Page 12 of Ancient Promises

The one thing he’d never wanted to happen because of how dangerous his brother was, had inexplicably happened mere minutes after he’d walked into town. What the hell were the odds?

She looked delicious. Like a goddess deserving of worship.

His dragon crooned in his head, wanting to get close. Demanding he close the distance between them, draw her into his arms and possibly sling her over his shoulder, then depart to a more private place.

But he couldn’t do that.

Not now, not ever.

* * *

Uh, okay. She hadn’t really gotten the most detailed look at Eivross in his human form before he’d shifted, but he was positively dreamy. He’d been a glorious dragon, all dark green like the woods with huge wings, but as a human? Holy crap on a cracker. Along with all the drool-worthiness of broad shoulders, smoldering eyes, and dark hair, she bet he had a six-pack too, or maybe one of those coveted eight-packs she read about in romance novels.

Yummy.

He stood with Rehlik in the street. Rehlik was speaking to him, but he was staring at her like she was the best thing he’d ever seen in his life.

All he had to do was cross the street and maybe toss her over his shoulder and hustle up the steps to her bedroom.

She cringed. She was gettingwayahead of herself. What if he didn’t remember her?

Well, he shifted into his dragon in front of her bookstore, so she had a feeling he’d remember her.

He spoke to Rehlik while staring at her, and then to her surprise, he turned and walked back into the bar.

Not toward her, but away.

What the hell?

* * *

“Let’s go back in the bar,” Eivross said, turning away. It was the most difficult thing he’d ever done in his life, but he had no choice.

“Don’t you want to speak with her?” Rehlik asked.

Eivross left the alpha and walked inside the bar, not relaxing until Rehlik followed him inside and the door shut, enclosing them in the dark, empty bar.

“No.” He turned to face the alpha. “I’ll pay for the damages my shift caused, just let me know how much.” He had cash on hand, but he’d have to sell some of his prized treasures to get enough to replace the cars. While he didn’t like parting with his treasures, it was a good reason.

“I’m not really worried about that, but I also won’t argue with you,” Rehlik said. He sat on a stool at the counter. “Now tell me why you don’t want to meet Diem.”

Eivross took a seat on another stool. “I’d rather talk about coming to Cider Falls, if that’s all the same to you.”

Rehlik was quiet for a moment and then cleared his throat. “A male is entitled to his secrets, but only up to a point. I won’t force you to speak to Diem, but I would strongly suggest you do. Nothing good comes from making females wait, and I definitely speak from experience. I can set you up as a roommate with one of the unmated males. I don’t have anything that you could have for yourself right now, but we’re always renovating the old homes that were here when I took over, so something might come available at some point. Diem lives above the bookstore.”

That she lived above a bookstore made his hoarding instincts go crazy. But he filed that information away for later. He didn’t want to think about the alluring female or the fact that she lived above a place with so much treasure.

“I’d appreciate a place to stay. Did the box with my things arrive?” When he’d opted to exile from the nest, he’d reached out to Rehlik and introduced himself, then asked about sending a box of belongings ahead.

“They’re in the office for you. Is that all you have, just the one box?”

“Yes, as far as clothing goes. I do have a portable storage unit that I had delivered to a facility in Harburg.”

“All right, so that’s out of the way. Tell me your story, and then I’ll tell you about living in Cider Falls.”

Chapter Six

Rehlik listened to the dragon’s story, one of significant loss and self-preservation. He was clearly strong-willed and loyal, choosing to stay with his psychotic brother in order to keep a watchful eye over the nest. The male had intervened on others’ behalf with his brother over the years, but still grieved being unable to save their father.