“You’re lying.” Dusk gave her a knowing look. “Your Dragon is roaring inside you, Layla. It’s not just your scent that gives you away; your vibrations do, too. You’re roaring for a mate –even a casual one.”
“Well, if Adrian had tried a little harder to stick around, I wouldn’t be hunting!” Layla growled, feeling put-out and drinking deep of her wine. Her magic had turned with her emotions as she thought about Adrian, from a hot orange scent of passion to a scorched, bitter-citrus rage like molten lava. “I mean, I’ve not seen hide nor hair of him for five weeks. He disappeared yet again after we came back from Seattle. He didn’t even stay the night, Dusk! And now – no phone calls, not even a damn email. Adrian’s disappearing act after we made such a connection isreallynot helping anything.”
“Maybe.” Dusk lifted an eyebrow as he swirled his wineglass.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Layla crossed her arms, anger searing through her.
“It means,” Dusk gave her a patient look as a wave of sapphire flowed through his dark hair and scaled ridges, “that you are a Royal Dragon Bind, Layla. Like your mother Mimi Zakir, your magic will likely hunt a variety of lovers. Mimi had lovers all around the world. Adrian’s mother Juliette was her primary mate but they were by no means exclusive.”
“So what, like mother like daughter?” Layla sassed viciously.
“Dragons are adventurous creatures, Layla,” Dusk sighed, watching her intently. “Exclusivity is rare with us. You’ve been trained to value monogamy by the human world, but what I feel from your beast – and what Rake and Rikyava noticed also – is that you need more than the attention Adrian is giving you. Adam tried to exploit it today and I shut him down, but it doesn’t make what your beast is doing any less true. You’re trying to be loyal to Adrian. I get that, and it’s admirable. But your Dragon doesn’t play by human-world rules.”
“Bullshit.” Layla took a deep drink of her wine and set it down decisively. But she couldn’t control the roaring energy that surged up inside her as Dusk gave another lower-than-sound rumble, thundering deliciously up Layla’s ankles into her thighs. She rocked, gripping the table as pleasure surged through her – only the smallest bit of it from Dusk’s magic. The rest was entirely her own Dragon slithering inside her sinews and erotic places with a roaring intensity.
An intensity that wasn’t about to be denied.
“You’re hunting, Layla.” Dusk spoke, watching her as he swirled his wine. “Even though Adrian bound you, your Dragon isn’t content being bound by his on-and-off attentions. The harder you deny it, the harder the creature within you will roar, until you give in. Choose a mate, Layla, someone in addition to Adrian to tide you over while he’s away – or have one get chosen for you. And probably not in a way you’d like.”
As Layla’s Dragon rose inside her with a slide of scales and muscled talons, she realized Dusk was right. She did have a problem; a problem that hadn’t been solved by Adrian binding her newly-awakened magics. A problem that didn’t care if Adrian was far away or if Layla felt exclusive to him. A problem that she could feel as her body responded to Dusk just like it had Adam with a slow, rolling pulse that had nothing to do with rageful desert winds–and everything to do with dark, pleasurable lust.
Dusk was right – she did have a problem.
And her Dragon wanted someone to solve it soon.
CHAPTER 3 – HUNTING
At last, Layla was able to achieve some control over her magic. With a deep inhalation, she folded up all that hot, pleasurable energy, stuffing it back beneath her wrist and the hamsa-cuff. The burn in her tendons was excruciating but worth it. She had control over her body again, not letting her lust drive the bus. And though Dusk’s quiet presence was still arousing beside her, she didn’t want to just ride him straight to bed anymore.
With a steady out-breath, she gave him an eyeball and took up her wine. “Bad Dragon. Using your magic on me.”
“I’m sorry. Truly.” But Dusk’s brisk smile was hard as he began tucking into his salad. “But my observations stand, Layla. Your Dragon is doing the magical equivalent of spraying like a cat – though it’s only attracting the most powerful Royals. Did you know you’ve had over thirty requests for Assignations? All from Firsts or Seconds or Thirds of prominent clans – powerful Royals in their own Lineages.”
“Assignationrequests?” Layla gaped at him, pausing with her fork in hand as she dug into some pasta. “But I’m not a Courtesan!”
