Adrian saw her become steady, and gave a regal nod. As a knock came at the door, Layla already knew who it was as Adrian reached out, opening one door. Dusk stood beyond, resplendent in a dark navy suit with cream lapels that made the color of his eyes bright like a noontime sky, a flash of iridescence flowing through his artfully-sculpted hair. As he stepped inside, Layla saw the same power and determination flowing through him from their Bind, brightening his fierce gaze and putting a briskness in his step.
Twenty Guards in crimson flanked Layla’s doors along with six Red Giants – no one was taking any chances now with security – but as Dusk moved inside, shutting the door behind him, he was more ferocious than all of them. Layla felt a hard rush of crystal power surge from him like a wave of river-water as he glanced to her and Adrian.
“Are you both ready to go down?” He spoke with a sub-basso growl like he was ready for a fight. “I’ve already escorted Luke down to the Waterfall Grotto with Rikyava. Quindici’s on his way. The Grotto is guarded for the night; Rikyava’s most trustworthy, the ones that are still healthy at least. When the soirée is done, I’ll take you back to the portal, Adrian.”
“I’m not going back to Riad Rhakvir, Dusk.” Adrian spoke firmly. “I’m not going back into hiding. This issue demands my full attention until it’s resolved. I go where Layla goes.”
Though Dusk eyeballed him, he didn’t gainsay Adrian’s words. “Then let’s go.”
With a brisk nod, Dusk turned, throwing open the gilded doors and leading the way out into the hall.
CHAPTER 13 – FALLING
The Waterfall Grotto was a natural formation on the Red Letter Hotel Paris grounds, augmented by magic. As Layla, Dusk, Adrian, and their retinue of Guards came to a break in the winter-barren trees, the snowy path suddenly ended at an ornately-fashioned door formed entirely of flowing water. Beyond the door was a dome created by water flowing down in a constant fall. None of it was frozen despite the chill evening. Fractal patterns flowed through the water as it cascaded down, creating pillars and arches like an ancient Roman rotunda.
The winter sky was clear, the twilight darkening to vivid blues and purples as the stars emerged above. With a nod to the Guards to remain, Dusk stepped to the wall of water, which parted at his approach. As Layla entered the Waterfall Grotto after Dusk, a calming sensation filled her. A smell of clear springs and ozone hit her with a refreshing spray as they stepped beneath the waterfall’s curtain, only touched by a few drops as water cascaded all around them.
Stone stairs covered in flowering mosses led down into the grotto, and as Layla gazed up, she watched water flow from the center of the dome to every buttressed edge, pouring down in fanciful patterns and cascades. In the middle of the mossy grotto sat an enormous natural pool, at the center of which five massive pillars of twisting water cascaded up in glossy columns, the water converging far above to become the domed ceiling. The sound of rushing water filled the space as they descended the stone stairs. Winter held no court here, tiers of thick moss and blooming flowers devouring the lower levels, the grotto warm with mist.
As they arrived, Layla saw nearly everyone invited to this meeting was already sitting at an arrangement of velvet settees, a massive formal dining-table set up at the center of the space. Gilded floor-candelabra were lit all around, fireflies swirling in the dusk. A string quartet played music near a bank of ferns, but as Layla glanced over, she saw the musicians wore crimson uniforms of the Hotel Guard. As she stepped down the final set of stairs, Dusk escorting her on left and Adrian on her right, Layla saw the attendees turn.
Every person watched them come. Employees of the Hotel who were trusted friends stepped forward to clasp arms with Adrian and kiss his cheeks – Rake André with a pleased smile and looking amazingly recovered, dressed in a cream suit jacket that fit his lean height to perfection. Amalia DuFane, dressed in a somber blue gown, buzzing in a tender way as she seized Layla’s cheeks and gave her a teensy shake. And though they looked pale, Layla’s friends from Concierge Services, the statuesque blonde Furies Jenna Ostlheim and Lars Kurs came up to exchange Parisian kisses. Clad in a lavender gown with a sweetheart bodice that made the most of her strong Swedish curves, Rikyava Andersen kissed Dusk’s cheeks, then embraced Layla.
“Finally! I was just about to send a second cadre of Guards up to your room!”
