Page 88 of To Ignite a Dragon's Desire

Not that I minded her little show of jealousy.

My dragon was quite pleased with it.

“Usually they’re worse.” I chuckled.

We headed to the edge of the wards surrounding their cast circle. Kieran and I wouldn’t be able to shift to our dragon form until we crossed the boundary.

It wasn’t the first time I wondered if I had the ability to rearrange their wards with mine, but I didn’t want to make enemies of witches while I tested the theory out.

Riley skipped ahead a little faster.

“What now?” I held to her hand.

“Nothing.” She turned, batting her eyelashes as the moon lit up her beautiful face. “It’s just that I’m magic.”

You sure are.My dragon grinned.

I was anxious to get her away from here and safely back to Kieran—er, Ember’s—territory. It wasn’t as safe as our nest, but I could shift to my true form there at will.

Riley stopped in the clearing, looking over my shoulder to where Willow walked slowly behind us. I’d carried the two of them here in my talons because unlike Kieran, I wasn’t reckless and wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a saddle.

“I hope Morgana is right,”Riley told me.“Willow deserves someone, too.”Sadness drifted through our bond as my mate watched her friend walk alone on the moonlit path.

33

Riley

Fingers Crossed

“It’s both of us,” I whispered, sitting on the front porch next to Ember as we sipped our morning cups of coffee. “We abandoned her.”

“I’ve been right over there and we have dinner at least once a week…” Ember’s voice trailed off as she rocked in the old wooden chair. Her eyes were on Kieran’s house across the yard, but her brow furrowed in thought. “Crap. You’re right. I haven’t been paying attention.”

I knew it was neither of our faults—we’d each been so caught up in our own lives—but Willow and Harper had been left alone for the most part.

It killed me to think that.

Willow was the caring one who always mothered Ember and me both. She sacrificed herself to make sure we had everything we needed.

If anyone deserved to find their fated mate, it was her.

I kept my fingers literally and metaphorically crossed that Malachy would show up, they’d be an instant match, we’d fix the apocalypse somehow, and all live happily ever after.

Hey? A girl could dream.

Stranger things had happened anyway.

“She might not want us around soon,” Ember laughed as she sipped her coffee.

“Keep your voice down,” I whispered. “You know she can hear everything.”

A loud sound behind us, like a chair moving across the wood floor in the cabin, preceded the door opening.

“Are we almost ready?” Willow poked her head out. Her eyes were glossy and wide. She hadn’t slept a wink.

And I knew she’d heard us.

Double crap.

---