Don’t let him hurt himself or anyone who doesn’t deserve it.
She knew Xander better than I thought. I’ll keep him close. I didn’t want to break our connection, but I had to mobilize. I really did hope she was with Luca.Lila, I’m sorry. About everything.
Silence answered me.
I know. I should go.
It felt like someone had plucked me in my forehead as our connection broke. I knew very well that she hadn’t forgiven me. However, a momentary truce was enough for me. When we got her back, things would be different. If I questioned how much I cared about this woman before, there was no doubt now. She was mine. We belonged together, and whoever was in our way, I would end.
CHAPTER23
LILA
Ididn’t want to admit it, but communicating with Yosef telepathically had been such a relief. My agitation, mixed with his, made my skin itch. I should have closed our bond, but I couldn’t. The connection was both uncomfortable and calming. After we communicated, the plucking energy did settle, both of us relieved we could connect. It seemed that maybe being claimed had a positive side. However, I would never tell him that and would deny it until the end.
I looked over to Luca, who was sleeping soundly. God, he was beautiful to watch. He looked even more innocent than he appeared to be earlier. The mix between violent and sweet was confusing to me. I should have been terrified of him. Instead, I found myself gently caressing his face like a long-time lover.
I really hoped he was the Luca Yosef knew because that would make things a smidge easier. However, what were those odds? Was there magic behind this type of coincidence? I peered over to his left shoulder but could see no marking. Extreme disappointment fell over me. I knew it was too good to be true.
It was still dark in the room, and I had no idea what time it was, but if I was going to sneak out of a dragon’s den, I figured doing it under the cover of night was best. Although, I wasn’t jumping up and down to face what else was lurking outside. It was a damned if you do, damned if you don’t kind of situation. Well, I should at least understand the layout of the city, so I needed to get my hands on a map.
I carefully raised Luca’s heavy arm off my waist and scooted to the edge of the bed. His arm was as heavy as a barbell, and the heat that radiated from him was set on furnace. I was sweating. Still, when I moved away from him, instant cold prickled my skin. I wanted to get back under him. What was wrong with me? I knew dragons were magical, but could they actually bespell people?
I shook my head and tossed on Luca’s shirt. It ended up more as a dress on me. I’d gather my dirty clothes from the bathroom and put them on after I got the map, although it would be nice to wash them.Priorities, Lila.
I tiptoed out of the room and looked to my right, finding another closed door. I opened it and looked inside. It was a smaller bedroom. Even barer than the other room. This one just had a bed and a wooden chair beside it. The bed did have sheets on it, but everything looked dusty, and the space smelled stale. There was one window on the other side of the bed, and I could see the window still held a layer of dust and several dead bugs. Gross. I guess this guy didn’t have a Zelda, but still, the space was small enough for him to do better on his own. At least everywhere else was clean.
I shut the door and walked in the other direction to the front rooms. Once there, I looked to my right and saw the car keys lying on the wooden table in the open kitchen. I tapped my chin, looking around the space. Did they even have maps here? I doubted they would have any kind of internet if the Praniths didn’t. Where would he put a map? He didn’t have a study or desk. I went to the kitchen and opened and closed cabinets with low expectations. Unsurprisingly, I found nothing of use. He didn’t even have a junk drawer. I went to a wooden side table next to his couch. This was where he kept a hodgepodge of different things but not too much. Nothing personal. No hidden pictures that he didn’t place on those barren walls. No letters. The guy had nothing here. The drawer only held writing items, a book, yarn, and knitting tools. I raised my eyebrows at the last item. This guy knitted?
I looked over to the sofa and noticed a crocheted blanket. It was impressive and kind of cute that the scary dragon dude sat in front of the fireplace and knitted scarves and stuff. It made him seem less frightening, and I got a guilty pang from searching through his things, trying to make a run for it without even telling him. Maybe if I just asked for a map, he’d give me one. But if he knew I was trying to leave, he might make it difficult for me. I had to play this smart.
“Looking for something?” a bass-heavy voice rang out behind me.
My stomach clenched at the sound of his voice. It dripped with effortless sensuality. I should have been scared of being caught in the act, but the man was distracting.
I turned to face him, and already, he was in front of me. I nearly jumped but stood my ground. He was naked, and I tried not to get caught up staring below his chest. “I was being nosey.”
He gave me a gentle smile and brushed my cheek with the back of his hand. “The keys are on the table. What else were you looking for?”
I shrugged and tore my gaze away from those glowing eyes, my heart beating loudly in my ears. “Nothing.”
“I thought you’d know that you cannot lie to me.”
I really needed to have brushed up on my dragon lore. “Fine, I was looking for a map. If I’m going to get out of this place, I need to know where I’m going because this land is spooky as hell.”
He moved his hand to mine and guided me to the couch. He sat down and then brought me to his lap. I wiggled to get out of his lap, but he tightened his grip. I let out an annoyed sigh and remained seated, giving him this one win, although I wasn’t sure it was truly voluntary. He placed my legs on the outside of his, leaving the cool breeze to brush against my pussy as I was spread open.
“Lila, you can’t leave,” he said in a relaxed voice.
“I can do what the hell I want, Luca.”If that’s even your real name.
He chuckled, brushing his hand up my leg and over my knee. “No, you can’t leave because this city is cloaked.”
I shivered at his silky touch, tensing my thighs around his. “Yes, I’ve heard. I don’t know how you all got that kind of power.”
“We gained outside connections that traveled from other lands.”
Just as I thought, but maybe I could break that cloaking spell. “Like I said earlier, I’m an ice mage. Yes, ice control is my specialty, but I come from the witch community, so I have enough magic to do a few spells.”
