Page 28 of The Dragon's Stone Hearted Mate
“Do you think that was a joke?” Preston yawned as the elf disappeared into the night.
“I don’t think so. I think that was a teenager who isn’t impressed with his job or maybe a college-aged kid. I don’t know, Pres. I need to call Crilus. Maybe he knows what’s going on. Part of me thinks I should just run for the gateway and head straight to London.”
I froze on the spot. Which part of me thought that? My annoyed logical mind? The part of me that wanted to make someone else have a bad day because a rude elf interrupted my masturbation? Or was it that little voice that I’d spent my whole life trying to hear better.
“I’m going to London! Meet me there!” I said, grabbing my sneakers from beside the door.
“Uh! You’re not dressed!” Preston said as I sprinted away from the house.
“Bring me clothes then!” I shouted over my shoulder as my feet hit the grass over and over again. I wasn’t sure how or whyRho was in London but if it had anything to do with Torvan, it was probably a bad omen.
Chapter Fifteen
Morvan
Teal met me right outside of the official London Other World gateway. He wore all black and had a black baby monitor hooked to his hip. Purring echoed through the device. If we were going for stealth his daddy duties would give us away from miles.
“I thought you might not show up,” I said in lieu of hello.
“I wasn’t the one who walked away. I was right where you left me,” Teal said, hands shoved in his pockets. Purple locks peeked out from under his black beanie. He and his brothers, Cobalt and Indigo, were always dying their hair some unnatural color. You never knew how’d they turn up, only that they’d be where they promised.
“How are the kids?” I asked. “They were born, right?”
“Yep. They’re doing great. Getting big.”
I always thought if I met up with Teal again it would be like no time had passed. Only now everything was awkward tension that hung in the air.
“You don’t have to help if you don’t want to,” I said.
“Never said that. I’m just ready for you to banish me for saving your life again,” he said and turned off the baby monitor.
“It was complicated, dude,” I said.
“I know,” Teal nodded. “Your life always is. Look, I asked around about Torvan’s gambling debt. Not many people were willing to talk to me about it. I’m some grey line between the ruling family and rebellion but everyone knows I have your back even if you don’t want me to but money talks especially when you’re speaking with a gambler. He owed a lot. Sports betting. No one’s sure why he started it but we’re talking a couple years’worth of profit from the restaurants, Mor. So, a whole fucking lot.”
“So, he took a life insurance policy out on me to pay them off?” I asked, trying to piece together what my brother had done before my emotions caught up with the situation.
“The company was happy to talk to me – to anyone, in fact, as the premium hadn’t been paid since before Torvan died. Though, by their records you took it out on yourself.”
“What? You know I didn’t do that!”
“Hey, according to the bloodwork my kids and my nephews are genetic siblings. Genetically, me, Co, and Indi are the same. I get what he did. They didn’t question it, but I know better. Besides, I have no money in the game.”
“Do you know who’s after me?”
“No one would give up a name,” Teal shrugged.
“So what’s our next move?”
A figured blurred from the sky and Teal tackled me just before I let out a long stream of fire. My dragon roared and the sound exploded from inside me as he knocked the wind out of me.
“What ---”
Crilus stood over us dressed in black shorts so short I could make out his junk and a long black t-shirt that came a few inches below them. If I had been standing up it would look as if he wasn’t wearing anything under the shirt.
“It’s just Crilus,” Teal stated the obvious. “He wasn’t taking any chances on you running away. You left him with a raw deal, Mor. The restaurants and your brother.”
“I thought Torvan was dead-dead,” I growled and fought off the urge to shove Teal away from me and into the building.
