Especially since if she found it, she would win more funding to do further research at all the sites related to Queen Alviva in the UK.
In other words, she'd have her dream job, the one she'd been working toward since she'd first learned about the dragon queen as a child.
Her beast sniffed.We'll see, although I can't make any promises if a sexy guy shows up and is willing.
Knowing it was the best she'd get from her dragon, she shook her head and walked into the old villa site.
Even though she'd seen it dozens of times by now, she always smiled as she took in the ruins of a once-great mansion and its outbuildings, the light and shadows dancing in the fading sunlight. Since dragon-shifters had lived here long after the Romans had left Britain, it hadn't become buried or as demolished as most of the human Roman villas.
The roof was gone, but the walls mostly stood. Also, many of the mosaic floors were protected by a thin layer of strong plastic—installed decades ago—and even some of the painted frescoes had survived long enough to be discovered and protected by the UK government back in the early twentieth century.
In the end, it had been one of the mosaic floors that had finally given the last clue she'd needed, the one that had said only a key of stone and metal offered to the Winter Solstice would open the gates to Dragon's Court.
By themselves, the words might not mean much. But Lavinia knew there was some sort of special, hidden map. No doubt the key would project it when the light hit it just right.
And the only area of the complex she hadn't searched yet came into view—the temple to Minerva.
Dragon-shifters hadn't believed in the Roman gods, but they had built temples to appease the Roman emperors and armies during their occupation of Britain. If they had one and paid the necessary respects, no one had questioned their loyalties.
However, since the dragon-shifters hadn't actually worshipped at them, they'd often used them to hide their precious treasures in plain sight.
The small temple still had its protective wall coverings—which made it look like one giant, smooth surface—and a roof. Two columns flanked the entrance, and inside was a marble statue of Minerva, the Roman goddess originally of war and just causes, but later also became known as a patron of learning and the arts, among other things. She wore armor with a spear in one hand and a book in the other. An owl sat at her feet.
While the statue was beautiful and unlike the ones seen in any of the human Roman temples—at least the ones they'd found to date—what interested Lavinia the most was the floor.
Hidden caches were famous in dragon-shifter Roman temples. But disturbing it went against the agreement she—and Max, for that matter—had signed before being permitted to poke around the site.
It was why they'd both left this place until last. However, they hadn't found the key anywhere else, so it had to be here.
Studying the floor, she noticed the disturbed dirt and dust around one of the large tiles.
Tossing her bag to the side, she did her best to lift the heavy piece. It moved easily, which didn't bode well.
After a few minutes of sliding it away centimeter by centimeter, she revealed a hole with a ball of crumpled paper inside it.
With a growl, Lavinia snatched it up and read it:
Admit defeat,Dr. Walker. Dragon's Court is mine.
Her dragon sighed.He should know by now that taunting you will only make you try harder.
That might be his intent. But I have three weeks to locate him. And we know something he doesn't.
True. As long as he hasn't discovered what we've done yet.
Because a few nights ago, she'd asked an acquaintance to strike up a conversation with Max in the pub. The human male's outward persona was a friendly, slightly eccentric buffoon. And in public, he had to play the part.
It'd been too easy to have another person take his phone, clone it, and put it back without Max knowing.
Or, at least to the best of her ability, she didn't think Max knew.
After putting the tile back where she found it, Lavinia picked up her bag and rushed toward the clearing.
She needed to find a computer, and quickly. Because if Max hadn't noticed the clone, or tossed away his phone, then she could track him down and steal the key at the first opportunity.
And maybe when she found him, she'd tie him up in a room, complete with a gag, and leave him behind.
Because all was fair in war, and this was most definitely war.