Page 33 of Destiny of the Dragons

“Unicorn bloodandred dragon scale?” Mia frowned. “You’re sure?”

“I ran it four times to be sure, until the sample was gone.” The enchanter puffed up with pride. “You can have it double checked, but I’m an honest man. I just want you to remember that, when you publish your find.”

“It’s for a client,” Mia said, her heart beating harder. “But I will make sure he knows it was you.”

“That’s all I ask.” The enchanter grinned. “Let me know if you need anything else run. I dated it as well, no extra charge. It’s his earliest known works.”

Mia nodded, her vision graying out.

His earliest known works.

Mia’s stomach flipped over itself and she walked out of the shop in a daze. She would have gotten hit by a car if Tikka didn’t peck her ear.

Somehow, Jace had known. Jace sensed the residual magic on the ink. Mia wondered if the draconic nature of the ink helped. Jace was clanless, but Marvelouso, the most famous wizard-painter in the world, had preferred ruby dragon scales in his paintings.

Jace had found Marvelouso’s earliest works. Those three paintings in his apartment, filthy, ugly, and dingy, were priceless. Worth billions. If Jace really wanted, he could probably ask Marvelouso himself for a favor in exchange for returning his earliest work to him.

Luck of the dragon, people said. Mia was starting to see it.

Mia showed up at Jace and Smoke’s condo. They weren’t home, so she waited, leaning on the railing. She could have called them, but she needed time.

Jace was close to molting, the magic poured off his skin in waves. Being around him was like being around a tuning fork.

It grew dark, and Jace’s car pulled into the parking spot. Jace hurried out. He looked worse today, his face pulled together in pain. “What’s wrong?”

Mia shook her head.

Smoke scanned the parking lot, and hustled them inside. “Who is it? I will get them for you.” Smoke was in her face, close enough to kiss. Mia lifted her chin, silently asking him to close his mouth over hers.

Mia was surprised when Smoke did just that. It was a soft, sweet kiss, filled with need and promises.

Smoke pulled away. “What’s wrong Mia?”

“It’s good news.” Mia tried to order her thoughts. She handed Jace the results. “You’re brilliant.”

Jace looked at the paper. “I don’t know what this is.”

“Your results on the scrapings.” Mia shook her head, some of the numbness going away. “I can’t wrap my head around it.”

Jace handed the paper to Smoke, who also looked confused.

That broke Mia free of her numbness. “You’re both dragons. You can’t read that?”

Jace grinned, and her heart relaxed. If he was okay enough to grin at her, maybe he would be okay. “Baby, I’m just a pretty face. I know what modern art goes for, but I don’t know what this means other than what it says. Some artist made my paintings with dragon scales and unicorn blood.”

“Thank Circe you’re pretty.” Mia caressed his face affectionately. “The enchanter wants you to know he could have fudged the results and tried to swindle you.”

“Okay…” Jace still looked confused, but he was grinning at her like she was the entire universe. “That was nice of him.”

“Yes.” Mia walked over to the paintings, still sitting on Jace’s side table. “Those results are specific to the type of painter who made the paintings.”

“Right. That’s why we had them analyzed.” Jace followed her, and wrapped an arm around her waist. “I missed you today.”

“Me too.” Mia touched his hand around her waist. Desire fluttered through her. “Only one wizard used that exact balance of ink.”

“Mmmm.” Jace buried his face into her neck, nibbling.

Mia gasped. “Don’t you want to know how rich you’re going to be?”

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