"Stay sharp, Ashton," Skye said. "This guy's dangerous. Unpredictable."
"Understood," I nodded, the seriousness of the situation anchoring itself in my chest. Protecting Erin wasn't just about desire—it was a necessity.
"Got a name?" Drake asked, locked on the image.
"None that sticks." Skye brought up more images of the guy. "He's slippery, changes aliases like we change clothes."
"Great, a ghost with a vendetta," I said. I felt that itch, the one you get when trouble's brewing and you know it's looking for you.
"More like a demon, by the sounds of it," Drake said. He wasn't wrong.
"Either way, he doesn't know who he's messing with," I said. My dragon was going insane, ready to rip this guy to shreds. Anybody who even thought about touching her would die. Erin was my fated mate, and I'd move heaven and earth to keep her safe.
"Still, don't underestimate him," Skye said. Her gaze met mine, serious and sharp. "This guy doesn't play by the rules."
"Neither do we," I said. "We have something he doesn't."
"Which is?" Skye tilted her head, curious despite the tension.
"Each other," I said simply.
"Plus, we've got surprise on our side," Drake said. "He thinks he's hunting prey, not knowing he's dealing with real predators."
Chapter 19
Erin
Friday finally came, which meant girls'night with Aurelia and Skye. I was excited and overwhelmed all at once. This meant real friends, bonding. Something I hadn't had since I left Chicago a little over three years ago.
I was halfway out the door when something caught my eye. A huge bouquet of roses splayed across the coffee table. These weren't your run-of-the-mill red; they were a deep, almost maroon shade that seemed to swallow the light around them. Curiosity piqued, I edged closer and plucked the card from its perch among the thorns. "For Erin," it read, with no hint of who might have sent them. Ashton? My mind ticked over the possibilities, which were pretty much Ashton, but the buzz of my phone snapped me to the present.
I glanced at my phone and scanned the text message. Agroup chat with Skye and Aurelia. Aurelia sent her and Skye's address. Then another message popped up.
Aurelia: Come whenever you're ready.
Another message came through. This one from Skye.
Skye: Like now! Let's get this party started.
I laughed.
Leaving now.
With one last glance at the mysterious flowers, I stepped into the warm evening air and made my way to my car as I plugged the address into the GPS on my phone.
The drive seemed to stretch on forever, winding through streets that grew increasingly opulent with each passing mile, then turned into a few miles of country road. When I arrived at Aurelia and Skye's place, my breath hitched as I stopped in front of the closed gates. It wasn't just a house; it was an estate, a sprawling manor that looked like it had been plucked from an English countryside and dropped here, on the outskirts of our little town.
"Whoa." The gate opened seemingly automatically. I eased forward, pulled around the circular driveway, and parked.
I approached the grandiose entrance, heart pounding with nerves and excitement. The doorbell echoedthrough the cavernous entryway, a deep, resounding chime that felt like it shook the foundation.
Seconds later, the heavy wooden door swung open, and Aurelia stood there, beaming like she'd won the lottery. "Erin, you're here." Her enthusiasm was infectious, and any remnants of my awe-induced stupor vanished.
"Hey," I said before she reached out, her grasp warm and welcoming as she pulled me into the foyer.
"Come in, come in." The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, an expanse of marble floors and sweeping staircases.
Aurelia led me upstairs to a room filled with clothes so varied and colorful it felt like stepping into the wardrobe of a pop star. Skye was already sifting through an array of shimmering fabrics, her eyes alight with mischief. "We're going to look killer tonight." She tossed a sleek black dress my way.
