“I know it will work.”
“They cannot under any circumstances know about Daniel,” I stated firmly.
My life was expendable. My son’s was not.
“As you wish.” Seth nodded and pulled me into his strong arms.
I relaxed and let his steady warmth sink into me. However, something held me back from telling him about emptying my father’s coffers. As much as I trusted Seth, if the Resistance didn’t accept me, I still needed a plan. Seth was part of the Resistance. If they denied me, I would not ask him to choose. Daniel was my first priority and no matter how wonderful Seth was, he would always come second.
“Can you come to dinner with me at Essie’s? All my friends will be there and Daniel will too. He’ll be so disappointed if he doesn’t see you.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I need to meet these Wolves and Vampyres that accept Dragons,” Seth said, squeezing me tight. “I’ll leave after dinner and you’ll meet me at midnight tonight.”
“Where am I meeting you?” I asked, silently beginning to second-guess my quick acquiescence.
“Chicago.”
Thank God, I knew Chicago well. If I needed to make a quick escape, it would be far easier in a city I was familiar with. Seth might be correct. I hadn’t been successful on my own. Even if I drained my father’s assets, he would still have a small group of loyal followers. It could be strategically outstanding if I had an army of my own. His death would be more assured and I could die on my 500th birthday knowing Daniel would be safe.
But if Seth would mate with me, I might get a happily ever after…
“You ready to meet my ragtag pack?” I asked as I pushed my hopeful thoughts away and focused on the man in front of me.
“Am I?” he questioned with a lopsided grin.
“Probably not, but I can promise you’ll have fun.”
With one last sweet hug he let me go and extended his hand. “Let’s do it. No one is going to believe me if I regale them with this story, but I’ve been waiting a long time to break bread with a species other than Dragon.”
I giggled at his proper speech and took his hand. I knew I was older by at least a hundred years, but Seth was an old fashioned Dragon all the way. A gentleman was a new thing for me—and I liked it.
Steadfast and kind were good. Fireworks exploded. I needed no more painful infernos in my life. Seth was the man for me.
***
“My gay-dar says Seth’s as straight as an arrow and my eyes say he’s hotter than Satan’s underpants on fire,” Dwayne whispered, fanning himself dramatically as we plated the hors d’oeuvres Essie had ordered in from the one fancy restaurant in Hung.
I popped a shrimp into my mouth and grinned at Dwayne.
“Dude,” Essie gushed as she emptied containers of steak, potatoes and braised veggies onto platters. “He’s amazing—funny, hot and so good with Daniel. If I was into cross species dating, I would have jumped his bones so fast.”
“Excuse me,” Hank growled. “Your mate is standing in the kitchen.”
“You’re the only one for me, Sexy Pants,” Essie reassured him with a laugh and a quick grab of her jealous Wolf’s ass. “I’m just doing a compare and contrast for Dima.”
“Will I ever understand women?” Hank muttered as he wandered back to the den with beers for the guys.
“Nope, not unless you start playing for my team,” Dwayne called out as Junior and Sandy rushed into the kitchen.
“Dangit, there’s been a break in at the hardware store. I’m gonna have to skedaddle,” Junior said as he grabbed a steak and basically swallowed it whole.
“Humans or Weres?” Essie asked, slapping his hand before he could pilfer another steak.
“Humans,” Sandy said as she quickly ate a few sausage stuffed mushroom caps. “Oh my God, these are so good. Sorry we’re going to miss dinner.”
“You’re going too?” I asked trying to hide my grin.
“Um…well,” she stuttered as a blush began to rise on her pretty face.
“Yep, tonight is mine and Sandy’s first date. We’re just gonna apprehend the dumbasses, throw them in the overnight lock up and then go make out for a few hours,” Junior confirmed with a thumbs up.
“That’s not exactly how it’s going to go,” Sandy warned him with her eyes flashing. “You might get a goodnight kiss if you behave, but that’s it, buster.”
“She is so into me,” Junior said with a shit-eating grin.
Her eye roll beat all the eye rolls I’d ever seen. My bark of laughter was echoed by both Essie and Dwayne.
“Let me tell ya something,” Junior said to me as he handed me a squirt gun and a large bottle of solution. “That sumbitch in there is a good man. I like him. Not really crazy ̓bout you going to Chicago, but if Seth says you’ll be okay, I’m apt to believe him. But you’re gonna take this Dragon shit with you. I like Seth, but I’ve never met the rest of the flying bastards. And if you have time, go get yourself a hotdog from that stand behind Wrigley Field. I dream about those wieners.”
Junior’s way with words would never cease to render me silent.
The solution Junior referred to was something he’d developed to prohibit a Dragon’s shift. Every time I doubted his brilliance, I just needed to remember this fact. When I’d first met Essie and Hank, they’d made me drink the solution. It worked. The vile liquid left me defenseless. While I didn’t blame them, I hated them for it. However, Essie had risked her life to save me when I was unable to defend myself. It showed her true character and she’d gained my fickle trust.