Page 9 of Taming
“What if I gave you half now, half after they’ve been delivered, and you buy me dinner?” Another step is taken, and his hips are fully in line with mine now, settled heavily against me but not deterring my determination in this deal in the slightest.
Half now, half later, and he gets a bologna sandwich out of the deal.
And I get a lifetime of security.
“It’s a deal.” I nod and step abruptly back from him and his warming body heat.
His hands raise from his sides as if he’s not sure what the fuck just happened.
“I’ll wait for John to bring me my payment.”
The handsome Prince’s face falls as he studies the dirt between us. He looks dejected. Guilt tries to root its way into my stomach, but I shove that feeling aside.
My ex was a handsome man. A deceiving man. I was in love with him. Or at least a form of love. But who he was on the surface wasn’t who he was when the world was not watching. And so, I’ll live alone. I’ll live in poverty. But I’ll never put my heart out there again.
Because sometimes, more than just your heart gets broken.
Sometimes, the people you care about most get hurt. Hurting them hurts more than anything else.
“John, John.” I beckon the guard over and, on uncertain and slow steps, he dawdles toward us. “John, the Prince needs you to run and bring me exactly seven hundred and fifty thousand parchels.” I nod as I speak quickly. “If you could get that in small, spendable bills that’d be really appreciated, John.”
John’s dark eyes shift from me to his Prince and back again.
“Arlow, I can’t just give out that kind of money. The expense will have to be approved. It’ll take a day or two at least.”
A day or two… I don’t have any food at home. I have three dragons who might eat me themselves if I don’t have food for them.
“Oh.” I bite my lip as my eyes shift toward the ground. “Of course.” My voice is tiny and only slightly calculating. “I suppose I’ll have to try to search for roadkill along my hike home to feed my little darlings tonight.” A short and awkward smile perches against my lips. “It was three miles into town, did you know that? Surely, I can find something on that long journey home, right?” My head bobs with a continuous nod, but I don’t give up the act just yet. “The upside is I don’t have to worry about being mugged on that long trek back home because I have absolutely nothing to my name.Noth-ing.”
Did I lay it on a little strong?
His full lips part and he reaches out to me, but Kain snaps at the affectionate touch before he ever reaches my fingertips. The palm of his hand pulls back as if he didn’t intend to comfort me at all.
“Arlow.” My name is a long sigh on his lips. “I—I can get ten thousand without question. Let me at least give you ten thousand today. Because we’re friends.” At the word ‘friends’ he tilts his head down, trying to peer into my line of sight.
Friends …
Now is not the time to tell him I avoid friendships and relationships of any kind.
I’ll keep that little detail to myself.
Chapter Three
The Transformation
My journey home is a bit more lavish than my hike into town. The royal carriage bumps and bustles, and I sit with my bare and dusty feet kicked up on the navy cushioned bench across from me. I peer past the silky curtain of the back window once again to check on the petite tote there. Ten thousand parchels. Let’s repeat that once more, shall we?Ten. Thousand. Parchels.
You know that fluttering feeling your heart gets when someone attractive locks eyes with you? That’s how I feel right now every time I look at that little tote.
A content sigh slips over my lips and Chaos nuzzles his warm head into my lap. He’s sweet when he’s tired. My fingers push absently back and forth across the smooth scales of his head and deep purring emits from his throat.
On the opposite bench, Kain and Rime watch the trees pass out the window.
For once, they’re being good. They’re the good boys I always try to talk them into being.
“I’m going to miss you,” I whisper sweetly to the quiet cabin. None of them acknowledges the sentiment, and I shake my head as I roll my eyes at the little assholes.
We stopped twice while in town. An overflowing basket of bread and cake rests near my leg and what is now the tattered remains of fresh roast litters the floor. Kain and Chaos ripped it apart the moment I sat it down.
