Page 59 of To Ignite a Dragon's Desire

I scooped Dobby up as he made a beeline straight for the dangling string, scolding myself for letting the cat inside.

He hissed at me.

I hissed back, laughing.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket and I dug it out with one hand, kicking the door to Lucan’streasure hoardclosed behind me.

Dobby bolted to freedom and I was still giggling as I pressed the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Sounds like I’m interrupting something fun.”

A stone sank to the pit of my stomach at hearing Drew’s voice.

My smile fell.Stupid, Riley!

“Don’t hang up,” he said.

I was going to be sick.

Slowly, I pulled the phone away from my ear.

“If you hang up, I’ll have to drive to the cabin to see you.”

I froze with my finger hovering over the ‘end call’ button.

Tendrils of fear laced their way around my neck and squeezed. I pressed the speaker button instead.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do.” His laugh was raspy and harsh, nothing like Lucan’s deep-chested rumble. It brought back old, disgusting memories.

That laughter. I hated it. Hated him.

“Good plan you girls had getting out of the city before they locked it down. It took me weeks to get out myself. I had to tell them my fiancé was waiting for me here in the mountains.”

Vomit rose up my throat. “I’m not your fiancé.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, remembering the night I’d left. The one where he told me we were getting married. My life had flashed before my eyes and it was horrible. I’d said I was leaving.

He didn’t take it well.

And I took a fist to the face.

I’d never thought he’d go that far—far enough to leave bruises where people could see them.

A few hours later, after he’d cried and apologized, I slipped an Ambien into his soda and called Ember to pick me up.

“I get it now,” Drew said. “I was coming on too strong. But you’ve always known that you’re it for me, babe. We can wait a few months if you need more time to get on board with a wedding.”

Time. Just like Lucan and this mating mark…

No. It wasn’t.

The voice in my head was a liar.

It was my instincts I was supposed to trust.

Because I’d been together with Drew for years and I still didn’t want to be his wife. But I’d only known Lucan for a few short weeks and I already felt it deep in my soul that he was the one.

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