Page 37 of The Mating Magic
“Momma,” Ciaracountered.
The baby opened her mouth, pointed to Drust. “Dragon!”
The Crystal Wizard and his mate stared at each other. “That’s it?” Xavier said, his mouth opening and closing. “Our baby’s first word isdragon?”
“Dragon,” Sonia burbledagain.
Drust looked pleased. Evie snickered behind herhand.
“There are more of them than us, darling,” Ciara gently pointed out. “Four dragons, includingDrust.”
Astonished, she watched the Coldfire Wizard take the baby from her father’s arms and lift her into the air. “Who’s the big, bad dragon,Sonia?”
The baby laughed and grabbed hisnose.
He handed her back to Ciara. “My dear, would you mind returning with her to Tir Na-nog? My deepest thanks for allowing Xavier to fill in for my duties. But now we have an urgent matter requiring ourattention.”
Ciara smiled and kissed Xavier. “Ofcourse.”
When Ciara vanished, Drust and Xavier exchanged glances with eachother.
“Caderyn, Tristan, Gideon, your presence is required,” Drust said in a loudvoice.
Xavier rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers, showing a slim cell phone. “You truly do need to catch up on technology, Drust. A simple phone call willsuffice.”
He handed over the phone. “Press star69.”
Immediately three more men materialized on the ground. Evie gulped. The rest of the wizards. She bowed herhead.
They did not look pleased, especially Tristan, the Silver Wizard. She recognized him from the time when he’d saved Lacey from dying at the fosterhome.
He was kind, perhaps nicer than Drust, but he scowled and that facial gesture sent dragonflies fluttering in herstomach.
Drust nodded at Chase. “You have done well, Chase. As a reward, I am giving you what mortals call a bereavement. Take threeweeks.”
The Silver Wizard whispered in Drust’sears.
“Ah, I stand corrected. Avacation.”
Maybe the wizard would eventually mean bereavement if he ended up turning Lacey into toad food, for certainly none of the Brehon looked happy with hersister.
“And now, you. The book.” Drust turned toLacey.
All five wizards regarded Lacey with such menace Evie feared for her sister. They had the power to destroyher.
Or forgiveher.
And yet Lacey regarded them, seemingly unafraid. “I have a lot of books. I like to read. Which book? Want to borrow one? I enjoy romance novels. Interested in historicalromance? “
Hands steady, she gathered her long hair back, the move shifting the fabric of the T-shirt, exposing the dragon-shaped birthmark on her lowerneck.
All four wizards stared at her. Even Drust himself, whofrowned.
A faint smile twitched Tristan’s lips, filling Evie with relief. Maybe they wouldn’t vaporize her sister afterall.
The wizard with long blond hair tipped with crimson nodded. “Drust, we shall leave this matter for you to resolve. Call us if you needassistance.”
“Doubt it,” Xavier murmured. “I think he can handle this on hisown.”
