“Ah, yes, and one guest in particular?”
He eyed Thorsson. “Leave it alone.”
His bodyguard bowed. “Apologies, my lord, I meant no disrespect. In truth, I’m pleased that you have shown a renewed interest in the gentler sex.”
He laughed. “Gentler? The females of this day and age are anything but that. They are so independent, so assertive. It’s a wonder that I’m able to meet a woman that stirs my interests.”
“Quite so.” His bodyguard frowned. “And what of the other predicament? Is it under control?”
Balthazar sighed. The Summer Equinox would arrive in three days’ time, and he already felt the pull of his dragon soul, Bal. Without his scale, he was incomplete, unable to transform, and Bal resented being caged within their human form. It had taken many years to control the pain. “I believe so. I only wish to stay for a while, and then we shall leave.”
“Very well. I’ll inform the others to keep watch.”
“Make sure you’re discreet. I’ll have Lancelot attend the dinner with me as well.”
“Of course, sir.”
“You’ll have a direct line of sight. If anything happens…”
“My lord, please don’t worry. I will be watching for any trouble.”
When he entered the dining room, Balthazar caught a glimpse of Eva standing at a doorway opposite him, talking on her phone. Something else caught his attention, and his body tensed as he glanced around the room—the faint scent of an unknown dragon shifter. He looked at Lancelot, and noticed his brother had picked up on it as well. But there was no sight of Ti.
The maître d’ approached him. “Mr. Andal, we didn’t know you would be staying for dinner.”
He chuckled. “Neither did I. I’d like to be seated at the same table as Miss Haraldsdóttir, please.”
“Of course.”
“I’ll find a seat,” Lancelot told him. “It’ll give me an excuse to take a look around and find the shifter.”
Balthazar nodded and followed the maître d’ to a table. One of the four guests seated there stood and greeted him. “Mr. Andal! It is an honor to have you join us.”
He shook hands. “Professor Jimenez, it’s been too long.”
“It certainly has. Let me introduce you to my team.”
The scent of the unfamiliar dragon was strong. Balthazar glanced at the man seated opposite him, and clenched his fists when the stranger smiled and winked. He had no idea if the man was on his own or Ti’s colleague. He would have to find out.
“Ah, Eva. There you are. I was just about to make the introductions.”
Balthazar turned around and watched as she approached. She smiled at the professor, who grasped her hands and kissed her cheeks. “Mr. Andal has given us the unexpected pleasure of joining us for dinner.”
“I hope you will sit beside me,” he said, pulling out a chair.
She sat down, and he let his hand briefly brush her shoulder before taking his seat. “Here I am again, as promised,” he whispered.
Balthazar noticed her hands fidgeting in her lap—she was nervous. “Yes, you are,” she whispered back. “I can tell you more about our findings, if you’re interested.”
“Of course. But I hope to find out more about you, as well.”
She stared at him for a long moment before she lowered her gaze. “The feeling is mutual.”
“And this is the newest member of my team.” The professor indicated the shifter. “Mr. Emilio Fuentes is from South America, and has extensive knowledge in ancient history. He’s been very helpful in identifying artifacts at our latest dig.”
So, a shifter from South America, where Ti currently lived. It seemed too much of a coincidence.
Mr. Fuentes stood and came around the table to kiss Eva’s hand. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he murmured.
A threatening growl echoed from Bal, and Balthazar held himself in check as Mr. Fuentes held out his hand to him. “Mr. Andal.”
Remembering his manners, he stood and shook the man’s hand. Mr. Fuentes smiled slightly and squeezed. He had a very strong grip. “I’ve heard so much about you and your work, and I’m proud to be a part of Professor Jimenez’s team. And to finally meet you.”
Mr. Fuentes hadn’t released his hand, an indication that he was showing his dominance. Two can play that game. Balthazar’s grip tightened suddenly, and he watched in silent satisfaction as Mr. Fuentes’ smug expression changed to pain. The man was a younger shifter and didn’t have the mature strength to fight him. “The pleasure is all mine,” he replied before finally releasing the man’s hand.
