“I do, but I’ll worry about you. What if you get hurt?”
He stared at her with a raised eyebrow. Had she already forgotten how they’d met? They both burst out laughing. Faye’s laugh was musical, and he wanted to continue finding ways to make her laugh, just so he could hear it.
“I’ll still worry,” she said, wiping the tears from her face.
“There’ll be no need for you to worry. I’ll be fine,” he assured her.
He leaned forward. He couldn’t resist getting one last taste of her lips before he left. The kiss was soft and sensual. She immediately opened her mouth to him, allowing his tongue to duel with hers. She wasn’t shy in her kiss, allowing her tongue to coax his.
He reached up and cupped her jaw, tilting his head so he could get closer to her. The need to protect what was his grew. He needed this woman, and when he returned, he would make sure she knew that she was his forever.
He pulled back slightly, not wanting to end the kiss. But he knew if they went any further, he’d find himself buried deep within her, and any desire to leave would disappear.
“Promise me, you’ll be careful,” she whispered with wide eyes. She clenched his shirt tight and hung on to him.
“Believe me, I will return. This time, I have something worth coming home to,” he murmured and leaned his forehead against hers.
“And what is that?”
“You.”
* * *
Vander walked around the side of the Westwend General Hospital, where Faye had said Gamair had approached her. His dragon blew out a hot breath at the thought that they could have lost their mate that night. The black dragon was vile and evil-tempered and obsessed with death. He could have done much worse than freeze Faye’s friend. He could have killed her easily, along with Faye, but Vander was sure Gamair wanted to terrify Faye, to showcase his powers.
He glanced around, not seeing anyone milling around the smoke hut. He shook his head, not understanding why humans would want to pollute their bodies with the little white death sticks. Humans had enough issues on their own, so why would they smoke? Being a shifter, he was immune to the common human illnesses and diseases.
Vander wasn’t sure what he was searching for but figured he’d check around the last spot he knew the evil dragon had been. He would need to use magic to help him.
He was the only one in the parking lot. He reached into his pocket and brought out a small object that would help give him a clue as to where to search for Gamair.
The Orb of Erlo was an ancient artifact that was given to him by a powerful mage a few centuries ago. By peering through the orb, Vander would be able to see the past. He’d focus his mind on who he was seeking, and the orb would show him what he wanted to see.
Vander brought the orb up to his eye and focused his mind on Gamair. It warmed slightly in his hand. His eyesight, while gazing through the orb, became blurry for a brief moment, then cleared, and the object of his search stood a few feet from where he was now standing. The brief encounter between Faye and Gamair played out in front of him.
He was able to see everything that was exchanged between them but was not able to hear what was said. The Orb didn’t allow them to hear, but they could see, feel, and smell anything that passed on that night.
Vander could feel the apprehension and fear that Faye experienced as she sat on the bench. But what gained his attention was the smell. The smell of death and decay, along with the smell of water, surrounded Vander.
He pulled the orb from his eye and knew where he had to go. He released a curse, pocketed the magical lens, and stalked toward his car. He hated that he had to drive while in town. His dragon was far too large to just shift and fly off. A dragon hadn’t been seen for hundreds of years. Today would not be the day to show his dragon. It would cause an uproar in town if a dragon was seen flying over Westwend.
He hopped into his dark sedan and figured he’d better contact his brother and Jodos.
“I know where Gamair has been hiding.”He used their telepathic link to reach out to both of them at same time.
Faye walked through the castle,trying to navigate her way to the kitchen. She had slept surprisingly well in the massive bed alone last night. Vander’s bed had to be the most comfortable one she had ever slept in. She almost didn’t want to leave the comforts of Vander’s pillows and blanket.
She paused in the hallway as the revelation hit her. She had feelings for Vander, and she was pretty sure he had some for her. The thought of Vander going off to fight the evil dragon still worried her, but he’d assured her he would be fine.
“Ms. Adams, good morning,” a pleasant voice greeted her from behind.
She turned and found a smiling older woman. The woman’s face was warm and welcoming, her gray hair pulled into a bun on top of her head.
“Hello.” Faye returned her smile with one of her own. “You must be Dalma.”
“Yes, I am. It is so nice to meet you.” Dalma held out her hand.
Faye didn’t hesitate in taking it. For someone who had been the nanny of a dragon shifter, who was almost seven hundred years old, she didn’t look a day over fifty-five. “Vander has told me so much about you.”
