Chapter 9
Nate drove into the town, still feeling uneasy.
He’d thought getting an explanation as to what was going on from Kytrima would help. That it would start to make sense.
But he still didn’t really understand any of it.
That could be because he couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that it had felt so amazing to sleep with her. That apparently that was how it always felt to sleep with a dragon.
That she apparently hadn’t felt the same thing.
Well, that wasn’t exactly what she’d said. She had said it was wonderful.
She’d also said it didn’t mean anything.
Nate could kind of understand the predicament his brother had been stuck in. He hadn’t really understood why Brad was so obsessed with Lyrian. He’d never seen his brother like that over any woman before.
But now he got it.
He was going to have a hard time getting over Kytrima when this was over, and she’d been honest with him from the beginning.
The thought of this being over made him sad. He didn’t want this to be over.
Ever.
That last thought hit him like a punch to the stomach.
What was up with him?
He knew this wasn’t real. It wasn’t love. Kytrima had made it quite clear she was using him. That she needed him to find this princess, then she was out of here. Just like he needed to find his brother and keep him safe from the princess Kytrima was looking for.
Getting the idea that this was anything more than that was a recipe for disaster. He needed to keep that straight in his mind.
Yet, it didn’t help. Not at all.
No amount of mental reprimanding changed the fact that he didn’t want it to be like that.
This was the greatest adventure of his life, and he didn’t want it to end.
He glanced sideways at Kytrima, who was staring out the window, absently patting Lily, who had settled on her lap, and his heart gave an extra thump.
Oh hell, he’d fallen in love with her.
Now what was he going to do?
Nate straightened his shoulders. Exactly what he’d told his brother to do when Lyrian had refused to talk to him—buck up and get over her. She had no interest in him. This wasn’t an adventure to her. It was a mission. He was just part of that.
Even though it hurt.
Nate was so distracted by his thoughts that coming into the town was a surprise. He hadn’t been in Mungaloo for years. Not since he’d last visited Uncle Henry. It was a pretty small town though, only two pubs and one motel. Finding Brad and Lyrian shouldn’t be hard.
He almost wished it could be. Then he’d be able to spend longer with Kytrima.
He shook his head. Focus, Nate.
He headed for the nearest pub. Brad had only been in Mungaloo once, and Nate suspected he hadn’t spent much time in the town itself at all. If he’d stopped anywhere, it would probably be at the first pub he came to.
Nate was pretty confident that they’d find him there. There weren’t that many other places to hide in a small town.
He pulled into the parking lot and stopped the engine, then turned to Kytrima. “Perhaps it might be better if you wait here.”
Of course, she bristled at that. “Why? Are you afraid that your brother will see me and shoot me again?”
She wasn’t too far wrong. “I’m afraid that if he sees you, he’s going to run,” Nate said frankly. “And then we’ll be chasing him again.”
Kytrima frowned. “That’s a good point. But what if the princess runs?”
“She’s more likely to do that if she sees you than if she sees me,” Nate pointed out.
“But I need to find her.”
Nate bit back a sigh. Kytrima was nothing if not obsessed with the princess. “If we find her, I’ll tell you. I’m pretty sure my brother will introduce me if she’s there. You said yourself there’s nothing you can do in town anyway. So this is just a reconnaissance mission, to see if they’re there. They may not even be at this pub anyway.”
Kytrima nodded reluctantly. “All right.”
Nate smiled. “I won’t be long.”
He looked over at Lily, but the little dog seemed quite at home on Kytrima’s lap now. He handed Kytrima the keys. “Here, you’d better keep these, just in case.” In case of what, he wasn’t sure. But you never knew around these dragons. Then he headed into the pub.
As he walked through the door, the bartender looked up and gave him a friendly smile. “Hey, mate. Where’s the pretty wife?”
Nate’s heart skipped a beat. Sometimes, it was handy being mistaken for your twin brother.
Now he knew that Brad was still alive. And that he was here. Or had been at least.
“Actually, I’m not Brad,” he said. “He’s my twin brother, and I’ve been looking for him. Is he in?”
The man’s eyes narrowed, and he looked Nate up and down for a few minutes, then gave a laugh. “You two sure look alike.”
“Yeah, twins.” Nate shrugged. Being mistaken for each other had gotten old when they were kids, but this time it was handy, so he let it slide. “Is he here?”
“Nah, he and the wife went out an hour or so ago.”
“Any idea where? I really need to talk to him.” Nate tried to keep his voice casual, but was largely unsuccessful. He was worried about his brother.
The bartender shrugged. “No idea, mate. Sorry.”
Nate wasn’t surprised. Brad was hardly likely to fill the stranger in on his plans.
But it did seem like he’d be back. That was a good start. He just needed to wait here until Brad turned up.
Then they’d get this sorted out.
That would leave him with only one problem. Kytrima.
His stomach flip-flopped when he thought of her.
When this was over, she’d leave. She was so focused on the mission, that was all she thought of.
And he’d never see her again.
Somehow the thought was hugely disappointing.