Mr. Fuentes tilted his head in acknowledgement, then turned to give Eva a wide smile before sitting down. “So,” he said. “Professor Jimenez mentioned that you and your father have discovered some exceptional Icelandic artifacts. I would like to hear more about those.”
Eva leaned forward slightly, her attention focused, and an inexplicable stab of jealousy hit Balthazar in the gut. He glanced around the room and spotted Lancelot two tables away. He caught his brother’s attention and nodded, hoping he picked up the indication that the strange shifter sat at Balthazar’s table.
“My father and I discovered quite a few items in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. There’s a complete Viking skeleton with his battle gear and some of his skin intact. We’re going to use a sample to date the year he died. We found decorative plates in bronze and gold that had runes engraved around the edges. We actually found a couple of swords with the raised engraving used by Ulfberht as well.”
“Ulfberht swords are a rare find,” Mr. Fuentes said, raising his eyebrows. “Congratulations.”
Eva beamed at the compliment. “We also found some pottery pieces with battle scenes on them. One in particular had been very carefully preserved—the colors were quite distinct.”
“What are the images?” Balthazar asked.
She used her hands for emphasis. “A couple of pieces showed Viking armies battling each other. Another displayed landscape scenes and animals, which is fantastic—it shows us how Iceland looked during that period.
“But the most unusual—and I have to say, most fascinating piece—is a small vase.” She paused. “It shows a battle of two dragons fighting each other.”
Balthazar perked up at that. “Is the scene in detail?”
She nodded. “There are stick figures around the base of the vase, which I take to be Vikings watching the fight, but the dragons are quite distinguishable.”
“Fascinating,” Mr. Fuentes said. The shifter glanced at him. “Perhaps you can describe the dragons for us.”
“The first one was a deep red, while the second was a striking shade of deep blue.” Her eyes shone with excitement. “Teeth bared, fire spouting from their mouths, claws into each other. It’s quite the scene.
“And,” she added, “there’s a third dragon in the background.”
“A third dragon?” Mr. Fuentes looked at him again, longer this time. “What did this one look like?”
“Like a sunset. All orange and red. So beautiful.” She sighed.
Balthazar’s throat constricted and he suddenly coughed. By Odin, she had just described his family. He grabbed a glass of water and finished it in one gulp.
“You mentioned figures at the base of the pottery,” Mr. Fuentes said. “What were they doing?”
Eva frowned. “Hiding, I think.”
“That would make sense. No one would be foolish enough to get in a dragon’s way.”
“I tend to agree,” Balthazar added, eyeing the man.
“There is one scene that’s puzzling,” she continued. “A Viking held something in his hand—a small blue circle the same shade as one of the dragons.”
“Now that is fascinating.” Mr. Fuentes leaned forward. “Do you think it was a dragon scale?”
Balthazar watched the man closely. Mr. Fuentes glanced occasionally in his direction as he spoke, no doubt hoping that Balthazar would react to his particular question. Balthaz
ar knew better and kept still, not giving anything away. Still, he almost groaned aloud. If what Eva said was true, then his scale was surely lost.
She shook her head. “I don’t know. It was pretty small.”
“While I admit that this story is intriguing,” Professor Jimenez interrupted. “That’s all it is—a story. There’s no such thing as dragons.”
“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, professor,” Mr. Fuentes replied. “Dragons do exist. They ruled every continent on Earth, and there’s a story that three brothers lived in Iceland, on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.” Fuentes looked at Balthazar. “Mr. Andal, why don’t you enlighten our little group about the dragons Miss Haraldsdóttir has talked about?”
Everyone turned to stare at him. “Do you know the legend, Mr. Andal?” Eva asked, her expression incredulous. “It would definitely help me place the period when the vase was made.”
