Page 71 of Destiny of the Dragons

“You’re the asshole Selene complains about. Mind your business.”

Jesse rolled his eyes. “She’s about two seconds away from a molt.”

Another man came into the room, large with graying hair. “What in the world was that? Doing magic in front of humans like it’s nothing?”

Selene flinched. “I’m sorry.”

“Mr. Carmichael,” Jesse intercepted him. “It wasn’t her fault.”

Mia stepped forward. “It won’t happen again.”

Selene frowned at her, but Mia kept talking. “I’ve been practicing magic recently, and I guess I didn’t release as much as I thought.”

Mr. Carmichael glared at her. “See that you keep yourself under control, eh witch?”

“Of course.” Mia tried to look contrite. “It won’t happen again.”

Mr. Carmichael lumbered away.

Everyone looked at Selene.

Selene grumbled. “Fine. Take me back to my apartment.”

Jace pulled his phone out and started typing. “I’ve ordered a car. By the time you get your things, it will be waiting for us in the front.”

Keyona stood up. “I’ll get your crap, Selene, you keep it in the usual place?”

Selene nodded, her face covered in sweat. Jesse helped her up, and it was a sign of how out of it Selene was because she didn’t snarl at him.

They made their way to the back entrance. Somewhere along the way, Mia had her hand on Jace’s forearm. She didn’t move it away. She wanted to grill Jace on what molting would do, actually, but not while Selene was in earshot.

Jesse helped her into the backseat, and Mia slid in next to her.

“You want to go to the center? Smoke won’t mind, I swear,” he said.

Selene shook her head. “I just want to go home.”

Selene wrapped an arm around Mia’s waist and leaned her head on Jesse’s shoulder. Jace slid in next to her.

Keyona and Zian climbed into the other seat, and the driver pulled out of the lot.

“So, Jace,” Keyona turned around in her seat to face them. Her curly black hair framed her face, and the Ursa Minor necklace she’d been wearing for months hung in mid-air. “Who do I have to bribe to get them to add Uno into the casinos?”

Dead silence in the car, and then everyone laughed.

Jace grinned, and it was his previous carefree smile.

“I’d be worried about the guests burning the place down.”

“Right?” Jesse looked at Jace and then Keyona. “You give someone too many “Pick Up Four” and that’s it, someone is gonna burn the place down.”

“I told you,” Selene mumbled. She closed her eyes and leaned her head on Jesse’s shoulder. He squeezed his arm around her waist, and Mia swore Selene looked less tense.

They arrived at Selene’s apartment, and everyone piled out of the car. Her apartment resembled Mia’s and she used her key to let everyone in.

Selene walked over to the couch and plopped down, dragging Jesse with her.

Selena’s apartment wasn’t completely spotless like it usually was. Mia frowned. There were dishes in the sink, and the laundry basket sat next to her armchair, where three or four books sat on the cushion.

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