Dacia stepped into her home to find Preston at the counter with a sandwich. Since he’d been staying, her fridge and pantry were filled with food, and he had cooked more often than not. In fact, if they were back early enough, she was going to ask him to let her help make dinner. He could teach her something new.
His lunch smelled delicious enough to make her mouth water. She licked her lips. “What’s that?”
He swallowed down his bite and grinned at her. “Rueben. Come here. Have a taste.”
Something she never would have tried because it seemed messy. Still, she crossed the distance and obediently opened her mouth. He raised the half allowing her to take a bite. “Mmm,” she groaned. “That is really good.”
“Preston’s useful for a few things,” Robert taunted lightly from the kitchen island.
Dacia flashed Robert a smirk. “More than a few, but I have a feeling I’d make you blush if I told you how.”
Robert swallowed hard. “Yeah, I’d prefer to do without those images.”
Dacia laughed, sweeping her gaze back to her man. “Your closest friend is a prude. How does that work when he’s with Liz and Tremaine?”
Preston sighed. “Says what’s behind closed doors is off limits.” His face scrunched up. “Honestly, I’m glad. I see Liz as a little sister, and Tremaine like an uncle. Hell, Robert is my brother, blood or not.”
Robert nodded. “Same goes for you, Preston.”
“Anyway, he’s more straight-laced. About most things.”
She bit her lip, humor dancing in her eyes. “I like you naughty.”
“I’ll show you naughty later. Now, are you sure you want to take us to this other hideout?”
Her chest heaved, but she nodded. “Sooner the better. It needs to be done.”
“Two options. My way, or a car,” Robert offered.
“Your way. It’s faster.” She turned to Robert. “I have a map if it will help. My father would likely strangle me for sharing, but I drew the best route. Should give you an idea of where we’re going.”
Robert smiled. “I have a simpler solution, provided you trust me. If you can envision where I’m going, I can take us there, but you’ll have to let me in.”
“I can do that.” She turned to Preston. “This place is worse. He keeps nothing but his—tools there. I can handle it. I promise.”
“Dacia, if you’d prefer to stay here, you can. I won’t think less of you.”
“I’m going.”
He nodded. “If it gets too hard, tell me.”
She leaned into him. “Tonight, I’ll make sure you have that problem.”
Grinning, he took a quick kiss before Robert stood and walked around the counter toward them. “Ready?”
“Enough,” Dacia answered.
“Got the image in your mind?” Robert asked.
She closed her eyes and brought it up. Fighting off a shudder, she responded, “Got it.”
Robert reached out to both their shoulders and then they stood in a circle of trees with a mound in the center. No windows, only one wooden door. Darkness oozed out the poorly fitted threshold.
Robert shook his head, “What is that?”
Preston sighed. “Same as before, but the tunnels were deeper.”
Dacia spoke up. “I can temporarily disable the darkness. If he comes tomorrow, he’ll never suspect we were here.”
Preston gave her a torn look, and she put on a brave smile.
“Then you’re up,” Robert answered.
Dacia put on her best bravado and strode to the door. She opened it, spread her fingers as she held out her hand and moved forward, gathering the darkness into a ball as she went. She captured it the same way she had trapped all of Preston into a sphere.
Once they made it to the center of the domelike room, Preston started chanting. He didn’t even stop to look around at everything on the walls.
However, Robert stood with a slack jaw as he stared at the hideous display she knew encircled the cavernous room. “Robert,” she called.
He made eye contact with her, and one corner of Preston’s mouth lifted slightly as she poured her attention at Robert.
“Yeah,” he answered in a gruff breath.
She pointed to her eyes. “Don’t look away from right here. It’s a bad place. Look right here, and we’ll all be fine. As soon as Preston finishes, you can take us back.”
A moment later, Preston went silent and his hand twined with hers as the other landed on Robert’s shoulder.
She let the spell go, and shadows filled the room with an echoing howl.
Next second, they were back in her home.
“Did he ever—” Robert snarled.
Dacia shook her head. “Not me. Never me. He made me watch minions being punished.”
