through the open door.
Baine remained at her side. He’d already used his acute senses to assure himself that there was no one else in the house, but he intended to make sure there were no traps left behind by the trolls.
He didn’t trust the sneaky bastards.
In silence they moved through the house that seemed to be stuffed with an overabundance of flowery furniture and lacy doilies. Baine felt a burst of fury at the sight of several knickknacks that had been broken, and the nasty stench of troll that marred the warm scent of freshly baked bread.
This had been Tayla’s lair.
A cozy home where she’d felt at peace.
He would obliterate every damned troll who’d dared to invade her space.
Tayla climbed the stairs to the second floor and headed to the last door at the end of the hall.
Anticipating the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the female’s most private sanctuary, Baine nearly ran her over when she came to abrupt halt and reached through the doorway to grab a suitcase that was clearly sitting at the edge of the entrance.
He frowned in confusion, reaching to take the case. “Were you planning on leaving?”
She shrugged, her expression suddenly unreadable. “I’ve been on the run for years. I’m always prepared to leave.”
Baine narrowed his gaze, sensing a wound that had festered for years.
He didn’t need to ask who’d caused her injury.
Her worthless father.
Reaching out, he cupped her chin in his palm and tilted back her head.
“You won’t leave me,” he said, the words a stark warning. “Never again.”
Her eyes sparked with an annoyance that banished her pain. Baine hid a smile. This was how he wanted to see her. Vibrant, strong, and ready to fight him despite the fact it would forever be a losing battle.
Her lips parted but before she could speak, the idiotic gargoyle waddled down the hallway, his polished tail trailing behind him.
“Where are we going?” the strange creature demanded.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Baine snapped. “At least not with us.”
The gargoyle gave a flap of his wings. “But—”
“Go away,” Baine commanded.
Tayla turned to face him. “I want to speak with Levet in private.”
The beast inside him snarled with fury. It didn’t matter that Levet was a stunted creature who was clearly no match for a full-grown dragon. Or that Tayla claimed they were friends.
He didn’t want any male near his female.
“It’s too dangerous,” he chided. “We need to be away from here.”
“It will only take a minute.” She held his gaze, forcing herself to say the magic word. “Please.”
Baine swallowed a curse.
He could easily compel her to go with him. With one burst of power could open a portal and have her pulled through before she could protest.
So why didn’t he?
That question didn’t have an easy answer.
“You have five minutes,” he snapped, pointing a warning finger at the gargoyle. “You touch her and I’ll rip off your wings.”
With his warning delivered he headed down the stairs, carrying Tayla’s suitcase.
Just like he was some damned bellboy, he realized in disgruntled disbelief.
CHAPTER FIVE
Tayla watched as Baine grudgingly headed down the stairs.
She hadn’t actually expected him to give her the time she’d requested. Baine was a dragon who gave orders; he didn’t take them. Now she sucked in a deep breath.
Blessed goddess. Being near Baine was like standing in the center of an electrical storm. She felt scorched from head to toe.
And not in a bad way.
“A little possessive, is he not?” Levet murmured.
Tayla shrugged, feeling a blush touch her cheeks at Levet’s speculative gaze.
“He’s a dragon and he believes I’m a part of his hoard,” she said.
“And that’s all?”
It was, of course. Even if a small part of her wished…
No. She wasn’t going to go there.
Not ever.
“Isn’t that enough?” she demanded.
“Perhaps.”
She gave a shake of her head. She didn’t want to discuss the fact that she was nothing more than dragon booty.
“Look, I’m sorry, but I’m going to be gone for a while,” she confessed. “If you don’t fear the trolls then you’re welcome to continue your dating service here.”
Levet gave an offended sniff. “I fear no trolls.”
“Good.” She allowed a wry smile to touch her lips. She truly was going to miss this tiny demon. “I’d like to think you were here to take care of the house.”
“Non,” he protested, his wings flapping. “I am going to find a means of rescuing you from that unpleasantly rude dragon.”
She was shaking her head before he finished speaking. “It’s impossible.”
“Fah.” He gave a wave of one clawed hand. “Impossible is not a