Page 88 of Manhattan Dragon

“Familiar how?”

She shook her head. “I’m not sure.”

He massaged the base of her neck. “Maybe a natural witch,” he said. “Try not to worry. If she’d wanted to make mischief, she would have done so.”

Raven tried to comfort herself with that thought and gave Gabriel a grateful kiss. “Thank you. You’re right. I’m not going to think about it. Not tonight. Tonight is about you and me and our future.”

* * *

“David,please excuse me. I need to use the powder room,” the stranger said.

The man she knew was Raven’s father smiled at her, although she was sure there was nothing going on behind his blank stare. She’d had him entranced for most of the day. She’d told him to call her Charlotte, but other than that, he knew nothing about her. Exactly as she wished.

She ducked into a bathroom and closed and locked the door, examining her reflection in the full-length mirror. The auburn hair and pale skin were quite ugly, but one mustn’t get lazy when using illusions. The last thing she wanted to do was stand out. She’d been so close to the witch, but principles were principles. She’d let Raven have her wedding. There would be time enough to take her, the right time, when she could use her father to gain access to her without the threat of three dragon heirs to deal with.

Until then, she needed to bide her time, to be patient. She cast off the illusion in the privacy of the small room and watched her reflection turn dark purple in the large mirror. Much better. She unfurled her gossamer wings, stretching one, then the other, and sighed in relief. Aborella was a powerful and patient fairy sorceress, and she wouldn’t be leaving Earth without Raven and the whelp she carried in her womb. And if she played her cards right, she’d take the treasure of Paragon with her.

* * *