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One of the biggest firms in the city, much bigger than mine. My boss is incredibly jealous of them.
“I don’t remember seeing her at any work functions.”
“Imagine her with light brown hair, none of the goth makeup, and business clothes,” Day says, smirking at the thought.
Wait… there was a woman about her age among the Brooks and Pattinson partners at the last conference. I never would’ve recognized her.
“She scented your dragon right away,” Legend says. “You’d suppressed him almost totally.”
“But her magic is so powerful, she could still tell,” Day says. “She was so excited to find a new dragon for the horde. She asked us to approach you. She couldn’t do it herself because you work for a competitor. You wouldn’t have trusted her.”
“Makes sense,” I say grudgingly.
“She never asked us to seduce you.” Legend’s voice is low and serious. “She only asked us to tell you the truth about yourself.”
“So why did you?” I ask. “Seduce me?”
“Because we wanted to. Duh,” Day says. “You’re smoking hot.”
His lips twitch into a sexy grin. I frown back, not ready to cave just yet. Day reaches out to touch my cheek.
“Don’t be mad, baby dragon,” he breathes.
“I’m so sorry, Ash,” Legend says.
“So am I,” Day says.
He kicks his feet like a shamefaced little child. My heart is melting fast, my pride no match for how adorable they’re being right now.
“Forgive us?” Legend says.
“Prove I mean something to you,” I say. “Prove it wasn’t all an act.”
“I can do that.” Legend’s eyes get intense. It’s a little alarming, the way he’s suddenly looking at me.
“How?” I say.
“This might sound crazy. I wasn’t going to mention it for a few months at least.” Legend grabs my hand and rubs hypnotic circles over the base of my thumb. “But since you’re being so annoyingly stubborn right now, refusing to believe I’ve fallen for you…”
My heartbeat thunders in my chest. I can’t rip my gaze from Legend’s intense eyes.
“I want to claim you, little dragon,” he says.
Day roars, breathing a plume of angry smoke.
“No fucking way,” he explodes. “I’m claiming him.”
Day suddenly shifts. His clothes tear and his precious jewelry is ripped asunder by the magic. Gold pieces clink to the ground like pennies. He rises up into his mammoth dragon form. Horns sprout from his head. Scales cover his skin. Legend is right behind him. His huge gray dragon stands proudly in the streetlight, neon eyes gleaming a challenge. They toss their heads proudly as they face each other. Furious smoke billows from their snouts. My heart beats with excitement. This raw display of power is all for me. Because they want me. Then my brain kicks in. We’re on a suburban street on Halloween. Kids out trick-or treating could appear any time. The dragons don’t care. They’ve forgotten everything but their jealousy. Day paws at the ground like an angry stallion, snorting.
“I challenge you to a duel,” he rasps. “Winner takes Ash.”
“I accept,” Legend snarls, claws rattling.
Shit, shit. It’s getting worse. I shift to my dragon form, wincing as my favorite jacket rips across my shoulders. I jump between them.
“Stop, please,” I say. “This is crazy.”
They ignore me. My dragon heart pounds with fear. There’s no reason in their eyes. Barely any humanity either. Day’s huge tail twitches with rage. His club decapitates a tree like it’s nothing more than a stalk of broccoli. Legend doesn’t give an inch. He bares his teeth and snarls. The sound is low but vibrates with power. I feel sick, imagining their fierce claws ripping each other’s flanks, those battle spikes gouging at each other. I look at my tiny non-claws, then look way up at my dragons’ furious faces. There’s no way I could stop them once battle commences.
