Page 47 of Rescued By The Dragon

“Why didn’t you say anything?” she asked. “We hosted this ball for you to stay with your mate the entire night?”

“It’s complicated. We’ll talk about it later. I want to know why we’re meeting with The East Kingdom after the ball?”

She glanced over at my father who sighed deeply. “We’ll talk about it then. You weren’t going to tell us that you have a human mate, son?”

Here we go ...

“Are you second-guessing my dragon?” I asked, daring either of them to do so.

“No, son,” Mom said, sighing. “We know you can’t help who your dragon chooses, but you can help who you choose. If you mate with her there is no guarantee you will have dragon babies—,”

I stepped down from the platform, down the two steps, and pointed my finger at her. “I don’t want your little picks from The East Kingdom. Or some dragon female you toss down my throat. This is final. Amara is my mate. Get over it.”

I stalked toward the place where I’d left, but she wasn’t there. It’d been more than five minutes, so I shoved toward the hallway to catch her coming out of the bathroom.

We weren’t going to some stupid meeting with The East Kingdom. We were getting the hell out of here for the night. Her and me. No matter what anyone thought about it.

I turned the corner of the hallway, seeing Amara pressed against the wall, her stepmother pointing her bony finger in Amara’s face. My dragon snapped in one second.

I was in front of her before I blinked, putting space between her and Amara. “You do not touch my mate. Do you hear me?”

She began to stutter but found her footing. “She is my stepdaughter, and it’s passed her curfew. You don’t understand …

It was 9 pm. I understood completely.

“Your stepdaughter is twenty-five years old, and she’s staying with me tonight. Do I need my father to come have a chat with you about this? Keeping a grown woman locked in a damn attic?”

Her gaze shifted toward Amara’s but my wings fluttered outward and blocked her view. “She has a condition and has to stay with me. She can’t live anywhere else—,”

“I’m taking care of that,” I spit. “I’ve known her for over a week and I’ve seen nothing that says she can’t live with me. I suggest you get home now since it’s so late and all. Take your gaudy daughters with you.”

She gathered the skirt of her dress and left in a hurry down the hallway.

Amara let out a deep sigh and covered her face with her palms.

“None of that. This is our chance to leave.”

I grabbed her hand and ushered her down the hallway, up the stairs, and toward my room. “We’re staying here? Won’t they find us?”

I pushed open the balcony doors, offered her my hand, and smiled. “No, Little Mouse. I have someplace I’d like to take you now.”

Amara didn’t hesitate. She took my hand and yelped as I gathered her into my arms. We were going to the mountain for the night, to the only place I had away from my family and now hers.

Bending down, I jolted us into the night sky, leaving behind the madness of the ball ... again.

However, this time, I had an entire night with Amara to look forward to.

We would worry about her stepmother, her guardianship, and my family in the morning.

Maybe...

Chapter Seventeen

Amara

Flying was equally exhilarating and nauseating. The dips and turns reminded me that I wasn’t ten years old anymore. I clung to Dorran’s wide chest, wondering where he was taking me, and what would happen next.

Surprising for his height, he’d been an elegant dancer. His turns were smooth, but not as flawless as the path of his palms, and the ease of his smile.

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