Chapter 9 Isla
NINE
ISLA
The guest suite at Evelina’s estate possessed the kind of elegance that whispered of centuries rather than decades.
The space had high ceilings with exposed beams, stone walls softened by tapestries in rich burgundy and gold, and tall windows that overlooked gardens where ancient trees stood sentinel against the volcanic backdrop.
This place has been here forever, she thought, running her fingers along the smooth surface of an antique writing desk positioned near the window.
Everything about Evelina’s estate spoke of old money and older power, though the woman carried herself with such warmth and humility that the grandeur felt almost incidental.
When Isla had asked about the estate’s history during the brief tour, Evelina had simply smiled and said, “This land has been in our family for centuries. We were the first to establish the territory on Everflame Isle.” The casual way she’d mentioned establishing territory had struck Isla as odd, but she’d attributed it to the kind of pride that came with deep family roots.
Now, sitting on the bed, Isla felt the weight of the day settling over her like a heavy blanket. The whirlwind journey from Cape Cod to this paradise felt surreal—meeting Gerri, the flight across the country, the boat ride to an island that didn’t appear on any map, and then... Damon.
God, Damon.
Her heart still raced whenever she replayed that moment when their hands had touched.
The electric shock that had traveled up her arm, the way his green eyes had darkened with something that looked like hunger before he’d yanked his hand away.
The memory sent heat pooling in her, followed immediately by the sharp sting of confusion and rejection.
What did I do so wrong?
She needed to hear Harper’s voice, needed her best friend’s practical wisdom to help sort through the tangle of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Isla pulled out her phone and hit Harper’s contact, grateful when the call connected on the first ring.
“Thank God,” Harper’s familiar voice came through the speaker, warm with relief. “I was starting to worry when I didn’t hear from you. How’s paradise treating you?”
The question should have been easy to answer with enthusiasm, but Isla found herself hesitating. When she’d left Cape Cod that morning, she’d been buzzing with excitement and possibility. Now, sitting in this beautiful but overwhelming place, she felt like she’d stepped into someone else’s life.
“It’s... complicated,” Isla admitted, sinking back against the pillows.
“Complicated how?” Harper’s tone immediately sharpened with concern. “Please tell me you haven’t already fallen for someone.”
If only it were that simple.
“Well,” Isla began, then took a breath and dove in. “Remember Gerri, the matchmaker from the bookstore? Turns out she didn’t exactly find me by accident yesterday.”
Silence stretched across the connection for so long that Isla checked her phone to make sure the call hadn’t dropped.
“Harper? You still there?”
“Oh my God, Isla.” Harper’s voice was flat with disbelief. “You were set up.”
“It’s not like that—well, okay, maybe it is a little like that.” Isla twisted a strand of auburn hair around her finger. “Gerri arranged for me to come here because the woman I’m helping with the bookstore—Evelina—asked her to find a match for her nephew. And apparently, that match is me.”
“Her nephew?” Harper’s tone could have frozen lava. “Let me guess—tall, dark, emotionally unavailable, and a walking red flag?”
Despite everything, Isla found herself smiling at Harper’s predictable response. “He’s definitely tall and dark. The emotionally unavailable part... jury’s still out.”
“What do you mean ‘jury’s still out’? Either he was interested or he wasn’t.”
Isla closed her eyes, remembering the intensity in Damon’s gaze before he’d fled.
“That’s the problem. For a moment, when we first met, it was like.
.. like everything I’ve read about in romance novels.
Instant recognition, electricity, the whole ‘love at first sight’ thing.
But then he just bolted. Literally walked away without explanation. ”
“Isla.” Harper’s voice carried the patient tone she used when she was about to deliver hard truths. “This is exactly the kind of situation I’ve been warning you about. Some guy you don’t know, on an island that’s not even on maps, acting all mysterious. It screams trouble.”
“But what if it’s not trouble?” The words tumbled out before Isla could stop them. “What if this is exactly what I’ve been hoping for? What if the universe really did pull strings to get me here?”
