Page 58 of Israel

Chapter 22

Ashley parked the rental car in the gravel parking lot at the edge of the woods. It was growing dark, the last rosy glow of the sun showing in the western sky.

In her message to Aunt Genevieve, she’d sent the coordinates to this spot. She’d found it on the internet—a state park, supposedly closed after dark, but not the kind where they chained off the entrance, and not busy enough that the park rangers were likely to come through and find her car.

She got out and turned on her flashlight, starting up the path. It was so strange not to be able to see in the dark. She still had trouble getting used to being human, for all intents and purposes—soft and weak, and nearly blind and deaf.

But it was worth it every time she stepped onstage. And now, every time she touched Israel or saw the light in his eyes when he looked at her—that was worth it too.

She was a little surprised Aunt Genevieve had agreed to meet with her. Ashley had always admired her aunt, but the feelings hadn’t exactly gone both ways.

Maybe she’d never deserved Aunt Genevieve’s respect. But now she had something to fight for besides getting her own way. Israel, and her music.

The trail led through the woods, up a steep hill to an overlook. It was dark under the trees, and the woods were alive with the sound of cicadas and the glow of fireflies.

After about ten minutes, she came out of the woods onto a bare, grassy hilltop. There was a sheer drop on one side, looking out over a valley, and the park had built a viewing point rimmed by a stone wall. On the other side was a wide, sloping field.

The perfect landing spot for a dragon.

The sun was all the way down now, and the moon hadn’t yet risen. Ashley sat on the stone wall and closed her eyes in the darkness, listening to the wind, reaching out with her dulled senses to see if she could sense Genevieve.

She heard the beat of great wings, and felt the downdraft as the dragon, cloaked from human view, descended to the hilltop.

Ashley rose to her feet, waiting as the dragon divested itself of the magic that kept it invisible, and shifted to human form. She bowed her head respectfully. “I thank you for coming, Aunt Gen—” she began.

“Don’t bother. She’s not coming.”

Ashley started at the sound of the harsh, imperious male voice, and raised her head.

“Cousin Larik,” she said.

He was tall and slender like most of the men of the House of Akkabi. Nearly seven feet tall, beautiful as sin, with dark chestnut hair and flaming eyes.

She’d always hated Larik.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I saw your message to Mother,” he said. “Really, what were you thinking? That it would be a secret? I monitor all her correspondence.”

Of course he did. “You’re right,” she said. “I should have realized you’re a controlling dirtbag like the rest of the men in our family. Worse than most, in fact. Why wouldn’t you read your mother’s mail? Hell, she’s only a female. It’s not like she has any right to privacy.”

“Exactly,” Larik said. The douche hadn’t even noticed the sarcasm. “Whatever possessed you to tell her that the binding collar was breaking down? Didn’t you realize the Elders would make you come back?”

Of course she had. She just hadn’t reckoned on them finding out this soon, before she knew what her options were. If she had any.

She started backing away once she realized what that meant. “You’re not taking me to them now, are you?” She looked around. “It takes two agents to officially detain me.”

Larik just laughed. “You never learn, do you, little princess? I’m not here officially.” He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Ashley backed up until her butt was pressed against the stone wall.

“The Elders agreed to defer your mating until you had gotten this little—adventure—out of your system.” He waggled his fingers dismissively. “I disagreed. You know I’ve always had a…fondness for you.”

“If by ‘fondness’ you mean a desire to one-up my side of the family and gain our richest holdings by forcing me to mate with you, then yes, I was aware of that,” she said.

His face darkened. “Someone needs to teach you respect, little princess,” he said. He stepped forward again, towering over her.

She leaned away from him, her back arching uncomfortably.

“You can’t take me in a forced mating,” she said. “You’d never get away with it.”