Page 34 of Glow

Do you have time for a video call? Boone typed. I think I found out some information about your dragon.

Sure, Dan replied, and moments later found himself face-to-face with Bigfoot.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“I have been asking around, and I think I have found some information on your dragon, most likely a Tatzelwurm,” Boone replied in a voice as deep and gruff as Dan had always imagined for a Bigfoot.

“Thank you, that’s what the people here think too.” Dan breathed a sigh of relief. “So far, I haven’t gotten a lot of specifics, especially if I’m supposed to help stop it.”

“Maybe I can help,” Boone said. “Aim for the head, the most vulnerable part. Its body has scales, so anything you shoot at it needs to be heavy-duty. Steer clear of the claws, some stories say they are poisoned, as is its bite.”

“Lovely,” Dan muttered.

“Do not lose hope,” Boone replied. “I was not able to find anyone who had actually seen or fought one, apparently they are pretty rare, but the stories make it clear they can be overcome even if they cannot be killed.”

“Which is why it was probably locked in a cave before someone let it out,” Dan supplied.

“You think that is what happened?” Boone paused a moment, perhaps thinking. “That would make sense. It is supposed to be susceptible to magic, so maybe you and your friends have one team that corrals and weakens it and the other that forces it into a cave or a mine, somewhere you can lock it up for good.”

“That helps,” Dan told him. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” Boone replied. “Researching such a fascinating project was interesting. Just let me know if you need anything else.”

Dan said goodbye and ended the video call, thinking about what he had heard. He sipped his tea and knew he was going to need to find a way to tell Quinn.

We have allies, Wally pointed out. We will figure it out.

I feel bad about attracting trouble to Fox Hollow, but then again, I don’t think we could fight off either the bounty hunter or the wurm alone, Dan said.

Then we are where we’re supposed to be. It will work out, Wally said with more certainty than Dan felt, but he didn’t argue.

He glanced at his phone and found texts from Quinn, then double-checked the time and realized it was closer to dinner than he had thought.

Quinn: I’m heading to town. Lots to tell you. I’ll pick up food on my way. How does rotisserie chicken with all the fixings sound?

Dan’s stomach rumbled.

Dan: Fine with me. I’ve got a lot to fill you in on too. See you soon.

His thoughts spun, and while he still felt in over his head, knowing that he had allies—and magic—on his side kept him from having a panicked meltdown.

We will figure it out, Wally reminded him. We have before, and we’ll do it again.

CHAPTER 6

QUINN

Quinn woke up hard, hungry, and alone. He had fallen asleep not long after a late call with Dan, knowing that he had an early morning ahead of him. He’d come home rather than staying over at the hotel since he didn’t want to disturb Dan when he had to leave.

Even so, his dreams were troubled. He imagined a faceless danger chasing Dan through the forest. His imagination conjured an image of the wurm, although Quinn hadn’t seen it himself, and in another dream vignette, he saw it menace Dan just beyond his own reach to intervene.

Quinn tossed and turned, trying to get back to sleep. He finally gave up an hour before his alarm was set to go off and went to make a pot of coffee.

He sipped the hot beverage and wrapped his hand around the mug, focusing on the sheer sensual pleasure. Speaking of which… his mind jumped from satiating one hunger with another, thinking about his coupling with Dan.

He was so afraid I’d think less of him for a lack of experience. He doesn’t understand how sexy it is to be his first, especially since we’re not kids anymore, Quinn thought.

Quinn remembered Dan’s body, toned but not hairy, sleek and strong. He had yet to see Dan’s daemon side, and he hoped the other man would trust him with that secret soon. His hand fell to his cock inside his loose sleep pants as he thought about Dan’s scent, musk with an odd but alluring tang. Quinn wondered if it went with his cryptid side. He leaned against the counter as he stroked himself.