I clutch the bag a little tighter, feeling the shape of the amulet inside and the links of the chain. I’ve fucked up numerous times, but I think I’m finally learning a thing or two about how this all works. For just a brief second, I have a little bit of leverage.
“My contract…”
Auri arches an eyebrow and grins. “Look at you, my pet, finally coming into your own.” The compliment skates over my skin and makes me want to wag my tail just like Grim. “You’ve done well. Better than I expected, if I’m honest. I thought it might take you years to acquire the amulet, if you lived to accomplish it at all. I’ll admit, the mating is a bit ofa complication, but nothing we can’t work with.” He pats my cheek. “I’m open to re-negotiating your contract. Better benefits, higher pay… We can sit down and discuss it. I’ll even let you bring Drax to the negotiation table so you can be sure I won’t do anything delightfully tricksy again.”
He laughs like he’s amused by his own antics.
“And if I want out of the contract altogether?” I swallow hard again, my heart pounding. I can feel Drax’s answering anxiety rise inside my chest, probably in response to my own. “I’m not sure if that is what I want, but…” I rush to say. I don’t want him to think I’m ready to call this whole thing off yet, I just need to know…
“If that’s what you really want.” He strokes my cheek again. “Although, I’d much prefer to keep you around. A dragon as clever as you could be very useful.”
A surge of pride fills me and makes my dragon preen. Clever? Useful? No one has ever called me any of those things before.
“Can I have time to think about it?”
“Of course. But first I really must insist on getting that amulet from you.” He takes his hand off my cheek and holds it open again.
I place the satchel in his palm and his fingers curl around it.
“What do you need it for?” I ask nervously.
Auri chuckles and dumps the necklace out. I wrinkle my nose at how unappealing it is. There’s a stink of sour magic on it, the metal is tarnished, and the gems are dull.
“For the plot, darling,” he purrs, turning to an empty space on the shelf and lovingly laying the necklace across the waiting velvet bust. With a flick of his hand, a placard appears, matching all the rest, with a brief description of the amulet. “Besides, isn’t it just gorgeous? It’s one of a kind. Dozens have literally died to get their hands on it, and it’smine.”
I sputter a laugh, and a wave of complete understanding washes over me. He may not be a dragon, but his hoard isn’t so different from mine. It’s full of the things that call to him, things he’s proud of, things he can brag about. I guess Rune was right—the beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.
DRAX
I knowI told Mac I’d wait in my room and let him handle Auri alone, but I’m too restless to actually stay there. I don’t burst into Auri’s hoard to find out how things are going though, so technically I’m still keeping my word. Mac slams into my chest as he steps out of the room, obviously not expecting me to be right there waiting for him.
“Shit, I didn’t think you’d be lurking there.” He laughs, catching himself by gripping my biceps.
I’m wearing clothes like he requested, to hide my nudity from the others—still think it’s a little silly since they’ve been living with my nakedness for ages—but I’m regretting the layers of fabric between us right this second as his body presses up against mine.
“How did it go?”Did he release you from your contract?I don’t say that part out loud. I don’t want Mac to feel smothered by me. Even if he did decide to break his contract with Auri, that doesn’t mean anything for our mating bond. I don’t have to live here. I can commute to work. It would be an adjustment living in the human world, but I could learn.
“Good. He’s giving me time to think about what I want.”
“Good,” I echo, even though there’s a slight twist in my gut at the not knowing.
“So…” He drags his thumb back and forth along my bicep and looks at me like he’s waiting for something, I just wish I knew what.
“So?”
“Hey, you dropped off the cursed necklace thing?” Roman says loudly, coming around the corner and flinging an arm over my shoulders.
He’s vibrating with self-restraint, and he reeks of full moon pheromones. I wrinkle my nose and force myself not to shift away from him. His touch isn’t sexual, but my insides recoil anyway at even the vague suggestion of satisfying anyone other than my mate. Mac doesn’t seem threatened though, giving Roman a sympathetic smile and letting go of my arm to reach up and scratch the wolfman’s ear. Roman groans and leans into the petting.
“Hey, we should go out and celebrate your first assignment,” he suggests.
Mac perks up. “Yeah? Is that something you guys usually do?”
I shrug. “Any excuse to go out, really.”
“Hell yeah,” Roman agrees. “I’m crawling out of my skin over here. I was about to shift and wrestle with Grim just to work off some of this energy, but I’d much rather go somewhere too loud and pay way too much for drinks.”
Mac laughs and nods. “Cool, let’s do it. Let everyone else know.”
