As Oliver led Davina upstairs, the pair of them chatting and laughing—Oliver pouring on the charm he’d never bothered to use with me—I only barely restrained myself from following.While Davina bathed, I had things to do, such as ensuring the house was secure to avoid any unexpected overnight surprises.We were only about ten miles from Loch Ness.Close enough for Nessie to send a large force of minions.Would she?Would she already know Davina had arrived in Inverness?If she did, she had to know Davina meant to visit her.Then again, nothing the moody dragon had done thus far indicated she’d have the patience to wait.
A smiling Oliver returned.“What a lovely woman.So charming, which is surprising, as I thought professors had a duty to be dusty and dull.”
I tamped down the urge to eat Oliver’s face.“While Davina is occupied, tell me, what has Nessie been up to of late?”
“You know I cannot speak of my clients.”Oliver didn’t just manage my affairs.The wulver also worked for other nonhumans who needed someone who could handle their business in public.
“Don’t pull that fucking shit with me,” I warned.“Nessie is up to something, and I want to know what.”
“Because of Davina.”
I could have lied and given a plausible excuse, but given Oliver’s obvious interest in her, I nodded.“The Red Cap that invaded my home claimed it was there to abduct her, but that belies the fact it first tried to kill her.”
“My theory on that would be Nessie’s control over them isn’t perfect.Most likely it initially tried to act as it normally would, and then her command kicked in.I assume you took care of it.”
I snorted.“As if I’d leave that smelly thing loose on my isle.And your theory is the same as mine.While the one that invaded my castle is dead, the killer of the maid in Mallaig remains on the loose, possibly heading here.”
“Nessie wouldn’t dare send one of her minions to my home.She knows I’d drop her as a client, and then what would she do?”
“If she’s thinking clearly, she’ll think twice before pissing you off, but given she sent a Red Cap to my castle, knowing how it would anger me, I wouldn’t put it past her.”
Oliver poured himself another glass of brandy and took a sip before softly saying, “You didn’t hear this from me, but in the past few weeks, she’s had me looking for evidence of other dragons.”
That arched my brow.“Did she say why?”
“No, but perhaps she sensed a change in the world.After all, it is unusual so many were born in such a short period, especially seeing as how there’s been none for centuries.”
“Have you told her about the hatchlings?”
Oliver shook his head.“No, but I don’t know how long I can keep the secret, given she’s got a new seer advising her.”
“Meaning she’s probably already aware and just wants confirmation.”I rubbed my chin.“I don’t think we want her getting near those babies.”
“Hardly likely, since she can’t leave her loch.”
“No, but she might convince them to come to her.”
“For what reason?I didn’t take her for maternal type.”
“She’s not, and given how unstable she’s become these past few years, I’d fear for their safety.”
“You say that, and yet you’re going to visit the loch with the lovely professor.”
Don’t hit him.A dragon is above such things as petty jealousy.“I tried to talk Davina out of it, but she’s rather determined.Has Nessie said anything about Davina?”
“No.What would she want with a history professor?Then again, I guess I could ask the same of you,” Oliver drawled.
“Getting involved was never my intention.”
“Yet you revealed yourself to her.”
“By accident.It was the only way to save her when she fell off a cliff,” I grumbled.
The claim arched Oliver’s brow.“You exposed yourself to rescue a human?Well, color me surprised.And now, here you are, together.”A wolfish smile finished off the statement.
“We’re not a couple,” I barked.“I’m here because Nessie sent one of her filthy creatures to my home.”
“And you’re curious what she wants with Davina.”
