by Jenn Burke
“I was almost buying the amnesia thing,” Morgan hissed. “You’re a good actor, Mr. Bishop.”
“Actor?” Aidan gasped. “No—I’m not lying, I’m—”
“Is there a problem, Detective?”
Nassim suddenly stood beside them, seeming larger than life even though he was in human form. His lips twitched as though he wanted to expose his teeth in a snarl. He didn’t look like a CEO at the moment—he wore only a T-shirt and jeans—but the attitude rolling off him was more than a little intimidating. And yes, sexy too. Aidan wasn’t sure how he’d found them, but he was glad he had.
Morgan stepped back and released Aidan. “No. No problem.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I would hate to have to speak to your superiors regarding the appearance of harassment.”
Morgan glared at Nassim and then turned and stalked off without another word.
Aidan leaned against the wall at his back and rubbed his throat gingerly.
“Are you all right?” Nassim’s voice was slightly softer than it had been with Morgan, but still chilly.
“Fine.” Aidan straightened and adjusted the duffel on his shoulder. “Thanks.”
“Were you—were you planning on—” Nassim huffed a breath, clearly exasperated with himself.
“Coming up to the penthouse?” Aidan supplied. “Yes.”
“Oh.” There was the briefest flash of a smile. “That’s what Luca said, but I—I thought you would prefer to return to your apartment.”
Aidan adjusted his duffel again, even though it didn’t need it. “But that’s not my home, is it?”
Nassim held his gaze for a moment. “No. No, it’s not.”
“Well, then.” Aidan wasn’t sure what he was feeling—relief, want, fear, anger, contentment, or a weird mixture of all of those emotions. He certainly didn’t know what appeared in his expression, but whatever it was, it hadn’t sent Nassim running or made him scowl yet. That was a good sign. “Let’s go.”
They walked through the lobby, got into the elevator, and rode it up, all in awkward silence. Finally, just before they reached the penthouse, Nassim cleared his throat. “Your training was good?”
“Everything’s under control,” Aidan said.
“How do you feel?”
The elevator dinged and they stepped out. It gave Aidan a few moments to prepare his answer, not that the extra time helped him organize his thoughts. “The same but different,” he finally said as he walked toward the couch in the living room and sat down. Nassim followed and sat across from him. Something in Aidan whined soundlessly, but he didn’t protest Nassim’s distance. “I know that doesn’t make any sense.”
“I think it does, actually.”
The validation was comforting, and prompted Aidan to continue. “It’s like…I’m the same person I was, but there’s this feeling of more. I can make the wind rise. I can call a storm.”
“That’s amazing.” Nassim gave him a gentle grin. “I’m proud of you for learning all that in such a short time.”
Either Nassim had let go of the anger he’d displayed at the royal estate, or he was hiding it really well. Aidan wasn’t sure which option was more likely, but he hoped it was the first. He wanted to ask, to discover where they stood, but he refrained. This conversation they were having felt like it might be the start of forging a new connection, and he didn’t want to ruin it. His plan to win Nassim back had to start somewhere.
“It’s exhilarating. I kind of love that I can do it. It’s incredible to be able to control something like the wind, the sky.” His smile faded. “But terrifying too.”
Because there was a tug when he exercised his abilities, as though something was calling him and he wanted to go, to answer.
He wasn’t sure what would happen if he did.
He forced the smile back to his lips, because if asking about Nassim’s anger would ruin the mood, so too would talking about his fears. “Why don’t we go out on the terrace and I’ll demonstrate?”
Nassim returned his smile. “I’d love to.”
Chapter Thirteen
WIN him back.
It seemed like a simple enough concept, and it probably was… if you had memories and context to help you out. But Aidan was missing both of those things, and he had no idea where to start.
But he knew someone who could help.
Jasper slid breathlessly into the opposite side of a booth in the pub across the street from Tuninas. “I’ve gotta be back at my desk in thirty minutes. Oh, nachos. Can I?”
