Ashton Drake

by Emilia Hartley

  She knew he was referring to Jasper and Griffin. “That could be because you haven’t seen either of them all day.”

  “And it has been a successfully blissful day. They deserve a reward.”

  “Shouldn’t you be more concerned if Jasper has been missing? What if he left the mountains? You’re not really doing your job.” She put her hands on her hips.

  At this, Ashton grabbed her hand and tugged her into the hall. He held a finger over his lips as he led her along. They silently tip-toed from one end of the house to the other. When Ashton reached a door, he eased it open only a fraction of an inch. When Makenna leaned in close to peer through the crack, she saw Jasper sitting at a desk.

  He scowled at the screen, whatever it displayed clearly upsetting him. He snarled, eyes flashing gold, and brought his fist down on the keyboard. Keys burst into the air like popcorn. Makenna had to cover her mouth to hide her squeal of surprise.

  Jasper turned toward them, but they both ducked out of view. Ashton reached down and grabbed a box she hadn’t noticed. Actually, there were several long boxes lined up against the wall along with a broom. Ashton entered the office and handed Jasper the box before sweeping up the keys that had rained over the floor.

  She expected Jasper to throw the box at Ashton. Her heart hammered in anticipation of dragon fire. The moment stretched long, Jasper staring her mate down. Ashton acted like he didn’t notice. He swept up the keys, forming a small pile before scooping them up and dropping them into a nearby waste bin—one that was already laden with keys and keyboards.

  Finally, Jasper ripped open the box. From it, he withdrew a new keyboard. He straightened the long cord and jammed the USB into a port on the computer. Ashton left the room with a great big grin on his face. At the door, he paused.

  “Dinner should be here any time. I bought our favorite.”

  Jasper craned his neck to glare at the back of Ashton’s head. If looks could incinerate, Makenna thought her mate would have become ash in an instant. “Tell me, what is our favorite?”

  The threat in his voice was clear as day. Ashton was unaffected. His eyes didn’t flash copper. Nor did he growl at the tone of his king’s voice.

  “You should know better. I ordered Barnaby’s Fried Chicken!” He kissed his hand and blew it at Jasper before ducking out of the room. Ashton’s laughter filled the hallway, followed by a roar and the sound of more keys bouncing on the floor.

  Makenna let her mate pull her toward the foyer, but she glanced back in wonder. “What is he doing in there?”

  Ashton stood a little straighter, his pride obvious. “He’s getting involved in his own company. It needed him and, I think, he needed it, too.”

  Changes were happening in Grove. In a week’s time, another Drake cousin would arrive. The court would keep growing dragon shifter by dragon shifter. Makenna hoped it would be enough to keep Jasper grounded. She’d never known him very well, but they were family now. She wanted the best for her family, even surly members like Jasper.

  Griffin strolled past, as if her thoughts had summoned another surly dragon. Ashton caught him around the shoulder just as the doorbell rang. Makenna answered it while her mate held Griffin hostage. While Griffin didn’t fight, she could see the murderous intent in the silver dragon’s eyes.

  It faded once the door opened and he caught the scent of food. In no time, he lifted the bags from Makenna’s arms and brought them to the kitchen for her. They unpacked the boxes and boxes of food onto the kitchen island, pulling the bar stools close so they could gather around. Ashton pulled out three beers. He opened each with the edge of the counter top.

  One sat unclaimed, waiting for the king of the mountain to join them.

  Makenna sipped on her milkshake, grateful for the swirl of salted caramel. Her mate knew her well. Across from her, Ashton and Griffin discussed flight maneuvers. Makenna nodded and followed along as if she knew what they were talking about. She was fine with never taking flight. While her mate bond with Ashton gave her many things, such as expedited healing, she would never shift like them.

  And that was fine.

  Makenna was nearly content with the life she had now. Little by little, she experimented with her music. The doctor had been right. Her voice changed drastically. It was unfamiliar to her ears, but not in a horrible way. The first night, Ashton held her and talked her through her despair. He did his best to remind her of all the musicians who’d been told they would never make a career out of their voice.

