Page 115 of Dragon Tempted

Several of the Templars had been arrested for the illegal guns found in their burnt-out facility, and two were on trial for tax evasion. Mia had definitely dotted her i’s and crossed her t’s when it came to revenge.

Sienna had come to the conclusion, with Veronica’s help, that there should be more sentries to protect their future. While Sienna made suggestions, it was ultimately up to Veronica to choose the dragon sentries. Over the past few months, she had chosen Marcus, Ryan, and several other guards to become sentries.

Recently Veronica had been talking about making John a sentry, which had Sienna worried. He’d been through so much in his life and had just settled into his new reality. She didn’t know if he would want the added responsibility of being a sentry.

“What are you thinking about so hard?” John asked. “You have that frown line down the middle of your forehead.”

Sienna shook her head. “Stop pointing out my wrinkles.”

“It’s not a wrinkle. And don’t dodge the question,” John retorted.

She sighed. “Veronica has been suggesting some new names for dragon sentries.”

He nodded. “Okay. What’s the concern?”

She hesitated for a moment. “She wants you to be a sentry.”

John gave her a long look before answering. “And you don’t?”

“It’s not that,” she said quickly. “I just didn’t want you to feel like you have to do it. Not after everything you’ve been through.”

His eyes tightened on her. “I have been through a lot. But I don’t want to spend my life on the sidelines watching. It’s a gift that I’m still here with you, which means I’m meant to contribute to this clan and our future.”

Her chest warmed at his conviction. “You sound pretty sure of yourself. Have I turned into the worrier now?”

He smiled. “I have it on good authority that being a sentry is the right thing to do.”

Sienna turned to face him fully. “What aren’t you telling me, John?”

He wouldn't meet her eyes. “Nothing.”

“Is this a Lily secret?”

The right side of his mouth quirked up. “Maybe.”

Now she gave him a long look.

“Fine.” John pulled out his phone and showed her a picture of one of Lily’s drawings. It was of John in his dragon form with a sentry mark on his wing.

Her breath caught. “You weren’t going to tell me about this?”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I didn’t want to pressure you. I knew you would come to a conclusion at some point on your own.”

“You sneaky man. Why do you know all the gossip before me?” She looked up at him. “Are there other drawings I don’t know about?”

He smirked. “I won’t answer that on the grounds that it may incriminate me.”

“One of these days you’re going to be the one surprised. Let’s go corral our family and head for home. We have Jonas’s birthday dinner tonight. Marilyn is making all his favorites.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

And Sienna’s plan included making sure her family and the man she loved were happy for a very long time.

A couple hours later, John looked around the living room as everyone held their stomachs after the amazing meal. Jonas scowled at the presents on the table. “I told you no gifts.”

Ryan wrapped his arm around Jonas and said something in his ear that made Jonas’s scowl disappear. Jonas smiled. “At least my boyfriend listened to me about the no-gift rule.”

Sienna rolled her eyes. “It’s two gifts, Jonas. I think you can handle it.”