Page 20 of A Drink of Destiny
“Mori really is much better prepared---”
“Sharon Claudis isn’t a paranormal event, Alvis. She’s a person. Just like you and me.”
“She is using magic to---” I started.
“I’ll hire him. I’ll even let him think he’s my first choice if that’s what you want. I get it. You don’t want to hurt his feelings. Maybe money doesn’t mean anything to you. I’m not going to resort to threats. That would be counterproductive. I get it. We fight and we’re pretty evenly matched when you add your age and magic. I don’t want to fight you. I want to help you in return for helping me. Everyone has something they want Alvis. I mean, if nothing else, don’t you want Baby Antonio to be okay? He’s your mate’s little cousin. What about Baby Andy? Baby Hex? Who will she set her sights on next?”
“I need to think about this, Annila,” I said softly.
“You’re going to say no and I don’t understand why. I understand that maybe you don’t need the money but who doesn’t want a chance to take a monster out? Isn’t that what everyone dreams of?” she laughed.
“Obsession is dangerous, Annila,” I warned her.
“Exactly and Sharon Claudis is obsessed. I’m not asking you to personally track her. I’ll pay whoever needs to help you. I just need you to plan it and to make sure I’m the one who gets to kill the bitch. Think about it, Alvis. You’d stay right here in London for the most part. Finally put down roots with your new mate. Beright at home to get your brains fucked out every night and wake up all cuddled up in the morning.”
I opened my mouth and shut it again.
“Blood. I’ll give blood. I’m from good, sturdy dragon stock. If it’s not dragon blood you want I’ll source whatever it is,” she said.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose. I wasn’t sure what exactly Sharon Claudis had done to her but Annila had set her heart on revenge.
“I have stipulations,” I said. “You will go to therapy.”
“What?” she laughed.
“I don’t want to work for someone who’s unhealed trauma is always in the driver’s seat. So therapy.”
“Fine,” she conceded.
“And you pay all the medical bills for anyone hurt while we’re trying to get her. You pay for property damage or whatever too,” I said.
“Do you think I’m the monster?” she asked.
“No, but I want it in writing.”
“Anything else?” she cocked a thin brow.
“You never involve any of my children in this. Not the adults. Not those yet to be born. I don’t care if they beg to be part of it and are exactly what’s needed. You keep my children out of this or I’ll do more than quit the job.”
The corners of Annila’s lips curled up into a grin.
“You can’t use Nic as bait either,” she countered with.
“I’d use you before I’d use him,” I pointed out.
“Sounds like fun.”
“We can sit down after my matingmoon to work out the details. In the meantime, you’ll contact Mori.”
“I can do that,” she nodded and turned back to her makeup table.
Chapter Thirteen
Raiel
Moonscale London
That night Alvis lay butt naked on my bedroom floor inside a magic circle, surrounded by candles as he carved into stone with a fang. Fortunately for everyone involved, it wasn’t attached to his head. It was one that had fallen out over a century ago. Watching him made me hard. His ass tensed every time he dug the sharp point of the fang into the stone, and I couldn’t stop imagining how it’d feel to have him tightening around me like that.
