The Dragon’s Fake Mate: A Fated Mates Shifter Romance by Harlow Blaze

Author:Harlow Blaze [Blaze, Harlow]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-08T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

STARLA

From the outside, the scene must have looked like a mirror of last night.

The rattle of slot machines filled Caesar’s casino. Starla sat on a stool at a small round table, staring at the red carpet to avoid looking at the flashing lights. She’d even worn the same dress. She hadn’t known to bring a spare, and she didn’t have another as nice, anyway.

But even if she looked the same, everything had changed. In a single, awful moment, the lies she’d woven had come crashing down around her.

Starla’s vision blurred, and she blinked back tears. She touched her chest, and her fingertip slid over a raised edge. A faint illusion hid the dragon mark, but she couldn’t make it disappear completely.

A guest behind her squealed with delight, and Starla winced as the sound pierced her sensitive ears. The classy chandeliers shone like floodlights, making her squint. But despite the blinding brightness, she still picked out details she’d never noticed before. The thick scent of cologne and sweet perfume suffocated her, leaving her dizzy.

The dragon spark was free. She’d stopped the mate bond from forming, but the seal had shattered. Its magic wove through her soul, transforming her into something new.

Starla wished it didn’t feel so damn good.

The casino might not be a great training ground for enhanced senses, but the sensations felt rich and exciting. Despite her sleepless night, strength flowed through her. Heat filled every inch of her body, chasing away a chill that she hadn’t even realized had been bothering her. It was like she’d spent her whole life freezing to death, and she’d finally stepped into blazing sunshine.

She’d fought tooth and nail to avoid destiny. And now that it had arrived, her fear seemed... silly. Like a baby bird terrified to jump from the nest and learn to fly.

A glass clinked down onto the table. Starla jumped, her eyes darting up to Mars. He didn’t look at her. His sharp gaze stayed focused on a more open part of the casino.

Over the din of the crowd, her sharper ears picked out raucous laughter. On the other side of the amphitheater, the Las Vegas eyrie had gathered for another night of partying. A few dragon shifters sat at the low tables, alternating between watching a football match on the giant TV and yelling at each other.

Starla barely noticed the enemy dragons. She couldn’t stop staring at Mars. In profile, he looked predatory. The hard line of his jaw, and the slashes of his furrowed brows spoke of the endless, awful patience that she feared and admired in equal measure.

Another thing had changed since last night. Mars was officially not speaking to her. He’d returned to their hotel room an hour ago and tersely said they were going back to Caesar’s to single out a target. After that, not a single word.

With her new senses, he seemed hotter than ever. Even through the overpowering smells of the casino, his warm, woodsy scent called to her. He’d probably murder her if she tried, but she ached to bury her face in his shirt and inhale.

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