Page 57 of Sanctuary with a Dragon
She slung the backpacks onto the overturned bed, then ducked into the bathroom to grab a few toiletries, moving with a precision that spoke of long practice.
My heart hurt for her—for the life she’d been forced to live.
“I was worried about her,” she continued quietly. “I took leave from work and went to visit. She’d already planned everything. She handed me custody papers with my name on them, gave me Alanna... then hugged me and disappeared.”
She zipped the bags and faced us.
“I only know he found her and killed her because he bragged about it when he tracked us down. Usually, he doesn’t do his own dirty work. He has a pack of cronies who do it for him—probably because he pays well. Barrett comes from money.”
She looked up at the ceiling, blinking hard to keep her tears from falling.
“Lyla was so happy about that,” she whispered. “We were raised dirt poor.”
“Come with us for a bit,” I said softly. “I know trust might be hard for you right now, but I can take yousomewhere safe. We’ll worry about the tomorrows tomorrow.”
“Where?”
I glanced at Elandor, who seemed content to let me lead.
“I’m with my mate, Alaric, staying at a bear-shifter clan’s lodge. I can bring you to the alpha for protection.” I hesitated. “I don’t want to say where, just in case. I’m suddenly paranoid.”
She nodded seriously. “Smart.”
Her hands tightened on the backpack straps as she weighed her options. “This alpha,” she asked, “he’s a good man?”
Yes,Elandor rumbled, and that seemed to settle it.
She drew a deep breath.“Let’s go, then.”
I offered to carry one of the bags, but she shook her head, then I turned to Elandor expectantly.
Yes, my treasure?
“How do we get back?”
You’re asking me?He shrugged, knocking some of the plaster coating his shoulders to the ground.I would guess what we did to get here, just in reverse.
Okay. I could do that.
I closed my eyes, found the golden thread that had brought us to the hotel room, made sure I was holding all of the occupants in the room in my mind, just in case, and tugged...
We landed back in the field we’d started in—thankfully allin one piece.
Well, this is promising,Elandor said.
I put my hands on my hips, looking around. “Yeah, small problem? I’m not sure how to get us out of the dreamscape.”
At least baby Alanna seemed delighted. She was babbling happily, though her aunt’s anxious eyes scanned our glowing surroundings.
Elandor tilted his head at me, patient as ever.Everly, my treasure?
“Yes?”
Are you not master here? Just will us out of the dreamscape.
Oh. Right. I could do that.
I hoped.
