Page 15 of Ancient Promises
She lifted the large pieces of the broken door frame and tossed them out onto the pile on the porch for Jair and Veron to discard, and then she grabbed the broom and dustpan to clean up. Fortunately, nothing but the door and frame had been damaged, but it was still a mess that needed attention.
The beautiful hardwood floor was covered with dust and debris.
It took her only a few minutes to sweep the floor clean.
So much for finding something to do to occupy herself.
She was staring out the giant hole in the front of the store when she saw Breaker drive up and stop in front of the bar.
He got out and went into the bar, walking out a few moments later with Eivross, who was carrying a large box. He set the box in the back of the truck, then got into the passenger seat.
He didn’t even look her way. Her wolf let out a mournful cry in her head and her eyes stung, but she refused to cry. She didn’t know what his problem was, but she wasn’t going to let it eat her alive.
Turning from the opening, she busied herself by checking her email to see if there were any sales from her online bookstore, where she sold old, out-of-print books. One book had been sold overnight, so she reached out to the buyer and got ready to ship it.
She didnotlet her mind stray to that dragon.
Much.
It was going to be a damn long day.
Chapter Seven
Thursday afternoon, Eivross parked in front of the bar and turned off the engine of the loaner car he’d gotten from the Cider Falls Garage. The twin lions who ran the garage were kind enough to give him the car, but he wouldn’t have minded walking since the town wasn’t that large. He stifled a yawn and rolled his shoulders as he got out, purposely ignoring the urge to look at the bookstore across the street.
His dragon insisted he run his ass right over there and speak to the alluring female that called to the center of his heart, but he refused. He’d made a vow to never take a mate and he was going to stand by that. No way would he risk endangering anyone’s life, let alone someone who would be so precious to him.
Snarling at the train of thought that refused to leave him entirely, he stalked into the bar to meet with Rehlik and his number-two male, Trace, finding them at the long counter.
“How did things go yesterday?” Rehlik asked after shaking Eivross’s hand.
“Good, thanks. Breaker is a good male.”
“He is,” Trace said, shaking his hand. “I heard you got a car from the twins.”
“I’d like to buy a car, but they told me not to worry about it for now.” He sat on one of the stools and shook his head when Trace offered him a drink.
Rehlik took a drink and set the glass down. “Weston said that you’re a good fit for the security team, and the fact that you can shift into a dragon is pretty damn amazing. He spoke to you yesterday about performing night patrols?”
“Yes,” Eivross said with a nod. He could partially shift, allowing only his wings out, which enabled him to fly. His dragon senses would be heightened as well, including sharper eyesight and hearing. He’d be able to rise above the treetops and search the distance for danger, as well as speeding along the town’s territory lines.
“You don’t mind the night shift?” Trace asked. “We try to only ask unmated males to work the night shift so they’re not away from their mates.”
Narrowing his eyes, he said, “I’m unmated.”
Trace’s brows rose and he glanced at Rehlik, who shrugged. The pause that followed was significant and uncomfortable, but Eivross refused to break it. He wasn’t going to claim that female as his mate because she’d never be safe. He was and would remain an unmated male.
“Right,” Rehlik said finally. “At any rate, I wanted to let you know that you’re officially a part of Cider Falls. We don’t have a joining ceremony for new members. Just don’t be an asshole and you’ll get along fine.”
“I think I can manage,” he said, dryly.
“That’s all we really wanted to talk to you about,” Rehlik said. “You’re part of our pack now, and that means we’ll all be watching out for each other.”
“I understand. I’ll do my job to the best of my abilities.”
The males nodded and each shook his hand again.
“I’m going to return to Breaker’s house and rest until my shift tonight.” He rose from the stool and said goodbye.