Reginald Durant was quite possibly the most royal person in their entire Hotel.
Walking through it all, Reginald exited a side door, then moved to the wrought-iron gates where one could pass to the human world. Before they went through, he halted, setting down Layla’s bag on the snowy walkway and gazing down at her. Reaching up, he stroked her cheek, then leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss, right in front of Dusk.
Layla heated, but it was chaste and Reginald soon pulled away.
“Be careful.” Stroking the pearl choker at her neck, his eyes met hers, sea-grey and stern. “Don’t take these items off, even to sleep. Make sure that they, and you, return home safely.”
With that he turned, nodding regally at Dusk and moving off, back toward the Hotel. Dusk watched him go, then turned to Layla with a wry grimace. “Well, I’m afraid Reginald’s little show ruined any chance we had of getting you off clandestinely. It’s probably for the best. He’s demonstrated fair and square that you’re under his protection, if Hunter has any spies in the Hotel.”
“You mean the pearls?” Layla asked, touching the choker.
Dusk’s dark brows knit in an intense look. Reaching out, he stroked the choker with his fingertips. “Do you know what gems you’re wearing, Layla?”
“Reginald said they signify the concubine of a North Sea Siren.”
“These pearls are more than that.” Dusk’s gaze was complex, deep with emotion. “These are Avri’s pearls. The set Reginald had made for the Blood Dragon woman he chose to be his wife when he was young. He hunted these pearls himself, for over a year to find the most perfect ones in all the ocean. He sold himself into slavery for another year to a horrible Crystal Dragon, to obtain the diamonds and platinum. It’s Siren tradition to toil for your first beloved’s bridal set. Avri wouldn’t take them off when she was around her clan. It’s part of what got her killed, her devotion to him; to wearing his token in public. It’s what started his clan’s war.”
Layla’s eyes went wide. She reached up, touching the choker again. “Why does he want me to have them?”
“Because you mean that much to him.” Dusk’s gaze was sad now, wry. “I’m afraid you’ve imprinted upon yet another Royal Dragon, Layla. He’s not bound to you… but he cares for you. I suspected before that he was fond of you. This gift proves it, beyond all doubt.”
Layla’s throat suddenly felt tight. She could feel Reginald’s magic in the pearls, sighing through her body like sad northern winds. She could feelhimsuddenly, walking back up the stairs inside the Hotel to the fourth floor. She felt him pause on the stairs; felt him give a soft smile. And then the sensation was sluiced away with a slow wash of tides and she felt nothing more.
“Keep these on at all times, Layla,” Dusk spoke, and Layla glanced up as he took her hands, pulling her close so he could wrap his arms around her. “Reginald’s gift is precious not just because they’re an additional measure to keep you safe, but because they’re precious to him. It would be devastating for him to lose them, even though he’s technically gifted them to you.”
“I’ll never take them off.” Layla murmured. “I swear it.”
“Good.” Lifting his lips, Dusk kissed her forehead, then set their foreheads together. They shared a moment, breathing in the darkening winter day. Long shadows fell across the snow now, painting the world in cool blues and stark whites at the curb.
Dusk drew a deep breath, letting it out in a puff of steam. “This is so hard.”
“That’s what she said.” Layla grinned, and Dusk laughed in his lovely rolling baritone. Giving a rumble that thrilled Layla from head to heels, he reached up, caressing a stray curl back from her face.
“You’ve got King Arini’s feather?”
“Yes.”
“And your passport?”
“Check.”
“And your Hotel credit card?”
“Yup.”
“And you remember the emergency PIN?”
“I’ve got it.” Reaching up to cradle his face in her hands, Layla smiled. “I’ve got this, Dusk. Everyone’s been trying to protect me ever since I opened to my magics. Well, now it’s time for me to protect them. The Hotel needs me to do this. For you, for Reginald, for Rake and all the others who depend on this place for safety. I’m doing this to free Adrian, but really, I’m doing this for all of us. Trust that I can. Trust me to be strong.”
“I do.” Dusk breathed, generous and heartfelt. “I know you’re strong, Layla. I just don’t want to let you go into potential danger alone. It goes against every instinct I have. Even though we’re doing it to keep your journey as quiet as possible without alerting anyone of importance, I keep doubting the decision. I want to be there, protecting you in Manarola, even though Arini’s Aviary is an impenetrable fortress. Adrian would tell you the same, if he were here.”
“I know.” Lifting up, Layla pressed a kiss to his lips, letting it linger. “But I have to go. I’m the red-shirt here, I’m the crew member of the Starship Enterprise that no one’s going to notice is gone. Not until I’m already back.”
“You aresonot a red-shirt.” Dusk laughed softly.
“No.” Layla breathed, smiling slightly. “But I still need to go.”
“I know.” Dusk smiled, then sighed. Kissing her forehead, he inhaled her scent before he finally drew back. “Ready to get this show on the road?”
