Serah’s mates were still laughing when they landed at a nearby cave and went inside. It was high enough that wingless predators couldn’t reach them yet wedged in a narrow crevice; hopefully the Fae wouldn’t see them from their winged chariots.
“Perfect, Draque,” Teju said as they explored the large cavern in dragon form.
She bopped one of Draque’s scales, not that it hurt him. “What if the Fae come after us?”
Ladon sat on his haunches and tucked back his wings. “They’re not coming after us.”
“Fae carry grudges,” she reminded them.
Craning his neck, Draque lifted her off his back. “So do dragons.”
Planting hands on hips, she said, “Their queen can turn you into a toad.”
“Abuse of the scepter is forbidden,” Teju said matter-of-factly.
She threw up her hands. “Who’s stopping her?”
“She signed a blood oath when she took the throne.”
Serah had no idea what the blood oath said or how binding it was, and any oath could be broken. Though she suffered extreme agony, Violet had broken a blood oath to save Thaddeus.
“Relax, Serah.” Draque snorted. “Fae are cowards.”
“Besides,” Ladon added, “Queen Rhia wasn’t among them. She’s meeting with Goblingout and our fathers. Even we know better than to piss on her.”
“They won’t get past my sentry.” Teju walked to the mouth of the cave and blew out a puff of billowy smoke. He then shifted into human form and waved a wand at the smoke until it morphed into a golden dragon. The dragon looked real as smoke continued to pour from its snout.
Teju turned to her with a wink and then aimed his wand at the center of a cavern. A tiny bubble sprang from his wand and grew as it floated away. By the time it reached the center of the cavern, it was as large as a chariot.
He bowed to her. “Your palace awaits.”
Oh, Thelix shrieked, a fuck palace!
Draque and Ladon shifted into humans and tugged her toward the bubble.
“You’re too sure of yourselves,” she grumbled.
Draque gave her a stern look. “And you’re not sure enough of us.”
Teju jumped inside. It molded to his backside as he spun around, holding a hand down to her. “Your lack of confidence is insulting.”
I believe in you, Thelix cried.
Shut up, she said to her siren. You just want to get laid.
Draque wrapped an arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck. “Are we going to spend what might be our last night together bickering?”
His warm breath on her ear sent a trill down her spine. He was trying to distract her with sex, and damn him, it was working. She melted into him until the meaning of his words rattled like a gong in her head. “What do you mean our last night?” She turned in his arms, looking up at him. “Do you think my grandfather will destroy us?”
There was glint of worry in his eyes before he covered it with a smile. “No.”
“Then why’d you say that?”
Who cares! Thelix yelled. Just let him fuck us!
“Serah, we’ve been flying two days straight. I’m exhausted.”
What if it was their last night together? Did she want to spend it squabbling with her mates? Pushing negative thoughts out of her mind, she leaned into him, loving his warmth. Her dragon mates were always warm, their human bodies a reminder of the flames they breathed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Thelix groaned when he stroked her hair.
“Shall we go inside?” he whispered.
“Of course.” She took Teju’s hand, and they entered the bubble.
It looked like the others, a Tiki bar on one end with a kitchenette behind it and a round sofa made of crimson velvet in the sunk-in center of the living room. A massive flat screen hogged one wall, and a door beside it led to a private bathroom. It was the perfect love bubble.
“You hungry?” he asked.
“Famished.” She placed a hand on her hollow belly. “But I need a shower first.”
He gave her a shove toward the bathroom. “I’ll have supper ready when you get out.”
“Thanks.” She kissed him on the cheek and quickly shut the door, even though he looked ready to say something else. She stank to high heaven and felt anything but sexy covered in grime with breath as stale as dried seaweed.
Don’t fuck this up for us, Serah, her siren huffed.
Will you chill? We’re getting laid, she said as she turned on the shower and stripped out of her old clothes. I’d rather I didn’t smell like Satan’s sweaty armpit. Can you do me a