Within seconds she saw movements in the trees as the figure began to take shape. From the height of the silhouette, she could tell it was that of a man.
Her gaze darkened. It was her fault that this happened. Had she not let her thoughts wander off and left the mansion none of this would have happened.
But now that it did, if it was death, she was willing to greet it with her dagger rather than her life.
Within a minute the man walked closer to the light but had his face still hidden in the darkness thanks to the shade the trees canopy provided.
“Tsk. What do you want?”
WHOOSH!
Within the blink of an eye, he moved faster than she had thought would be possible and the next thing she knew, she was toppled to the ground as the weight of the man press down on her.
.....
With her silver hair falling on her face, her view was completely blocked.
She shook her head while struggling against the man’s big hands that were holding her in place.
Quickly a part of her hair fell off from her eyes, giving her a clear view of the handsome soul staring deeply at her.
“Ow, Jade!”
Sadly, she reacted fast when her hair fell before looking and sent her knee to his back.
She blinked. That voice and the face. She wasn’t dreaming. She knew it anywhere anytime and day.
“Xander?”
Amidst her confusion, only one thought ran through her mind. What was he doing here?
If he was here, then does that mean she was still in reality or was this a figment of her imagination and what she wished she could see?
“Huh?”
“Jade,” Xander called out sharply again.
“You…” Her brows snapped together sharply as the glint in her eyes turned dark. “You’re not Xander.”
She refused to believe it. She wanted to believe it but she refused to. Something was not right. There was no way this was the river she saw when she and Xander came here before.
“Damn it is I, your mate.”
She pressed her lips into a thin line but her eyes held her doubt.
“Fine.”
Jade felt he was finally going to let her go to her amazement he leaned in close, staring deeply into her lovely eyes.
She bit her lower lip and sucked in a deep breath.
“I never knew you were such a doubting Thomas, love. I hope this proves to you, I am your Xander and Xyler would be grouchy if you doubt him.”
Her eyes flew open. The man staring at her did not speak yet she heard his words clearly.
At the same time, she felt his feral beast whine at the back of her mind. Her lips pulled back into a heartwarming smile and before Xander knew what was going on, she moved first, lifting her body with her last strength and pressed a kiss to his lips.
He had not been expecting that action from her. As a result, he gasped. Taking her slim chance, Jade pushed her tongue in, pressing down on his.
She shut her eyes taking things further as she explored his mouth. Her main goal wasn’t just kissing him.
The second she knew she hurt Xyler with her doubt, she knew she had to coax him somehow and make him forgive her, while also being intimate with the love of her life.
Now fully understanding that her fear was gone, Xander let go of her hand, allowing her to wrap them around his neck as he pulled her up into a sitting position with him and deepened the kiss.
By the time they broke off, she was nearly out of breath. Only her bewitching smile remained on her face as her lips glistened with the mixture of their saliva.
“What were you doing walking out alone?” Xander asked, cupping her face in his hand as he caressed her cheeks softly.
“I…” She swallowed and gave his question a careful thought. “I felt overwhelmed and decided to take a walk.”
“Why didn’t you tell me or even…” he paused and shook his head. “You didn’t find me, did you? That is if you searched at all.”
Jade lowered her head. She was very guilty. She had not looked for him and assumed he must be busy. Thanks to that, she wandered off.
“I am not mad at you. However, I wish to know what happened before I came. You seemed scared?”
“Scared?” Her voice rose more than she had planned. She wasn’t scared. She was ready to fight.
“Jade, you forget I am a dragon. I smelt your fear and heard your heartbeat through the mate bond. That was how I could find you.”
“How far away were you? You weren’t at the mansion either, were you?”
“No.” That doubtful look returned to her eyes and he pushed back a little to look at her. “How come you can suspect me that easily? What is going on?”
“I don’t know. You tell me. If you were coming for me, why stalk and hide?”
“I didn’t actually. I just came and you sent your dagger at me. I sensed you here.”
“Then if not you, who was watching me?”
She pulled away from him and stood up. Her eyes immediately scanned the environment. “I can still feel the eyes on me. Honey, something was out there.”
Xander rose to his feet as well, her eyes escorting him as he did so. She was careful still.
“Stupid girl,” he noted through the mind link. “If you do not stop suspecting us, Xyler would go berserk and I wouldn’t be able to control him.”
“Huh?”
“Do not worry. I would deal with him.” He clapped his hands against each other and the scenery before her seemed to be changing.
“What is going on? Xander, you feel it too. Here is strange the water and…”
“This is Drakenhold. Well, a part of it,” he corrected himself. This was why I was out. Xyler was restless. I had to let him feel at home a bit and opened the portal leading there.”