Page 34 of Dragon Unleashed
“Oh damn. Really? What kind of disturbance?” I’m aterribleliar. Always have been. But with Aries’s life and my future on the line, I manage to conjure up a look I seriously hope conveys shock.
“Someone cut a chandelier down near the stairwell. Ted, Ned, and Zed are still looking for clues.” She cocks her head to the side. “You sure you’re okay? You’ve been up here the entire time?”
“Where else would I be?”
“Fair enough. I just wanted to make sure that whatever caused the disturbance is gone and not hiding up here.”
“Just me.” I force a smile even as the lie is toxic on my tongue. “Thank you for checking on me.”
“Anytime. Can you come down and help me do a walk-through? We can cover more ground if it’s the two of us. I called Mag, but he didn’t answer. Fucker’s probably drinking to avoid admitting what a disappointment his life has become.”
“Sure. Let me just run to the bathroom. It’s where I was headed when you knocked. Meet you downstairs in five?”
I’m about to shut the door when Blossom presses her hand to it. Her eyes narrow. “What’s that smell?”
“Smell?” I swallow hard.
She sniffs then gives me a look that makes my heart trip over itself. “You have company in there?”
“What company would I possibly have? The only person I hang out with in this place is you.”
She looks unconvinced, so I add, “The gnomes brought me this weird incense with my last supply order.”
“Huh.” She looks mildly placated.
“You’re welcome to come in and see it, but didn’t you need me to help you do that walk-through?”
There. The glint in her eyes shifts back to the problem at hand, and I know I’ve effectively distracted her. For now.
“I’ll meet you downstairs, but hurry up. And watch your back.”
“Will do.” I shut the door behind her then turn around and nearly run smack dab into Aries’ massive chest. “What the hell, Aries.”
“You are not going out there.” His tone is sharp and leaves no room for argument.
“Excuse me? You do not get to order me around.” I take a step back and place both hands on my hips so I can glare up at him. Given our height difference, I have to crane my neck, but I manage.
His eyes are narrowed on me. Azure pools that I could drown in should I just allow myself to take the leap. “It is not safe. You’re not leaving this apartment unaccompanied.”
“And just what do you expect me to say to Blossom? ‘Oh, sorry, B, my new dragon overlord has decided I’m not trustworthy enough to step foot outside of my house without him.’ Yeah, that’s going to go over real well.” I shove past him and move into my bedroom. I don’t have to turn around to know he followed me.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as every nerve in my body fires at once. He’s directly behind me, his body so close I could lean back and rest against him.
“You could have died tonight.”
“Yeah. And we will both die if I don’t get my ass out there and look normal.” I turn to face him. “Blossom has my back. Plus, the gnomes. Not to mention Bingo. Whatever is out there will be outnumbered.”
Aries’s nostrils flare, and he growls. Low and deep, it vibrates through me even though we’re not touching. Heat pools between my legs, lust burning a hole through me.
“No.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do, Aries. If I don’t go down there, she’s going to know something is up and come looking. Do you want her to find you? Want her to kill you before we have a chance to get you home? Because that isexactlywhat she will do.”
“If my death means you survive, then I will gladly be that sacrifice.”
I stare at him, trying to decipher whether he’s serious. But one look at the blue flames burning in his gaze and I know he is. A dragon I’ve known barely a day is willing to die for me. A strange feeling ripples through me, settling in my chest before I can figure out what it is. Nor do I want to know. In fact, none of my feelings have any place here.
He’s probably suffering from Stockholm Syndrome or some shit. Being confined to a tiny apartment cannot be easy for a beast used to flying free.
