Page 44 of Kidnapped Plus-Size Mate

Wow…

This place is a fortress, the walls decorated with the finest paintings and the floors laid with the softest Persian carpets. The hallway is more extravagant than the museum where I work,and I spare a moment to appreciate the beauty of the quality of the paint on the walls and the low-hanging ceiling with a fine chandelier dangling near the elevator.

Stealing down the hallway in the early hours of the morning, I decide that I’ll find a phone or computer and get in touch with Abuela. Besides letting her know that I’m safe, I can question her about my dreams and put an end to my suspicions that I’m not really meant to be the dragon shifter’s mate. I can’t shake off the feeling that there’s something I don’t know.

Was Abuela trying to warn me against him because I’m not meant to be his mate?

The other human, Olivia, seemed fine.

During our passionate tryst last night, it felt like Stryker, and I connected in a way that outweighed all my doubts. Even the anger I felt before is gone.

But then, why did my ancestor pass me a knife? Was I meant to kill him?

Am I not to trust the dragon shifter?

Gosh!

It’s too much to process, and I need answers right now. I don’t have the liberty to appreciate the stunning hallway as I tread to the elevator and call for it to come to this floor. I watch it ascend, the screen above lighting up with numbers that count until eleven before it pings and the metal doors slide open.

Stepping into the elevator for the first time, I breathe a sigh of relief. After more than a week in this place, I’m leaving the confines of the bedroom to explore what else the castle has to offer. It’s almost as if I can’t truly trust myself when I’ve been unable to trust Stryker all this time.

Why was a knife passed to me in the dream? I can’t fathom being the dragon shifter’s enemy in that way.

I’d been determined to hate him for kidnapping me. But was I led to him for another reason?

What is my destiny? And why is it linked to the dragon shifter who’d abducted me?

From what I saw in the dream, it couldn’t possibly be because I was destined to be the dragon shifter’s mate. It felt like something more, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. But I’m determined to find out.

Once inside the lift, I press the ground floor button, and it sends the elevator on a descent toward the first floor of the castle. That’s a good place to start, I decide as I tap a barefoot on the floor, impatience building up with all the questions running rampant in my mind.

As soon as the elevator arrives on the ground floor, the doors slide apart, and I’m about to step out when Olivia blocks my path.

“Camilla!” she exclaims pleasantly with a broad smile. “You finally made it out of the room!”

I giggle nervously, pulling on the string that holds the gown in place. “Yeah… I erm—I need to use a computer.”

Olivia’s smile fades, replaced by a wary frown as she tilts her head to one side to regard me. She steps aside, allowing me to walk out of the elevator. “What do you need a computer for?”

“It’s not what you think, Olivia,” I explain solemnly, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights with the way she raises a brow at me. Driving in the guilt I’d been feeling ever since I woke up from this morning’s dream, I began to wonder if I was the intruder on the island.

Maybe I got it all wrong.

“I—” I gulp hard. “I don’t plan on outing the existence of dragons to the news stations if that’s what you think…”

Olivia gasps as she reaches out and reassuringly touches my arm. “That’s not what I meant, Cami,” she quickly explains, her eyes softening with remorse. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea for you to make contact yet. Not until Stryker permits you.”

“We had sex last night,” I blurt out before blushing profusely.

Olivia’s eyes widen with wonder, a sneaky smile lifting her lips. “Oh…” she giggles. “Oh, I see…” She grabs my arm and swiftly pulls me down the corridor. “You’re gonna have to tell me all about it!”

Still blushing uncontrollably as we make our way to the kitchen area, I go on to tell Olivia about my first time with Stryker, the guilt of my dream nagging in the back of my mind. I don’t even know how I’ll face him today, but I’m glad I have Olivia to keep me occupied and momentarily distracted from the questions that plague my mind.

She prepares a hearty breakfast for the two of us, and we take our seats behind the dining room table to replenish the energy we both spent last night with our mates.

Even with a baby, Olivia claims that Stryder is too insatiable when it comes to her.

“I’m glad you and Stryker can finally see eye to eye,” Olivia comments as she sips on her juice.

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