Page 59 of Destiny of the Dragons

Mia frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”

He didn’t say anything. He came around the countertop.

Mia backed up, grabbed one of the knives she kept around the corner. “I don’t know what your problem is, but back the fuck off.”

Cross stopped when he saw the curved knife in her hand. Suddenly, the rage was gone and in its place was amusement. “You sic your dragons on me, and you dare to act concerned?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You come into this shop looking ready for murder. I don’t want to get married either—“

“It was my idea.”

Mia’s train of thought derailed. “What?”

Cross leaned against the countertop and looked her over like he was buying a horse. “I told my father, who was initially opposed to the idea. The Caravaggio witches are declining in power, you see.”

Mia swallowed hard. She wanted to get from behind the counter, but that would look too much like a retreat. She crossed her arms over her chest instead.

“I told him it was a good merger. I could make it work in our favor.” Cross grinned, darkness skirting in his eyes. “Just think of how powerful we will be united.”

That’s what she was afraid of. She didn’t like doing blood magic for her mother, but at least she could say she had no choice. It was obey or die, and she wasn’t ready to die yet.

But this was a new low.

“I am not marrying you,” Mia said. She didn’t add “over my dead body” but her tone made it clear.

“I’m sure your mother has already threatened you. Don’t worry Mia, not much has to change. I expect you to bed me, of course.” Cross grinned.

Mia shuddered. “No.”

“Getting your attack dragons on me wasn’t smart if they weren’t willing to kill me.”

“What are you talking about?" She was shocked, but there could be only two dragons Cross was talking about.

The question was, why did they care?

Cross glared at her. “Don’t play dumb.”

“I’m not. I found out yesterday we were engaged.”

“Two dragons just randomly chose me then?” Cross’s voice was soft, but his shoulders were tense. “And told me to stay away from you?”

Mia shrugged. “I haven’t had any interaction with dragons in almost a year.”

It was the truth. A truth that cut into her heart, but it was true nonetheless. “I don’t know why they decided to bother you, but it wasn’t my doing.”

Cross eyed her for another minute and then smiled. “Well then, that’s settled.”

Mia let go of the breath she was holding. “Now. Why hasn’t any of your tracking spells worked? It’s pretty convenient you’ve been doing them for months and they haven’t worked.”

Cross moved away from the countertop, looking around the room like they were truly engaged. It was eerie, watching him try to pretend to be anything but what he was: a sociopath.

“You watched me perform the spells, Mia. I hope you’re not suggesting I did so intentionally.”

Mia lifted her chin. “If I had your success rate at blood magic I wouldn’t have a job. You would be screeching for my head.”

Cross cut her a glare of pure malice.

Mia kept the anger on her face.

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