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A pollo's whole center realigned with the first spark of a Bunsen burner. He was glad the suite had such a large bathroom with a marble countertop and two sinks because he was slowly covering every inch of it.

This is what grounded him and what he had been missing. It was where he could brew, blend, crush, and mix, and all the messiness in his head would sort itself out. It was the closest thing he could ever get to meditation, and gods, did he need it.

As Apollo measured and concocted, he thought through all of his tangle of emotions and got them to realign.

He might hate everything that had happened to him in the past week, but he also got Lachlan in his arms, and that counted for something.

He had to make sure that his enemies would never be able to get to Lachlan.

Want pretty mate , the dragon grumbled.

"Shut up. I know, okay? " Apollo murmured.

"Know what?" Killian asked behind him, making him jump.

"Don't sneak up on me when I'm making explosives!" Apollo hissed, and Killian raised his hands in surrender.

"I put warding spells on the room, so if anything is going to blow up, it will be you," Valentine chimed in, coming around the other side of Killian.

Apollo rubbed at his nose. "Really helpful. Thanks, Val. What do you two want?"

"You're mating," Killian stated and folded his arms. "I need to know if you're going to grow into a big scaley killing machine in the middle of Paris or not."

Apollo put down the beaker he was holding so he didn't drop it. "I am not mating. I mean, I would know, wouldn't I? There's got to be some kind of ritual or something to seal the deal?"

"I want to know this too," Valentine said, pushing the toilet lid down and sitting on top. "Lachie has been acting ultra-protective and weird ever since he rescued Apollo. He watches him all the time. Kill, it's creepy."

"It is not creepy," Apollo huffed. "He's just worried, and with good reason."

"He was a moon-eyed git before, but it's even worse now," Valentine added unhelpfully.

Killian's green eyes were shining with amusement. "Ah, young love."

"If you two have nothing helpful to say, go away and stop bothering me," Apollo said.

"You need to tell Lachie," Killian replied. "That's what is going to help the most."

"I doubt that."

Valentine looked thoughtful. "You know what would help? If you could turn into a dragon. Maybe work on that instead of fucking Lachlan whenever he's nearby."

"Doesn't work like that," Killian said with a shake of his head. "It's emotion, not intent. He can wish for wings as much as he wants, and nothing will happen. Something has to force the dragon to want to pull free."

Apollo glared at his brother. "If you want to be a dragon, why don't you work on it too? You have the same blood as me."

"Do you really think someone like me should also be able to turn into a dragon?" Valentine said. His tone was arrogant, but his eyes were worried. Apollo thought he had stopped worrying about going dark or crazy years ago, but clearly, he was back in that place again. Fuck. Just what they needed.

"I will talk to Lachlan after we go home. There is too much heightened emotion going on now to throw in a 'Hey, you're my fated mate, which means you're stuck with me forever whether you like it or not. Isn't that great?'" Apollo said with a thumbs up.

Killian deadpanned. "Wow, the romance in that delivery has made me weak at the knees."

"It would probably work on Lachie. Apollo could literally say anything, and he would think it was the best thing ever," Bron said, her arm going around Killian's waist. He put an arm around her shoulders and looked down on her with so much love and affection that Apollo felt it like a kick in the guts. He wanted that and hated that he did.

"The bond is already there, Apollo, whether you like it or not. You can practically see it when you're in the same room," Killian told him. "He deserves to know what's happening to him, and he's my brother. So you have until after this raid to tell him, or I will do it for you."

Apollo snarled low and threatening. Fangs dropped in his mouth, and claws shot out of his fingertips.

Killian only laughed. "I'm not scared of your claws, little dragon. Get it together before you embarrass yourself."

Apollo could feel the dragon stretching under his skin, wanting to fight. He could taste blood and magic in his mouth, and… The door to the suites opened, and he heard Lachlan's laughter. The claws and fangs and rage sucked back inside of himself like a switch had been flipped.

"What are you all doing in here?" Lachlan said.

Killian gave Apollo a warning look before backing out of the bathroom. "Oh, nothing much. Just seeing what Apollo is making that goes bang."

Apollo quickly turned back to the now bubbling beaker, his cheeks red with anger and embarrassment. Lachlan placed a Coke with ice down beside him, and his heart jerked dangerously.

"Try not to singe your eyebrows off," Lachlan teased.

"I'd still look pretty," Apollo said, trying to smile.

"Oh, I know. I just know how vain you are. Let me know if you need any help. I can hold things or something."

Apollo did laugh then. "I think it's better to stick to what you're good at, Ironwood."

"And what's that?" Lachlan asked, his blue eyes drifting over him with longing and possessiveness that made his blood heat and lips ache.

Apollo swallowed hard. "Heavy lifting and looking pretty. Now, get out and let me get this done. You're distracting me."

"Can't have that." Lachlan kissed him on the cheek and headed back out of the bathroom. It wasn't until he was gone that Apollo released a shaky breath and rested a hand on his chest.

Were they really already mating? He didn't feel any different, except he couldn't discount the fact his dragon had just been getting out of control, and it only took Lachlan's presence to calm him and to have his fangs and claws slide straight back inside of him.

