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This must be his best friend and his mate.
The trio turns to us, seemingly waiting for us to approach. Donald takes the bags, carrying them for me, and I thank him. Then I swallow any nervousness I feel and move toward the beautiful porch. Donald is by my side the entire way.
“Hey,” the woman says, stepping forward. “I’m Audrey.”
“Natalie,” I say slowly. The woman is beautiful, but I don’t think she’s a shifter. She’s curvy and has long, dark hair. She smiles brightly and comes over. Then she hugs me tightly.
“Oh, it’s so nice to have another girl around!” She says. Jerking her head toward Gabriel and Anthony, she adds, “I’m always surrounded by guys.”
“Watch your mouth, pretty girl,” Gabriel says, but there’s a twinkle in his eye. This is a game they play, I see. “Or I’ll have to give you a spanking.”
Audrey covers her mouth in mock surprise and then winks at me. Turning to Donald, she holds out her hand to shake his.
“Audrey,” she says.
“Donald.”
“Now that the introductions are over,” she says. “What’s up? I assume you’re here to stay the night?”
Anthony smiles. “Audrey loves having guests. You’ll have to excuse her.”
“It’s true,” she says, not bothering to deny it. “A trait I picked up from my mother, I suppose. Well then, come on in.”
She motions for us to follow her and we head into the beautiful house. I instantly feel nervous as I wonder if I’m tracking in mud or dirt or anything else from the jungle.
“Don’t worry about dirt,” Audrey says, practically reading my mind. “We have a great cleaner and besides, a little bit of mud never hurt anyone. If you are worried, though, I’ll show you to your room and you can get cleaned up. Then we’ll eat, okay? Are you hungry?”
“Starved,” Donald says. “And thank you.” He nods to a painting and starts asking Audrey about it. She happily starts explaining that most of the artwork in their home was commissioned from artists right here on Dragon Isle.
Anthony reaches for my arm and places his hand on it gently. “If you’d rather have separate rooms, that
’s completely fine,” he says, lowering his voice. “I obviously haven’t had time to explain your situation to my darling mate. She assumes you’re a couple.”
Now’s my chance.
Now’s my opportunity to tell Anthony that yes, Donald and I will be needing different, separate rooms.
This is the part where I’m honest and blunt and stand up for the things that are right and proper. What would my mother think about me staying with an unmated dragon male in the middle of Dragon Isle? At a house run by a dungeon master?
Your mother isn’t here.
A little voice whispers in the back of my head, and I pause because it’s right. My mother isn’t here. She’s with dad. They wouldn’t have approved of me leaving the clan, either, but I did. I made the choice on my own, and I stuck with it. I left because my people needed me, because someone had to go and as a human, I wasn’t a possible carrier of the virus. Besides, Donald left because of my family. I had to be the one to speak with him.
Now I’m faced with another choice.
Somehow, this one seems almost harder.
I should tell Anthony that we need separate rooms. I should explain that although Donald and I are traveling together, we aren’t a couple, but something in my heart won’t let me do that. This day has been crazy for many reasons, least of all the fact that Donald is about to return to the clan that he left many years ago. I’m not so naïve that I think that’s an easy choice for him.
I may not be able to make things easier for him, but I can keep him company tonight so he doesn’t have to be alone.
I can help protect Donald, if only his heart.
“We’ll stay together,” I whisper to Anthony, and a sly smile spreads over the dragon’s face.
Chapter Sixteen
Donald
