Page 67 of Destiny of the Dragons

Mother didn’t look impressed. Jace moved in for the kill.

“Also, all of their business associates as well.”

Mother gave him a small smile. “Well. That is quite the morning.”

Jace shrugged. “About time to put me in charge of the Lucky Seven Casino.”

Mother frowned. “You’ll go where I tell you.”

Jace opened his mouth to argue, but the door opened.

A man walked in like he owned the place. He wore an expensive suit, short brown hair, and if the faint scent of blood wasn’t enough to give him away as a vampire, the deathly pallor was enough to do the trick.

Mother actually looked surprised. “Mr. Gruber. I didn’t know we had—“

“We don’t,” the vampire said curtly. “Mr. Redgrave will meet with you next Wednesday at ten o’clock sharp.”

The vampire actually turned to go. Mother cleared her throat. “I have a meeting with the other clan heads. Our quarterly—“

“Then you will be late.” Mr. Gruber left the room without further comment.

Jace blinked. Thoughts tumbled over themselves, but now wasn’t the time for the shock. His mother, the most powerful dragon in the North American continent, was taking orders from a flunky vampire.

Letting him walk out of the room without killing him. Telling her when she would be meeting with some other vampire, interrupting one of the most important meetings of the year.

Jace had to move fast or she would kill him for seeing that display.

Jace chuckled. “Damn vampires. You must have them on a long string for him to think he can get away with that.”

“Quite.” Mother was sitting still. Too still.

He held his hands up, still layering on the ‘aw shucks’ charm. “I’m not going to pry into your secret plans. I’m smart enough to run the Lucky Seven Casino, not layer in the master plans like you.”

Mother gave him a glare. “You’re ready when I say you are. Keep making deals like you did this morning and maybe we will reconsider in six months.”

Jace grinned. “Alright, deal. I’ll mark it in my calendar.”

Mother didn’t look amused, but she no longer had that calculating look. He stood up. “I’ll see myself out.”

He walked to the door, his back itching. Now would be the time she took him out if she was going to eliminate the threat he posed.

He reached the door. He left himself out, and the door shut with barely a sound.

Jace kept his pace brisk, like a man of business about to broker another million-dollar deal.

Inside his heart slammed against his chest. He wasn’t supposed to see his mother that weak. Something was happening inside the clan, something big. His mother let a vampire dictate her schedule like that, it must be huge. World shattering.

Jace left the building, and let out a breath. He wasn’t safe, he never really was, but this was something else.

He paused by his fancy sports car. He screamed and punched the side of the door. His fist shattered and he left a small dent.

He promised Mia and Smoke a better life. He promised them that the sacrifice of his freedom would be worth it once he was at the top.

He was never getting to the top. He knew that now. He’d given up everything, even in the end his Treasure, to rejoin the clan.

It wasn’t worth the cost.

The loss was bitter ash in his mouth.

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