Page 11 of The Black Dragon
By the main course, Ariel tried to steer him toward another topic, one of shared interest. She lowered her voice so the others could not hear. “Father tells me you have also researcheddragons.”
Parker looked thoughtful. “I havesome interest in dragons and their ability to wield magick. In my research, I have found some dragons can emit electrical pulses that provide sources of energy for abeneficiary.”
Here was something fascinating. Ariel leaned forward. “Dotell.”
As Parker continued to talk, she listened with intent. Though he revealed nothing new she hadn’t already found in the ancient books of Magemagick, it was interestingenough.
He wasn’t a bad person. She’d met worse. Her father’s assistant, Dell, was worse. After Justin’s escape last year, Dell had flown into such a rage that he’d lashed out at Ariel, hitting her and sending her toppling backwards into a wall. She’d been fine, but Leo fired him on the spot. The last she heard, Dell was working for a prestigious group of Magesbackeast.
Parker really wasn’t a badman.
Except he was so obvious. He licked his lips as if she were as tasty as the roast. Her brief hope that they could make this work turned todust.
I’m being sold like cattle. But what other choice do Ihave?
After dinner, Leo brought Mr. and Mrs. Covington into the living room fordrinks.
“Why don’t you take Parker upstairsto see your room?” Leo toldher.
Dear goddess, why didn’t her father all but suggest she leap into bed with Parker? But Ariel trotted dutifully upstairs, carrying Parker’sgift.
Maybe she could show him the other rooms, hint about how the house would make a suitable home for hisparents.
But Parker had no interest in seeing the other bedrooms. He looked around her room andthen took the framed photo of them and set it on herdresser.
“There. Now I’ll be in your bedroom all the time and you can dream of me.” He smiled at her as he drew her into hisarms.
Ariel tried to relax as she shut her eyes. His kiss felt more brotherly than anything, just a peck on her lips. It sparked no passion, didn’t heat her blood and make her senses sing. Not likeJustin’s.
“That was nice,” Parker said in a huskyvoice.
Ariel plasteredThe Smileback on her face. “Let’s join theothers.”
When the Covingtons drove off in their sleek gray Mercedes, she plopped back into her chair with a weary sigh. The air smelled like Parker’s cologne – fruity and overbearing. Better than sweat, shesupposed.
“Any luck convincing his parents to buy thehouse?” sheasked.
Leo shook his head. “They don’t want this house. It’s too far away from thecity.”
Her hopes crushed, she sighed. “If they bought it, we’d be financiallyset.”
“I already contacted a real estate agent to put the house on the market and price it right. She has an interested buyer coming in from the East who wants to look at it this week.” Leo stroked hisgraying beard, his gaze distant. “The proceeds from the sale will pay off the loan, and I’ll put the money into a trust fund for yourchildren.”
Her children. Not her. He planned her life, and the lives of her futureoffspring.
“Father, I don’t want to marry Parker. I have a job, I can support you andme…”
Leo shook his head. “Ariel, your job will barely pay for the electricity.I need to secure your future beforeI…”
His mouth compressed. She knew what he would say, same thing he’d been saying for more than ayear.
Before Idie.
Ever since Justin, the black dragon, had escaped, Leo had brooded about dying and worried about what would happen to Ariel once he did. He’d stopped trying to catch other dragons and focused on securing her futureinstead.
Oh, he would live another fifty years at least. But he could not stop talking about what would happen toher.
“Father, it’s been more than a year. No one is coming afteryou.”
