She brushed her hair back. “Nothing. It’s just complicated.” She hated being left, but she knew they had no choice.
Draven’s stared at her for a moment. “I’m sorry, but this is just how it has to be sometimes. If you can’t deal with that, you might want to rethink your decision to stay with two dragons.”
She glared back at him, too aware of how hard her heart was still beating from having him inside her while Ran stroked her to ecstasy. She turned up her chin in a stubborn motion.
“I’m not going to run. Get used to it, Dray,” she said.
Ran let out a laugh. “Good. Then we’ll see you tomorrow.” He blew her a kiss and led the way out the door. Draven simply glanced her way, and then they were gone.
What the hell had just happened?
Her body felt shocked by the whole occasion. Still, Draven was wrong if he thought such a thing was going to make her give up. Life wasn’t meant to be easy, but it could be worth it if you found the right people. And feeling the care she did from Ran and Draven as they’d made love to her, she knew she’d found them for sure.
It would be a long night without them though, alone in a new place.
At least that’s what she thought. But the instant she fell asleep, she dreamed of being carried through the air on dragon wings. Soaring higher and higher until all worries were far below. She slept more peacefully than she had in years.
The dragons had created upset in her life. Yet in a way, it seemed they were already healing her.
* * *
The next morning, the dragons still weren’t back, but Melissa was able to find everything she needed to make a good breakfast.
As she finished the dishes, she checked the clock, wondering when they’d be back.
Bored, she poured herself a glass of orange juice and sat at the counter, flipping through a magazine.
The apartment had everything she needed, food, books, toiletries. But it was empty without them, and it didn’t yet feel like home.
A knock sounded on the door and she jumped. She looked over at the door nervously. It wasn’t her place, so should she answer it? Draven had told her not to.
“Melissa? Ran said I should come over,” the voice said. It was smooth, melodic, and she felt calm wash over her as it drifted into the room.
She smoothed her shirt and sweats and walked to the door. Her intuition said it would be fine, and it hadn’t let her down so far in this situation.
When she swung the door open, she gasped as she looked up at the third most beautiful man she’d seen in days. He was around Ran’s height at a few inches over six feet but otherwise completely different.
His hair was a striking shade of deep blue, about shoulder length, his eyes a matching shade. His pale skin was smooth and unblemished, his eyes rimmed in thick black lashes. He had a beautiful mouth, a long, straight nose, and a stubborn chin.
Dragons were really something to behold.
“Don’t dragons move in twos? Where’s your partner?” she asked as he slid past her into the room, looking around before letting out a sigh and turning back to her. He reached over to shake her hand.
“I’m Quill. It’s nice to meet you,” he said.
“I’m Melissa,” she said, taken off guard. When he touched her, an inexplicable calming feeling came over her, like the soft chill of cooling water when you step into a pool.
“I’m sorry to be abrupt. Ran called me to come over and watch out for you. He didn’t trust any of the other dragons—which is right, with a treasure such as yourself.” He perched on a stool and continued to study her with eyes such a deep blue they almost seemed violet.
A sapphire shone in one ear, and when he flashed her a smile, his teeth were smooth, white, and even.
She remained standing, trying to wrap her head around another beautiful dragon being in her home.
He laughed. “You’re exactly what I expected Ran to pick up, you know that?”
“How do I know you can be trusted?” she asked, staying back.
He grinned, just a slight tilt at one corner of his mouth. “I guess I don’t know. But listen to your heart.”
“I do. And it feels calm. Who are you?”
“The blue dragon, at your service,” he said, sweeping a hand over his midsection as he gave a slight bow while staying on the stool. “And I’m here to watch out for you until your mates get back.”
“About that…” she said. “I don’t think we’re mates yet.”
He raised a dark eyebrow. “I don’t think you should probably mention that to any other dragons you might meet, then.”
She sighed and flopped on the couch in the living room. “So many rules. I don’t even know what’s going on.”