“The universe didn’t pull strings. A matchmaker did. And matchmakers are in the business of making people believe in fairy tales. That’s how they get paid.”
Isla wanted to argue, but Harper’s pragmatic logic had a way of cutting through romantic fantasies with surgical precision. Still, something deep in her chest insisted this was different.
“Maybe you should just come home,” Harper continued gently. “Before you get in too deep with another guy who’s going to break your heart.”
“I can’t just leave.” Isla sat up straighter, feeling a spark of her usual determination. “I promised to help Evelina with the bookstore. And besides, I need to at least talk to him, find out why he acted the way he did.”
“Isla—”
A soft knock on the door interrupted Harper’s response. “I have to go,” Isla whispered. “Evelina’s here. I’ll call you later.”
“You better. And just be careful.”
The call ended just as Evelina entered with the kind of graceful authority that made Isla think of queens.
“I hope you’re settling in comfortably,” Evelina said, her green eyes—so similar to Damon’s—taking in Isla’s slightly frazzled state with maternal concern.
“It’s beautiful here. Thank you for having me. Truly.” Isla gestured around the room. “I was just talking to my friend Harper back home.”
“Good. It’s important to maintain connections.” Evelina moved to the window, gazing out at the gardens where twilight was beginning to paint the sky in shades of purple and coral. “I actually came to let you know that I’ve arranged for you to have dinner with Damon tonight. At his place.”
Isla’s heart skipped several beats. “His place?”
“Yes, his beach house. It’s more private, which I think will help him feel more comfortable.” Evelina turned back to face Isla, and something in her expression suggested there were depths to this conversation they hadn’t yet explored. “I should probably be more honest with you about the situation.”
Here it comes, Isla thought, bracing herself.
“Gerri told you that you were Damon’s match, correct?”
“She did. On the plane, actually.” Isla tucked her legs under her, settling in for what felt like it might be a significant conversation. “I was a little surprised by the whole setup but not upset. Just... confused about why he seemed to want nothing to do with me.”
Evelina’s expression softened with what looked like a mixture of sympathy and embarrassment. “I’m afraid we weren’t entirely forthcoming about the nature of the match. You see, in our world, we don’t just call it a destined match. We call it a fated mate bond.”
“Fated mate bond?” The words felt strange on Isla’s tongue, carrying weight she didn’t fully understand. “That sounds intense.”
“It is intense. Much more intense than human concepts of soulmates or destiny.” Evelina moved to sit on the bed, her presence somehow both comforting and commanding.
“Which brings me to the other thing Gerri apparently didn’t mention.
Everflame Isle isn’t just a small Hawaiian community.
It’s the territory of the Everflame dragon clan. ”
The words hit Isla like a bombshell. “Dragon clan?”
“Dragon shifters, to be precise. My father established this territory centuries ago as a safe haven for our people. When my sister died in a terrible tragedy, her son Damon inherited leadership of the clan. He’s been the Alpha ever since.”
Alpha. Dragon shifter. Fated mate.
The room seemed to tilt around Isla as the pieces clicked into place with stunning clarity. The island that didn’t appear on maps. Evelina’s casual mention of establishing territory. The way Damon had moved with predatory grace.
“I’m his fated mate,” Isla said slowly, testing the words. “And he’s a dragon.”
“The Alpha dragon, yes.” Evelina’s voice was gentle but matter-of-fact. “Which explains both his immediate recognition of the mate bond and his rather dramatic flight response. Damon hasn’t exactly been... receptive to the idea.”
Isla laughed, though it came out a bit shaky. “Well, that explains why he looked at me like I was going to destroy his life.”
“From his perspective, you probably are going to destroy his life. The careful, controlled existence he’s built for himself, anyway.” Evelina reached over and squeezed Isla’s hand. “But sometimes destruction is exactly what we need to make room for something better.”
Isla thought about Harper’s warning, about the sensible thing to do, about all the ways this could go catastrophically wrong. Then she thought about the electric shock of Damon’s touch and the way her entire world had shifted the moment their eyes met.
“I guess we’ll find out,” Isla finally said.