Page 16 of Smoke Signal
I leaned against the kitchen counter, watching as Atlas opened the dishwasher and started rinsing plates.
My dragon continued to rumble with discontent at being separated from Liz, and I had to consciously push back against the pressure in my chest. Kade had warned us about this, but experiencing it was a whole other thing.
I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s harder than I expected.”
Kade’s eyes softened slightly as he took a plate from Atlas and put it into the dishwasher. After finding Reese, he understood. “You should be honest with her.”
“Honest?” I let out a short breath. “You want me to tell her I’m a dragon shifter who left an expensive knife in her tent after accidentally terrifying her in the woods?”
Atlas snorted. “Maybe ease into it a bit.”
Kade looked over at me. “The longer you wait, the worse it will be. I’m not saying lead with the dragon part, but the naked man in the woods part? Yeah, that needs to come out. Sooner rather than later.”
I groaned. “How do I bring that up? ‘Hey, nice knife. By the way, I was the naked guy who scared you half to death the other night.’”
Atlas suddenly turned serious. “Connect with her first and figure out her story before you dump yours on her.”
“That’s... actually not terrible advice.”
Atlas grinned. “I contain multitudes, my friend.”
“He’s right.” Kade nodded. “Something’s going on with her.”
Atlas’s smile faded. “She said she’s unemployed.”
Kade took the last dish from Atlas. “Her backseat was packed with stuff, and when she told Reese what the knife was worth, and Reese said she might know a buyer, she looked like she was going to pass out from relief.”
My dragon surged forward so violently I had to brace myself against the counter.
“Maybe she’s between places,” Atlas suggested gently. “Or running from something. Or someone.”
The possibility of Liz in trouble, vulnerable and alone, made me nearly blind with rage. The instinct to protect, to provide, and to shelter washed over me with such intensity that I could feel my skin heating and my muscles tensing with the effort of holding back my shift.
“Easy. Deep breaths.” Kade had moved across the kitchen, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder.
I forced air into my lungs, trying to calm the primal fury rising within me. “If someone hurt her?—”
“We don’t know that,” Atlas interrupted. “But that’s why you should approach this carefully.”
“How?” I asked, frustration in my voice.
“You’re a collector.” Kade shrugged. “Say you always carry a knife on your walks and saw her camping and wanted to make sure she was safe. You left it as a gift.”
“That’s still creepy as hell,” I muttered.
“Less creepy than ‘surprise, I’m a dragon, you’re my mate, and I gave you a piece from my hoard.’ And honestly, you don’t have to explain it right away. Go look at the knife. Show interest. Buy it from her if that’s what she needs right now.” I hated when Atlas, of all people, made perfect sense.
I nodded slowly. The thought of Liz selling the knife still bothered me, but if she needed the money, I wanted to help. “And then what?”
“Then you ask her to dinner.” Kade offered the advice as if he hadn’t been practically losing his shit a few weeks ago over his own mate.
“And gently tell her you like to air out your manly bits with a brisk walk through the forest at midnight.” Atlas’s infuriating smirk was back.
I would have laughed, but the reminder of my spectacular lack of judgment was still too fresh.
We finished the dishes in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. Mine kept circling back to Liz and the possibility that she was in trouble.
My dragon wouldn’t stand for it.Iwouldn’t stand for it.
