Free Dragon Her Back (Entangled Covet) by Susannah Scott

ruler straight across the front, wishing she could line up her own life as well.
    “Have you told Darius yet?” Jane’s tone said that Darius might have a way to stop her from leaving, and she was going to make sure he knew if Mei hadn’t told him.
    “He knows.”
    “I can’t believe he’s just going to let you go. What about his dragon form?”
    Mei stared at the now neat bookshelves, admiring the transition from M to N to O in a nice, orderly manner. “He knows.”
    Jane stood and gave her an exasperated look. “You and your secrets.”
    “I’m going to bed,” Mei said. “I’ve got to meet some players before dawn tomorrow.” The lie rolled off her tongue with surprising ease. If Tee was there with her empathic skills, she would have known, but Jane just nodded.
    “Everything will be better in the morning.” Jane gave her an affectionate brush of the arm. Mei caught her hand and held it.
    Her throat tightened, knowing she wouldn’t see her again after tomorrow. “I love you.”
    “You love me?” Jane’s eyes widened, and she mashed her lips flat. “Now I’m really worried.”
    Mei forced herself forward and gave Jane a fierce hug.
    Jane’s arms settled around her shoulders. “I’ve been thinking of taking a vacation,” Jane said. “You could come with me. Maybe Tee will come, too, just like old times. Where would you go if you could go anywhere?”
    The ocean , her dragon whispered. Back to the ocean with its cool currents and vast underwater surprises. Where everything was muted to slow moving tranquility.
    She managed a wavering smile. “A vacation would be nice,” she said. “I’ll think on it.”
    She wouldn’t be there to take a trip with Jane. “Tell Tee…” She thought back on her awful behavior. “It’s not her fault about Darius. Tell her I’m sorry.”
    “Nope,” Jane said. “Psychotherapy rule number one: do not be triangulated. You tell her yourself.”
    “I will.” Mei walked into the hall. “Goodnight.”
    In her room, she removed a duffle bag under her bed that she’d packed many years prior. Her “go” bag held a fake passport, money, clothes, flashlights, protein bars— everything she might need should she have to go on the run.
    She looked around the room, feeling an ache for the peace and independence she had found there. No pictures hung on the wall. Everything was exactly as it had been for six years. And it would be the same after she was gone.

Chapter Nine
    “I need to speak to the king.” Darius stood in front of the king’s personal quarters, waiting for the Viking-like dragon sentry to step aside. Lil was actually Lucy’s bodyguard, and Lucy was Alec’s human mate—the first known human Queen of the Dragons.
    The fact that the king was mated to a human was unpopular among his subjects and the biggest fissure threatening the peace—that was until the water dragons resurfaced.
    “He’s with the queen.” Lil crossed her impressive arms over her chest and looked down her pale nose. “They’re busy.”
    “It’s very important.” Darius balanced himself, placing his feet hip-width apart and stretching to his full height, which still was not as tall as the six-foot-three blonde woman.
    “Everything’s important to somebody.”
    From inside the suite, he heard orchestra music and the steady count of one and two, one and two. “Come on, Lil.” He flashed her his fifty-watt charming smile, but Lil just smirked her mouth.
    “They’re having a dance lesson.” He let his impatience come through in his tone. “I hear the Maestro counting steps.”
    “It’s important to the queen, so it’s important to me. It should be important to you.”
    Darius smiled through his irritation. “I’ve no problem with the queen.” He did have a problem with the dragons’ ever-present preoccupation with pomp and ceremony, especially when an unforeseen attack from water dragons might be in the works.
    Lil softened slightly and unfolded her