Dragon Awakened(57)

“Why did you break the connection?” she asked Grayson.

“I can only hold on for so long.”

Poor Grayson was picking up Ruby’s disappointment and Cyn’s tangle of emotions. Hopefully he also sensed his gratitude.

To make sure, he gave Grayson a subtle nod. “I told Ruby I would introduce her to the Vega who was assigned to kill her parents. But right now she has to focus on what’s important, like saving her life.”

She pushed up from the couch, her mouth in a pout. “I just wanted to see him, a tiny glimpse.”

Cyn led Ruby to the door, turning to Grayson. “Thank you for your help.”

“Anything for a friend.” Grayson’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve changed since the last time I saw you, what, five years ago. You were easy to be around. You’re not anymore.”

Hell. Before he’d been flatlined, emotionless; that’s what Grayson was saying. And now? It was probably best that Cyn didn’t know.

“That too will change.” After Ruby stalked out of his life.

“What did that mean?” Ruby asked when they were once again closed inside the elevator. “Why aren’t you easy to be around anymore?” When he didn’t answer, she got right up in his face. “Is it because the previously unfeeling Cyntag Valeron has feelings now? Feelings he’s afraid to admit?”

She had no idea the courage it took him not to act on those feelings, and yet, she called him a coward. He steeled that courage and pushed out the words, “I have no personal feelings for you.”

The elevator door opened, and they walked out to his car in silence. She leaned against her door, facing him. “So you would have no problem if I, say, approached Grayson for a date. You were right. He’s friggin’ gorgeous and—”

Cyn reacted before thinking, grabbing her wrists and pinning them against the car. “Don’t do that.”

“What? Make you jealous? But you have no feelings for me, so you couldn’t possibly get jealous.” She raised her eyebrow, an impudent spark in her hazel eyes. “Or could you?”

“You’re trying to rile me up so I’ll expose my feelings? Is that what this is about?”

“Yes.” She glanced down where he held her wrists. “I’d say it’s working.”

Damn, but she had him twisted up inside. He leaned so close that their noses almost touched. “Ruby.” This time he could hear that intimate tone she’d been accusing him of.

“Yes, Cyn.”

“Don’t toy with my Dragon. Trust me, you will not like the price.”





Chapter 15



What was the price of toying with Cyn’s Dragon? Ruby wondered as he drove like a maniac through the city streets. He’d cranked the stereo, and a rock band was singing about being bad company. That fit Cyn right about then, so she decided to back off from provoking him further. The price might be crashing the car.

Cyn was cool, calm, inured to things that would freak out others, like, say, demons, or a woman holding a gun to his chest. So inciting a reaction in him satisfied her on some deep level. Ooh, how he’d gotten pissed—no, territorial—when she’d talked about Grayson. Sure, the Caido was gorgeous, but Cyn was the man who did it for her.

What was the deal with her Dragon Prince? Well, not her prince.

“What’s this Darren’s last name?” Cyn asked.

“I can’t remember. They were simply Aunt Magda and Uncle Darren, though I knew they weren’t real family. I’d hate to think he’s Mr. Smith.”

“He’s the one person who might know what your father was doing.”

“Or not. I can remember Darren’s snide comments about my father being secretive about his work. It seemed to really bother him.”

“Right now he’s the only lead we have. If he isn’t behind this, maybe he can shed some light on the people behind the private lab they both worked for.”

“Let’s go by the Yard,” she said as they approached one of the nearby exits. “I don’t have a lot of things from my childhood, but I do have pictures of my parents. I’m pretty sure Darren and his wife are in them. Maybe there’s a last name on the back. And I’d like to eyeball my place, make sure everything’s all right.”

“That place means a lot to you, doesn’t it?”

“It’s my life, my livelihood. Where I spent time as a kid when the world was good, and where I grew up and learned responsibility. And it’s my one link to my mother.” Damn, her voice had quivered. “This Mr. So-called Smith knows about the Yard, no doubt.”

Cyn must have picked up on the emotion in her voice because he gave her a soft smile and switched lanes to take the exit. “Which is why we have to approach it very carefully. We have to assume something’s waiting for us. You can sense magick, if you tune in to it.”