Page 77 of Dragon Boss (Paranormal Delights 2)

He shook himself and glanced at Eldon. The smile that Arden had worn on his face before had disappeared.

"What?" he asked shortly, his throat still tight as he tried to think of some way out of his predicament.

"This." Eldon handed over his phone and frowned. "It's circulating all over the city. Fifty-two percent of our clients have canceled in the last hour." Eldon frowned. "I'm worried, Arden."

Arden stared at the phone and his heart dropped. A new website had popped up.Dangerous supernaturals attempt to murder human.A picture of the man he'd beat into a pulp was on the front, his eyes swollen shut, his lip split, and bruises on his face as he sat in the hospital.

"There's more," Eldon said softly as he tapped the screen and pulled up an article. "We're famous," he said somberly.

Every news outlet, paper, and gossip rag had the story running in some form or another. They talked about the night before how the boss of PGD had tried to kill a human. How he hated them. How the place should be shut down.

"What is this?" Arden growled. "It happened days ago so why now?"

Eldon shook his head. "Someone is messing with us."

"And pulling threads," Arden snapped. He'd lived the palace life long enough to recognize when someone was trying to sabotage him. "They're setting us up."

"Who?" Eldon asked, his eyes darted around the room. "Why would anyone do that? Everyone loves PGD."

"Apparently not."

Arden sucked in a breath as he felt the electricity dancing on his fingertips. The anger rose, his eyes turned into slits and he growled long and low. Whoever had decided to fuck with him and those he gave a damn about had fucked up. The phone heated in his hand as electricity danced around it. When it burst into flames, Arden dropped it to the floor and stomped out the fire. Curious eyes peered at him, but Arden ignored them.

"Not now," Eldon whispered. "Arden, breathe. We'll figure this out."

"I need to make a call," Arden said shortly. "Hold everything down."

"Of course."

Arden excused himself as he headed upstairs to his living space. He opened a drawer on his desk and snatched up the phone he never used anymore. Arden impatiently waited for it to load before he scrolled to Ezra's number and stabbed it so hard the screen cracked. He didn't give a damn that it cut his ear as he waited for Ezra to answer.

"Wow, I didn't think I'd hear from you," Ezra said. "Ready to come home?"

"It's one thing to beg me to return like some kicked bitch in the street," Arden growled. "And it's entirely another to try to blackmail me back home. If you thinkthisis the way to get me back onto the throne, I swear to Abraxas that I will reach down your throat, rip out your stomach, and-"

"Woah, woah, woah," Ezra said. "Arden, what happened?"

"Do not pretend as if you do not know, Ezraias! He knew my real last name!"

The phone went silent before his brother spoke calmly. "Arden, whatever you are angry about I swear that it has nothing to do with me. I lay that on Father's grave and may you behead me if you catch me in a lie. I have been patiently awaiting you in the city as Mother instructed. Nothing more, nothing less."

Arden gripped the phone. He'd slipped into high speech without even realizing it and used Ezra's true name. But his brother had returned it and he knew for a fact that Ezra wouldn't lie about something like this. If anything, he would have bragged. His brother was not honorable, nor was he. But the man was also not a coward.

"Arden, tell me," Ezra pushed. "I can help."

"No," Arden snapped. "I can handle this on my own."

"You do not need to! Just because I am here for Mother does not mean that I am going to take her side. Yes, I do wish you to be on the throne and bear children, but if something is bothering you then I am here for you as I have always been since before you hatched."

Arden's heart squeezed with Ezra's words. Despite their arguments and their lack of seeing eye to eye, Ezra had indeed looked after him when he was only a fledgling. Hearing his brother's soothing words made Arden want to return to a simpler time when the world wasn't about politics and palace bullshit. But it was just about a boy, his brother, and the adventures they shared. All of Ezra's fire had dulled and there, where he hadn't expected it, was his brother still trying to protect him over everything else.

"You know where I am," Arden said and it wasn't a question. He knew his psychotic brother too well.

"Of course."

"An hour. Meet me here."

"I'll do you one better and be there in thirty," Ezra answered, his speech switching back to that of commoners. "Make me a good drink for when I arrive."

---