Page 8 of Cruel Daddy Dragon

“Oh, did you, now?” I laugh.

I wonder what they drugged her with. Is she going to remember she said that to me? I laugh again; probably not!

Sheriff… you have a different side to you, don’t you?

I wonder if I’ll ever get to see that other side when she’s not impaired like this…

I sigh; probably not.

She is going to befuriouswhen she finds out how I’m going to protect her. But through this small encounter, I think I understand something she’ll never say: she’ll never protect herself first when there’s someone else to protect, and there willalwaysbe someone else to protect.

Someone has to protect her. I know it with a warming pulse of determination through me.

Her head rests on my shoulder, her warm breath fanning out over my collarbone.

“I’m so tired…” She murmurs, “But I have to… find him again…Make sure… he doesn’t…”

“I know,” I reply, “It’s okay. He’s not going to hurt anyone else. I promise you.”

“You… promise?” she says.

“Yeah. You can trust me,” I tell her, “He’s not going to hurt anyone else. Ipromise.”

Sarah closes her eyes.

“Thanks… Ginger,” she says.

I chuckle lightly, but she’s resting. She’s probably going to have to sleep that injection off, but I don’t think I’m going to have to take her straight to Milo for this.

That’s good—because, alongside her, I get the feeling the Candara team is going to have to be told after the fact, too.

Cyrus may have given me the idea, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to be happy to hear it.

Chapter 4 - Sarah

“You married us?!”I shriek.

The ginger prick averts his gaze from me.

“I promised,” he says gruffly, “I’d keep you safe. This was the best way to do it.”

For a moment, I can’t find my voice. I choke for a second before I can put my rage into words:“How is that supposed to protect me?!”

“It’s complicated,” Rufus replies, “But it’s part of dragon shifter culture and magic. It will keep you safer than being alone.”

He’s got his head hung shamefully low, but he’s meeting my eye the whole time as he admits it. I at least believe him. I rub my hand over my face, still feeling the prickling heat of fury passing through me.

Frowning, I turn away. I pace up and down my living room, feeling Rufus’s eyes follow me as I move. I can recall the smallest flashes of memory—standing at the altar, one of the other dragons asking me questions. I remember that I was giggly. I was excited. And when he asked me if I took Rufus to be my husband, I said,“I do.”

Why was I so excited? I was definitely under the influence ofsomething,but I remember the excitement. While I was under the influence, I was giddy at the idea of getting married. I was overwhelmed with the romantic idea of getting married in a way I’ve never been when I was sober.

They say a drunk mind speaks a sober heart, and I’m just wondering… am I excited about marriage? I… I think about it, and I like the idea… I think. I’ve just never explored itbecause… well, once I become someone’s wife, everything I’ve ever achieved in my life becomes moot. I stop being Greyson Ridge’s first female Sheriff, and I start beingsomeone’s wife.Rufus’s wife.

When I turn back to him, he’s still watching me carefully.

“How could you do this to me?” I ask, my voice low. I have to keep it low, or it might start shaking.

Shaking in rage or from sadness, I don’t know.

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