He rolled his eyes at her joke.“Not that kind of magic.”He got out of the car and fought the urge to Catalyze.Even though his yard appeared private, he couldn’t take a chance that some Mundane gardener was trimming bushes or that someone on a boat was out there with binoculars.
He saw the orb skitter across a branch just as Ruby, who’d gotten out of the car as well, said, “Are you hunting bugs again?”
“Scry orb.”His Dragon led him to a large banyan tree at the corner of the property.
“That’s what you killed in the back of my truck, right?The spy orb?”
“Exactly.Which means Smith has found my home.”
“Oh, great.”
He climbed the tree from the back side and spotted the orb perched on a branch.He needed to grab it before it flew away and would then follow them.Obviously sensing his magick, it crept down one of the many roots that grew from the branch back to the ground.Cyn reached down and snatched it, crushing it in his hand with both force and magick.It splintered into ephemeral bits.“Let’s go, before he shows up to pay us a visit.”
Thirty minutes later, Cyn pulled into a guest parking spot at the Raphael high-rise.Ruby pulled her long braid over her shoulder and stroked the length of it as she looked at the sign.“Hah.The Raphael.I get it.So, what are we seeing this guy about?”
“Grayson is going to take you back in your memories to the night your father went on the run.Maybe you heard something that might help us.”
Cyn had only told Grayson that he didn’t want Ruby to go any farther than the moment of impact.He didn’t want to take a chance that she’d seen him and buried the memory.He wasn’t ready for her to leave him yet.
Because you want her.
Because I don’t want her out there alone.
She looked around the serene lobby with its blue glass mosaics and a huge wall of flowing water, following Cyn to the coordinating reception desk.The place was beautiful but austere, making her think of what she envisioned heaven would look like.They walked to the blue glass reception desk, where a man in a suit waited.
“Cyntag Valeron to see Grayson Winters.”He showed his ID.
The man checked his screen and gave him a nod.“He’s expecting you.Go on up.”
The elevator automatically took them to the twenty-first floor.The mirrored walls reflected Ruby to infinity, the back of her braid trailing down to the top of her waistband, her shirt not quite meeting it to reveal a slice of her skin.Her gaze met his in one of those reflections, jolting his heartbeat.He was glad the door slid open at that moment.
Grayson was already waiting, filling the doorway with his muscular bulk.
“Good to see you, my friend.I appreciate you doing this.”Cyn made the introductions.
Grayson gave Ruby a nod.“Would you like a drink or should we get right to it?”
“Let’s get right to it,” Ruby said, rubbing her hands together in what Cyn thought was a nervous gesture.
Grayson motioned for her to sit on the leather couch and then sat across from her on the thick glass coffee table.“I’ll need to put my hand on you to establish a connection.”
Ruby nodded, her gaze on Grayson.“You can touch me,” she said in a soft, inviting voice.Her head tilted, and her mouth curved in a smile.“Your eyes are beautiful, with little sparks like frost.”
Even his tough little Ruby wasn’t immune to the Thrall.Well, nothisRuby.
Cyn’s Dragon clawed at his skin.Yes, mine.Its tail swished down the center of his back.
Back off.Not ours.
Grayson’s big hands rested on Ruby’s shoulders.“That’s right, just relax.”He turned to Cyn.“Dial back the territorial feelings.”
Ruby blinked, coming out of the spell.“You can pick up his feelings?Territorialfeelings?”
“Surely Cyn told you about the whole Dragon-beast territorial thing, especially considering what I’m picking up between the two of you.”
Cyn kept his expression neutral.“I’m her protector and teacher, nothing more.”
Ruby hitched her thumb toward Cyn.“What he said.”
