vast, primordial magic.
Enough magic to scorch the world.
“Por dios,” Santiago growled, and Nefri instinctively stepped between him and the advancing dragon.
Two alpha males in the same room was always a pain in the neck.
Folding her hands at her waist, Nefri offered a respectful bow. “Baine.”
“Nefri.”
“Thank you for accepting my humble offering.”
The dragon held up his slender fingers to reveal the large diamond that shimmered with a white fire. “You know I can never resist pretty baubles. And I was . . . intrigued.” A hint of a smile curved his lips as he tucked the diamond into the pocket of his loose pants. “You are one of the few demons brave enough to enter the lair of a dragon.”
Santiago shifted to stand at her side, his expression tight as he braced himself against the heavy throb of Baine’s power. It was like the constant beat of a bass drum, pulsing through the air with enough force to make the floor tremble beneath his feet.
“Brave isn’t the word I would use,” the male vampire pointedly chastised.
The scorching gaze turned toward Santiago, and Nefri tensed. For now Baine was enjoying his role as beneficent host, but dragons were rumored to be fickle and vain with a quicksilver temper.
Who knew when he might decide he was no longer amused?
“And you are?” he demanded of Santiago.
“This is—” Nefri cut off her words as Baine gave a sharp wave of his hand.
“I’ll hear it from the male.”
Nefri bit her lip. Naturally, Santiago couldn’t offer a bow, or even lower his eyes as Baine slowly circled his rigid body. Instead he tilted his chin and subtly tightened his grip on his sword.
Stubborn vampire.
“I’m Santiago,” he said, his voice clear and steady.
Baine came to a halt directly in front of him, the amber eyes smoldering with an inner fire. “You don’t fear me?”
“Of course I do.” Santiago shrugged. “I’m not an idiot.”
The dragon’s tattoos continued to swirl over his body in a dazzling display. “You disguise it better than most,” Baine murmured.
“I’ve had a lot of practice.”
“Yes.” Baine sucked in a deep breath, as if savoring their scents. “Such a violent world you live in.”
Santiago took a wise step backward at the hungry edge in the dragon’s voice. “It keeps me on my toes.”
“Mmmm.” The dragon’s smile widened. In anticipation? Difficult to say. “I miss it.”
“The violence?” Santiago asked.
“The violence. The blood.” Baine moved with lightning speed to stand nose to nose with Santiago. “The crunch of vampire bones in my teeth.”
Nefri took a swift step forward, laying a restraining hand on the dragon’s arm. Almost instantly she yanked it back, her fingers tingling with pain from the heat generated by his skin.
Good lord, it was like touching an open flame.
“Baine,” she murmured in urgent tones.
There was a tense beat as the two alphas met stare for stare, then with a throaty chuckle Baine at last turned to meet her concerned gaze.
“I can’t play with your toy?”
“I’ve come to seek your assistance.”
Baine shrugged, thankfully stepping away from the bristling male vampire.
Santiago was one goad away from doing something truly stupid.
“I am always delighted to be of service to a beautiful female, but I no longer interest myself in your world,” Baine informed her.
“It’s actually your knowledge of the past I seek.”
The dragon paused, inwardly debating her request. At the same time Nefri discreetly moved close enough to make it impossible for Santiago to take an impulsive swing of his sword. He might be more annoying than any vampire had a right to be, but she wasn’t going to let him die.
Eventually, Baine gave a languid wave of his hand. “You may continue.”
“I need information on a spirit who can infect a vampire.”
Baine tilted his head, eyeing her with a sudden curiosity. Which, of course, was better than hunger.
Just slightly.
“I’ve never heard of such a spirit.”
“Perhaps a book in your collection . . . ?”
“If the information was available in my library I would know.” He deliberately stroked a finger over the swirling tattoos on his stomach. “Dragons have very long memories.”
Nefri bit her bottom lip. Well that was . . . disappointing. “I see.”
“Tell me more of this spirit.”
She grimaced. Siljar wouldn’t be pleased to know that Nefri had shared the details of the MIA spirit with Santiago, let alone a dragon, but what choice did she have?
The closer they came to locating Gaius, the more she realized they needed information. She wasn’t going to blindly attempt to capture a spirit that terrified the Oracles enough to