“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes.” Not really, but she wasn’t about to announce that he’d thrown her libido off kilter.
He leaned his head close to hers. If anyone was looking, they’d never guess they’d only just met.
“I hope you don’t mind if we fly. It will be faster since the venue is a couple of miles away.”
She had no reason to complain. “Whatever is best.”
“You won’t get cold, I promise,” he said.
“I’m from Thedia. I like the cold. And I am a snow leopard, remember?”
“There is that. Let’s take the elevator to the top floor. It will be easier to take off from the roof.”
This whole travel by dragon was still new and rather exciting. On the rooftop, Tanner moved away from her and shifted. Once more, she couldn’t help but stare. His gold scales next to his green ones were magnificent. No wonder so many women in town wanted him.
But she owed it to him to keep him safe from the locals who were after him. Right? Rich and handsome were powerful aphrodisiacs. Or did only his company have money? They were the ones who built the hotel and were funding the upcoming theme park. It didn’t necessarily mean Tanner was well off. He’d mentioned that he only became a partner a year ago, and since his parents were poor, he might not have a lot of money. However, he said Sasha was after him for his money. It didn’t matter to her if he was or wasn’t. She had her jewels and a job. That was all she needed.
Considering a future with him, are we? her leopard asked.
No. Maybe. Now, shut up.
The trip to the dance was unfortunately a short one. Ella liked being in Tanner’s grasp, flying high above the realm. When they arrived, there was plenty of room for them to land. He set her down, shifted, and then held out his hand. “Ready to be my mate?”
Her heart swelled at those words. Ella couldn’t believe how different Tanner McCarson was from Moran Blackwood and how lucky she was to have been rescued by such a charming and nice man. “Let’s do this.”
The organizers had rented out some warehouse on the outskirts of town. Considering the whole town probably had been invited, it made sense.
She wasn’t sure what to expect when she went inside. Streamers perhaps? Plastic lamps hanging from the ceiling that flickered to the music?
None of the above. The space was elegant. The left half of the room had tables covered in white cloths with lit candles on each one. The other half was a dance floor with a live band.
“This is a nice surprise,” she said.
He chuckled. “Did you think it would look like a high school dance?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been to one.” She probably shouldn’t have revealed that, but she trusted this man. Of all the people she’d met, Ella had the sense Tanner was the type who would stand up to her mother—not that he’d ever meet either of her folks.
“Why not?”
“I was homeschooled.”
“I can’t imagine what that was like. Did you like it?”
“Yes. It was a good experience for me except that I didn’t have the chance to be with kids my age growing up.” Those high up in the Clan weren’t supposed to mix with others.
“You seem so… normal.”
Tanner was adorable. “Thanks. I was a bit rebellious and would spend many days skiing—against my parents’ wishes, mind you. I met a lot of different people that way—nice people.”
“I’m glad.” He glanced around the room. “Oh, look. There are my partners. Let me introduce you.”
“As your new hire or as your mate?”
“As Ella Snow.”
She wanted to tell him her real name was Snowden. While she trusted Tanner, who knew if his partners might recognize her name and let her real identity slip? For now, she’d stick with Snow.
They walked up to two men, each with a beautiful woman by his side. Tanner introduced her to the man who started it all—Slade Lamont—and then to his mate, Poppy Faiten. His mate did a double take. “We look alike!” she said.
They both had the same white blonde hair. Ella could sense a shifter inside her. “What kind of shifter are you?” Ella asked.
“I’m not a shifter. I’m just mated to one. And you?”
“Snow Leopard.” She was led to believe that if a person mated with a shifter that she’d inherit his abilities and vice versa. Under difference circumstances, Ella might have asked Poppy, but perhaps something was wrong with her.
Poppy sucked in a breath. “Snow leopards are so beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“And this is my other partner, Jace Sanders, and his lovely mate, Ivy Woodson,” Tanner said.
There was something special about Ivy, but Ella couldn’t put her finger on it either. What mattered though was that they all looked happy. “Nice to meet you.”
Once the introductions were over, Tanner asked Ella to dance, and it would appear strange if she turned him down. In all honesty, she wanted to enjoy herself tonight. She hadn’t had fun in a long time.
While she was able to paint on a happy face when needed, she’d never succeeded in learning how to hide the pain in her eyes when she was being fake. Thankfully, no hiding was necessary tonight.
The music was quite fast until they reached the dance floor. The current song ended, and a slow one began. While Tanner said nothing, his slight hesitation told her this would be difficult for him, too. He smiled, and she melted. This was not part of her plan at all.
Chapter Seven
Tanner wasn’t really the dancing type, but when he was with Ella, something changed inside him.
