Page 56 of Brushed By Moonlight
Bene clapped my shoulder on his way past. “That’s okay, man. Anyone could have missed a target that big.”
My growl chased both felines and Henrik to a safe distance. That left me alone with Mina, overlooking the gash I’d burned through her forest.
She picked up a charred twig, inspected it, then waved to the torched strip.
“Not that I’m not grateful,” she said, picking her words carefully. “But could you maybe next time…”
I raised an eyebrow. “Let you die?”
“Maybe just ask questions first, fire away later.”
I crossed my arms. “You don’taska guy who’s lurking around your property. Youdemand.”
Mina pursed her lips and turned toward Bene, who was picking through the ashes.
“Any evidence?” she called out.
He laughed. “Evidence? It’s all incinerated.” He gave me a thumbs-up. “Great job, big guy.”
I rumbled in warning, then snapped my head left, toward the road.
Everyone tensed, picking up on the same thing.
“Incoming vehicle,” Bene warned.
Mina bit her lip, and I touched her shoulder. I only meant to reassure her.But,zing!Even that minor contact sent fireworks through my veins.
Mina looked up at me through wide, shocked eyes, telling me she felt it too. And not just the fireworks, but also the wild hopes and fantasies.
My chest filled with a warm, heavy sensation, and the world around me blurred like it did when I flew and got in the zone. Especially here, around Château Nocturne, with its peaceful landscape of fields, vineyards, and forests.
Fields, forests, and Mina,my dragon whispered.
“Police car,” Roux muttered.
His voice seemed miles away, but it was enough to tear us out of the moment.Reallytear, like a wave ripping two shipwreck survivors apart, each to their own fate.
Or shared fate,my dragon murmured.
“All right, everyone.” Mina hurried ahead. “Let me handle this.”
We followed as she took a shortcut back to the house. The police car reached the main door before we did, and an officer emerged from the vehicle.
Just one,Henrik murmured into our minds.We can easily take him down.
We can, but we won’t. Not unless I signal, you got that?Roux barked sternly.
Mina had the legs of a gazelle — hard not to notice — and loped right over. No surprise there. But the way she greeted him — well, that caught me off guard.
“Clem!” Her voice rose in glee.
When the policeman turned around, he lit up like a Christmas tree. “Mina!”
I froze as they practically threw their arms around each other. They stopped at the last minute, though, gripping each other’s forearms and flashing goofy smiles.
Uh-oh,Bene murmured into the others’ minds, loud enough for me to catch it.Mina has a guy.
A young, buff, blond cop. The kind too good to be true, like a Chippendales stripper.
