Page 22 of Bound to the Dragon
She’s taken aback by my question. “Some. But nothing life-threatening, and they’re all being treated.”
Maybe I should go check on them. I am the Luna now. The staff members are part of my responsibility.
“Can you take me to them?”
“Take you to them?” Lillian blinks several times as if I’ve asked her to bring me a unicorn.
“If they’ll accept visitors. I’d like to check in on them.” I have to do something. Anything to keep me away from the Alpha, or I’ll be trailing after him like a lost puppy.
“Of course, Luna. They would be honored to have you visit. Any time you like.”
I tuck my phone in my back pocket and follow her out into the hallway, closing the suite door behind me. Again, I’m overcome by Blaze’s presence everywhere. He’s in every part of the house, his being, his essence.
And the need for him consumes me completely. I’ll never make it like this, resisting. We have to accept this, sooner rather than later.
“Are you all right?” Lillian’s voice brings me back to the present moment.
“Hmm?”
“You weren’t harmed today?” Her lovely blue eyes peer at me with concern.
Define “harmed,” Lillian.
“I wasn’t hurt by the attackers, thankfully.” There’s no need to launch into a diatribe about my real feelings about any of it. She doesn’t get paid enough to listen to what I’m going through.
The further we travel up the staircase, the less I feel Blaze, although it’s still a very vivid connection. I guess Blaze doesn’t spend a lot of time up here, but there is no escaping his presence anywhere. I could run back to Silver Glade, and I’m sure I would still have him all over me. But for the first time since I arrived in Shadow Pine, I have absolutely no desire to go anywhere.
The third story is smaller, narrower, with more of a hotel-style layout than the other two floors.
“Who would you like to see first?” Lillian stops in front of one of the nondescript doors.
I eye her with mild embarrassment. “I wouldn’t know,” I admit. “Can you just tell me?”
“Of course.”
She knocks on the door we’re standing in front of, and through its thickness, muffled movements scrape along the doorway. I find myself facing a bandaged older female, and myheart leaps into my throat. Those monsters attacked the elderly, too!
“Luna.” She bows to me and steps back to allow me inside. “Please, come inside. If I’d known you were coming, I would have been better prepared for you.”
“Estrella, the Luna came to see how you are doing,” Lillian explains on my behalf.
“Please!” Estrella extends a trembling hand, and I instantly understand my mistake. I shouldn’t have blindsided them.
“No, I’m not staying,” I jump in quickly, realizing that my arrival has made her uncomfortable. “I only wanted to check in on the injured. Is there anything the Alpha or I can do for you to make you more comfortable?”
Even saying “Alpha” sends spirals through my entire body, conjuring an image of Blaze’s hazel eyes. I wonder if these feelings will diminish over time, but something tells me the bond will only grow over time.
“N-no. That’s very generous. Thank you.” She’s confused but grateful for the gesture.
“You reach out to me anytime if you do. You know where to find me, and I don’t want you to hesitate.”
Estrella merely gapes at me.
“I mean it,” I insist, my mind racing on how we can make her life easier while she recovers.
“T-thank you, Luna.”
“Come on, Lillian. Let’s let Estrella rest. There must be others to visit. Thank you for seeing me today. And please don’t forget to reach out if you need anything.”
