The urgency he had to rip that woman a new one was fierce.

Toby plopped down on the couch and lifted his feet to the coffee table. “Take your time. I’m in no rush to get back to the castle. Your mother is on a war path to get the royals settled in.”

I had no intention of hearing about my mother’s plans, nor did I care about the royals.

Toby blew a piece of white-blond hair from his face. “Those female dragons have been searching high and low for you.”

Amara’s gaze flickered to mine.

“Let’s hope they don’t search too high,” I mumbled. “If anyone shows up here, let me know, and escort them off this mountain.”

“You’re turning into a hermit.”

“I’m turning into a dragon that wants his peace and will do anything to get it. I’m tired of my mother pushing women on me. It’s exhausting and pointless.”

“I’ll tell her to direct them to me then.”

“Take all you want,” I said, grabbing the door handle. “I’ll be back soon, Amara. Stay inside until I get back.”

She nodded and sipped on the cup of coffee I made her. She looked nervous, nibbling on her bottom lip and bouncing her knees up and down. Walking over, I leaned down and tipped her chin upward. “Everything is fine. Relax. I won’t be gone long.”

Amara placed her palm on my cheek. “Be careful. She’s a snake in the grass.”

“Dragons trump snakes, Little Mouse.”

I left the cabin in a run, jumping off the side; I flew down toward the kingdom, landing on the bridge that led toward the castle.

The guards did not move as I landed and began my track toward her house. Maybe they sensed the anger my dragon was trying to hide. Either way, I jumped from the roof of her house, and toward the kitchen door.

Through the window, I saw the Doberman I’d put to sleep staring at me. He put his head back down and didn’t dare bark.

That’s what I thought ...

I knocked loudly three times, hearing someone walking toward the door a few seconds later. Helena opened the door, her eyes round with surprise. As if she hadn’t sent me a threatening letter demanding her stepdaughter back.

“Don’t look too surprised, Helena. You started this.”

She opened the door to her home wide, gesturing for me to come inside. One of the stepsisters came down the stairs, but Helena pointed her finger toward the second floor.

She glared at me, a nasty snarl on her face, and reluctantly walked back upstairs. “So,” Helena said, leaning against the kitchen island. “I see my letter was delivered. Your brother was kind enough to deliver it for me since you’ve taken her somewhere I can't reach.”

My gaze skated around the room, noticing the un-moped floor, and the dirty dishes in the sink. “Looks like Amara’s lack of presence means you have to clean up yourself. Not a good look for you?”

She lifted her chin defiantly and folded her arms over her chest. “I’ll never understand why you chose Amara, but she’s not up for grabs, so I’d like you to bring her back, and I won’t cause a scene.”

Slowly making a circle around her living room, I stopped at the alphabetized bookshelf. “My dragons did this,” I said, nonchalantly. “I had them come in and clean this place top to bottom so that Amara could come to the ball.” I walked back over, examining the baseboards and then her lack of remorse. “So that I could see your face when I took her away from here.”

Helena chuckled. “She’ll get nothing if you take her. The will states—,”

“That she be stuck here doing whatever the hell you want her to until she turns 28? Yeah, I’ve read the will, Helena. Too bad, I don’t give a damn about it. Have you ever heard what a dragon will do to have their mate?”

She scoffed. “Amara is not your mate—,”

“She is,” I said softly. “She’s been marked, as well. If anyone, family or not, touches her, they will pay the price. That means you, Helena. My lawyer is currently looking at the will. If I need to buy that damn restaurant out from underneath you, I will do it. You’re finished treating my mate like some kind of maid.”

Helena’s gaze dropped to her feet. “I’ll let you have Amara without a fight if you take one of my girls.”

“I’ll take one,” I said with a dark chuckle. “And toss her off that mountain. I wouldn’t touch either one with a ten-foot pole.”