Page 10 of Dragon Tempted

“Hello, Megan.”

“Hi, John. I have Eric with me as well.”

He wasn’t surprised. The couple did everything together. Eric and he hadn’t exactly hit it off when they first met. Eric’s dragon was overprotective of Megan even before they became a couple. Not that he blamed him. Megan was special. If he was in a place where he could fall in love, he would be an overprotective dragon as well.

“I figured I would be hearing from you both.”

Megan cleared her throat before responding. “Right… We understand that Sienna came for a visit.”

John couldn’t keep from rolling his eyes even though he knew they couldn’t see him. “Is that what we’re calling it?” Invasion was more like it.

Eric chuckled and then Megan shushed him before responding. “I know how private you are, John. But you understand why Sienna showed up, right? As clan leader she’s trying to help.”

“I understand, Megan.” And he did. “I’m sure she’s a good leader.” He flashed back to her standing up to him with her big brown eyes. And exasperating. And smart. And beautiful.

“She is. And she’s very protective of the clan and her family, especially Bella and Lily.”

“It’s fine. No harm done.” There would be no future run-ins with Sienna. No reason to see her again.

Why did that not sit well with him?

“Okay.” Megan continued. “We’re still working on the curse and trying to gather more information about Mia White and the Templars.”

He stopped himself from releasing a hard breath. “I appreciate all the help you and the clan have given me, but it’s time for me to move on.”

“What are you talking about, John?” Megan asked in a rush.

“It’s time for me to go.”

“Where the hell are you going?” Eric barked.

“I can’t explain.” Because his answer would be a half-assed one. My gut is telling me to get the hell out of here. Something bad is coming.

He listened to them for a few more minutes as they tried to convince him not to leave. He finally told them he’d think about it, but he was already looking around the cabin deciding what, besides his backpack full of notebooks, he needed to take with him when he left.

He hung up, his gut burning like he’d had too much spicy Thai food. When was the last time he’d felt this anxious? He would leave when the sun set in the next few hours.

He shut off his emotions as he placed his notebooks in the backpack. He already had a duffel that contained clothes, money, and multiple fake ID’s in his truck. He always had several at the ready so that he could leave at a moment’s notice.

He walked the rooms and made sure there wasn’t anything else he needed to take with him. He realized a long time ago that there were few things that he really needed—that really mattered.

He shouldn’t have been surprised when he heard a car traveling down the gravel path toward his cabin. He was, however, a bit surprised when he looked out the window and saw who it was. The irate woman climbing out of the driver’s side this time and stomping to the front door. Even with the frown she was sporting, she was still gorgeous. But John didn’t have time for angry, beautiful women. He needed to leave. Could feel it in his bones.

He opened the door and stepped outside before Sienna could knock. Although she probably would have just barged in anyway.

“What are you doing?” she growled.

Was that a trick question? “You’re the one who showed up at my house.”

“Because you told Megan and Eric you’re leaving!”

“And you thought you could come here and stop me?”

Her brown eyes narrowed. He was poking the lioness.

“I’m here to try and talk some sense into you. I came here the other day to ask for your help and now you’re running?”

Heat gathered in his chest at her words. “I’m not running. I’m backing away because it would be safer for your clan.”