Valerian waited until the man began to pass out before pulling his cock out, laughing at the gasps of the human as he sucked in air to recover. Before he could fill the human’s mouth again, a blinding flash of light filled the room. When he could see again, only he, Xavier, Zeidan and the leader of their coven remained.Oh, shit!
~/~/~/~/~
Throwing his duffle bag onto the deck of Nessie’s boat, Reif looked around the marina and, seeing nothing out of the ordinary, climbed aboard. Finding the key exactly where Nessie told him it would be, he unlocked the door, stepped inside and then stowed his gear in the forward cabin of the boat.
Checking his phone, he grinned at the message of love from Nessie. Then checking the time, Reif activated his camouflage ability before going topside. Once there, he slipped into the loch, diving deep and shifting at the same time, swimming straight for the cave. He pushed his sea dragon as much as he dared, trying to balance his timerestraints against his concern for the eggs his beast carried. Arriving at his destination, Reif stuck his head into the cave, praying Nessie hadn’t placed the metal box inside it; he hated dark, tight spaces.
Searching the murky waters, he almost missed it until he saw the rope Brian had looped around the box swaying in the current. Grabbing it with his mouth, he dragged it from the entrance to the cave and then, slipping his head thru the loop, turned and swam back to the boat.
Once there, Reif shifted in the water, climbed aboard and removed the green diamond from the metal box. Dressing quickly, he hightailed down the dock, arriving just as a car pulled up. Opening the door, Reif found Groose and three other enforcers inside. Grinning inwardly, he climbed in, thankful Logan had sent them along to help guard the key to his people’s freedom.
~/~/~/~/~
The man, hidden in a doorway across from the hotel, waited for the sea dragon to arrive. He had already sensed the presence of a witch but couldn’t pinpoint exactly where, so he kept to the shadows. Checking the time, the man saw just three minutes remained before the deadline. Contemplating what he’d do if Reif failed to show, he felt his phone vibrate. Looking at the message, he groaned; his employers were summoning him. Glancing at the hotel, he caught a glimpse of the sea dragon, surrounded by bodyguards, getting out of a car.
Making a quick decision, he sent a text back to his employers, then left the doorway, following Reif inside. He was taking a big gamble by defying the orders to return, but hopefully, if he brought them the green diamond, his employers wouldn’t care. Striding over to the guards at the private elevator, he announced himself, handing them the card Reif had given him.
After a quick ride up, the elevator doors opened and he found himself blocked from leaving it by five men. “Excuse me, Mr. Reif is expecting me and it’s important that I not be late.”
Groose stepped forward. “Follow me, please.”
Nodding, the man squeezed through the guards and, while walking behind Groose, began to feel the power of the gods enveloping him.Who are these shifters?He’d never experienced anything like it before—he should tell his employers but knew he wouldn’t. Why he decided not to was unclear, but a little part of who he’d been before had survived and that pleased him.
Jolted from his musings, the man realized Groose had opened a door, waiting for him to go through. Entering, he found Reif and another man, definitely a stranger. Addressing the sea dragon, the man asked, “Do you have the green diamond?”
“He does, but before my client hands it over, I need you to sign an acknowledgment that turning it over to you, as an agent of the people you represent, will release all sea dragons from servitude imposed on them,” Penn said.
“And you are…who?” asked the man.
“Penn Anderson. I represent the sea dragons.”
Taking the two-page agreement from the lawyer, the man read it carefully, making sure it only stated the terms of the agreement Reif’s father had reached with his employers. Satisfied with the wording, the man said, “I need to see the green diamond before I sign it.”
“Reif, please give me the green diamond.” Penn said, holding out his hand.
Digging into his pocket, Reif’s fingers wrapped around the jewel, caressing its smoothness, before finallyremoving it and handing it to Penn, all the while keeping his eyes on the man.
Taking it, Penn held it up to the light so the man could see the purity of the cut stone. “Here it is. If you would please sign both copies first,” he instructed, handing the duplicates to him.
Stepping over to the desk, the man sat down, executed the agreements and then held them out with one hand, while extending his other. “The green diamond, please.”
Penn simultaneously plucked the agreement from the man’s fingers while dropping the jewel in his open palm. “Reif, please sign on behalf of all sea dragons,” he said handing him the documents. After Reif did so, Penn handed one to the man. “Please inform the people you represent that this copy will be filed with the Universal Paranormal High Council, just in case they decide to renege on their word.”
“I will convey your warning,” the man said, before leaving.
When the door closed, Reif collapsed on the sofa, closing his eyes, shocked that a thousand years of slavery had ended in such a civilized manner. When he felt the sofa dip, he opened his eyes to find Nessie seated beside him.
“Tis over,” Brian smiled.
When he heard those words, Reif grinned.Nessie’s right, it’s finally over and my people are free. Our babies are free.“Finally! I still can’t believe it,” Reif exclaimed.
“Reif,” said Penn, placing the agreement in his briefcase, “I won’t be filing this unless there’s a problem because Logan stressed the importance of keeping the sea dragons’ existence a secret. When I get back to the office, I’ll have a certified copy made and send it to you.”
Rising, Reif held out his hand. “I can’t thank you enough, Penn, for doing this.”
Shaking the sea dragon’s hand, Penn replied, “Glad to help. If you have any more problems with those people, just let me know.”
“I will. Thanks again.”
