Page 89 of Primal Dragon

Quinn stood next to her friend. “Why does it matter?”

“I’m curious. If you want your friend to be spared a few moments, you should answer me.”

“I rescued him. He was left for dead. When he recovered, he repaid the favor by being the one person in my life for a long time that accepted me as I am. He didn’t care that I was human, fat, or a veterinarian. He didn’t care that my family looked down on me. He is the best friend I ever had.”

“Has he fed off you?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting. So, you’re not mated to him?”

“I’m not. We’re friends.”

Grey nodded. “There aren’t many humans who would befriend a vampire, let alone let them feed.”

“He needed blood.”

“I have no doubt. We always need blood,” he said serenely. “I will allow James to sit with you before we decide to kill him. Until then, you are permitted to stay in this room with him. If you try to get him down, escape, or do anything to disrupt what we’re doing here, I will rip his head off, then I will turn you into a vampire and rip out your heartstone and send it back to your dragon.”

Quinn’s mouth went dry. She swallowed the two by four in her throat roughly. “Threat heard.”

Grey nodded. “You and I are going to get along just fine, Ms. Thompson.”

“Are you the one who turned my brother?”

Grey chuckled. “Your brother isn’t a vampire. The smell is similar. Most people can’t tell the difference. He’s a ghoul.”

Quinn’s brow furrowed.

“James never told you about ghouls? I suppose that makes sense. Only the eldest and most powerful vampires can create a ghoul. In your vampire lore, Renfield is the closest example I can give you. Drake doesn’t eat bugs and being a ghoul won’t drive him crazy unless I desire it. But he does as I say. He asked Stefano to be a vampire. I opted to make him a servant instead. Humans think they have the right to become a vampire,” his lips curled over his teeth, flashing Quinn his fangs, “it makes me ill. Humans are food. Sometimes they’re good for other things like revenge, but other than that I will see to it that no more humans are made into vampires. I might make an exception for you, though. You might be a useful pet.”

Quinn didn’t reply. She wondered if she was going to end up a vampire when all of this was said and done.

“Now, little dragon, you will stay here. Do not do anything to get yourself and your friend into trouble, do you understand?”

“I understand.”

Grey’s lips curved. “Maybe I’ll put a collar on you.” With that he turned and left the room, closing and locking the door behind him.

Quinn let out a sigh of relief. She hadn’t realized that tears had still been falling. She turned back to James.

“You have to leave here,” James said.

“I can’t. If I do, Grey is going to ensure your death is far more worse than he’s already planning.”

“It doesn’t…” James fought to keep his eyes open and he cringed as though he was in pain. “It doesn’t matter. I’m already dead. You have to get out of here. I’ll never forgive you if you die. Or worse, become a vampire. Why does he keep you calling you ‘little dragon’?”

“Because he knows that I’m a fated mate to a dragon prince.”

James managed to widen his eyes enough to study her. “You’re serious?”

“Henrik Wystan. Prince Henrik.”

“That dick. You’re mated to him.”

“He hasn’t claimed me yet,” she replied.

“Why are you hanging out with a dragon at all?”

---