Page 40 of The Dragon With A Girl Tattoo
“What the hell?”I asked, pulling a tissue from a pocket to try to mop up the blood that leaked out of the slashes.“Who did this to you?”
Archer raised a hand.“Dragon hunters don’t normally shift, but my claws came out when Yrian broke two of my ribs.I apologize for that.No, Thaisa, don’t try to lift that arm.It’ll take me a bit to heal the ribs.”
“I thought the rules were made quite clear.No dragon form, just fists,” I said in a stiff tone directed at Archer, but as he was at that moment leaning back in his chair, a pained expression on his face while Thaisa mopped up various cuts and scrapes, I figured he was feeling the weight of his actions.
“Do not enrage yourself,” Yrian told me when I helped him over to a chair and poured him more wine.“It was not done maliciously.Did you enjoy the sporting?”
“Are you insane?”I asked him, still dabbing at his back, although thankfully, the blood had stopped, and the slashes were beginning to scab over.
“You admired me,” he said, his eyes glittering.“I saw you watching me.”
“I admired the way you and Annaliese worked, yes,” I answered, reluctant to discuss my emotions.“You made a good team.”
“I told you she was ruthless,” he agreed, his voice thick with satisfaction.“Why do you think you aren’t a mate?”
I stared at him in utter surprise for a moment.“You heard us talking?”
He nodded, draining the glass of wine.“You took my fire.You are a wyvern’s mate.”
“Look, I appreciate that you are sexy as all get-out, but I am not looking for a man.I have enough going on in my life to even think about trying to cope with a relationship, especially with a dragon.”
I could swear I saw a flash of pain in his eyes, but it was gone before I could be sure.I felt like the biggest heel in the world.
“That came out wrong,” I told him, wanting to apologize, but knowing my life was way too fraught with danger to consider even a brief fling with him.“It’s not anything to do with you, Yrian.You’re gorgeous, and quirky, and really, really interesting, but having the entire Otherworld after you tends to put a crimp on romance.Are you feeling better?Your back is healing.I hope those scratches won’t mess up your tattoo.”
He said nothing, just gave a slight grunt when he got to his feet, allowing me to help him put on his shirt and jacket.
“That went well, I think,” Allie said a few minutes later, when the combatants had recovered, and were more or less able to stand.“I hope everyone enjoyed themselves.”
“Other than adding more to our dentist’s retirement fund, Drake had a lovely time,” Aisling said, one arm around her dragon as he limped back into the castle.
“Baltic obviously had great fun until his brother pounced and did something to his shoulder.Gabriel, could you look at it, please?”
I glanced at Yrian.The faintest hint of a smile curled the corners of his lips.
“Bad dragon,” I told him softly, smiling to take the sting out of it.
“Yes,” he answered seriously, his brows pulling together.“But that is because the First Dragon had not yet conquered dragon fire when I was born.”
“Huh?”I would have asked him to explain—since he clearly had control of his fire—but at that moment Allie spoke, handing Ysolde the remaining bottle of dragon’s blood.
“Christian said you can use the library for your meeting.Since you don’t have to perform until six, Becket, that should give you ample time.”
“That’s nice, but I don’t have anything to do with the dragon stuff,” I said, following when the rest of the dragons (slowly, and with some stifled moaning) traipsed into the castle after Allie and Christian.
“You will attend with me,” Yrian said, surprising me by taking my hand in a firm grip.
“I’m not a dragon,” I pointed out, but allowed my inner narrator to squeal softly to herself over the hand-holding.“I have no reason to be there.”
His voice had a flinty edge to it that had me wondering if he was annoyed with me, or the deal his dad had agreed to with me.“The dragonkin owe you a debt.You will not be unwelcome.”
I had different ideas about how the other dragons would take me intruding on their private business, but figured they could set Yrian straight on that subject.
Allie paused at a set of engraved mahogany doors.“This is the library.Dinner will be after Becket’s band performs, but there’ll be snacks available in the lounge next door, in case anyone gets hangry.”
“I’m so full of salmon and feta, I couldn’t even think of more food,” Ysolde told her.“But I am taking pictures of everything to share with Pavel.He’s thinking of starting a food blog.”
“You dragons are so interesting,” Allie said, herding her children—who had appeared at the mention of snacks—ahead of her into the lounge.“You have so many interests.Vampires are pretty much only focused on saving other vamps.They definitely need more hobbies.”
