Page 49 of Ash

The woman seemed royally pissed off. Her eyes sparked the color of flame and narrowed as she glared at Dani. “Who the shards are you?”

The voice was little more than a hiss.

Razir cleared his throat. “Aranta, this is—”

“I’m not talking to you.”

He stiffened, and Dani welcomed the surge of resulting anger. Sometimes the best defense was a good offense. She calmly set her plate down on the coffee table.

“My name is Dani.” Her words were calm, but she let her beast shine through her eyes.

Razir winced. His entire body was rigid as a board. The scales definitely revealed all. But if Dani needed protection, he didn’t look up to the task at hand. That he was up for other things, there was little doubt.

The female Dragon stiffened. “You’re staying here? This is Tyrez’s apartment.”

Dani fought to keep her expression neutral, but her body shook. Her fingers folded into fists, her claws pricking her palms. “I am his guest.”

The woman sniffed. “You smell like a dog.”

Dani peeled lips back from fangs that dropped ever so slightly. “I am Dire. Watch yourself, lizard.”

Razir did his best. He stepped between them, but his entire body quivered, and Dani’s nose twitched. The air was rife with pheromones, and her own blood raced.

Despite his obvious predicament, his voice remained contained. “If you have an issue with her presence here, Aranta, take it up with Tyrez. Dani is here because she requires protection that only the palace can—”

“Where is he?” Her eyes sparked with molten fire, and her wings cracked open. They were a fraction of full-sized, but they almost brushed the ceiling.

“He’s gone to see the Satyr. He’ll be b—”

“I know where that creature lives.” She seemed determined not to let him finish a sentence.

Dani smelled the anger coming off the other woman in waves. It matched her own feelings, precisely. “Who are you to dictate whether I can be here, anyway?”

The Dragona’s fingers flexed, as though she wanted to sink her claws into flesh. “I have chosen Tyrez to be mymate,” she growled. “You are nothing but a distraction, and you have no right to be here. He should be focused onme.”

Mate? Dani’s heart twisted. Was she serious?

A tremor seemed to pass through Razir. “You have chosen him?”

The scarlet gaze flashed in his direction. “I would have notified you next. But as you are here, yes. I have chosen him.”

Dani’s confusion derailed her anger. Why should she care that Aranta was his mate? And why was Razir looking so crushed? She glared at the Dragona. “I am more than willing to leave. But he assures me that it is not possible.”

Scales raced over the woman’s throat and features as she hissed, “We shall see about that.” Her scarlet wings expanded, and in moments a red Dragon stood in the living room. She stepped to the ledge, fully formed but still growing, and took off before attaining full size.

Dani ran to watch her soar away. Tyrez’smate. Why did that bother her? She’d only just met the Dragon. Sure, he was drop dead gorgeous. But Remy had been handsome too.

Of course, Tyrez hadn’t bitten her to end up in her dreams. Her romantic heart, refusing to be shelved, had put him there. He was a tasty mountain of maleness, but she reminded herself of the facts—monsters often hid within handsome exteriors.

The reality was he’d rescued her for the information she might be able to offer. Dani was only a means to an end. Dreams weren’t real. There was no harm in having him there, so long as she remembered that.

Besides, history had proven that she was better off without attachments. The only one she could truly trust was herself. And there was no way she’d ever let another male touch her. Not after what Remy had done.

She turned to see Razir in the kitchen, shoveling a roll into his mouth. Dani fetched her own plate before joining him.

“She’s Tyrez’s mate?” she asked.

He swallowed his mouthful. “Yeah.” His eyebrows danced. “Lucky bastard.”

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