Timothy shrugged, unconcerned. “That’s just fun. Entertainment. Blowing off steam after a hard week at work. Humans like that sort of thing. Doesn’t mean you’ll win any hearts if you talk that way around them.”
“You’re one to talk,” Braeden muttered. Then he was pointedly silent until they arrived at the penthouse Timothy used when he didn’t want to bother with the flight back home.
In fact, the entire building belonged to him. It was the highest building in the city, appropriately named Dragon Tower. The lower floors held apartments, shops and offices—but the top three floors were for his use alone.
It made for a comfortable home away from home if he was in the city, or if he felt a need for the dazzling city lights spread out below him. He never stayed away from the ocean for long—but all the same, as much as he loved his gorgeous island community, he often got restless for the hustle and energy of the city.
And since humans couldn’t see a dragon once he’d shifted, having his own tower in the city center meant that he could just land on the top of his own building and come and go as he pleased.
Theoretically, it was supposed to be a helipad, but he only used a helicopter if a human business partner was around.
“I can’t believe they made me babysit you,” he grumbled as he led Braeden into his penthouse.
It was true that he had five empty bedrooms at his disposal here—but both the storm and earth dragons had mansions of their own. And they were mated. They didn’t have to go out to find their mate anymore, so why couldn’t they do the hard work of dragging a fire dragon around with them?
“I can’t believe they made you watch me,” Braeden replied with an annoyed look. “You’re the worst babysitter in existence. I wouldn’t leave my kid with you, let alone my enemy.”
“Fortunately that’s not a choice you’ll have to make anytime soon. You’re not going to find a mate with that.” Timothy smirked and nodded at the obsidian cuffs.
Braeden scowled. “Neither will you. Doesn’t even take obsidian cuffs in your case.”
“Oh.” A wide grin spread over Timothy’s face. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I actually just found my mate tonight.”
He was so full of energy he nearly bounced on his feet. He couldn’t wait to show her off to the other council members.
“No way,” Braeden said, giving him a suspicious look. “The woman you danced with? No way would she give you the time of the day. Her sister says she’s smart. She knows how to speak to those computers of yours. What would she want with someone like you?”
“Oooh, someone’s jealous,” Timothy sang. “Upset because you didn’t score tonight? Sucks to be a fire dragon, I guess.”
Braeden crossed his arms. “You have no idea what I want.”
“Oh, I have a pretty good idea... Conquer the earth, subjugate all of humanity, kill all the other dragons and so on. Not a real turn on when it comes to the ladies though, is it?”
Braeden snorted and turned away from him. He walked over to the huge window that covered nearly the entire side of the penthouse, the city sparkling with millions of lights in the darkness below.
Timothy grabbed his phone, texting Gregory, the dragon of the storm, and then Damon, the dragon of the earth. He and Damon had never really gotten along, but even though it was the middle of the night, after a few moments, his phone beeped as their congratulations came in.
And of course, the dragon of the earth had to send a warning as well.
Be careful, his text said. They came for me just when I found my mate. If they can sense your power peak, they might come for you as well.
Timothy hesitated for a morning. Then, instead of the flippant reply he’d wanted to send, he texted, Thanks, I’ll be careful instead.
He still didn’t like the earth dragon with his constant talk of duty. And it wasn’t as if Timothy couldn’t do his duty while also enjoying life.
All the same, now that he’d found his mate, it seemed that his dragon’s protective instincts had awoken.
If they dare to attack her, I’ll destroy them all. They’ll have to go through me before I’ll let them harm even a single hair on her body.
Then his phone rang.
Surprised, he answered it. He was gr
eeted by the familiar voice of Ginny, the chimera’s current housekeeper.
They hadn’t yet convinced the master of the council to give that whole newfangled idea of communicating via phones or email a try. But the earth dragon’s mate had at least succeeded in getting Ginny some satellite internet up on the solitary mountain peak where Sky Home, the council’s seat, was situated.
“Is something wrong?” he asked before she could talk, his dragon still uneasy after Damon’s text.