Page 10 of The Mating Claim
The faster Drust could convince Lacey to hand over the book, thebetter.
Or they would, as Caderyn put it, could kiss everything they loved and their immortality good-bye.
Chapter 3
Two hoursafter Drust left her, Lacey finally got herself together. She drove home and took a long, hot shower, crying beneath the spray, getting out all the toxic emotions bottled insideher.
My daddy’s dead. And I never formally methim.
Staring at herself in the mirror, she tried to see herself as her father had during that brief meeting when he’d given her the Book of Shadows. At the time, she had not realized the importance of thatmeeting.
If only I had known who hewas.
If only I had taken more time withhim!
When she emerged from the bathroom, her body and eyes dry, resolve replaced grief. Regrets were a waste of time. All her life she’d had to fight to survive. Today was nothing less than what she’dexpected.
Foolish dream, to think she could find her father and have a real relationship with him. In the kitchen, she put a small chicken breast on the skillet, barely searing it. Dragons, like other shifters, required rare meat once a month to retain their powers and she’d been remiss in ensuring her body had adequatefuel.
Hard to afford real meat when sales at the shop had been sagging, and the bills kept mounting. She had no real income, but for her part-time job at the restaurant. Her first paycheck had been deposited in the bank, and she bought the food her body needed as a dragon. But the rent on her store was due and she didn’t haveit.
After eating, she felt stronger. But not strong enough. Too long she’d gone without adequatenutrition.
Lacey did the dishes and braced her hands on the sink, staring out the window at her expansive back yard. She should open the shop and start her digital sales campaign for this month’s sale on herbs. Tara Wilmington, her friend and the owner of Treats & Eats Coffee Shop next door, requested Lacey pick out a special children’s book for the tots weekly reading session. Lacey adored reading to the little ones, and Tara, a witch, even started a separate group for Other children to encourage them in their yet-undiscoveredabilities.
Her passion for helping kids had to be balanced with the dismal reflection of her bank account, though. But she’d be damned if she said no to those kids simply because she was flat broke. Somehow, she’d find the time for Tara’skids.
Thinking of all those shining faces – the future dragon shifters, Lupines, witches and Mages – who sat in rapt attention as she relayed tales and adventures of flying as dragon, she vowed she’d find the timesomehow.
For now, she had to shake off the lingering sadness about herfather.
Flying always centeredher.
She went to the royal Poinciana tree planted in memory of the father she’d figured she would never meet. Her chest tightened and she wanted to cry again as she touched the marker planted before thetree.
Lacey closed her eyes, trying to remember theirmeeting.
Nothing remarkable. A man of average height, with wispy brown hair and spectacles. He did seem stooped, as if spending much time hunched over a table and reading. When he’d given her the book, he had whispered to her as Evie browsed through a sale table filled withpotions.
If only she could recall his words! But she’d been too excited about the gift, and a little wary as well, and eager to get home so she could read through thepages.
Why didn’t you ever look for me, dad? What was wrong with me that you spent your entire life avoiding your responsibility to me, your child? Why didn’t you ever come for me like I imagined you alwayswould?
Throat tightening, she dusted off her hands and headed for the yard’s middle. Lacey stretched out her arms and called upon hermagick.
Bones lengthened and widened, and as always, the change took place almost instantly instead of the slow, painful change of late. Food truly helped. Lacey’s vision sharpened and her hearing as well. Immense power filled her, the feeling she could conqueranything.
No one would ever hurt her again. She could seek revenge on the one woman who’d hurt her as achild.
Unfortunately, the Coldfire Wizard would prohibit her plans. For all his words, Drust had no idea of what it felt like to be orphaned, abandoned and then scarred by someone who’d promised to raise and protectyou.
She took to the air, flying high above the urban landscape, relishing the power of her wings, the feeling of freedom. When she was little, long before she reached her first shift at 21, Lacey dreamed of beingdragon.
Of flying away from all hertroubles.
And now as an adult, she could do so, but duty and commitments ground her. No way would she abandon Evie. Her sister had Chase, and would be fine, but Lacey still worried. She’d watched over Evie from the time when she was six and had come to the foster home to live. Evie had been so little and frail, Lacey felt instantly protective ofher.
And now Evie was eloping with Chase. She would move away and have babies of her own.I’m allalone.