Balthazar tried not to squirm in his seat. The shifter had neatly placed him in a tight spot. Dragons followed an instinctive set of manners, and one of them was not to lie. He had no idea which scaly-covered idiot had come up with that rule. “It is said that Lysuhóll Volcano on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula contained a dragon treasure horde. When the two eldest brothers came of age, there was a battle to see who would rule. Bal Anda should have won the fight, except his brother Ti dislodged one of Bal’s scales. This left him vulnerable to certain death. If the younger brother Lan had not stepped in to chase Ti away, Bal Anda would have died.” He remembered that fight as if it only happened a few days ago instead of centuries.
Eva’s eyes were wide in wonder. “That’s a wonderful story.”
“And how do you know of the story, Mr. Fuentes?” Balthazar asked. “It’s not a well-known tale in Iceland. How did you find out about it?”
The grin on the shifter’s face faded. “I had done research.”
“And what did your research consist of? How does a South American history buff know about a myth that’s hardly mentioned in Iceland?”
Fuentes cleared his throat. “I talked to someone who knew of the tale.”
Which meant the teller was Ti or a descendent of one of the Vikings who witnessed the battle. “Who?”
“Hang on a second. Why is this so important?” Eva demanded. “And if it is, then how do you know the story, Mr. Andal?”
Shit, Eva, bad timing. “Family.” It was a curt answer, and not a lie, but she didn’t need to know more than that. “Well, Mr. Fuentes?”
The shifter pursed his lips as if thinking, then heaved a sigh. “Your brother.”
His mind whirled. Ti was in South America and sent his subordinate here to—do what exactly? “Why are you here, Mr. Fuentes?”
“Mr. Andal, Emilio works for me,” Professor Jimenez replied. “There’s no hidden agenda.”
Balthazar heard him but kept his gaze on the shifter.
“It is as Professor Jimenez said,” Fuentes added. “I assisted the team in identifying artifacts they found in South America.”
Fuentes had dodged the direct question, and Balthazar remained silent—he didn’t want to discuss his brother in front of strangers. Mr. Fuentes knew Ti, knew about his missing scale, and had traveled with Professor Jimenez to the charity event. Balthazar didn’t like it. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, he and Lancelot would have a private discussion with the shifter.
“It doesn’t matter, does it?” Eva asked. “It’s not like dragons are real anyways.”
“Oh, but they are,” Mr. Fuentes said before Balthazar could reply. “You just can’t see them.”
Eva made an inelegant sound.
He smiled widely. “I know that Mr. Andal believes in dragons.”
She gave Balthazar a look. “Do you?”
He glanced at the guests before settling his gaze again on Mr. Fuentes. “Yes.”
“I also learned from your brother that dragons have proper names,” Mr. Fuentes stared back at him, his expression arrogant.
“Wait a minute,” Eva interrupted. “You said the dragon’s name was Bal Anda. The name is awfully close in spelling to yours.” She smiled. “Maybe this dragon is an ancestor?”
He couldn’t blame her for laughing at him, but Mr. Fuentes had encouraged it. The urge to sink his talons into the shifter’s neck was almost indescribable. He looked at her. “Maybe.”
“Emilio, you need to stop talking this nonsense,” Professor Jimenez scolded. “No one is impressed with your garbled myths about dragons.”
“It’s not a myth, professor, I can assure you.”
“I want to ask a question,” Eva demanded. “I’ve read in fairy tales,” she emphasized the words, “that dragons can live for centuries. If you really believe they existed, what do you think happened to them? The battle occurred during the Viking era. That was a very long time ago.”
“Oh,” Mr. Fuentes said, “it’s believed the brothers are still alive, living in human form. Hiding amongst society in plain sight, so to speak.”
“Emilio, I think that’s quite enough.” Professor Jimenez took off his glasses. “No more talk of dragons, please.”
“Oh, but I think Miss Haraldsdóttir is very interested.” Mr. Fuentes smiled. “She is from a country whose people believe in magical creatures.”
Balthazar needed to shut him up before the conversation went too far. “There are other guests at the table, Mr. Fuentes,” he said, his teeth on edge. “You shouldn’t monopolize the conversation.”
“What would you like to discuss then, Mr. Andal? Perhaps how you became so successful? I’m sure some of us would like to know your secret.”