Aidan nudged the mostly full plate in Jasper’s direction. “Knock yourself out.”
Nassim had ordered Aidan to take a few days off work—whether because he needed space or because he was worried Aidan couldn’t handle the stress of being back at the office, Aidan wasn’t sure. But he didn’t say he had to stay in the apartment, not that Aidan would have listened if he had.
“So how was Montreal?”
Aidan shrugged. “I met the king. And his consort. Oh, and the duke of the dragons.”
Jasper’s eyes bugged out. “Really? That’s so cool.”
“And Nassim told me we were mates.”
Jasper sucked in a breath—and started to cough. Aidan scrambled out of the booth to slap Jasper on the back until he waved him off. “I’m good,” he rasped. “Sorry.” He offered a smile to the server, who had brought over a glass of water. “Thank you.”
“You sure you’re all right?” the server asked as Aidan sat back on his side of the booth.
“Yep. Perfectly fine.”
She left with an uncertain look, and Jasper didn’t waste any time turning back to Aidan.
“You and Nassim are what?”
“Mates.”
“Shit.” Jasper sank back into the bench. “Shit. No wonder he was so panicked when you disappeared.”
“So no one else knew?”
“Not that I’m aware of. Goddammit, Nassim.” Jasper scrubbed a hand over his short hair. “Okay. You’re mates. So… you’re, like, married?”
“Dragon married. Kind of. It’s a three-stage ritual, and we completed only two of the stages before I… well.”
“You’re not grinning from ear to ear over this news, so I’m going to assume you don’t want to be mates anymore?”
“No. It’s Nassim who doesn’t want it.” Aidan sighed. “For reasons that I can’t really get into. Just trust me when I say they’re valid, but also stupid.”
“Ha. Okay. That sounds like Nassim.”
“Right?”
“So you’re going to win him back.”
Aidan smiled, happy that Jasper got it. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do. But I need some help. Someone to bounce ideas off of. I don’t really know what I’m doing. It’s not like I have any frame of reference for this sort of thing.”
“What are you thinking? Big gesture, little gesture?”
“I was thinking I’d… make him dinner. I like cooking, so….” He looked at Jasper hopefully. “I found some recipes for traditional dragon meals online.”
Jasper wrinkled his nose. “You did a Google search, huh?”
“Yeah. So?”
“We had an international food festival thing for employees, and Nassim brought a tray of deli meat.”
Aidan frowned. “Uh… that’s really….”
“Right? So I asked him about it. Dragons don’t have traditional dishes. In their dragon form, they eat livestock, or deer, moose, whatever. In human form they eat whatever the humans in their area eat. See, that’s their tradition—to stay hidden by adopting the traditions of the people around them.”
“That makes a lot of sense.” And explained the very bland buffet at the party to celebrate Inas’s eard al’usra. “So we eat a lot of cold meat, huh?”
Jasper grinned. “Yeah. So the recipes you found online are either people trying to capitalize on the uniqueness of dragons or total bullshit.”
“Okay. Traditional dragon dinner is out.” Aidan tapped hi
s fingers against the table. “I could maybe start smaller and get him one of those fidget spinner things for his pocket? Since he likes his worry stones so much.”
“Aidan. Sweetheart. Have you ever seen one of Nassim’s worry stones?”
“No. Why?”
Jasper chuckled. “They’re gems.”
“As in—”
“Rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, oh my.”
Aidan choked.
“Uh-huh. He’s a dragon, and he likes his shinies. So maybe a spinner thingy isn’t the way to go, unless it’s diamond encrusted.”
Aidan rubbed a hand over his face. “Then what do I do? I mean, I don’t remember ever doing this before. I have no basis for it, no background, and all I can think of is to do something special—important—but I don’t know what that might be. I want to convince him I’m a good risk. I’m here for the long haul. I’m not going to disappear again.”
Jasper sobered. “You know you can’t promise that.”
