Chapter 2 THE SLIVER-GRAY EYES STRANGER

"Yes?" I replied hesitantly.

He walked toward the counter. "My name is Kael Draven."

There was something strange about the way he said his name—as though he expected it to mean something to me.

I waited for him to continue, but he said nothing else. My gaze remained locked on his as he simply stared back.

I flashed him a polite, slightly strained smile. "That's it?" I asked awkwardly.

His eyebrows lifted. "What else would you like to know?"

"Usually, when someone introduces themselves, they say a little more."

"Such as?"

"I don't know. Where you're from. Why you're here."

"I came from far away."

"That wasn't exactly what I meant," I said through gritted teeth, flashing him another forced smile—this one showing a bit more teeth.

He simply stared down at me with those intimidating eyes. I decided right then and there that he was going to be difficult.

Reaching inside his coat, he placed an object on the counter.

A golden pocket watch. It looked ancient, yet stunning.

The metal was scratched in several places, but it still held a strange, lingering warmth beneath my fingers when I picked it up.

"Can you repair it?" he asked, a subtle trace of urgency lacing his deep voice.

I turned it over in my hands. "Probably."

"How long will it take?"

"That depends on what's wrong with it."

"It doesn't work."

I clicked open the cover. The hands weren't moving, but strangely enough, they were pointed in reverse. Backward.

I frowned, muttering to myself, "That's unusual."

"That's why I'm here."

I looked up at him. "Why are the hands pointing backward?"

"I don't know," he replied, his voice leaving no room for further questioning.

I didn't care. "Do you know where it came from? Do you know who owned it before you came into possession of it? How did you get it?"

"I found it on me, so it's mine. That's all I can tell you," he replied, once again offering zero useful information.

"Do you know who made it?" I asked, throwing another question his way.

"No," he said, his voice as cold as ice.

"Do you know anything about it?"

His gaze hardened with annoyance as he paused. "I know that I need it repaired."

I let out a soft laugh. "You know, you're not very helpful."

"So I've been told," I heard him mutter in response.

I looked down at the watch again. Something about it fascinated me. Maybe it was because I knew this was going to be a nightmare to fix—something worth challenging my skills. I simply liked difficult repairs, and this was definitely one of them.

I placed it carefully beside my tools. "Leave it with me. I'll take a look at it when I can."

"Can't you take a look at it now? I really need to be on my way," he said, running a hand through his dark hair.

My eyes followed the movement. "I'm sorry, but I have another project I was fixing before you came in—"

"How much? Whatever you want, I'll pay you. Just work on it now."

I didn't understand the desperation in his voice, and that made him even more suspicious.

"I'll tell you when I'm done," I replied smoothly, turning back toward Mrs. Kensington’s kettle.

He reached back into his coat. Before he could pull anything out, I raised a hand to stop him.

"I said I'll tell you when I'm done."

His hand stilled. He studied me for a long moment, then gave a single nod.

"All right, then. I'll wait," he said, turning toward the leather couch across the room.

I looked at the watch again. "Kael?" I called out, causing him to glance back over his shoulder. "Can you please tell me where you got it from?"

For the first time, something shifted in his expression. It was subtle—blink and you'd miss it—but it was there.

"I don't remember," he said.

He moved over to the couch and began unbuttoning his heavy coat. As he slid the thick leather off his shoulders, leaving him in a dark shirt that clung tightly to his broad chest and muscular arms, something caught my eye.

A dragon tattoo ran up his neck and disappeared down his back. The collar of his shirt exposed the head of a white dragon whose eyes burned like flames.

What in the world...?

I watched him lean back on the couch and close his eyes. For a few long seconds, I just stared at his face. Who was this guy, and why was everything about him so bizarre? Was he a dragon hunter? Should I ask him about the mark on his neck?

I eventually forced my attention back to Mrs. Kensington’s kettle.

He didn't move or make a single sound the entire time I worked. Soon enough, dusk settled over Bellwether and darkness took over the sky, but he remained stretched out on my couch. I wasn't sure if he was actually asleep or just ignoring the world, right up until the bell above the front door rang.

Mara stepped inside, carrying a laden tray.

Kael's eyes snapped open instantly. Mara stopped dead in her tracks, looking confused as her gaze darted between me and the massive stranger in the room.

He sat up immediately. Mara backed up until her hips hit my workbench, carelessly setting the tray down without taking her eyes off him. A sweet, dreamy smile spread across her face as she looked at Kael, whose cold gaze traveled between the two of us.

“Who is he?” Mara whispered through gritted teeth, twirling a strand of hair behind her ear.

“My customer,” I muttered under my breath. “So quit flirting and trying to get his attention.”

“How long has he been here? Why is he sleeping on your couch? Why is he so impossibly handsome?” Mara chimed, giggling softly. “I thought you might have pulled a divine being out of your scrap pile, because he looks out of this world.”

I rolled my eyes. “Scrap pile? Mara, I'm pretty sure it's past your closing time, and your sister is probably waiting for you.”

I stepped out from behind my desk and began steering her toward the door while she continued to smile sheepishly at Kael. Once we reached the threshold, she grabbed hold of the door frame, refusing to leave.

I had to pull her by both hands before successfully nudging her outside onto the porch.

“Elara, you have to share the bacon and the burgers with him!” she hissed in a loud whisper. “I brought enough for both of you! Or you can just send him over to the bakery—I promise I'll feed him!”

I couldn't help but shake my head. She always had a weakness for insanely attractive men.

Did I just admit my customer is hot? Oh, Mara, look what you've done.

“Okay, bye! See you tomorrow!” I said, trying to shut the door, but Mara jammed her foot into the frame.

“Make sure you tell him I made it! And tell him my name!”

“Bye, Mara!”

Pushing her out, I finally pulled the door shut and flipped the sign from OPEN to CLOSED.

When I turned around, my heart nearly leaped straight out of my chest.

He was standing directly behind me, towering over my space.

“Can you work on my watch now?”