Her dragon spoke up. Good. If you didn't go see him, then you'd just keep thinking about him. And that would make any training we do useless.
I could focus if I had to.
Maybe, maybe not. I know I would pester you until we finally saw him again.
Honoria mentally sighed. I'm not going to sleep with him, dragon. So give it up already.
Her beast huffed. Why not? It'd be a good way to better know our competition.
Right, I'm sure that's the main reason, she said slowly.
It could be. Her dragon paused and added more softly, Besides, it will help him connect with his dragon. I sense the relationship is a bit strained there. Sex would bring them together.
She waved at someone walking by. Ignoring their double-take—few knew Honoria had returned—she replied, How can you even know that? Dragons can't read minds.
No, but I just know. Call it a dragon's intuition.
She reached the two-story stone cottage where the Kings lived. It was a little apart from the rest of the houses in the area. Since Asher had lived in the more central part of the clan back in the day, his family must've moved to it sometime after she'd left.
For a second, she wondered if it was to isolate themselves a little from the accusations and looks of the clan. After all, Honoria didn't think Shane was the only dragon-shifter on Skyhunter to blame anyone with the King surname for what had happened.
Her beast spoke up. Ask him if that's why they live here. It's that simple.
Ignoring her dragon, she stopped at the door and knocked. A few beats later, the mostly gray-haired form of Lynne King, Asher's mother, filled the doorway. She instantly smiled at Honoria. "Ria, I had heard you were back, but it's lovely to see you again."
Memories of Lynne always welcoming her into their home flashed into Honoria's mind. Asher's mum was a link to the version of herself that had changed upon setting foot in America. "Hello, Mrs. King. I just came by to see if Asher was here?"
"He is." She hesitated and glanced over her shoulder, and then back again. "But I'm not sure if my daughter can handle a visitor right now. Would you wait here a second? I'll have Asher come to the door."
As soon as she nodded, Lynne shut the door. The older female's words made her wonder what had happened to Aimee, especially since no one had mentioned anything about Asher's sister to her yet.
Before she could think too much on it, the door swung open. Asher frowned down at her. "What are you doing here?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Hello to you, too."
He crossed his arms over his chest. A broad, muscled chest that tapered to a slim pair of hips. And she had no doubt beyond that were muscled thighs.
Asher King had matured well.
Her dragon hummed, but Honoria quickly constructed a temporary prison for her dragon, to prevent her beast from talking for a short while.
Asher grunted. "We're rivals, Ria. You shouldn't be here, and you know it."
"Excuse me for wanting to stop by and say hello. You said a lot of cryptic stuff back in the conference room and I wanted some answers."
"At least you're not lying and trying to sweet talk me first."
"When have I ever sweet-talked anyone?'
"I don't know, but you've been in America for over a decade. Who knows what you picked up."
It was on the tip of her tongue to say America was like anywhere, in that a clan was made up of all kinds of people. But arguing with Asher would accomplish nothing, nor was it important she win the point. "I merely wanted to say hello and ensure everything was okay, for old time's sake. I'm not here to execute any dirty tricks, I assure you."
Asher's mum appeared behind him. "Aimee went to her room for a nap, so won't you come in, Ria?"
"Mum, I don't think—"
She cut off her son. "I want to visit with her, even if you don't. And since you promised to help me with a few things in the kitchen, it means you'll have to tolerate her company, too."