Chapter 17
Dorian was glad to be out of the workshop and even happier they were giving him special rooms. The sample extraction had been weird, but he supposed it was necessary, and it could have been a lot worse.
“Are you feeling better now?” Alex asked. “Jack wouldn’t have meant to hurt you. He’s sensitive about his siren side.”
“I’m fine now. Chris’s magic was so jolly that it sort of ran off the sadness. I hope Jack doesn’t feel like that, though. Sirens have a bad enough time of things as it is, adding feeling worthless and abandoned would be terrible.”
When Jack’s magic had hit him, Dorian had felt a sense of absolute misery.
It was as if his heart was breaking and he was consumed by the sadness buried deep within him.
All his regret at what he had done when he thought he was helping Robin hit him with a force like no other, and compounded the loneliness he felt at times.
Jack’s magic had burrowed deep inside him, drilling into his insecurities and fear of never finding love, leaving him a sobbing mess.
By contrast, Chris’s magic was like the brightest sunshine walking hand in hand with his parents at the shore or playing with his friends when he was a kid.
It was like winning ten Oscars and falling asleep in the arms of someone who truly loved you.
Or at least that was what he thought it felt like because he didn’t think he’d ever experienced real love.
“I’d say Jack was a bit of a tortured soul,” Alex said. Dorian thought Alex might be similar.
“I’m sure being with Chris helps.”
“For both of them. They’re so suited it’s almost sickening at times.”
Alex led them around the side of Crofton Hall to an orangery. Dorian hadn’t seen it before. “Is this new?”
“No, it’s part of the house that non-residents don’t get to see. The first Earl had a longing to see the sun, but after he was turned, that got a bit dangerous. Sebastian had this made, and the windows enchanted so Anthony could experience being outside in the sun to some extent.”
Dorian couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have someone love him so much that they would go to such trouble. “Talk about couple goals.”
Alex laughed. “They are something. I’d heard the rumours about Sebastian before I joined Crofton Hall and have since seen personally what he is capable of, but if someone were to harm Anthony, those deeds would be nothing compared to what he’d do in revenge.”
“I’ve always liked the story about vampires and their Eternals.”
“I was dubious until I saw for myself.” Alex smiled.
Elves weren’t the most romantic of species, and Dorian was surprised by Alex’s wistful look.
Dragons had nestmates, not the same level of one-true-eternal-love vampires bought into, but a serious commitment, and people trying to get in the way were likely to be eaten.
Alex opened the large doors of the orangery, which were big enough to let Dorian in without triggering the distortion spell. “You’ll have sole use of the orangery while you’re here, so you have easy access to the grounds.”
With a flick of Alex’s wrist, two wooden doors on rollers slid open to reveal a large room, probably four times the size of the reception room he’d spent the night in.
He spotted a pile of pillows and blankets by a fireplace, a low table perfect for him to eat off and a massive flat screen TV, and more importantly, it was devoid of any antiques or knick-knacks he could damage or send flying with his tail.
There was even an area in the corner, like Alex had set up before, so his dung would be dealt with.
“I hope you’ll be comfortable in here. We’ll do our best to resolve what’s happened to you as quickly as possible. The TV is on the same system Karl rigged up for you before, and he’s linked your mobile. Not all electronic devices work here, but this should be okay.”
Dorian had lived in far worse places, especially when he was trying to make a name for himself as an actor. “Thank you for this.”
“You didn’t ask to be stuck as a dragon.
You’re going to be here for a while, and it shouldn’t feel like a prison.
” Alex retrieved a mobile phone from his inside pocket, and Dorian recognised it as his.
“I need to retrieve the hairbrush from your apartment, and I was also going to inform your PA that you’ll be unavailable for a while.
She’s left several messages and texts, worried you’ve not been in touch, but I also plan to talk to her about Trevir.
I know you consider her trustworthy; however, she was the one who put you in touch with him. ”
“Debi’s not gonna have sold me out.” Dorian trusted Debi. “I want her to be told what’s happened. She’ll help.”
Alex didn’t look convinced. “She might be part of the plan, Dorian.”
He shook his head. “I don’t believe that. Besides, we’d need her help to contact Trevir.”
“If you’re sure.”
He was glad Alex wasn’t going to fight him further. “I am. She said loads of people worked with him, so I don’t understand why Trevir would go after me.”
“Do you have any enemies, someone who Trevir might also know and could have influenced him?”
Dorian didn’t have enemies; he had a couple of adversaries in the sense of other actors who might be up for the same role, but nothing more than that. “No, I’m an actor. I don’t do mean shit to other people unless it’s in the script.”
He’d been a bit of an arsehole over Robin, but on the whole, he’d tried to treat people right. He had a lot of money and donated to multiple causes, and while he loved to party, he didn’t force himself on other people. He wasn’t a bad guy.
“Think about it, and if there isn’t someone else, then consider why Trevir decided to do this to you.”
He had been thinking, and he had no idea why Trevir had tried to stab him in the back.
“I’d never even met him before. Maybe it’s a disgruntled actor I took a part from years ago, but it’s an awful lot of trouble for that sort of vengeance.
And the money he’s making in Hollywood now, albeit from a different source, is more than the average actor would make. Most people never make it big.”
“Fair enough. Now, back to me going to your home in LA. Is there anything I need to be aware of in the property, security spells, etc.?”
“I can give you the passcode for the alarms, both mechanical and magical. I’d suggest having Debi meet you, because she knows where everything is.”
Alex held up Dorian’s phone. “Let’s send her a text. Warn her I’m coming, and I can explain the situation you’re in. Up to a point.”
“You’ll need to include a safe word, or she’ll think something’s happened to me and I’m not able to communicate.”
“We could call her.”
Dorian shook his head. “Maybe in a little while, I’m not ready for that. Just include the word snaggletooth and she’ll know you’re legit.”
Alex raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything, and he watched as Alex tapped out a message explaining who he was and that he would be at Dorian’s home in around half an hour. It would be early in LA, but Debi responded immediately, saying she would be there.
“Thank you for doing this,” Dorian said. Alex had been so nice, and he had another request, which he hoped wouldn’t be considered too much. “Will you visit often? I’m not used to being alone. While I’m grateful for this space and the help, I’d prefer a frequent visitor.”
“I can understand being separated from your home, your reality. I’ll be happy to visit. I have my duties to the hall, but I’ll work around them. Perhaps when I return, I can bring some games to play. I can teach you an elf game that’s a bit like checkers.”
Alex must have suffered through something to be so understanding, and while now wasn’t the time, maybe later Dorian could find out. “I would like that very much. When you go to my home, ask Debi for my egg set. It’s a three-dimensional puzzle game.”
“Is there anything else you’d like?”
Dorian thought for a moment, but many of his possessions were useless in his dragon form. “Not really, I can’t use most things as a dragon. Although there are a few spice blends I like for coal and meat in the kitchen, along with a dragon-specific first-aid kit.”
“What would be in a first-aid kit for a dragon?” Alex asked, sounding amused.
“Ointments mainly. Although there is a wing pack. It’s a bit like a puncture repair kit for bike tyres.”
Alex laughed. “There’s an inappropriate joke in there, I’m sure.”
“They have to be both flexible and stiff.” He sniggered, smoke escaping from his nostrils.
“And on that note, I’d best leave. I’ll be back with your lotions and egg game.”
He watched Alex leave, fully aware the elf was absolutely his type. Tall, blond and beautiful, the only difference was that Alex didn’t appear to be a complete bastard.