Page 71 of Winterfall Destiny

"Soda water," she replies.

"With."

"Ice." Maeve fixes her eyes on his.

Callum blinks at her and then chuckles as he pours a clear liquid into a tumbler glass for himself. Then he shakes his head and slices Maeve a look. "And that is why we register witches who come into my casino. Did you see anything interesting in my mind?"

"Not really," says Maeve casually, "Although I believe you're involved in witch business."

"Oh?" Callum pours a second drink, clear liquid, as if presuming Ethan or Ash might want one. "Why's that?"

"Because there's residual energy in this room from a recent witch presence," she says simply.

"And I told you, we register all witches."

"They all receive an invitation to your inner sanctum?" I reply. "Unlikely."

Callum sits at his desk again and gestures at the sofas. Maeve sits facing the two security guards either side of the door, as do I.

"I don't need to ask your name," he says. "I was merely curious whether you'd tell me, Maeve Winterfall."

She maintains her weird detachment from the situation. "Does that mean I do or do not get the drink you offered?"

Ethan looks on, mouth tipped upwards as he watches. This guy rarely smiles, so I can't figure out why. Shouldn't he be annoyed Maeve's taking control of his situation? Because one thing I've learned about all the hybrids is they always need control, as if giving away even a sliver could weaken them.

Lasting side effects from life at Ravenhold?

"Sweetheart, I am nothing but a gentleman." Callum rises and turns away to make a drink, pulling a bottle from a small silver bar fridge inside. "I am safe to turn my back on you all, I hope?"

"You've two men of your own in this room," I say.

He turns, a tumbler of ice and water in his hand, which he places on the low glass table in front of Maeve. "By all accounts, that wouldn't stop you and Ethan."

Maeve doesn't thank him, instead glaring at one of the security guards who doesn't react.

"Are you aware who Maeve is?" I ask.

"Only that I'm to look out for her and any companions she may have in my vicinity." He knocks back his own drink in one gulp. "Especially you, Ashley Worthington."

"Look out for her on whose behalf?" I ask sharply. "Gabriella?"

"My own. I heard you cause trouble." He nods at me. "I've also heard the up-and-coming alpha screws a particularly popular witch. I see the attraction now."

Air hisses through my teeth, but I don't rise to his taunting. Oddly, neither does Maeve, who looks unwaveringly at the short security guy who studied her closely before.

"Maeve is my partner," I say stiffly.

"You're mating with a witch." He curls his lip. "Half-breed dragons?"

Still nothing from Maeve as I scoff at his presumption. Ethan remains quiet too, as if he's merely a mediator, and focuses on Maeve.

The security guy leans over to whisper something to his partner, whose eyes widen, before following the first now rushing through the door, his security pass falling to the ground. Callum stands. "What the fuck?"

Taking a long breath, Maeve turns to Callum. "I'm not planning children now or in the future. Not that my family plans are your business."

Callum ignores her and grabs his phone, dialling, then dropping it onto his desk after a minute, pissed when nobody answers. "Why the hell did they leave? What's happening?" The dragon twists his laptop to face him, and I catch a screen of square images from numerous security cameras. "Have you brought someone with you? What are they doing to my casino?"

As Callum studies his screen, face reddening, Ethan wanders to the door and casually pockets the security card before standing in front of the exit.

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