Chapter Eight

Flora

GO FETCH. SEE to it?

He’s insane, and if he values the tiny little appendage between his legs, he’ll rethink keeping me here. So the hot peppers backfired. My next plan won’t. Now I just need to come up with another plan.

“Who are you?” a female voice asks from behind me. I turn and my mouth drops open. Before me is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her facial features are those of a pixy. Tiny nose, high cheekbones, and a mountain of braided hair so blonde it’s almost white. She has it in some kind of arrangement that wraps around her head and trails down over her shoulders. The woman doesn’t appear happy to see me if her tight lips are anything to judge by. Her stance makes a statement too—her legs are equally apart and in perfect balance for a fight. Every inch of her is toned and sculpted. Even her breasts are the perfect size—not too big not too small. She’s naked, so believe me I get the full effect of her beauty. Whoever she is, irritation is evident in her expression. What the heck has that crazy dragon gotten me into?

I place my hand out. “Hi, I’m Flora.” She’s probably one of his lovers.

She looks down, her lips pinch harder, and without taking my offered hand shake, she raises her pert, perfect nose. “Okay, what are you?”

Hmm. How do I answer that? I pull my hand back and just give her the look. It’s the look my grandma taught me to use when someone was behaving like a rotten apple. I cross my arms across my chest to let her know how tough I am too.

She steps forward and completely invades my personal space before sniffing me. “You’re something other than human,” she says and steps back. Her regard is now inquisitive. “You’re a shifter of some sort. Are you Ashrac’s new housekeeper?”

“Umm, no.” Ashrac might expect me to be his new housekeeper but that’s not happening.

“Are you his paramour?”

This woman stepped out of the last century and I’m done with playing nice. “The proper greeting is to shake my hand, tell me your name, and then we ask each other questions.” She jerks her head away from me and there’s something about her that gives me pause. “You’re a dragon shifter like Ashrac?” I say after it dawns on me.

Her eyes sweep up my body, down my body, and then she meets my eyes again. I’m surprised when her hand comes out. “I’m Jewel of the Purple Dragon Clan.”

I take her hand and smile. “Nice to meet you, Jewel. I’m Flora if you missed that earlier. By any chance could you carry me past the barrier that’s keeping me here?”

Her mouth twists even more. It’s adorable on her. “You don’t want to be here?”

I shake my head. “No. Ashrac kidnapped me to be his mate and I’m not happy about it.”

She stares.

I stare back. What is it with these dragons?

Our statue poses get a bit ridiculous and she finally speaks again. “Ashrac kidnapped you and you’re asking me to help you escape?”

Maybe she has hearing problems. “Yes, it’s no fun being kidnapped.”

The staring match begins again until suddenly she belts out, “I need to speak with Ashrac.” With that she turns and walks away.

I think about this for a moment. It occurs to me she knows Ashrac and is most likely friends with him. Crap. She’ll tell him I’m trying to get away.

I quickly cast off my clothes, leave them scattered on the dining hall floor, and leap from the closest window and shift. I streak to the lab’s window and rest on the landing just as Jewel enters the room.

“You kidnapped a bride and brought her here?” she demands. Ashrac looks up from whatever he’s doing with a scowl. He doesn’t seem impressed that she’s naked.

“Leave me be, woman. I have work to do,” he snarls like the rude jerk he is. After a noisy inhale, he turns his back on her.

I cock my head in delight. This should be fun and I’m not disappointed.

Jewel walks up to Ashrac and clocks him upside the head with her palm.

“Ow,” he yells and rubs his head. “I told you I don’t have time.”

“You’ll make time. You can’t just go around kidnapping women, Ashrac. What will your mother say?”

I spread my wings and pull them back in. Dragonbreath has a mother. Who knew? I guess I did but still.

“My mother is on vacation with Father. The woman will adapt, and when she does, she’ll be happy to be my mate.”

Jewel moves in closer and sticks her finger in his face. “Is she your mate?”

His shoulders rise and fall. “Doubtful,” he huffs.

Why does his one word send a sharp pain into my gut?

“Doubtful? Are you out of your mind? She’s a woman. You can’t go around kidnapping someone just in case they’re your mate.”

Ashrac’s hand comes up, his palm toward her in a stop motion. “I need a mate. She agreed to be kidnapped for a trial period.”

I pull my head from my feathers where I was preening as I listened. He’s nuts. I did not agree to be kidnapped. I agreed to put him in his place. Not for him to knock me out and carry me to his realm.

“Then why did she request I take her to the realm crossing so she can leave you?”

He blows his straggly hair from his eyes. “How should I know? Women make their own rules. This one runs hot and cold and it would probably be best if you took her back. She can cook, but she hasn’t proven herself in any other areas I require. She’s also homely, and I think I can do better.”

I pick my beak off the floor and slam my jaw shut. That moron. I’ll show him better.

“What about love, Ashrac? You’re supposed to love your mate and protect her.” He gives her a quelling look. “And care about her feelings.”

His expression remains set.

Jewel brushes one braid from her shoulder. “What if you gave her to Cantor? All the women love him and I have a feeling he’d like her.”

Oh hell no. I leave a nice juicy dropping on the landing for that comment. I don’t care if Jewel said it. No way are these crazy dragons passing me around.

Ashrac gives her a killing look and a tendril of smoke floats from his nostrils. “No. She’s mine.”

What did he say?

“She’s only yours because you don’t want anyone else, especially Cantor, to take one of your treasures. I’ll take her to Cantor and you can forget about her.”

“No.” The word thunders in the room. “I’ll keep her. After I train her, she’ll make a decent mate.”

A small smile curves Jewel’s lips. “You like her.”

Ashrac turns his back and starts working on whatever it is he does in here. “Go, woman, and leave me in peace. Do not give that female a ride through the realm crossing. She’ll be happy soon enough.”

Yes I will as long as my sword pierces his heart. Sword. Damn, I need a new one.

“Since when do you have a golden eagle in your realm?” Jewel asks.

Oh crap. I flex my wings and take off. I’m not ready to give away my shifting capabilities. I might have liked Jewel if she hadn’t threatened to give me to someone else. Maybe I’m going about this all wrong. If Ashrac liked… no, loved me, my revenge would be so sweet. I need to put my other plan in place first. Ashrac needs a heavy dose of eagle trouble and I know exactly how to do it. These dragons are very concerned with the color of their scales and I can use that. I release a loud and long gleeful caw.

This will be hilarious.