Page 62 of Devoted to the Dragon

That shit is an excuse. We’ve got wolves from the guard stationed around the warded camp in rotating shifts so that someone is always watching the serpent.

“I can escort you if you want to talk to him. I’ll keep you safe.”

She chews on her lip. “I don’t think you can protect me from a broken heart.”

That’s it. I envelop her in a bear hug. “I sure as shit can try, but if you’re not ready to talk to him, I’ll go. Did you open the gift yet?”

“No.”

“All right, beautiful. Anything I need to know before I go up there?”

“Don’t let him touch you with his shadows,” she replies.

“Good to know. Why don’t you old folks take an afternoon snooze before we head to the club while I pay him a visit?”

Fennik pops my ass. I didn’t even hear his sneaky ass coming up. “Racking it up, huh, pup?”

He slides into the SUV, and Randi giggles, shaking her head.

“Duh,” I tease and open the door, climbing in behind my dragon.

On the way back to the estate, Randi curls up under my arm, her small hand teasing my thigh as I purr.

I’m not a diplomat. I’m a fighter. I’ve already beat the serpent's ass once, and I would love to do it again. My eyes find Fennik’s in the rearview mirror, and without words, I know he’s telling me not to.

It’s a tricky line to toe because I hate Knox for her, yet I don’t get to decide. If Randi forgives him, he will be pack—or horde, I guess—and we’ll be stuck with him.

Through the rest of the afternoon stops, I mull it over. I’m still thinking about it when I drive out to the lake.

Chapter 29

Knox

When I said this would be a vacation, I severely overestimated their use of the termlake house. This is a lakeshack. It feels as if I’ve found my way onto one of those ridiculous challenges people film where they have to survive in the wilderness for forty-eight hours.

The wolves obviously use this as some kind of small reloading station. It’s tiny and made of wood, looking more like a large outhouse than a cabin. One bed, iron, against the wall. A tiny sink and toilet. A minifridge shoved into the corner. And a wall of cubbies, some of which are filled with clothes.I didn’t know I needed to be grateful for power, but I am now.

When they brought me here last night, I was in too much pain to notice shit. I faceplanted on the bed and woke up this morning with a killer headache and my bag stashed on the floor.

They let me have that, at least, though it’s clear they searched it. My phone and the power charging bank are here, so at least I can communicate with the outside world.

I text my family that I’m alive and go in search of something to eat. They left a sack in the mini fridge, and it takes me about five seconds to eat its entire contents.

After I wash in the outside shower—where I freeze my ass off—I get dressed and decide to test the boundaries of my new cage. On the property is a shed, a dock, and a fire pit. They’ve given me a wide berth, though I can feel wolves watching me in the trees.

The witch also returned my shadows. The moment I realize I can harness them again, I try to shadow-walk so I can follow Randi’s tether. It seems, however, that the witch is clever as fuck because something in the wards prevents me from accessing the blur. I can taste it in the air, making my shadows restless.

My life hasn’t exactly been roughing it. The serpent rulers are the royalty of our people, and we live like it. I’ve never truly been on my own.

I blow out a breath and head back inside, taking inventory of what I brought with me. I’m midway through an internet search on foraging when the sound of an engine alerts me that someone is coming.

Before the SUV comes to a stop, I’m outside waiting. I brace myself when I see it’s Randi’s hot Viking bodyguard. I’m still not fully healed from his beatdown yesterday.The wolf parks and grabs a large wooden crate from the back, walking through the wards easily.

I eye him, but he doesn’t speak. The closer he gets, the more I ache. He smells like sage and sex but mostly like my dragon. The orange tang sends a wave of longing that stabs my chest.

He shoulders past me into the shack and sets the crate on the small counter by the sink. “Someone will come back again in a day or so with another crate.”

He moves toward the door, but I block him. “Wait. When can I see her? I need?—”

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