Fuentes actually had the audacity to question his wealth. He balled his hands into fists. “My background has been reported by journalists. If you care to find the time, go to the library and look it up.”
“Mr. Andal’s story is well documented, Emilio,” Professor Jimenez said. “And he’s done an immense amount of work for the archeology and conversation fields. You should already know that.”
“Then how about Mr. Andal’s family?” Mr. Fuentes smiled, his teeth impossibly white. “Miss Haraldsdóttir brought up an interesting point about your name, Mr. Andal. Are you related to the fabled dragon?”
His dragon soul wanted to tear him to shreds, and Balthazar mentally fought for control. “No more questions, Mr. Fuentes, unless you want me to throw you out. Personally.”
The shifter raised his eyebrows but remained silent.
“Where do you think these dragon brothers are, Mr. Fuentes?” Eva asked suddenly.
Professor Jimenez snorted. “Eva, you of all people should know better.”
“Someone drew those dragons on the vase, professor, which means that the artist believed in them.” She looked back at Mr. Fuentes. “And if Mr. Fuentes has knowledge of this history, I’m willing to listen.”
“They would be living amongst the human population,” Mr. Fuentes continued despite Professor Jimenez’s obvious annoyance. “They don’t stray too far from their home unless they have to, except for Ti Anda. It is said he left Iceland to carve out his own domain.”
“What do you think they’re doing now?” she asked.
Mr. Fuentes glanced at him. “Well, dragons are very intelligent. They could be anything they want—a successful businessman, an investor.” He winked. “They love to fly, so no doubt they would travel a lot. But the most important thing is that they must remain within close proximity of their hoard.”
She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling like a little child listening to her bedtime story. “Do you think the dragon’s treasure is hidden within the volcano, Mr. Fuentes?”
He shrugged. “I believe so.”
Professor Jimenez smacked the table with his hand. “What rubbish.”
Mr. Fuentes’ expression darkened. “Please do not interrupt me, professor. You have trusted my knowledge before. Why do you doubt it now?”
“Because dragons do not exist! You’re filling Eva’s head with nonsense.”
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Balthazar tensed. If Professor Jimenez pushed too hard, Fuentes might attack him. He needed to stop the conversation.
“I need something to work with, professor,” she said, “when I get back to Iceland. And Mr. Fuentes is providing me with basic information I can start with.”
“Like exploring a volcano for dragon treasure?” Balthazar interrupted, trying to deflect her interest. “Eva, you can do better than that.”
“You just said that you believed in dragons.” Her anger flared. “If you were a dragon, Mr. Andal, what would you be doing now? Sleeping on top of your jewels and hoping no one discovered you, or exploring the world in human form and see where you fit in?”
“Ha! A very valid question,” Mr. Fuentes replied. “I’d like to hear your answer.”
“Dragons do not exist.” Professor Jimenez rose and stood before Mr. Fuentes. “Emilio, you will stop this…”
Suddenly, Mr. Fuentes stood and grabbed Professor Jimenez by this throat. “I told you not to interrupt me,” he hissed through clenched teeth.
Balthazar glanced back at his brother, who stood up with several other guests, then rose as well. “Mr. Fuentes, there’s no need for violence. Please let the professor go.”
“You of all people should know that Professor Jimenez has shown disrespect towards me,” he said. “You would do the same thing.”
A female colleague stood up and grabbed Mr. Fuentes’ arm. “Emilio, let him go.”
He reached behind him and slapped at her. Her eyes opened wide with surprise as blood gushed from a gaping wound in her neck.
Eva screamed and scrambled out of her chair as Mr. Fuentes picked up the professor and tossed him several feet. Dr. Jimenez crashed into a table and rolled once before he stopped beneath the debris.
Balthazar growled and stepped in front of Eva as guests ran around fleeing for the exits. “You dare?” he shouted, his voice deep and gravelly. He leaped over the table, his arms outstretched to tackle the man, but Fuentes avoided the attack, bounding to one side and grabbed Eva’s arm.
Fear for her safety shot adrenaline through his body as Balthazar slowly approached him.
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