The Island Of Dragons: A Paranormal Shifter Romance by Amira Rain Page A

fatherly sort of way. “Short answer, yes. But you could also let it happen naturally by not continuing to deny any romantic feelings or attraction that you may have toward Chief Knight.”
    “And what on earth makes you think I have any?”
    Hugh sighed again, looking even more exasperated. “I’m with Melissa. You do ask some dumb questions sometimes, Ellie.”
    I snorted, turning my gaze from Hugh’s face to the stretch of walkway straight ahead. “How kind of you, Hugh. Thanks.”
    “Look. I’m sorry about that. I’ll answer your question. What on earth makes me think that you might have some romantic feelings or attraction to Chief Knight? Well, I could list quite a few different things, but just for starters, Sadie told me that she took a little peek at you two when Chief Knight first let you into the castle this evening, and she said there was so much electricity between you two that she could almost actually see it.”
    “That was probably just static cling from my dress. Melody told me she forgot to use fabric softener on it when she laundered it.”
    “Smart aleck. I’ve got a smart aleck with a smart mouth for a prisoner.”
    “Oh, and by the way, if Sadie took a covert peek at Warren and me when we weren’t aware, that actually makes Sadie the only real spy in this village. So, maybe you should go guard her .”
    “Spend more than a couple hours a day with my wife? We love each other dearly, but we’d kill each other. Now, listen. Let me ask you something, Ellie. And I don’t mean to get too personal here, but—”
    “You’re going to anyway.”
    “I guess I am. So, let me ask you a question, and it’s this. Have you ever been betrayed in your life as Chief Knight has been? Has anyone ever let you down? And by anyone , I mean a friend, a family member, or whoever... but particularly a man you’ve been involved with. Has any man you’ve ever cared about ever let you down or betrayed you?”
    I almost laughed out loud.
    “Only all of them. Only every boyfriend I’ve ever had. I seem to be great at attracting men, but not good ones. Not quality men. Just men who cheat on me or disappoint me or let me down in various other ways. I’ve never had a boyfriend I could completely trust, and because of that, I don’t think I’ve ever really been able to love anyone fully.
    And in fact, even though it was a while ago now, I’m kind of still getting over the disappointment of my last failed relationship, even though I don’t really miss my ex-boyfriend himself, if that makes any sense.”
    Hugh nodded, seeming to be deep in thought. “It does. Now, let me ask you another question. Do you think it maybe your past disappointments in relationships, more than anything else, more than Chief Knight holding you as a prisoner, that’s making you deny anything you might feel for him and view him as your enemy?
    Because maybe subconsciously, you think he might be a good man, but you’re scared that once again, he might not turn out to be that quality man you’ve been looking for?”
    With my steps on the flagstones slowing, I didn’t answer right away, thinking. “That was two questions, Hugh.”
    “Well, so it was. At any rate, I hope I’ve given you some food for thought.”
    He certainly had, though I wasn’t completely convinced that his thinking was on the right track. No matter what disappointments I’d experienced in the past, my issue with Warren was just what I’d been saying it was all along. My issue with him was that he was holding me as a prisoner, despite the fact that I was innocent of what he suspected me of, and despite the fact that everyone else in the village seemed to believe me. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself was my issue.
    As the sun sank low in a peachy-pink sky, Hugh and I walked the rest of the way back to my castle in silence. To our left, on the beach, a group of women and at least a dozen children were enjoying a clambake and a game of volleyball. Some