Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
Samantha
I force myself not to leap away from the two dragons as my thoughts start working. My gaze moves to the kitchen we’d walked past. With the way the house is set up, I can’t see the back portion of the kitchen from here, so I force a smile.
“We haven’t seen that room yet!”
Both dragons glance back, seeming confused.
“Female dragons like to see their homes, every inch of them.”
“Females are strange,” Kek murmurs, but the tense atmosphere fades a little.
Kek turns and starts heading for the kitchen. I hurry after him, giving a wide space to Than, who stares lustfully after me. As we circle the counters, I see a house phone tucked under one of the cabinets. My pulse picks up, but I force myself not to hurry towards it.
I shift closer and see an open pantry room door. Lying on the floor in a pool of blood is a woman in a robe. Her eyes stare up at the ceiling, at nothing.
Gasping, I say, “What happened to her?”
Kek shrugs. “She did not want to give us our home.”
Fuck, and I thought he was the gentler one of the two.
Avoiding the dead woman, I open drawers and cabinets. I take out things and exclaim over how beautiful they are. While, all along, Kek and Than watch my every move, looking pleased that I’m happy with the place they chose.
Casually, I pull the phone off the wall, exclaiming over how lovely it is as I examine it, while dialing Evander’s number. I continue talking as I listen to it ringing.
“What are you doing?” Kek asks.
My lie is ready to go. “This is a music maker. I hoped it would set the right mood for us as we get to know each other better.”
Evander picks up, sounding unfriendly, probably because this is an unknown number. “Music player, we’d like to hear music.”
“Sam! Fuck, Sam!” He sounds like a man being pulled back from hell. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you! Where are you?”
“Music maker, we’re in a lovely home that my male dragons, Than and Kek, have made for me, so we need songs to fit that mood.”
“In a house? Do you know anything else? Fuck, I’m hurrying to track the number. Just stay strong, Sam. We’re coming for you.”
“Music maker, we don’t have a lot of time, so please start playing.”
“Why isn’t it working?” Kek asks, frowning.
I try to look disappointed. “It might be broken. Maybe the big pool outside, the biggest one I’ve ever seen, is causing the music player to stop working. Or, because there are two stories in this home and tall ceilings. Who knows?”
“Big Pool. Two stories. Got it. Are you okay?” Evander rushes out.
“I’m worried it isn’t working, but I guess that’s okay. The home is really nice otherwise,” I tell them, forcing another smile.
His breathing is fast, almost panting. “Are you safe?”
I look at the two dragons who are staring at me like I’m a prime rib, and they’re starving. “No. No, I’m not.”
Kek takes the phone from me and sets it down on the counter with clumsy movements, then leans closer and sniffs me again. I take a step back and swallow hard, my fear deepening as my mind scrambles for another way to stall. He moves closer to me, and like a magnet, Than does the same.
“The jewels!” I practically shout.
They both stare at me.
“I have to try on all the lovely jewels you gave me.”
Than nods firmly. “Then, we mate.”
He turns with quick movements and rushes up the stairs. I’m already moving, circling the counter and slowly heading toward the glass doors at a pace that won’t draw his attention. This is my chance. Maybe my only chance.