Page 53 of Dragon Tempted

“Eww. Brother. TMI,” Sienna said with a shudder.

Tessa laughed. “And now that we’re getting to know John better, we can see that his gruff exterior has been hiding his mushy interior.”

“Mushy?” Megan snickered.

Sienna held up her hands. “We’re not talking about this. John is threatening to leave once you’re done with his journals, and that would be a mistake.”

“Because?” Megan asked.

She didn’t need them tag teaming her. “Because I can’t get over the idea that he’s the key to breaking the curse.”

“Not because you might be catching feelings for him?” Tessa pushed.

Sienna needed more wine. She reached for the glass and took a sip—okay, more like a gulp. “There will be no catching of anything around here. I have a clan to run and a curse to break. I’m sure once John is free of the curse, he’ll be on his way.”

And she didn’t blame him. He’d been controlled for centuries by something out of his control. Something his grandmother (she hesitated to even call her that) did to him. Knowing him, he wouldn’t want to leave any reminders of his past behind, which meant escaping their clan sooner rather than later. Sienna needed to be okay with that even if Veronica kept booing in her head.

Megan pulled out her phone. “I know what I’m going to say to Mia,” she said as she typed.

“Aren’t you worried about using your phone?” Sienna asked.

“Not really. I have the location in the chat group turned off, and according to Jonas, an average user can’t track an IP through this group. But even if they could, Mia already knows where I am.”

“Let’s see what you wrote,” Tessa said.

“It’s a quote by Degas.” Megan handed the phone to Sienna so that they could all read the screen.

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

What do you want us to see, Mia?

“That’s all you’re writing?” Tessa said.

“Yes,” Megan said. “Do you want to hit send, Sienna?”

Sienna lifted her finger over the small arrow on the screen and hesitated for a moment, whispering a prayer to the universe that Mia finally answered them before hitting send.

Chapter 19

John finished washing his bowl and spoon before putting it away. The chili he’d just finished was amazing. Sienna hadn’t been exaggerating about how good it was. But he couldn’t get used to the food, the accommodations, or the people for that matter. Dinner last night with Sienna and the girls had been a mistake. He ate alone, fought alone, survived alone. He didn’t have time for feelings. Correct that. He had time for anger, guilt, and grief with a side order of vengeance. That’s what had centered him over the days, years, decades, and centuries.

Now was not the time for happiness, damn it.

Although when Sienna stood over him a couple days ago like an Amazon warrior and announced he wasn’t getting rid of her anytime soon, his brain came to a stutter stop and his words failed him. She was getting under his skin unlike anyone had before, and that scared him. And those two little girls were secret weapons of joy. What did he do when confronted with them? He danced. Hell, he was becoming a hero in one of those cartoon musicals that made him want to break out in hives.

It was time to shore up his resolve to end this curse.

His heart was gone. Not the one that kept beating over and over and over again even when it should have long ago ceased, but the one that believed there was light and love to be found. That he could be more than a conduit of hatred.

And just as he locked down his emotions, the sound of a UTV filled his ears. Before he went outside, he knew Sienna would be waiting there. Except the sound of a second UTV had his alarms going off. Who was coming? He opened the door to see Adam driving one UTV with Tessa next to him and Sienna in the back. Eric and Megan rode in the second vehicle. Something must have happened. Good thing he was locking down his emotions again.

“What’s wrong?” John asked as they all piled out and headed toward him.

Megan held up her phone with a tight smile on her face. “Mia answered me.”

Goose bumps ran down John’s arms. “Already?”

Eric wrapped his arm around Megan. “My wife is a genius. She got her to respond.”