Chapter 27
Meera
I ran over and gave Tansy a hug, glad to see another friendly face, not that Seth and Mateo weren’t friendly.
But it was different. Tansy and I had hung out, and she wasn’t a cocky wizard or a manticore that could rip me apart if he wanted to.
Technically, Tansy was here to be Seth’s backup just in case he needed extra magic, but to me, she was moral support.
I really needed it since I was about to meet my second dragon in the span of less than two weeks.
And this one didn’t have human friends or a sweet human mate like Carly to keep him from being a total monster and razing everything to the ground.
The fact that Emmett was Desmon’s brother didn’t make me feel any better.
The two apparently weren’t truly on speaking terms, though according to Carly, Desmon technically owed Emmett a favor.
Or rather, Desmon did not owe him a favor because Emmett certainly did not help him win a competition, saving him from a hundred-year forced nap right after he’d found his mate.
Interfering with the games that dragons and certain powerful demons played was strictly prohibited.
But Emmett hadn’t helped because of some misplaced brotherly love, but because he’d bet an impressive sum on Desmon and had greatly grown his hoard from the earnings.
“We’ll be right behind you. Eamon’s here too, remember.”
A smoky limb reached out from around Tansy’s body and waved.
It was totally freaky, but with all the strange things I’d seen in recent days, I didn’t even flinch.
Eamon had refused to let his pregnant mate join us unless he came along and acted as a physical shield, wrapping around her body in the form of a hard, impenetrable smoky shell.
We weren’t at Desmon’s estate because both dragons insisted on meeting on neutral grounds.
That was why we were meeting at the summit of a small mountain that was far enough from Emmett’s home mountain range to satisfy Desmon.
It was exactly the type of place villains would choose in a movie, and it all felt so surreal.
Three figures approached from the air. The first was the dragon, bronze with a chartreuse shimmer, just like in my dreams. He was bigger and even more magnificent in real life. His wings blocked out the sun, and if I hadn’t already seen Desmon as a dragon on the way here, I’d have freaked out.
Next to him flew a demon that reminded me very much of Eamon, but much larger.
But then again, weren’t demons able to shape their own bodies?
Maybe this one just liked being bigger due to the intimidation factor.
The third figure was a man who simply floated next to the other two.
He had an ageless look that was hard to tell if he was either young or extremely ancient.
He reminded me very much of the Wizard’s Elder Council representative I’d seen on the news.
I hurried over to Omelet’s egg, which was sitting on a velvet cushion inside an unbreakable case.
They landed in front of Desmon, who stood before the rest of us.
Emmett stepped forward, changing from his dragon form into a man as his wings shrank to fit his back.
He wore fitted leather pants but was topless, showing some chiseled abs.
He was mesmerizingly handsome, like he’d stepped out of a modeling shoot.
He nodded once to Desmon before his eyes scanned behind him to land first on the egg, then me. He cracked a predatory smile that turned his strict, almost terrifying demeanor into something dangerous in a wholly different way.
Desmon’s voice broke the chokehold his gaze had on me. “You are getting weak, brother, if Gillisandra can steal from you.”
Desmon tossed the scale Seth had found in my purse to the other dragon, who caught it casually and tucked it into his pocket.
“Yet she is the one sleeping for a hundred years, and I am about to reunite with my future dragonlet. And to think I never had to contract her for an egg. You may call it weak, but I call it winning.” Emmett was the epitome of smug, “And if I recall correctly, you owe me. Hand me the egg, and we’ll call it even, brother. ” He stressed the last word.
Desmon turned and motioned me to go forward with the egg. I opened the case and picked up the warm orb, holding it close to my chest.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” I murmured to it, though I wasn’t sure if I was reassuring it or myself.
Then, with it held close to my chest, I approached the dragon. I’d only made it halfway when I felt magical threads seem to wrap around my body, pulling me forward until I stood directly in front of Emmett. I swallowed hard.
