Page 13 of Hoarded By the Dragon

I exhale. Why does it feel like I’m on the precipice of crying?

He doesn’t dwell in my body any longer than necessary, and too soon, he’s pulling himself away from me. My throat is tight, but I blink my eyes open and realize that the light in the room has increased. It’s dawn.

Kalos leaves the pillows and strides over to his robe. My body is slow to respond, but I bring my legs together, curling in as if to offer my bare body protection. I sit up.

It’s done now. I’m going to leave here, and all this is going to be is a golden memory. Something bittersweet to make me smile the next time I feel lonely.

But maybe I’m not the only one who feels this way. Kalos doesn’t look back at me as he puts his robe on. I’m many things, but I’m not a coward.

“You bit me,” I say, my hand coming to my neck. There were quite a few paranormal beings that bite their partners to seal a mating. That can’t be what he intended, can it?

“It means nothing.” His voice is the type of cutting cold that reaches my bones.

Yep, yet another intricacy of our world that I don’t understand. I try to let go of my hope that he is harboring some tender feelings for me, but it’s hard.

I swallow. “I guess that’s not how your kind mates.”

He looks at me then, and if I thought his words were cutting, it’s nothing compared to the sneer on his face. The seductive dragon of the night is truly gone, and in his place is Kalos. Influential, wealthy, and powerful immortal.

“Why would I mate myself to a woman who would sell herself for a bauble?”

His words are a sharp slap, but he’s not done.

“Someone foolish with no self-preservation. Being mated to you would be a lower circle of hell. You’ve served your purpose. Now leave.”

It’s a mercy that he storms away without looking back. That way the tears in my eyes can remain a secret between me and my heart.

4

KATARINA

Buzz buzz.

I groan and smack at the alarm clock, knocking it from my nightstand, but that doesn’t stop the buzzing. I open my eyes groggily and gasp at the ache of my muscles. The familiarity of my surroundings doesn’t help the jarring sensation of displacement. I’d been numb this morning when I’d pulled my clothes back on and taken the figurine from the dragon’s mansion.

I focused on getting the job done, not letting any emotions bubble up to distract me. After I left the figurine in a public locker and sent a text to let Nemo know it was ready for pick up, the imp had responded with one word:

Finally.

Frustration and annoyance had broken through the numbness then, and I’d let those emotions stay. Teaches me for helping him.

My cell phone starts buzzing again.

I check the time on my fallen alarm clock and curse. It’s late in the afternoon. I slept through most of the day. I’d fallen on top of my covers the moment I’d made it home and passed out.

My musclesachein the worst sort of way. I whimper and ignore my phone for a moment more. Nothing good can come from anyone calling me right now.

I pull myself out of bed and stumble to the bathroom, peeling off my clothes while I fill the tub with the hottest water I can stand. The steam in the air has me wrinkling my nose at the musky smell of sex with a lingering tang of campfire. Smears of dried cum decorate my body.

I hiss when lowering myself into the water but moan at the instant relief of it. I’m lucky to have a tub in this apartment. My place isn’t bad, just tiny. I spend most of my time at the studio I rent down the block anyway.

I should have taken a bath when I’d gotten home to wash the scents from me. I may have to wash the covers of my bed if there’s even a trace of smokiness to them. I don’t want to remember anything about the target last night.

I catch sight of the purple-blue hue of the bruises on my knees, and the tears come to my eyes too quickly for me to stop them. I tilt my head back on the tub edge, blinking at the crack in the ceiling. Fuck him.

Last night was nothing and meant nothing. It was great sex with a jerk. If I let myself get bent out of shape over every one-night stand that turned out to be with an arrogant piece of shit, my heart would never recover.

The true loss is the memories that I’d wanted to treasure have been tainted with his words.

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