hadn’t returned, threatening to rip off his wings or burn down her house. That was a bonus.
But she had deliberately avoided any interest in his services.
The last thing she wanted was a love connection.
“Not that I doubt your talents, but shouldn’t a love expert have a mate of his own?” she instead demanded.
He gave a flick of his tail. “Alas, I am a gargoyle who is meant to fly free.”
She rolled her eyes. “Convenient.”
“But we are not discussing moi,” he continued. “I am concerned about you, ma belle.”
“I assure you there is no need.” With firm steps, Tayla crossed the kitchen, efficiently loading the dishwasher with the dirty pans. “I’m very happy with my life.”
“Non.” The gargoyle waddled to stand at her side. “You are content, but there is no happiness in those beautiful eyes.”
She stilled, battling back the memories of blistering hot passion and an overwhelming need that she’d worked so hard to lock away.
“Please, Levet,” she breathed.
“Were you hurt in the past?” the demon pressed. “Did a foolish male dare to break your heart?”
She shivered. “I would never be stupid enough to give my heart to anyone.”
A knowing smile touched Levet’s mouth. “Ah.”
Enough. Tayla slammed shut the dishwasher before turning to head out of the kitchen. Maybe a long walk would banish the sensation that a dark storm was looming on the horizon.
“Save your magic for the women who hope for a true mate,” she warned the gargoyle. “I can promise that I’m not interested.”
“We shall see,” Levet called from behind her.
###
Baine decided that being an ancient dragon had its benefits.
He had a ruthless power that terrified anyone foolish enough to cross his path. He could travel between worlds and was treated as a god by millions of demons. He had a hidden lair filled with his priceless hoard. And endless minions who devoted their lives to ensuring his comfort.
He was also a shape-shifter. Which meant that he could transform—from his ten-foot dragon with narrow, leathery wings and a long snout that breathed fire when he was annoyed, to any creature he wanted.
At the moment, he’d chosen a human form with a narrow face that had sculpted features and almond-shaped eyes that glowed in the firelight like the finest amber. His hair was as black as midnight and fell as smooth as satin to brush his shoulders.
As was his habit, he was wearing a pair of loose dojo pants that revealed his pale skin that was covered in tattoos. Not the usual tattoos. These strange symbols held a metallic shimmer as they crawled over his body, changing colors with a dizzying speed.
Few people realized that the symbols held the precious information he’d acquired over the endless years.
Like a portable library.
He was a dragon who understood that wealth didn’t only come in gold and silver. The greatest treasure was knowledge.
Of course, he didn’t ever say no to gold or silver…
Sprawled in the gilded throne that was situated on a raised dais, he gazed down the long room with ivory walls that were inset with arched mirrors. Overhead, the coved ceiling displayed a mural of Aladdin and his lamp that seemed to dance with life in the light from the exquisite Venetian chandelier, while the floor was glossed to a brilliant sheen that emphasized the inlaid ebony.
A beautiful room that was ruined by the sight of the troll with its grotesque features and large tusks protruding from his lower jaw.
He hated dealing with trolls. Who didn’t? It was bad enough they were painfully stupid, but to add insult to injury, they left a stench behind that took days to scrub out of the rugs. They did, however, pay their debts.
If not always in the way Baine desired.
Wrinkling his slender nose, Baine watched as the nasty creature waved his hand toward the half-dressed females who lingered next to the arched gold-and-ivory door.
“Pretty ladies,” the troll rasped. “Much, much pleasure.”
“The debt wasn’t for females,” Baine said, lifting his slender hand to allow flames to dance over his fingers.
Trolls, like most demons, could be killed by dragon-fire.
The idiot looked confused.
“Pretty men? Me can do—”
“Gold, you moron,” he interrupted the ridiculous offer. As if a dragon would need the help of a troll to find sexual partners.
Even now, the women were eyeing him with an open longing that had nothing to do with their position as concubines, and everything to do with the feral sensuality that smoldered in his amber eyes.
“The agreement of the loan was that you repay me in gold.”
The pasty face