I nod, my cheeks warming with the admission. “Yes please.”
“I’ll have it done by this evening.”
“No rush.”
He gives another little bow and advances down the hall. Once I’m changed, I join Connor in the dining room where the dragons have gathered over a breakfast suitable for a small army. Remus has a stack of sausages on his plate that could feed a family of four, and Seb is downing a plate of what looks like a dozen eggs. I select a croissant and some bacon and take a seat at the table.
“So what’s the plan today?” I ask when they all grow conspicuously quiet.
Connor speaks up. “Remus and Ellison will man the southern border, while Seb and I patrol the rest of the property in case Roman tries to get creative. Once one of us has visual confirmation of his arrival, we’ll converge, lure him onto the property, and capture him. You’ll stay here with Bones and Zaire.”
“How do you plan to lure him onto the property?”
Remus stops eating long enough to call out, “Roman! Roman! I’m here. I need your help!” He soundsexactlylike me. Not like an impression. Like a recording.
“That’s incredible,” I say.
Seb grins. “A Gemini talent that comes in useful now and again.”
“Seems like you have it figured out.” I take a bite of my croissant. It’s for the best that I’m not involved. After last night, I know I’d only be a distraction to Connor. The last thing I want is to be the reason he’s injured. Or worse.
“What’s the plan for you and Connor now that you’re mated?” Ellison asks, sounding somewhat bored. He’s focused on his plate like he’s only asking to be polite.
“I’m going to move into his place. My lease is up anyway.”
“Sounds like a recipe for mated bliss,” Ellison says, and I can’t miss the bitterness in his voice. He looks older than Connor, and I wonder if the mating sickness is getting harder for him. I wonder if his abrasiveness, at least in part, is fueled by jealousy.
I smile sweetly and say, “I certainly hope so.”
Seb seems to notice the tension rising in the room and, just like before, defuses it by changing the subject. “Connor, about the ring Mason found…”
“Did you get a chance to talk to him?”
“Briefly, on the way over. He still has it in his safe, but none of us can touch it. Exactly what do you want me to do with it?”
Connor scratches his jaw. “We need to find a witch who can analyze the magic. We know they use dragon blood, but the other ingredients in the spell are a mystery. If we could find someone who could reverse engineer the spell, maybe we could find a way to protect our people against it.”
“And you think I can find a witch why?” Seb asks.
Connor shrugs. “You work in the music industry. You know a lot of people. A lot of really odd people.”
“Okay. I knowofone,” Seb says, as if he’s reluctant to admit it. “I’ve never actually met her in person, but I’m aware of her from Full Throttle.”
“Sorry, what’s Full Throttle?” I ask.
“My record label,” Seb says. “She’s the lead singer for a band called Raven’s Wish. We’ve been following theirgrowth on social. Honestly, I don’t know if her witchy vibe is just a marketing ploy or the real thing.”
“Wait, I know her,” Remus says. “I tattooed a tree of life on her calf at Venomous Ink. She told me she’s been a practicing witch for almost fifteen years, since she was in high school. Her mind was strong, and I could sense her power. I think she sensed mine too because she told me during one of our sessions to stay out of her head.” He gives a quiet laugh.
“Do you think you could approach her about the ring?” Connor asks, directing the question at both of them.
Remus shakes his head. “I have a very strict privacy policy for my clients. I don’t even keep their contact information after the job is done.”
Seb groans. “I might be able to use my position to facilitate a meeting, but it’s a delicate situation. Honestly, from what I’ve heard, Raven’s Wish isn’t ready for the big time. Leading her on to get what we want could backfire, and I don’t need to tell you how bad it would be to have a witch as an enemy.”
Connor grins. “So use that persuasive Taurus charm and convince her to help us with no strings attached.”
Seb shovels in another bite of eggs and groans. “Fine. I’ll come up with some ruse to get her to do what we want. Let me think on it.”
