Page 44 of The Dragon's Mate Proposal

“The sun is shining,” I observed, looking up. “There’s not a cloud in sight. The day is warm. Things are good. My walk down the street is just what I needed after a long week. So, why the fuck do you two assholes have to show up and ruin it for me?”

“My, my, temper, temper,” Reed, the leader of the pair of morons now shadowing me, said. “Aren’t you grouchy today!”

“You really should show a little more respect to the ones giving you a stay of life,” Lincoln added.

“Why would I go out of my way to give you something you don’t deserve?” I said. “You’re nothing but a pair of hired thugs working for Kalann. That’s it.”

Reed laughed, once. “We prefer to think of ourselves as his … assistants.”

“You got the ass part right.”

On my left, Lincoln seethed.

“Whatever pumped-up sense of self-worth you have, it has nothing to do with me. So, fuck off back to whatever pile of shit you came from. I don’t have anything to say to you.”

“We’re not here for you to talk,” Reed snarled. “We’re here to remind you your time is running out, asshole.”

I dropped my head back and laughed. “Your boss had to remind you, did he? Well, don’t worry. Lucky for you two absolute morons, I know how to count. Which means I know I still have twenty days left to pay Kalann. AKA, go the fuck away, I’m done with you. He’ll get his money.”

But they didn’t leave. Not that I expected them to. That wasn’t my luck lately.

“Speaking of paying him back,” Reed mused. “That was quite the nice brunch you took your little human to.”

“And then the spa,” Lincoln added. “Not cheap. Not cheap at all. It really does make one wonder where all that money came from? What are you spending it on her for instead of paying back your debts?”

“Indeed,” Reed said. “How could you afford such a nice treat for your woman? Your human woman. Such a small, vulnerable thing among the dragons.”

The growl that erupted from my throat drew looks from dragons up and down the street. I grabbed Reed by the throat and had him up against nearest wall before he could blink.

“If you ever so much as touch her, I will rip your spine from your neck.”

Reed didn’t flinch. He just smiled, reaching up and grabbing my hand as he tut-tutted.

“Now, now, Cade. Put me down.”

I didn’t move.

“Release me,” he said coldly, “or our associate watching your human will pay her a visit.”

My nostrils flared, my hand growing warm as fire burned inside me, my dragon eager to be let free so it could vaporize the two goons. They’d gotten the jump on me the first time, but now, they lacked the element of surprise. Now, it was a fair fight, and I intended to show them the error of their ways.

But I couldn’t. If I attacked them, Sam would be helpless to their retaliation.

At the thought of her being hurt, my dragon lost its cool. Thrashing wildly in my skull with its desire to protect her, I nearly unleashed a wave of fire at Reed anyway.

No. I can’t risk Sam.

Opening my fingers, I let Reed go. He wasn’t ready for it, and his legs failed to catch him as he fell to the sidewalk.

“That wasn’t very smart,” he hissed, getting to his feet.

“Fuck you, I don’t—oof!”

Reed’s fist slammed into my stomach. I doubled over in surprise just as Lincoln’s foot smashed into my rear, propelling me headfirst into the wall. I managed to get an arm in the way, scraping it instead of my face, but I still hit hard enough to wrench my shoulder.

Pulling me to my feet, Reed slammed me against the wall.

“Now, remember this, asshole. You have twenty days to pay Kalann back. Otherwise, we’ll pay your human a visit. And we’ll make sure she gets to really know a dragon. Or three. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”

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