Page 48 of Been There Dragon That
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, so that she was pressed tightly to his chest. And then he let his dragon purr. It soothed her because they were mates. Her soul glowed for him. She shimmered with magick, and she would glow until he marked her. Until they were bonded.
“I know you don’t believe me yet. But I do believe with my whole being that you are the woman meant to be my soulmate. This cabin is meant to beourhome. I couldn’t buy things for myself, beyond the most essential items because I wanted you to feel like this would be our home together.”
“But I’m a stranger. You didn’t know I would come to Mystery. How can you believethat?”
He released her body and cupped her face, tilting her chin up. Her eyes were still wide, but they weren’t fearful any longer. She always calmed when he touched her.
“Fate told me you were coming. So I waited.”
A single solitary tear rolled down her cheek, ripping a hole in his heart. He wiped it away and leaned closer, putting his forehead against hers. “You were scared when I told you, but as soon as I touched you and held you in my arms your fear disappeared.”
Her breathing slowed, and she put her free hand over one of his. Her other hand still held the blanket closed around her chest.
She didn’t push him away. Instead, she tucked her feet around the backs of his legs, holding him close.
He leaned and touched his forehead to hers again, giving her more contact. “Think about it.”
“I don’t understand it. It doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s magick, Rylee. It’s Fate.”
“Magick isn’t real, Wrath. It’s just stories people tell. It’s fantasy.” Her words were denying the connection. Her voice broke every other syllable, but her fingers gripped his wrist with all the strength in her body, like she was afraid he’d evaporate into thin air.
“And if I could prove to you it was real? What would you say?” He could show her right now. He could tell her everything in this moment and lay his secrets at her feet, but would she run? Would telling her now ruin everything?
He wasn’t sure.
The shrill ring of his cell phone broke the moment.Dalmeck!
She pulled away, breaking contact.
Fuck.This wasn’t a good place to leave the discussion, but with all the break-ins lately, he couldn’t leave Aarav on his own if something had happened.
He turned and picked up his cell from the counter, Aarav’s name flashed on the screen. “It’s Aarav.”
“Of course.” She flashed him a fake smile, slid down from the counter and walked around to the other side of the counter. Away from him. She was putting distance between them now, and it made his fire rise.
“Sheriff,” he said, his tone pissed and impatient but polite.
“They hit again, Wrath. I need you to meet me. It’s Leif.” Aarav’s voice was somber and strained. Something had happened. Something terrible. His teeth ground together painfully. The hits kept coming with this group. He wished he could patrol the town as a dragon. He’d find them in no time, and that would be the end of them.
“Aarav, what happened?”
“Come down to the Gas & Go, now.” The finality in Aarav’s voice said everything.
Leif was a nice old man who ran the gas station and mechanic shop on the south side of town. He’d lived in Mystery his whole life and from what Wrath had heard, he’d been particularly kind to the Reyleans when they’d arrived in Mystery. Ryan Berkley wouldn’t be the only angry vengeful person in town after word got out that he’d been killed. His stomach rolled. There were enemies pushing closer. The town was under attack. His mate was being threatened. He took a deep breath and pushed through the heat and anger welling in his chest.
“I can’t leave Rylee. Not with—”
“Take her to the alpha’s. She’ll be safe with Naomi. There’s work to do, Wrath, before the town finds out what happened.” Aarav hung up, not giving him any time for argument.
“I’m going to take you over to Naomi’s to stay until I get back. Something’s happened in town.” He put the phone back on the counter.
“What happened? Was it—”
“No, it’s the thieves we’ve been tracking through town. They killed someone.”
She glanced toward the hallway, toward the bedroom. Then back to him. She looked so small at that moment. So scared. “Can’t I stay with you? I could stay in your truck.”
