Page 73 of To Ignite a Dragon's Desire

Shaking my head, I took a step back. And then another. My heart was pounding and my hands were shaking. I needed—

“Riley!” The bellowed roar preceded the sound of an explosion.

I stepped out of the bathroom to a blast of heat and flying splinters of drywall and doorframe.

Shadows seemed to race toward me, causing a cooling breeze that pushed the debris away and created a cocoon of safety in the storm that was his anger, reacting to mine.

Lucan!

Every part of my body relaxed upon seeing him marching through the ruins of the hotel room. Rage swirled in the shadows that danced around him, but compassion for me burned in his turquoise eyes.

“Are you hurt?” And that was his first question.

Not what was I doing here or why did I leave.

It took everything in me not to sag into his arms as he crossed the room in two long strides, closing the distance between us and gripping me by the shoulders.

I shook my head in answer to his question.

I couldn’t speak.

My throat burned from screaming and I was still in shock about what I’d done.

Lucan gathered my hands in his and pressed them against his chest, nodding as if he didn’t need to hear my words toknow.

His lips brushed against my forehead as he whispered, “Wait outside.”

I let his strength take this one and my feet obeyed, carrying me to what was left of the door.

“There she is! Riley!” Ember screamed as she hopped out of the Bronco. Willow was right beside her. The two of them left the vehicle doors open in the parking lot as they raced toward me.

The ground shook when Kieran’s dragon landed on the road behind them.

An angry roar came from the hotel room.

I kept moving forward in a numb daze.

“Are you all right?” Ember cried.

Willow pulled me to her chest. “What happened? Why didn’t you call?”

Some of their worry seeped through the numbness and I forced another smile, patting their arms as I found my voice again. “So… I didn’t get around to changing my number and then I sort of broke my phone.”

“This isn’t your fault,” Willow said in her motherly tone that left no room for argument. “Don’t you dare blame yourself for him coming here.”

“I don’t.” When I stepped away from their loving embrace, I let them see the truth in my eyes. “I didn’t deserve this. I never did. And hopefully, I won’t ever have to deal with it again.”

“Wait, where are you going? Come with us to the Bronco. We’ll go to the cabin where it’s safe.” Ember reached out to keep me in the friend huddle.

Willow put her hand on Ember’s shoulder, holding her steady as I started to back up. “Give her a minute. Riley needs some time alone.”

I gave Willow a real smile, hoping she’d see my gratitude for everything they’d done, before I turned and walked away.

28

Lucan

Indigestion

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