Free Smoke and Fire: Part 1 by Donna Grant Page B

was out of luck this time. “Oh.”
    “Doona be alarmed, lass. We’ve been doing this sort of thing for years. At least now we doona have to physically watch him. I like the cameras for that reason alone.”
    Kinsey stretched her arms over her head and rotated her neck from side to side. She had been sitting for so long that she needed to move around and get the blood flowing.
    She stood and walked to the window. The snow was falling heavily now, covering the slopes of the mountains in white. It looked magical, as if she were in a different world. And in some aspects, she was.
    After a few more stretches, Kinsey remained at the window simply taking in the majestic, wild beauty that was Dreagan. If she peered far to the left she could see the pasture where the cattle were. There were sheep seemingly everywhere.
    No one would ever know this splendor was behind all the buildings housing the distillery. Even the manor was hidden, keeping another wall up between the Dragon Kings and the humans.
    “What do you see?” Ryder asked as he walked up next to her.
    She smiled as she folded her arms over her chest. “I see land that’s been sustained and preserved as beautifully as it must have been thousands of years ago.”
    “And?” he pushed.
    He’d always been able to tell when there was more she wanted to say. Kinsey looked at the mountains all around them. “I see a land that shouldn’t be sullied by humans. I see a home.”
    “It is a home,” Ryder said. “It’s our home. It’s the only place left on this realm that we claim as ours.”
    Her people had taken the rest. Kinsey couldn’t imagine how that felt, and she didn’t pretend to. “You have every right to protect it.” She faced him then, realizing that Dmitri had exited the room without a word. “Even if it’s from me.”
    His dark blond brows rose high in his forehead. “What does that mean?”
    “You know exactly what it means. Ryder, if somehow your enemies are using me, then I want to know in what capacity, and I want it stopped. If we can’t stop it, then you must.”
    He held her gaze for long moments. “It willna come to that.”
    She really hoped it didn’t. “What did Con have to say?”
    “Did Dmitri tell you where I was?” he asked with a sigh.
    “I figured it out.”
    Ryder clasped his hands behind his back. “Con is thinking of all of us Dragon Kings and the mates and Dreagan when he makes a decision. That doesna always mean the decisions are good.”
    “Meaning?”
    “I knew he’d want to isolate you in case Ulrik has somehow manipulated you to help him. I convinced Con to allow you to remain with me.”
    “Is that wise?” she asked. “I mean, if Ulrik or his people somehow did get to me. Wouldn’t that put you in a difficult position?”
    Ryder walked around her to his chair. He flipped the lid on the box and grabbed a donut. Before taking a bite, he said, “Working side by side, I can monitor you closely.”
    Too damn closely for her peace of mind. She’d managed to keep her hands to herself so far, but how much longer could she do that with Ryder so temptingly close?
    And that boyish smile? She had missed that so much. With as slow as it was gaining any information on Ulrik, she could be there for days. Weeks. Months, even.
    There’s no way she could keep her indifference together that long. She didn’t want Ryder to know that she still pined for him. That would be disastrous. Especially since he’d so easily left her the first time.
    Somehow she would have to hold it together. After all, she’d spent the last three years without him. It had been a little easier because he wasn’t in the same room with her just feet away talking to her, smiling at her … looking at her.
    There had been a few opportunities for her to move on with her life. She’d met a couple of men who would’ve been good for her, but none of them compared to Ryder.
    Now she knew why.
    No mortal man could compete with a Dragon King.
    Kinsey