In a Dragon’s Dream by Riley Storm Page 0,2

calm and accepting of it as the woman sitting in front of him.

Something else was going on.

“Yes, your dragon,” Laura said, her gaze never wavering.

Could she see his panic? His inner fear that maybe, somehow, word had gotten out about the dragons? That the humans knew more than they were letting on?

“I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he rumbled, noting the way her hazel eyes hardened.

A single lock of hair that was, if anything, darker than his own, slipped out from behind her perfectly shaped ear as she stared back at him, falling to hang just shy of her hospital-gown covered shoulder.

Not that Five Peaks had a true hospital, it was just an urgent care center that was open twenty-four-seven, but the effect was the same in Rakell’s mind. It smelled sterile, everything was white and boring. It wanted to be a hospital, whether the name on the front said so or not.

“You’re very good at this,” Laura said.

Rakell’s frown deepened. “Very good at what?” he asked, hoping he put the right amount of bewilderment into his voice and onto his face. His confusion needed to appear real.

“Pretending like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he pointed out.

Laura smirked, large eyes laughing at him, but said nothing.

She knew he was bluffing, that he wasn’t telling the truth. It didn’t change a thing of course. Rakell wasn’t about to tell her what he really was. What he could do. Those were secrets meant only for the exclusive people that he trusted, and she wasn’t one of them.

So how did she know? Why wasn’t she telling him that either, he wondered to himself. If someone had told her about his kind, she could back up her claim to know by saying who it had been. Instead, she was keeping it secret, to herself.

Which meant someone told her, who wasn’t supposed to.

Rakell’s mind considered everything, including who had dropped her off at the urgent-care center…

Not now.

“Perhaps you hit your head harder than you thought,” he suggested.

“Yes,” Laura said dryly, without any conviction or belief. “Perhaps.”

“We’re here to offer you some restitution,” he said, repeating his initial offer. “We wish to make things right for your injury.”

“I don’t need money,” Laura repeated. “I’m not a charity case. I bumped my head, and some goons tried to shove me in a car. It’s…not normal,” she said, her eyes darting around warily as she remembered her ordeal. “But I can handle that without having to take your money.”

Rakell was at a loss. He wanted to settle their debt. The Cado, the fallen dragons, were the ones behind her kidnapping. He suspected they were even now being hunted by Blede and some other dragons. In the meantime, however, this human had suffered at the hands of some bad dragons. It was his job to smooth things over.

“Well, you must need something,” he prompted, wondering what else they could offer. Maybe she needed some connections, or to be introduced to someone higher up in the system, with a good word put in for her.

He could do that. The dragons knew a great many powerful people. They could arrange any number of meetings.

“It sure ain’t money,” Laura muttered, her voice turning to sarcasm as she continued. “What I really need is a bodyguard, so this doesn’t happen again.”

Rakell nodded, several things clicking into place at once.

“Very well,” he said. “Consider me at your service until you once more feel comfortable.”

Laura’s well-maintained eyebrows shot way up, wrinkling her brow as she looked up at him, shock etched onto her thick features. She had a very lively face, and the effects of her reaction were making it extra visible.

Cheeks flushed a bright red, while more hair shook free from behind her ears as she sat up, the strands falling freely, obscuring more of her face from his view. She reached up and tucked them back with practiced experience. Probably, he figured, she didn’t even realize she was doing it anymore.

“Hooold on,” she said slowly, waving a finger at him. “I did not mean that seriously, not at all.”

“I saw how you reacted when I first spoke up,” Rakell said gently. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was that this was the best option for all parties. “It’s only natural to be jumpy after what you experienced. There’s no reason to be ashamed.”

“Listen, mister. Rakell. Whoever. I don’t actually need a bodyguard,” Laura said, looking around, practically