Page 4 of Dragon Boss (Paranormal Delights 2)

"Uh, I needed a walk to clear my head," Micha lied.

Gamble hummed; it sounded as if his voice was coming from everywhere in the cloud of smoke.

"You better hurry inside," Gamble said.

The door opened and Micha stared at it, waiting to see Gamble appear from the cloud of smoke, but as the area cleared, there was no sight of the witch.

"What are you looking for?" Gamble said, and his voice definitely carried from inside.

The witch was an illusion specialist, and Micha saw just how good he was. He moved inside and peered up the stairs, and there was Gamble with his smooth brown skin and gold-flecked eyes peering back at him. A bored look decorated his face as if he had other things to do with his time. He wore a dark suit that looked like it was meant for his body. Micha noted there wasn't a time he wasn't dressed in all black like he belonged in the mafia. Micha had heard the rumors of where Gamble had come from, but he was too scared to ask the man himself.

"Uh no one," Micha said. He averted his gaze.

"Yeah, sure," Gamble grumbled. He dusted off his shirt and turned on his heels, but before he walked away from Micha, he turned to him once more. "You know you suck at lying, right? Just thought you should know that before you go lying to the boss man." With that, Gamble went up the stairs.

Micha groaned and placed his head in his hands. Maybe he could avoid Arden. But that would be the opposite of what he needed to do.Why couldn't he have a boring life?

Micha made it to his designated room without running into anyone else. He blew out a breath the moment the door closed.

Lying on his bed was a note and an outfit. He read over the note and couldn't contain his smile. It was from Eldon; the vampire had crap handwriting, and he was someone Micha had planned on avoiding at all cost, but over the past three months, that had gotten harder and harder.

Micha dropped the note and picked up the costume for the night; the theme was butlers and maids. Since he didn't put in a specific request, he was a butler upon popular demand.

He gathered his things and poked his head out of his door, listening out for a certain dragon. When he didn't hear anything besides the usual chatter of hosts in the common area, he raced to the restroom close to him, but he didn't make it there before a blur of movement caught in his peripheral.

Micha let out a little yelp as Eldon appeared out of nowhere.

"Why so jumpy, angel?" Eldon asked.

His startling grey eyes were rimmed black, making them pop even more. His fangs caught the light and made Micha stare as the vampire played with his lip ring.

"You move really fast," Micha said.

Micha had tried to fight the nickname Eldon gave him, but it didn't send him spiraling for some reason when the vampire called him angel. He didn't look too far into it; his life at PGD was fake and temporary anyway.

Eldon cocked a pierced brow at him. "Yes, I move fast. I'm a vampire.” Amusement sparkled in his eyes. “Mind telling me why you smell like fear? Is it because you know big daddy Arden is going to have your ass?"

Micha swallowed thickly, and he turned his head both ways, checking to see if Arden was summoned by his name. "Shh."

Eldon chuckled and Micha shifted from one foot to the other. Was Eldon getting off on his fear? He knew it should have him keeping his distance from the vampire, and yet he wasn't pulling away. See, he was broken.

"Hurry up and get dressed, guests are already lining up. I'll cover for you till you get downstairs," Eldon said.

Micha sighed. "Thanks."

It looked as if Eldon wanted to say more, but he clamped his mouth shut and turned on his heels. Micha locked himself in the bathroom and let out another breath as he just leaned against the door and collected himself.

Micha got himself together and forced himself to move. He stripped out of his sweaty clothes, and stepped into the shower. As he turned underneath the spray, he washed away memories of his earlier conversation. Instead, he made sure to use the special shampoo Arden had gotten him for his wings. The one that was sensitive and made them practically glow.

How could someone who took care of his hosts so well be evil?Micha asked himself that question every day he was around Arden; the dragon just didn't feel that way.

A throbbing began right behind his right eye, and Micha decided to table the never-ending question for now. He got out of the shower and dressed in his fitted butler outfit. He blew dried his wings, and he was even given a pink and blue tie to match his wings. Micha tied half his hair up in a messy bun. He could do this.

Micha gave himself one more glance in the mirror, approved of the sight, and made his way downstairs and into the bar. The light was a soft gold for the night, and there were chandeliers hanging from each area. Themed nights were some of Micha's favorites; the entire bar was transformed and it enhanced the fantasy.

He caught Eldon's gaze, and the vampire gestured to Micha's section. Sure enough, two women were already being led over by Gamble. He wasn't a host, but they still fawned over him.

Micha moved toward them, a smile on his face. He shoved shy Micha away and let his confidence he didn’t normally have shine through. Just like he’d been taught.

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