Chapter 2 #2
“Not exactly. I’ve agreed to help him,” Scarlett said. “He’s not dangerous. I’ll take two of the specials and two tankards of reeb.” She waved her wrist, indicating he should ring up the order so she could make the payment.
“Eva never charges you,” Robbie said.
“She does today,” Scarlett countered. “Can I have those ales, and I’ll tell him I’m going to the retiring room.”
Robbie rang up the sale and held the electronic contact up for her to offer her wristband. Once they’d completed the transaction, Robbie poured her reeb.
Ransom’s eyes had slid closed while she’d been speaking with Robbie. Scarlett settled the tankards in front of him, and Ransom started at the abrupt clink of metal against the tabletop.
“I’ve brought you a drink,” she said. “Our meals won’t take long. I’ll be back in a sec.”
His eyes narrowed on her. “Where are you going?”
“To the retiring room.”
“Don’t skip out on me,” he warned. “I’ll find you.”
“Who me?” Scarlett forced astonishment into her expression and placed her fisted hand against her breasts. “I wouldn’t dream of rabbiting.” She winked at him. “You owe me currency.”
She hustled toward the retiring room, taking a right-hand turn instead of a left.
“Scarlett!” Eva rushed to her side. A close-fitting white hat sat atop her honey-blonde hair while she wore a smart navy-blue tunic that clung to her petite frame. “I’ve just heard from Saber. How did you escape the dragon?” Her blue eyes scanned Scarlett from head to toe. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” Scarlett said. “I persuaded him to come here for a meal before we shop for supplies. He has a contact for some rare precious stones, and I agreed to go with him. Obtaining unusual stones is an item on my list. We’re traveling to—”
“Why did he kidnap you?” Eva shuddered. “Saber said one of those eagles attacked you. I have nightmares about those birds.”
“Ransom kept me safe,” Scarlett said. “It helped that Saber and the others fired at the bird and kept its attention divided. Look, tell Saber we’re traveling to the unexplored side of Narenda.
The journey won’t be speedy since the terrain is mountainous and we’ll be on foot.
Give me a month. He can send in the rescue troops if I’m not home by then. ”
Eva frowned. “But why did this dragon abduct you? Are you his mate?”
“No,” Scarlett said, lying through her teeth. Perhaps if she repeated the fib enough, her feline would swing to her point of view. “I’m uncertain why he grabbed me, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t get a creepy vibe from him. He hasn’t hurt me.”
“But he’s a freakin’ dragon,” Eva snapped. “I’ve heard rumors about the Narenda dragons. They’re not domesticated, that’s for sure.”
“Eva, there is nothing romantic about my wish to accompany him. If I can get my hands on unique precious stones, it will boost my sales. It’s part of my business plan. Please, don’t fuss. I get enough of that from my brothers.”
Eva wrapped her in a hug. “You’re right. Sometimes, I want to bash Saber when he gets stubborn. Putting up with one bossy husband is bad enough, but you have him plus your other four brothers telling you what to do.”
“You forgot my cousins,” Scarlett said drily. “They enjoy ordering me around too.”
“All right. What should I tell Saber?” Eva’s eyebrows drew together, and she pursed her lips. “Are you sure you need to achieve your goals this way? It’s dangerous. He’s a dragon.”
“Don’t fret. I’ll be fine, but I don’t have my com-circle and have no way of contacting the resort. Once we’re done on Narenda, I’ll ask Ransom to drop me on Dalcon. If not Dalcon, I guess I can get transport from the dragon’s spaceport.”
Eva’s frown remained. “What are you doing for food during your journey?”
“We’re buying stuff in the market.”
“I’ve been trialing shrink-meals. I’m happy with the final product but haven’t marketed them yet. Are you interested?”
Scarlett grinned. “Hell, yeah. There’s a reason you’re my favorite sister-in-law.”
Eva snorted. “You used that same line on Casey when she gave you the pair of shoes you’re wearing.”
“I need boots,” Scarlett said, observing her comfortable but impractical navy-and-gold shoes. Casey’s aunt designed shoes that allowed the wearer to change the color on a whim.
“Lucky for you, I have a pair in my office. I’ll pack them with the food supplies.”
“Awesome. Make sure you send me an account for the food. I’ll bill the dragon for his share.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“My subconscious is telling me to go with the dragon. Don’t know why.” She shrugged, owning to excitement at a step out of the norm and the chance to add a tick to her to-do list. “Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith.”
