Page 92 of Red Fury
Instead of answering, he strolls over to a fully stocked bar and pours himself a generous measure of whiskey. His attitude makes my blood boil.
“Would you like anything?” he asks, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
“Water.” My throat feels like sandpaper.
He tosses me a bottle of water from a small refrigerator behind the bar, and I catch it one-handed. I twist off the cap and drink greedily.
I try once again to reach for my dragon. She’s there, but so distant I can barely feel her. Whatever they drugged me with is still suppressing my abilities, and I hate it. Hate this whole situation.
Roman takes a long sip of his drink, keeping those unsettling eyes on me the entire time. “You are a prize,” he says finally. “You’re not human.” He tilts his head like he’s trying to solve a puzzle. “But I can’t quite put my finger on what you are, exactly. A shifter of sorts.”
I swallow thickly. How does he know?
He laughs. “I can see that you’re taken aback. Don’t be. I can scent it on you. Just like I could scent it on yourfriend.”
He’s talking about Fury.
“It’s why I invited him to the club. I hoped he might bring along a prize like you. I had my staff on high alert, and they sniffed you out as soon as you arrived.”
I knew it.
He singled me out because of what I am.
He continues to scrutinize me, his nostrils flaring. “What are you, little pet? Definitely not a wolf shifter. Your scent is all wrong for that.” He narrows his eyes, his nose flaring some more as he takes in my scent.
A what now?
“Did you just say wolf shifter?” I ask, feeling my blood drain.
He laughs, genuine amusement lighting his features. “From your facial expression, I can tell you had no idea about the existence of wolf shifters. Very interesting. How could you not know about them?” He scratches his chin, narrowing his eyes on me. “Or perhaps you don’t like me knowing you’re not human?” He scrutinizes me. “Nope, that’s not it. You genuinely don’t know about wolf shifters. Wow! That’s interesting.”
Wolf shifters? What the hell is he talking about? Surely he’s talking shit. There are only dragon shifters, and no one is supposed to know that save for a handful of humans.
“I will figure it out soon enough. Don’t you worry your pretty little head.”
“Cut the crap and start talking,” I growl, finishing the water and tossing the empty bottle onto a nearby chair. “I want answers. It’s the least you can do after upending my life. Why am I here?”
“I thought we could chat a while before getting to the good stuff, but since you’re so impatient, I’ll launch straight into it. The long and the short of it is that I need to get married,” he says.“It’s time. I want children.” He takes another sip of whisky. “It would obviously depend on what you are.”
“Don’t worry your pretty little head,” I throw his words back at him, putting my hands on my hips. “It’s never going to happen. I’m sure there are plenty of women who would be interested. Although they might change their mind when they find out you’re not human.” I wish I knew what he was.
“I don’t want a human. I need someone special.”
“Why? You don’t look like the marrying type.”
He makes a face. “I’m not. It would be more of an arrangement than an actual marriage. The Elders keep telling me that I need to improve my public image.”
“Who are the Elders?”
“They’re too boring to talk about.” He shakes his head.
“Did you seriously bring me here to ask me if I would consider marrying you?”
“I’ve earmarked you as a potential candidate. We would have strong children.” Again, he looks me over, and my skin crawls. “It’s something I would be open to discussing with you.”
“Something you would be open to discussing.” I start laughing. I can’t help it. It’s so absurd.
“I’m serious.”
