“Aurora meeting. Viktor called it. Elena says it’s urgent.”
Kael’s expression shifts. That ancient tactician look he gets when processing threat assessments. “The Syndicate?”
“Maybe. Or maybe he just wants to discuss quarterly budgets. You never know with Viktor.”
“Viktor does not call urgent meetings for budgets.”
“You’ve known him for like a month.”
“I am an excellent judge of character.”
“Sure you are, Dragon King.” I close the laptop. “So. Eggs ready? Or are you still figuring out how the stove works?”
“I know how the stove works.”
“Do you, though? Because last time—”
“That was one small fire.”
“Small?” I laugh. “K. You set the smoke alarm off. Twice.”
“The device is oversensitive.”
“The device works fine when I cook.”
He brings two plates over. Sets one in front of me. The eggs are… actually pretty good. Slightly dry, but edible.
“These are great,” I tell him.
“You are lying.”
“I’m being supportive.”
“You are a terrible liar, Mara Jones.” But he’s smiling. That small smile that makes my heart do stupid things.
I lean over. Kiss him. Taste eggs and coffee and hot dragon.
God, he does things to my girl bits that really should be illegal.
“I love you,” I tell him. Because I can. Because the bond lets me feel that he loves me back. Because saying it out loud still feels like magic.
“I love you.” He cups my face. Thumb tracing my cheekbone. “My beautiful woman.”
“Your disaster.”
“That too.”
We eat in comfortable silence. The kind that comes from knowing someone completely. From feeling their emotions like your own.
My laptop chimes. New data stream.
I reach for it automatically.
“Mara.”
“Just checking one thing—”
“You promised you would take time off.”
