Page 31 of Her Dragon Outlaw

“I think it’d be better if we focused on the case. It’d be best for everyone to solve this quickly.”

“Right. The sooner the better.” she shrugs, picking up her own cup and looking into it.

I look at her and I feel my nerves slipping. I look just over her shoulder, it's now or never.

My voice is mechanical as it crosses my lips. “I’ve been thinking, it would probably be for the best if after all of this is over, we don't meet anymore.”

Her shoulders tense, the action so slight I would have missed it if I weren’t checking. I risked a look in her eyes, the rejection in them cut me. I lift my eyes back to the patio door. If I keep looking at her with that look on her face I'm going to crack.

Then I notice something that halts my rampant emotions. The door sits slightly ajar. I locked up the house myself before we left. Nothing was open.

“Lori, did you open the patio door?” I ask.

As if sensing something is wrong, she stands moving closer to me. “No.”

My instinct takes over and I sniff the air. Sounds get sharper, and I scrape my gaze over everything, looking for the slightest tale that something is amiss.

“Stay on my right, move with me,” I order.

Lori falls into step beside me. We walk through the kitchen and the living room. Once I’m sure the front of the house is clear I tell her to stay near a small storage closet while I search the rest of the cabin.

My muscles sit loose and ready, never relaxing my guard as I clear the house.

It's empty. Nothing has been shifted or moved, but I know someone was here. I can feel it, like an invisible trail dancing on the edge of my sight. I head back to the front of the house when I see a shadow out of the corner of my eye.

I head towards the window, Lori is by my side in an instant curiosity outweighing her fear as she follows the direction of my gaze.

At the end of the dock stands a woman. Her features are shadowed by the harsh glare of the setting sun behind her. The wind blows, lifting the strains of her long silver hair. I pull Lori behind me, shielding her from the witch at our doorstep.

Stella is here.

26

LORI

Adeafening, warning roar sounds from somewhere behind the house. I blink, trying to figure out when Cody had left my side. It couldn't have been more than a few minutes at most. I look back at the figure on the dock, at Stella. Only this time, Cody’s massive gold dragon stands at the mouth of the dock, blocking my view.

Blocking her view of me.

My fingers ache as they curl around the window’s edge. I waited and waited. Nothing happened. With the obstruction of his massive tail flicking back and forth, the only thing I could be sure of was that they weren’t fighting. My dread deepened. They are talking.

She is trying to kill me.

What could they possibly have to say to each other?

My chest is tight but I force my feet to move. The grass crunches subtly beneath my feet, not as quiet as I would have liked but I’ll take what I can get. Hopefully, it will get me close enough to hear what they’re saying without drawing too much attention.

I refuse to be left in the dark.

I’m rounding his right when the sound of his metal voice reaches my ears.

“Stand down, and I’ll make this easy on the both of us.” A plume of smoke billows out of his nostrils in warning.

She laughs, her voice beautiful and haunting, cruel. “Do you know how many uses there are for dragon scales?” Her bright blue eyes slide to me making it apparent she is aware of my presence. “Are you really willing to risk your pelt for this human?”

Cody's response is a growl that rocks the wooden planks of the dock and causes the water to jerk and ripple. The finality of this moment hits my chest and my hand reaches out to rest on his leg. I can't let him do this. Not with her.

Cody’s massive head tilts in my direction, and a giant golden eye holds me in its peripherals. “Don’t do this, let’s get out of here.” I plead.

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