“Tell that to your Dragon.” Dusk eyeballed her with a level frankness, the same look he gave her when impressing a lesson at the desk. “Adam isn’t the only one I’ve had to turn down. People have been confused by your magic, assuming that you’re a dual-position at the Hotel like Rake André – a Concierge by day and a Courtesan by night. Even the Madame approached me last week after you got seven requests in one day, asking me if we shouldn’t be training you as a Courtesan.”
“But I don’t want to be a Courtesan!” Layla protested, horrified. Even though Courtesans and Courtiers made egregiously good money and had the highest standing at the Hotel, other than the Department Heads and the Madame, selling her body for money was not something Layla was into. It had been a sticking point with her when Adrian was trying to get her to come work for the Hotel, and only when she found out she’d be working in Concierge Services had that point smoothed.
“Then you need to get a handle on your magic. Before the Madame makes a decision for you, as to what department you belong in.” Dusk’s gaze was level, no teasing in his frank sapphire stare. “That cuff on your wrist does a lot to contain your eros, but people are feeling your Dragon’s passions. I truly would recommend you think about taking a lover. Someone you find interesting, who you’d like to have a little fun with while Adrian isn’t around. Believe me, Adrian would understand, even if he doesn’t like it.”
“You talked to him about this, didn’t you?” Layla shook her head. “Fucking Christ.”
“You need to bleed off your tension in order to do your job here. Adrian understands that.” Dusk’s gaze was unapologetic. “I almost told him to cancel the Dragon party tonight because I wasn’t sure you’d be able to go with your magic flaring like it is. But this problem could be an advantage if your beast is intrigued by someone in your Lineage, like Adam. If it likes a few other Dragons present tonight, you might be able to form some strong alliances.”
“Alliances. You mean fuck-buddies.” Layla lifted an eyebrow at Dusk, feeling furious. She covered her fury by digging into her meal. The shrimp was incredible; the butter sauce divine, even though they did nothing to cool the rage that flashed through her. Scorch rose in the air, making the shrimp taste burnt. Layla reached for her wine but Dusk’s hand whipped out, settling to hers before she could drink heavily. A soothing energy rippled from him like cool water running through deep caverns as iridescence flowed through the ridged scales on the backs of his hands. It eased Layla’s rage and she took a breath, regaining control as he watched her.
“Don’t discount alliances forged in the bedroom. They can last a lifetime.” Dusk’s frank stare held no proposition, but he held her gaze with his deepest intensity. “There will be someverystrong Royal Dragons in attendance at the party tonight. Adrian’s not the only one with power in our clans, and he may not be the only person you can recruit to watch your back.”
“So you want me to make a grand entrance and turn heads so I can attract sex partners and form alliances in the Dragon clans. Hence the dress.” Layla glanced at the closet, to the red silk gown hanging in its crystal case. The rich crimson color was the exact color of spilled blood and just the sight of it set Layla’s veins boiling.
The color red had always attracted her, but now an overwhelming urge bit into her, making her want to rush over there and rub her skin all over that bloody color – to bathe in its vividness like she’d just sliced someone’s throat open. She could practically smell an iron tang in her nostrils as her Dragon gave an eager stir, flexing talons that Layla could actually feel raking her insides. It was both painful and erotic, and she shuddered as she lifted her hand for her wineglass.
“That’s exactly the impression we want you to make tonight.” Dusk gave her a deep look as he let her hand go, his blue eyes level. “Don’t be pissed with me, Layla. I’m merely telling you to your face what everyone has been saying behind your back. You can fight what your Dragon wants, but it won’t go well, believe me. As for the gown – well every hot woman needs a hot red dress. It just makes sense.”
Layla felt herself flush. Dusk was teasing, but there was something simmering between them still. She could feel the cord of their magics licking at each other – and yet, Dusk seemed to be encouraging her to take a lover other than himself. “So I’m supposed to fuck Adam, is that it? Or you?”
“I have plenty of lovers, Layla.” Dusk’s glance was level as he leaned back in his chair. “Yes, you and I have a connection; I feel it too, ever since we met. But I’m your boss. Though it would be fun to roll in bed and feel your desert wind pouring over me, I have responsibilities. To train you and make sure you succeed in the tense political situations our world will probably dump you in sooner rather than later. Besides, Adrian would hate me if I slept with you. More than he already does.”
