Page 2 of Devoted in the Midlife

"Hey!" She glared, offense somewhat undermined by the wriggling Chihuahua attempting to lick her ear. "We were purposeful, thank you very much. Strategic even."

"Hmm yes," he mused, "all that strategy certainly shows in your unrivaled subtlety and cooperative natures."

Ransom disguised a snort as a cough. I bit the inside of my cheek, determined not to grin. Teasing Izora was a bit like poking a tiger, but I had to admit, I liked Kit's style.

"As fascinating as this supernatural history lesson is," Luke cut in, "can we get to the part about why you're in Hailey's living room? Last I checked, dragons weren't exactly thick on the ground." He waved a hand around. "Present epic exceptions noted."

Kit nodded, humor fading. "Indeed, that is the heart of it. I may not walk this realm often, but I do look in on my children, my dragons, from time to time. And when I checked of late, I found only emptiness. Death. All but a treasured few, extinguished."

His gaze landed on me and Jax, Adalinda, and Flint, who had entered the living room and flew over to me, landing my feet. I scooped him and held him close. Unexpected emotion choked my throat. The silence stretched, heavy and hurting.

Kit finally spoke again, quieter. "I came to find answers. To determine what could destroy creatures of such strength and resilience, my finest legacies. And to avenge their deaths." His hands clenched once before relaxing. "But I have found nothing. No signs, and no trails to track. It's as if they were wiped from existence."

"I'm so sorry," Cleo offered, leaning into Nash and linking her fingers with Grim’s.

Kit reached into his pocket and withdrew two golden dagger sheaths with intricate designs twining their lengths. Jewels winked in mesmerizing patterns, colors shifting and blending in a way that made my magic-attuned eyes ache. They seemed to hum, power shivering along my skin like the first lick of lightning before a storm.

Adalinda gasped. "I know those," she whispered. "I held the daggers once, long ago. Stole them from a foolish human who had no comprehension of their meaning." Her fingers drifted out as if to touch, then pulled back. "But the blades themselves were stolen from me as I slept. I never found them again." Anger and bewilderment flickered in her eyes.

Kit extended the sheaths to her, gleaming against his dark skin. "Whoever stole them from you, used them to kill the dragons. I had hoped that with the sheaths, I could find the blades, but alas, even their magic has limits."

"Well damn," Kendra poked my ankle with her boot, "sounds like a job for the Bond Girls."

Kit glanced between us, confused. "The what?"

I couldn't help grinning. "It's what we call ourselves. Professional skip tracers, with a side of supernatural bounty hunting. If there's a person - or object - out there to be found, we'll sniff it out." Pride warmed my chest, familiar and grounding. This, at least, I understood.

Understanding dawned in his dark eyes. "Ah. You have your own coterie of powerful women." His smile flashed, brief andblinding. "No wonder it feels like fate, my path crossing here. And I see why Adalinda chose you to turn into a dragon."

He squared his shoulders, fixing his attention back on Adalinda. "The daggers are the only items capable of slaying dragons. They both hold the power to pierce even your nigh-impenetrable hides, but one of them can nullify magic." Sorrow and old rage threaded his voice. "I have done what I can to trace them to no avail. And my time here wanes."

"Wait, what?" Ollie looked up from the truly remarkable paper plane he'd been fashioning. One of the wings drooped sadly. "Why wouldn't you stay? We could help!"

Kit sighed, deep and resonant. "We gods cannot remain long in the mortal realms. It taxes us, in ways I couldn't begin to explain. Even now, I feel the pull to return." He spread elegant hands in a mix of apology and frustration.

"But what about Lucifer?" Paige tilted her head, frowning. "He's basically set up camp."

A huff of laughter, more wry than amused. "Different rules for different divinities. This is his game board, so to speak."

As if to punctuate his point, his form flickered, misty one moment and solid the next. The air around him shimmered, smelling sharp like the heart of a lightning strike.

"I must go," he spoke quickly, dark eyes finding mine. "I don't know why, but I feel it's right to leave this quest in your hands. Perhaps it's the magic between us," he nodded to Adalinda, "or just a tug of intuition. But I ask you, Hailey Whitfield, will you and your Bond Girls seek my daggers and the truth behind my children's deaths?"

My thoughts spun, excitement and trepidation a tilt-a-whirl behind my ribs. But as I met his gaze, so ancient and urgently hopeful, I felt the decision lock into place. My chin dipped once, firm. "We will," I promised. "You have my word."

"Wait," Cleo called as he started to fade, body more mist than matter. "How will we find you again? To return what we find or ask for aid?"

The barest hint of a smirk curled his lips. "You have a god on speed dial," he noted, flicking fingers toward Izora. "She can show you how to reach me. And you, little dragon star," he locked eyes with Flint, "know that you can always find your way to me, should the need arise."

Bye, Unca Kit, Flint said telepathically.We get stabby things!

Kit's laughter lingered even as his form dissipated completely, leaving only the faintest hint of petrichor and crackling energy behind.

"Well," Luke broke the ringing silence, "those murder daggers aren't going to find themselves." He stood, hands propped on his hips, determination warring with barely restrained glee on his face.

Adalinda met my eyes, a mix of uncertainty and steel in her gaze. I quirked a brow back, aiming for my cockiest head tilt. "Oh, we'll get them all right. And we'll figure out who or what decided to go dragon hunting." My smile sharpened, magic starting to stir in my veins. "Then we'll show them why that was a really bad idea."

Jax reached out, fingers twining with mine. The cool kiss of his skin against mine eased the tangled heat in my chest. "As one," he said quietly, just for me.