Page 10 of Dragon My Crazy

So full of fire.The dragon inside me watched her, spellbound.

Her voice was sharp when she spoke. “No need to say it again. I already heard.” She glared at me. “You can’t justborrowme from Desmon like I’m some kind of object. I’m a person. And he doesn’t own me.”

I frowned, not understanding the source of her ire. Of course she was a person. But she was also Desmon’s housekeeper. “I thought perhaps you passed up my offer because of your prior commitment. I’m only trying to free you of that obligation.

“No. My previous obligation isn’t why I didn’trub your scale.” She did a little eye roll as she said the words. “I didn’t contact you because you tried to bait an old woman with the promise of romance. Your little dance didn’t work. I’m not falling for it. It might’ve worked with someone younger and more naive, but not me.”

I gawked at her in honest shock. She thought I’d danced with her to try to lure her into taking a job? I snorted and a whisp of steam curled from my nose. Then, because I couldn’t help it, I guffawed.

“What’s so funny?” Elana asked, her hands on her hips, looking anything but amused.

“What’s so funny,” I said, containing a chuckle, “is that I’d planned to corner you at the gala and convince you to work for me by offering unparalleled pay and benefits. Except the moment I had you alone, we started dancing and I squandered my chance. All my efforts to get you alone wasted because you were so damn distracting.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I wasn’t trying to lure you with romance.”

Her expression faltered, just for a second. “Ah, because I’m too old. You sure tried with Meera.”

That had me frowning again. I’d been doing that a lot lately.

“You are a youngling compared to my many centuries. And you have kept yourself well… for a human.” She’d kept herself more than well. She was stunning. Regal. Perfect in a way that had my dragon stirring restlessly under my skin.

She huffed. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere.”

I shrugged. “Simply stating the truth.” And then, because I was curious and because I wanted to see her reaction, I asked, “Would a promise of a life by my side, full of luxuries, have tempted you? Because I can offer that as well.”

Yesss!My dragon hissed, surprising me.Bring her home.

Strange for him to speak to me now of all times. He was usually quite quiet unless we were in the air patrolling the skies over ourdomain. His sudden interest in her was unexpected. It must be because she is vital to our offspring.

Elana laughed, but there was no humor in it. More cold disbelief than anything. “I’m not interested in romance of any kind, especially not with you.” Her expression turned serious and her gaze locked onto mine with none of the fear and deference I was used to from mere humans. “But I do wish to see your daughter. Melantha, was it?”

“Yes, Melly for short.”

Was it just me, or did warmth return to her voice at the mention of Melly? The change was subtle, a warmth creeping in where there had only been ice before.

“Why don’t you bring her over for a visit?” Carly piped in, ever enthusiastic.

See, I knew Desmon’s mate would help.

Elana’s eyes brightened. “Yes! We’d love to have her.” She turned to me, her expression expectant, almost hopeful. It was a look I wasn’t used to seeing directed at me, at least not without an ulterior motive. It was hard not just automatically saying yes, if only to make her happy.

Did I trust my daughter to be here at Desmon’s? He’d given her back once already. But that was when she’d only been an egg. Now she was a small dragon and would one day need her own territory. Would he see her as competition to squash?

Then there was the difficulty of traveling with a tiny dragon, especially since Desmon had made it plenty clear that my wizard was not allowed to open a portal on or anywhere near his estate, ever. In fact, my wizard was not welcome anywhere near his home. The wards protecting his estate might let me in, but they sent out all sorts of alarms and warnings whenever Leroy even thought about setting foot near the estate.

Hell, he hadn’t even managed to attend the gala that evening despite having purchased a ticket. He’d suggested I bring Luella, but I’d gone alone instead. I couldn’t help but feel like he was throwing his daughter at me more often lately.

The only magic that seemed to work around Desmon were the trinkets and premade spells I had left over from my witch, who had suffered a tragedy a few years ago. Sena had been a literal old crone who’d probably have lived for centuries by stealing the life force from other living things. The practice was now considered illegal by the EA, formerly known as the Secret Enforcement Agency. They’d dropped the “Secret” in recent years.

I hadn’t minded. Dragons had never paid any mind to human laws and rules. We were above them. The longer she lived, the longer I could go without finding her replacement. Except the last time she’d disappeared into the woods for her ritual, she’d never returned. Leroy and I had found her remains charred and barely recognizable inside her casting circle.

I’d since moved Leroy up to her position, but hadn’t found a second spell caster to replace her. Then Luella had joined us, acting as a magical reservoir for her father.

“Have your wizard take down the block, and I’ll have mine portal her in.”

“Absolutely not!” exclaimed a voice from behind me.

I whipped around to see Seth sitting on Desmon’s desk, the very desk we’d just conversed across. Sneaky fucking wizard. When had he arrived? I suspected that Seth was the reason why Leroy was not welcome here; the two never did see eye to eye.

“You’re lucky my wards letyouin at all.” The smirk on his face made me want to punch it.