Page 72 of Dragon Exposed

With one last fleeting look at Nina, still fast asleep on the bed, I slipped the necklace on and headed out to try and find my mate.

The sound of Levi’s voice mentioned Central Park, so I flagged down a cab, hoping that I could trust the clue. That it wasn’t just another red herring, meant to lead us into yet another trap set up by the vampires and their witch.

The pendant’s buzzing whine got louder and louder the closer I got to the park, giving me a little bit of hope, even as I worried that Tabitha hadn’t been lying, that I really wasn’t his mate at all.

I followed the sound to a sewer grate that had been ripped open by what looked like claws.

Either I was in the right place… or the very, very wrong one.

29

Magical Betrayal

LEVI

The makeshift cell I was in had been layered in so much magic, I didn’t know how I’d ever get out.

I kept trying to reach out to Izobelle, to anyone, to try and guide some help to me, somehow, but it seemed as though the spells were keeping my thoughts silent to anyone but me. Or, worse yet, my mate could hear me, but she had no way to following, no way of finding me, no way of making contact.

I should’ve put more effort into finding my heartstone. I should’ve worked to try to draw out her dragon’s form, to teach her how to use her mind to talk to me. I should’ve been a better mate, instead of just taking care of our physical, carnal needs.

I’m so sorry, Izobelle. I never should’ve left you alone. I never should’ve left you unprotected, without a dragon of your own to keep you safe. If I ever get out of this, if I ever find my way back to you, I swear to do better.

I sunk down into a corner, leaning against the wall, feeling like I’d fucked up royally, in every aspect. As a mate, a prince, a dragon, and a man.

Levi? I… I don’t know if you can hear me, but I’m coming.

The sound was soft, tentative, as if she wasn’t confident in her own voice.

My mate. My Izobelle.

My dragon wanted to roar in response, to bugle out a sound of glee, but something about this space kept me locked in my human form, kept me from being able to properly answer her.

Instead, I reached out with my mind. Anything I could do to keep that hope alive, for us both.I’m here, Izobelle. I can hear you.

I could hear her. I’d get out of this place, and I’d show her everything about being a dragon. We could fly all over the world, explore places neither of us had ever been. Whatever she wanted. As long as I got to do it with her by my side.

The spells and the heavy odors of the sewer made it impossible for me to tell whether she was close, whether my mate would run into anything more dangerous than the spells I did.

Levi? How do I find you? These tunnels are a maze, and it seems like it’s all dead ends and circling back on myself.

I’ll try to make noise. I don’t know if you’ll be able to hear it though. I’m behind a doorway that has been spelled to hold me in, to damper my dragon. Whatever you do, if you do find me, if you can open the door, don’t let it close again.

I felt my way around the dark room, looking for anything that would help give my mate a sign that I was here.

One wall was covered in piping, and when I nearly tripped over a decent sized rock, I knew what I had to do.

Again and again, I struck those pipes, hoping the spells didn’t soundproof this chamber.

The groaning sound of metal on metal echoed around me, and I could’ve wept with joy when I saw Izobelle there, wearing what appeared to be my heartstone around her neck.

“You found me.” I ran forward, pushing against the magical barrier, trying to get out, to get to her.

She grinned, but it quickly fell when she realized I wasn’t just walking out of this prison. “Levi, what’s wrong? Come on, we need to go.”

“Not so fast.” A female voice called out from the darkness, not far from where my mate stood. “I’ll release him from the barrier, but only after you prove that he’s your mate. If the stone doesn’t glow, I’ll keep him.”

Tabitha.Izobelle’s voice in my head was clear and true. And pissed off. She almost sounded like she was ready to set the witch on fire.

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