Page 9 of Dragon Blood

Everyone raised their glasses and sipped their champagne.

As the food was served, friendly conversations hummed around all three tables of old friends and new allies.

Astred and Kai ignored one another and eventually he was pulled into discussions with his mother and sister, and other guests on that half of the table. Across from her, Odson and Jonathan, Elora’s human husband, were also quietly engaged.

Astred picked at her food and drank another glass of champagne as her thoughts inevitably returned to Kai.

Her keen senses picked up every nuance of his voice, the deep familiarity of his scent, and brought up the bittersweet memories of their time together. Her dragon kept urging her to lean closer, to whisper his name and draw his attention in her direction so that he would see only her.

Every time the heartache rose, she swallowed it down with another sip.

I thought I’d never see him again. In all the world, of all the people, he has to show up here. Now.

Resentment soured her stomach.

He’s supposed to be on the other side of the world in his stuffy office, pushing papers.

This ismyworld.

Her gaze flicked to his hand, curled on the table next to his plate as he laughed at something Jori said.

Astred gripped her fingers together, resisting the overwhelming desire to slide her hand over his, to feel the strength of it once again.

To revel in the sensation of both of his hands roaming her body as hers explored his—as they had done over the years when they met up in various coastal ports.

She suppressed a smile, recalling the charity event they’d met at. A tall ships event which she and her crew had agreed to participate in, to raise ocean ecology awareness.

He was living in Shanghai then.

She glanced around as the plates were cleared away.

Thank fucking Goddess.

The last time she saw Kai was in Hong Kong, when she broke things off with him.

Does he still live there? Doesn’t matter, Red. It’s done.

She finished another glass.

Forever.

Chapter 5

Kaipeeledhimselfawayfrom the myriad guests, overwhelmed by the variety of scents; not just of the other dragons, but shifters of all types. Having lived in cities for the last few decades, senses dulled, he’d grown accustomed to human life, the familiarity of other shifters faded.

Queen Regina honored the guests with bottles of her signature sapphire wine toward the end of the meal. Rich, made of flavorful Aeleftherian fruit, and more potent than anything he’d ever imbibed in his life.

His head swam as he considered the constant flow of conversations with unfamiliar faces and names.

He was quite intrigued with their host, Carson Perenga, and his team of agents, which included his mate—the legendary Lirikai of the Barra’kidai, all under the overarching command of Jolena Kane. Nowshewas one that he couldn’t decipher, with an unfamiliar scent and a power signature as strong as Queen Regina’s.

He recalled the few stories his cousin Aaron had told him about working for Kane and the impression she left on those that worked for her.

Kai needed some fresh air, despite the event being held on the terrace.

His thoughts kept slipping back to Red, his gaze finding her at any point in the vicinity.

Not good, Kai.

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