Page 66 of Dragon's Honor

“Pity.”

Finley had no idea what she should do. They were in the middle of a restaurant. Would he kill her right here? Would he try and take her somewhere? Did he have some magical spell to do something to her?

“Tell me, Miss Sawyer, what do you think of your dragon mate so far? He’s different than the vampire who took a bite of you when you were a child, isn’t he?”

Finley blinked at him. “What?” Her voice was calm and quiet.

Tristian leaned forward. “You heard me, lovely. The vampire who found you in that alley so long ago. That’s why you’re been searching for the supernatural, right? You wanted to find him again. Did you want him to take another bite? Are you depressed to be attached to a dragon instead?”

“Why are you here?”

Tristian remained still with the same mad hatter look over his face.

Finley moved like she might get up, snapping Tristian back into motion. “I’m here for you. I’m debating the best way to get you out of here without making a scene.”

“I will scream and fight you.”

“Oh, I know.” Tristian’s gaze flickered to her tourmaline bracelet. “How long have you had that?”

She followed his gaze. “A while. Why?”

“Was it on the same night you were drugged with Dragon Fire?”

Finley didn’t answer.

“Uh huh,” he replied like that told him everything he needed to know.

Tristian lurched forward and he grabbed her wrist with the tourmaline. She gasped and slammed back in her chair, tugging on her arm to no avail.

“You need to get out of here,” he said through gritted teeth.

Finley stared at him. “What?”

“Get out. I won’t be able to control myself for much longer. Get out. You’re dead if I get you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“He already has made me kill so many people. Please don’t let me kill you.” He released his hand and sat back squeezing his eyes shut.

Finley grabbed her clutch, stood, and quickly wound around the table. Ash was headed right for her, with murder in his eyes.

“Ash, no. Please just trust me. Let’s go.” She pressed her hands to his chest. “Please.”

Ash met her gaze and then looked back at Tristian.

She snuck a glance and saw he was still sitting perfectly still. “Please, trust me. We need to leave. Right now.” She couldn’t let them shift in the middle of the restaurant. And she didn’t want to see Ash hurt.

Ash took her hand and led the way out the door. Instead of heading for the valet to get his car back, he took a sharp left and dragged her to the beach. The sand was getting in her shoes, but he kept moving. And then he was wading into the water.

“Ash.”

“Take a deep breath,” he ordered.

Finley barely had time to do as he said before he was pulling her under the water. His arms were no longer around him. One large clawed hand was able to engulf her whole. Then they were moving through the water. Finley tried to hold her breath while fighting the urge to scream.

He’d shifted into a dragon and was taking her somewhere. She had no idea where. Did he plan on swimming the entire way?

Finally, when she thought she was going to pass out, he breached the water and flew up into the air. Finley sucked in air and sputtered as the water fell off him onto her.

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