Then we’re back in the forest. There’s a bunch of peasants cavorting about, some dancing, some with musical instruments, some carrying a bridal bower. And in the center is a Madonna-type woman with long hair and a halo around her head. Instead of the usual gold or cream-colored glow, the light bubble is rich purple. Kinda like my aura. She has long brown hair like me too. She also wears golden cuffs around her wrists, marked with a stylized image of a dragon.
My hand rises of its own volition, wanting to touch her. And then the images on the rest of the tapestry begin to move. My vision, bringing them to life. The happy scene fades into a scene of destruction. The forest is burning. The animals are running away or dead on the ground. And the wedding party is freaking out. The central figure, the woman, is gone. In her place is a plume of gold fire, blown from a huge red-eyed dragon.
The dragon grows bigger and bigger, blocking everything else out. And then: Nothing but fire, so hot that my face burns like I’ve stuck it in an oven.
The fire fades, revealing a barren wasteland. In the center stands a dark-haired man, all alone, in a ring of fire. There’s a pair of golden cuffs on the ground.
A cold wind blows up my back.
“Madam?”
I turn, almost relieved to hear the crisp accent of Buttons. “Good morning.”
Buttons bows. He’s holding a silver tray with a covered dish. “Good morning to you. May I serve you breakfast?”
I give my hair a toss. “I’ll be dining in the kitchen again this morning,” I tell him loftily, daring him to disagree. Somehow I can’t imagine Buttons chasing me down this hall or wrestling me back into my room if I put up a fight.
After a moment of hesitation, he bows his head. “Of course, madame.”
Gabriel
“Wolf Security has put out a search for Ms. Tabitha, sir,” Andrei Hess, my head of security reports.
“As expected.”
I knew the wolves would look eventually. I’ve seen the calls and texts come through on Tabitha’s phone from her friends. At first, they were friendly queries, but it seemed they expected to hear from her over Christmas and did not.
Of course, I had location tracking removed from her phone and have disabled it completely, so I receive her notifications on an untraceable computer network only. They won’t find her through the phone.
They probably will find her through me. Or they will try, anyway.
The wolves have attempted to break into one of my fortresses before. Of course, I was waiting for them. I knew they were coming and what would be important to them. I sent them scrambling to protect their mates to keep them off my trail.
I will be ready for them when they come for Tabitha, too.
I don’t feel my usual glee at the cat and mouse game, though. Because Tabitha is the prize at stake this time. And she’s far too precious to me to take any risks. If my dragon believes she’s threatened, I could lose control. Rampage and burn down the entire castle with my sweet treasure in it.
For that reason, I cannot allow them to find her. If I have to move her all over the world to stay ahead of them, I’ll do it.
Of course, the better solution would be for Tabitha to accept me as her mate. For me to win her trust and she mine, so I can give her a phone back, and she can put her friends’ minds at ease.
But alas, we are not there yet.
I’m not sure if my locking her naked in her room today helps or hinders.
I do know the thought of it has my cock rock hard in anticipation of seeing her again.
Sex is the one area Tabitha will play with me, so I intend to continue this game as she enjoys it.
I realize Hess is still standing there, waiting for orders. “Let me know the moment any of them leave their compound.”
“I am monitoring all their movements,” Hess agrees.
“Be prepared to neutralize any threats, but only with non-lethal means.”
Hess hesitates. “Wouldn’t it be better to simply…eliminate the threat? I could strike their compound in Taos and–”
“No. I don’t want any of them killed. They are friends of my bride. She would not forgive such an outcome. But I cannot have them interfering in our courtship.”
“Understood. The lab is working on the high-potency tranquilizer that should work to keep a shifter down long enough to put him in silver chains.”
“Good.”
I hesitate.
“Hess.”
“Yes, sir?”
“I want you to make a dose strong enough for a dragon, as well.”
He goes still, his Siberian tiger eyes glowing yellow with awareness. “For you, sir?”
I blow out a breath. “If my dragon believes my mate is at risk, he could rampage. I can’t risk…”