Page 38 of Here Be Dragons

“Leave, Emmett.”

“Does she even know? Or are you just planning on springing it on her?”

“Know what?” I looked up into Desmon’s angry but still very handsome face.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he growled and kept trying to hide me away. But now I wanted answers, and if he wouldn’t give them to me, I was going to ask someone who would. I shoved out of his arms and spun on his brother.

“What are you talking about?” I demanded

Emmett was trying his best to look relaxed, but it was mostly a show. He was in a defensive position. He might also be a dragon, but he was wary of Desmon.

“Tell me, beautiful, has he shown you his hoard yet? Or has it just been wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am?

A little wisp of smoke curled from Desmon’s nostrils. My face heated up, and I looked around wildly, but no one was paying us any attention despite the scene we were making. In fact, none of the museum-goers had even stepped into the room. It was like this room didn’t exist. One of them must’ve cast a look-away spell or something. Magic sure came in handy.

“We haven’t actually done that yet.” My god! Why was my face heating up like this? I was a grown-ass adult, for fuck’s sake. I shouldn’t get embarrassed talking about sex, or the lack thereof, even if said sex was supposedly between me and my boss. Technically, he’d gone down on me, but I didn’t consider that wham-bam-anything.

Emmett’s grin turned downright predatory. “Interesting. If he hasn’t claimed you yet, that makes you fair game. Unlike Desmon, I’ve always wanted a mate.”

He took a step toward me, and I scurried back into Desmon’s arms, suddenly realizing I was much safer there.

“Touch. Her. And. Die.”

Goosebumps ran up my arms at Desmon’s ruthless, growled words. I sure hoped this look-away spell was strong enough to hide me climbing Desmon like a tree because that was exactly what was going to happen right after this. I had no idea I got so turned on by displays of possessiveness, but hot damn!

Emmett took a step back, putting several priceless artifacts between them. “She’ll be mine anyway once you lose this competition.” He chuckled like this was just another amusing conversation.

Then he turned and disappeared into the hall.

Chapter 20

Desmon

I counted to tento stop myself from chasing after my asshole of a brother. I knew he’d only done what he had to rile me up and get a reaction. He didn’t really want me to lose. I’d spent my morning looking into what he’d been up to these past few decades. He had, in fact, made a bet on me. A large one. He definitely needed me to win.

The bet had been made just a few years ago, after The Wall fell and Darlington was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Usually,once the initial bets were made, they were locked in forever. But the fall of The Wall had been such a great disturbance in the order of things that those with a stake in the competition had demanded an exception. And since, at the time, Gillisandra and I had been tied at two artifacts each, the Gamemaster had allowed it.

But the sudden explosion of Darlington from small town to world-class city, had ended up hiding a lot of my dealings from Gillisandra. It had been contacts made during that first year of opening Darlington up to the world that had secured the third piece of artifact, putting me ahead in the competition.

Emmett had seen what the fall of The Wall represented. Suddenly, I wondered if he’d somehow had a hand in it, or in Darlington’s sudden rise to fame, considering what he was poised to win if I succeeded. I doubted he was truly interested in a human female.

But then, considering the illogical way I’d been reacting to Carly, I couldn’t be sure. What if my brother felt the same crazy pull that I did?

I looked down at the delightful female in my arms. Soft hazel eyes looked up at me, so full of unquenchable curiosity. But there was more there today; piercing through that need for knowledge was an undeniable desire. For me.

Emmett was right. Why hadn’t I claimed her yet?

That was going to change right now.

I bent to lift her into my arms. She let out a squeal and threw her arms around me.

“Hold on tight, My Treasure,” I whispered.

Then I stomped out into the hallway. No one paid us any heed as I hurried toward the large set of double doors at the end of the hall. I still had the look-away spell running. Once outside, I leaped into the air, my wings unfurling.

Instead of shifting into my full dragon form, I stayed mostly human, holding Carly close. My wings tore through my shirt, but that was to be expected. I sacrificed a shirt every time I shifted with clothes on. It just wasn’t worth it to get my tops enchanted like my pants, except for a few favorite silk ones.

Carly inhaled sharply and then wrapped her arms and legs around me. She’d flown with me before, but I had been in my dragon form.

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