Page 86 of Ash

Razir’s mouth opened, and then closed, and then opened again. “What the shards is up with you?”

“You are letting her pheromones get to you,” Tyrez pointed out. “I understand she is upset, and she is within her rights to choose another for the next two sunrises.”

Razir stiffened when he mentioned the pheromones, but his eyes darkened a shade. “She isveryupset. She said you almost stopped cold.”

Tyrez continued to rub his hair with the towel, feigning a nonchalance he didn’t feel. “I performed adequately. Got excellent height on the climb. Must have topped forty thousand feet. We had a great spiral. I only hesitated for a second—she is exaggerating the event.”

Razir glowered at him. “You hesitated? During a cycle mating? Are you hearing yourself?”

Something inside Tyrez snapped. “Look, I don’t know what happened, all right? For just a second—never mind. I should have backed out of this mating while I could. I am distracted by this Archmage thing.”

Razir’s eyes narrowed. “Does this have anything to do with the Dire woman?”

“No. I don’t think so.” Tyrez swung his arm wide in a frustrated gesture. “For just a moment, it was like Aranta’s scales turned golden. It kinda froze me up. For only a second or so.”

Tyrez’s barely restrained agitation seemed to calm his brother. “You had a hallucination? Are you feeling okay?”

“I am fine. Just tired.”

His brother scanned him. “Maybe you are overdoing it.”

“I am not the only one busy on this,” Tyrez pointed out. “And we’ve run intense investigations before.”

“Yeah, but you’ve taken the lead on this one. And you took a direct hit to the head at that cemetery—we still don’t know what the shards that was. But maybe it had more impact than the healer thought.”

“I suppose that is possible.” Tyrez didn’t point out that by then, he’d already glued the golden scales to his wrists. He was more than happy to grasp at explanatory straws.

Razir rubbed a big hand over his face. “You’re about to get busier too. The Examiner’s office is sending someone today. I’d take over the heavy lifting on that, except Aranta has booked me for the next two sunrises.”

That was good news on all fronts. The relief that flooded him had Tyrez quirking his lips at his brother. “What the shards are you whining about? My distraction is your dream come true.”

Razir growled, but his shoulders had relaxed. “Yeah, but it won’t be as much fun if she spends all her time complaining about you.”

“You’ll just have to prove she’s chosen the right Dragon.”

Razir’s lips quirked. “Forty thou? Are you sure you got that high?”

“At least. And she’s not a little Dragona, either.”

Razir snorted. “I’m going to need more fried chicken.”

Tyrez waved him toward the kitchen. “Feel free to help yourself.”

Razir hesitated in the bedroom doorway. “The Examiner’s representative is arriving later this morning. She’ll have more power than Corika, but it still may be a while before she gets anything.” His long fingers tapped on the doorframe. “So I’ve put an experienced guard on the first shift. I took the evening one. Gave you the night stint.”

“Thanks for that,” Tyrez grouched. It made sense, though. Razir would need his rest before sunrise. Legion policy dictated that anyone working with a prisoner must have a warrior overseeing. Not that the slave boss was getting out of that cell, but to offer any assistance if required.

His brother shot him a half grin. “Get some sleep. After eating the rest of your chicken, I’m doing the same.” He shook his head. “Shards. Forty thou.”

As Razir took himself off to raid the fridge, Tyrez threw the towel onto the bed and went to the opening.

The cool breeze was welcome against his damp skin. He rubbed his hand absently over the golden scales glued overtop of his own, feeling the strange little buzz they gave him.

Had he been hallucinating? It shouldn’t have been possible, wrapped as he was in her scent. He should have been totally and completely focused on Aranta.

Losing her to Razir—his blood should be boiling. But instead, he experienced nothing but relief. Overwhelming, if he were to be honest.

He didn’t understand what had happened. But Tyrez knew he’d dodged a bullet. Because he hadn’t told his brother just how close he’d come to not being able to complete the mating at all.

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