Race remained in the shadows of the alley as Ash disappeared into the crowd, her small form easily lost, but the tug inside him tracked her as she moved farther and farther away.
Not safe,his dragon rumbled, pacing restlessly within him.Go to her.
She needs clothes. I’ll be killed on sight.
His beast’s agitation rippled through Race’s muscles, but he hung back in the alley’s mouth, leaning a shoulder against the wall and scanning the village for any immediate threats. The usurper’s guards remained past the roundabout, their metallic odor carried on the wind.
And to his left, all appeared quiet as well. His gaze snagged on a poster plastered over older ones on the alley wall—the paper damp and stained, dark the ink bleeding into the grime.
CAPTURE: Jade Dragon.
Bounty doubled.
100 gold coins.
No reason given.
The jewel-scaled dragons were all females.
Someone wanted a jade. For what?
He frowned, his gaze scanning to the scaled roof of the flame-charred buildings opposite him, when a faint whisper of summer rains drifted to him.
Ash?
Immediately, he searched for her, only to realize her scent clung tohisclothes, stirring memories of their fleeting kiss in the forest. He’d only meant to ground her, to pull her out of the pain she’d hidden too long—then the feel of her mouth, soft and trembling against his, had wrecked him.
It should’ve ended there.
But it didn’t. Hell, every time he closed his eyes, he saw her again in the glow of the underground spring—her skin like burnished gold, water trailing down her tempting curves… He’d seen too much and wanted more. And that made him dangerous.
His beast chuffed.She tastesss like stormlight.
No idea. The kiss was just to calm her down,he lied.She’s under my protection.
The satisfaction in his mind grew.You felt more than protectiveness.
Means nothing.He rubbed his chest, trying to scrub out the hollow there.
It means everything! She’s ssstrong. Look what she did with a beat of pain—a storm.
She’s human.Not meant for us,he snapped back at his annoying dragon.
But the words sounded empty. She was something more, something that called to both man and beast.
Oursss,his dragon insisted.
No.Race dug his fingers into his scalp until pain sharpened his focus. Arguing with his dragon was like butting heads with a mountain goat.
Then why do I smell her on you?His beast’s smugness rolled through him in gloating waves.
Because I held her when we dematerialized!
But he knew the action wasn’t strong enough for her scent to linger. He’d licked her bloodied wrist back at the abbey… Maybe that was what his dragon sensed?
Hell, Race scrubbed his jaw.Tasting her blood was the only way I could tell if she’s psionic. It means nothing more.
His dragon rumbled, displeased by his reasoning.Oursss.
