Page 15

FIFTEEN

Riding the air currents above the castle, without that silly, scratchy mock military costume, felt much better than squeezing through a crowded ballroom. It gave Blaze a far better view, too. Tremotino's grounds were a veritable Garden of Earthly Delights from this angle. He'd never seen so many naked people in his life. While he did want to find Diana, he definitely didn't want to see her getting hot and heavy with her mate in the castle gardens. But for all the people outside enjoying the night air...not a single one appeared to be Diana or her mate.

Blaze flew a search pattern across the property, praying he'd missed something on his first pass.

Still no Diana.

Could she still be in the castle?

Most of the upstairs windows were dark, compared to the well-lit public areas where the guests who'd kept their costumes on continued to enjoy the ball. The one exception was the tallest tower, where a light glowed behind the curtains.

No, two lights. One in the room at the top of the tower, and one slowly ascending the stairs, travelling upward from window to window. Blaze peered at the next window the stair climber would pass, and saw Tremotino's unmistakeable silhouette. Blaze snorted. Of course the man claimed the highest room in the castle for his own. It was like he'd read a guidebook for cartoon villains and followed it to the letter. The dude probably didn't even know what a cliché was.

Then a figure stepped out onto the balcony, leaned over the edge and called for help.

Blaze blinked. The blonde wig was gone, but she still wore Diana's purple gown. It was her – Diana's mate!

Locked in Tremotino's room, with Tremotino on the way, and no escape.

He arrowed for the tower, pulling up so quickly he almost took the roof off with him. Fuck. He managed to correct his course, grabbing onto the roof tiles with all his claws before wrapping his tail around the tower.

He drew in a deep breath, filled with the scent of her, and for a moment, he lost his mind. If anyone except Diana had claimed this girl for a mate, he would have challenged them to a duel to the death. Because he wanted her more than anyone or anything else in the universe, and when a dragon wanted something, they stopped at nothing to get it...and protect it until their dying breath.

She was Diana's mate, not his, Blaze told himself. That made her family, which he was honour bound to protect. That's all it was. He recognised her as Diana's mate, and as much his to protect as Diana herself, that's all.

And he wouldn't trust his worst enemy's dog with Craig Tremotino.

He could control himself. He would. He'd save Diana's mate with all the chivalry of a brother-in-law, and when she was safe, he could go back to trying to find Diana herself, with whatever knowledge her mate could provide. Diana would definitely owe him a favour for this.

Diana. He had to think of Diana. He was doing this for Diana.

Only then did he peer over the parapet, in search of the girl.