“How are things here, Rikyava?” Dusk spoke, gazing around and noting drinks in every hand and plates of small bites decorating the table.
“Fine.” Rikyava nodded, glancing around also. “We’re still missing a few people, though.”
Layla saw they were missing Quindici DaPonti, along with the Madame. The new Hotel Head Lulu Duvall was not aware of this meeting, close as Quindici suspected she was to the Hotel Board and possibly the Crimson Circle. Everyone looked tense, though they were trying to appear casual. Energy from different magical Lineages hummed through the Grotto as everyone gazed upon Adrian, knowing what he was risking to come here.
But then Layla’s gaze found Luke. Resplendent in a slim charcoal jacket and pants with an emerald shirt and paisley emerald pocket square, Luke stood alone by the central pool of the Grotto, his green eyes tight and his dark brows knit in a complex gaze. Layla saw him square his shoulders, drawing up tall as her glance found him. With a bitter quirk of his lips, he drew a breath and stepped towards her. As he neared, people around Layla parted. Walking up, he pinned her with his emerald gaze, and Layla felt Luke’s tempestuous magic rush out in a wave of crackling intensity. But before that storm-energy could find Layla, a hot wind matched it – Adrian thrusting Luke’s energy back.
“Touch her with your storms and feel my burn, young drake.” Adrian growled hotly, bristling as he stepped bodily in front of Layla so Luke couldn’t touch her.
“Who the fuck are you to give me ultimatums?” Luke snarled back, a vicious Irish heat flashing in his eyes with a burst of lightning.
“I’m her mate.” Adrian spoke in a low tone, as his magic achieved a dangerous stillness. “And it’s my duty to protect her.”
Even though they’d seen each other down in the Guardhall, it was technically the first time Adrian and Luke were meeting for real. But as Adrian’s magic went into a terrible stillness like the eye of a hurricane, everything inside Layla went on disastrously high alert. She suddenly recalled Luke’s interactions with John LeVeque back in Seattle, and how much of a bad impression Adrian and Luke had made on each other right from the first. Power raged between the two men now, Luke’s forest-green bloodstone writhing hard with red and gold as magic cascaded off him, Adrian’s dark silence intensified as a biting wind began to curl around them like a tornado just starting to funnel.
As their magic faced off, Luke’s green eyes brightened in a hot fury, flashing. “You’re him, aren’t you? Adrian fucking Rhakvir, billionaire Dragon asshole. In the flesh.”
“Luke Murphy.” Adrian spoke in a cold wrath as his eyes blistered with red now in the aqua. “Not a pleasure to meet you. Nor was it the first time.”
“Adrian.” Stepping in, Layla laid a hand on Adrian’s arm. She felt him shudder almost as if he’d been in a trance, rising up to protect her in a red rage. But Layla couldn’t imagine why he was on such high alert trying to protect her from Luke. At her intervention, Dusk slid forward, and Layla felt a hard wall of crystal build between the two drakes. But even Dusk formed his wall carefully, eyeballing Luke and Adrian as if the standoff between them was far more scary than even Layla knew.
But as Dusk’s wall went up between them, it was like the searing connection between Adrian and Luke was suddenly cut. With a deep inhalation, the power in Luke seemed to settle and the air around him ceased to crackle, his bloodstone pendant slowing its mad currents. His gaze breaking from Adrian’s, Luke glanced at Layla. Stepping forward, he reached out as if to take her hands – and was immediately blocked by Dusk’s outstretched hand.
“Not until we discuss what you are.” Dusk spoke quietly. “I’m sorry, Luke. Please understand that you might be a danger to Layla right now.”
“Sure.” Layla watched Luke contain himself with a deep breath, nodding tersely. But as Layla stared at him, amazed to now know what he and Dusk had been talking about all these weeks, Luke held her gaze – a sad quirk to his lips that twisted Layla’s heart.
“So. You’re a Dragon.” Layla spoke, aware that everyone in the hall was watching. “Maybe a Storm Dragon.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.” Luke spoke as he held her gaze. “I didn’t even know I had magical blood until your Dragon attacked me in Seattle. Turns out, I have a number of different Dragon bloodlines warring within me. All awake now.”
“What about your parents—” Layla began.
