“I’m sorry, that was rude of me.” Another human inches up next to the first one with a shy smile on his face. There’s something soft about him that makes me want to put him into an overly large purse and carry him around like one of those tiny dogs that exists only to warm its master’s lap. “But it was the only thing I could think of in the moment to keep the situation from escalating.”
“You did the right thing,” another dragon says from behind him. I may still be a bit foggy, but it’s not too much of a leap to figure out that these are Valentino’s brothers. Now that my headache is fading a smidge, I’m fairly certain I saw some ofthem through the shop window when I followed the twerp into the city.
“Where did you even ge—” I start to ask, but then a pulse of raw power draws my attention to a woman lurking in the corner. She’s clad in black leather and covered in tattoos. Her blue eyes pierce me shrewdly, and she smirks. “Ah, a witch,” I mutter. “That makes sense.”
“Dahlia.” She introduces herself with a tip of her head, her dark hair tumbling over her shoulders.
“Actually, can I ask you some questions?” The puppy human asks, vibrating with interest all of the sudden as his nerves dissolve. He doesn’t wait for my answer, just steps closer and sits down on the floor on the other side of the circle I’m being held prisoner in. He folds his legs and pulls a pen from behind his ear, flipping open the notebook that he’s been holding. “I’ve been reading up about demons and I’m hoping you can confirm or correct what’s in the texts. It seems clear to me that the Christian mythology and the Greek and Roman versions of the underworld are all based on a misinterpretation of your species and the realm you call home. Am I correct in thinking you’re closer to fae than any of the creatures that originally evolved in this realm?”
I stare at the nosy human with a bland look. Props to him for doing his research, but I’m not about to play Professor for whatever Demons 101 class he chose for his independent study.
“Clearly, I made a mistake coming here. I wanted to give Valentino a warning, but if I’m going to be treated like a prisoner, then perhaps you don’t need my help.” I sniff. Am I salty that a couple of humans and a nest of thieving dragons managed to capture me so easily? Maybe a little. But this is what I get for trying to do something nice for a change. Lesson learned. Mac can face the consequences of stealing from Maggard on his own.
The dragon on the wolf’s lap snorts a laugh. “What were you going to warn him about? That a nose full of incubus pheromones will give him a hangover for weeks on end? He’s already figured that one out.”
I bristle and cast a glance around the room, wondering where my dragon is. And what does the yummy chaos dragon mean by a hangover? Is Valentino okay? I sniff the air, trying to get a whiff of him, wherever he is. It does no good though, everything in here smells like him.
Heavy footsteps sound behind me and I crane my neck, my breath catching when my dragon fills the doorway. His eyes are full of exhaustion that makes me want to claw my way out of this damned circle so I can wrap myself around him and make everything all better. Even though I’m the one who broke him in the first place.
The blood that was dripping from his chin when he opened the door has been washed away, and he’s fully clothed now.Shame. His gaze lands on me and my whole body vibrates.
“What’s the warning, demon?”
Any resistance I planned to put up dissolves immediately on hearing Valentino’s luscious voice demand an answer. “I’m not the only demon your little brother has been stealing from.”
Chapter Nine
VALENTINO
Montrose—Xazedose—gazes up at me from his circle while my brothers and their mates guard him. I needed a minute or thirty to compose myself after the stunning spell that left my dragon in turmoil. Even after being humiliated by the fucking demon, seeing his eyes roll back and his whole body go slack sent me into a complete tailspin. My dragon was ready to incinerate not only Dempsey, but anyone else who dared to touch Montrose.
With my arms crossed over my chest in some sort of useless defense, I nod. “Consider us warned,” I bite the words out dismissively.
Montrose sighs, rolling his pretty eyes. Did they always glow like that? And that bodysuit—balls of fire, he’s beautiful. My dragon practically whimpers. Stupid beast is so demon dicknotized he can’t function.
“Listen, gorgeous, I get that you’re pissed at me, but do you really think I’d show up here if it wasn’t for good reason?” Montrose looks up at me from his place on the ground,trapped inside the chalk circle Dempsey drew based on Dahlia’s instructions. He looks… desperate, embarrassed,remorseful. More tricks, no doubt. More attempts to make me look like the biggest fool alive.
“He makes a fair point,” Arson says, and I scoff.
“Still wouldn’t trust him,” Nico mutters. I nod vigorously, my hard gaze still fixed on the tricky, beautiful,dangerousdemon.
“What kind of warning, demon?” Lord asks.
I huff. “It’s a trick. Demons love tricks. You just didn’t count on my family here.”
Mac, who’s been hiding in the hallway, peers around the corner. “Did… did you hear something about me?”
Montrose turns his head sharply in Mac’s direction and narrows his eyes. “Ah, the twerp with sticky fingers.”
“Don’t call him names,” I growl, taking half a step to the left to block his view of my baby brother. My fucking idiotic baby brother with an apparent death wish. “This is my house.”
Montrose has the decency to look apologetic, ducking his head. His auburn locks fall over his face briefly, and my fingers twitch with the urge to push them back out of the way.
“Tino?” Dahlia calls my name gently from where she’s sitting. “I think you should hear him out. There’s some truth in his words.”
“Sometruth,” I grumble. “Go ahead then. Tell us your warning.”
Montrose glances at his hand, studying the talon-like nails that grace the tips. There’s something different about his features. He’s in his human form, but it’s almost as if parts of his demon appearance are poking out. His skin is slightly darker, and those nails are decidedly demon-like. Maybe it’s the effects of the stunning potion.
