Page 94

The shifter’s tufted white ears flicked back and forth.

“I think I’ll do these five,” she said, holding out a palm full of quartz and jade, the smooth stones and crystals clicking together. She set them on the glass counter and handed her card to me. She had come in quite a bit over the last few weeks, so she didn’t bristle when our fingertips touched.

The bell above the door tinkled, announcing a new arrival. As I looked up, Dawn’s bright eyes met mine. She was in high spirits, radiating a buoyant energy as she danced over to the counter, her orange sundress catching the draft of the closing door.

“Robby! Guess what this is?”

“One of those cool VIP Starbucks cards?”

“No… I’m like fifteen points away from that. I got my acceptance to the Tear Exploratory Division!” She showed off a letter adorned with an ornate TED seal—a multicolored rift with the letters rising up from it. Her smile stretched from ear to ear.

“That’s fantastic, Dawn!” I congratulated her, but then my eyes flicked to Claire, who was walking out of her back office. I knew it wasn’t really me she wanted to break the news to.

She blushed as the two locked eyes. “Claire, guess—”

“You’re a TED now. I knew you’d make it,” Claire said, bracelets jingling as she wrapped Dawn up in a tight hug, giving her a congratulatory kiss on the cheek. I had noticed the two becoming very, very close recently, and frankly… I shipped it. Hardcore. Those two were as perfect together as—

“Damien!”

My handsome red dragon walked in through the doors as the shifter I had been helping walked out, her crystals held tight in a small blue bag.

“Is it a Blackthorne meeting here?” Claire asked as she leaned on the counter. “I wasn’t aware.”

“No meeting,” Damien said and lifted up a picnic basket in his hand. “Just here to take your employee on a date.” He wore a pair of well-fitted jeans and a blue-and-white shirt, half tucked into the waistband of his shorts. He’d just gotten a haircut, so his dark brown hair sat perfectly styled on his head, the sides trimmed, the perfect length for me to run my hands through.

That was another perk to this whole vampire thing: sensations were extremely heightened. I’d get hard just twirling his hair in my fingers. I could feel every silken strand, every soft wave. I’d play with him for hours, slowly rubbing and stroking him, enjoying how it felt just having him in my hands.

And the sex. Fuuuuck. It was mind-blowing, each and every time. I was getting hard just thinking about it.

“Good thing I’m closing up early today, then,” Claire said, waving a hand and collecting all her belongings in a big thread of red mana, her wallet and keys slipping into the pocket of her purple robe.

“You are?” I asked, a surprise to me.

“I am,” she said, bumping a shoulder into Dawn. “I’ve got to go get happy-hour drinks and celebrate this one. I’ll handle the rest of the customers and close up. You guys head out on your date.”

“Thanks, Claire.” I gave her a hug, happy that my Marvel boss had an all-welcome policy at her shop, because even though I now had immortality, I also still had bills to pay. Damien offered to help out, but I actually enjoyed working. It kept my mind busy and my days interacting with people, some of them annoying but most of them kind, especially the regulars, who were already used to seeing me behind the counter.

I walked with Damien out into the sunny afternoon, holding his hand in mine. It was hard to let go of him. I wanted to spend every waking minute of every passing day with him, especially now that we had nothing to really worry about. The dragon fall was officially ended, and a war between supernaturals was averted. It required us testifying in front of Congress as to why our actions were justified and didn’t break the Iron Treaty—which was nearly as stressful as anything else I’d experienced. It was a grueling two-week-long process behind closed doors, facing down some of the most intimidating people in the government, flanked by stone-faced Enforcers.

We were found innocent of all our actions and were hailed as heroes once the news got out, and boy, did it get out. We were getting gifts from all over sent to the castle, endless baskets of chocolates and flowers and wine, attached to invitations that would bring us all over the world, visiting grateful dragons and their families.

We already had a trip lined up to Mykonos and another to Paris. Might as well hit up the good spots if someone else wanted to fly us out.

“How was your day?” Damien asked, the sunlight beaming down on him like a spotlight.