With a deep sigh, I leaned back in my chair and ran a hand down my face. “Please, just tell me what you gave Madam Shadow as a mating gift.” Our initial encounter had been a complete mess. Yet if the little human could be swayed by the perfect gift, then perhaps she’d forget the whole thing.
If there was one thing I had absolute confidence in, it was my hoard. Centuries of treasure-hunting had left my clan one of the richest families in history. Not that there was anyone left but my sister and me to enjoy the spoils. Though Kohara had little interest in the family fortune. As one of the few remaining dragonesses around, all she had to do was snap her fingers and any unmated male in the area would come running with jewels in hand. Most of her time was spent away from the castle, gallivanting around with her latest person of interest.
Which of course meant the majority of the spoils went to me, to do with as I saw fit. The ground level of my castle was meticulously arranged to entice even the most fickle dragoness. I could only keep my fingers crossed and hope that a human female would be equally pleased.
My jaw clenched as I glanced over my hoard. Gold coins blanketed the floor until the stone beneath was completely hidden. Chests filled to the brim with jewels and finery were tastefully strewn about the room to give the eye places to rest. Ivory statues carved from the legendary demon walrus Baldantu sat proudly on each side of a golden throne. If she didn’t care for jewels, then perhaps a fur coat from the enchanted treasure room.
The corner of his mouth twitched into a grin. “Nothing,” he said simply.
I froze. “What do you mean nothing?” I asked.
Fallon shrugged, “We were a little busy hunting down that lich’s chalices. There wasn’t time for tradition.”
Baffled, I leaned in closer. “So how did you get her to fall in love with you?”
“I licked her cunt.”
He had to be joking. “Is it truly so easy?” I asked.
Fallon crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “I imagine it would help. Look, if you want my advice, pick out something nice and shiny and tell her exactly what’s going on. I was a fool and refused to tell Rabbit from the beginning that she was my fated mate. Instead, I panted after her like a wyvern in heat for almost a full month before she gave in.”
I shuddered at the thought.
“From what she’s told me, that wait could have been cut down to a few days. She’ll need time to get used to the idea, as humans don’t choose partners the same way we do. But if your woman is anything like Rabbit, then she’ll come around after mulling it over. It’s not as if she’ll have much choice now that you’ve given her your magic. The honeymoon phase is impossible to ignore for long.”
“Don’t remind me,” I said. The pull to return to Cherry’s side had gnawed at me ever since I had woken up from my stupor. I went to the nearest chest and plucked a string of pearls from its contents. I turned back to Fallon and held it up for inspection. “What about this?”
He tilted his head, considering. “Pearls are fine, I suppose.”
“You suppose?” I countered.
His mouth formed a thin line as he inspected the necklace further. “Try something with a more lustrous shine. Pearls are nice, but they don’t shine and catch the eye as much as diamonds.”
I nodded in understanding. “You’re right. This is far too dull.” I tossed the necklace aside and turned back to the chest, only to nearly leap out of my skin when a blur of white jumped on top of it. “Gah!”
Rebekah let off a yowl before leaping off the chest to rub her head against my ankle. In an instant, my headache returned.
“You snuck off with Baraku’s cat?” Fallon asked.
I backed away from the creature and dusted the fur off my pants. “I didn’t sneak away with anything. The damn beast must have hidden itself away in my bag.”
The cat stretched herself out on a pile of coins and turned her back to us.
“Well, the little intruder may work in your favor.” Fallon said, eyeing the beast. “Women like small animals.”
Annoyed, I turned away and dug further into the chest. “Fine, but if it pisses in here, I’m turning it into a handbag.”
Focusing on the task in hand, I disregarded anything made of pearls or opal. Neither seemed to suit Cherry. Thinking back, I couldn’t recall Madam Shadow or Brie wearing much jewelry. Usha, on the other hand, had been quite taken with a pair of golden earrings we’d looted off a Toska naval ship back in spring.
“Dante, is that what I think it is?” Fallon called from behind me. When I glanced around, I saw him pointing at a trident protruding from a cluster of sapphires.
Shit. I should have hidden that before I scried him. Fallon and I may have been on friendly terms, but he was still another dragon.
His dark eyes grew wide. “That’s Mokas the Blight’s trident, isn’t it?”
“It may be,” I answered, my eyes narrowing in his direction.
Fallon remained transfixed by the trident. “What would you exchange it for?”
