Page 15 of The Fox and the Dragon

“Magic comes at a cost and I’m assuming your life was going to be payment it’s how dark magic works.” Saphir tried to be careful with his words, but he wasn’t going to lie to them.

"This is so fucked up, but you make me feel so safe, Saphir." He mumbled.

“But you’re not safe Ashton and you won’t be until that family is dealt with.” Will stated his tone dripping with both anger and fear.

“They will be dealt with.” Saphir said and reached out and patted Will on the upper arm. “No one will hurt him you have my promise on that.”

"I don't understand how Mr. Palmer would get messed up in this. All magic is expressly forbidden in the fox culture. It's our most important law. The punishment for using magic is banishment, complete and total exile, and they have to leave with nothing. He and his family will be ruined.” Ashton enlightened him on some of the fox laws.

"It's addictive, and no one believes they will ever be caught. They see themselves as too clever." Saphir told him.

"This is so terrible." Will expressed his feelings on the subject and then laid down and closed his eyes, clearly still weak from the effects of the poison. Saphir motioned toward the door, and he led Ashton out into the living room.

"I'm going with Roan to investigate these reports and deal with those responsible. I may be gone for a while, but please feel free to go to my quarters and relax or read or grab a bite to eat. Treat it like your own home because it is. When I get back, we'll meet with my brother, King Bazil, and introduce you. We have an exciting life ahead of us." He bent and kissed him hard. Saphir wanted to impress him with the ardor that he was feeling and the love that was catching fire in his heart.

“Be careful Saphir they may be just foxes, but Mr. Palmer is shifty just like Will said. He cheats and he’s underhanded he and his family are high in the social status of our troop but only because he is wealthy and controls a good share of the business in our area. Don’t trust anything he says or does.” Ashton held him and spoke with determination.

“I will be careful don’t worry and when I return I’m claiming you and placing my mark upon you, so everyone knows who you belong to. He placed his hand on Ashton’s chest signaling, where he planned to place the mark.

"I'll be waiting." With that, Saphir left and met up with Roan, who was waiting for him.

Ashton went back to the apartment Will was occupying and sat down with a cup of coffee to sort through all the information he'd been given. It was overwhelming, to say theleast, and was going to take him a minute to process. He had so many questions and so much confusion over it all.

Will was still asleep, so Ashton decided to talk with him later. He might be able to give him some perspective. The fact Mr. Palmer, a man he never really liked and never trusted, would want him dead really hit him hard. The marriage never seemed that important to him and never seemed that important to anyone in that family until he called it off.

He wished he’d never met Ally Palmer she came into his life and twisted it all up and now he was stuck trying to set things back to right. He glanced at his phone and to his shock and delight there was a message from Harley. It was exactly what he needed right now.

He opened the message and saw that Harley had read all his messages and accepted his apologies. They texted back and forth for a few minutes and then agreed to get together when Harley returned home from his honeymoon. Ashton hadn't shared that he, too, had found his mate. He'd save that for when they met in person.

He sat and drank his coffee, and although things were a little crazy, he also had good things happen to him. Will was recovering, Harley forgave him, and that god of a dragon shifter, Saphir, wanted to bond with him. Life was not all bad.

“Ashton, bring me some coffee, please. I can smell it, and it smells wonderful.” Ashton chuckled and poured a cup and headed into the bedroom. Will sat up and Ashton arranged the pillows behind him and made sure he was comfortable before taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

Will took a long sip and smiled. “That is wonderful.” He said and then took another sip. “I’m feeling quite good actually.Whatever that poison was it seems to finally be out of my system.”

“The doctor said it was some high-powered pesticide.”

"The Palmers would have access to pesticides," Will said and then added. "They own several farms."

“I have to admit that was hard to hear but I trust the dragons to do their research so if they say it was John Palmer then I believe them.” Ashton also trusted his mate completely.

"It's hard to think of you as the dragon's mate, but it was obvious that Saphir adores you, brother," Will spoke up with a teasing glint in his eye.

“That’s good because I adore him too.” Ashton returned with a quick smile. “I’m so glad I got out of that situation with Ally and had the opportunity to meet Saphir.”

"Never settle for anyone other than your true mate; nothing compares to that love and that perfect lifetime connection." Will was driving home once again with the warning that he'd given him before. It was the warning that had helped him make the right choice.

“Did you ever suspect that family of being involved with magics?” Will asked and took another long sip of his coffee.

"Never the man was an unscrupulous cheat, but I would have never thought he'd stoop to dark magic." He said, then rethought it and added, "I was curious as to why Mr. Palmer received absolute obedience from every member of his family. No one ever questioned him, and there was never discussion, only statements and orders. It was a sort of control that seemed stiff and out of place."

"That is odd, but it makes sense now."

"Ally said it was easier just to let him have his way, and she didn't like drama."

"A non-explanation is what she gave you, and that girl loved drama. It was her life's blood."

"I agree," Ashton told him. "He tried to boss me around, but I just nodded and kept going, not giving him too much attention or deference. I was able to, I thought, ride the fence between obedience and going my own way. I'm so glad I'm out of there."

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