Page 20

SIXTEEN

DRAX

As soon as we step foot in the underworld, I’m marching towards Auri’s office. It’s all his fault this is happening to Mac anyway. Well, it’s probably Mac’s fault, but I’d rather blame Auri.

Cassius snags my arm. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, my friend. You know as well as anyone that stomping into the boss’s office is not the right move.”

I want to pull my arm away and continue, but he’s right.

Confronting Auri is an exercise in futility.

I rub my chest, sending waves of reassurance back to Mac as strongly as possible.

To know he thought I’d left him behind, even for a few minutes, tugs at my heart.

Doesn’t he know that would never happen?

“What’s the plan then? I need to get back to him.”

“I think we start by seeing if there’s any information in the archives about the mage,” Cassius says. “Or we look in his book.”

I start to object, because we tried that, but Atlas snaps his fingers, calling our attention to him.

“Guys.” He’s at the table with a parchment scroll unrolled before him. “I found something.”

I cock my head. “How did you do that?”

He shakes his head. “I had to. Ever since his magic got in my nose, it’s felt like I need to know more. I called up the archives while you were talking.”

I hurry over and sit beside him. “What did you find?”

“His given name isn’t Rune,” Atlas says while Roman and Cassius gather around us. “It was Ignatius Delaport.”

“Delaport,” Cassius repeats. “Of the Louisiana Delaports?”

Atlas nods, tapping on a section of the scroll. “He’s a descendant of Colette Delaport, one of the original Bayou Mages who settled in Louisiana.”

“The Delaport family is no joke,” Cassius says. “I had a run-in two hundred years ago with Amadeo Delaport.” He shudders. “They are powerful.”

“Even I’ve heard of them,” I murmur. “The few who make it to the underworld have quite a reputation.”

“This is not good,” Roman says.

“How did you find this?” I ask, peering at the paper. “We looked him up before.”

Atlas shrugs his large shoulders. “Like I said, his magic is in my nose. I feel like the information found me, not the other way around.”

“Is there more?” Roman asks. “Some way to get to him?”

Atlas returns his gaze to the paper, dragging his finger down the page as he reads. My leg bounces with nerves under the table, but I blow out a breath to calm myself. I can’t let Mac feel my unease.

“Oh.” Atlas scratches his chin. “Rune was cast out of the Delaport family, hence his name change. He’s been traveling the world collecting powerful and dangerous magical items, but for what reason, only he knows.”

“Is that shifty little mage planning world domination?” Cassius muses.

“No,” Atlas replies softly, shaking his head. “His magic isn’t evil. Can’t you smell it?”

The three of us shake our heads, and Atlas frowns.

“What does it smell like to you?” Roman perches on the edge of the table. “Describe it to me.”

“It’s sweet, but not like candy or cake. More like jasmine and vanilla. Like…” He tilts his head. “The tea from my village in France.”

I raise an eyebrow. Well, isn’t that interesting?

Roman scratches his beard. “Yeah, maybe that’s what it smelled like when I was closer to it.”

I can tell from his tone that’s not at all true.

“Is there anything else?” I prod. “Anything about how to deal with him?”

Atlas looks down again. “Barter. He’s usually willing to barter. We need something appealing to him. Something he’ll take in exchange for Mac.”

I huff, folding my arms over my chest. “But we need the amulet he took. Auri needs it.”

The four of us sit quietly, completely stumped. I send another wave of reassurance through the bond, hoping Mac gets it, and when I receive his answering vibration, I’m somewhat soothed.

“I’ll have to get something from Auri,” I announce. “It’s the only way.”

Cassius gives me a hard look. “He won’t give you anything. You know that.”

“I have to do something. I’m not letting my mate rot in a mage’s prison. What would you do if it were your mate?”

Cassius shudders. “Gods, I hope I never find out. This mate bond stuff is inconvenient.”

“I would do whatever is necessary,” Atlas says. “Even if I had to anger Auri.”

I nod, knowing he’s right. “I’m going to see the boss.”

“We’re right beside you,” Roman says, standing and shoving Cassius’s arm.

“Yes, of course.” Cassius gives me a tight smile.

The four of us walk down the hall toward Auri’s office, finding the door already open and the demon boss sitting behind his imposing desk.

“Yes, yes, come in. I heard my name on all your lips. What is it?”

“I need an artifact for trade, Master.”

He looks up, tilting his head and gazing at me with large, unblinking eyes that shimmer lilac. “Whatever for?”

“A mage is holding Mac. We read that he likes to barter for things. I was thinking if I could get something from you, he would take it and give Mac back to us. Then we can figure out what he did with the amulet.”

Auri taps a long finger against his chin. “What a dilemma. Let me see if I understand this. My newest pet has been captured, and now I am to give up a treasure in order to regain my pet from the person who has treasure I also want. Is that correct?”

I cringe, scrunching my nose. “Yes.”

Auri rises from his seat slowly, growing to an imposing height. “Leave us,” he bellows, and the other three disappear quickly from the room.

Auri approaches me, and I stand firm in spite of his display of power over me. He could tap a finger on my forehead and send me to the depths of hell if he wanted to. I would never see Mac, or anyone else, again.

“Sweet Drax, you’ve always been such a loyal pet, but now your loyalties are divided. You’ve gone and mated yourself.”

“Mac did it.”

Auri chuckles. “So he did. It seems I’ve got my hands full with that one. I always wanted a dragon, especially one so full of spirit and a taste for beauty. I should have expected that he would choose my prettiest pet as his own.”

I keep my eyes down until Auri lifts my chin with a finger.

“Let’s make a deal, shall we, Drax?”

