Page 32 of Mochas and Minotaurs

But if it bothered Marcus, it didn’t show. “He’s right, though. Her loyalty and body can be bought for a price. That was all I ever was, a job.”

“Elise is just a pawn. If the dragon knew you were here, you’d already be gone,” Seth said.

“You don’t think she told the dragon?” I asked, noticing that Seth also did not have a name for this dragon.

“She could have, or she could be waiting for more solid proof, which is more likely. She fucked up once already by losing sight of her charge. If she sent him to the wrong minotaur by accident, it would be her funeral. But then again, maybe she’s already told him, but he’s waiting to make his move because of Arcane Development.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “Why would a dragon care about them? Aren’t they above mundane shit like that?”

“Yes and no. Arcane Development is… different. They are a wizard coven masquerading as a company. And they usually don’t go after a piece of land unless they believe it’s special.”

I looked around my home. “So you think this place is hiding some unknown magic?”

Seth shrugged. “Hell if I know. I’m under the impression that sometimes it’s a false lead, so they build and make a profit. Developing the land funds their other projects. It could be nothing. They are less my concern compared to the dragon.”

He leveled a look at Marcus. “Gigi is hiding you from something powerful, something dangerous. She’s putting her neck out for you. Gigi is a friend. You can’t expect me to stand idly by while you put my friend in danger.”

“I offered to help,” I said. “He’s not putting me in danger.”

“Just because it was your idea doesn’t mean you’re not in danger. Desmon has his hands tied. This extends to me and anyone who works for him. We can’t help. It would give away the fact that Desmon had known about you this whole time andhid you knowingly. Officially, I came with the EA.” He waved his hand, and he was back in his uniform.

“I understand,” Marcus said solemnly.

“Good. Then my job here is done. And while I can’t help you with the dragon, Icanhelp you with Arcane. You two get some sleep. I’ll get those windows boarded up.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Marcus said. “We can—”

“It’s literally just a wiggle of my fingers. You can call someone to clean it up for good in the morning.”

For a wizard like Seth, it really was just a wiggle of his fingers. If only I had seemingly limitless magic like that.

I showed Seth out the door, and when I returned, I found Marcus with his face in his hands.

“We never expected help from Desmon to begin with. No big loss,” I said. “And plus, if Elise hasn’t told the dragon yet, I can still fuck with her memory.”

“You can?”

“Yeah.” I went to my bookshelf and picked up a large tome from the bottom shelf. “I don’t do it often, and I’m out of practice. But I can study up.” I opened the book to the right chapter and placed it on the dining room table.

“Not tonight you don’t, Kitten. You heard the wizard. We need sleep. We’re useless if we’re exhausted.”

“I’ll do it tomorrow. But can you stay?” I reached for his arm. “I don’t want to be alone right now.”

That was the truth, though I also didn’t want Marcus to be alone either. Not after Seth’s spiel about him putting me in danger. I didn’t want him to think he needed to do this alone, because he didn’t. We were a team now, had been since I stepped into his gym and saw him there staring at me like he’d seen a ghost.

His gaze softened. “I’ll stay. But if this becomes a habit, you’re going to need a bigger bed.”

I grinned. “I can make that happen.”

I let him gather me into his arms and usher me into the bedroom. As he helped me out of my robe, his bulky frame almost knocked over the wire mannequin where I displayed all my favorite silk scarves and crystal brooches, reminding me just how full my home was already with all my treasures. There really wasn’t room for a bigger bed.

But that was a problem for another day because the moment my head hit the pillow and Marcus nestled me neatly into the curve of his body, sleep came to claim me, and I fell asleep to the strong and rhythmic sound of his heart.

Chapter 16

Marcus

I couldn’t believe I’djust met Desmon’s personal wizard, and he knew Gigi. Seth wasn’t anything like I’d imagined a wizard to be, and most definitely not like the ones I’d seen on the news. But I guess if he worked for Desmon, he could dress pretty much any way he wanted.

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