Page 21 of Her Tortured Beasts

Nadine’s smile turns devious. “A rat.”

They’re quite intelligent creatures, but a reptile like her wouldn’t know that. I smile wildly, suddenly realising I can turn this lemon into lemonade. I reach for the ribbon secured at my left ribcage, and before either of them can do anything, untie it and open both sides of the wrap dress at the same time, exposing my entirely naked body underneath.

It’s notmyfault they denied me underwear, is it?

Nadine makes a tiny sound of surprise while Xander goes gargoyle-still. I smile, letting the dress slide off my shoulders and allowing them to see me for a moment before I shift into the creature of choice.

My height drops rapidly towards the ground, and the world suddenly becomes huge, Xander and Nadine becoming monolithic beings as I drop onto all fours onto the manicured grass. Interestingly, the gold collar shrinks with me, and that gold chain leading to Xander’s wrist becomes as thin as a necklace. I scuttle forward at speed, heading right for Nadine’s expensive black stilettos.

The dragoness bleats like a goat, but as I reach her toe, Xander flicks his telekinetic fingers, sending me tumbling backwards into the grass.

It was worth the scream.

Nadine clears her throat. “Well, that wasn’t as exciting as I imagined. Let’s carry on, shall we?”

“Of course, Nadine. And Spawn? Do not shift back.”

Cursing out loud so it comes out as a hopefully scary chitter, I’m forced to leave my dress behind as I rush to follow them, in case Xander thinks he can start dragging me across the lawn.

By the time we return to the bustle of the main soiree, I’m fully out of breath and exhausted. Xander purposefully lapped the gardens in what I’m sure was the longest way possible.

The string quartet isn’t loud enough to smother the laughs as we return and the party sees us. And if I wasn’t intimidated by the near seven-foot dragons before, I sure am now. Their shoes are far too close to my head for my liking, their laughs far too loud, and the fact that I can see up their noses doesn’t help soften the blow.

Savage would find that little fact hilarious. A pang of darkness shoots through me as I remember he’s not here for me to tell him in the first place.

Xander finally stops and I stand on the lawn on my tiny paws, my nose twitching madly as I pant to catch my breath and stop myself from crying. He kisses Nadine’s hand and she thanks him for the ‘wonderful personal time’. But she’s quickly replaced by another doting set of parents nudging forward a pretty blonde. Xander kisses her hand too, before looking around.

“Who would like to take the Boneweaver?”

The voice that quickly answers surprises me. “I’ll take her.”

Everyone turns to look at Sissy, striding forward with a wine glass in one hand. The energy in the space abruptly changes, and I notice the other dragons discreetly angling themselves away from her, like she’s infested with something.

“Thank you, Selena,” Xander says formally, unhooking the gold bangle from his hand. Selena holds out her own and allows her brother to clasp the bangle around her slender wrist.

She looks down at me, her face holding no trace of emotion. “Come along then, Lady Boneweaver.”

Chapter 12

Xander

Four Seasons (Summer)— Vivaldi

“May I be frank with you, Lord Drakos?” Francesca Hellfire says as we walk into the knee-waist hedge maze my mother loves. The night wind suddenly feels cold against my face.

“Of course, Francesca,” I say, attempting to sound like a pleasant sort of person.

She glances at me, her tanned features beautiful under the twinkling lamplights spaced periodically outside the maze. “I’ve never met anyone who’s rejected their mate before. My mother is worried it makes you a sociopath.”

I huff a laugh. “I’m not a sociopath. I care greatly for my family. I feel pain when they do. I feel great love for them.”

She stares at me with sharp grey eyes. “Truly?”

“I’ve met my share of sociopaths,” I say, patting her small hand resting in the crook of my arm. “I’m not one of them.”

“Well, that’s only one of the things that has me questioning this match.”

While I appreciate her frankness, her manner leaves a bit to be desired. She can be taught that, I suppose. “What else has made your list?”

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