Page 75 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

When I glanced at the dragon, that same eye was open just a bit, watching me. However, once I gave him my attention, it closed again.

Weird? Absolutely. It felt like he was toying with me somehow.

Quietly, I boosted myself onto the bed.

“No shoes,” he said again, without opening his eyes.

“They protect my feet.”

“From what? The floors are smooth and warm.” He opened one eye to stare at me.

I kicked off my shoes once more and assumed a cross-legged position so I could watch him. His eye drifted shut again, and I studied him closely. His coloring under the sunlamps reminded me of a ruby. Deep and darker in some spots but a lighter red where the light hit. His wings, tucked tightly to his back, had more of a red-orange hue. The talons at the end of each appendage were almost the length of my forearm. I shivered lightly, remembering how easily he’d cut away a piece of my hair and what I’d read about claws.

As if sensing my shiver, he briefly opened one eye before resuming his doze.

I slid off the bed.

He peeked at me.

I wandered closer to the pool and bent down to test the water.

“Do you wish to swim?” he asked.

I stood quickly. “I wish to know why you brought me here.”

“I protect what is mine.”

“I’m not yours.”

He closed his eyes again.

Standing there, frustrated and scared, I considered my position. I’d broken every one of Ashlyn’s rules. I’d made eye contact. I’d spoken to him, going so far as to ask him questions. I’d entered his home. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t my idea or that I fought it the whole way. I was still here and unhurt. Nothing horrible had happened. Yet. Would it though?

When I’d found out what Joey had planned for us, I’d bolted because running was safer than staying. When the Council offered Zoe and me a place in Uttira in exchange for some time interacting with their young so they could learn about humans, I’d agreed because living here had seemed the safer option. However, I was no longer sure what was safe. Obviously, staying in our home wasn’t anymore. But were we safer staying with the dragon to avoid Joey now, or should we run from the dragon and hope Joey didn’t get us before we found somewhere else to hide?

The choice all came down to whether or not the dragon meant to hurt us, and there was only one way to find out.

I slowly approached the dragon. He peeked at me twice with one eye but didn’t make a fuss or move. However, he opened both eyes to watch me when I stopped right before his nose. I tilted my head, studying it in return. Waiting.

When he didn’t do anything, I reached out and set a hand on his nose. The scales were warm to the touch, and he started making that weird clicking sound again. I quickly withdrew my hand.

“Are you angry?” I asked.

“No.”

“Are you hungry?”

“No.”

I went back to studying him and noticed the bits of gold under his chin. There were watches, rings, bracelets—lots of those—gold bars, and even coins. Intermixed, I saw gems and bottles made of various materials.

Meeting his gaze, I slowly bent down.

Please don’t chomp me down in one bite,I thought.

My fingers closed around an ornate bracelet. I picked it up and straightened. The dragon didn’t even look at it. He closed his eyes.

If he wasn’t lying there to protect his treasure, then what in the hell was he doing? Why was I here? I didn’t have time to play guessing games. My sister was locked in another room. Joey had creatures out looking for us, and Chloe was tied to a chair somewhere. I needed answers.

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