Page 19 of Kidnapped By The Messy Dragon

“You don’t understand dragon shifters yet.” He glances back at me with a grin. “But you will. You just need a little time.”

I glance at the tote again. Then he sets a plate in front of me, stacked with the fluffiest pancakes I’ve ever had.

He cracks eggs into a bowl and lays sausage in a second pan. He pours me a glass of milk without asking and hands me a fork and a knife.

I set the ice bundle down on the island. I’m starving, and I dig in. Of course they’re delicious. I don’t wait between bites.

He nudges the milk glass closer to me. “Fill up, angel.”

I gulp half of it down on top of the pancakes I stuffed in, and come up for air. “What now?”

He leans a hip against the counter. “I guess we get to know each other better.”

“I’m not talking about that.” I set my fork down. “I’m talking about my job. My life. The one I just got ripped away from.”

He turns off the stove and slides the sausage and eggs onto a plate. “That depends on you.” He sets it next to my pancakes. “Ready to start talking?”

“Not yet,” I say, and I pick my fork back up.

He watches me eat the whole time, green eyes locked on, and it’s almost scary how still he keeps. I eat anyway, and by the time I surrender the fork, most of the food is gone.

He gathers my plates and cup and gets to washing. While his back is turned, I pick the ice bundle back up and hold it to my cheek, and I look this place over again. My phone sits where he left it. I pull my tote into my lap and check inside. The folder is still there. So is the little white bottle.

He shuts the water off and comes around the counter with a hand out for the bag.

“Want me to take that?” he asks.

“I got it.” I pull the strap over my shoulder.

“Okay.” He steps back and puts real space between us.

Then he tips his nose up and sniffs the air, and the sniff turns into a sneeze. A little smoke comes with it.

“Don’t worry.” He waves it off. “I’m visiting the medical center tomorrow to get this looked at.” He nods at my cheek.“And I’m getting that looked at while we’re there. I was sniffing for the rest of my clan. They aren’t here. Just Malachi, upstairs.”

I tip my head back. Railings rise above us, floor after floor of them, carved balconies stacked up into the mountain.

“How big is this place?” I ask.

“It’ll take a couple of days to give you the full tour,” he says.

“Follow me.” He’s already walking. “I’ll show you your room.”

I hop off the chair and pick up my steps to catch him.

“The rest of your clan?” I ask on the stairs.

“Two clan sisters and my other brother, Dorian,” he says.

“Oh yeah?” The ice pack muffles my voice.

“Brandy is our Luna, Malachi’s mate. And then there’s Jules, Dorian’s mate.” He looks back at me on the stairs. “You’ll love them.”

“I’m sure,” I say.

He takes me to the second floor and down a long hallway. Every doorway up here is a carved arch, and lamplight sits warm in little alcoves all down the hall.

He walks me past a closed door and points at it. “That’s my room. Well. Our room.”