“Witch?”
“The woman who was with them, the one they called Raven, was definitely a witch. I could smell her from across the room. I don’t think she suspected me. Probably never ran into a Traveller before.”
Rowan frowned. This couldn’t be good. If her brothers shirked her mother’s command, there had to be an extreme reason. “They wouldn’t have come together to find me if it wasn’t important.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure. Last I knew, Tobias was working as a doctor in Chicago. I think I still have his number. I’ll call him.”
Harriet nodded. “There’s no shortage of drama in that family of yours, is there?” Her eyes roved toward the back room and Alexander’s painting again.
“We’re dragons.” She shrugged. “We run hot and are fond of a little fire.”
Harriet laughed.
Rowan stood. “I’ve got to get some rest. I’m tapped.”
Harriet rounded the desk to give her another hug. “Don’t worry about tonight. There’s nothing we can’t fix. Besides, the universe has a way of smoothing these things out.”
“Thanks, Hattie.”
The old woman pecked her cheek. “Do you want to take a peek at Alexander’s painting before I go?”
“More of the same?”
Harriet nodded. “Worse.”
“He’s in a dark place.”
“Artists go through peaks and valleys.”
“Yes but Alexander has spent centuries in the valley of the shadow of death…” Rowan tilted her head. “I don’t have the energy. I’ll look at it in the morning.”
“Tomorrow then. Rest well, dragon.”
Rowan waited until her friend had exited through the front door, locked it behind her, and pulled down the security gate. Once Harriet was safely inside Rowan’s hired car and in the hands of her driver Djorji, she headed for the back of the gallery. Down the stairwell, she descended into the basement. The vault door there was military-grade, and she carefully tapped in the code to unlock it. There was a hiss and then the grind of metal sliding against metal.
Overhead lights automatically blinked on as the door swung open, and Rowan released a held breath. The sight of treasure inside filled her with warmth and set her soul at ease. This was her treasure room, her sanctuary, the very best place for her to rest and heal. Every manner of gemstone winked at her under the fluorescents, along with gold coins, silver plates, and jeweled goblets that would be considered antiques today, as well as the occasional pearl necklace. She closed and sealed the vault door behind her, then fished her prize out of her pouch and tossed it on the heap. The Raindrop of Heaven and the earrings blended into the hodgepodge of valuables.
Rowan undressed. She paused to knead the muscles in her back and shoulders, sore from the long flight. Once she was entirely naked, she took a deep breath and spread her wings. Red scales arced and stretched in her peripheral vision, each wing possessing a claw at its crest. A long, deep sleep in her dragon form was just what the doctor ordered. She’d be as good as new in the morning.
She killed the overhead lights, then folded in half, resting her hands on the floor and welcoming her dragon form like the friend it was. Her body expanded, bones bending, flesh reordering itself as she grew and stretched to fill the subterranean space. She yawned, and her dragon teeth clacked together at the conclusion. In the fluid way that only dragons can, she dove into her pile of treasure, burrowed to the bottom, and allowed sleep to wash away the night’s worries.
Chapter Three
Chicago, Illinois
Tobias woke to darkness with the feel of his mate’s firm breasts pressed into his back. Sabrina was practically wrapped around him, drawn to his above-average temperature in her sleep. Their subterranean apartment stayed a comfortable seventy-two degrees all year round, but her vampire nature meant she ran cold at night, and they’d discovered she unconsciously sought him out under the covers. He didn’t mind one bit.
A repeated buzz came from Sabrina’s side of the bed. He cast an annoyed glance in the direction of the sound and watched her phone light up. That was weird. Tobias looked at the clock. Not even sunset. Who was texting her at this hour? The comfort of her nearness evaporated as she sat up, read her messages, and frowned. Without saying a thing, she set the phone back down, rolled over, and snuggled against his chest. His hand trailed down to cup her ass and tug her against him. Obligingly, she hooked her leg over his hip.
“Hmmm. I love twilight,” Tobias rumbled. “Best part of the day.”
She sighed and planted her forehead against his chest. “We need to get up. My father is on his way here.”
“Huh? How? It’s still light out.” Tobias jerked fully awake. Sabrina’s father was a badass vampire mob boss who scared the crap out of him. Although his mate was the master of the Chicago vampire coven, Tobias hadn’t gotten over her father’s intimidating presence. Calvin Bishop was ancient and deadly. So deadly even his inner dragon got the willies in his company.
“His human security detail is transporting him in his coffin,” Sabrina said. “It must be serious. My father does not travel during the day without cause.”