"Oh, no. He's trained my dragon like he's Hiccup." Apollo stared at his reflection in the mirror as his curious expression turned to horror. "Oh my god, I'm fucking Toothless."

That night, they pulled up the plans of the Chateau that Layla had spent the day collecting. She looked even more wired than she had the day before.

"Have you slept at all?" Bron asked, frowning at her sister.

"Yeah, a bit, but you know what it's like when I'm on a roll," Layla said, rocking from side to side in her chair. "I sent Arne to Alruna's to get him out of my hair. He's complaining I'm working too much."

"You have to be careful that he doesn't tear up the internet connection," Tor said with a wide smile. "If you ignore your health too much, he'll do it to make you rest."

"He wouldn't!" Layla replied, and then she stopped rocking. "Shit, he actually would."

Apollo had been dragged out of the bathroom for food and a planning session, and he wasn't particularly happy about it. He was too in his head about maybe mating with Lachlan, and he was worried his mouth would run off and start blabbing it to the world.

Lachlan had enough to deal with. It wouldn't be fair to tell him that they were also possibly mating. It would just confuse him, and that would be dangerous when going into a fight.

Apollo watched him from the corner of his eye.

He had an arm slung over the back of the couch, totally relaxed, as he discussed the best ways to attack the Chateau.

Apollo realized that this was Lachlan's version of a lab.

It was his area of expertise, and there was no one better for Apollo to have at his side for it.

Some of his anxiety loosened, and he leaned into Lachlan's side. The arm on the back of the couch shifted, and his fingers threaded through Apollo's hair and rested on the base of his neck. The touch was all he needed to be able to think clearly and feel more grounded in his body.

"I think the best way will be for Killian to come in from the road leading to the main house.

It looks to be the heaviest guarded section, and if he makes a big enough show of it with some of Apollo's explosives, it will draw the bulk of the security away from that section there.

It looks like the best place to be keeping prisoners," Lachlan said and pointed out to the southeast of the property.

"Thoughts, Valentine? You know the history of this place the best."

"It was a private retreat, but Catherine was still a queen.

There would have been cells for holding prisoners.

That area you're pointing to is where the wine cellars would have been, and maybe any underground cells too.

Everything depends on how much the Sanguis Vitae have created from old plans," Valentine replied, scratching his dark stubble.

"I don't know about any escape tunnels either, but I wouldn't rule it out. "

"We will have to go carefully and check. We don't need someone coming up behind us," Ciara said, her eyes studying the plans on the TV screen. "Any thoughts on magical defenses?"

"Kovacs seemed like a scary enough fucker to have something," Apollo replied. "He was the one who created that fucked up suicide spell. If he is there, he is the one we will have to be careful of."

"Any thoughts on personal wards? We all have something supernatural about us, except for Lachie," Bron asked, looking at Valentine. "Can you make him something?"

"I'm making you all something. They are only talismans and will only work so far. If you get cut and they get any of your blood, you'll be fucked. That is if they are as proficient as they seem."

"I've hunted magical creatures before. I'm not an idiot, but I appreciate the help, Val," Lachlan replied.

Tor made a grumbling sound. "What about the building in the city? We need to hit them both at once."

"Don't worry about it. I'm going to take care of it.

And before you get all judgy, it's going to be controlled.

The buildings on either side aren't going to be affected.

All regular employees working on the public cosmetics side leave at 5 p.m. every day.

Anyone left there afterward will be Sanguis Vitae," Valentine replied, a dark little smile dancing on his lips.

"I'm going hit it as Killian attacks the front of the Chateau.

I just got feedback on my portal spell, so I'll be able to step straight through it to Apollo, who will be on the lookout a safe distance away.

Then, I can help with the Chateau attack.

I'll be gone before they realize I was there. "

Apollo didn't like being the one to sit back and watch the action, but he was shouted down.

Either he would keep watch and coordinate things with Layla remotely, or he would be shipped back to England.

He wasn't a front-line sort of fighter, and he knew it.

It would be stupid of him to push the matter, even if his dragon was frustrated as hell by it.

"Caelan got back to you fast. How is that possible from Faerie?" Apollo asked.

"They taught me a type of fire messaging. It's practically instant. Very cool spell," Valentine replied.

"Caelan is a master at all kinds of things," Killian added, something like mischief dancing in his eyes. "I'm glad you two are talking. You have a lot in common."

"It's weird seeing Valentine like anyone," Apollo said. He wasn't being a smartass, either.

Of all the Greatdrakes boys, Valentine had the hardest time making any friends, even when they were children. He was too high functioning even for magicians.

Cosimo had always worried that it would be the isolation and loneliness that would do Valentine in, which was why being folded into such a large family of ancient fae had been good for him.

Valentine finally had access to people who could speak his language.

Apollo didn't know who this Caelan person was, but if Killian and Taranis trusted them, it was enough for him.

Valentine shifted awkwardly in his seat. "Well, they aren't an idiot. I like it." This was about the highest praise Valentine gave to anyone.

"If we pull this off, I'll send them presents to say thanks," Apollo replied.

Valentine nodded. "If we pull this off, I'll consider delivering them myself."

The conversation switched to how they could get prisoners from France to Kian's castle in England, and Apollo snuggled further into Lachlan's side, settling in and letting his strength and warmth wash over him while he could.