Ancient Enemy - Katie Reus Page 0,7
locals in the area and tell them to contact me if she stops by.”
“They might not listen to you.” The people who lived out here might be part of King’s territory, but almost all of them lived away from the city, away from hordes of people. Because they liked the solitude, and if he had to guess, they liked making their own rules.
Another long sigh. “I know.”
Rhys stalked away and let the change come over him, magic and pain bursting together in a bright display of light as he shifted to his animal form. That was why he hadn’t bothered with clothing before—it would have shredded when the change happened. Without pause, he took to the skies, his wings flapping hard as he flew after the little dragon and two females.
The one that had smelled like heaven and called him a jackass was a witch. He’d known that before they’d arrived and was ashamed that he’d been ready to dislike her upon arrival. Which made him feel…petty and small and worse than the jackass she’d called him.
His dragon had immediately liked the look of her, and okay, he could admit that she was very attractive. Her eyes were a pale gray that had seemed to see straight to his soul. And her scent reminded him of moonlit nights and gentle spring air.
He inhaled deeply, following her distinctive scent and the sharp fear scent of the dragon as it zigzagged across the sky in random patterns.
The sun was setting as he trailed after them, and twenty minutes later he found himself back at the first farm they’d visited. It didn’t matter that it was now dark out, there were solar string lights stationed everywhere, lighting up the place for half a mile in each direction around the house and farm. Not that it mattered, because they were definitely hiding. He couldn’t see the dragon or females anywhere but he could smell them very clearly. Especially the witch.
Dallas. He liked the sound of her name.
Find Dallas, his beast rumbled. And don’t be rude.
Landing in the middle of the field, he shifted back to his human form, then picked up his bag of clothing. If the females and young dragon ran away again, he’d deal with it, but he figured if he wanted to convince them to stay put, he needed to be dressed. Not walking around with his dick hanging out.
Once he’d pulled on his pants and shirt, he stalked across the grass toward a huge red and white barn. There were a multitude of scents here now, not just a dragon and Dallas. He scented the one called Naomi and the other one with dark, curly hair, Hazel. And…at least eight other individuals. He couldn’t sift through all of them so there might actually be more.
He couldn’t see any threat so he stalked straight to the barn. As he reached the set of doors, they slid open and Naomi and Dallas stepped out.
“What are you doing here?” the petite Naomi asked, her eyes narrowed. This was her land so it made sense she was out here demanding answers.
His gaze flicked to Dallas and he found he couldn’t tear it away from her. She watched him warily, her hands balled into fists at her side. “You can’t take my dragon!” she suddenly shouted.
Naomi winced and rubbed her temples with her hands. “Dallas, you’ve got to chill for a minute.”
“She’s never hurt anybody!” the female with the long, dark hair shot through with strands of red shouted again as if her friend hadn’t said a thing. “She’s the sweetest thing ever. And you’re a monster if you hurt her!”
“I’m not going to hurt your pet,” he snapped out. He was a lot of things, but he wasn’t going to hurt a little dragonling unprovoked. Not even if King ordered him to.
The witch’s shoulders seemed to ease a little bit as she watched him. “Swear it?” she demanded.
“I swear on the name of the Donnachaidh clan—my clan—that I will not hurt your dragon unless it attempts to hurt me or any other beings.”
She nodded once, the mistrust in her gaze easing back a little more. Not by much, but it was something. It was a little ironic that a witch was trusting him, when he’d all but loathed witches for ages.
“I’m pulling my phone out of my pocket,” he said, holding his hand out to make it clear he wasn’t reaching for a weapon. Not that he actually needed one, but he wanted her