Page 46 of The Tanglewood Witches (The Three Sisters 1)
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Tavyss returned to his cottage,plucked the peacock feather from its vase, and waited as it glowed to life between his fingers. The sooner he told Hera he’d done as she asked, the sooner she would leave him alone to his own pursuits. Bright light blinded him, and then she was there, as strange and irritating as ever.
“Hera.” He returned the feather to the vase, then bowed to the goddess.
“Why do you call me here, dragon?”
“Only to tell you that I did as you commanded. My sister Eleanor has agreed to task the Obsidian Guard with finding your book. If the golden grimoire is anywhere in the five kingdoms, she will locate it.”
“You please me, dragon.” She swaggered closer, her gaze drifting toward his mouth. “Come closer. Allow me to reward you for your efforts.”
She leaned in as if to kiss him, but he pulled away. It wasn’t a conscious decision. If he’d been thinking at all, he would have held extremely still, as a mouse caught in the predatory gaze of a cat, and hoped she lost interest. As it was, his retreat only incited her and she glared at him, the muscles around her mouth tightening.
“Why do you recoil from me?”
Desperate to concoct a story she’d believe, he stared into the fire. “I am worthy of no reward, goddess. My only desire is to serve you.”
“Oh, but I have many desires, and there are many ways you can serve me.” Her fingers traced a line from his ear to the tip of his chin.
“I regret I am unable to… aid you in that way.”
She drew her hand back and crossed her arms in a huff. “Why not? Do you not find me comely?”
“I do, it’s just—”
“Then what is it?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“I am mated,” he blurted.
Her blue eyes turned cold as ice, and rage danced in the corners of her expression.
“I can’t control it. A mated dragon is unable to… perform with anyone other than their mate. The bond is too strong.”
“I’m familiar with the customs of your kind. What I am unfamiliar with is this mate you speak of. You’ve never mentioned her before. You were not mated when I brought you here.” She raised a brow.
He closed his eyes and chided himself for entertaining Hera’s advances when he’d first arrived. They’d never gone so far as to become lovers, but there had been unspoken promises in their flirtation, possessiveness in her touch. He licked his lips. She would know if he lied.
“It happened when I returned to Paragon.” Not a lie. His dragon had voiced his claim on Medea at the time she’d projected his ghost to the Obsidian Palace.
“Who is she?” the goddess asked through clenched teeth.
He sighed. This wasn’t going to be easy. “No one of importance. Not a goddess. Not a princess. Just a girl who happened upon a dragon who cannot forget her.”
Hera grunted in disgust. “Typical,” she murmured. The goddess rolled her eyes. “Bring me the book as soon as you have it. Come directly to me, do you understand?”
He swallowed. “Yes. If my siblings find it, I will bring it to you.”
The goddess glowed brighter and bared her teeth. “She’d better find it, dragon. Do not misunderstand me. I’m tasking you with this, and I will not be appeased until I have it.”
A muscle in his jaw tightened to the point of pain. “Yes, goddess.”