“At least you were spared that.” Robert walked away, running his hands down his lapels, then his thighs. “Dacia, I don’t even know what to say.”
“Don’t have to say anything.” She offered a weak smile. “I’ll be glad to see him permanently gone. The rumors were always bad, but they were rumors. Hope kept me from seeing the absolute worst in him. He’s my father, he’s supposed to love me, and put me first.”
Closing her eyes, she forced the tears back. “That optimism died when he told me he was going to sign me over to Gebiet. I’ve seen what Gebiet has done. There.”
Preston moved, his fingers threaded into her hair. She found a fierce look on his face. “I will never let that mound of scales touch you. The contract is safe. The second Remus shows up I’ll be alerted. Robert can come get us. Or me at the very least. I can’t guarantee he won’t call on the dragon again.”
“He will,” she whispered, her heart thundering in her chest. A sliver of fear threatened to crack her wide open. “If he’s desperate, he’d give me to Gebeit without the contract. If he took me to Faerie—”
“Hey, stop with the doubts. I won’t let that happen, and if it did, I’d come for you no matter what.”
Robert nodded. “The contract is safe. If for some reason Gebiet took you, I’d be at Preston’s side when we find you.”
She blinked past tears and swallowed the lump in her voice. There was no doubt in her heart that they were both sincere.
Robert grasped her shoulder. “You two have a good night. Call me if he shows up early, otherwise, I need to see a couple people.”
“Goodnight, Robert.” Dacia gave him a hug.
He gave Preston a raised brow, but hugged back. Preston slapped him on the back. “Have a good night.” Robert left with a pop.
Dacia giggled. “Will I ever get used to him doing that?”
“Eventually.”
“I think I need a shower to wash off the ick from his lair.”
“Am I invited?”
“Hoping you’ll replace the creepy crawlies with something better.”
“I’ll replace anything with better memories anytime you’ll let me.”
“Then come on, Ember. Show me what you got.”
* * * *
Remus stood at the gas pump, watching as the numbers ticked by. He couldn’t decide how sincere his daughter was. She’d always been able to lie through her teeth. It was a trait he was envious of. Spinning the truth took effort, and didn’t always work.
His thoughts funneled toward his destination. First, he’d leave Priscilla—who was still fucking unconscious—in his hidden forest dungeon. He needed to get the contract from Deception Pass so he could hold the dragon under his sway. Then he was calling Toryn out before notifying the mage.
He wanted to tell Toryn exactly who Preston was, before slaughtering the arrogant prick. And how the fuck was the mage alive anyway?
He sighed, and looked down the road. Another motel flashing no-vacancy. What in the bloody abyss?
* * * *
Preston climbed out of bed and Dacia tried to pull him back down. “Hey now, your stomach is grumbling. ‘Feed me, feed me.’”
She pouted. “Will you show me how to cook a real meal?”
“You want to learn?”
“Only if you’ll cook with me, and fix it when I fuck up.”
“I happen to be a superb instructor. I can teach you anything you want.” He waggled his brows as he back-pedaled out of the room.
She wooshed past him and made it to the kitchen first. Not a stitch of clothing in sight. Thank god I didn’t stop to get dressed.
His brow arched as he walked toward her. “You’re trying to tempt me into to doing something other than make you a meal.”
She dropped to her knees as he moved closer and licked her lips, peering up at him through her lashes. “I could have dessert before dinner.”
He groaned, stopping several feet out of reach. “Tempting. I have no trouble admitting I would love your lips wrapped around my cock, but you’re hungry for something to fill your belly.”
“I’ll let you fill something else,” she taunted.
“Christ, Minx, you’re going to kill me. Food first, then anything you want.”
Sighing, she rose gracefully. “Fine, you win. What are we making?”
“What sounds good?”
“Quick and easy.”
“You’re so bad. I may have to paddle your bottom.”
“Oh, yes please!” she squealed, moving in front of him to lay across the counter.
He playfully swatted the curve of her ass. “Dinner, Minx. Then fun.”