Page 39 of Visions of You

Jaron returned to the kitchen, the deep blue scarf clutched in his hands.

He hesitated before handing it over to Malkira, his dragon instincts screaming at him not to let anyone else touch his hoard. But this was Malkira, the woman who had taken him in and treated him like a son. She had made the scarf herself, and surely she wouldn't steal it from him now.

Malkira took the scarf from him gently, her fingers running over the fabric with a thoughtful expression. She held it up to the light, examining it closely before nodding to herself.

"Jaron," she said, her voice soft. "Did I ever tell you that I put a protective spell on this scarf before I gave it to you?"

Jaron blinked, surprised. "No, you didn't."

Malkira smiled. "I wanted to make sure you were always safe, even when I couldn't be there to protect you myself." She handed the scarf back to him. "The spell is still active, and it's a powerful one."

Jaron held the scarf close to his chest. He imagined that he could feel the magic thrumming through it now that he knew it was there, a warm and comforting presence.

"I think you should give this to your mate," Malkira said. "It will help keep him safe from whatever he saw in his vision."

Jaron's heart skipped a beat at that idea. "You think so?"

Malkira nodded. "I do. The spell is strong, and it's tied to you. If you give it to someone you love, it will protect them as well."

Jaron looked down at the scarf. Dragons didn't usually give away their treasures, but he'd already given Keegan a piece of his yarn, and that had been surprisingly easy.

When he gave something to Keegan, it didn't feel like he was giving something away. Mated or not, his dragon had alreadyclaimed the vampire. Keegan was his, and what was Keegan's was also his, and everything that was Jaron's was Keegan's.

Like this scarf.

If it could help keep his mate safe, he'd give it up without any hesitation at all.

To think that there'd been a protection spell on it all this time…

"Thank you, Malkira," he said, his voice thick. "For everything."

Jaron hugged Malkira tightly, the scarf still clutched in his hand. He was so lucky to have her in his life, and he wasn't too proud to admit it. She always seemed to know just what to say or do to make him feel better.

"Now, now. You don't have to thank me. Why don't you head upstairs and get ready for work? Don't you have that new case you need to work on?"

She was right, of course.

Keegan had given them a list of people the kidnappers might go after next, and Apollo was putting his team on guard duty in shifts. Jaron's would start in just an hour.

He couldn't be late.

Perched on a bench across the street from a popular café, Jaron and Ianair presented the picture of nonchalance. The women they watched laughed over their lunch, utterly unaware of their presence.

"Look at them, completely clueless that they've got their own personal dragon guard," Jaron mused, stretching his legs out in front of him.

Ianair grinned. "They should feel honored. Not everyone gets this kind of VIP treatment."

Jaron snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure the brunette would be thrilled to know she's potentially being targeted by a kidnapper."

Ianair shrugged. "At least it means she's got a fated mate out there somewhere. Isn't that what your vampire said?"

Your vampire.

A warm flush spread through Jaron.

He'd never imagined he'd feel so happy about claiming a vampire like that.

"You listening?" Ianair asked.