Page 36 of Dragon My Crazy

The djinn grinned. “Your demon, Cassian? He’s been spelled so that he can’t speak of it. He can’t warn you. But there’s nothing in the spell preventing him from telling us. And us from telling you.”

Lead formed in my belly. “You’re telling me Leroy has been scheming against me? How do you mean?”

“Here’s where Sena comes in. Leroy murdered her when she was at her weakest, in the middle of her life extending spell. That’s why he was the one to find her in the woods first. He knew already because he’d killed her.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. I hadn’t even considered Leroy might have been involved. But I couldn’t just take things at face value. I needed irrefutable proof.

“Can you prove it?”

The two exchanged a look.

It was Blaze who spoke. “We can’t prove what happened to your witch. But if you put some hidden cameras in Melly’s playroom, you’ll find proof of his current ploy yourself. That’s where he goes to contact his buddies since he knows there are no cameras there.”

“His current ploy?”

It was the other ifrit who answered. “Let’s just say he’s not happy working for a dragon anymore. He wants to be in control.” He didn’t offer any more. “Consider this a warning.”

I stood, my chair scraping against the floor. “And Cassian told you all this?”

“It was the only way. He can’t tell you or anyone working for you directly. He’s tried since Sena, but every time, the magic prevents it from happening. He wrote a note once, and it turned into gibberish. Technically, we work for Desmon, so he was able to tell us.”

Was that why Leroy hadn’t wanted Cassian around the ifrits? I paced the length of my office, my mind racing. Leroy had been with me for decades. He’d helped me build this life. And now they were telling me he’d been lying to me? That he was the reason for the death of my trusted witch? And what was this new ploy he was up to?

I turned back to them, my voice low. “What do you want from me in return for this information?”

Their twin grins were slow and a little creepy. “Nothing. Yet,” they both said in unison, suddenly sounding very much like one person.

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.

I dismissed them. Then, alone in my office, I continued to pace, trying to make sense of what I’d just learned. Should I confirm with Cassian? Or would that alert Leroy? Especially since I’d just had a meeting with the two ifrits in a sealed room. Perhaps it would be better if I waited to talk to him.

But that didn’t mean I needed to wait to install those cameras. I happened to have a few small ones available. All I had to do was figure out where to hide them. The one thing that worried me the most was the fact that I’d already told Leroy about Melly’s recent breakthrough and the fact that she indeed had a human side.

Theplayroomwasquietwhen I pushed open the door. Dizzi and Elana sat cross-legged on the rug in the center of the room. Dizzi’s fingers wove through the air as she worked her magic. The tiny point of flame dancing between them flickered out when they noticed me.

Melly was sprawled on her nap mat in the corner, fast asleep, her tiny chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths.

Dizzi grinned, her sharp teeth showing. “My lord! Perfect timing. I was just teaching Elana how to snuff out small flames with her magic. Just in case Melly lights something on fire.”

The goblin girl had some magic of her own, but I hadn’t thought of having her help Elana control hers. It was a great idea.

“That is a sound plan,” I said. “I trust your lessons are fruitful?”

“I’m having a lot more success now than when I tried using my magic before.”

“As I said,” Dizzi said with a grin, “it’s the mountain air. I can’t imagine how stifling it must be in the city.”

“Well then, perhaps Elana should accompany me as I make my rounds. I haven’t checked up with Kai for a while.”

“Oh! You’re going to love Kai. He’s our moat monster. Kai Kraken,” Dizzi said. “He’s nice as long as he isn’t hungry. You two run along now, I’m fine dealing with a sleeping baby dragon.”

The courtyard was alive with summer, from the buzz of cicadas to the scent of blooming jasmine. Elana squinted against the brightness, her sundress catching the warm breeze as we stepped onto the stone path.

“So,” she said, her voice light but curious. “A kraken shifter. You mentioned him the first day, but I totally forgot. I’ve actually never met a kraken before.”

The moat stretched before us, its dark waters still and silent. I stopped at the edge, scanning the surface. “Kai!” I called. “You decent?”

A ripple broke the water’s surface, and then a massive tentacle emerged, curling over the stone ledge. A moment later, Kai’s very human-looking head broke the surface, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement.