Page 56 of Hoarded By the Dragon

Ben is back to working on the tablet, there’s a notification sound, and both of his brows shoot up. “Speaking of. Apparently, Lorenzo has a daughter who is older than his heir.”

“They only just found that?”

Ben slides through the documents they just sent, and I see the file show up on my computer. I let Ben take the reins. He’s much better at speed reading than I am. “It was twenty-nine years ago. It looks to have been buried because the child took after her witch mother.”

It’s a rare phenomenon, but it does happen. I can only imagine how Lorenzo Leonid reacted.

Ben’s face pales, and his wide eyes meet mine, causing the dragon I keep suppressed to raise its head.

“What?” I ask.

“The daughter’s name is Stella Elderflower,” Ben breathes.

Fire travels through my limbs. My enemy has had direct access to Katarina from the beginning.

“Where is she?”Katarina is in danger.Fabric rips, and for this moment, my dragon and I are unified in a clear purpose. I’m up and taking long strides out of the room. I will find her. Her scent has imprinted on my soul.

Ben calls out behind me, trying to keep up. “I’m sure there’s an explanation—”

I don’t want an explanation. I need to deal with a threat to what’smine.

“WHERE IS MY MATE?”

20

KATARINA

“Are you passionate about charm making?”I ask, running my fingertip over the rim of my empty tea mug.

Stella frowns at me in confusion, putting her lemonade down on the table. We sit in the kitchen during a rare quiet moment between meals.

Maggie had given us a plate of cookies, flustered, before leaving with Jensen, Kalos’s silver-haired driver. Apparently, he’s been asking to take her to coffee for months now. I don’t know why she’s been resistant, the way she blushes when he’s around speaks volumes.

“I mean, does it make you happy?” I ask.

Stella shrugs. “Of course. I’m good at it and am able to help my clients in a way that others can’t. There are easier ways to make money, but I enjoy it and like being my own boss.”

I’m my own boss, and I can help clients in a way that others can’t…

“I don’t enjoy restoration.” It was easier to tell Kalos than it is to speak the truth now. Stella has been my friend since the beginning of my business. Constantly trying to keep me from overworking myself. Dragging me out of my studio even under deadline.

Stella blinks in surprise. “Really? But you’ve spent so many years building up your business and reputation. Oh, my gods, I thought—I assumed—gah! Why have you been working your fingers to the bone? Did you start out liking it?”

I swallow and shake my head. “I thought it was the best way to make up for all the things I stole.”

Stella’s mouth falls open. She closes it and shakes her head before continuing. “But you’ve been doing this foryears.”

And I still feel guilty.I don’t say the words, but Stella must decipher the emotions on my face.

“Oh, honey.” Her hand falls on mine and she squeezes it. “You can’t let mistakes you made years ago determine your future.”

If I hadn’t spoken to Kalos about this first, I’d probably have shaken off her words. As it is, I’ve been reflecting. I wouldn’t allow someone I care about to obsess over and feel unworthy because of past actions, so why am I doing that to myself?

Perhaps it’s as simple as having nothing else to focus on once I’d lost Nemo’s approval. I let guilt guide me into a new life, but allowed it to suck me under. I haven’t been restoring because it puts good into the world.

I’ve been punishing myself. And it ends now.

If I don’t decide that I’m worthy of happiness, what sort of life is that going to be for me? What sort of example is that going to set for my kid?

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