Skyborn (Dragons & Druids #1)(38)

Logan nodded. “You have no idea.”

I sighed. “I could really use some cartoons after this dark conversation.” I was completely freaking out.

Logan laughed, a deep and honest belly laugh that was contagious and had the corner of my lips curling.

“You’re funny, you know that, Sloane?” He cocked his head to the side.

I shrugged. “I’ve been told that a few times, yeah.”

He pursed his lips, looking more serious. “It’s been a long time since I had something to laugh about. I’m … glad you’re here.” I could tell he wasn’t the kind of guy to dole out compliments. It looked like that one was really hard for him.

You won’t be when you find out what I am, I wanted to say.

“Me too,” I said in a rush, and then started walking inside. “Come on, it’s cold.”

Number one thing on my list of to do’s: keep this house from learning that I was part monster. And two: pray that Eva never told a soul.





9





“WAKE UP. It’s time to train,” a deep voice said from beside my bed. I opened one eye, saw the sexy dragon shifter standing over me, and then looked at the alarm clock. 6 AM. I groaned.

“Go away.” I turned over and gave Logan my back. When I turned, my living hat moved with me. Mittens had become my own personal sleeping beanie. She was obsessed with my red hair or something, and literally slept atop my head every night.

“You stole my cat,” Logan growled, making kissy noises, trying to coax Mittens away from me.

“Hah!” I said, half garbled and into the pillow. “She’s stalking me. I didn’t ask for her to become my living hair scrunchie.”

Logan’s foot dug into the soft spot behind my knee. “Up! Come on. Gotta teach you to keep yourself alive.”

I sighed. Damn, I had really started to like this guy and I didn’t really want to be the last dragon alive … but if he didn’t stop poking me at 6 AM I was going to kill him.

Sophie’s voice came from the doorway. “Come on, princess. You said you would help me with the cooking.”

Oh. Hell. No. I wasn’t going to let her lord this shit over me—call me princess or lazy or God knows what else.

I rolled over so quickly Mittens leapt off of my head and flew under the bed. Sophie was gone from the doorway and Logan had a black cellphone in his hands. Now that I was awake, he tossed it on the bed. “This phone is yours now. I programmed the pack and Eva’s numbers into it.”

That was sweet of him … but not sweet enough to make up for waking me so early.

“Thanks,” I mumbled grumpily. Logan just smiled and turned to walk away.

“Logan,” I called after him.

He turned and looked back at me.

“One of these days you’re going to wake me too early and I can’t be liable for what happens to you,” I told him, one hand on my hip. My hair was in a top knot and I was wearing tight sleep pants and a thin thermal shirt with no bra. Not exactly a Victoria Secret model, but when I made that threat, heat flared in Logan’s eyes, and he looked my body up and down.

“I’ll take my chances.” He winked and left the room.

I exhaled loudly, trying to ignore the pulse of passion that started up every time I was in the room with that man. I needed a cold shower.

I made it downstairs in record time. Seven minutes and I was brushed, showered, and shaved. I had never been one of those high-maintenance girls. Just some mascara and lip gloss and I was good to go.

Sophie was making the coffee and I jumped right in to help. Opening the fridge and freezer at the same time, I took stock of the ingredients. Eggs, bacon, hash browns. Boring. I didn’t watch six thousand hours of Chopped and Iron Chef to serve basic breakfast on my first day as the pack’s new chef.

“You got breakfast?” Sophie asked. She was all done up with full make up and a push up bra under her sports bra, making the girls extra perky.

I nodded. “I got this.”

She looked unsure but then shrugged. “Alright, I’ll go for my run, then.”

Logan and Keegan were sitting on barstools drinking coffee and discussing the new hires, while Gear, Cooper and Nadine made their way into the living room.

“You need help?” Nadine offered, looking sleepy.

I smiled. “Sure. You can be my sous-chef.”

“Huh?” She looked confused.

I just chuckled and handled her the bacon. “Start cutting these in half. I want small strips.”

She shrugged. “I can do that. But fair warning, don’t let me near the stove.”

“Got it.” I winked.

I pulled the hash browns out and started them browning while I heated two other pans for my eggs and bacon. Then I went to the spice cabinet and was relieved to see a pretty good stock. I pulled the cayenne pepper and salt, then got a small pan going for my sauce. After separating the yolks and squeezing some lemon juice into the pot, I added the salt and cayenne pepper and I had the makings of some fine hollandaise sauce.

Nadine looked at me. “Okay, they’re small.”

I quickly made a woven hatch pattern with the small bacon strips while the sauce simmered, then put the woven bacon squares into the hot frying pan. The moment it hit the griddle, Logan and Keegan started moaning.