Page 17 of Cruel Daddy Dragon

“I’m fine, Lena,” I answer, “You don’t need to keep asking.”

“It’s just that somethingisbothering you; I know you,” she says, “If it’s not the kidnapping, then are you going to tell me what?”

She’s going to keep asking. I know she is. I try to formulate a sentence as I take yet another sip of wine.

“Lena, what…” I start, then break off for a sigh, “What was it like when you met Cyrus again?”

She blinks at me for a second.

“What do you mean?” she asks.

“I just need you to tell me,” I say, “I just want to know I’m not going insane.”

Lena’s eyebrows shoot up into her fringe, but then she looks away, frowning in thought. Her hands massage her large belly as she thinks.

“It sounds like something from one of Julie’s romance novels,” she says eventually, “but when I saw him again… it was like every time I’d felt love before that was like some kind of weak pretender—I just didn’t know it until that second.”

I’m looking down at the wine glass in my hand, looking at my reflection in the shallow amount of dull mauve drink. I don’t just want to come out and say what I’m thinking.

“That must have been overwhelming,” I mutter.

Lena laughs a little.

“It was,” Lena says, “When he first came here, he was driving me crazy. It felt like I was seeing him everywhere, even when I wasn’t.”

I nod at her. I go to take another sip, but I’ve run out of wine.

“So… are you going to tell me why you’re asking methat?” Lena pries, starting to smile a little bit.

Again, I’m a little stuck for words.

“Does it have anything to do with your new husband?” Lena asks.

TheHword sends a jolt of adrenaline through my body; it feels like my fight or flight activates the second the marriage has been mentioned.

“What?!”I yelp,“You know about that?!I thought Rufus was just telling Cyrus and the dragons!”

“That’s it, isn’t it?!” Lena chirps back.

“We only got married for the protection!” I snap.

“So did Cyrus and I,” Lena says, “But there’s more there, isn’t there? Are you—?”

There’s a knocking at the door.

That’s right. Book club. I’ve almost forgotten.

If it’s anyone other than Julie at that door, we have to stop talking about this right now, and I don’t know whether I’d prefer to keep going or not.

Lena whips open the door, and it’s Georgia.

“Hey-hey!” she cheers, holding up two bottles, “Wine for the girls and a mocktail for Lena! I amsoready for tonight—you will notbelievethe week I’ve had!”

Everyone else soon arrives, and we have to stop talking about it. To be honest, it’s nice to throw it back with people who don’t know about the dragonsormy marriage. The normalcyis refreshing. Of course, the dragons hang in the background—barely making their presence known, but there anyway. The only times the relaxed mood gets broken is when I look over and match with those deep jade eyes.

Is it some kind of cruel joke that Rufus is one of the dragons looking over us tonight? Or did he sneak in to be here?

The worst part is that he doesn’t seem to catch anyone else’s eye, but they sure noticemelooking over at him more often.

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