But as they watched each other, movement suddenly caught Layla’s attention. At Luke’s open shirt collar, she saw a silver chain with a dark pendant resting in the cleft of his sculpted chest. Layla perked as her gaze moved to it. Jewelry was something Luke had been adamant against all the years she’d known him. But his new teardrop pendant was a forest-green bloodstone flecked with rust-red, twined into an ornate silver filigree like Celtic knot work. As Layla watched, the dark stone writhed with veins of gold twisting through it, like currents of smelted blood.
It was so stunning that Layla blinked.
And so obviously magical that she glanced up at Luke in alarm.
CHAPTER 2 – DISH
The forest green bloodstone around Luke’s neck was either being affected by magic, or it was magic in and of itself. Layla didn’t know which, but as she stared at it as she and Luke stood on the snowy promenade with a thrill of shock passing through her, she felt her Dragon suddenly coil up and snarl inside her veins. As if the drakaina that lived inside Layla’s flesh recognized something dire about that stone, Layla suddenly felt everything inside her go on high alert. If she’d had scales and a mantle full of Dragon-spines, she’d have bristled like a cat. As it was, every hair on her body stood up straight as a wave of adrenaline passed through her.
“Luke! This pendant—!” Layla spoke as she blinked.
“It’s just something Dusk found for me.” Luke dismissed with a wry smile, though Layla felt him clam up, tense. “Something to protect me from magic while I’m here at the Hotel.”
“Why do you need protection from magic? Didn’t Dusk tell you the Hotel has plenty of security systems to protect humans from extraneous magic while they stay here?” Layla frowned, knowing Luke wasn’t giving her a full answer but not knowing why. Deep inside, her drakaina still bristled like she wanted to rake talons at that pendant, or perhaps at Luke, to shred it and cast it someplace far away.
“The pendant has to do with how your Dragon affected me back in September.” Luke spoke more tersely, his Irish temper flashing in his eyes now. “It’s nothing, Layla. Really. Just leave it.”
Luke was rebuffing her, and Layla pulled back, concern rushing through her that her magic had done something to him in Seattle when it had attacked him in the fall – something that made him extremely susceptible to magic now. But rather than get all feisty and prickly like usual, Luke suddenly mastered himself, his temper sliding away even as it had risen. With a shock, Layla realized Luke was more in control of his emotions than she had ever seen him. She blinked, astounded, as she watched the pendant on Luke’s chest writhe with currents as his storm was washed away.
“I’ll tell you all about it later, Layla, I promise.” Gazing down at her, Luke suddenly smiled, his green eyes lovely and bright. “So this is the Hotel? I heard there was more to it. Are we just going to see snow all morning or what?”
Layla’s lips fell open, amazed that Luke’s scalding temper had suddenly cleared. Luke was a tempestuous ass sometimes, but he could also be the best. And right now he was being the charming hottie Layla had fallen in love with years ago. Pleasure flowed from him in the snowy winter day and Layla shook her head. Threading her arm through his, she gave him a tug.
“Fine, we can talk about it later. Come on, you. Come meet Dusk.”
“I’ve already met your odious Concierge Services boss, Layla. Whom you’re also sleeping with.” But Luke teased now as his gaze strayed to Dusk waiting with Rikyava. His words were said with no jealousy, and as Layla laughed, still astounded, their baggage was hefted from the Bentley’s trunk to the brawny shoulders of the Hotel Guard, moving towards the main doors. As Layla and her friends moved to Rikyava and Dusk, Dusk beamed his most welcoming Head Concierge smile as he greeted everyone with a kiss to both cheeks.
“Welcome to the Red Letter Hotel Paris – Celia, Charlie, Arron. Luke.” Dusk spoke in his lovely clear baritone.
“Dusk. Great to finally see you in person. When I’m well.” Luke was in amazingly good spirits as he shook Dusk’s hand, his green eyes bright as if he and Dusk were on excellent terms. It made Layla wonder what the two of them had been talking about during their phone calls these past months – and how many calls there had been. As if they had an extended acquaintance, Dusk was just as affable, clapping Luke’s shoulder with a smile.
“Great to see you so hale, Luke. Glad that pendant is working for you.”
“Absolutely. Thanks, Dusk.” Luke meant it, his demeanor no-bullshit today.
“Anytime.” Dusk smiled back, calm and generous.
Layla glanced between both men, impressed. She’d been almost certain Luke was going to be a bulldog this week with her Bound men, but watching him now, Layla saw something else. A deep understanding passed between Luke and Dusk, and as Rikyava stepped forward, seizing Luke’s hand and giving it a solid pump, Layla blinked to realize her Blood Dragon friend had been in on those calls also. In a moment of instinct, Layla realized Luke’s calls with Dusk and Rikyava had something to do with the bloodstone – and why Luke needed protection from magic.
“Luke! Shit, you’re handsome! Even more than on the video cam.” Rikyava grinned, a vicious flirtation taking her as she beamed at him.
“Thanks?” But though Luke laughed, Layla could feel a sudden tension between him and the Blood Dragon Head Guardswoman as Luke raked a hand through his thick Irish hair, blushing.Layla was about to ask what was going on when Dusk cleared his throat, continuing his welcome speech as Rikyava and Luke stepped awkwardly back from each other.
“Friends. Everything has been arranged for your stay over the next week, and please let me know if there is anything I can do for you while you’re here. The Red Letter Hotel lives to serve, and so do I. You four are my utmost priority this week, and Rikyava will have her Guards on-hand at all times to make sure you’re safe.”
“I know whatI’llneed during my stay.” Arron Jacobs sidled forward with a sexy smile on his ash-blond good looks as he eyeballed Dusk’s sculpted frame. Arron was unabashedly gay and Dusk was the epitome of his type – soccer-player fit and tall. Layla watched as Dusk responded to the attention, turning his sex appeal up to an eleven as he gave Arron a deviantly hot laugh. Dusk’s laugh contained a roll of his Crystal Dragon-power in it and Layla saw Arron rock, receiving the full blast of that carnal wave. Arron’s hand shot out, steadying himself on Charlie’s brawny shoulder as his eyes rolled up and his eyelashes fluttered.
“Holy hell…!” Arron gasped. “That was nice.”
“If you think my powers are nice, Arron,” Dusk chuckled, sly, “just wait until I introduce you to a few of our more prominent Courtiers. They make my magic feel like parlor tricks. Come on. Let’s get you four settled in. This way.”
Turning, Dusk threw Layla a sexy smile before he stepped into his brisk Head Concierge mode and began escorting the housemates inside the Hotel. Rikyava flicked her fingers for her Guardsmen in the chevron to come to attention, and they snapped their pikes out to form a vaulted arch. Leading everyone beneath the arch, Dusk proceeded through the Hotel’s main doors. Stepping to Layla’s side, Arron linked her by the arm and gave her an amazed shake of his head, his grey eyes sparkling as he spoke.
“Um. We aresogoing to discuss your man-situation in the coming days, chica. I am going to needallthe scoop. Especially if your main beau can do that rumble thing in the bedroom.”
“Oh, you are going to get all the sordid details, believe me.” Layla grinned back. “And then you’re going to head right down to the Concierge desk to schedule Assignations and have your mind blown with the things Courtiers can do here.”
“Oh, honey.” Arron grinned back like a tall blond devil. “I am going to get a lot more than my mind blown here, I assure you.”
