Page 25

“I was unaware changing into dry clothes was such a big deal.” She smirked and headed towards another door he could see was a walk-in closet about the same size as the bedroom.

What the hell was this? He felt the heat on his cheeks and he tried to steady his breathing. Hadn’t he already had his way with the damn woman, tasted every inch of skin on top of his throws in his hoard?

Had she cast a spell over his libido so she could suck all his celestial energy, as if he was her personal collection of aged wine?

No. He knew how succubus magic felt, and this wasn’t it.

She exited the closet in a flowing light blue dress, the fabric so thin he could see the outline of her curves just underneath. Her wings, tucked in to be as small as possible, helped create the sexiest silhouette he had ever seen. It was more of a distractionthan her nakedness. If she voiced her desire, he knew he wouldn’t have the strength required to decline his own.

“As I was saying.” Rowan sashayed past, tail brushing lightly against his hip. “The Traveling Cabin likes to think for me. Whoever has ownership, the house shifts for.” She went through the bedroom door again and when he followed, they stepped into the kitchen instead of back into the entrance hall.

White granite floors, black marble countertops and chrome cabinets were a sharp departure from the nature theme the two previous rooms had. “Are you hungry? A cheesecake sounds delicious.”

“Cheesecake? This early in the morning?”

“Maybe you’re right.” She rummaged in the fridge before making a sound of elation and emerging with a cake box. “Carrot cake it is!” When she opened it, Alessandro didn’t know whether to be amused or concerned that there was already a spoon inside and missing pieces that showed she didn’t bother with slicing.

“I can make you some eggs if you’d prefer. With bacon and toast. I cook a mean breakfast platter.” She motioned to the stove. From how clean it looked, Alessandro wasn’t sure it saw much action.

He decided taking her spoon was the safest option. “Something tells me you didn’t really intend on sharing this. It makes me want it that much more.” He dug a giant piece out and shoved it in his mouth.

Rowan glared at him. “You need to savor the flavor, or else it’s just a waste!”

Following her command and pairing the cake with ambrosia, Alessandro found it difficult to remember a time when a cake had ever tasted so decadent.

The next room they visited was a tearoom, where ornate portraits of elves hung. “According to my aunt’s notes on the place, whoever owns the house gets this room rearranged with their family line.” She pointed to her immediate family’s portraits. “Look at all those good genes.”

He had to admit the royal family of the Eastern Elvin Kingdom was indeed a good-looking bunch. But maybe he held a bias toward the youngest daughter.

Curiosity room after curiosity room they traveled through until they finally reached one that perked the interest of his dragon.

It was no wonder she hadn’t been interested in anything in his hoard; the woman had one of her own.

“My sister Zeva travels everywhere and sometimes she asks me to come along.” She held up a spear, a mischievous grin on her face.

“And how did you come across the Spear of Destiny?” He asked cooly.

“We are very good explorers.” She answered just as cooly.

They perused through the rest of her collection, Alessandro growing more and more impressed by the wealth of knowledge she had on each item she possessed.

Then they came amongst a case with three protective barriers installed around it. Inside, he could see the dark energy of the cursed objects throbbing around a green stone, a jeweled belt and a simple golden ring. Her eyes seemed to harden at the sight of them.

“You kept them?”

He noticed the tension that straightened her back. “It’s dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands. Concealment is the best way to deal with them.” Just as she had been, she didn’t need to say, but he heard it loud and clear.

“I heard the Coven has been looking for a way to sink their claws into you. As an actual repayment for helping the Thunder, I’d like to extend a sort of sanctuary over you.”

The woman leveled him with a stare that shuttered her normally exposed thoughts. It was wildly attractive to Alessandro that she could jump from warmth to cold so quickly. “Sanctuary?”

“You’d be an honorary dragon. Fall under our laws and be our responsibility regarding your magic. No one would dare to question your ability to control yourself, or where you get your power from.”

“So, instead of bowing to the Coven, I’d bow to you?” Her voice was sickly sweet and Alessandro understood his offer had offended her.

“In public. In private, your life would be your own.” He intoned.

“Until you found a use for me that would benefit your Thunder.” She shook her head as he was about to snap at her. “It doesn’t matter. The Coven has promised to back off. I think I should make this clear, Alessandro; I will never be a damsel in distress.”