Page 111 of The Dragon's Gambit
Brody turned and looked at Lee. “Reiya’s in danger here. That’s what’s going on, and I keep leaving her side. I’m done leaving your side, Reiya. I can’t risk it.”
Lee’s eyes grew dark. “What do you mean she’s in danger here?”
Brody walked over and lifted Reiya up into his chest. “Brody, put me down. You’re overreacting right now.”
“No. I’m taking you inside. You said the upstairs is imbued with magic, right? Meaning no one can enter unless you allow them access?” Brody turned and asked Lee, who nodded his head. “Good. We’ll talk about this there, then.”
“Brody—” Reiya protested.
He turned to her and growled. “No, Reiya!” He was angry. That bloodthirsty demon had gotten close to his sister. Too close, if she was able to recognize his scent.
Lee squeezed his fists angrily. He didn’t know what the hell was going on, but for Brody to act like that toward Reiya, it wasn’t good.
He stomped over to Xander. “Do you smell the faint scent of anise oil?”
“Yes, what about it?” Xander asked, looking around in confusion.
“Track it down. I want to know where the scent came from and who it belongs to. Kill it if you find it, then meet me back at my place,” Lee ordered, and Xander immediately complied. If Lee was demanding something, it was urgent. So, even though he had no idea what he was looking for, he went searching for the scent and the owner of it.
Chelsie followed at Brody’s heels up the unending stairs. When they reached the top, Lee was already standing there waiting for them. He moved swiftly and snatched Reiya out of her protective guardian’s arms. Brody growled slightly, feeling extra protective over Reiya.
Lee tilted his head toward Brody with a wry smile. “Easy. She might be your sister, but she’s my mate. Now …” He looked at Reiya in his arms. She looked anxious and upset. Whatever wasgoing on had her shaken. “What’s going on?” He lowered her to the floor but kept her body flush against his.
Reiya leaned her head into Lee. “I messed up. I wasn’t paying attention like I should have. I didn’t even realize what I was smelling until just now. My mother told me that the demon Abaas had come after her several times. She knew it was him by his scent—anise oil.”
Brody growled angrily. “How in the hell did that demon get into the dragon kingdom? I thought it was protected! I thought demons couldn’t enter here!” Brody snarled as he paced about angrily. Chelsie reached out, touching his arm to calm him down. She finally learned what was going on and understood why he was so upset.
“Let’s see what Xander finds out. I sent him after the scent. Maybe a child was just eating candy near there.” Lee rubbed Reiya’s arm. “Reiya, you didn’t mess up, okay? And hell, woman, the next time you race across the countryside, you better tell me exactly what‘s going on first. Otherwise, I’m snatching you up and putting you in a tower that has no way down.”
“That’s not a bad idea. Got a tower like that around?” Brody smirked and Lee chuckled. With someone like Reiya, it would be easier to lock her up to keep her out of trouble.
“I’m sorry. I just felt so flustered. I couldn’t believe I missed that. I was just preoccupied about today and wasn’t thinking.” Reiya looked up at Lee with sad eyes. She felt like she really messed up.
“Baby, it’s okay. You were understandably preoccupied. Trust me, I was too.” Lee cupped her cheeks in his hands and leaned forward, pressing his lips into hers. They felt cold, but his heat instantly warmed them. He felt a small shiver run through her. He wasn’t sure if it was from being cold, scared, or the effect he was having on her. He pulled away and wrapped her body tightly into his. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you,”he promised, looking at Brody as he said this. His eyes held the same promise. Let anyone try to touch what was his.
A shadow hovered over the large opening and a sizable dragon flew inside. As his feet landed, he seamlessly shifted into his human form.
Xander walked up to Lee and sighed, holding his hands out. “I couldn’t follow the scent. It vanished. It came up the far cliffside and also disappeared in the same direction. But the scent vanished, like it only existed at the border of the kingdom. What’s going on?”
Lee furrowed his brows down. This wasn’t good news. This meant that somehow the demon found a way to enter the West Dragon Kingdom. He couldn’t have done this alone. There was magic involved here as well. He looked at Xander.
“We have a big problem here.” Lee sighed and explained to Xander about Abaas and his scent. “How could he have gotten through the barrier, though?”
Xander was livid. He was beyond outraged. A foul demon dared to come into his kingdom, and it was after Reiya. His eyes twitched in anger, and he scowled in agitation. “How indeed. Even with someone on the inside helping him, he couldn’t get through the barrier. And then for his scent to disappear after leaving our kingdom—wait a minute.” Xander looked up at Lee. “What if he didn’t walk through the barrier? What if he teleported inside? That would explain why his scent wasn’t outside the barrier … because he didn’t walk out to the other side. He teleported to another location.”
Lee nodded in agreement. This seemed very plausible.
“We should be able to adjust the barrier accordingly. I will speak with Gramps and have him work on it. This shouldn’t happen again.” Xander shook his head and frowned. “Reiya, are you okay?” She was in his kingdom under his protection. She shouldn’t have to worry.
“I’m okay. Just upset with myself for not catching it earlier.” Reiya couldn’t believe she’d let it slide. She should have been paying better attention. Maybe if she had her wolf and her heightened senses, it wouldn’t have happened. He must have been close for her to have smelled him. She was angry. She could have ended this with him then, if she would have just realized it. She wasn’t afraid of him being there. She was upset and angry with herself, to the point of tears. This was all her fault. Abaas was still waltzing around instead of buried six feet under. To hell with burying him. She would have burned his existence away.
“Reiya, you shouldn’t have had to catch it earlier. It should never have happened. Somehow, he found a loophole. It won’t happen again. I don’t want you to worry.” Xander looked into Reiya’s sapphire eyes, trying to reassure her, but she surprised him with a loud scoff.
They all thought she was afraid? She was trembling with anger. She wasn’t afraid of Abaas. Was he sick and creepy? Sure. But she didn’t fear him. “I’m not worried.” Reiya took a step away from Lee and looked up at him. “I’m not afraid.” She looked at Brody. “I’m angry.”
Chelsie smirked as she watched Reiya. She was proud of her. She was a kick-ass girl. She wasn’t the girl waiting to be rescued.
Reiya was tough. It wasn’t that she was impervious to fear, it was just that she also had a strong need to protect. “I can’t believe I missed my chance. He was so close. I could have ended this today, had I been paying attention. I messed up, and I’m angry.”
