Read Captivated (The Dragons) for Free Online

waiting, but I figured I could pull it off. Question was whether or not he thought I could. I was only obligated to try, though, not succeed. My deal didn't hinge on triumph.
    “You were angry your first few days here. Understandably.”
    “I'm still angry.”
    “And you'll put in the same amount of effort you would in a happy state?”
    I met his eyes squarely.
    “I will.”
    He smiled, softly, like he might find that somehow admirable.
    “Family.”
    I swallowed the emotion that rose to my throat.
    “Yeah.”
    “Alright. I'll give you access to what you need. If you can make something that works as effectively as the original shipment our partner procured for us, you're free to go. And so is Vinnie, wherever he might be.”
    I nodded.
    His eyes lowered to my drink.
    “You've barely touched your White Russian.”
    I followed his gaze and quickly lifted the drink, bringing the straw to my lips.
    I had him figured out, but I didn't, and as simple as everything sounded, I had the feeling he'd be asking for more from me if I managed to make a comparable compound to the one they seemed so intent on replacing.
    ––––––––

    ––––––––

I got to work as soon as the herbs and supplies were left at the door, and noting Link's lacking appearance, I dragged the box into the drying room and set one of each herb pack on the counter next to the books and my notes.
    There were more toys in the box to play with: several scales, scissors, a few manual herb grinders (which are preferable with delicate operations, I find), a bunch of empty containers of varying sizes, carrier oils, alcohol, xanthan gum, and even a microscope. There was also a copy of the original order. The herb they'd lost was extremely rare. It was no wonder they were looking for a replacement they could more effectively manage.
    I bit my lip setting the paper down and got into the swing of things. Mixing and swirling, cooking and testing ph on the color strips I now had at my disposal. The only thing I didn't do was test the formulations myself. I figured I could save that for them. The contents of the vials I wound up filling were assuredly safe.
    I wound up with five of them, two of which were very close to being the exact same thing with a few tweaks. The only way to tell if the bluish mix would do the job was to mix them with their base, and take it down the hatch.
    A knock shook me out of my daze as my eyes looked to the bottles in front of me, and I blinked myself back to awareness. It was definitely Link. I could tell by the hollow sound of his knuckles against the other door. It was distinctive from the door everyone else used.
    I pulled my head together as best I could and made my way out of the drying room, a wisp of hair falling from the bun at the top of my head and into my face. I brushed it out of the way absentmindedly, having to internally pinch myself to snap out of whatever effect he was having on me.
    I was beginning to think I had less control over my response to it than I had at first.
    “The pres wants to know how everything's going,” he non-greeted when I pulled the door open.
    “Oh. Um. Good. I have five possibles ready. Now that I have the basics of what you guys are looking for... It's easier to put together. You can test them.”
    I sounded as nervous as I felt, and an additional layer of “I-am-stupid” affirmation descended over my self esteem realizing it. Would they let me go home early if I'd miraculously managed to find “the” right mix?
    It sounded wrong even as I thought it. The way the pres had looked at me.... I had a feeling I'd be asked around for 'my opinion' on various 'legal' tonics even after they let me go home.
    Whenever that would be.
    “The Pres will want you to test it.”
    “Why? I tested the ph, and it's totally safe otherwise. The herbs are mixed in benign amounts. There's plenty of documentation on their properties and toxicity levels. I've recorded everything I did for each