Nothing more.
When my stomach protested, I pushed away what was left on the tray, and Talon moved into action, eating everything in a neat, systematic motion. A surge of worry that I hadn’t left enough food for him hit me—I hadn’t realized we’d be made to share.
Was food a way they controlled him too? Surely, they fed their soldiers and pack members as much as they needed? A shifter of Slade’s size couldn’t survive on a few bites of bread, rice, and chicken.Why hadn’t he said anything? He’d just sat there and watched me force food into my mouth. Was the instinct to feed your mate ingrained into all alphas?
No… no, it absolutely wasn’t. Blaine and his pack of pricks had never let anyone eat first.
Where did Talon learn it, then?
“Sorry I didn’t leave more,” I found myself saying, and then immediately regretted it. He’d forcibly bonded me, and here I was going allStockholm Syndromeworrying about my captor.
Idiot.
Talon grunted, showcasing another alpha instinct. “Tell me more about cars.”
I blinked at him, trying not to squirm under his stare. “You weren’t bored?”
He shook his head without hesitation. “No.”
Okay, then. With nothing better to do, and in the hopes of keeping him calm while I figured out an escape plan, I launched into another story. “When I was twelve, I snuck down into the garage later than usual. It had been a really hard day with my mom and her pack. They were home more than usual, and they hurt her right in front of me. Of course, when I tried to intervene, Blaine slapped my face. The bruise healed up fast enough, of course, but I was feeling a little sore and sorry for myself as I escaped, only to find one of the owner’s clients had brought ina Mclaren F1. It was just sitting there, the orange shining so brightly that it briefly blinded me.”
Talon leaned closer, and I swore that he was hanging on my every word.
“You need to understand, they only made them for a few years, and they were so rare. It was a literal multi-million-dollar car just sitting there in this old garage. Mack was one of the best mechanics in the state, but still… that was beyond.
“He didn’t let me touch it of course, and I didn’t really know about the car at the time, but once he explained how rare and precious it was, a sliver of hope bloomed inside me. Hope that maybe better days were coming.” A sad laugh escaped me. “It’s ridiculous that a car gave me hope, but even at twelve I knew it was special and felt the awe in its presence. Thinking about the shimmer of orange, with the sunlight hitting it just right until it glowed, kept me sane through a lot of bad days.”
Talon’s expression was unreadable, but deep in the icy darkness of his eyes there was the slightest flicker of a flame. “What happened to the car? Did you take the engine apart?”
He had finished the food now, the tray empty and the plates and bowls neatly arranged from smallest to largest across the surface.
I shook my head. “Nothing happened. They were having a small issue, but Mack was able to fix it up in an hour, and then we said our goodbyes to the beauty. He didn’t even let me breathe on it, let alone take the engine apart.”
“Do you drive?”
My eyebrows drew together as I considered if that was a serious question or not. He didn’t show any indication it wasn’t, so I answered. “Yes. I have my license for cars and motorcycles.”
Talon considered that, and I wasn’t sure if it meant anything more to him other than learning a new fact about me. I couldn’t get a read on this dragon.
“Do you drive?” I returned the question his way.
With a hooded gaze he shook his head. “Dragons fly.”
My mind flashed right to the memory of Slade squished into his Lambo or soaring on his bike. “I’m sure nothing compares to flying, but fast cars and bikes are a close second. Or as close as those of us without wings will ever get.”
I hadn’t realized that I was leaning toward him until he straightened with the tray and I almost fell onto the bed. “I will take you flying and you can tell me which is better.”
My heart pattered hard in my chest, and I forced myself not to soften.No.Just no. I’d already Stockholm’d myself into a relationship with four assholes. There was no room for a fifth. Even if the other four turned out to be the best alphas I’d ever met. Including the surly ones.
Talon was part of thebad guys, ready to destroy the fabric of our world and send us back to the Dark Ages. He might be a victim here as well, but while he refused to change his path and loyalty, I had to treat him as the enemy.
With the conversation over, Talon got up with the tray and opened the door to return it. I caught a glimpse of a dark hallway, and a mildewy scent filtered in from outside, disappearing when he closed and locked the door once more.
When he settled into his seat, ready for another few hours of staring at my face, I asked, “What are Fletcher’s plans? Once you forcibly steal my energy and are all powered up, what will he have you do?”
There was no evasion in his stare or tone as he replied, “I don’t know. He doesn’t tell me the plan. He just sends me out to ensure it happens.”
“You’re the muscle, not the brains,” I snarked meanly.
