“We would know if another dragon was nearby.” Lucan’s fingers dug slightly into my back.
Kade grunted in agreement. “Dragons don’t go to other dragons’ territory by themselves.”
Neither of them sounded completely certain, which didn’t escape my notice. I raised an eyebrow but didn’t push it.
Kade sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “We’re going to have to resume regular patrols before Zarek does it nonstop by himself.”
“Could you put cameras at the hoard?” I suggested. “Set up with small solar panels?”
Kade shook his head. “The panels would be visible from above. And transmitting anything tied to the hoard is too much risk.”
I shrugged, an idea forming. “Why not just booby-trap it instead?”
Reese’s eyes lit up. “With what? Glitter bombs?”
“Exactly.” I grinned. “Anyone who tries to sneak in gets covered in glitter. You’d spot them from a mile away.”
“Or bear spray tripwires.” Reese’s expression turned mischievous.
“Fake snakes that jump out when someone steps on a pressure plate,” I countered.
“Nets that drop from the ceiling!” Reese gestured dramatically.
“With more glitter!” I added.
Lucan tried to keep a straight face and failed miserably. “You two are ridiculous.”
I poked him in his side. “Tell me you wouldn’t notice someone covered in glitter.”
Even Kade was chuckling now, the tension in his shoulders easing. “The mental image of someone trying to explain why they’re covered in glitter and trapped in a net...”
We were all laughing when the office door burst open. Zarek stood in the doorway, his whole body tight with tension. “We need to move the hoard. Immediately.”
The laughter died instantly. Reese and I looked at each other, and without a word, we both seemed to understand this was our cue to disappear.
“I just remembered I need to... check on my laundry. Oh! And get ready for my shift.” I backed toward the door.
Reese slid off the desk. “And I need to help her.”
Zarek barely acknowledged us as we slipped past him. His focus was entirely on Kade and Lucan, his eyes all dragon and his skin spotted with scales.
“Do you think there could be other dragons?” I asked Reese quietly when we were far enough away.
She hesitated before answering. “I don’t know. But if there are, and they’re not announcing themselves...”
She didn’t need to finish the thought. If there were other dragons lurking around and hiding their presence, it couldn’t be for any good reason.
Saturday night at Split Pine was chaotic. The place was packed, with every throwing lane occupied, the bar three-deep with people waiting, and the distinct thunk of axes hitting targets providing a constant backdrop to the chatter and laughter.
I delivered drinks to a bachelor party, took two more orders, and was heading toward the bar when Beck caught my arm.
“Hey. A guy at the bar’s been asking for you by name. He said you’d want to talk to him.”
I followed his gaze to a man hunched over a beer at the end of the bar. My stomach dropped so fast I felt light-headed.
Scott.
The noise faded to a dull roar as I took in the sight of my ex. He looked more worn around the edges than ever.
