Page 115 of Silent Jay

Rehan stopped growling first and took a deep breath. “Fine, we’ll play this game, all of us.”

Tyson snorted. “If we’re not helping Wiggles out tonight, then I’m not staying.”

“I thought you said not until—“ Ogden started.

“I say a lot of things,” Tyson snapped, picking up a game piece and lobbing it at the earth dragon. A faint blush covered his cheeks.

I blinked. What was going on?

“Fine by me.” Rehan smiled broadly. “I’m sure she’ll pick the dragon who only spends time with her to get laid.”

My eyebrow twitched. I’d assumed the trio were friends, but this, being some weird competition, fit so much better with dragon nature. The realization bashed my earlier excitement and replaced it with drive. This was a game—a mental battle of wills and logic. I wasn’t using my fists, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t fighting. My dragon loved all of it and took another step back.

Tyson snarled. “I’m not trying to get laid, and Wiggles knows it.” He snapped his attention to Jay, who snuggled into me like I was a piece of furniture and yawned.

With confidence I didn’t know I possessed, I dropped my cybernetic hand, resting it on Jay’s hip, and gave Tyson a toothy grin. Tonight, this fantastic creature chose me, and I would enjoy every minute of it.

Tyson snarled, smoke curling out of his nose. “Fine, fecking fine, I’ll wipe your asses, and then we’ll toss the priestess out and free more of Wiggles.”

I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at the woman resting her back against my side. I didn’t see anything holding her in place.

“Ixnay on the freeingnay,” Ogden said before smiling brightly. “Girls, you go first!”

My curiosity bubbled like the Cava in my glass, but Sister Abby wouldn’t pry. In addition, Ogden was the only one of the trio who hadn’t growled at me. If anything, he seemed as excited as me to have all four elements in one room.

Jay leaned across the board, giving Rehan a fantastic view of her cleavage, and made our opening move. When she finished, we clinked glasses. She crossed her legs, and her knee rested against mine. My heart raced, and my dick twitched.

This woman was going to be the death of me.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

JAIYANA

Dressed in spandex shorts and a tank top, I jogged around the outside of the temple a little later than I’d intended the following day…. a little slower than I wanted to run…. with my sweat smelling like Cava: the evil, evil liquid now punishing me for my overindulgence the night before.

If I had my magic, I could heal my hangover. But I didn’t, so I got to experience every sluggish thought and pounding in my possibly mortal skull.

I wrinkled my nose. Last night should have ended with a sexy dog pile on me, but once we started playing, the competition heated up, including Sister Abby. Somehow Tyson pulled a victory out of his ass in the final turn, and his very rowdy celebration dance had another priestess knocking on my door and insisting the princes leave so my neighbors could get some sleep.

Never in my life had an evening been so thoroughly derailed. Not only had the guys not once mentioned finding my fourth mate, but I’d completely forgotten to ask Sister Abby to help me escape. Unless I didn’t need to escape. The masculine scent on Sister Abby piqued my curiosity.

We need to ask about it.

That’s going to be so weird – and such a bad idea.

Eh, it’s logic, Jay. You're responding to the scent on her like the others. She might have a brother. Or a lover you can steal away and ruin another friendship.

I didn’t take my brain's bait.

Or it could be her.

Can a female dragon shifter mate mark another?

I’ve no idea, but what’s breaking the curse? The physical acts? In which case, how would a woman penetrate me? Or is it the emotions behind it?

My steps slowed. It hadn’t occurred to me to analyze my emotions. How would I even quantify something so abstract?

It must be our physical acts.

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