Page 41 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

“Should’ve guessed. Well, I’ll try their candy. I’m not afraid of sugar.” She flashed me a playful look.

“Liam,” a familiar voice called, and I turned to see Rafael approaching. He had his arm draped over the shoulders of his mate. They’d been together a few years, from what I had heard.

I nodded at Rafael, wrapping an arm around Sage’s waist. Though we weren’t used to the contact, I felt an urge to claim her physically in front of the other male.

“After fifty-two years of friendship, I still get this stone-faced welcome,” Rafael teased. He had dark hair and light brown skin,and thankfully, he was smart enough not to go in for a hug. I wasn’t hugging that bastard. Particularly while I was steaming because of heat’s magic.

“This is my mate, Tatum.” Rafael gestured to the woman under his arm. She was average height and size, with dark blonde hair, light skin, and an expression much more laid-back than her mate’s. She gave us a quick smile.

“Tater-tot, this is my old pal Liam, and his mate, Sage.” Rafael introduced us to his mate like he knew my witch personally. It irked me, but I didn’t let it show.

“Holy shit, I could see your lust from the parking lot!” a cheerful, curvy blonde woman with tan skin called out. She was holding hands with a grumpy-looking guy who was almost identical to Rafael. “Are you going through heat? You’re half dragon, right? I’ve never seen anyone burn like that except my brothers and their mates when they were going through it.”

My eyes narrowed.

“This is Brynn. She’s August’s sister,” Rafael explained. “I’m sure you’ve met him.”

I had. He was my only real contact with the dragons.

“I didn’t know he was mated,” I said.

“It’s pretty new,” Brynn offered. “This is Bash, by the way. Don’t take it personally if he glares at you.” She winked at Sage, who managed a small smile in return.

I was fairly confident my witch was in relationship overload. She’d never been around mated couples before.

“So… heat?” Brynn checked.

Sage’s cheeks reddened slightly. “Yeah, unfortunately.”

A tiny, pale woman with a ton of curly black hair and another guy who looked like Rafael came walking up behind the others.

The small woman was coughing. “What is that smell?”

My arm tightened around Sage as she stiffened.

“Heat,” Brynn teased. “It’s in the air.”

“I smell horrible to vampires. And all other supernaturals,” Sage explained quickly. “Sorry.”

I barely suppressed a growl. The woman smelled fucking delicious—why didn’t she believe me when I told her that?

“It’s not horrible, just strong.” The tiny woman coughed again. “Like… pepper.”

I was going to fucking kill the woman.

“Let’s maybe not discuss how the phoenix’s mate smells while he’s steaming, Miles,” Rafael’s newest brother said under his breath.

“It wasn’t an insult. Everyone likes pepper in small quantities.”

Rafael cleared his throat. “This is Zander and Miley. They’re going to stop talking before they end up dead.”

“Right. Sorry.” Zander gave us a quick salute. “We’re going to check in with your tech team and get to work.”

“I’m starting on the shop,” Miles reminded him.

“After we check in with the tech team, Sweetheart.” He walked her toward the doors, hands on her hips as he called out, “Nice to meet you! Pepper is great!”

Tatum snorted. “Sorry.”

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