Chapter 28 #2
Rhaz swallowed hard, his hands balling into fists. So what if I do?
Take her, Ezrel insisted. She is ours. She belongs to us.
“She belongs to no one,” Rhaz growled aloud.
You are a liar.
Rhaz stopped walking. What did you just call me?
You are lying to yourself, Ezrel said. She was made for us.
She is not a fated mate, he argued. Why do you keep insisting she’s perfect?
She is what we’ve wanted, Ezrel pointed out.
Rhaz started walking again, unable to argue the point.
Phin was what he wanted. She was so unlike the women he knew.
And she wasn’t boring, that was for sure.
Phin had such spirit, and it was highly attractive.
Yet she was also delicate, which was even more attractive.
A petite little warrior willing to fight, yet she still needed him.
The thought was downright intoxicating.
Ezrel began chasing his tail when Rhaz admitted that much to himself.
Don’t get so excited, he scolded his dragon. We don’t know what’s happening. We don’t know if we can go home.
All the more reason to claim her, Ezrel argued. Before another does.
Rhaz stopped again. Another? Don’t say such things.
Look at her. She’s beautiful… adorable.
Stop, Rhaz said. Or I am going to go a few weeks without shifting.
Ezrel laughed. You cannot. We must continue the hunt. We must protect Phin.
Her scent was growing stronger, and Rhaz had to concede the point to his dragon.
They did need to hunt down the Sarian and protect her, and the other humans in Moon Creek Falls who knew nothing of Sarian creatures, dragons, vampires, werewolves, Fae knights, wizards...
Oh, and Basil too. And they especially wouldn’t know what a Nemthra was. Things were probably safer that way.
Phin’s scent grew stronger, and he thought he spied her a couple hundred yards down the beach.
Rhaz watched her for a moment, then turned back toward the waves. He wanted to wait until she got closer before approaching. He didn’t want to scare her off.
Rhaz had money with him, more than enough to take her to lunch. Yes. That’s what he’d do.
He wanted to spend more time with her. So what if it was a bad idea? At this point, he didn’t care.
She’d spotted him. Rhaz could tell because her head snapped up, her eyes locking on his despite the distance still between them.
He casually turned her way and smiled, unable to help it, and started toward her. She didn’t make a move. But he couldn’t blame her. She was, as Anon mentioned, probably confused. But that was okay. He’d explain things.
Explain what? Ezrel asked.
Never you mind, Rhaz told him. I am going to sort this out myself. I don’t need any help from you.
Well, fine, Ezrel said.
He backed off, tucking himself deeper within Rhaz, but he knew better. His dragon was just trying to make him think he was disinterested or wouldn’t interfere. He definitely meant to butt in.
He started toward Phin, his heart beating faster the closer he got to her. She wore a look of indifference, as if they were just two strangers walking on the beach. He didn’t like that and was surprised at how it pained him. Was something wrong? Had someone said something to her?
What if?—
Oh no. What if any growing affection she had toward him had suddenly changed?
They were within twenty feet of each other, and he waved. “Phin, I am glad I ran into you.”
She marched right up to him and clasped her hands behind her back. Was she wearing the ring? He didn’t dare make a move to see.
“Good. I’m glad I ran into you too,” she said. “I have some things I’d like to say to you.” She swallowed hard and stood stiffly.
He looked her over. “Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong,” she shot back. “I’m just...” She looked around. “Walking on the beach, just like you. Is there anything wrong with that?”
He smiled. She was nervous. Very nervous.
“You seem out of sorts,” he said gently, hoping to soothe her.
“I’m fine. Just out for a walk.”
“Then I am glad.” He closed the distance between them. “Now, what did you have to say to me?”
“Oh yes. That. Well... um...” She looked at her bare feet. She always took her shoes off to walk in the sand. He hadn’t bothered taking off his. “I wanted to discuss...”
She whipped a hand out from behind her back and displayed the ring on her finger. “This. What this is. My mother is driving me crazy, and when my dad finds out you gave this to me, he’s going to freak.”
“Yes, Anon mentioned a few things about that. I am sorry if gifting you such a thing has caused you trouble.”
She stuck her hand behind her back again. “I don’t know if it’s so much trouble. Rhaz, my parents are just jumping to conclusions. They’re really bad about that sort of thing.”
“Ah, I see.” He gave her a warm smile, and she smiled back as if unable to help it.
Good. He wanted her relaxed around him. He wanted her trust. “So,” he started, “are you hungry?”
“I could do with a bite,” she said nonchalantly.
“Well then, why don’t we go somewhere for lunch? It’s about that time, isn’t it?”
She looked at the sand again. “I suppose it is. What do you have in mind?”
He smiled. “I was hoping you’d tell me. You live here, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. Um, well, we haven’t tried Kathy’s Country Kitchen yet.”
“No, we haven’t,” he said, watching her. Could she be any more beautiful? By scale and flame, he was in trouble. “Very well. Kathy’s Country Kitchen it is.”
He motioned her to precede him, which she did, switching her sandals to the front of her body so she could carry them in both hands.
Rhaz smiled as he followed her along the beach in silence. He didn’t mind it. He enjoyed observing her, seeing what she would do or say next.
At least she didn’t seem as nervous and was walking at a casual pace, as if they both had all the time in the world.
When they crested the sand dune to the parking lot, she put on her shoes and headed for her car. “Are you sure you have the time?” she asked.
“You’re not backing out on me, are you?” He went to the passenger side of the car and got in.
“Oh, um, no,” she said. “I just didn’t want to keep you from anything.”
“I am fine, Phin. Let’s go.”
She gave him a nod, got in, and started the car. Phin gripped the steering wheel as if her life depended on it, and it was all Rhaz could do not to reach over, take her hand in his, and tell her everything was going to be all right. Problem was, that at this point, everything was far from it.