****
While they remained in Florence, April couldn’t relax. She jumped at the sound of every footstep in the hallway outside her suite, and when they ventured out for dinner or gelato or just to stretch their legs, she shied away from everybody who passed by, subconsciously searching for the face that now haunted her dreams.
She knew Mads would never let Savannah hurt her, and she knew she had nothing to fear, and yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that things were far from over. Savannah had clearly been wounded by the loss of her son, and that pain was not going to go away anytime soon. It would only continue to feed her anger and need for vengeance. She didn’t mention anything to Mads, but she wasn’t surprised when he announced they were leaving Florence.
“You’re not comfortable here. But I know where you will feel safe.”
They flew out of Florence’s tiny airport early the next morning, landing in Frankfurt barely an hour after they took off. From there, Mads rented a car and drove them out of the city into the German countryside. They climbed into the Alps, the sun falling lower and lower behind the peaks as they moved higher and higher, until finally it was dark and April felt like they were on top of the world.
“Where are we?” she asked when they stopped. In front of her was a fortress, its massive spires outlined in the silver moonlight.
“April, my dear, this is my home.”
“This is your...castle?”
“It is.”
“Oh my god, I’ve always wanted to visit a castle.” For the first time in days, she forgot Savannah, Chester, and all of that unpleasantness. “Why did you never mention it?”
He laughed. “I forgot how Americans romanticize castles. For me, this is just home.”
“Home. Did you build it?”
“No, not me. But I did win it, fair and square.”
“You mean you conquered it?” What medieval army would stand a chance against a dragon? Nobody stood a chance against him today. It wasn’t exactly a surprise to learn that his greatest competition in today’s world was another dragon clan. He crushed all other forms of competition.
“Yes, but the person who held it was a very bad man.”
“How bad?”
“Bad enough to earn the ire of a dragon.”
“Are dragons peaceful creatures, by nature?”
“Not by nature, no. But we may be very peaceful by choice.”
The castle was old and drafty, and even with its modern comforts of electricity and running water, April still had the sense of stepping back in time. She wanted to explore every inch, search for ancient hidden passageways and ghosts and old tapestries. All of the musty old books she lost herself in as a child came back to mind, urging her to seek out great adventures.
“Are we the only ones here?”
“No, I have a small staff that lives here and sees to its upkeep.”
“Why don’t you live here?”
“I find my penthouse far more comfortable.”
April yawned. “Speaking of more comfortable, can you please show me to our room?”
“It’s my pleasure.” He swept her from her feet without warning, prompting a laugh from her as she wrapped her arms around his neck. It was probably silly, but she loved it when he lifted her like she weighed no more than a sack of feathers and carried her to bed.
“How long are we going to stay here?” April asked, trailing kisses along his strong jawline. He tilted his head slightly, giving her greater access to the column of his throat. His skin was rough with his five-o’clock-shadow, and she shivered at the thought of those rough whiskers against her sensitive thighs. Maybe he wouldn’t shave at all while they were in Germany.
“Until we get bored, I suppose.”
Or until they screwed each other silly on every flat surface in the grand castle—which was absolutely April’s plan for their stay.
“And then where will we go?” She rested her mouth against his pulse point; his heartbeat was already elevated, as if to keep up with April’s own racing pulse.
“Wherever you wish.”
“I want to go to a beautiful beach.”
“Then a beautiful beach is where we shall go.” He stopped in front of a closed door. “Open that for me, and you’ll find a light switch is to your right.”
She flicked on the light and gasped at the sheer size of the room. On one end was a huge bed, a massive television, a beautiful sound system, a bar, and a small kitchenette. The rest of the expansive space was empty, though, and lines of discolored stones showed her where the walls once were, dividing the space into six different rooms.
April didn’t need to ask why his private quarters were so large. “This is where you can...be yourself.”
“I’m myself always, but yes, this is where I can become the dragon.”
“Do you want to...change right now?” Her voice didn’t betray her, and yet, butterflies fluttered from her stomach to her throat. It might have been fear or excitement. She could no longer tell the difference when she was with Mads.
“Do you wish me to?”
Her mouth felt dry but she nodded. “I want to see him...you...again.”
“It doesn’t frighten you?”
“No. Well, maybe. I don’t know… I think it... it excites me.”
“Of course. I should have known that it would not disturb you to see your mate. I’ll be happy to change, but first let’s eat and I’ll show you more of the castle.”
April wrapped her arms around him and pressed herself to his chest. “It’s not food that I’m hungry for.”
He smiled wryly, “First food, and then...then anything you want, mein Schatz.”