Were there no others like me in the world? How few and far between were we that no one had ever heard of us? I wanted to know where I could find others like myself, but there were no clues to follow. The records spoke of a Black Hound like myself, a woman even. Someone had gone to great lengths to destroy the entry, though.
Why was that? What had happened that no one wanted future generations to know about? I needed to ask Catriona who else had access to the records. She’d known about the Black Hound entry, because she’d pulled it out for me. Had someone else found it recently and decided to remove information from the book?
When I’d asked, she’d acted strange. I could have chalked that up to frustration if someone had broken into her records. However, I wasn’t sure if I could completely trust her. She’d brushed me off too quickly. Her defensiveness had been like a solid brick wall between us. There was more hidden behind it if only I could find a way through.
If I was going to get any answers, I would have to go back and force them out of Catriona.
The witch had recovered from the shock. She held a hand over her abdomen as she looked me up and down. When, finally, she shook her head, I stifled my sigh and left.
Outside, Ryder gave me a questioning look with one brow raised. I ignored him and headed back to his car where the waffles awaited me. They weren’t warm by any means, but the sweet vehicle for chicken strips settled the anxious hound inside me.
I wouldn’t stop searching. There were other ways for me to find out more about what I was. I just had to keep searching.
Ryder caught up and leaned over the open passenger side door where I was shoveling food into my face. I looked up, quizzical.
He sighed and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. When his gaze flicked to the back of his hand, I knew what he wanted to talk about.
“Look, I don’t know what’s going on any more than you do,” I said between mouthfuls of food.
The sound he made told me that wasn’t enough for him. “How do you think we can break this bond? I don’t like being subjected to something I didn’t agree to.”
I laughed. “And you think I do? I’ve been trapped under the weight of every other witch’s premonitions for years. Get used to it, boy.”
When he huffed and stomped around to the driver’s side of the car, I pulled out my phone and fired a quick text to Cerri. She wouldn’t see it at work, but I hoped that she would be able to help me later. If anyone could help me get rid of this mark that the witch had revealed, it would be Cerri.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket as Ryder took his seat. He glanced at me, so I offered him a tight smile. He didn’t want to be bound to me either. If I could get rid of it on my end, then it would be a win for the both of us.
If that was the case, then why was I hiding it from him? Why was I acting like what I was doing was wrong? Nothing made any damn sense to me anymore.
Ryder took me back to his place. He said it would be safer for me there, but it seemed like we were growing more and more comfortable with each other’s presence. How long had he been on the road? Perhaps he needed someone’s company, and I happened to be in need of a dragon friend.
Once again, I got the bed. Ryder didn’t seem to care in the least that I kept taking his bedroom. I knew that this was nothing more than a stop on his journey and that this wasn’t reallyhisbedroom, but I felt bad for taking the bed from him.
Besides, if I was going to sneak out, then I needed to be closer to the door.
I stepped out into the living room. Ryder looked up, his eyes widening at the sight of me. I didn’t think my cropped, oversized tee was that appealing, but I tugged at the hem, nonetheless. His gaze darkened before he shook himself.
I cleared my throat. “How about you take the bed tonight?”
“I’d rather stand between you and the door,” he said with a shake of his head.
Hell, this man would be the end of me. My heart swelled and tears burned my eyes. So few were willing to protect me that it was my undoing every time. Unlike Connor, Ryder did it without any expectation of gratitude or affection. He only wanted my help in return.
I turned my face away so Ryder couldn’t see the way he affected me. “I don’t think Alvin is going to raid your apartment tonight. We’re fine. You deserve to sleep in your bed once in a while.”
He shrugged. “It’s not my bed. Besides, a couch is better than my car’s back seat. Have you seen my car?”
“How does a man like yourself fit on that narrow seat?” I laughed and shook my head.
“I don’t.”
This wasn’t going anywhere. I guess I could shift and jump out the window. Maybe that would be the safer option. Then, no one could ambush me at the front door the way Harvey had. Once the sun went down, my hound would vanish into the night.
Still, I lingered in the hall. I could feel Ryder’s gaze heating my skin. It would be too easy to crawl onto that couch beside him and lay my head into his lap. I craved the sensation of his hand in my hair.
“Ness,” he said, his voice hoarse.
My heart leapt excitedly as I turned my face back to him.