“Ah, you must be Meera. You are just as pretty in real life. Tell me, have you considered my offer?”
I reminded myself to breathe as I tried to search for the words that suddenly decided to flee me.
“A life of luxury and comfort. Anything you wish for, fortune, fame… say the words, and it will be yours. All you have to do is devote the rest of your life to me and my child. A dragonlet needs a mother. And I need a companion to warm my bed. You have proven yourself brave and resourceful.”
“Thank you again for the offer. But I must decline.”
Suddenly, his wings came to wrap around me, shielding us from view. I inhaled sharply when strong arms hauled me and the egg into a strong embrace. There were a series of shouts and footsteps shuffling behind me, and an order from Desmon to everyone else to hold.
Outside the cocoon of his wings, I knew things were tense. But in here, there was nothing but calm.
“The offer of riches and fame does not entice you?”
“No,” I said honestly.
“Then that makes you an even better candidate. I trust few people, human or otherwise, to not take the job simply for the riches alone. Any way I can change your mind? I can be very convincing when I want to be. Is it commitment you want? I can offer you that too. I can stay with one female for a human lifetime.”
“Thank you,” I said again. “But no. I have a simple life I wish to return to.”
I thought of Graham and his angrily growled, “I thought you were mine !”
Had this been why he’d not wanted me to meet the dragon?
Because he’d been worried I’d take the offer?
I truly wasn’t interested. As much as I wanted to keep the egg safe and bring it home, I knew I wasn’t up for the task of raising a dragon child.
Hell, I wasn’t even sure if I could manage a normal human kid!
The wings around me opened, and I felt the magical cords that had held me in place relax.
“Ah, too bad then. You shall receive a sum deposited in your accounts at my discretion for your troubles.” Emmett took the egg from me, tucking it under his arm.
Then he reached into his pocket and brought out the scale again.
“For you. If you ever change your mind or are in need of help, feel free to contact me. Just rub it and think of me.”
Real smooth, Romeo. I did not miss the tacky innuendo as I took the scale from him.
Then he was walking away, and my friends were coming up to surround me and make sure I was okay.
“Goodbye, little Omelet,” Seth shouted after the disappearing trio. He turned to Desmon. “Sorry you didn’t get anything out of the exchange, boss.”
“Fate has its way of evening the odds. I suspect Emmett had wanted to get the egg without using the favor I owed him. I owe him nothing now. It was a fair trade.”
“I, for one, am glad we don’t have an Omelet to look after. We can portal back.” With a wave of his hand, Seth opened a portal right in front of where we stood, and soon we were all filing in.
“Are you ready to test the theory?” Carly asked as she replaced the mostly eaten bowl of veggies in Q-Tip’s fenced-in area with a fresh one.
“I guess so. I mean, we won’t know until we try it, right?”
It was the next morning, and I was good and ready to see if I was finally free of the ghouls.
“Are you okay with Dragon Junior being gone?”
“I’m okay,” Carly said. “I mean, I know the egg wasn’t ours. And Desmon was careful that I didn’t spend too much time with it. But I don’t think Elana’s doing as well.”
“She spent a lot of time with the egg.” It was more of a statement than a question.
“So, the egg generates its own heat when needed, but it still needs warmth and contact with another living being to develop and hatch. How does that work?” I asked.
“I’m not fully sure. It’s just how the magic is. I think it’s more about the company and energy, rather than heat. But it’s not like scientists have ever studied it.”
Yeah, no scientists were going to get their hands on Omelet. “I wonder if that was some of the people searching for it.”
“Oh, didn’t you get the details?”
“What details? Do you mean about Karim and the people he worked for?”
“Yeah. And about that… I’m not sure if I should give you my condolences or congratulations.”
I chuckled wryly. “I’m not sure either. I mean, I’d spent years with him. But things were already starting to fall apart even before all of this. In hindsight, if I had so little trust that I was trying to install cameras in his office to catch him cheating, then it’s over anyway.”
