His eyes narrowed on her.“Where are you going?”
“To the retiring room.”
“Don’t skip out on me,” he warned.“I’ll find you.”
“Who me?”Scarlett forced astonishment into her expression and placed her fisted hand against her breasts.“I wouldn’t dream of rabbiting.”She winked at him.“You owe me currency.”
She hustled toward the retiring room, taking a right-hand turn instead of a left.
“Scarlett!”Eva rushed to her side.A close-fitting white hat sat atop her honey-blonde hair while she wore a smart navy-blue tunic that clung to her petite frame.“I’ve just heard from Saber.How did you escape the dragon?”Her blue eyes scanned Scarlett from head to toe.“Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” Scarlett said.“I persuaded him to come here for a meal before we shop for supplies.He has a contact for some rare precious stones, and I agreed to go with him.Obtaining unusual stones is an item on my list.We’re traveling to—”
“Why did he kidnap you?”Eva shuddered.“Saber said one of those eagles attacked you.I have nightmares about those birds.”
“Ransom kept me safe,” Scarlett said.“It helped that Saber and the others fired at the bird and kept its attention divided.Look, tell Saber we’re traveling to the unexplored side of Narenda.The journey won’t be speedy since the terrain is mountainous and we’ll be on foot.Give me a month.He can send in the rescue troops if I’m not home by then.”
Eva frowned.“But why did this dragon abduct you?Are you his mate?”
“No,” Scarlett said, lying through her teeth.Perhaps if she repeated the fib enough, her feline would swing to her point of view.“I’m uncertain why he grabbed me, but it doesn’t matter.I don’t get a creepy vibe from him.He hasn’t hurt me.”
“But he’s a freakin’ dragon,” Eva snapped.“I’ve heard rumors about the Narenda dragons.They’re not domesticated, that’s for sure.”
“Eva, there is nothing romantic about my wish to accompany him.If I can get my hands on unique precious stones, it will boost my sales.It’s part of my business plan.Please, don’t fuss.I get enough of that from my brothers.”
Eva wrapped her in a hug.“You’re right.Sometimes, I want to bash Saber when he gets stubborn.Putting up with one bossy husband is bad enough, but you have him plus your other four brothers telling you what to do.”
“You forgot my cousins,” Scarlett said drily.“They enjoy ordering me around too.”
“All right.What should I tell Saber?”Eva’s eyebrows drew together, and she pursed her lips.“Are you sure you need to achieve your goals this way?It’s dangerous.He’s adragon.”
“Don’t fret.I’ll be fine, but I don’t have my com-circle and have no way of contacting the resort.Once we’re done on Narenda, I’ll ask Ransom to drop me on Dalcon.If not Dalcon, I guess I can get transport from the dragon’s spaceport.”
Eva’s frown remained.“What are you doing for food during your journey?”
“We’re buying stuff in the market.”
“I’ve been trialing shrink-meals.I’m happy with the final product but haven’t marketed them yet.Are you interested?”
Scarlett grinned.“Hell, yeah.There’s a reason you’re my favorite sister-in-law.”
Eva snorted.“You used that same line on Casey when she gave you the pair of shoes you’re wearing.”
“I need boots,” Scarlett said, observing her comfortable but impractical navy-and-gold shoes.Casey’s aunt designed shoes that allowed the wearer to change the color on a whim.
“Lucky for you, I have a pair in my office.I’ll pack them with the food supplies.”
“Awesome.Make sure you send me an account for the food.I’ll bill the dragon for his share.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“My subconscious is telling me to go with the dragon.Don’t know why.”She shrugged, owning to excitement at a step out of the norm and the chance to add a tick to her to-do list.“Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith.”
“You have thirty cycles before I galvanize the troops,” Eva said.“Thirty and no longer.”
Scarlett made use of the facilities and returned to the table as a waitress delivered two steaming plates of food.
Ransom was alone.His eyes were closed again, and the tension in his facial muscles made her suspect he had a headache.His big hand curled around his tankard, pushing a shiver through her.She had a weakness for large men since she was tall herself.