“You have thirty cycles before I galvanize the troops,” Eva said. “Thirty and no longer.”
Scarlett made use of the facilities and returned to the table as a waitress delivered two steaming plates of food.
Ransom was alone. His eyes were closed again, and the tension in his facial muscles made her suspect he had a headache. His big hand curled around his tankard, pushing a shiver through her. She had a weakness for large men since she was tall herself.
“You took a long time,” he said, his eyes popping open to glare at her.
“I did,” she agreed. “I’d heard the restaurant owner has invented shrink-meals, and I talked her into selling us some. You add heat and water, and they pop into their original shape. They’ll be ready for us when we leave.”
He peered at her for a fraction longer before picking up his fork and spearing a morsel of meat. Scarlett wasn’t sure what it was and never asked. She trusted Eva not to poison them.
Her stomach rumbled again, so she ate. The spicy sauce thrilled her taste buds while the mystery meat melted in her mouth.
“You’re right about this place,” Ransom said. “The food is tasty.”
Scarlett nodded, her mind on their journey. “Why isn’t one of your family or friends accompanying you? Why me?”
“You popped into my mind.”
A strange expression marched across his face as if he regretted thinking about her or perhaps the admission. Scarlett held her breath, hoping he’d say more.
“I’d already learned you enjoy collecting precious stones. I figured I’d abduct you and give you a fright in punishment for stealing from the Drake clan.”
A partial truth. Scarlett wasn’t sure why she’d come to this conclusion, but her gut told her he was withholding information. Oh, well. Life at the resort had become tedious, and this little jaunt offered a change.
They caught a flymo to the convent, for which Ransom was grateful. He sank onto a seat, every muscle quivering with fatigue. He had slept little recently—a conscious decision. Tonight, he feared his exhaustion would get the better of him.
The flymo pilot landed outside the convent gates, accepted the fare, and waited while they off-loaded their purchases.
“Are we sure we can carry all of this?” Scarlett asked.
“Once we repack it,” Ransom said.
A young nun in a white robe opened the gate for them and showed them to their quarters.
Phrull, it was one bedroom. Plain and clean with a large bed. He started to protest, to set the nun right, to tell her they weren’t husband and wife, but the nun spoke first.
“Ye were lucky to get the last room,” she said. “Thank ye for coming to the aid of our sister. Those Tigrus lads enjoy their teasing.”
“That’s awful,” Scarlet said. “I am friendly with several of the Red Mumber soldiers. I’ll inform them of this bullying.”
“Thank ye. There is no need,” the sister said. “Ye are welcome to use our bathing house. We have separate ones for males and females. Ye will find the bathing house outside to the right. We break our fast at first whitelight.”
“We’ll be there,” Scarlett said. “Thank you, sister.”
Ransom remained silent, his mind stuck on sharing this room with the aggravating, enticing woman. Her honey scent filled each of his breaths and had his dragon quivering like a youngling ready to launch into his first flight. Grata, this would give his willpower a workout.
He placed his packages in the corner of the room and offered the nun a polite nod as she retreated. In the marketplace, they’d tossed their purchases into the packs he’d brought. He’d repack them now.
“You should rest,” Scarlett said.
“I’d prefer to repack for our journey.”
“I’ll help.”
By the time they’d packed to his satisfaction, exhaustion had him teetering.
“I’m going to the bathing house,” Scarlett said. “You should grab some rest.”
A few minutes later, he stood alone in the chamber. He wobbled two steps to the gel-bed and plopped on the corner. Maybe if he closed his eyes and slept, the prince would contact him straightaway. He’d be eager to learn of Ransom’s progress.
Great gods, he hated this situation. Scarlett Mitchell was a stunning woman with talent and intelligence, and he was calmly delivering her to a despot. Fear bloomed inside Ransom, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit his distress. Only a fool might approach the prince without caution.
Steeling himself, Ransom stretched out on the bed. He willed himself to relax, yet contrarily, his mind recoiled at letting go and sinking into slumber. Sleep would come without a doubt since his body kept trying to buckle, so fatigued were his muscles.
His heart raced as he created a corral in his mind for his dragon. Prince Kalim was unimpressed by Ransom’s dragon status, and Ransom had learned it was best if his human side took the brunt of Prince Kalim’s torture.