Page 32 of Dragon Unleashed
“For Hades’ sake, screamer,” I snap.
His face falls and I regret my words immediately.
“Sorry, Hewie. Chano must be rubbing off on me.”
He shrugs. “Used to it.”
I squeeze his arm. “No, really, that was shitty.”
He shrugs again.
“I…uh…wasn’t expecting to meet you here though.” They’re an odd combination together: Hewie, who might die of embarrassment if he looks at a girl, and Zephyr, the womanizer extraordinaire.
The toilet flushes and Zephyr makes his way into the room, his brow furrowing when he takes me in.
“Farrell’s in a pissy mood,” Hewie explains. “And Zephyr’s not allowed to hang out with girls, so I’m keeping him company.”
My jaw nearly hits the floor. Zephyr’s not allowed… I swallow my laughter and cock an eyebrow at Hewie.
“His lover gets mad jealous.”
Zephyr flings himself into a pile of beanbags with a dramatic groan. “For Hades’ sake, Hewie, keep it quiet, all right? I have a rep to maintain.”
Holy hags. Hewie’s not exaggerating? It’s true? Professor Allegra—Alice—has reeled Zephyr in. Acid burns in my throat. It’s not right. He’s a free spirit and she’s a damn professor.
“You shouldn’t let her control you.”
“I’m not,” Zephyr protests. “Life’s just easier like this.”
“I’d have thought you’d have had enough of being controlled.” The moment the words are out, I regret them.
Zephyr stiffens, rubbing the slave mark hidden at the nape of his neck. His eyes are unfocused as he stares off into the middle distance.
“Sorry. I obviously got out on the wrong side of bed this morning.” My confession at least wrings grins from the pair of them. I settle my ass onto Zephyr’s bed, tracing the patterns in the beautiful silky sheets with my fingers.
“Look, Hewie, I don’t want to break up the party, but I need to talk to Zephyr.”
Hewie deflates and starts for the door but Zephyr catches him by the arm.
“He stays. I invited him. You just forced your way in.”
I sigh, standing and moving until I’m hovering over Zephyr.
“Fine. I’ll just do it with an audience.”
I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I was going to go through with it until I’m pressing the stone into his hand. Silas’ stone.
Zephyr glances between the stone and me, rolling it between his fingers. He cocks his head to one side and brings it toward his face, sniffing it. With a confused expression, he sticks his tongue out, tasting the rock.
“What the fuck, Z?”
“It’s a rock?”
“Yeah, no shit. Do you just lick random crap now?”
“Sometimes I get visions if I interact…” He blushes and glances away.
I shake my head and perch beside him on the cushions.
