“Some things don’t leave you,” Kelan says.
Her shoulders relax as she imagines it, and her fingers curl unconsciously, as if already holding a brush. The dragon inside me settles, satisfied that our mate is beginning to discover beauty in the world again.
“What do you think of the food?” I ask.
Aura indicates her clean plate with a tip of her hand. “I think you can tell. Your chefs are excellent, but I don’t exactly have a refined palate.”
“Are you ready for dessert?”
“Oh, yes,” she says, licking her bottom lip. “Chocolate lava cake with ice cream.”
“My favorite,” I say. “At least, it is when I’m in humanform. When I’m a dragon, whole, raw bison is what hits the spot.”
She scrunches her nose in disgust. “And you kiss me with that mouth?”
Laughter bursts out of me, drawing the attention of other diners. I lean in closely, my eyes darkening.
“I’ll kiss you all over with this mouth. As soon as you’re done with your dessert.” I run my hand over her silk-covered thigh. “You’ll be my dessert.”
She gasps as I cup my hand between her legs. “This is sweeter than any cake, and more delicious than any flavor of ice cream.”
“Ronyn,” Kelan warns, his eyes slitting in arousal.
“Careful,” Darial says, putting his scaled-covered hands beneath the table to avoid attention.
“Let’s get it to go,” Aura says. “I want some dragon dessert of my own.”
Kelan exhales slowly through his nostrils, eyes flaring silver. “We should leave before I forget we’re in public.”
A sudden flash goes off from across the restaurant. Aura startles. Darial’s head snaps toward the edge of the restaurant. My instincts surge hot and immediate, my dragon pressing at the edges of my human form. Outside, a man lowers a camera as he backs away.
“Paparazzi,” Darial mutters.
Kelan is on his feet in a heartbeat, chair skidding. His expression goes cold in a terrifying, controlled way. Someone is about to regret their life choices.
“No,” Aura says quickly, catching his wrist. “Please. Not here.”
The photographer flashes another shot through the glass.
Kelan’s jaw tightens. For a moment, I think he’ll shift right there between the linen tablecloths and wine glasses.
Then he forces himself still.
“Chocolate lava cake with ice cream, to go,” he says tightly to the waiter hovering nearby. “We’re leaving.”
***
Outside, the air is sharp and cool. The photographer has disappeared, but Aura huddles between us, fearful of what it might mean to have her photograph printed, even with our protection. Will the bear and wolf shifters see the image? Will they come after her?
Kelan’s and Darial’s fury surges through the dragon bond, matching my own. Kelan’s instincts are already moving ahead, calculating threats, risks, and exposure.
We’re halfway down the sidewalk when the crawling awareness of magic stops me in my tracks.
Dragons.
Two dragon males in human form stand near the entrance to the underground parking, reclining casually against a black car as if they have nothing better to do. Well dressed. Still. Watching.
Kelan slows. So do we.
