Shades Of Dragon (A BBW Dragon-Shifter Paranormal Romance) by Catherine Vale Page A

shaped plants grew up in places along the ground, alongside bushes that seemed ordinary, but boasted tropical looking flowers of every hue.
          “This place… it’s very strange.”
          Tegan chuckled. “It is,” he said, the rumbling in his chest comforting to her. “But you get used to it after awhile.”
          “After awhile?” She frowned up at him. “Do you come here often?”
          Tegan’s face darkened briefly, but the expression was gone in an instant. “I lived here,” he said lightly. “For a few years.”
          “Years?” Shock slackened her features. “Why on earth would you do that?”
          “I didn’t have much choice,” he said, and then was silent for a few seconds. The babble of a brook drew her attention, and she turned her head to see that they were headed towards a stream. “My mother left me here when I was only eight years old.”
          “She abandoned you in this place?” Shock and anger colored Ciara’s tone, and she felt a kind of indignant outrage for her rescuer. “That’s horrible. I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
          He smiled tenderly down at her, but she didn’t miss the lingering sadness and pain at the edges of his eyes. “That’s because you were raised by a good family, surrounded by good people. Or at least that’s what I’ve surmised, based on how you speak of your father.” 
          “Yes,” Ciara said slowly, her chest aching at the thought of her father, alone and possibly chained up somewhere, beaten and starved, and who knew what else they did to slaves? But she forced herself to push the dark thought away – they were talking about Tegan now, not her family. “I’m so sorry, Tegan. Every child deserves to be brought up by parents who love them.”
          “It’s okay. I got a second chance with Grey, so I turned out just fine.” Tegan gently lowered her next to a stream. “He raised me like I was his own, so I was never lacking for anything, once he took me in.” His lips curved into a smile, though she was certain it was only for her benefit. “I’m going to go and get some things to dress your wound. Call out my name if you need any help.”
          He strode off into the brushes, and Ciara watched him go, her eyes unconsciously roaming over his muscular body. He had broad shoulders and a strong-looking back, and she wondered if his ass looked just as fine as the rest of him.
          Stop that , a voice in her mind scolded. That’s not what we’re here for. He’s just dressing your wounds and preparing to take you back to the clan. The whole point is that we’re here to get your father back. Okay? That’s it.
          Sucking in a breath to calm herself, Ciara turned away from the trail Tegan had taken, and looked around. Now that she had the time to collect herself, she felt her body relax. She closed her eyes, and took in the sounds of the birds whistling at each other, of the trees rustling as animals flitted through the branches, chasing after each other, or simply hopping around and searching for food. She smiled at the sight of a squirrel happily digging at the base of a tree across the brook, and of a smaller, mouse-like creature scampering toward the edge of the stream to take a drink. The sight reminded her of the fact that she, too, was parched, and so she dipped her head forward and cupped her hands in the water so she could bring some of the cool liquid to her lips.
          As she did, she caught sight of her tearstained, blotchy reflection in the water, and she nearly laughed at how horrible she looked. Her hair looked like a rat’s nest, and her face looked like someone had repeatedly slapped and pinched it until it was red and swollen. Tegan probably thought she was the ugliest woman he’d ever met! There was no point at all in entertaining thoughts of what he would look like naked.
          If that’s the case, then what was it