When Rune's mansion came into view, Maple's breath caught in her throat. The structure rose from the desert landscape like something out of a medieval fantasy, all towering stone walls and Gothic arches that seemed to have been carved directly from the canyon itself. It wasn't just a house—it was a fortress, built to withstand centuries and designed to intimidate anyone who approached. The architecture blended seamlessly with the natural rock formations, as if the building had grown from the earth rather than being constructed upon it.
"Holy shit," Ben breathed beside her, his usual filter completely abandoned.
Maple couldn't find words. The sheer scale of the place spoke to wealth beyond anything she'd imagined, but more than that, it spoke to permanence. To a lineage that had been here long before Phoenix existed, long before Arizona was even a state.
Rune's not just powerful. He's ancient.
"So you're the CEO of Trigg Corporation too?" she blurted out, her voice cutting through the vehicle's silence. "Besides being an Alpha of this hidden dragon town."
Rune's reflection appeared in the side mirror, those blue eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. "Yes, the very same."
The casual way he said it—as if being a billionaire CEO and a dragon shifter was perfectly normal—made her head spin. How many other impossibilities were hiding in plain sight? How many corporate leaders and politicians and celebrities were actually something other than human?
She looked at Ben, whose expression mirrored her own bewilderment. Everything they'd thought they knew about the world had just been revealed as a carefully maintained illusion.
The man driving pulled the SUV to a stop in front of the mansion's imposing entrance, and they climbed out into the desert evening. The man gave Rune a meaningful look before driving away without a word, leaving them standing before the fortress-like structure.
"Who was that?" Maple asked as they approached the massive wooden doors. "Your assistant?"
"No, that was Kade, my second-in-command," Rune replied, pulling out what looked like a high-tech key card. "He's much more than an assistant. He's the person that helps this whole place function and stay safe, helps me function. Has been for centuries."
"Centuries?" Ben's voice cracked slightly on the word.
Rune paused in unlocking the door, his mouth quirking into something that might've been amusement.
"How old are you exactly?" Ben pressed, apparently deciding to abandon all pretense of tact.
"Five hundred years old."
Maple nearly dropped the treasure chest. Ben's mouth fell open completely.
"Before you ask," Rune continued, seemingly unfazed by their shock, "no, I'm not immortal. My kind just lives a long time. Approximately eight hundred years, give or take."
Five hundred years old?
Maple's mind reeled as she tried to process the implications. He'd been alive during the founding of America. Had probably watched Phoenix grow from desert wilderness into a sprawling city. Had accumulated wealth and knowledge and experience across centuries while she'd barely managed three decades of existence.
The security system beeped softly as Rune disarmed it, and then the massive doors swung open to reveal an interior that stole what remained of her breath. The grand foyer stretched upward into shadows, lit by wrought-iron chandeliers that cast dancing patterns across walls lined with artifacts that belonged in the world's greatest museums. Ancient weapons hung beside oil paintings that looked like they predated European colonization. Tapestries depicting scenes from mythology—dragon mythology, she realized with a start—adorned the spaces between doorways that led deeper into the mansion.
But it was the sheer volume of treasures that made her archaeologist's heart race. Sculptures that had to be priceless. Pottery that looked Mesopotamian. Jewelry that sparkled with gems she couldn't even identify. This wasn't just a collection—it was a hoard in the truest sense, accumulated across centuries by creatures who valued beauty and rarity above all else.
"Wow," Ben said, his voice barely a whisper. "You have an impressive hoard here. This must be worth a fortune."
Rune's expression hardened slightly. "All of this has been in my family for millennia, and I protect it with my life. So don't get any ideas."
Ben threw his hands up in mock surrender. "I'm not—I'm just admiring the history here."
Rune nodded, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "If you two want to get cleaned up, the guest wing is up the grand staircase and down the corridor to the right. Take the first two rooms on the left." He paused, and Maple caught something almost vulnerable in his expression. "I haven't had guests in centuries, but the maid still keeps everything fresh."
Then his gaze found hers, and she felt that same electric pull she'd experienced in Bram's office. For a moment, his carefully controlled mask slipped, revealing something raw and possessive that made her pulse quicken.
"Dinner will be served in an hour, if you care to join me," Rune said, his voice rougher than before. "Again, I haven't entertained guests in a long time, but you should find the accommodations and food suitable."
"Thank you for your hospitality," Maple managed, acutely aware of how his attention focused on her like a physical touch. "And for offering us protection."
"Yes, thanks," Ben added, still glancing around at the treasures surrounding them. "We really appreciate it. Didn't mean to cause all this hassle for you."
"It's no trouble," Rune replied, though his eyes never left Maple's face. "Just get settled, and I'll see you in an hour to discuss next steps."
