“Here, take it and find yourself someone interested.”
I placed the coins in her open hand and turned back to my stale drink, the dismissal clear. She stood up and hurriedly left the Inn, not looking back.Good, let me brood in peace.
I hadn’t stopped mulling over the recent family tragedy in days. My father was dead. My sister was gone, and hopefully far away with her mate. And I was free.Well,on the run, but it was still something. I didn’t have to take over my father’s title as the head of our clan, and I could live my life how I intended to, far away from the family drama and the man who was probably going to kill—
The little bell over the door rang again and my whole body was quick to jolt, anxiousness plaguing my mind. It was hard not to notice how the whole tavern had gone suddenly silent like frozen in fear. Laughter died out, the instrument played by a couple of musicians in the corner stopped, dancers stilled.
Well, fuck.
My freedom had lasted what, three days? And he fuckingfound me. I was as good as dead now.
I plastered the brightest smile on my face as I pivoted on my stool, grabbing the ale in the process. If I were to go, I might as well be drunk for it.
My fire-like eyes met his cold opal ones as he strode toward me, the dark scales exposed on his forearms and cheekbones. Long dark hair was partially tied but falling over his shoulders and back.
His tanned skin and monolid eyes stood out here, like it did on my island. But people were familiar with the Astrals, and they had to know what he was. A Dragon—an asshole—and he waspissed.
My grin only widened. “Am—”
“Everybody out.”
In mere seconds, no one was left inside except for us. Even the barkeeper had run away with a muttered curse, knocking a couple of glasses crashing to the dirty wooden floor.
“Fancy seeing you here.” Funny how I’ve been anxious about him finding me for the last few days only to be nothing but calm now. “Haven’t you crawled back to the cold hole you came from yet? Your scaly tail between your legs?”
My taunt didn’t seem to amuse him as said tail started to slither behind him in agitation. He must have had very poor control over his human appearance if he couldn’t conceal it. Theangerprobably.
“Are you proud of your little stunt?” he asked, prowling closer, his steps predatory.
But I didn’t move, my ass remaining seated on the uncomfortable stool.
“Not sure what you—”
His hand snapped around my neck as he slammed my back against the edge of the counter top, the edge digging painfully between my vertebrae.
The sharp claws at the end of his fingers scraped my skin, as the pressure closed up my air supply.
“Tell me,sae,” Amyntas growled in my face, the southern Asian word making me shiver. “How come I showed up to your village to pick up my Maiden only to be told that she doesn’t exist?”
It was easy to conceal my surprise as my head felt suddenly too dizzy to react in any way.
“I’m pretty sure Ididmeet your sister and yet, your family seems convinced that you never had a twin in the first place. Where. Is. She?”
“I—I don—” My hand tapped his forearm frantically. I couldn’t talk. Not if he held me like this.
He let me go abruptly, shoving me against the bar for good measure. Taking a few deep breaths while rubbing my sore throat, I pondered on what he said.
Our family might be mad about what we’ve done, but saying she never existed seemed a bit far-fetched.
“Do you mind explaining? I’ve been away for a few days and—”
My voice hitched in my throat as he leaned closer, his nose sliding from my cheekbone to my temple, his hand gripping my hair to tilt my head back.
Damn, that beast of a man was going to be the death of me.
“Where’s the soul-shard?” he groaned, obviously trying to catch the shift in my scent, the tip of his nose and lips on the side of my throat sending goosebumps all over my body. “Your father said—”
“Wait, what?” I asked, his words pulling me out of my short trance. I pushed him away, but he didn’t let go, grunting as I tried. “Amyntas, what the fuck are you talking about?”