“You already have my servitude. What else could I give you?”

“This one is more fun. I’m feeling generous, but to be honest, I’m curious what the dragon will do once he’s freed from his captor.”

Auri waves a hand, revealing a shelf of trinkets behind a hidden wall. I’ve never seen them before. Each is a glittering gem or stone of some kind. He lifts an emerald from the shelf and tosses it in his hand before giving it to me.

“The Emerald of Castle Bainswan,” he says. “Anyone in possession of it can manipulate time once they learn to harness its power.” Auri closes my fingers around it. “Take this to your mage for release of my pet.”

I frown. Why is he being so agreeable? “Really?”

“Yes. I’m curious about this mage who is so brazen as to steal the Legarr amulet. Get Mac out and he can resume his attempt to obtain the amulet. But be warned, dear Drax, it is Mac who must retrieve the amulet for the deal to be done. If you do it, or I, no deal.”

“You won’t hurt him, Master. He’s my mate.”

Auri smiles. “I’ll do as I like, pet.”

I straighten my shoulders and hold his gaze. “And I will protect my mate. No matter what.”

Auri cups my chin. “I know you will. I chose you for your strength, your loyalty, your sense of rightness. Tell me, Drax, if I were to release your mate, what would you do? Where do your loyalties lie now?”

The question pokes at my brain, but as warmth radiates in the center of my chest, I’m positive we both know the answer.

“I’m still loyal to you, Master. There’s a solution to every challenge.”

He nods. “Very true.” He turns and walks behind his desk again. “Go now, pet.”

He waves me away, and I slip from his office to find the guys waiting for me on the other side of the door.

I open my hand to show them the emerald. “We have a plan.”

MAC

It feels like I’ve been locked up in my prison for days.

The magic flickers occasionally, reminding me that I’m very far from Paris, but through it all there’s been the steady presence of Drax on the other side of the bond.

I can sense his emotions, ranging from determination to missing me, and it’s given me a sense of peace that somehow, I’ll get out of this mess.

Earlier, I heard Rune in his workshop, but when I tried the door, it was locked.

I want to know what he’s up to, but mostly I want to know where the damn amulet is.

Probably in that room of treasures he refuses to call a hoard.

If I could just get some time alone in there, maybe I could find it by the time Drax gets here. I could solve two problems at once.

The door opens and Rune enters carrying a tray. He actually smiles at me as if I’m a wanted guest as he places the tray down on a small bedside table.

“Bored with Paris yet? I’ve always been fond of a rooftop deck in Rome.” He snaps his fingers and the illusion around us flickers until I’m staring at terracotta rooftops draped in ivy, the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica looming in the background. “Pretty, isn’t it?”

“How about you let me leave and see it for myself?”

He chuckles, sitting on a chair and crossing one elegant leg over the other. “I brought you a pastry and some coffee.”

“No meat?”

He scrunches his nose. “Sorry. I’m a vegetarian.”

I huff but lift the coffee cup and take a sip of the potent black liquid. “How long do you plan to keep me here?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I’ve been doing my research, but there isn’t a lot of information about you. I can’t even find your family name.”

That makes me smile. I’ve done a good job of hiding my trail, which is why I’ve been able to gain as many items as I have. Besides, I never wanted my antics making it back to my parents or Lord’s clutch. Bad enough they had to save my ass once, though I suppose that worked out for Valentino.

“I’m no threat to you, Rune. I’m just a dragon living my life.”

“Except for the part where you hunted me down and tried to attack me.”

“I was never planning to attack you. I only wanted something you have. That’s not so bad, is it?”

“But why that amulet? How do you even know of its existence? It’s not talked or written about. There are no pictures of it. You had to have special knowledge to know about it.”

Shrugging, I tear off a piece of croissant. “I run in some pretty exclusive circles.”

His expression hardens. “I won’t give it to you.”

“Then I’ll have to take it.”

“You could tell me what you want with it. Then maybe I’d help.”

“You won’t.” Trust me on that.

“Fine.” He gets to his feet. “I have all the time in the world to wait you out. The sooner you tell me the truth, the sooner I’ll consider your release. You got yourself into this situation.”

“Story of my life,” I mutter, chewing my pastry.

“Hmm. Just so you know, your colleagues will never break my magic.”

The warm, vibrating pulse inside me gives me confidence that they will. “We’ll see about that, Rune. Maybe you’ve met your match.”

“Doubtful.”

“We found you, didn’t we? It wasn’t even that hard. All we had to do was find Alenor.”

His eyes narrow. “Yes, well, I’ve paid many times for my association with him, but this is different. This is mine. Not even those who share blood with me can break this magic. Your friends are no match.”

I would be worried if it weren’t for the tendril of insecurity weaving through his words.

My dragon’s never really been keen on picking up on body language except when it comes to getting some shiny thing we want, but that doesn’t mean he can’t.

He’s calm, almost smug in the knowledge that Drax will move mountains to get to me.

Where would I be if I hadn’t put his mating ring on? I rub it, sending a flood of appreciation to Drax, smiling when I feel it returned. He’s still there. Still working on finding me. He’s going to save me, and for that, I’ll owe him.

“Believe what you want, Rune, but I will leave this place, and I’ll take the amulet with me. Maybe you’re the evil one.”

He chuckles, tossing his shaggy hair back. “I always heard you dragons were an arrogant bunch. Enjoy your delusion. I’ll be back later.”

He snaps and he’s gone, leaving me with my new Roman backdrop. I can almost feel the sun on my skin. So yeah, he’s a powerful one.

All I can do now is hope Drax has a plan that works.