Page 53 of Princess Seeks Dragon
“Pine Ridge? This tiny little dot on the map?”
“It’s a paranormal-friendly community. It’s not undetectable or anything, but the fact that people using magic could find you, and then they couldn’t... It looked like you went to a place where bad forces couldn’t easily penetrate. Where were you staying the first night you came to town?”
“Country Pines, that motel on the edge of town,” I explain with a frown. “You know that.”
“I do. But Country Pines is for people with magical abilities. It’s cloaked. You wouldn’t have been able to see it if someone in the know hadn’t taken you right to it. By staying there, you made it where any regular Joe would be stumped trying to find you.”
“But you’re not a regular Joe.” My mouth feels dry. “Your boss sent you to find me? You were working for someone who knew my father, all right, but it was one of his enemies!”
“I was already in Pine Ridge, and he knew where you might be. But, Angela, listen!” Graham runs to me, grabs my elbows, and blocks me when I try to leave. “They told me you ran away from your boyfriend. A case of cold feet before the wedding. They didn’t tell me it was some arranged marriage that you had no say in! When I found out, I did everything I could to help and protect you. I swear on my life. On my amulet. Little wren, please believe me.” Graham lets go and steps back. His voice and eyes are entreating me, and even though I’m upset, I know he’s telling the truth. He looks too miserable to be lying.
“You should have told me this earlier,” is all I can say.
“I know. But then you might not have trusted me, and I wanted to protect you. You needed help, and I... Even before you put on the amulet, you made me realize I wanted to be a better man. When I saw you, I was immediately drawn to you. You didn’t become my mate when you put on the amulet; you could claim my amulet because you were meant to be my mate. You are the person who made me a true dragon, not again, but for the first time.” Graham grips one of my hands in both of his and brings it to his lips. “You made me shed all the murky parts of my past with one look, Angela.”
“I did?”
“I swear it.”
“Then tell me the truth—is there a way you can find out what’s going on with the Argento and Genovese families? Is there some turf war? Is Genovese just going to pick Bride Number Two, whoever that might be? Am I really safe here?”
Graham rubs his chin and sighs. “You are safe here, at least from any dark forces Genovese wants to send. You’re heavily guarded and as cloaked as can be, thanks to the work of the Pine Ridge coven and a dozen other things. As for what he’s doing... I can ask Ardy Walsh, the police officer who is also a Pooka. He might be able to find something out without tipping others off that we’re looking into it.”
I nod, making a mental note to look up Pookas later.
“Can I still take you to the mall?” Graham asks in a timid voice that doesn’t match the magnetic, larger-than-life personality he has.
“Sure. And grocery shopping, too. I want to cook tonight,” I say. “Lasagna. I need comfort food.”
“Anything you want, my princess.”
“Would you please stop being so irresistible?”
“See, that’s how I know you’re my mate. My brother says I’m insufferable, and you say that I’m irresistible. We’re meant to be.”
Graham sounds so happy and peaceful when he says it that I’m starting to believe him.
