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TWENTY-THREE

MAC

I believe Drax when he says I can trust Auri, but that doesn’t stop my legs from feeling like lead all the way to Auri’s office. There’s a heaviness, in my chest and I can’t tell whether it’s coming from me or from my mate.

Mate .

My heart pounds, and a complicated mix of emotions swirls inside my chest. I have a decision I need to make, and handing this amulet over to Auri feels like knocking down the first domino.

Part of me wants to retreat to my own room and just…

think for a while. And, fuck, being down here with Drax, working for Auri really has changed me, because I can’t remember a single time in my life before this when I had the urge to think anything through.

I suppose it’s not the worst change that could have happened to me, but it is just one more thing to wrap my head around.

I’m so lost in thought I barely register the sound of galloping paws before I’m bowled over by a mass of fur and drool.

I hit the ground with an “oomph” and laugh as I try to wrestle the beast puppy into submission.

Three licking tongues, three sets of teeth attached to three different heads that I’ve decided definitely share only one brain.

Grim whines in surround sound, his tail thumping noisily against the floor as he lays his full body weight on me and covers my face in overly enthusiastic kisses.

“Heel! Sit! Go fetch!” Does this dog know any commands at all?

A sharp whistle cuts through the delighted yapping, and the puppy stops licking me and immediately sits up at attention.

“Look at you, you delightful hell beast, protecting Daddy’s office like the goodest boy.

Yes, who’s the best boy? Is it you? Are you the best boy?

” Auri coos, scratching one of Grim’s chins and kissing an entirely different nose while the third licks his cheek, the puppy’s heavy paws on my chest still holding me to the ground.

How strong is this mutt? I’m a dragon, for fuck’s sake, he shouldn’t be able to keep me pinned this easily.

“I have the amulet,” I wheeze, and just like Grim sitting to attention at the whistle, Auri snaps right out of baby talk mode and claps his hands with glee.

“Well then, maybe Grim is the second goodest boy around here today. Off,” he commands the dog, and the large paws finally let up.

I suck in a desperate breath and pull my t-shirt up to dry my face off before I get to my feet.

“Come.” Auri snaps his fingers. Is he talking to me or the dog? He crooks his finger over his shoulder, so I’m guessing that command was for me.

I trot down the hall after him, clutching the satchel tightly. We reach the locked door at the end of the hall, and he pulls out an ornate key, then pauses. Auri sweeps his eyes over me and purses his lips like he’s considering something.

“Maybe it’s better if I don’t tempt you with what’s on the other side of this door.”

“What? What’s on the other side of the door?” I give a subtle sniff, but all I get is the sulfur smell of hell burning my nostrils and the lingering scent of my mate on my skin.

His mouth curls into a devious grin and he waffles his head back and forth before he finally sticks the key into the lock and turns it. He puts his hand on the doorknob and gives me a stern look.

“Just remember before I open this, that no matter how tempting you find any object inside, I will kill you if you steal any of my things.”

I sputter a laugh, but Auri isn’t smiling this time, his expression is as stern as can be. I nod and swallow hard.

“Got it. Hands to myself.” I’m assuring him just as much as I’m instructing my dragon. Don’t get us killed, please.

Auri opens the door, and I follow him inside.

My breath catches and my heart thunders.

My dragon writhes under my skin, fighting the tight grip I keep on him.

This hoard makes mine look like nothing more than a few trinkets.

The room is massive, filled with rows of shelves, each one containing different treasures.

The demon is organized; I’ll give him that.

Each item is accompanied by a placard and each row has a different theme.

Historical demon artifacts, priceless finds, cursed objects…

He stops at the end of that row and holds his hand out expectantly.

I clutch the bag a little tighter, feeling the shape of the amulet inside and the links of the chain. I’ve fucked up numerous times, but I think I’m finally learning a thing or two about how this all works. For just a brief second, I have a little bit of leverage.

“My contract…”

Auri arches an eyebrow and grins. “Look at you, my pet, finally coming into your own.” The compliment skates over my skin and makes me want to wag my tail just like Grim.

“You’ve done well. Better than I expected, if I’m honest. I thought it might take you years to acquire the amulet, if you lived to accomplish it at all.

I’ll admit, the mating is a bit of a complication, but nothing we can’t work with.

