In a Dragon’s Dream by Riley Storm Page 0,1

over.

He was tall, with ruggedly handsome good looks. A strong, defined jaw, thick black hair cropped close along his face. A few strands of gray were interspersed throughout it, giving him an air of dignity and experience.

He regarded her calmly with a pair of green eyes set into a face that creased with a gentle, reassuring smile that instantly put Laura at ease. Whoever he was, she didn’t feel threatened by his presence. Not like the ones who had tried to take her and Kristin.

“My name is Rakell,” the newcomer said, standing his ground, not coming any closer.

Respecting her space.

“And why are you here Rakell? You don’t look like a doctor. Certainly not the one who has already seen me.”

He was dressed in fitted black pants, not jeans, she figured, judging by the way they sat on his muscular legs, and a charcoal gray dress shirt. No jacket, which was odd for the late October weather. No bag either, just…him.

“I’m not a doctor,” he rumbled. “My name is Rakell, Rakell Teres.”

Laura stiffened. She knew exactly who he was then. Who he was, but more importantly, Laura knew what he was. Though the fact that she knew would probably surprise the heck out of him. After all, that was supposed to be a secret.

“Why are you here, Rakell Teres?” she asked quietly, knowing that this couldn’t be random.

“I’m here because you’re here,” he said, gesturing at the bed. “And you’re here, because of some…family squabbles.”

The way he said the last two words, she knew it was a lie. If he was one of the Teres clan, then that meant that Blede was one of them too. Which meant Kristin was mixed up in it all.

Following that logic to its conclusion, using the knowledge Laura wasn’t supposed to have, but did, she knew that the men who had forced their way into her office were anything but family to this Rakell.

They shared some DNA together perhaps, but it certainly wasn’t what anyone else would expect.

“What’s your point?” she asked, settling back into the bed, feeling more at ease now that she knew who he was.

“I’m here to make things right,” Rakell said. “We can’t undo what has happened, however, we would like to ensure that, going forward, you are well looked after. To that end, we’re prepared to make a generous donation to you, or your business. Whichever you would prefer. It shall take care of any medical bills and hopefully make your life easier after the suffering you’ve felt due to our, um, family.”

Lauren smiled. “I don’t want your money,” she said, staring at him, knowing exactly what it was that she wanted.

A lifelong dream that she might now be able to actually see come true. It was within her grasp, after so many years of doing her best to respect others, to keep things quiet. Now…now maybe she could ask without issue.

“You don’t want money?” Rakell asked, his face crinkling in surprise, revealing several lines around his eyes.

She wondered then how old he was. He only looked to be about her age, late thirties, but now…now she wondered. There was something distinguished about him, something…Laura wasn’t sure.

“No, I do just fine for money,” she said. “I’ve been graced with a successful business.”

“Oh.” Rakell seemed perplexed. “You seem like you want something else then. Though I confess I’m not sure what else we can offer to you? What is it you want?”

Laura smiled, looking him squarely in the eye, capturing those green orbs and holding them firm.

“I want you to show me your dragon.”

Chapter Two

Rakell

It took all of his enormous willpower for Rakell not to react to her comment the way he wanted.

“You want me to show you my…dragon?” he said, forcing the word to sound unnatural coming from his mouth, as if he wasn’t used to saying it.

Rakell was stalling, buying time as he frantically tried to get his mind into some semblance of order after the bombshell that Laura had just dropped into their conversation.

How could she possibly know about us? Blede assured me she was unconscious throughout the entire ordeal, and that he never actually changed into his full form. There should be no way for her to know.

His mind was going so fast, some thoughts were taking their time to catch up with others. For instance, even if Laura had seen something earlier that night, when Rakell’s clan mate Blede had fought off the enemy dragons and saved her, there was precisely zero chance she was as