Page 95 of To Match A Dragon's Fire

“We talked about this. I need to show the dragon clan representatives that you are not to be harmed.”He sounded distant and hurried.“Is anyone messing with you? I’ll be there in two minutes.”

“I’m fine.”I hoped he couldn’t hear the white lie as the truck doors opened and Hillary stepped out.

Of all the days for her to show up…

“Get Harper back inside,” I told Willow, moving to block them from view.

“I will definitely stab her for you,” Riley muttered as I stepped in front of her too.

“Sorry if I came at a bad time.” Hillary had her hands in the air as she walked up the dirt driveway. The driver’s side door opened and Fergus climbed out.

“Hey Ember!” He waved. “You look real pretty today. What’s the occasion?”

“Thanks.” I gave a short wave back, confused as to what was going on.

Hillary’s lips were pressed into a thin line, but she forced a smile as she got closer. “How are you doing?”

I’d be better if I wasn’t talking to you.“I know you didn’t come all this way to ask that. Why are you here?” I folded my arms over my chest.

Hillary faltered for a second, but regained her balance, turning up the smile. “I just wanted to check if you’d seen Tony since he came back to town.”

Oh no.Wait… “Back to town?”

“Yeah.” She huffed like we were both in on the same joke. “He packed up his stuff and said that he was leaving. Turned his badge in. Resigned his post. I just wasn’t sure if he came back to you or if he was gone, gone this time.”

I narrowed my eyes, reading between the lines. “He left town. And you?”

“It’s fine.” She waved it off like I was concerned, smiling over her shoulder at Fergus. “We don’t need him.”

Gag me.“Nope. No Tony here.” I gritted my teeth, turning to leave and hoping she’d get the hint that it was time for her to go, too.

“I figured.” Hillary sighed, cocking her hip as she stayed where she was. “Listen, I know we’ve had our problems, but I think we should try to be friends.We’ve both been screwed by the same guy. It was his idea to keep taking your money, since he knew you weren’t coming back anytime soon.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, begging for patience because I was about to lose my shit.

“Does this have something to do with the dragon?” I asked.

“Of course not,” Hillary stuttered. “I just thought… Since you’re living here again… We…”

“You thought wrong.” I stepped forward, making her stumble back. “And if you ever step on my property uninvited again, I’ll shoot you. Do you understand?”

“I…” Hillary’s eyes widened as she took another step away.

I didn’t need to look up to feel the dragon in the sky behind me.“What is this?”

“Handled.”I smiled at Hillary. “It’s time for you to leave.”

“I think she’s right,” Fergus called. “Get in the truck, Hill. We’ll see you later, Ember. Come by the bar sometime and we’ll give you a proper homecoming.”

I was still shaking my head as the trucks peeled out of the driveway and tested their suspensions bumping down the dirt road as fast as they could go.

“Aren’t you supposed to be dressed?”I raised my chin, staring at the powerful dragon that still hovered in the sky.

He growled, making black smoke billow from his nostrils as he turned tail.“I’ll be waiting for you at the altar, my love.”

∞

This wasn’t a wedding in the traditional sense of the word, but it had most of the same elements. Wood folding chairs lined the back veranda, facing an arched gazebo of flowers and vines erected for this day.

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