Chapter 6
Keva’s fingers trembled as she disabled the alarm system for her house. Her place was small and perfect for her. She’d bought it for the work shed out back and the fact that she was on three acres. She didn’t have to worry about neighbors interrupting her and it had felt like a safe haven for the last couple years.
Now that glorious privacy seemed like a double-edged sword. She wasn’t in the middle of nowhere exactly, but her nearest neighbors weren’t close. And while a security system would alert her to an intruder coming into the house, the doors would do nothing to stop a determined wolf. And Randall’s brother had been very angry and determined.
She didn’t care if Richard wasn’t supposed to be in this territory. She didn’t think it would stop him from coming to see her again. At least she’d been able to answer truthfully that she didn’t know where Randall was. She didn’t know. She had no idea what had happened to his ashes when he’d been incinerated. And she had no idea where he was in the afterlife, though if she had to guess, she was going with Hell.
But if he asked her point-blank if Randall was alive, she wouldn’t be able to lie her way out of that. To top off the end of her crappy day, she hated that Dagen had witnessed all of that. He’d looked at her as if she was completely incapable of taking care of herself.
Even worse, she knew that him showing up hadn’t been the worst thing. She still hated that she had to depend on someone else. It had taken years to build back her self-esteem and her life. She didn’t want to depend on anyone, but realistically she realized that just might not be a possibility now.
When she heard a knock on her front door, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
“It’s me, Dagen.” His sexy, strong voice carried through her door.
She dropped her purse on the nearby foyer table and opened the front door. “What’s wrong?” She’d assumed he was just going to follow her home.
He stepped inside as if he had every right to. She spluttered for a second as he shut the door behind him.
He turned to face her and gone was the awkward, sort of adorable dragon from that morning. In his place was a fierce warrior. The warrior must have been there all along.
“If that wolf knows where you work, he knows where you live.” His gaze flicked over to the alarm system panel and he nodded once in approval before continuing. “I’m going to do a sweep of your house just to check. But I don’t scent him here. However, there is a faint scent trail of him around your property. So he has been here at one point. Probably earlier today and probably just the once because it’s very faint. When he didn’t find you here, he likely went to your work.”
Before she could respond or absorb everything he’d just said, he stepped farther inside and simply started searching rooms. She wanted to tell him to stop, but what was the use? She knew he wasn’t going to, and okay, she liked the idea of Dagen double-checking her closets and under her bed. Because yeah, Randall’s family scared her. They were all just as psychotic as he had been. And if Dagen scented the brother on her property? Ugh.
It only took the sexy dragon about five minutes to do a thorough search of her place, because he’d used his supernatural speed—which had been a little disconcerting to watch—so she’d let him be. When he was done he found her in the kitchen where she was opening up a bottle of wine. Because yeah, tonight was definitely a wine kind of night. “Would you like a glass?” she asked as he stepped inside.
He blinked in surprise but shook his head. “No. Your place is secure. And I’ll be staying in the guest room.”
She snorted loudly. “Is that right?”
“That is right. Or I can shift forms and stay outside. I don’t mind sleeping in my dragon form. But I will be here and I won’t lie to you about it.”
“Pretty sure the neighbors might have something to say about that.”
“You don’t have neighbors close enough to notice me—and they wouldn’t be able to see me anyway.”
“You’re being ridiculous. You can’t just stay at my place.”
“I’m not being ridiculous. There’s a threat against you and I’m taking proper action. What kind of dragon would I be if I let a woman in clear danger face a threat alone? I’m not saying that because I think you’re a helpless human. I’m saying that because the wolf is dangerous and he is physically more powerful than you. That is a simple fact. Even if he believes you don’t know where his brother is—he might hurt you regardless. Because he can and because he would like it.”
She shoved out a breath. “It’s hard to get mad at you when you’re being all logical.”
To her surprise he let out a laugh then gave her the faintest hint of a smile. “You are under my Alpha’s protection. And even if you weren’t, I would still keep you safe.”
Oh…hell. What did she do with that? And what did she do about the butterflies that had launched inside her at those very possessive words? Nothing, that was what. She scrubbed a hand over her face. “This whole situation is insane. But…I’m also scared and I can admit that I don’t want to be by myself tonight. So thank you for staying in my guest room. I was going to order takeout. How does Mexican food sound?”
“Perfect. I can order if you want to take a shower or whatever. I know you had a long day at work.”
Okay, this man was ridiculously thoughtful. And she was actually going to let him do it. Smiling, she pulled out an old takeout menu from one of her drawers. “My favorites are already circled. I’ve got cash. I can pay when they deliver.”
“Sounds good.”
It was so surreal to be heading upstairs while a disturbingly sexy dragon was in her kitchen ordering takeout food as if this was the most natural thing in the world. But she trusted him. And with him in her house, for the first time in years she felt completely and utterly safe. Because if Randall’s brother tried to attack her now, Dagen would step in. And she had no doubt who the winner would be.
* * *
Dagen frowned at the sculpture of a dragon that looked a lot like Conall on Keva’s dining room table. The entire thing was covered in various sculptures and jewelry pieces. It was completely irrational but he didn’t like the thought of her sculpting another male, whether in human or dragon form. He had no claim to Keva even if he felt like he did.
“So what do you think?” she asked, stepping into the room and motioning to the sculpture.
He’d heard her long before she got downstairs. Her damp hair was braided back against her head, and she had on soft-looking navy blue pants and a pullover sweater the same color.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.” She gave a small smile as she gazed at it. “It’s not completely finished. I’m creating a wolf who looks like Conall’s mate, then I’ll position them together on a base piece. Rhea commissioned this as a gift for him for his birthday.”
“You know Rhea?”
She nodded once. “Yep. And I’m pretty sure I know exactly whose baby shower you were talking about yesterday, because I’m invited to Victoria’s.”
That surprised him. “I didn’t realize you knew members of the clan.”
“I know some. Not all. But I have lived here for a few years. It’s weird—some of them don’t even know I know about dragons.” She let out a little laugh. “I guess Conall just tells who he wants.”
Dagen simply nodded. He didn’t want to talk about his Alpha or anyone else. But especially not any other males. “The food arrived while you were upstairs, so if you’re hungry…”
As if on cue her stomach rumbled and her cheeks flushed a sexy shade of pink. “I think that’s a yes.”
He loved that he got to feed her again. It was making his dragon side ridiculously pleased.