“I’m mythos,” Aidan reminded him. “I’m not as frail as a human, and there’s no war going on that might take me away.”
“Ah.” Jasper nodded. “So the company legend….”
“Is true.”
“Damn,” Jasper breathed. “You’ve got your work cut out for you.”
“But he loved me when he thought I was human. He was willing to risk his heart again. What we had must have been… magical.” Aidan rolled his eyes. “Corny, but—”
“No, not corny. Beautiful.” Jasper offered an encouraging smile. “So what we need to do is remind Nassim that you’re mythos.”
“He knows that I’m mythos.”
“Right. Logically he understands it. I don’t think there’s any question of that. But emotionally?”
“Emotionally?” Aidan echoed.
“He tied himself, emotionally, to Aidan the human. Now you need to get him to embrace and accept Aidan the mythos.”
“And how do I do that?”
Jasper crossed his arms and stared at the table for a few moments. Then he looked up, and his grin widened. “I got it.”
He went to slide out of the booth, but Aidan put a hand on his arm to stop him. “Hey. You going to share the plan?”
“Nope,” Jasper said, his grin never dimming. “Trust me.”
“With that look on your face? Uh, no.”
Jasper laughed. “I’m wounded, Aidan. But seriously, I’ve got this. I need to make a call. Keep Friday afternoon open, okay?”
“Why? What am I doing on Friday?”
Jasper winked, of all things. “You’ll see.”
Chapter Fourteen
AIDAN awoke to a message indicator on his phone. His heart jumped. Maybe Rye had finally gotten back to him. Maybe he’d be able to get answers about his past. Maybe he’d be able to lay Nassim’s suspicions to rest.
Disappointment crashed through him as he realized he’d received a text message, not a Facebook one.
This is Fazl Kader, Nassim’s brother. I’m sending a car for you at 2 p.m. at Tuninas. Be ready.
Vague much? Aidan frowned as he typed out a reply. Be ready for what?
For the car.
“Great. Very helpful.” He tossed the phone onto the bed.
Once they arrived at the office and Nassim had sequestered himself at his desk for some calls, Aidan slipped back to reception to confront Jasper. “Fazl Kader texted me this morning.”
“Did he?” Jasper asked innocently. Too innocently.
Aidan bit back a groan. He hadn’t intended to invite the world into his personal business. “Can you at least tell me what he’s got planned?”
“I wouldn’t know anything about that.” Jasper smiled sweetly.
“Jasper—”
“Guess you’re just going to have to wait and find out.” The phone on Jasper’s desk lit up “Good morning, Tuninas Software. Jasper speaking. How can I help you?”
Throwing a hand in the air, Aidan stalked back to his desk.
By the time 1:00 p.m. rolled around, Aidan was a bundle of nerves. It didn’t help that Nassim was MIA. He’d disappeared just before noon with no notice, and an email arrived shortly after to let Aidan know he’d be out for the rest of the afternoon but should return by five to give him a ride back to the apartment.
So whatever Fazl had planned didn’t include Nassim, and that made Aidan want to bite his nails to the quick. Was this some sort of draconic retaliation for the truths Aidan hadn’t shared with Nassim? Did they even care that Aidan didn’t know the truth himself?
The buzz of his phone at 1:58 made Aidan jump.
“The car’s here,” Jasper said.
Stay or go?
“Aidan?”
He huffed a breath. “I’ll be right there.”
He expected to find a somber town car at the curb. What he got was a stretch Hummer in bright pearl white. From what he knew of Fazl, it fit the dragon to a T. Another surprise was the fact that Fazl himself was already in the back seat when the female driver opened the door. Aidan hesitated.
Fazl scowled. “Oh merry gods, I’m not going to eat you. Get in.” He waved at Aidan to enter.
Wondering if this was a mistake despite Fazl’s assurance, Aidan climbed inside. “I thought you were sending a car for me.”
“I did. I just happened to be in it too.” Fazl turned his attention to the driver. “As we discussed, Nesrin. I’ll put the privacy screen up now.”
