Page 10 of Witch's Bells and Mistletoe

I chuckle when he suddenly casts a worried glance over his shoulder at us as they pass. Adeon leans down, his spicy scent surrounding me as his breath tickles my ear.

“That was a little wicked, Katherine,” he whispers. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you are trying to encourage her to part my cousin from his coin.”

I shrug, my smile growing. “I doubt she truly intends to spend his money, but if she does, I’m sure it won’t hurt that dragon to spend a little on her pleasure. It might be good for him to think of someone else’s desires for a change,” I point out as I eye a particularly large swath of mistletoe garlanding a shop.

“Uh, Melissa,” I call out. “Is it tradition for your quaint little town to use so much mistletoe? You must have to import it in as much as I’ve been seeing everywhere.”

She walks slower, glances around, and shakes her head. “Actually, now that you’ve pointed it out… no. Huh. Kind of strange, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, strange,” I murmur as I cast a suspicious glance around for more fairies.

I don’t see any nearby, but this town seems less idyllic by the moment. I do my best to ignore it and recapture the magic that I felt earlier, but I can’t completely ignore it as if a cord within me has been drawn taunt and plucked discordantly. Despite that, when I manage to get a little solo shopping while Adeon sees to a few things that he requires along the same strip, I can’t resist getting him a little something.

At first, I’m at a loss as to what to buy for him. He’s a centuries old dragon. Usually I get him selections of gourmet meat, which he always accepts with considerable enthusiasm, but I want to do something special this time. It doesn’t take me long to choose a selection of cured and spiced meats, but I don’t have a clue as to what else to get until I see it. In a jeweler’s case at the front of the shop, there is a selection of silver jewelry made by a local artisan.

Tucked in the velvet lining of a box nestled into the corner of the display, there is a silver cuff. The band is wide enough to be flattering on his thick wrist, but it’s far from what I would consider plain. There is an elaborate knotwork that scrolls up the sides terminating in dragon heads that frame the large ruby at its center. It reminds me so much of my medallion that it almost feels like fate when I see it.

When I exit the shop a few minutes later to join our group again, it is with that that cuff secure in a small gift bag with the sausages and tucked into my larger shopping bag looped over my arm. I give Adeon a secretive smile when I rejoin him, to which he responds with a waggle of his brows in an expression of open curiosity as he tucks my hand once more in the crook of his arm. The secret simmers within me in bubble of excitement, eager for solstice morning as we continue to walk about town.

Despite the festive splendor and the distraction of gifts, I can’t quite ignore that something is going on. Adeon feels it too. I’m just not certain what.

Chapter 8

ADEON

Never before have I hated being away from Katherine all night as much as I do now. It itches beneath skin and scale, driving me to distraction. So much so that I wake up earlier than normal, and with nothing but brooding to occupy my time, I decide to go down to the restaurant to grab a bite and some coffee.

The small restaurant smells of rich maple syrup, butter, warm bread, eggs, and meat. My stomach stirs with interest—as a dragon’s hunger is always ready to be satisfied be it with food or something more carnal. I consider bringing something up to Katherine and perhaps trying to make a romantic breakfast of it, but she is habitually a late sleeper preferring to enjoy late hours at night and sleep through the morning. Eating alone doesn’t appeal to me so I decide to ignore for the time being and I give my back to the neatly spaced tables with their matching burgundy plaid linens and centerpieces of pine and holly amid various glittery baubles.

Instead, I focus on the long table spread out against one wall with several tall metal urns lined up with mugs and pots of cream and sugar. I set out to fill my cup and notice Melissa through the window as she hurries across the lobby for the doors.

I pause, holding the coffee cup aloft in my hand as I eye her. I half-expected to see the girl come rushing out in tears after Elis boots her from his bed, but other than a flush of embarrassment on her cheeks and a wry smile as she spots me and gives me a jaunty wave, she sails out the door as if all is right in the world.

My gaze follows her out the door, and I shake my head and pour my coffee when I notice Elis striding into the lobby, heading in my direction. I eye him as I reach for the cream. He doesn’t appear any different. Certainly nothing that can account for the female’s good mood as she departed. If anything, he looks a little more haggard than usual.

Surprising.

Without a word offered, Elis comes up beside me and helps himself to some coffee. He seems to study it intently as he pours it into his cup. I raise my eyebrows and offer him the cream, but he waves it away.

“Rough night?”

He shakes his head and glances over at me with a frown. “No. Just… all wrong,” he mutters. He takes a long sip of his coffee before finally meeting my eye. “I don’t like this place. There is a restlessness here that disturbs me. I know you feel it. The witch too, as much as I hate to credit her with anything,” he grumbles. I frown at him, and he sighs and threads his fingers through his hair, avoiding his horns effortlessly. “I had hoped the female would distract me a little.”

I regard him over my cup as I sip my own coffee. “She didn’t, did she? Seems that she left here pretty satisfied.”

The bark of laughter Elis lets out is humorless. “Despite the futility of chasing my own pleasure, I tried hard enough and enough times that it wouldn’t be any wonder, especially since our species are twice as equipped as their males. But that I couldn’t find satisfaction, I shouldn’t be surprised. Taking females to my bed for a night of pleasure started wearing thin decades ago.” He meets my eyes, his expression frank. “I need to mate, Adeon. I can’t find enjoyment in unfulfilling nights of passion like I used to. I can no longer quench the fire of need that burns within me. It is exactly as every reckless juvenile is told—a sign for when a dragon must finally seek out a mate. I need the jewel, Adeon.” He takes another sip, and his hand trembles as he slowly lowers his cup again and gives me a sidelong look. “How is it that you’ve managed so long?”

I sigh and cradle my cup in my hand. “Because I’ve found my mate, Elis. I felt the same as you do now. The fire came close to consuming me, but then it eased and gave me some relief when I entered the Durmont coven house.”

Elis snorts. “Of course it did, and I doubt it has nothing to do with the witch. If the jewel is hidden somewhere there, the proximity has likely served to bank your fire.”

“That is what I believed at first too,” I admit. “But then I realized that the source of my contentment and happiness was not the soothing touch of dragon magic, but her. I will find the jewel, cousin, but remain open because you never know when you may find her. Or who she will be,” I add.

I want him to understand just how powerful that realization was to me and how it changed everything then and now. How special Katherine is, regardless of being a human or a witch. Because of that, the pitying look he gives me annoys me. I know he does not believe me—he’s said as much—but the coldness in his eyes makes me stiffen.

“You think I wish to be as deluded as you are?” He chuckles grimly. “I don’t think so, cousin. You have only deluded yourself into thinking that she is your mate because that’s what you want to believe, or perhaps what she wants you to believe. Witches don’t mate with dragons. They only have one use for us, and that is because they hunger for our magic.”

My jaw clenches at his words, and I draw up to my full height. An uncertain expression crosses his face, and I imagine that he is now aware of how serious his misstep is. I’m tolerant of a lot from my kin, but not when it comes to Katherine.

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