“True that. But the people your ex was working with were suspected monster collectors.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
After the fight with Graham, I hadn’t actually asked for the details, and now I wish I had.
“It’s exactly what it sounds like. We busted someone like that recently who had a whole private zoo filled with shifters and the like. Ask Lillian about it. They were trying to trap her there.”
I gasped. “That’s horrible. Shifters are people too!”
“Not to these assholes. Money and power protect them.” She looked around the room. “I guess money and power protect Desmon too. But he’s not bad, for a dragon.”
“And Emmett?” I asked, thinking of the scale I’d hidden in my duffel.
She shrugged. “I didn’t like him at first. But I think he’s nicer than he lets on. They aren’t raised with human sensibilities. Desmon’s a little different because he tries to fit into modern society.”
There was a knock on the door.
“Come in, but be careful, Q Tip’s loose,” Carly warned even as Q Tip hopped out of my arms to go investigate.
Elana walked in. “Ready to head out for lunch?”
I hesitated. “I’m nervous,” I admitted.
The whole point was to get out there, hang out, and see if the ghouls showed up.
“I understand that feeling,” Elana said. “But having to look over your shoulder forever sucks worse.”
“Elana’s ex-husband was a raging asshole wizard,” Carly explained. “But we’ll be safe.”
The Starving Aardvark was where Graham had wanted to take me the day Seth had shown up at the penthouse, and the ladies had waxed poetic about the brunch there. I didn’t want to leave Darlington without trying it.
Blaze and Flame ended up as our guards and chauffeurs during the trip. Flame was super flirty, just like the last time I saw him, but he was respectful, and the two ifrits sat at the table near the front of the restaurant as the host walked us up a step to a more private table.
The chicken and waffles really were exceptional.
The waffles were golden and crisp, their edges perfectly caramelized, giving way to a fluffy, cloud-like interior.
The butter melted into every nook and cranny, mixing with the sweet syrup that dripped down the sides.
And the chicken was juicy and tender on the inside, with a crispy, seasoned crust that shattered with each bite.
I took tons of photos and sent them to Maa with a note saying I had to come back with her so she could try it. Grabbing brunch one Sunday a month was one thing we used to do together after Dad left. We only had enough money to eat out occasionally, and it meant a lot to us.
I couldn’t help but think about how much she would enjoy Darlington. It was the perfect blend of big city and small town. It was super multicultural since so many magical beings and monsters moved here from all over the world.
And that had me thinking about Graham again and the horrible way we’d parted.
He hadn’t called me once, not even to apologize, so I figured things were over between us.
Not that we were ever an official item. I didn’t even understand why it felt like such a tragic loss when we’d only known each other for such a short time.
I should be more upset about Karim and less about Graham. Maybe it was because Karim and I already had our chance, and I’d already known in my heart for months that things were over. But things with Graham were new. There was so much we could’ve been, so much potential.
Sure, being basically told that he thought I cared so little about him that I’d choose a complete stranger over him solely because of monetary gain had hurt. A lot. But maybe I could’ve asked him why he thought that and wait for an apology before lashing out and telling him to get out of my face.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Carly said. “You got really quiet suddenly.”
“It’s nothing,” I lied.
“It’s Graham,” Elana said, calling me out. “We both heard the fight. All I can say is not to take it too personally. He’s got some baggage he needs to get over.” Her face softened. “And you were having a stressful day. Could you both have gone about it better? Sure. But no one’s perfect.”
“Take a look at it this way,” Carly said. “At least you now know you were both serious. If he weren’t, then he wouldn’t have gotten so upset at the thought of you choosing someone else. And you wouldn’t have cared what he thought of you. Things will work out.”
“Thanks. I hope you’re right.”
“And besides, you’re coming back to visit sometime, right?” Carly speared a piece of waffle from her plate. “So there are plenty of chances for things to work out.”