Page 68 of Destiny of the Dragons

Mia leaned against the bartop, scanning the crowd. Selene was singing tonight and had dragged her and Keyona out. Keyona was somewhere in the room, scowling at the men trying to dance with her.

Mia watched people dancing, searching for distance from her emotions. She’d went to the last known address and came up with nothing.

Another dead end. She needed to get the family who lived there out of the house so she could search every nook and cranny but she wasn’t hopeful.

More and more it felt like the noose around her neck was getting tighter.

Someone shouted in joy, the slots going off. Someone’s life had just changed, for the better from the happy cries.

It only took a moment, to go from the greatest heartbreak or the deepest pain.

An older man took the stage. Mia would go sit at their table soon, but she wanted the darkness of the bar.

A man swept past, the scent of cinnamon following in his wake. She snapped her head, recognizing Jace as soon as he turned and locked eyes with her.

Her breath hitched a million hopes and dreams living in her heart. Jace paused, and the moment hung between them.

He was going to walk away. Of course. There was nothing left to say.

Jace looked wounded. He closed the distance between them, and Mia held her breath.

Jace gestured at the bartender. “Scotch on the rocks.”

The bartender gave him a leery look and poured the drink.

“So, what brings a nice girl like you to a place like this?” Jace smiled at her, but it wasn’t his usual megawatt grin. He looked as tired as she felt.

She shrugged a shoulder, and Jace looked at her shoulder for a moment. She wished away the heat that followed his gaze. “Waiting for Selene to sing.”

“She’s your dragon friend?” Jace turned to the stage.

“Yes.” Selene had been on edge and usually felt better after singing. Mia hoped tonight would help Selene with whatever her problem was.

The singer crooned into the microphone, singing about lost loves. He wore a suit and a fedora, and Mia loved his classic style.

“I shouldn’t have been such an ass before,” Jace said.

She tried not to drop her mouth in shock, but it was a near thing.

“I’m sorry.” He glanced over at her. “It hurt so badly, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

Mia sucked in a breath. “Thank you.”

Jace gestured at the dance floor. “You want to dance? I love this type of music.”

“Sure,” she said. Jace offered her his hand, and she knew this was a terrible idea. In the history of all her ideas, this was one of the worst. She was playing with fire, and she would be burned.

But her heart longed for him, the dragon in front of her that made her feel more alive than she ever had in her entire life.

Maybe that’s why she was being stupid. The walls were closing in around her, so if she was going to throw herself at the cage a few more times before she was well and truly trapped, so be it.

Jace slid his hands around his waist, and they dancing slowly to the jazzy song. The heat from his hands scorched her hips, and she took a breath in.

She let it out, looking up at him. He was looking down at her with a scrutiny that would have been terrifying if it was anyone else.

He twirled her in a pretty little maneuver, and she smiled. Moving through the music was easy with Jace, just as easy as kissing had been.

Touching wasn’t the hard part.

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