I shook my head. How did I let myself get roped into this mess? If only I hadn’t vowed to get my revenge on Jade that first night...
But at the thought, an unpleasant twinge curled around my heart. In reality, I didn’t regret my first contact with Jade. Or any other contact after that. The depraved bastard was starting to grow on me like slime mold—harmless, but annoying.
My cat’s eyes helped me navigate out of the castle. I’d taken this path with Jade before, but it felt lonelier by myself. The silence was somehow worse than his incessant banter.
“Alaric?”
The sudden voice in the darkness startled me. I yowled, jumping a foot in the air as all the hairs on my arms and neck bristled.
Then my brain caught up with my body. I recognized that voice. As I whipped towards the source of it, I saw a pair of reflective amber eyes in the darkness. A familiar tall, broad-shouldered figure stood in the kitchen, staring at me.
“Taylor?” I spat.
The tiger shifter snorted. “Why do you sound so offended? This ismyhouse.”
“Yes, but you didn’t have to scare me half to death,” I growled.
He opened the fridge door. A beam of light illuminated the kitchen as he grabbed a midnight snack. “Couldn’t help it. I’d recognize that powdered baby-butt smell anywhere.”
I wrinkled my nose and subtly smelled my shirt. Was it that strong? If so, I didn’t want Jade to be put off by it...
Taylor unwrapped a piece of beef jerky and took a bite. “So, are you going to explain why you’re here, or do you just randomly manifest in my home now?”
I crossed my arms. “If you must know, I was here to—”
Oh, hell. How could I possibly explain the situation I was mired in?
Taylor chuckled at my failure mid-sentence. He pulled out a second chair at the counter. “Come on, sit down. We might as well chat while you’re here.”
I hesitated, then accepted his offer. We’d come a long way from our initial rivalry, and despite giving me a heart attack, Taylor’s invitation eased my mood.
I hopped onto the chair, then noticed we weren’t alone. A third chair next to me was occupied by a chubby orange baby dragon with stripes. He blinked curious, reflective eyes at me.
Instant affection welled up in my chest. Nothing warmed my cold heart faster than a cute baby.
“Good evening, Ruby. What are you doing up so late?” I asked.
Ruby babbled as if replying and smacked his tiny claws on the counter.
I nodded. “I see. How fascinating.”
Taylor smiled as he brought extra jerky for Ruby. “Here you go.”
Ruby snatched the jerky and stuffed it into his face with unbridled joy. Meanwhile, Taylor sat down and handed me a glass of warm milk.
“What is this?” I asked, wrinkling my nose.
Taylor grinned. “Don’t house cats like milk?”
I glared at him while reaching for the glass. “That’s a blatant stereotype, you big striped oaf.” I took a sip of the warm milk, then sighed contentedly. “Regardless, I appreciate it.”
“You seem stressed,” Taylor pointed out, taking another bite of jerky. “And you still haven’t told me why you’re here.”
I didn’t want anybody to know about my situation—at least, not the full truth of it—but if anyone could understand my entanglement with a maddening alpha dragon, it was Taylor.
I brought the glass to my lips. “I’ve become... acquainted with a particular dragon who lives here.”
Taylor waited for me to elaborate, and I did not.
