Page 29 of Under the Dragon's Spell
"Could I ask you to be more specific?" I refilled my wine glass. He hadn't even sipped at his.
"I mean, are you all so…" He obviously struggled with his words, not wanting to insult me again.
"Inconsiderate? Direct?" I guessed.
Michael nodded. "If you want to put it that way."
I drank a bit of the wine and leaned back in my chair. "I suppose a lot of us are, but not all, no. There's a few slightly more cuddly dragons than me. I'm sure some of them wouldlove to meet you." I gave him my widest, most innocent smile. "You have a thing for dragons, don't you? You told me so on our first meeting."
"Did you make me tell you that?"
He caught on quickly. "I might have."
"Have you made me do anything tonight?"
"I made you smile once," I admitted. "It bored me."
"I'm so sorry."
"You're not."
Our food arrived. He seemed about as interested in it as I was. I wondered how I was going to suffer through two more nights like this before I could take Adrian out with me. Mother wanted me to get to know the applicants. Fine. I was completely on board with that where Adrian was concerned. I wanted to get to know that fascinating little human—in detail. I sighed in memory of the kiss I'd stolen earlier. Too little.
"I read a book once," Michael muttered so quietly I almost didn't hear him. "It said a dragon's fated mate could resist his magic."
I learned forward again. I was going to tell him that those were legends and hardly a dragon believed in fate anymore, but…
If it was just legends, how did Adrian resist me?
Why did I feel so drawn to him to the exclusion of everyone else?
I had no answers to those questions. So I said nothing. And then I drank the rest of the wine.
12
ADRIAN
After I'd watched Michael leave the grounds with the man I was becoming increasingly infatuated with, I returned to my room and thought about what he'd told me. If I wanted to get out, if I didn't think any of this was a good idea anymore… I really shouldn't wait any longer, shouldn't hang around. With every day that passed, I lost another little piece of my mind and soon I'd be a goner, if I wasn't already.
I took a deep breath, thinking about the two paths in front of me. On the one hand, I could stay here, hope that Tyrel would eventually pick me, try to arrange myself with his family and have his children. I'd live in luxury, but also under the watchful eyes of his mother and whoever else was part of his clan.
Or I could go back to cooking meals for my brother and hoping that my luck might turn around some day.
Right now, neither choice seemed particularly appealing.
My phone rang before I could think much further.
I didn't look at the caller ID, but when I answered, Luca's voice greeted me from the other end of the line.
"Adrian! Do I have to get angry at you? You promised to call."
So I had. And I'd completely forgotten all about that. "I'm sorry. There's been a lot on my mind." Like one particularly hot dragon whom I wanted to fuck. "How are you doing?"
"Oh no, I'm not calling to tell you about myself. I want to know what's going on with you and that dragon."
I'd suspected as much, but I didn't know what to tell her.
"Things are… I don't know. I'm confused, to be honest."
