Page 52 of Destiny of the Dragons

The bond pulsed. Mia. She was in extreme pain and duress, and if he had any idea of where she was, he would have run to her.

Instead, he fed some of his magic into the bond. Something to help her, to keep her going. Jace’s magic washed over the bond and for a moment they were connected again.

The moment disappeared, and he no longer felt Mia or Jace.

It just made what he had to do next harder.

Or maybe easier.

Smoke entered SouthWest Real Estate office. It was a large building near the Strip, with palm trees dotting the entrance and a heavily landscaped front entrance. Like most buildings in Vegas, it was beige with large windows.

He stepped inside the lobby, where elegance underscored the décor. Mable columns lined the lobby with leather couches. Despite the warmth of the desert tones, there was still something missing, some piece that would make this place feel more inviting.

It was everything he’d come to expect from dragon clans showing off their wealth—expensive and empty.

A receptionist looked up at him. She was blond, human from the smell. “How can we help you today?”

“I have an appointment.”

He’d had one of his dragons hack into the computer to make him an appointment. He knew how these things worked.

“Mr. Takanada?”

He nodded. It was as good of an alias as any.

“Please come with me.”

Smoke followed her down the hallway, where she led him to a private waiting area. She looked him over again, heat rising in her face.

She swallowed hard. “Can I get you anything? Coffee, tea, a glass of wine?”

Smoke shook his head.

She hovered for a moment and then left him.

Once the door to the lobby was shut, he followed his nose down the hallway. Jace’s spicy scent filled the hallway, making him ache for things that were. And could never be.

Jace would never leave his clan. And Smoke refused to belong to a dragon clan. Not ever again.

Jace’s office was the furthest down. He opened the door, revealing yet another receiving area. Dragons just love their rituals.

A male ruby dragon was behind a desk, frowning at a computer.

Irrational jealously flared to life before Smoke squashed it.

The man transferred his frown to Smoke. “Sir, this is a private area. Please go back to the waiting room where—“

“You have two options.” Smoke leaned against the doorframe. “You tell me where your boss is and I have a chat with him, or I’ll go find him myself.”

The dragon male stood up. A quick whiff of the dragon’s scent—firecrackers and spice--hit him. He was younger than Jace, out of his second molt but just barely.

“Sir, I’m going to insist you leave before I call security.” The man glared. He had black hair, darker than Jace’s, and an angular face. Despite his youth, there was power behind his aura. Something almost completed.

He was part of a Treasure. Lucky bastard. Smoke glared. “You have your options.”

“Sir—“

Smoke stood up and walked across the office, heading for the door leading deeper into the building.

---