Lord of Destiny (The Dragon Demigods #6) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,71

this alone.”

“No! I want you…I’m having you.” He fists his still-hard member from base to tip. His jaw tightens. “I’m going to ask for you to be flogged for having sex with another male. I’ll give you an hour to reconsider letting me fuck you.”

“Not. Going. To. Happen.” He always was a little dense. I had forgotten about that. The thought of this asshole as my mate turns my stomach. “I welcome being flogged rather than having sex with you.”

“I’m sorry to hear you feel that way. You might change your mind when the whip hits your flesh. I’ll see you bright and early.” He winks at me. Then he’s leaving. I hear the door lock, and I sink to the ground, breathing hard. My heart is racing. That was a close call. I might not get off so easily next time. I rub a hand over my face, praying that Stephan got away. Not just for him, but for me too.

19

Stephanus

I can barely breathe, and my limbs are shaking. I stumble as I land since I’m coming in hot. I’m running as I shift. Sweat is dripping off my body. I’m breathing hard. Our clothes are still here where we left them. Two piles.

Two.

I feel everything in me tighten when I see Raven’s clothes. Leaving her was the hardest thing I have ever done. Hands down, the hardest! I know those fuckers captured her. I didn’t have to see it to know it. I could hear their catcalls. Their elation at nabbing their prize.

For a moment, I was frozen. I even turned and started heading back. How could I not go back? I mean, fuck! They had my Raven. For a short while there, she felt like mine. I want so badly for that to be the case, even though I know it can’t be. I can get her out of there and safe. All I know in this moment is that I will save her or die trying!

I turned back for her on instinct. They spotted me. I heard the warning screech. I knew I had been busted. Turning away was the toughest thing I have ever done. It still doesn’t sit right with me. The need to protect rose up in me with such a startling ferocity I could barely breathe. It was that same need to protect that drove me to fly away. To get away at all costs. Leaving is how I will get her back.

Beating those fuckers wasn’t easy, but I did it. I’m a dragon demigod! My strength and my speed supersede any straight shifter by a mile. Those dickheads fought a losing battle when it came to keeping up with me. They tried…they tried harder than I thought they would, but in the end, they failed.

I dress quickly and then pick up Raven’s clothes. I sprint to my vehicle. The keys are in the ignition. My Jeep was safe on shifter soil. My phone is on the center console. It’s down to six percent battery. I have fifty-eight missed calls. We haven’t even been missing for twenty-four hours yet. It feels like much longer.

I plug my phone into the charger and start up my car. I dial my brother as I reverse, leaving dirt tracks in the grass. He answers on the second ring. “Where the fuck are you?” he growls. “Your note said you were going flying with Raven. How fucking long did you need to go on a flight for? We’re going out of our minds with worry here. What the fuck, Stephan?”

“Is Raven with him?” I hear someone ask. By the growl in his voice, I think it might be West.

“Let me speak to her,” another voice says. “Right now!” Maddox, it’s definitely him.

“Where are you?” I ask Jarrod, frowning.

“We’re all at your place. We were about to go to the police,” Jarrod says. “You’re so fucking irresponsible.”

“They have Raven.”

“What? Who? What happened?” Jarrod sounds confused.

“What’s going on?” Maddox snarls.

“Make sure that everyone is at my house. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Raven’s weyr have her. We need to rescue her. I’ll fill you in when I get there.” I put the phone down. I need to concentrate on driving.

My phone rings a few times, but I ignore it. I push the boundaries without being reckless. I go faster than the speed limit at times and drive through red lights, as long as it’s safe to do so. The last thing I want is to cause an accident.