He laughed, and I smiled in reflex. It was good to see, after all the terrible things I’d seen in his past, that his laughter could still come so easily. It gave credence to my theory that Draven was just exceptionally easy going and happy. He was quiet a lot, but he always felt content to me. Like Zian did when he was lazing out in the sun.
“Well, you do. Not control, per se. But the weather for miles around you definitely reacts to your moods. It’s something like a pet to you. When you’re happy, it’s happy. When you’re in danger, it growls and bites. When you’re angry, it’s angry.”
“That could be fun.” I waggled my eyebrows. The weather was like my pet, huh? I'd have to make use of that.
He chuckled. “I’ll definitely always know when you’re mad at me.”
Hmm, this new rainmaker thing had promise. I sighed, feeling beat. “Well, I’d better get Zian and me to bed.” I leaned in and kissed Draven’s scruffy cheek. “Thanks, Draven.”
He stilled for a moment, then squeezed my hand before he released me. “Pleasant dreams, Mia.”
“You too, Boss.”
“Draven,” he corrected.
“You too, Boss Draven.”
His warm chuckle followed me as I left the study.
Chapter9
Mia
Saturday night was my date with Rhys, whom Draven acknowledged had enough power to protect me for the night. He’d acknowledged it grudgingly, but still. Mesmer was my bodyguard for the night. I looked behind me and saw one of the villa’s cars taking the curve we’d just sped past.
Rhys was driving, and the elf didnotknow the meaning of a peaceful joy ride. He drove like flaming tongues of fire were licking at our wheels. What was it with the guys in my life driving like NASCAR racers!
“Slow down, Geezer. I think you left your dentures back at that last turn.”
Rhys, cool as a cucumber, looked over at me and smirked. It was a gorgeous night. The top was down on his convertible, and the stars were shining above us. The moon was full and gleaming.
“You look great, by the way.”
I glanced down at my dress. It was a silver, cold shoulder, fringed, beaded dress that went down to just above my knee. There was a single, thin strap to keep the dress up, and the cold shoulder had fringed beading, and then from there the fringe fell in layers down to my knees. I was wearing starlight blue high-heels with it, and a bracelet that connected with a ring. I had glittering opal earrings on and my hair fell in soft curls down my back. My eyelids were smoked to perfection, and I had on my signature lip gloss.
I felt like a million bucks tonight.
“You’re not getting to go home with me tonight, you know,” I told my best friend. “No matter how much you sweet talk me.”
Rhys’s celestial purple eyes sparkled at me. “How’s about a kiss?” he asked in a leering voice.
“Eww, no. Best friend, not lover. You can hold my hand a little, but that’s it. Is Dice working tonight?” I asked, just to get a rise out of him. He flinched, and I smiled evilly. Poor Rhys. He was all kinds of mixed up about that pixie.
“Yeah, she’s working the bar.” He threw a quick scowl in my direction. Quick, because he was approaching mach 8 with his convertible, and he had to focus because I was very, very breakable. “I know what you’re doing. Stop bringing her up.”
“I know you have a crush on her. It’s okay to admit it, Geezer.”
Rhys grew quiet. “I don’t know what I feel about her,” he finally admitted quietly. “She’s hurting, Mia. Like,reallyhurting. And she’s scared. There’s nothing at all in her body language to suggest it, but I can feel it.”
“I know,” I admitted quietly as Rhys pushed the button to bring the top up. As the wind died down, and I released my death grip on my hair, I patted the hand that was closest to me. “She feels strong to me. She’ll work through it. And we’ve got her back. Whatever she’s running from, we’ll help.”
Rhys’s fingers whitened on the steering wheel, and a vein popped in his neck. “It’s wrong what people do to other people sometimes.”
“Whoever she’s running from isn’t a paranormal, right? ‘Cause then they could just get through the barrier?” I asked, suddenly afraid for my friend.
He sighed. “I don’t know. I hope they’re human, whoever they are. I hope she’s safe here.”
“Yeah.” We were quiet for a few minutes, and then I changed the subject. “So, tell me about your theme tonight at The Laughing Elf.”
