He chuckled. “So, I’m your man now? We haven’t even gone out on a date yet.”
She waved away his comment. “We don’t need to go in order. Like normals.”
Torger shook his head. “I will be taking you on a date. I just have to figure out where we should go and if we should even go anywhere.”
“Want to keep me all to yourself, do you?” she purred.
“Of course I do.” He leered before he dug into the meal. “Anyway, I was going to avoid this but do you want me to tell you what they found and the details of Michaela’s death?”
Isy’s breath hitched in her throat as all arousal disappeared. Michaela. For a moment she’d forgotten about her friend. Tears burned her eyes, and her vision blurred as the ache and emptiness in her heart began to throb. Torger reached across the table, took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “She fought, hard, honey. She didn’t go down gently and she wasn’t sexually assaulted.”
“That’s a small relief,” she mumbled. Isy didn’t know how else to respond. Thank goddess Abbott hadn’t raped my friend. At least she’s at peace now. Hot tears slid down her cheeks, and she began to sniffle. She was unable to let go of his hand. It was the only thing giving her something to hold on to.
“I just…it doesn’t matter. She’s dead,” Isy whispered.
“I know, honey.” Torger got out of his seat and came around the table without taking back his hand.
She gripped his palm tighter as a sob grew in her throat. “It hurts so much, Tor. She was my friend and I didn’t protect her, didn’t get to know her better. I failed her.” The sob came out as a ragged cry. She collapsed against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist as she let it all out. Torger stroked her hair and made hushed sounds. She felt a sense of shame at breaking down like this, yet she couldn’t stop the wave of emotion that washed over her as she cried. A scream built up inside of her until she let it out as a howl.
She wasn’t the only one in pain; her dragon felt the ache too. Its emotions melded with hers until it formed an immeasurable wall of throbbing, crystalline ache. Dragons were protectors, fierce in battle and defensive of what was theirs. Anger rippled along the barrier, filling her with heat and fire. Abbott had taken what was hers. Michaela had been her friend. Her assistant. How dare he take her from us, the dragon hissed. She pounded on the hard wall of flesh before her, screaming and raging as her dragon pushed its own emotions into her, shoving its fury and helplessness into its human vessel until Isadora sagged against Torger exhausted, hollow, and raw.
Torger had held her through it, stroked her hair and allowed her to use him as a punching bag. Isy gazed up at him, head heavy, eyes hot and a sense of shame filling her up at her outburst.
“It’s okay, honey. Why don’t we go to bed? It’s been a long day. I’ll put this away for tomorrow, and I can make us breakfast in bed, and we can watch a movie.” Torger gave her a small smile.
Heat filled her chest as she wiped away the last of her tears. Torger didn’t think her weak. He understood. “Okay.” She nodded.
Isy got up and headed back to Torger’s bed, climbed in, under the covers and settled down to wait for him. Her eyes felt heavy. It really had been a long day, and now the shadow of the serial killer had been withdrawn. They were all safe. Her town, her people, and most importantly her man and family and friends were safe. She closed her eyes, allowing exhausting to take hold. Isy yawned. Yes, they were all safe for now.
* * * *
Torger put all the dishes away and headed into the bedroom to find Isy asleep on his bed. Rather than join her, he undressed, took a shower, and then slid under the covers. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against him. Everyone was safe. Abbott was dead, the serial killer was gone and his town was once again okay. Well, not everyone. His thoughts drifted toward Jagger. With a sigh, he pressed a kiss on the top of her head and closed his eyes. He’d deal with that headache tomorrow. For now, he’d savor this small respite. He had his mate and his brother was staying with him for how long, who knew, but he’d take it. Draven’s Crossing was safe, his territory was his once again and everything was as it should be.
For now…
About the Author
Author, part vampire, part pixie, Selena Illyria was born with a need to write and enable. Her imagination takes her into the paranormal, sci-fi and fantasy genres and all sorts of mischief. When not writing she enjoys catching up on her TBR pile, watching some of her favorite programs and listening to her favorite music as well as teasing people with posts on decadent food and plot bunnies.
Visit her online at www. SelenaIllyria.com
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PURPLE SWORD PUBLICATIONS LLC
Romantic Speculative Fiction
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[Draven's Crossing 1] Hidden Diversions Page 17