THE angels’ alabaster wings glared in the sunlight as they circled and coasted down to the back doors of the casino.
Math plastered his most unassuming smile onto his face. “I trust your flight went well?”
“We encountered turbulence over the Sierra Madres,” the first one intoned, his golden halo spreading out around his head and bleeding into the surrounding air.
The updrafts weren’t that bad. Math had ridden them hundreds of times. “Sorry to hear that.”
Two more angels landed behind the first one. Their combined halos outshone even the desert sun.
The one on the left announced, “The updrafts were less than optimal.”
“That’s a common complaint,” Math said, refraining from rolling his eyes. “This way into the casino?”
“We want to observe the view when guests arrive,” the angel said, his sonorous voice spreading out through the casino. “We shall enter through the front.”
“We can see that on our way out.” Math opened the steel door that would lead the angels through the kitchens and to the casino. “This way?”
The angels glanced at each other—radiant blue and black eyes meeting and speaking silent volumes—but they followed Math into the casino.
So far, so good.
The casino itself gleamed and sparkled in the overhead pin lights as they walked through.
Math glanced back at the angels, who gazed impassively over the stunning work Bethany had performed with her magic. Their enormous wings trailed on the carpeting and remained pristine white because Bethany’s anteaters had hoovered up every trace of dirt. The angels’ bare feet padded on the carpeting, where no nails or splinters assaulted them. When their gauzy togas drifted in the air conditioners’ breeze and caressed the perfectly positioned, gleaming poker tables and chairs, no dust rose into their air in their wakes.
Angels weren’t known for emoting, particularly, but the three semi-divine beings seemed impressed as they walked through the casino and then the pristine ballroom, Math was sure. The chandeliers’ ropes of crystals glittered in the sunlight, and the snowy tablecloths draped elegantly over the tables. The china place settings stood in clean, concentric circles, and the crystal wine glasses and goblets reflected the starry lights from above.
They damn sure should be impressed. This place had been a disaster area just four weeks before.
After an hour of touring where Math showcased their lovely, tastefully decorated, and amazingly clean set-up, the head angel—whose name Math hadn’t gotten, but that wasn’t unusual, either—stated, “We will now view the fountain at the forefront. Our brethren reported that previously, it was befouled.”
Yeah, that green slime had been as befouling as the rumored depths of Hell.
The angel uttered, “We shall observe it now.”
“All right. This way.” Math led the way to the front of the dim casino, toward where sunlight glowed against the windows and rotating doors.
There was a minor kerfuffle when the angels’ trailing wings got caught in the rotating doors. Math had to scoop up the feathery confections like a lady’s wedding dress’s train and carry them through while the angels pushed. Evidently, they didn’t feel at all odd with him cuddled up to their backs as they shuffled in a circle. Math emerged with the head angel into the blinding, broiling afternoon sunlight.
Over by the fountain, Bethany stood on the cement retaining wall that ringed the fountain, her slim form dark and lithe in the bright afternoon.
Math continued around the revolving door and escorted the other two angels out, holding onto their wings. The silky feathers in his hands felt more like diaphanous lingerie than like a big ol’ bird, but maybe that was just his brain’s first association upon seeing Bethany Aura waiting for them over by the fountain.
When he had herded—maybe, flocked—the angels outside, they walked toward where Bethany stood on the fountain wall, her head held high, her fists braced on her hips.
Birds swirled above the fountain, riding the air currents from the sun-warmed cement.
A whole lot of birds.
Magpies. They were swooping magpies.
And they were all the colors of the rainbow.
Witchy power rolled off Bethany like waves.
God, Math loved it when she was spellcasting. It made him want to take her to bed and see what else that power could do.
He said to the angels, “May I introduce my dragonmate, Bethany Aura.”
The leading angel inclined his head, his halo crackling around him. “Dragonmate Bethany Aura, it is our pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Behind Bethany, in the pond of the fountain, a broad, round head began to breach the surface. Tentacles slithered above the water.
Bethany flicked her fingers.
A chartreuse magpie swooped toward the sea monster’s head and attacked it with its sharp beak and claws, nearly taking out the monster’s eye.
The sea serpent sank below the surface, leaving nary a ripple.
Bethany smiled at the angels. “Charmed.”
Math called the control booth, and the newly cleaned fountain sprang to life, jetting clear, fresh-smelling water into the air. Mist cooled them as the water spouts danced.
Math asked the angels, “Seen enough?”
“Yes,” the head angel enunciated. “We will now look over the financial records.”
That was easier. Math had ferreted out the embezzler, Folant Vishap, who had been the head of the Finance division, and submitted his report to King Llywelyn the day before. Math had written a scathing report naming-and-shaming the culprit and telling the King that he was one hundred percent certain, which he was. He’d filed a complaint to sue the man to return the money and contacted the DA’s office to have him arrested.
Math had left a voice message for the king while Bethany had made like a sea serpent on a fountain fixture, so to speak, trying to get him to crack while he recited the details.
He’d repaid the favor with interest afterward, because the legends about dragons liking to eat fair maidens were absolutely true. He’d used his serpentine tongue on her until she’d cried for mercy, and then he’d taken her bent over a couch until she’d clenched around him, as the mating bond channeled his ecstasy into her body.
Math smiled at the angels. “Right this way.”
When he glanced back at Bethany, she was still holding her position, right up until she bent to wipe some water spots off the side of the retaining wall.
Another sea serpent dared poke its head above the surface.
A gesture from Bethany’s graceful fingers sent her platoon of magpies dive-bombing it until it cowered below as she polished the water spots away.
God, he loved everything about her.
Through their mating bond, he pushed a wave of love and a memory of him lying on his back as she rode him, grinding down on him as she came.
He heard her gasp as he walked behind the angels and, once again, helped them negotiate the revolving door so that their wings wouldn’t get shorn off.