Page 29 of Destiny of the Dragons

The frames weren’t labeled for sale. They were tucked away in the corner, forgotten, almost hidden by the moth-eaten curtains.

He wanted them. These frames radiated magic, and he needed them for his collection.

Turning on his heel, he found one of the event coordinators.

“How much for the pictures in the wooden frames?”

The coordinator frowned. A lady in her fifties, she had a no nonsense attitude that kept the massive estate sale moving along.

Mia approached him with Smoke behind her. “Did you find something?”

Jace nodded. “Those pictures. How much?”

“Show me, dear. I don’t remember tagging any wooden frames. Most of the art gallery is worthless.”

Jace led them all back to the corner.

The lady frowned, putting her glasses on. “Mr. Burns, the old man, used to go out and collect paintings at art shows. Most of these are worthless, local artists trying their hand at their craft.”

Jace gestured at the trio of paintings. Mia looked uncertain, but didn’t contradict him. “I like them.”

The old lady shrugged. “Alright, fifty dollars for the lot.”

Jace pulled out his money, not in the mood to haggle. After the lady wrote him a receipt, he had one of the attendants package up his new paintings.

Smoke shot him a look, but waited until they were in the car again to say anything.

“Do you know something we don’t?” Smoke asked.

“Magic.” Jace rubbed his face, his temples pounding. “They felt like magic.”

Smoke gave him a sharp look. “I didn’t detect anything.”

“I could run some tests at my apartment.” Mia reached out but stopped herself from touching him. “Just to see. Sometimes enchantments wear down over time.”

Jace spent the car ride watching Mia’s breath come in and out of her mouth, the rise and fall of her breasts. It had tasted so good, sucking her nipples into his mouth. Watching her take Smoke’s cock into her mouth with her breasts hanging free had almost undone him.

He grew hard again. It was annoying. He was hard and aching but didn’t want to hurt Mia. He was in no condition to touch her; she was already so skittish.

When they got back to her apartment, his stomach turned. Something smelled awful. He frowned. “By the fires, something is rotting.”

Mia looked surprised, and then strangely, guilty. “I took the trash out.”

Jace gagged, and stepped back onto the terrace.

Smoke took a breath in and out. “I don’t smell anything.”

“Mia, I can’t.” Jace waved his hand. “Do your magic. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Mia frowned, and shut the door behind them.

Smoke didn’t ask him what his problem was. Smoke knew. Smoke drove them home, and Jace spent the rest of the night in his lover’s arms, trying to force himself over the final hurdle and get this molting over with.

No matter how many times Smoke made him come, it didn’t happen. Worse, now that he’d felt Mia’s magic with their own, he felt the lack of her.

Smoke didn’t ask him why he didn’t go get Mia and pick up where they left off. Smoke knew less about people than Jace did, and trusted him to know what was best.

Jace hoped he knew what he was doing.

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