Page 66 of Twilight of Embers
She was anything but relaxed. “How the hell do you know Cillian McCarthy?”
I fought the groan that wanted to surface. “He’s friends with Knox.”
“I know that. But how do you know him? No one gets close to him. The only time he comes out of that office in the sky is when a high roller comes in or if he needs to personally kick someone’s ass.”
Her gaze had flicked to the windows up above as she spoke, and I followed her line of sight. You couldn’t see through them, but I’d bet anything he could see out. Was he watching now? Had he seen me enter and come down to find me? My skin prickled, but it wasn’t a bad sensation. It was as if my body were aware of everything.
“Hayden,” Delaney snapped.
My focus came back to her. “Sorry, what?”
Redness crept up her throat. “How. Do. You. Know. Him?” she gritted out.
“I went to dinner at their house, remember?”
That redness only grew. “One dinner and he’s pulling you onto the dance floor?”
Maggie and Bella appeared behind her, both looking a little tipsy.
Maggie fanned herself. “It was hooooot.”
Delaney whirled on her. “Shut up.”
Oh, jeez. This wasn’t good. Was it Knox that Delaney wanted or all of them? Not that I could throw stones. I’d kissed one, practically come with another, and spent every night with a third. God, did that make me an awful human? Maybe it did.
Delaney turned back to me, her gorgeous, dark hair swishing around her as she did. “Just watch out,” she huffed. “I’ve heard if people cross Cillian McCarthy, they tend to disappear.”
33
CILLIAN
My blood was fire, and I’d probably made poor Greg shit himself at the force of my fury. Typically, I had better control than this. But normally, I wasn’t surrounded by the sweet smell of my mate, by her need.
My beast pushed against my skin, wanting out, wanting free. He didn’t understand why we hadn’t already claimed Hayden. He wanted me to bite her right there on the dance floor and then drag her home to fuck her long and hard.
Who was I kidding? I wanted the same damn thing. But I also didn’t want to terrify her.
Hayden had no idea that she was a dragon. No idea what it meant to be mated. This wasn’t a casual dating situation. This was our souls being bound for all eternity.
I stormed up the stairs to the second level. The guards at the entry to the floor wisely took a step back when they saw me coming.
That internal fire was brewing, needing to be set free. I needed that flight, that or hit the heavy bag on repeat.
I stalked down the hallway to my office, ripping the door open.
Cáel turned at my entrance, curiosity and maybe a hint of amusement on his face. When was the last time I’d seen a hint of humor in his expression? Probably when he’d disemboweled a Corbett who had tried to sneak into our territory.
But Maddox? He was furious. The most stoic and serious of our bond, he rarely let his emotions show. He was too calm and collected for that.
But now? He was letting it all out.
Maddox prowled toward me, reminding me of the lethal creature that lay beneath the surface. “What were you thinking?”
My brows lifted at that. “Excuse me?”
Maddox gave me a hard shove. “You all but flayed Knox’s ass for kissing her, and you’re on the dance floor, two seconds away from fucking her?”
My back teeth ground together. He had a point. But I hadn’t crossed the line. I hadn’t kissed Hayden. I hadn’t made her come. But if Greg hadn’t interrupted when he had, I probably would’ve. “It was under control.”
