Page 24 of Kidnapped Plus-Size Mate

Losing myself in Camilla’s eyes, I’m no longer as wary as I was before. After all, it’s not like the Council cares about the animosity between Rakon and me, that’s why they sent him.

Of all people, I wish it were someone else. But he’s the Beta of Fire Force, and a member of the Dragon Council thanks to his rank.

If I knew him well enough, he’d probably volunteered to check up on me. The fight between us that happened centuries ago still lingers like bad blood between us.

That’s why his vengeful eyes narrow at me now the way they did the other night at the Dragon Ball.

I clear my throat and tilt my chin defiantly at the air of tension. Rakon smiles at me before nodding curtly at my mate.

“I was just about to leave,” he offers. “See you again, Miss Torres. Mr. Vance.”

I force a smile on my face in response to Rakon as he turns to leave the museum. With my arm remaining around Camilla’s waist, I gently pull her toward the window to watch Rakon exit the museum.

“What did he want?” I ask casually, staring out of the window as I see the dragon shifter of the Fire Force clan cross the street. He glances over his shoulder when he steps onto the pavement and throws me a wicked wink.

“Oh, he offered me a job,” Camilla replies confusedly, sticking out a business card in front of me.

“A job?” I frown, taking the card and reading Rakon’s alias off the front. “Why would he offer you a job?”

When I turn my gaze back to the window, Rakon is nowhere in sight. He’s already disappeared, leaving behind only a bitter taste of bile on my tongue.

What is he up to?

Is that a part of the plan? To test Camilla’s loyalty to me?

The thought has me clenching my fists and crushing the business card between my fingers.

“Oh, crap!” Camilla exclaims beside me. “I need to go. I have another tour to lead.”

I nod in acknowledgment, but my mind races with suspicions about Rakon.

“I—I just paid for another tour,” I inform her, to which she blushes again.

“We should, erm—” She pauses to bite her bottom lip, throwing me for a loop with how sinfully innocent the act is.

Coming back to her, I lean in and press a chaste kiss on her lips. I love seeing her flustered like this. It’s something I can get used to.

“We’ll talk about what just happened when you’re done,” I chuckle. “Go on. I won’t distract you today.”

“How did you—” Camilla purses her lips, then curls them into a shy smile and shakes her head. “Never mind. I’ll see you when I’m done.”

I give her a wink as she spins on her heels to leave the room where her tour will end. I decide to hang back only tosend my brother a question through the mental link we share. Turning toward the window when Camilla is gone, my brows knit as I send Draco a mind link.

“Draco… It’s Stryker… Can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear, little brother.”

“Are you at home?”

“Nope,”Draco replies. “We’re in Venice. The family decided to spend the summer here. Stryder and Olivia are still at home. Do you need something?”

I shake my head with confusion. If Draco and the others aren’t home, it’s unlikely that a Council meeting was held in their absence.

“Do you know anything about the Council sending someone to check up on me?”I ask telepathically.

“No. Why?”

In the distance, I can hear Draco’s son Dedrik wailing for attention. The Alpha’s baby is a strong dragon shifter, as to be expected. His cries are audible through the mind link every time Draco makes contact. I don’t wish to spoil Draco’s time with his family, so I decide not to alarm him with the news that Rakon is here.

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