Page 27 of The Dragon's Surprise
“It must’ve been hard to face that all as a child.”
She picked at her food. “It was, but Jennifer and I were lucky since we had our grandmother, and I couldn’t have asked for a better woman to raise us.”
“It was like that with my Aunt Rita. She took me in, too, once my parents were killed by dragon hunters.”
Hunters who’d wanted their blood and had left their dragon forms to the animals for days before his clan had found them.
His beast spoke up.They found the people who did it, and they all died in prison. Don’t waste time on ghosts when our true mate is right here in front of us.
Glancing at Lexi, he took a deep breath and tried to tame his anger at their unnecessary deaths.
She placed a hand on his arm, and his anger melted away as she said, “I’m so sorry, Kyle. That’s beyond awful.”
He nodded. “ADDA spent a few years after that chasing away the dragon hunters from this area, but not so much in recent years. Probably because a lot of them are now working with the League.”
She made a face. “I hate those bastards, and can’t wait until all the hunters and League members lose their power and are prosecuted as they should be. The latter, especially, makes myjob extremely difficult. But in some ways, the hunters are worse since they kill more often.”
At the thought of Lexi being targeted by those assholes, he growled, “How have they made your job more difficult?”
She shrugged. “Since their goal is to drive all dragon-shifters out of the United States, they try to kidnap the orphans and drop them off in either Mexico or Canada—alone, in the middle of nowhere, with the full intention of them dying. I’ve only had a close call once, but it’s happening more and more, to the point even ADDA is concerned. My sister tries to do what she can, but unlike her and Ashley Swift, not every ADDA employee is passionate about dragon-shifters. Too many just want a steady paycheck.” She sighed. “I wish people would stop focusing on how we’re different and look at how we’re more alike.”
Kyle reached across the table and took her free hand in his. He squeezed her fingers. “As a doctor, I know firsthand how people will always try to find someone or something to blame. Sometimes it’s a coping mechanism, and sometimes it’s just the inability for people to admit they were wrong or made a mistake. I try not to take it personally when they yell at me. But that’s from my own kind, and I admit it’s harder to see a human run away because they think I’m going to carry them off and drop them from the sky for fun.”
“And yet you don’t hate all humans. It’s a big difference, I think.”
“Well, I’ve met good and bad ones. Some may paint all dragon-shifters with a single brush, but I try not to do the same for humans.”
“You’re far more gracious than I am. I’m not sure I could see the potential good in anyone with the League.”
“Well, I try to heal others, whereas you have to deal with abandoned children. I’d probably be more cynical, too, if that were the case. But you do so much good for the children, andto them you make a difference. Probably more than you realize, Lexi.”
“I know, and most of the time, I’m happy with what I can do for them. I have far more patience for children, thankfully. Grown-ups, on the other hand, are harder for me to be understanding with. It’s one of my many faults.”
“And what are your others, I wonder?”
She arched an eyebrow. “Is this how you treat all your first dates? Ask them to spill the worst right upfront?”
“Considering I haven’t had a date in years with a female I wanted for more than a night of fun, I guess so. I can list mine first, although I’m sure you know I’m stubborn, tend to keep things bottled up, and take any sort of mistake too seriously.”
For a few beats, Lexi remained silent and studied him. Maybe he should’ve waited to be so honest.
His beast spoke up.I think she’ll appreciate it, given her job and all the excuses she has to deal with.
Before Kyle could reply, Lexi shrugged and said, “Fine, I’ll go along with your speed dating type thing. As for faults, I have a temper. It doesn’t show all that often, but it does come out. I also…”
She hesitated and looked away.
Even though they were still getting to know each other, he didn’t like her holding back with him.
His beast spoke up.Coax her to talk. The more we know, the easier it should be to win and claim her.
In agreement with his dragon, Kyle squeezed her hand and said softly, “Tell me, Lexi. Please.”
Her eyes finally met his again, and he waited to see if she’d answer.
Lexi had never talked so easily with a man before, jumping from topic to topic, and revealing so much of herself so quickly. It was rather refreshing.
However, when Kyle had asked about her faults and she’d started to list them, she’d nearly blurted out her most embarrassing one. And the taunting remarks from her former boyfriends, about something being wrong with her or that she was too demanding, rushed forth.
