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"One dragon," I said, shivering. "Please, can we talk about this later? If you force me to choose, I guarantee you won't like my response. And neither will I, because I don't think you'd take it very well."
But as I gazed into his frost-shaded eyes, a flicker of uncertainty made me wonder. "Smoky, I don't even pretend to understand why you've chosen me to be your mate. You're… a dragon. I can't give you children, I'll die long before you. Look at everything you've seen and experienced."
"Your father loved your mother," he said simply.
I swallowed. That was true, but this seemed so… so different. "All I know is that you're incredible. When you touch me, I forget where I am. I forget what's going on out there with the demons and the war, and everything that's horrible." I pointed toward the door.
"And that's a bad thing?" he asked, looking confused.
"No!" How could I explain so that he'd understand? Or maybe he did, and just didn't want to acknowledge it. "Smoky, I feel safe around you in a way I've never felt before, even if I don't particularly feel safe from you. Don't make me choose. Don't try to break my oath to Trillian, because I don't want to walk away from you. And I will, if it comes to that."
"Then let me make you forget your worries. For now." He leaned down and kissed me, and all words were forgotten as my dragon took me to bed and made love to me again, and again, and again.
When I woke at first light, Smoky was sitting in a chair in the corner. He was staring at me so intently that I thought something might be wrong. But when I asked, he just shook his head.
"Just watching you sleep," he said.
I climbed out of the tangled bedcovers and stretched. Smoky held out his arms, and I walked over and slid onto his lap. I thought he was going to suggest another romp between the sheets and tried to think of an excuse. He'd worn me out the night before, and I felt like I'd be walking bowlegged for days. As much as I enjoyed sex, I didn't think I had it in me for another go this morning. But instead of motioning to the bed, he just pointed to my bag.
"Pack. While you dress, I'll make breakfast." And then he was out the door, shutting it softly behind him.
By the time I washed up and dressed, Smoky had fried up eggs and sausage and more potatoes. Morio was setting the table, and he glanced at me. I gave him a wan smile. If this had been one day with Smoky, I couldn't imagine what a solid week would be like. I'd probably forget my name by that point. After we ate and returned to the living room, Morio wandered over to the edge of the cavern.
"Where does the cave lead to?" he asked, staring down into the ravine.
Smoky shrugged. "To a series of underground tunnels. There's an exit that I can fly out from in my natural form. And if I should choose to alter the vibration of the portals, I can enter other realms from there."
"All of your exits and entrances are protected, aren't they?" A sudden image of demons storming Smoky's lair assaulted me.>"Smoky obviously knows his demonology. Raksasas are masters of illusion," Morio said. "He was just making certain I'm not the demon taking the shape of someone you know and trust."
I blinked. "I hadn't thought of that."
"Well, you should," Smoky said. "You and your sisters have to start thinking the way your enemy thinks—cunning and devious and without compunction. The demons certainly won't cut you any slack for sloppy thinking. Know this, Camille: They are ruthless. Demonkin make dragons look like choirboys. They enjoy pain, they enjoy torture, and they suckle death like a baby suckles its mother's teat."
He paced the room. "I don't like you being involved in this. The Elemental Lords caused this entire situation when they gave away the spirit seals, and they refuse to take responsibility for cleaning up the mess. I have no truck with any of them, save for the Harvestmen and the Queen of Snow and Ice." He paused. "I'd say dump the entire problem in their laps."
"You really think that's feasible? That they'd even blink? Most of the Elemental Lords don't give a crap about humanity—"
Smoky held up his hand as I started to protest. "I know, I know. You can't… or rather you won't walk away. As misguided as I think you are, I admire you for it." He turned back to Morio. "Tell me, you say you smelled a demon. Did you, by any chance, catch wind of the fragrances of orange and jasmine? And, perhaps, sugar vanilla?"
Morio frowned, squinting. After a moment he nodded. "Now that you mention it, yes, I do remember those scents. They were everywhere in the shop. An odd combination, like a perfume that was on the verge of crystallizing. Too sweet," he said. "It was too sweet. It cloyed on the tongue, smelling like it was on the edge of decay."
"Then rest assured, you have a Raksasa on your hands." Smoky opened the drawer on the end table nearest him and pulled out a pipe, tamping it full with herb from a leather pouch. He leaned back and motioned to me. "Camille, light my pipe, if you will."
With a glance at Morio—I never did things like that at home—I shook my head. "You know smoke of just about any kind bothers both Delilah and me." But I crossed to Smoky's chair and knelt by his side. "No smoking inside while I'm here. I have to insist. Please," I added.
"This is a side of you I've never seen," Morio said, an odd look on his face, like he might actually find the idea of me playing the submissive girlfriend appealing.
"Don't get any ideas," I muttered, flashing him a snarky grin.
"Oh, I always have ideas when I'm around you," he quipped back.
Smoky cleared his throat and put away his pipe. "Not a problem."
"Why did you say we definitely have a Raksasa on hand?" Morio leaned back in his chair, sipping his brandy.
Smoky shrugged. "Those scents, or rather, the combination, is their natural fragrance. Here, Earthside, it can easily pass as a perfume, so most people wouldn't pay it a second thought. The only reason I know is because when I heard you might be facing one, I called in a few favors and gathered what information I could."
He said it as calmly as he might have been giving us the weather report, but both Morio and I turned to stare at him. I threw myself into his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck.