“Yes sir.”
A black screen rose between the driver and the passenger area. Aidan wondered if it was soundproof. Probably. Would the driver stop the car if he screamed?
You’re being ridiculous.
“So you’re mythos.”
Pulling his thoughts away from hypothetical horrors, Aidan nodded. “Anemoi.”
“Huh.” Fazl tilted his head. “I never would have guessed.”
“Have you met an anemoi before?”
“Well… no,” Fazl admitted. “But you don’t seem very mythos-like.”
Aidan narrowed his eyes.
Fazl chuckled. “That was terribly uncouth of me, wasn’t it?”
“Where are we going?”
“To the family estate.”
Oh shit. “Am I on… on trial, or something?”
“What? No. Where would you get an idea like that?”
Aidan crossed his arms. “I don’t know, maybe the vague texts and mysterious plans?”
Fazl groaned. “I was aiming for anticipation, not fear.”
“You failed.”
“So I see. My apologies. No need to worry, Aidan. This should be an enjoyable afternoon.”
“Should be?”
Fazl squinted. “You’re not afraid of heights, are you?”
WHEN the Hummer pulled up to the family estate and Aidan got out, the first thing he saw was a pair of black dragons twining through the air. They were high enough that he couldn’t make out any details, but there was no denying the beauty of the sight. One was slightly smaller than the other, but they were both as dark as a storm cloud, except when the sun hit them. Then the iridescence of their scales became obvious. Rainbows slid across their hides in a dazzling, enthralling display.
“Beautiful,” Aidan whispered.
Fazl came around the rear of the Hummer to join Aidan. “That’s Nassim and Inas.”
“How can you tell?”
“I know my family, no matter what form they’re in.” He nudged Aidan’s shoulder with his own. “Come inside, where we can talk without you being distracted.”
“Huh?” Aidan blinked at Fazl.
“Exactly,” Fazl chuckled. He led Aidan away from the Hummer with a gentle hand on his elbow, and Aidan didn’t protest.
Inas’s study was much the same as Aidan remembered it. It had an unused air about it, which made sense since Inas was still confined to her dragon form. It would be months yet before she’d be able to reclaim her human space. Fazl released Aidan’s arm and moved around to the other side of the large w
ooden desk, where he rummaged through the drawers with intent. Finally he straightened with a triumphant look, holding a….
Aidan frowned. “Is that a measuring tape?”
“Yep.” Fazl came back around the desk and tugged Aidan’s arms from his sides. “Hold them out, like—yeah, that’s it. Stay still.”
“What are you doing?”
“Measuring you.”
Aidan rolled his eyes. “I can see that. Why?”
“I need to make sure we’ve got a flight harness in your size.”
“A—what?”
“Flight harness. You want to go flying with Nassim, don’t you?”
“I didn’t even know it was an option.”
“It is.”
“You know he isn’t, uh.” Aidan cleared his throat. “He’s not happy with me right now.”
“I love my brother,” Fazl said as he wrapped the tape around Aidan’s chest. “He’s a good, strong, loyal, caring, wonderful dragon. But he’s an idiot.” He looked up. “He told you about Riladi, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s good.”
“Did you know we were mates?”
Fazl’s happy energy seemed to dissipate. “Not until after you disappeared. That’s when he told me and Inas.”
“Why didn’t he tell you earlier?”
Fazl bent to measure Aidan’s inseam. “Fear, probably. Fear of what we’d say, how we’d react.”
“Did he think you wouldn’t approve?”
“Honestly, half the time I can’t figure out what Nassim thinks. He and I are nothing alike—in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Believe me, I’ve noticed.”
“But yes, no doubt he thought Inas and I would not be happy. Mating a human….” Fazl grimaced. “It isn’t usually done. Not because humans aren’t incredible. They are, with their creativity and spontaneity. I adore humans. But binding myself to one is not something I would ever do.”
“Why?”
“Bluntly? Humans die.”