Page 91 of Leashed

By the time he arrived at the gates, his hands were clasped tight over his ears, the memory of kissing Sage pounding through his head in its new altered state. Hours of the Eidolon’s hushed words had morphed his most treasured memory into an aggressive attack, and his traitorous mind was playing along. Soft lips against his were drawn tight, the hands that had wound through his hair now pushing against his chest as she fought to get away from him. The lust and warmth in those dark eyes replaced by disgust and fear.

He stumbled to the base of the thick spires of the iron gate, leaning against it as he tried to shake the corrupted memory, tried to erase the terror in her eyes while his mangled memories played her struggle against him over and over.

The Eidolon sashayed away from him, a satisfied smile on her face as she strode off, evaporating into nothing.

Mission accomplished, he thought as his hands flexed, the false sensation of restraining Sage tangible in his bones and making his empty stomach churn until he fell to his knees.

There was a rustling behind the gate and he swung his head toward the sound, jumping to his feet, his body primed for attack.

Until he looked up.

And up.

“You’re kidding me,” he rasped, his cracked voice drawing the beast’s attention. “Seriously, Lach?”

She stepped onto the terrace behind the gates, her immaculate white dress swinging open at her thighs. “I think it’s romantic,” she laughed, slinking closer. “You need to prove your worth, mutt. And what woman or goddess wouldn’t be impressed by a dragon slayer?”

“Mine,” he snarled, drawing a deep breath when the precariousness of the word sliced through him.

Lachesis crossed her arms. “Placing a woman on a pedestal is a dangerous game, Bo.”

“Only when they don’t earn it,” he growled back. “Olympus is proof of that, isn’t it?”

Adjusting his stance, he scanned the heavy-breathing monster for weakness.

Two heads were better than three.

The dragon arched one long neck up, exhaling a stream of fire and smoke as the other head swung to him with a serpentine smile.

He’d tried so hard to watch his language, to keep his cursing under control, to make himself a fraction higher than the animal he was.

But only one word summed up his thoughts in that moment.

Fuck.

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