  She held onto his words, even if he searched the names online before rushing to her side. If they could do it, so could she. Besides, Makenna didn’t want to fill big stadiums with people. She didn’t want an international tour. All she wanted was to make music. She wanted to sing her soul out.

  The only thing she still hated was the debt tied to her name. It would remain there for what felt like forever. She’d forbidden Ashton from wasting his money on it. He was already paying for their new house. If he paid off her debt, she would feel like a dead weight in their relationship. She feared it would sour things between them and avoided it at all cost.

  The kitchen quieted. Makenna looked up to find a scowling dragon man in the doorway. Jasper said nothing as he claimed the open beer bottle and a paper plate.

  “Aurum Bank bought your debt,” Jasper informed her. He placed an extra crispy chicken breast on his plate before meeting her gaze. The gold was there, but it didn’t flash back and forth as often as it had before.

  The beast moved beneath his skin. She saw it in the way he walked, stiff as if he were waging an unending war with himself. Her mate saw it, too. Ashton watched his king with an open look of concern. She jabbed him in the ribs and reminded him who he was looking at.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” she whispered to Ashton. She’d specifically asked him not to intervene.

  “He didn’t do anything,” Jasper said. “It was my first exercise of power within my own company. Think of it as…as a lesson.”

  The room was quiet, taking in what their king was saying.

  “This asshole wants me to take part in the company.” Jasper pointed to Ashton with a drumstick. “Not that I think my participation will be of any help at all. So, if this company fails, perhaps your debt will disappear with it.”

  Makenna stared, slack-jawed, at her mate. Exhilaration rocketed through her, followed by slow trepidation. When she turned back to Jasper, she asked, “I’m not sure what this means.”

  “It means your debt is…” Jasper turned toward Ashton, a shrewd look twisting his lips. “Ah, it is consolidated. That’s the word. The debt not only dropped by a few figures, but you don’t have to worry about past-due bills. Pay me, I mean the bank, whenever you can.”

  Makenna gripped Ashton’s hand tight. He squeezed in response. It was clear that this moment meant something different to Ashton, but elated them both all the same.

  ***

  It was clear that Jasper had a long way to go, but Ashton was proud of him. He knew it was an effort not only to learn about his bank, but to join them in the kitchen. Jasper had another voice in his head. To hear three more while he ate must have taken quite an effort. Yet, Jasper only showed the struggle once. The rest of the night, the king scowled and snapped at them, but never lost his control.

  Not even when Ashton and Griffin dragged everyone into the dining room to use the long table for beer pong. Of course, Jasper had complained the entire time. He delivered threats elegantly, describing what would happen to them should the table be damaged. He also took care to remind them that it was a nineteenth century antique.

  Jasper’s complaining only made Ashton and Griffin play a little sloppier. They sloshed beer and roared when their balls made it into the plastic cups. Ashton lifted his mate off the ground when he scored a good shot against Griffin, making the silver dragon drink every single one of his cups.

  Ashton hadn’t known how to do what everyone asked him to do. When he’d arrived at Grove, he cou
ld barely keep himself together, let alone keep his new court in one piece. Somehow, he’d managed to find the beginning of it. This night wasn’t perfect. Not by a long shot.

  It ended with Jasper’s hand around Griffin’s throat because Griffin spilled an entire cup of beer onto the table and carpet. Ashton had to pull them apart which resulted in breaking the table Jasper wanted to defend. Needless to say, it was clear they were all still a work in progress. Nothing was perfect, but Ashton could see the beginning of something good.

  He carried Makenna back to their suite, far away from Jasper and Griffin. The sound of Griffin working on a new table filled the air with a hum. Makenna pulled out her guitar and attempted to find love within her new voice. Ashton already loved it.

  He liked the way it filled his chest and caressed his skin while he lay beside her. It wasn’t long before he tugged the guitar from her hands and pulled her down to him. She conceded, lips parting just for him. They broke in the old bed for probably the fortieth time. It pounded the wall in a rhythmic beat.

  Jasper was even nice enough to wait until they were finished to yell at them. They cackled and cuddled into one another. Ashton had everything he could ever ask for. Even the beast was sated. Their life was no longer a cage. Not even his duties to Jasper and the others made him feel chained down.

  This was his family. He would do anything for them.

  Thank you!

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