light and my everything.
You’re young, they’ll say.
This isn’t love, they’ll claim.
As if there’s a specific timetable to follow before I’m capable of realizing that Esmerelda Sharpwing is a woman worth giving my heart to.
