He didn’t answer. That did nothing to soothe my fears. Either he was the strong, silent type, or I was in as much danger as I suspected. If he was turned on and thought I was a dragon like him, he might just try to take what he clearly wanted. Damn it, I’d never fought a dragon. Guess there was a first time for everything.
About fifteen minutes later, we arrived at a small collection of homes. They were more like cottages, surrounded by fields of wheat and other vegetation I couldn’t make out in the dark. He parked his car in front of a one-story, modest home. I think it was white with an orange or red–it was hard to clearly see at night–roof. They looked like homes you would find in an old European town. Quaint and historic.
He got out and circled the car to let me out. Before I could make a move, he picked me up in his arms like a wounded princess. I uselessly kicked again, but it was like I was a gnat. I made no impact. I huffed and looked around the area, hoping to find somewhere to take off to later when I made my escape. Not that it mattered. I couldn’t trust anyone in this enemy town. I wasn’t sure my look stood out as Prinath. Both sets of fae looked alike. Still, when my glamour started fading, I’d be in big trouble. Maybe I could steal big guy’s keys and drive off. No, steal keys and a map. I couldn’t bank on anyone finding me since Nodoor was a cloaked town.
We entered his home. It was as small as it looked from the outside. On the left was an open kitchen with a wooden dinette set. To the right of the door was a living room area with a brick fireplace. Facing us was a short hallway I assumed led to the bedroom and bath. It was all very basic but immaculate.
The giant, whose name I had not yet asked, put me down on my feet and walked to the kitchen.
“Hungry?” he asked. He didn’t seem concerned that I would turn around and run out now. Maybe he had the place warded.
I touched my stomach. I hadn’t eaten in a while, but I was still way too scared to think of food. I shook my head.
He frowned at me before turning away and going through his cabinets again. I walked over to the living room area and sat down. I needed to figure out my next move. How would I get the keys and the map? A mug appeared in front of my face. I looked up at the giant with questioning eyes.
He tilted his head to the cup. “Drink. Water.”
I accepted it and sniffed before taking a sip. It smelled like nothing, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t drugged. He watched me intently as I drank, and my stomach wiggled in discomfort. He put something in my drink. No way this guy was that interested in my drinking abilities. “Did you drug me?”
His alien eyes widened, face scrunched in shocked anger. “No.”
“Well, I’m used to drinking without an audience so…”
His eyes scanned my body, brushing a hand lightly over my face, and I stopped myself from shivering from his feathery touch. Who knew a live hammer like him could be so gentle? “Your face is bruised but it will heal quickly now.”
That was suspiciously kind of him to check on me like this. Seriously, what did he want from me? He couldn’t be this interested because he thought I was a dragon, was he? Was he hoping we’d hook up if he was nice? I wasn’t against it in normal times. He was hot as hell, but I needed to keep my wits about me. This was not a safe situation.
He straightened up and offered me his hand.
I looked at it and remained seated. “Where are we going?”
“We are bloodied and need to clean up.”
I snorted. “Yeah, well, you go first. I’ll stay here. I don’t have a change of clothes.”
He looked unbothered. “We can wash your clothes. I have a shirt you can wear until I can get you more.”
I didn’t need more clothes. I needed to get out of there. “How about you take a shower, and I wait here. We can’t go in together.” Then while he was washing, I could find a map and take his keys.
He searched my face as if he could see my plot right on the surface. I could have sworn I had a good poker face. However, clearly, dragons could detect truths and lies very easily. I didn’t recall learning that in any of my magic classes. Not that there was ever much about dragons.
“You will leave me.” He said that with absolute assurance.
Damn it. I put my mug of water down on the simple wooden coffee table. “I’m not taking a shower with you.” Although, the idea was far from repulsive.
He grumbled before leaning forward and picking me up in his arms. Not again. I thrashed about, but he held onto me tightly. “I am not a doll baby. Put me down. Are you crazy?”
He walked us down the hallway, unfazed by my movements. He headed into the bathroom on the left, which was across from another room, I assumed the bedroom. He sat me on the closed toilet seat before flipping on the light switch and closing the door, locking it.
The space was bare and white. The only thing unique about it was the large walk-in shower. It was wide enough to fit several people. There was no curtain, only opaque glass covering half the length of the shower, leaving a space to enter the white tiled floor. He turned on the water, but that would apparently be all the privacy I would get.
“You have to be kidding.”
He opened a cabinet over the toilet, and I was almost eye level with his groin area. And he was still hard. I crossed my legs, feeling my body respond with a renewed tingling in my core. Every part of this man was a turn-on.
He put towels on the sink counter next to me and then crouched down so we were at eye level. “I don’t trust you.”
I pointed at myself in shock. “Well, I don’t trust you! You just killed three people in front of me.”
