Page 25 of Kenna's Dragon

“It’s what I want,” I tell him, still with that bright smile that’s making my cheeks hurt. “So, see you around, I guess.”

Blair, apparently with no desire to say anything else, just nods. Taking that as my cue to go, I turn and head to the door before I can make any more life-ruining mistakes.

13

Blair

My office still smells like Kenna Byrne.

Even three days later, her scent lingers in the air. With each deep inhale I’m reminded of the taste of her, the press of her warm, willing body against mine.

It’s distracting as hell, but I don’t know what to do about it other than ignore it and wait for it to fade.

I need to let it fade. I need to forget about it. I need to stop looking for her each morning when I walk through the lobby and stop checking the Bureau chat software to see when she’s online.

I also need to send the suit I wore that day in for dry cleaning. Iwillsend the suit I was wearing for dry cleaning. The fact that it’s still hanging in the back of my closet, bringing the faintest whiff of her into my home, doesn’t mean anything at all.

None of it does.

I’m not sure what’s more pathetic, spending the last three days covertly savoring the scent of her, or lying to myself about doing it.

Because as hard as I try and as much as I want to, no part of me can stop thinking about Kenna Byrne.

Still, knowing how precarious all of this is, and understanding what the consequences for myself and the Bureau still might be, I at least need to try to keep my distance. Besides, it’s what Kenna implied herself, isn’t it? The kiss was a mistake. All of this was a mistake, and one that we have absolutely no business repeating or dwelling on.

Thursday morning rolls around, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. I haven't seen her. I haven't spoken to her. I’ve done everything I can to put her out of my mind completely.

Well, at least until I find a meddling kraken waiting for me in my office when I arrive.

“Remind me to have your visitor’s pass revoked,” I grumble to Elias as I store my coat in the closet—the same closet where Kenna tried to fix herself up after I made such a mess of her—and sit down at my desk.

Elias just smirks at me, looking completely at home in the space where he knows full well he’s always welcome to stop by for a visit.

Once upon a time, Elias and I shared an office. Back in the early days of Morgan-Blair Enterprises, well over a century ago, when we’d both dedicated our lives to building a company founded and run by paranormal creatures of all types.

Elias is at the helm of the company now after my departure a few decades back, and has taken Morgan-Blair to heights we never could have imagined all those years ago. He’s also taken the truth about the company and those who work there from the shadows into the light. He’s deftly guided it forward through immense obstacles, and in defiance of those who’d rather not do business with a monster-run organization.

Building Morgan-Blair with him was good work, meaningful work, work that felt like atoning after the era of our lives that had come before. The one that cost me my mate.

Though our paths have woven together and apart over the two and a half-centuries we’ve known each other, and though we still carry some of those shadows between us, I count Elias Morgan as my closest friend.

Regardless, it doesn’t mean I’m thrilled to see the kraken this morning. Especially considering how well he’s always able to read me, and given the fact it was his doorstep I plunked Kenna down on Friday night.

Elias, the smug bastard that he is, inhales deeply and arches a brow at me “New cologne?”

“What do you want, Elias?”

He shrugs. “Can’t I just stop by for a friendly chat?”

“Thought you were too busy for that these days.”

“Fair enough. My free time has been in shockingly short supply these past six months.”

Though I grumble a little at that, it’s with no true malice. Of all the things I could gripe at Elias about, him finding his happiness with Nora will never be one.

“Something else interesting about having a mate,” Elias goes on with a knowing tone to his voice, “is that she introduced me to her friends. One in particular who I think you might—”

“If you’re here to lecture me about Kenna Byrne, you can save your breath.”

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