“It will still be here if needed.”
Clenching her muscles, she forced herself not to flinch. Of course, just because he wanted to see their home didn’t mean he was committed to staying there.
At least, not yet.
Walking to her pack, she dug in the side pocket for the satellite phone. As Dragos watched, she punched in Graydon’s number. When Graydon answered, she told him, “We’re going back to the house now.”
Graydon said carefully, “That sounds promising.”
She could tell by the neutrality in his voice and words that Graydon knew very well Dragos could hear everything he said. Pia glanced at Dragos, who watched her every move with a sharp frown.
She told Graydon, “It’s great news. I didn’t want you to worry. I’ll call when I can.”
“Make it soon, okay?”
Dragos prowled close. He growled, “Who was that male?”
Was that a touch of jealousy? She didn’t dare smile, but for the first time in almost two days, the heaviness in her heart lightened a little.
She also wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that he didn’t remember Graydon. She and Dragos had only been together fourteen months, but he had known Graydon for much, much longer. The damage to his memory seemed profound.
Meeting his fierce gaze, she told him calmly, “That was one of your best friends. He’s been worried about both of us.”
“I want to know his name.” He gripped her upper arm.
She glanced down at his hand. The gesture was possessive, aggressive, yet his touch was gentle on her bare skin. Thank God, he had lost the impulse to violence.
She covered his hand with hers. “His name is Graydon, and he loves you very much.”
“I want to meet him.” His jaw tightened, and so did his fingers. “But not tonight. Where do we go?”
“Do you remember how to get back to the scene where you got hurt?” She studied him, uncertain how he would take the information. “It’s about fifteen miles from here. You were pretty disoriented when you left yesterday.”
His expression closed down. “Yes.”
She hated when he shut her out like that. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Tightening her lips, she said, “The accident happened roughly two hundred yards away from our house, on the other side of some bordering trees.”
He remained silent for so long, she started to worry. He had thought he’d been attacked there. What if he refused to go anywhere near the construction site?
Finally, he replied, “I’ll take us there.”
Before she could do much other than nod her consent, he shapeshifted into the dragon again, his Wyr form filling up the clearing. He didn’t give her time to gather up her pack. Instead, he scooped her into one of his forepaws, crouched and launched.
Clutching at one of his talons, she narrowed her eyes against the warm summer wind. Telepathically, she said, You left your gold and jewels behind .
Along with her satellite phone, in her pack. While she didn’t want to mention that fact, she fretted at losing the ability to call Graydon. Just knowing she had the sat phone with her had felt like a lifeline.
High overhead, Dragos’s head arched on his long, strong neck as he glanced behind them. His reply was telepathic as well. That mountainside is deserted. I’ll return soon enough for it, before anyone else has a chance to find it.
Discouragement crushed down on her. Bracing one elbow on the curve of his claw, she rested her forehead in her hand. He wasn’t just leaving the door open for a way out. He was actively planning on leaving again.
When he left again, would he let her come?
At that, the focus of her questions shifted drastically.
Would he allow her to leave him? What about Liam?
Her anxious thoughts ground to a halt. She didn’t have any answers, only questions.
They fell silent. The dragon’s powerful wingspread made short work of the distance back.
As they had talked, the moon had risen and silvery moonlight illuminated the countryside. A scattering of
Clenching her muscles, she forced herself not to flinch. Of course, just because he wanted to see their home didn’t mean he was committed to staying there.
At least, not yet.
Walking to her pack, she dug in the side pocket for the satellite phone. As Dragos watched, she punched in Graydon’s number. When Graydon answered, she told him, “We’re going back to the house now.”
Graydon said carefully, “That sounds promising.”
She could tell by the neutrality in his voice and words that Graydon knew very well Dragos could hear everything he said. Pia glanced at Dragos, who watched her every move with a sharp frown.
She told Graydon, “It’s great news. I didn’t want you to worry. I’ll call when I can.”
“Make it soon, okay?”
Dragos prowled close. He growled, “Who was that male?”
Was that a touch of jealousy? She didn’t dare smile, but for the first time in almost two days, the heaviness in her heart lightened a little.
She also wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that he didn’t remember Graydon. She and Dragos had only been together fourteen months, but he had known Graydon for much, much longer. The damage to his memory seemed profound.
Meeting his fierce gaze, she told him calmly, “That was one of your best friends. He’s been worried about both of us.”
“I want to know his name.” He gripped her upper arm.
She glanced down at his hand. The gesture was possessive, aggressive, yet his touch was gentle on her bare skin. Thank God, he had lost the impulse to violence.
She covered his hand with hers. “His name is Graydon, and he loves you very much.”
“I want to meet him.” His jaw tightened, and so did his fingers. “But not tonight. Where do we go?”
“Do you remember how to get back to the scene where you got hurt?” She studied him, uncertain how he would take the information. “It’s about fifteen miles from here. You were pretty disoriented when you left yesterday.”
His expression closed down. “Yes.”
She hated when he shut her out like that. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Tightening her lips, she said, “The accident happened roughly two hundred yards away from our house, on the other side of some bordering trees.”
He remained silent for so long, she started to worry. He had thought he’d been attacked there. What if he refused to go anywhere near the construction site?
Finally, he replied, “I’ll take us there.”
Before she could do much other than nod her consent, he shapeshifted into the dragon again, his Wyr form filling up the clearing. He didn’t give her time to gather up her pack. Instead, he scooped her into one of his forepaws, crouched and launched.
Clutching at one of his talons, she narrowed her eyes against the warm summer wind. Telepathically, she said, You left your gold and jewels behind .
Along with her satellite phone, in her pack. While she didn’t want to mention that fact, she fretted at losing the ability to call Graydon. Just knowing she had the sat phone with her had felt like a lifeline.
High overhead, Dragos’s head arched on his long, strong neck as he glanced behind them. His reply was telepathic as well. That mountainside is deserted. I’ll return soon enough for it, before anyone else has a chance to find it.
Discouragement crushed down on her. Bracing one elbow on the curve of his claw, she rested her forehead in her hand. He wasn’t just leaving the door open for a way out. He was actively planning on leaving again.
When he left again, would he let her come?
At that, the focus of her questions shifted drastically.
Would he allow her to leave him? What about Liam?
Her anxious thoughts ground to a halt. She didn’t have any answers, only questions.
They fell silent. The dragon’s powerful wingspread made short work of the distance back.
As they had talked, the moon had risen and silvery moonlight illuminated the countryside. A scattering of
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