Prince of Fire | Dragonfire Book One

Capitolo Venti

There was an undeniable pull between Eon and Sephaline, but it was never overpowering enough to impede respect and free will.

~ Draconic Book of Songs

Chapter Twenty

Dante couldn't stop staring at the beautiful, and completely intoxicated, woman in his arms. Her dark lashes rested peacefully against the uppermost part of her cheek and her full lips were slightly parted as she dozed against him. As usual, his body reacted to her presence and he had to quell his rising powers.

"Elena," he murmured. He used the hand closer to her head to move a few curls away from her face and softly tap her shoulder. The woman didn't stir. "Elena, cara, wake up. I need to know where you live so I can take you back," he tried to gently wake her up. She moaned in response, making his blood burn, but didn't wake up. He had to calm himself down.

Luckily, he arrived at the car and could carefully place Elena in the passenger seat. Dante had to slowly cradle her head as he lowered her into the vehicle. After straightening her body, he strapped the seat belt around her waist and shoulder, closed the door and walked around to the other side. When he got back into the car in the driver's seat, he leaned over and tried to wake Elena up again. He touched her face and called her name a few times, but alas, no response.

The next plan was to find her phone and call someone else to ask about her home address. Unfortunately, her phone was passcode locked and he couldn't get in. Dante grunted in exasperation. All he needed was a home address and then he could drop her off, but he didn't have anyone else's phone number who could give him her address. Maybe Anya knew her address after digging up some information about the people in Elena's life.

He picked up his own mobile device and called Finn's house. The dial tone kept ringing, but nobody picked up, to his dismay. Dante hung up after the second try and decided to use the mind link instead. The distance back to the house was probably bordering the maximum link distance, but he tried to call out anyway. Finn? Anya? He kept his eyes on Elena, seeing if she would respond anytime soon.

Dante, Finn's voice sounded in Dante's head, making him suddenly alert again.

Finn? Is Anya there? I need her to find Elena's address so I can take her home, Dante asked.

No, take her back here, Finn ordered instead. If you keep her here for the night, there will be an opening for us to retrieve Alessandra.

Dante stilled. He looked back at the sleeping woman beside him. Was Finn suggesting that he essentially kidnap Elena?

Won't her parents be worried? Dante asked uneasily.

Precisely the reason, Finn replied. They'll be busy trying to find their daughter that they will be blind to the base, and thus an opportunity arises for us. Elena will be fine. A little hung over, but do not worry, my friend. No one shall be hurt. Her parents will be worried, but we will take care of her until she returns to her home.

Dante thought about Finn's plan for a moment. Before he could commit to it, he tried to talk to Elena one last time. "Cara, can you hear me?" he asked, observing her features.

"I'm not a face," she muttered without opening her eyes. Dante chuckled at her response but wondered if she was sleep talking or had heard his question and thought he was talking in Spanish rather than Italian.