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She’d just met Micah. Had he come to her store months ago, would she be feeling for him what she felt for Aidan?
“Don’t you wonder,” Micah continued, sitting next to her on the bed, “why you feel this uncontrollable pull toward me? Especially when you claim to love my brother?
She shivered, both wanting and loathing his closeness. No words left her lips.
“We are of an ancient race, Aidan and I.”
She widened her eyes, still saying nothing.
“We’re scattered near and far now, and very few of us remain. We are the dragons of the highlands.”
“What?”
“Dragons, love. Shifters.”
“Shifters? I don’t understand.” Kristen gulped.
She must keep him talking. Keep him from doing anything harmful until Aidan got here. And he would get here.
“We can change shape.”
“Like a werewolf?”
“Yeah. Just like that. Only instead of insignificant wolves, we become magnificent dragons.”
“But, dragons are…mythical.”
“And wolves aren’t?”
“Wolves, no. Werewolves, yes.”
“I hate to screw with your perfect little world, love, but werewolves do exist. And I assure you dragon shifters exist. I can demonstrate if you’d like.”
“No!” She shuddered, fear engulfing her. “Please don’t.”
Her mind went numb. Dragons? Micah was clearly delusional.
Then an image popped into her head. Soaring across the horizon on the back of a golden dragon… And then a black dragon…
She jolted. Aidan’s tattoo. Lord, it had driven her crazy since day one. And she’d ridden a magnificent dragon during that amazing dream. Had it been…?
Yes. It was me. And I’ll take you on the ride of your life if you bond with me. You need never fear fire. You need never fear anything, as my mate.
Aidan? He was near. Somehow she knew.
“Oh, God…”
“I see it in your eyes. You know the truth in your heart.”
“I don’t know…anything.” She shook her head and closed her eyes, hoping if she squeezed them hard enough all the images would fade.
“You do.”
“He should have told me. This is way too much for me to handle.”
“You can handle it. And you will.” He touched her arm lightly.
She backed away.
“Your fate is to be mated to one of us. And it’s going to be me.”
“What about Aidan?”
“You can’t possibly love him.”
“But I do.”
“He wasn’t honest with you. I was.”
She swallowed. How could Aidan have kept something like this from her? He had lied. Well, not exactly…but he’d omitted very important information. And Micah was right. She knew it was true. How she knew baffled her, but she did.
Micah hadn’t lied. But he had kidnapped her.
Six in one, half a dozen in the other?
Not quite. Kidnapping was a crime. Lying was not. And Aidan… God, she had already fallen so hard for him.
But this bond thing… She was pulled to Micah. Was it desire? Lust? She wasn’t sure. But she did know one thing. It sure as hell wasn’t love.
Suddenly something crashed through the air.
Aidan stormed into the room.
“Did you really think you could hide her from me?” he growled to Micah through clenched teeth.
“No. I knew you’d come running after her. But by now she’s no doubt made her choice.”
“I doubt it.”
“Don’t be so sure, brother. I’ve told her the truth.”
Aidan stopped in his tracks. His blue—no, green—no, blue eyes widened, and he stared straight into Kristen’s soul.
“Dear God…”
“You should have been honest with her, Aidan. She deserved that.”
Kristen’s skin tightened. A mass formed in her belly. What would she do?
“Kristen—” Aidan began.
She held up her hand to stop him. “I need the truth, Aidan.”
“I don’t know what he’s told you.”
“That you’re dragon shifters, and that you’re fated for the same woman.”
“Yes. You.”
“But why me? I’m nothing special.”
“You’re everything,” Aidan said. “God, baby, you’re absolutely everything.”
“Both of you are so…grand. So beautiful. So strong, massive… And even magical. And I…”
“You are who the universe chose for us, Kristen. The universe is never wrong. I promise you that.”
“But you… You didn’t choose me then.”
“When I saw you, smelled you, heard your sweet voice…I knew you had been created for me. You are mine.”
Aidan’s voice melted over her, but she stopped it cold.
“But he says I’m his too.”
“You are mine,” Micah said. “And I’ve proved more worthy by telling you the God’s honest truth.”
“But you kidnapped me. Neither of you is innocent here.”
Neither spoke.
Well, of course they couldn’t. She was right. She gathered the sheets around her and rose from the bed.
“Get me something to wear,” she said. “I’m out of here.”
19
Kristen woke with a start, her heart pounding.
Aidan.
Aidan was in trouble.
In the depths of her soul, she knew.
He needed her.
She’d gone to bed determined to put some distance—any distance—between herself and her two dragons.
God. Dragons.
The bookstore. Aidan was at the bookstore. She didn’t have time to ruminate on how she knew. She just did. He was there.
And he wasn’t alone.
Kristen pulled her hair into a ponytail and shoved her legs into a pair of sweats. No time to worry about her looks. Aidan needed her.
