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

of the kids and women waved at me, and I waved back, trying to force a smile.
    Once we arrived at my castle, Hugh broke our silence with more quiet, serious words. “I think you and Chief Knight may have the same sort of problem, Ellie. With that problem being a little difficulty with trust. Just think it over. Goodnight.”
    I mumbled goodnight and let myself into my castle, knowing that he’d be right outside, circling around the perimeter, until midnight. Which, of course, was completely pointless.
    I went to bed early, around nine, but I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about how over dinner, I’d forgotten to thank Warren for pulling me from the ocean, saving my life, the night I’d arrived on the island. Like I’d told Melody, I was truly thankful to him for that, and I had really been intending to tell him. But at the same time, despite that, and despite my chat with Hugh, I was still very angry at Warren for still not “clearing” me as a spy, even after I’d basically told him my whole life’s story over dinner.
    After about an hour of tossing and turning, I got out of bed and sent him a text, which read: I meant to tell you tonight that I’m grateful to you for saving me from drowning. Thank you. But I’m also still angry with you, and I’m not apologizing for what I said earlier. I still think your new full name should be Lieutenant General Chief Warren James Knight, asshole.
    Very soon, I received his response. You’re welcome for saving you from drowning, and as far as your name-calling, sticks and stones, Miss Eleanor Christine Elizabeth O’Brien, esquire. Sticks and stones.
    Before I could think better of it, I sent him another text, which said: Hugh told me that you’ve experienced some betrayals in the past that make it hard for you to trust people, so I’m trying to force myself to cut you some slack on the whole you holding me prisoner thing, but you make it very, very difficult.
    Warren responded: Hugh talks too much sometimes.
    I answered: Does he?
    Within a minute, Warren texted me back. Yes. As a matter of fact, he actually told me that you threatened to “kick my scaly dragon ass” several days ago. Which now, after becoming better acquainted with your extremely ladylike mouth (sarcasm), I can hardly believe it’s true that you really said that (sarcasm).
    I responded: Don’t you have a lake to fill with rocks or something?
    A minute or two later, I received his response. Goodnight, Miss Eleanor Christine Elizabeth O’Brien, esquire. I’ll speak to you again soon.
    After a brief hesitation spent deciding what to text back, I ended up sending just a single word: Goodnight.
    I was only able to finally fall asleep a long while later, and I immediately began dreaming about verbally fighting with Warren, yelling at him that I wasn’t a spy. Presently,  the dream changed. I began dreaming about Warren running his large, long-fingered hands all over my bare skin.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    The following day, Warren had once again taken most of his men to the lake to try to resolve whatever problems were going on there. I told Hugh I wanted to go see the lake myself, but he said no way, that was absolutely not happening.
    “At least, I won’t let you see the lake up close, or get anywhere near it. But if you still want to see it, I’ll take you up the Great Hill, and maybe you can catch a glimpse from afar.”
    The Great Hill was just what it sounded like. It was a tall earthen mound in the jungle, just to the north of the village. I’d seen it, of course, because it could be seen from almost everywhere in the village, but I hadn’t actually visited it in person yet, and I was excited to take a hike to the top.
    It turned out to be a bit more of an arduous hike than I’d imagined it would be. I’d imagined myself admiring all the different tropical flowers and shrubs dotting the hill on my way up, but after maybe five minutes of hiking up the incredibly steep hill, I was so winded I