Page 42 of Been There Dragon That
“Wrath.”
He tamped down his dragon and turned to Aarav. “I’m taking Rylee back to my cabin. Would you update everyone on the situation?”
“Of course, but what are we doing?”
“This suspect is from a previous relationship she’s fleeing. He’s stalking my mate. He’s already tried to kill her once. It’s where she got her current injuries.”
Aarav’s cat rumbled in his chest. The lion shifter was a protective son of a bitch, and Wrath knew he had him on his side. Aarav’s mate had been through hell in her past—injured at the hands of cruel men.
“Whatever you need. Just say it.”
“Thank you.” He took Rylee and headed toward his vehicle. He still didn’t know all the details, and she owed him every single one. After he made sure she was calm and safe and satisfied.
ChapterThirteen
Rylee
Her thoughts were like pinballs trapped in a bumper room.
She wasn’t safe. She couldn’t go home. Endangering her parents or Ayla again was out of the question. This was her problem. She was putting everyone in danger here, too. Where would she go? She’d have to drive back to Anchorage. What would stop Jeff and his hit-and-run assassin from running her off the road?
One of the pinballing thoughts whispered that maybe the big man claiming he could protect her—could. He might be the only one.
The other choice was running. Again. And then again.
When would Jeff stop chasing her?
Rylee didn’t say a word the whole ride through town. Not until they were through the big gate and meandering their way along the gravel road toward his cabin. And then she finally chose to trust that little whisper.
“The man in the SUV was the same man that hit me with his car back in Dallas.”
Wrath didn’t respond. He parked the squad vehicle right in front of his door. Got out of the car like he usually did, came around and got her out of the passenger seat and carried her inside.
She didn’t argue. He’d said not to and if she was being really and truly honest with herself, she liked the closeness. She liked that he carried her. It made her feel protected. Those moments when she was wrapped in his arms, she knew she was safe. She had a real-life romance novel hero who insisted on sweeping her off her feet.
Her feet were wobbly right now. Everything felt like it was swirling. It was good to be carried.
He kicked the door shut behind him and went straight to the bedroom. Sat her on the bed and then knelt on the floor in front of her where he proceeded to pull off the boots Naomi had lent her.
“I didn’t see Jeff in the SUV.”
“Tell me why the crystal bird was so frightening. I understand the threat written on the mirror.” His big hands enveloped one of her feet and started massaging and kneading the tension that held her in a vise all the way down to her toes. “Those are words from the human marriage vows. But the bird scared you worse.”
Panic wrapped its fingers around her throat. That’s what the bird meant—be afraid. It meant suffocation and control and death, like the words on the mirror.
“He gave me little crystal birds as gifts. The whole time we were together, but none of them were ever in a cage. It was a message. A threat. It was him telling me what he’s going to do to me.”
Wrath moved to her other foot, working the knots until the tension bled away. “Tell me all of it.”
Rylee took a deep breath and looked down at the giant man at her feet. Jeff wouldn’t have ever knelt in front of her. He didn’t even kneel to propose. Tears welled up and ran down her cheeks.
“Shuarra. Tell me.” He ran a hand up her calf and back down. Gently. Coaxing. He wasn’t being pushy or rough about it, but she knew he wanted the whole story. And he deserved it. Even if it sent him away from her.
She could run too.
She could call her dad and make a run for the airport in Anchorage. She could hide somewhere else. Maybe Europe. But the thought of leaving Wrath made the tears flow a little faster. It wasn’t like he belonged to her. Sure, he said she washis.He said she was his fated mate–but it still sounded like fantasy talk to her.
“My family is well known in Texas—influential. So is Jeff’s. It was a good match, politically. His goal was to move into politics, run for office.”
