Page 89 of Dragon Me Through Space

“All of us,” Preston whispered to her and gave me a wink.

She started to bag the items after scanning them all, but it was going to take her a long time, so I helped her as well. As soon as Wayne saw me helping, he joined in helping also.

“You don’t have to do that, sir,” she said quickly.

My eyes narrowed since she hadn’t said the same to me.

“If our Princess is going to help, then we can as well,” Wayne said.

Her eyes widened as she glanced back at me, clearly shocked he’d called me a princess.

“We aren’t royalty here,” I said with a shrug. “Plus, it won’t hurt me to put my purchases in bags.”

Preston paid for our items and slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me against his side. “Come along, Princess. I know you have more shopping to do.”

I winked at the clerk and allowed Preston to lead me out of the store, Wayne, Gage, and Zeke right behind with their hands full of bags with our snacks inside.

“I can’t wait to try all of these,” Wayne said, practically drooling.

“You have to wait.” I laughed as he immediately pouted.

“Patience has never been his virtue,” Preston whispered in my ear.

“Just because you’re practically a robot,” Wayne grumbled.

“Where to next?” Preston asked, ignoring Wayne’s jab.

“There,” I said and pointed at a building with metal bars over the window. As we stood before the doorway, I looked up at Preston and asked, “Could I …” I hesitated, my face burning with embarrassment.

“You can do whatever you wish, pet.”

“I’d like to buy something, but … it’s expensive.”

He smiled and brushed some hair behind my ear. “Show me.”

Feeling even more nervous, I stepped into the store and headed straight for the display case that held the item I wanted. Preston stood beside me while the others hung back, looking at other items.

“Which item has caught your attention, pet?” he asked softly, standing a foot away from me so he could look down at me.

I pointed to the bracelet in the center. It was silver, made to look like leaves with an amethyst stone in the center surrounded by four red stones, resembling a flower.

He looked at me a moment longer before looking down at the bracelet. His eyes widened. “Is that⁠—”

Nodding, I said, “Yes, that’s the gift that you gave me when we met.”

“Why is it here?” he asked, snarling.

Looking down quickly, my fists clenched at my sides, and I felt my eyes growing hot as tears threatened to spill. “I …” I sniffled loudly. “I sold it.”

“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” Gage asked and turned me around to face him.

I couldn’t look at him, though, my embarrassment too strong, so I buried my face against his chest and tried, unsuccessfully, to stop the tears.

“How can I help you?” the store owner asked.

“We’d like this bracelet,” Preston said, his voice full of anger and a bit of growl.

“C-Can we step outside?” I asked Gage.