Page 40 of Midnight of Ashes
Cillian moved in then, squeezing my shoulder and pressing a kiss to the side of my head. “Good luck.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from saying something I shouldn’t.
Mona strode up then. She wore a slinky, maroon gown that accentuated her curves. “I’ll escort her. We may need girl talk after all. Lots of delicious specimens in the room.”
She laughed at her own joke as she linked arms with me. “If I didn’t already have my own bond, I’d be making these boys jump through hoops for me. Make them promise you the world, Hayden. Jewels, travel, homes. It all can be yours.”
I glanced up at her. “That’s all pretty empty if they don’t actually care for you.”
Mona laughed again; this time it was a touch more real. “An idealist. Let’s see how long that lasts.”
She released me toward the first group.
I swallowed hard as the group of four men stared at me. Their expressions were hungry and more than a little dark. The largest man of the bunch stepped forward, his gaze roaming over my body before landing on my breasts. He didn’t even bother to look at my face as he introduced himself.
“Julian, alpha of the Mercutio horde.”
I took his hand. “Hayden, and my eyes are up here.”
There was no hint of energy as we shook hands. I didn’t feel faint, and my vision didn’t tunnel.
Julian chuckled. “Fiery. I’d have fun breaking that spirit.”
I jerked my hand out of his, turning to Mona. “I didn’t feel a thing.”
She nodded, motioning to the next group of men.
My back teeth ground together as I moved into their orbit.
An absolutely massive man stepped forward. He had a shaved head and a piercing through his septum. I nearly stumbled backward, but then a wide grin split his face. “Hayden, so pleased to meet you. I’m Roark.”
“H-hi,” I stammered.
“Told you that you’d scare the shit out of her, R. I should’ve gone,” a leaner man chided him from behind.
Roark scowled at his friend. “Shut up.”
I took a steadying breath. “Sorry, you are a little intimidating.”
A hint of pink hit Roark’s cheeks. “Comes in handy sometimes, not so much in others. Pleased to meet you.”
He extended his hand, and I took it. There were no fireworks, and Roark immediately looked disappointed.
I squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry. You’ll find your mate.”
Roark gave me a kind smile. “You will, too.”
Surprise flashed through me. “Didn’t they tell you? I already have. They’re over there.” I inclined my head to my guys.
Anger flashed in Roark’s eyes as he glared at Mona. “They neglected to share that tidbit of information.”
Mona hurried forward. “She thinks she found her bond, but new dragons are easily confused.”
She tugged me to the next group with a scowl. The next two hordes weren’t nearly as warm as Roark’s but not as creepy as Julian’s. There were no fireworks with either.
Now, there was only one left. I swallowed hard as we moved toward Hal and his bond. He smiled at me, seeming to think that the action would charm me, but it came across as false and as smarmy as he was.
“Hayden, I’m so glad to finally meet you properly.”
