Cara bustled around serving not only muffins, but beverages and wedges of cheesecake. The Watcher also set a bowl of chopped kumquats out on the counter for Sparkle, and the Phoenix settled herself to eat with happy chortling noises.
Cara treated Jacques with a firm but friendly tolerance as she directed him to a seat between Neil and the chair Alex pulled out. No doubt to keep his aroma—and other things—away from Millie.
Tyrez approved. They needed Millie focused. Jacques, however, appeared less than pleased with the arrangement.
Meanwhile, Neil’s gaze hardened as he scanned Tyrez’s body leaning against the doorframe. “You against wearing clothes?”
Tyrez snorted. “I am clothed.” He’d caught the glances the women sent his way. Was aware of his effect on them. He may have lacked Jacque’s unique pheromones, but he didn’t need them to attract attention. The Dragon was generally amused by people’s stares.
Neil, however, had always had issues with the scaled look. “That isn’t clothed. You might be scaly, but you’re naked.”
Tyrez shrugged. “Deal with it.”
The Sabre shot him a glare. Sarah reached over to lay a hand on his arm, and his expression softened, his eyes taking on the unfocused look that told Tyrez she spoke to him telepathically. Sarah was Neil’s mate. She was also linked mentally to her twin, Emily, and then, through her, to Emily’s mate, Alex.
It made for a lot of long silences in conversations. Tyrez had become accustomed to being only an occasional participant.
As Alex buttered a muffin, Tyrez’s gaze fell to the livid marks on the Dire’s arms. Healed, but recent, and distinctively different from those left by claws and teeth.
With their scales for protection, Dragons ended up with far fewer scars than Dires or Sabres. Neil was covered in them as well, but Alex’s were particularly relevant—many of them were due to Rindek’s distinctive icewhip. The Archmage had captured and tortured Alex. His entire body provided evidence of that gruesome story.
Cara added a platter of brownies to the table and then handed Tyrez a buttered scone.
“I am fine, thank you.”
“It’s a scone, Tyrez,” Cara pointed out. “Cheese, even. Low sugar.”
“Just take it,” Neil said with a roll of his eyes.
Tyrez sighed and took the buttery scone from her.
Cara finally seated herself.
The Sabre took a sip of his coffee, smacked his lips, and said, “Okay, let’s get this show on the road.” His eyes leveled on Dani, who sat very still. “We need to know what you saw and heard while around Rindek.”
Dani swallowed. “I was around Remy more than Rindek.”
Tyrez straightened from the doorframe. “You mentioned that Rindek recruited, rather than grabbed, you?”
The twins shot her startled looks. “He didn’t kidnap you?” Sarah asked.
The slightest spasm passed across Dani’s face, and she glanced at the door for what must have been the eighth time. Tyrez doubted she had any idea how transparent she was about wanting to bolt.
Her voice was distinctly strained. “He approached me on the street. At first, I told him to get lost. But he persisted.” She swallowed. “The deal sounded too good to pass up. I should have known better.”
Tyrez’s gaze narrowed. “What did he promise you?”
Dani’s eyes flashed at him. Her mouth pulled straight, and she looked down at the muffin before she answered. “He promised I would be strong. Powerful.” She sliced the muffin in half. “Remy did a shift, showed me the wolf. I thought I would—that it would get me off the streets for good.”
She’d been about to say something else. She would what? Start a new life? But Tyrez could well imagine that an offer to get off the streets would have appeal.
Emily stared at Dani. “Did he keep that promise?”
Dani’s gaze shot to the twin, and away again. “I am stronger than I was before.”
It was Alex who nailed it. “He didn’t tell you about having to be mated to Remy to achieve it, did he?”
Dani stiffened, then she shook her head. “When I found out, I—I tried to run. But they caught me.”
