Page 20

A pollo felt like he was in control right up until they joined the line of guests outside the building.

His feet seemed to stick to the concrete, and he didn't want to move.

Valentine went on ahead, the subtle hum of magic sizzling in the air around him as he worked on charming their invitations. Lachlan hadn't let go of Apollo's arm.

"Deep breaths, golden boy. We only need to get in and get out. We don't need to linger," Lachlan said soothingly. Apollo looked up at the beautiful man beside him, his face half-hidden with his bear mask. It made his impressive jawline sharper, and his mouth seem even more kissable.

"I can't seem to get my feet to move. My brain knows what to do, but the memories of that place, Lachlan… I don't know if I can do this," Apollo replied, unable to lie.

Cold sweat was beginning to bead on his hairline. He couldn't remember everything that had happened after he had been knocked out, but it was like his body still remembered. He really hadn't liked the way Kovacs had smiled and petted him.

His fingers tightened around Lachlan's forearm, the feel of his strength grounding him.

"Breathing exercises don't seem to be working, so let's try bribery," Lachlan said. He tilted his head down to Apollo's ear and whispered, "If we get through this in one piece tonight, I promise to suck your dick so hard that you see the face of god."

Apollo's brain shut down, but his mouth came to the rescue. "What god? Because I don't want to see Arawan when I'm in that state. I'm too afraid Imogen would find out."

Lachlan laughed softly. "You'll have to let me suck you off to find out."

"Blowjobs are good bribery, I have to admit," Apollo said and let out a long breath. "Okay, let's do this."

"That's my good boy," Lachlan purred.

Apollo side-eyed him. "Don't push your luck, Ironwood."

"Don't pretend you don't like it."

Apollo reached up and pinched Lachlan's chin. "We'll see who's the good boy at the end of this."

That only made Lachlan smile. Apollo's dragon wanted to make Lachlan beg. He had never felt particularly dominant, but his dragon definitely was. Of course he had to be to be the most confusing switch of all time.

"I'll do whatever you want me to, Apollonius. You should know that by now," Lachlan replied.

Valentine was waiting for them with an impatient look on his face. "Get it together yet? Because this is our best chance of getting into this place undetected."

"I'm fine, Val. I just needed the right motivation," Apollo said and tried to reach for his party boy mask. It was usually the easiest one for him to go for. He could be a little brother, adorable pet cousin, cheeky brat, all as easy as breathing.

It was why Lachlan frustrated him so much.

It was like his big blue eyes could see through every mask Apollo had, making him feel raw and vulnerable.

He didn't know how to be just Apollo anymore.

Now, he had a dragon to contend with as well.

He really needed to talk to Taranis or Bas about how to get his dragon integrated so that it would stop taking over his body.

"Focus, Apollo. Now is not the time to get lost in your head," Valentine said under his breath.

Lachlan placed his free hand over the one Apollo had resting on his forearm.

The heat of Lachlan's rough palm settled him and drew him out of his head.

They were next in line to get through security.

Apollo had made sure to use a travel perfume bottle for his sabotaging elixir, and the big security guard didn't bat an eyelid at it.

Valentine's magic settled over them, and they were waved into the foyer without being asked for invitations.

"Am I the only one who finds it strange that no one senses Valentine using magic?

I thought these guys were meant to be hot shit," Lachlan said, looking about at the partygoers.

They were all clustered together in groups, drinking pretty cocktails and walking up a grand staircase to where the auction items were displayed and music played in a ballroom.

"Most of these people are just rich, not magical. Besides, I am actually hot shit, and very few people would be sensitive to know when I'm using my power," Valentine said. He took a glass of red wine from a waiter and held it without drinking.

"Let's go look upstairs. It will be easier to blend in," Apollo suggested. Lachlan still hadn't let go of him, which was the only thing keeping him from finding an exit.

The ballroom was gilded and modeled to look like something out of a palace. Apollo could tell that the same decorator who had designed his cell had also worked hard there.

"Do you see what I see?" Valentine asked, staring all around him.

"The shit ton of alchemical symbols? Yeah. They can't seem to help themselves."

"No, little brother. Look up."

Apollo did, and bile crept up his throat. "Val, is this going to hurt us?"

"What? What is it?" Lachlan asked, staring up.

"It's a sigil. A big, twisting, intricate sigil," Valentine said, studying the lines and dashes in red, black, and gold above them.

"It looks like some kind of sacred geometry design to me. Are you sure it's a sigil?" Lachlan replied.

Apollo's hand tightened on his arm. He shouldn't have bought Lachlan within a mile of this fucking place.

"Oh, it's definitely a sigil. It's not designed to harm by the looks of it.

It's acting like a big dream catcher, but instead of collecting dreams, it's catching energy from the dancers.

I think it's influencing people to dance as well.

" Valentine had an almost admiring look on his face.

"It's neatly done. If we were average humans, I'd say it would have more strength. "

Apollo stared about him, and sure enough, within moments of people entering the ballroom, they would set down their glasses and make for the dancefloor. The musicians were mostly on stringed instruments and were playing mesmerizing waltzes.

"Do you think it's feeding a larger spell?" Apollo asked Valentine.

"Could be, but a better use of it would be to store energy like a big battery or silo to use whenever they wanted. Ritual dance energy for whenever you need it. Bloody clever."

Lachlan made a disapproving sound. "Stop acting like it's a good idea, Valentine. These people are fucking monsters."

"At least they are smart ones. I can't help admiring skill wherever I see it. You two should start dancing, or they will notice something is wrong. I will go look at the auction items and find the security doors Layla mentioned," Valentine replied before gliding off through the crowd.

Apollo didn't need to look under Lachlan's mask to know he was frowning.

"Don't judge him too harshly. Val loves magic more than anything in the world," he said, patting Lachlan's hand.

"I suppose we should do as he says and dance," Lachlan replied, and his mouth lifted into a grin. "But I get to lead."

"And why is that?" Apollo huffed.

"Because you are a terrible dancer, Apollo. And I was forced to take lessons growing up." Lachlan toyed with one of Apollo's curls and let it spring up again. "I promise I will let you lead later."

Apollo rolled his eyes. "You're pretty confident anything will happen later at all."

"I always keep my promises," Lachlan said. He lifted Apollo's hand to his mouth and kissed his knuckles, his blue eyes locking onto his. "Dance with me."

Apollo was a sucker for a hand kiss, so he could only nod and let Lachlan lead him easily out onto the dance floor.