Page 9 of Kidnapped Plus-Size Mate

“What about me?” she shrugs.

I raise a skeptical brow. “You know that Yaz and I are rather close, right?”

“What did she tell you?” Kairo’s eyes widen in horror as she glances over at Aragon and his mate, Yazmine. The couple are heading off the dancefloor, oblivious to Kairo glaring at the back of her head through narrowed eyes.

I chuckle lowly. “She might have let it slip that you had your sights on Brantley…”

“Emphasis onhad,”she blows dismissively, rolling her eyes. “No dragon is worth my time.”

“Okay, sassy Sis,” I chuckle. “We don’t have to get into it if you don’t want to.”

“If you must know, he—”

“Excuse me.”

A gentle tap on my shoulder draws my attention behind me.

“Rakon…?” Kairo gasps as her eyes widen again.

This time, it’s because of the man who just interrupted our dance.

I pause to turn to him, confused by his sudden interjection when he curtly bows. I knew I’d see him again since he’s the Beta of the Fire Force clan, and this is his turf. What I didn’t expect was to see him exercise good manners.

The last time I saw Rakon, he couldn’t care to be mannered. Many centuries ago, when we’d both attended the Dragon Council’s School for Young Dragons when it still existed, Rakon was my best friend for a hot minute.

Until a fallout between us showed me his true colors, and I couldn’t stand to be near the uncultured brute.

“How ya going, mate?” he greets with a smirk. “It’s been a minute, yeah?”

I nod slowly. “It’s been a long time. I heard you’re the Beta now. Well done.”

“Don’t sound so surprised, mate. Everyone knew if there was anyone worthy, it was me,” he grins proudly.

His presence is unsettling, only because of the history we share. What comes as a surprise is the way my sister clings to me, her nails biting into my shoulder and arm when Rakon turns his gaze to her.

Does she hold a grudge against the man simply because of what happened between us in the past?

“Care for a turn around the floor, Miss Vulkan?” he asks her sweetly, and I realize I must be mistaken.

Whatever happened between Rakon and me shouldn’t affect Kairo in any way.

But when she flicks wary eyes at me, I frown.

“Erm—I—” she stammers, her grip on me getting firmer. “Make him go away, Stryker. Please,”she pleads through the mind link we share, her brows furrowing slightly.

“Sorry, Rakon,” I say to him without a second thought. Whatever is going on, I know I need to back my sister up on her decision. “My sister and I were enjoying this dance together.”

Did I just imagine the growl rumbling in the air when Rakon muttered something inaudible under his breath?

I frown when he takes a deliberate step forward, mentally preparing for a fight.

It won’t be the first time I fought him. The only thing holding me back is the thought of being punished by the Council if I made a fool of the Beta of tonight’s hosting clan.

“Are you putting your nose where it’s not meant to beagain?” he grates at my ear.

My inner dragon boils inside as the distinct way he punctuated the word “again” brings back memories of what occurred between us in the past.

It’s not my fault that the she-dragon he liked back in Dragon School fancied me instead. It wasn’t her preference that ruined our friendship, but how inconsiderate of her feelings he was when he demanded that she go with him to the dance.

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