Page 16 of Destiny of the Dragons

Cross stomped into the room. “Take it. But you will pay me, or there will be consequences.”

Mia wanted to tell him where he could shove his consequences, but decided to get her griffin first. She went into the back and opened the cage.

The griffin flapped up and circled the ceiling twice, before diving bombing into the front room.

Cross shouted.

Mia ran into the room and spotted Cross crouched behind the counter, blood running down his arm as he warded the mini griffin off.

Smoke came through the front door. He scanned the room, and seemed to realize she wasn’t being murdered.

Mia ducked out of the door. “Come on, sweetheart.”

The mini griffin did one last dive bomb at Cross, and then flew out the door.

She landed on Mia’s shoulder, her tiny talons and claws digging into her skin, but not enough to draw blood.

Smoke stepped closer, looking over his shoulder.

Mia’s heartbeat slowed down the further away they walked. “I don’t think he’s going to come out.”

The mini griffin was still grumbling and chattering. Mia rubbed her tiny head, making soothing noises. People gave them a passing glance, but a dragon and a witch with a mini griffin was hardly the strangest thing in the Troll Market.

Mia let out a sigh. Smoke was still tense, so she brushed his arm with her hand. “We’re okay.”

“Men like him are unpredictable.”

“Yes.” Mia bit her lip. She would have to figure out a way to come up with the money now.

It was nice, walking next to Smoke. She scanned the crowd for hostile faces, but she had backup for once in her life. Charlotte would be there for her, but it was a double-edged sword bringing her sister into anything. If Mia failed and got into trouble, she would bring her sister down with her.

Smoke was more than capable of taking care of himself, and it was nice not to have to shove past people.

She didn’t want to admit it, but the brooding was hot. He was dangerous.

Jace asked her on a date with both of them. She tried to picture what a date with two guys would look like but she just came up with silly scenarios of them fighting over who would open the door.

Smoke glanced at her. “What?”

Mia swallowed hard. “I was wondering how, um, a date with two guys would work.”

Smoke blinked. “Oh.”

Silence stretched out between them. Mia looked ahead, focusing on the lanterns dotting the awnings, currently a vibrant blue color. Maybe she wasn’t supposed to ask. Maybe when they said date, they just meant the meal that happens before sex, not something more emotional.

“Jace is better. Explaining these things,” Smoke said gruffly. “It’s whatever you want.”

“Alright,” Mia replied. Her tone was clipped, but she didn’t try to soften it. She told him before she didn’t mind blunt. Dating both of them wouldn’t work if he didn’t try to talk to her. If they just wanted sex, they should have just said so.

They reached the café. Jace stood up, smiling. It lit up his entire face, and made him look younger, less calculating. Gone was the playboy smirk, and in its place was real joy.

“You got your griffin!” Jace pulled her in for a quick hug before stepping back.

Her familiar resettled on her shoulder, giving Jace the side eye.

“I still have to figure out the details, but that’s a problem for later.” Mia sat down, even though she wasn’t hungry anymore.

Her familiar stretched her neck out, sniffing her food. Mia grabbed one of the smaller plates her chai was sitting on, and spooned some of the chicken tikka masala onto it. “I don’t think you’re going to like it, but here you go.”

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