Page 29 of The Dragon and Her Thief
Kelsey looked down at herself and found her clothes were that of this time period. Raven had placed her in a pale dress. If they couldn’t see her, why were her clothes changed? Knowing she couldn’t get an answer, she turned her attention back to her dragon shifter.
Mythia strode down the stairs, confidently navigating her way through the saloon. She was headed toward a table across the room where a single man sat.
Kelsey needed to be closer.
There was a reason she was sent here.
Kelsey got to her feet. No one paid her any attention when she stepped away from her table and followed Mythia.
It amazed her that the men nodded and tipped their glasses to Mythia. There was nothing but respect in their expressions.
They must know she’s a powerful dragon shifter who could annihilate the town in minutes.
She really wanted to explore the building. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but she needed to see what Mythia wanted her to see.
Mythia threw back her head and laughed before taking the seat across from the man. When she was seated, she motioned for the waitress.
Kelsey made her way over. The man looked familiar, but she couldn’t place him. She didn’t know why, seeing as she didn’t live in this time period and would never have met him.
“We need alcohol if we’re going to celebrate,” Mythia said. The waitress arrived with a bottle, two glasses, and a deck of cards.
“Here’s your usual, sweetie.” Smiling at Mythia, the waitress sat everything down on the table. Mythia reached into her pocket and pulled out some cash, tucked it into the woman’s top, and gave her a wink. The waitress blew her a kiss and walked away with a heavy sway in her hips.
Kelsey’s hands balled into fists.
Jealousy wasn’t something she’d ever experienced before. Most of her relationships had been short and sweet. There were more one-night stands than actual relationships, but she’d never experienced emotions like this before.
The man laughed. “Don’t think you can liquor me up so you can cheat.” Picking up the deck of cards, he began shuffling them. “I know you shifters. You can drink all you want and not get drunk like us humans.”
“What are you talking about?” Mythia took the bottle and filled their glasses. She didn’t look as if she had aged one bit. “What are we wagering? Tonight may be too rich for your blood.”
Mythia pulled some gold coins out of her pocket and set them down in the middle of the table. The man’s eyes widened.
“Mythia, that’s too much.”
“What are you talking about? I can afford to bet them. I’m feeling confident that I won’t lose them.” Mythia’s grin was cocky. She shrugged and motioned to the table. “You don’t have to go high. This is a friendly game between friends. If I lose, and I won’t, I’d rather lose to you.”
He dealt their hands before reaching for his glass.
“That’s some good damn whiskey.”
“Nothing but the best for you, my friend.” Mythia raised hers to him before she took another sip.
Mythia having a drink and playing cards with a friend. Was this what she was supposed to see? Kelsey took notice of a gentleman sitting a few tables away, who was openly staring at the two.
A shiver rippled down her spine at the intensity in his eyes. He was large and scary looking.
“Here’s my wager.” He reached inside of his jacket pocket and pulled out something familiar. Recognizing the ruby medallion, Kelsey gasped. Who was this man? Why was he gambling away her family heirloom?
So this was who stole it.
“There’s been something I want to discuss with you,” the man began, eyeing his cards before throwing one down.
“And that is?” Mythia rearranged her cards and looked at him. “This game would appear to be too rich for your blood. I feel an important request coming. A request I may not want to accept. They become costly.”
Something passed between them, leaving Kelsey confused. The hairs on the back of her neck rose.
“There’s a man sitting to my left.” Pausing, he took another sip from his glass. When he placed it back on the table, she noticed his hand shook slightly. Swallowing hard, he focused on the table.
