Page 29 of The Dragon's Stone Hearted Mate
“Why are you so mad?” Crilus asked, holding out a hand to help Teal up. “It’s not like we ran off on you while you tried to make heads or tails of our lives.”
I opened my mouth to say that no one asked them to, but that wasn’t true. I had given the management of the restaurants over to Crilus.
“I’m not a golden retriever anymore.”
“Yeah, you are,” Crilus held out a long-fingered hand to me. “You can roll around in the mud all you want but at the end of the day you’re still who you are. Torvan doesn’t change that. One little assassination attempt doesn’t change that. Though, it’s too bad you didn’t bring your mate. Anyone who can grind an enemy’s bones with a table is someone I want to be friends with. I’d have given him free drinks for the whole trip.”
“Rho sends his regards,” I said and hoped I wasn’t speaking out of turn. “He had business to attend to.”
“He’s a gargoyle,” Teal said. “He can’t leave his home world.”
“Oh, so you just left him alone?” Crilus asked. “Poor assassins. They won’t stand a chance if you’re not there to hold him back. So many squashed assassins. Anyway. Let’s get going. I sent a text to Mori that you were on your way but Preston sent a text back saying he was already coming here. Some elf told him.”
“Rho,” I whispered under my breath.
“He’s an elf and a gargoyle?” Crilus asked. “Interesting how everyone’s hot for elves.”
“What’s up with all the black? It’s daylight,” I rolled my eyes.
“We had business to take care of before you got here,” Teal said. “It’s amazing how many heads I live rent free in even when I’m not in London. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“He’s doing business with us now?” I arched a brow at Teal. “What? Is he my replacement?”
“I’m a bird and a wolf. Not a ten-ton dragon,” Crilus rolled his eyes. “Let’s get going. We’re on foot because someone drove his truck into the river.”
“Eh, they’ll get it out later,” Teal shrugged. “It’s the cost of doing business. Not many places to drive in Heartville.”
We were silent for most of the familiar walk to the restaurant. Of course, Torvan would choose to haunt the largest of the three restaurants owned by our family. Well, by me now. I was the last of our family. Something inside me ached at the thought. Our parents were gone – both only children and we’d never met our grandparents. It was me and Torvan against the world.
“We’ll have hatchlings soon. Besides, we weren’t alone. Teal and the warehouse. Rho now. So much Rho. Let’s hurry up and kill Torvan properly and go home to our mate. This is all too much. Figure out what to do with the restaurants while we’re here too.”
Nothing had changed at the restaurant. Crilus unlocked it and the little sensor above the door chimed out and purred at us. The purring alert system had been around since we were kids and neither of us had the heart to get rid of it. We used to joke that the restaurants were always happy to see us. Now, the place felt hollow. The tables and chairs were all where they were before. The bar and counter were there too all in their familiar warm earth toned color scheme. There in the corner was the table that our parents sat us at as tiny kids and the table that was still reserved for us – for me. Torvan couldn’t sit at tables now.
“FUCK!” Somone roared from the back and I flinched. “BLOODY FUCKING HELL! LET ME OUT OF HERE!”
That was my brother. That was a voice I never thought I’d hear again once I made myself stop calling his voicemail just to hear his voice.
“FUCK! FUCK YOU! CRILUS!! I KNOW YOU’RE HERE, YOU USELESS SLAG! YOU’RE PROBABLY OUT THERE DEEPTHROATING SOME POOR FUCKER! HE BITES WHEN HE BLOWS!” Torvan continued shouting.
“LIKE YOU’D FUCKING KNOW!” Crilus shouted back. “I WOULDN’T FUCK YOU WITH YOUR OWN DIRTY DICK, YOU BALLESS COWARD OF A GECKO!”
“Does yelling help?” Teal asked, his expression giving nothing away.
“It helps me feel better,” Crilus nodded. “Look, I’ve dealt with him for a while now. I’m going to make breakfast. You two do whatever you need to do just make him shut up, okay? He’s obsessed with me sucking dick, bossing around the employees, throwing things at everyone, and shouting fuck.”
“How’s he locked in there?” Teal asked before I had the chance to.
“You don’t have to break the seal. Just go in normally. You can go in and out because you’re alive,” Crilus said. “Don’t take any ghosts in with you, though. They’d be stuck listening to him bitch about me sucking dick.”
“Did you ever hook up with my brother?” I asked him.
“No. Not for his lack of trying, though,” Crilus shook his head. “Hope you’re in the mood for eggs and bacon. It’s all you’re getting.”
“Were you two up all night?” I asked.
“You remember how it is, right?” Teal asked.
I did and it hurt not to be a part of it anymore. I opened my mouth and shut it again. What could I say? While I was busy trying to save the world, I didn’t see my own life was falling apart.
