Stella held her breath. Just a couple of steps and the moonlight would give him away. With her better than average eyesight, she’d be able to see him and recognize him anywhere. Catching his scent as the breeze carried it past, she savored it, analyzed it—memorized it. There was no doubt. He was hers. The female’s artificial floral odor could not begin to mask the heady scent of his pure blood. He would not get away, and even if he did, she would always be able to identify him now.
“I just needed some company. I’ve missed you.” The saccharine sweet female touched him again, drawing closer as she stroked his arm.
Before she could stop it, a low growl rumbled deep within. In an instant, his head snapped toward her, glancing straight at the knoll, making her heart race. Had he heard her? Surely, he must have. Dragon hearing far surpassed human ears.
“You can’t call me because you’re in need of companionship. You’ve put us both at risk.”
Stella poked her head up again. Damn. He had turned his back to her so that he stood between her and the human woman.
“You don’t know what it’s like to be all alone in the forest with nothing but your thoughts for company. If you’re afraid she will find you, don’t be. You’re too fast and too cunning for that. You’ve proven that many times over.”
The words twisted a knife in her chest. He had spoken to this woman about her. Had told her he’d been evading her.
“It’s not my safety that concerns me. You’re playing with fire.”
“You think so? I’m not afraid. I know you’ll protect me, even from her.” The woman stepped away from him, spinning in a slow circle. “Do you hear me, dragon? He is mine, and I won’t share, so just go away.” She yelled the words into the night like a petulant child.
Every cell in Stella’s body froze. How dare the woman lay claim to the man destined for her? Heat filled her chest, churning hotter and hotter with each passing second. Her skin prickled, and her jaw ached.
“That’s enough,” Brycen grabbed her and shoved her in front of him once more. “I will not tolerate your idiocy, Alexandra.”
Stella waited, frozen in place, her breath caught in her throat. She listened for him to deny the woman’s claim. Just once, she wanted to belong, to be someone’s something, anything. She had known when she’d started seeking him out that there was a possibility he’d not want her, but to face it now was more than she could bear.
“Come to the cabin. We can spend the night together and get reacquainted. I’ve been so bored without you.” The woman’s pleas drove the knife deeper.
“For your safety, I will accompany you, but I won’t stay.”
“We’ll see.” The woman had the nerve to look back to the knoll before leading him from the clearing.
Stella sat on the trail with her head bent over her knees for hours after they had left. He hadn’t returned. By the time the sky blazed with the pinkish-red hue of dawn, she had conceded defeat. His scent still lingered in her nose. He was the one. Somehow she had known all along he would be, but one whiff of his dragon’s blood had confirmed it. He was hers and hers alone, yet he had chosen to be with the human. Damn him, and damn her, too.
She didn’t bother to shower when she got home, she stripped and covered herself in her softest blanket, then forced herself to stay in bed, shoving the pain aside, until she drifted off to sleep.
The sun, so warm and welcoming on any other day made her want to scream when she woke with gritty eyes and the same lump in her throat she’d gone to sleep with. She tried to roll over and drift away again, but after another hour of tossing and turning, she gave up. With a drawn out groan, she tumbled out of bed, dreading what lay ahead. Although she had done it every night since she’d seen her mate in the forest, she still didn’t relish putting herself out there. But she was no coward, and she was running out of time.
The gown she chose was a little too formal and way too revealing, but she needed the extra boost. She dusted her cheeks and put on some gloss. It didn’t lift her sagging mood, but at least he’d know what he was missing by choosing the human bitch over her.
Each night, she had sung her heart out, waiting—hoping—for the telltale tingles to let her know he was within hearing distance, but he hadn’t shown, not yet. He’s probably too busy with that blond bimbo to have drinks with friends. Even if she couldn’t see deep into the pub’s shadowed corners, her body would let her know if he came into the tavern. And now that she had his scent, he wouldn’t escape, at least, not until she released him. Whether it was at the pub, in the forest, or in the middle of the Glen Farley streets, she would find him and free herself.