Page 10 of Taming
Perfect.
The ideas of what my future could be begin to flood my thoughts. I’ve never been able to make it too far. Our Kingdom is enormous. I started on the coast in the city of Warf and five years later I’m just now in the heart of the Kingdom. If I could put space between Kreedence and me, I know I’d finally feel safe. If I could travel farther north, I’d never have to worry about him finding me. I’d never have to worry about anything.
The shaking of the carriage comes to a halt, pulling me from my thoughts. The sleek and glossy door opens, and the footman lifts his hand to me for assistance. Before I can even step out, Kain and Chaos shove past me and run to our quaint little run-down shack.
A tired sigh makes my shoulders slump. I place my hand in his, and the man helps me from the cabin while Rime waits stoically. Only when I look back at him does he leap down. Dust billows around his white scales, but he doesn’t take a step forward until I do. He keeps a quiet pace with me, and I keep a slow pace with the solid tote the men carry in for me. The two men give the hellhound lounging near my door a shifting look. Grim’s crimson eyes follow their movements, but he doesn’t so much as lift his lazy head. I bend and push my fingers through his coarse hair, making his eyes close slowly at the feel of my soothing touch.
I follow behind my money. The King’s men set the tote just inside my home, and the moment the door shuts behind the men, I’m already pulling out the money. For a moment, I just let my fingers skim over the neatly stacked parchels. There’s an inviting smell that accompanies the bundles of money.
Who knew wealthy had a scent?
Mmm. It smells like crisp paper and long-lost dreams.
I shove harshly at the first several stacks and try my best to push as many bundles into my emergency bag as possible.
Then I struggle to pull the heavy tote across the room. It’s weighted despite its small size. It cries with the sound of wood dragging across old boards as I stumble and tug it over to the corner. I pull at the corner floor board, and the loose panel pops free. Rime wanders over to me as I begin the quiet task of stacking up the money in a long line in the empty compartment beneath my floor.
Rime sits in front of me, his head tilting as I work. I look up at him from time to time, but I keep myself busy for the most part. When the money is stacked as high as the flooring, I call it a day and grab the board. I push it in place, but it won’t settle back in. My jaw clenches as I shove hard, but the money beneath the board pushes right back.
I huff in annoyance and put all my weight into shoving the flooring back into place.
“Dammit.” The curse snaps from my mouth while I fight the little piece of wood.
Dark locks of my hair fan against my lips as I heave in deep breaths.
Rime tips his head low, meeting my eyes, and when I finally focus on him, his scales shimmer oddly against the firelight. My eyes narrow on the glistening tint that’s rolling across his body. Right before my eyes, his white scales and wide wings transform in a puff of pale smoke. It fumes thickly around us like a fire smolders somewhere within the animal. Where a curious dragon with beautiful eyes was just sitting, kneels a sexy and incredibly naked man.
“Oh. My. Fuck.” My eyes grow wide and my feet try to move, but the most I can manage is to stumble back until my ass hits the floor.
“It’ll probably close if you just removed one of the several stacks of money.” His pale blond hair falls into his eyes as he nods to me. The sharp lines of his features are entirely serious.
The rumbling tone of his words threatens to steal my breath away, taking my voice and all rational thought with it.
His skin is pale and smooth, casting shadows down the hard lines of his arms, stomach, and thighs. I force myself not to look at the one part of him that really piques my curiosity.
Shit. Too late.
Goddess, is every inch of this man perfect?
“You’re…” Images drill through my mind. Clear images of the pretty white dragon swirling into an apparition of the sexy man who now sits before me. “You’re a shifter.” I’ve heard of them, but I’ve never met one. I just assumed the men who turned to animals were a sort of fairytale. It appears I was wrong.
I can’t reveal my magic. Not yet. Very slowly, I reach up, my fingers fumbling until the knife on the countertop is in my grasp.
His crystal-clear eyes drift to the weapon in my hand.
“So, you weren’t afraid of a dragon, but a man terrifies you?” His steady tone is filled with condescension.
If he knew the men who had been in my life, he’d understand. Not that I owe this stranger an explanation.
“Animals are kind for the most part. People can be cruel. And men, don’t even get me started.”
“You tried to sell me an hour ago. Let’s not throw stones while you’re living in a very fragile glass shack.”
My brow cocks at this arrogant man.
Nerves fire through my body as fear trickles in, but I keep my hands steady with a look of total composure.
“The other two, they’re shifters too?” I nod toward Chaos and Kain who are ripping apart a loaf of bread on the floor.
