Page 52 of Daddy Billionaire Dragon

“She left me a note saying she’s going to her mom’s place for a few days.”

“Oh. Did she say why?”

“No. I thought you guys had a fight or something. She hasn’t really been herself for the last week or so. Did you have a fight?” she asks, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Of course we didn’t.” I can’t keep the defensiveness out of my voice.

“Why the flowers?” she asks, cocking an eyebrow and placing a hand on her hip. She’s evidently not convinced.

“Look, Penelope, I have something very, very important to tell her. Where does her mom live?”

She eyes me for the longest time, perhaps trying to decide if she should give me Nic’s whereabouts or not.

“Pittsburgh. Let me get her address.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I say giving her a one-armed hug before she heads into her room. She comes out with a piece of paper with Pam’s address on it. I want to grab it out of her hand, but she pulls it out of my reach.

“You promise me that you won’t hurt her.”

I suddenly feel like a schoolboy caught in a wrongdoing under her steady gaze.

“I was a moron until now, but I’ve seen light. Nic belongs to me. I promise you that I won’t intentionally hurt her ever.”

She smiles and hands over the paper to me.

“Here. You take these. You have been wonderful,” I say, hugging her again, thrusting the flowers at her. She relieves me of my burden with a laugh.

I run down the stairs, taking three steps at a time. Chuck is waiting in the usual spot. I instruct him to take me back to the office. I have to tell the others that I’m going to Pittsburgh. And the only way I will reach my destination fast enough is if I shift.

There is a huge grin on my face and my heart feels as if it will burst with joy. But there is also a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. In fact, I have been feeling this ever since I read Nic’s note. At that time, I put it down to shock, but it has only steadily increased instead of abating, even after I made the decision to claim Nic as my soul mate. What is even more worrying is that my dragon is all fidgety and uneasy instead of being ecstatic.

Could something have happened to Nic? Is she in danger? Has the unseen peril finally manifested itself?

Chapter 27 - Nic

I don’t know if trying to break free drained me of my strength or if being drugged was making me groggy, but I passed out again. When I open my bleary eyes after God knows how long, there’s a fire burning in the corner of the cave. A man is sitting near the fire with his back turned towards me. There are tattered clothes on his body and his matted blond hair reaches almost down to his waist.

“Who are you, and why have you brought me here?” I intended to shout these words, but they come out in a weak whisper. My captor doesn’t turn around.

“Let me go!” I shout, mustering all my strength. My voice seems to startle him. He turns to face me and his silver-gray eyes are wide with surprise. When he approaches me, I shrink back in my chair. There is something about him that is not quite menacing, but scares me nonetheless.

“But I can’t let you go, my dear. I went to all this trouble to save you,” he says softly, his eyes large and round.

“Why have you brought me here?” I ask, desperate for answers.

“To save you, of course. And your dragon,” he says, smiling at me benignly. He doesn’t seem to be faking it.

“I don’t need saving. Please, let me go!” I struggle against my restraints.

“Oh dear Lord! How silly of me!”

He hurries forward with a sharp piece of rock. I shrink back in my chair and close my eyes tight. Is he going to kill me? I’m surprised when he cuts the cords binding my wrists and ankles. I can tell that he’s trying to be gentle, but he fumbles and ends up nicking me. I wince in pain.

“I’m sorry for the pain I caused you.”

I watch, horrified, as his eyes fill with tears. For the first time I notice a glint of madness in them.

“It’s alright,” I say in my kindest voice. “Thank you for cutting the restraints.”

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