” He pats my cheek. “I’m open to re-negotiating your contract.

Better benefits, higher pay… We can sit down and discuss it.

I’ll even let you bring Drax to the negotiation table so you can be sure I won’t do anything delightfully tricksy again. ”

He laughs like he’s amused by his own antics.

“And if I want out of the contract altogether?” I swallow hard again, my heart pounding.

I can feel Drax’s answering anxiety rise inside my chest, probably in response to my own.

“I’m not sure if that is what I want, but…

” I rush to say. I don’t want him to think I’m ready to call this whole thing off yet, I just need to know…

“If that’s what you really want.” He strokes my cheek again. “Although, I’d much prefer to keep you around. A dragon as clever as you could be very useful.”

A surge of pride fills me and makes my dragon preen. Clever? Useful? No one has ever called me any of those things before.

“Can I have time to think about it?”

“Of course. But first I really must insist on getting that amulet from you.” He takes his hand off my cheek and holds it open again.

I place the satchel in his palm and his fingers curl around it.

“What do you need it for?” I ask nervously.

Auri chuckles and dumps the necklace out. I wrinkle my nose at how unappealing it is. There’s a stink of sour magic on it, the metal is tarnished, and the gems are dull.

“For the plot, darling,” he purrs, turning to an empty space on the shelf and lovingly laying the necklace across the waiting velvet bust. With a flick of his hand, a placard appears, matching all the rest, with a brief description of the amulet.

“Besides, isn’t it just gorgeous? It’s one of a kind.

Dozens have literally died to get their hands on it, and it’s mine . ”

I sputter a laugh, and a wave of complete understanding washes over me.

He may not be a dragon, but his hoard isn’t so different from mine.

It’s full of the things that call to him, things he’s proud of, things he can brag about.

I guess Rune was right—the beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

DRAX

I know I told Mac I’d wait in my room and let him handle Auri alone, but I’m too restless to actually stay there.

I don’t burst into Auri’s hoard to find out how things are going though, so technically I’m still keeping my word.

Mac slams into my chest as he steps out of the room, obviously not expecting me to be right there waiting for him.

“Shit, I didn’t think you’d be lurking there.” He laughs, catching himself by gripping my biceps.

I’m wearing clothes like he requested, to hide my nudity from the others—still think it’s a little silly since they’ve been living with my nakedness for ages—but I’m regretting the layers of fabric between us right this second as his body presses up against mine.

“How did it go?” Did he release you from your contract?

I don’t say that part out loud. I don’t want Mac to feel smothered by me.

Even if he did decide to break his contract with Auri, that doesn’t mean anything for our mating bond.

I don’t have to live here. I can commute to work.

It would be an adjustment living in the human world, but I could learn.

“Good. He’s giving me time to think about what I want.”

“Good,” I echo, even though there’s a slight twist in my gut at the not knowing.

“So…” He drags his thumb back and forth along my bicep and looks at me like he’s waiting for something, I just wish I knew what.

“So?”

“Hey, you dropped off the cursed necklace thing?” Roman says loudly, coming around the corner and flinging an arm over my shoulders.

He’s vibrating with self-restraint, and he reeks of full moon pheromones.

I wrinkle my nose and force myself not to shift away from him.

His touch isn’t sexual, but my insides recoil anyway at even the vague suggestion of satisfying anyone other than my mate.

Mac doesn’t seem threatened though, giving Roman a sympathetic smile and letting go of my arm to reach up and scratch the wolfman’s ear.

Roman groans and leans into the petting.

“Hey, we should go out and celebrate your first assignment,” he suggests.

Mac perks up. “Yeah? Is that something you guys usually do?”

I shrug. “Any excuse to go out, really.”

“Hell yeah,” Roman agrees. “I’m crawling out of my skin over here. I was about to shift and wrestle with Grim just to work off some of this energy, but I’d much rather go somewhere too loud and pay way too much for drinks.”

Mac laughs and nods. “Cool, let’s do it. Let everyone else know.”

A tinge of disappointment hits me. I’d rather have my dragon all to myself instead of going out somewhere “too loud with overpriced drinks,” but the vibration of contentment in our bond and the smile spreading across Mac’s face quickly smothers any disappointment.

“Yes,” I say. “Let’s go celebrate.”