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  Astrid considered his words before nodding. “Okay. Thank you, bye!” She ran back towards the house, leaving the adults alone.

  “Thanks for this, Max. She’s never said so, but I know she was down about not being able to use her breath.” Chloe smiled up at him. “My little girl is growing up so fast.”

  Saul rolled his eyes. “That isn’t what you said to me a month ago.”

  “Shut up, you,” she grumbled. “So, what’s next for you two then? Are you, um, going to take this public soon or wait until after you get sworn in?”

  Max chuckled. “It was nothing, I’m happy to teach Astrid. As for coming out to the public. I believe I shall enjoy the pleasure of courting Ēostre in public. We know how the world loves its gossip, and I look forward to giving them something to watch.”

  Chapter 14

  Mahuika entered the premier antiquities store of Boston, Massachusetts with a smile on her face. A scent hung in the air and permeated the open lobby, wafting to her from glossy wooden shelves holding rows of leather-bound books. The place smelled like dust and old things, aged paper, priceless memorabilia, and treasured goods protected by collector after collector.

  It smelled like trash and worthless relics to Mahuika, who preferred the gleam of gold and odorless gems. She gave a disdainful sniff as she passed a dress form mannequin clothed in a vintage dress from the 40s.

  She had a storehouse full of them, and no desire to revisit the style any time soon. If not for Loki insisting she carry out the task herself, she wouldn’t bother to step one foot inside the witch’s little storefront shack.

  Classical jazz whispered from the shop’s speakers, contrasting the junk in the aisles. Mahuika passed old signs and out of print paperbacks lining shelves that were tidy but full.

  A bright-eyed young woman in a sophisticated pencil skirt and low-cut white blouse approached Mahuika. “Hello, ma’am. Have you been helped?”

  “I would like to speak to the owner.”

  “She’s busy at the moment. Is there anything I may do to help you?”

  “Yes, find your employer.”

  “Can I give her a message?” the associate asked.

  The smile slipped from Mahuika’s face. When she breathed in, she smelled the saccharine sweet scent of mana clinging to the girl’s skin, human magic and sorcery interwoven in a subtle seduction spell. Probably some trick to force men to part more easily with their money.

  “Yes. You may pass her a message.” She leaned forward and dropped her voice to a terse whisper. “Tell your employer if she values the safety of this dust-infested hut, she will provide her company to Mahuika of Aoteoroa. If you know what I am and understand what I can do to you, you will deliver this message to her without fail, little witch.”

  The girl’s mouth opened, only to snap shut again in wide-eyed terror.

  “There’s no need to threaten my employees, you old snake,” Agnes spoke up from an open doorway. “Let’s talk in private. Mira, tend shop for me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  As Agnes led the way to the rear of the store, they passed over an enchanted threshold to discourage thievery. The magical charm made Mahuika’s skin tingle and nothing more, a mild irritation that couldn’t cause her harm even if she did decide to steal. She sniffed disdainfully.

  Beyond the initial storefront, they reached a chamber where the decor met Mahuika’s initial expectations. Glass cases lined the walls, housing all manner of shiny and expensive baubles, a transformation taking the hag’s shop from tacky thrift store to high-end antique dealership.

  The witch whirled to face her once they were in private. She’d touched up her appearance with magic, smoothing the worst of her wrinkles and stuffing her old bones into a chic dove gray suit. From ninety to late fifties in a single spell. “What do you want?” She wasted no time with pleasantries.

  “I came to enlist your aid in bringing down Maximilian.”

  The old crone cackled. “And why would I do that when he is doing exactly what I hope? Business will be booming once people realize my spells and fortune telling are legitimate.”

  “I am telling you, not asking you, Agnes the Black.” The dragoness curled her lips back from her teeth.

  “You crossed the line by coming into my shop to make demands. Scaring my student that way and threatening my belongings. I don’t have to do anything you tell me to do. Now get out of here. I have tricks for dragons like you, and even you won’t like what happens if I use it.”

  “Ohhh, yes, your tricks.” Mahuika smiled slyly and removed a sleek mobile phone from her purse. “Once I tell the rest of the dragon council about your little trophy, what do you think will happen to you then? Will your little tricks protect you against a flock of us? Perhaps I should call Watatsumi now…”

  Agnes silenced. Her features became stony and her eyes narrowed. “Loki told you?”

  “Now you understand how much he desires Maximilian’s downfall. He and Ēostre must suffer.”

  “And how should I do that?”

  “Release the heartstone.”

  Agnes paled. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

  “On the contrary, I know exactly what I’m asking — for you to release the one thing on this earth able to ruin their happiness and tear them apart. Now, where do you keep it?”

  “What a bossy lizard,” Agnes muttered under her breath. “Here.” The witch slid an oil painting aside to reveal a digital safe embedded in the wall. Opening it revealed a single treasure, a fist-sized ruby on a soft bed of velvet. It pulsed with a gentle light, rhythmic, slow, and filled with magic.

  “How long will it take for the spell to take effect? How long?” Mahuika asked. She licked her lips and followed in the hag’s shadow.

  “I can’t do this kind of work in the blink of an eye,” Agnes snapped. “You’re a dragon. Have some patience.”

  “How long will it take?” Mahuika repeated, enunciating each word. Her eyes flashed.

  “A year, maybe two. Anything more may be courting danger. It’ll risk everything.”

  Mahuika’s nostrils flared. Instinct told her to crush the hag and take the jewel to one of the crone’s dark acquaintances, but on the other hand, none of them were likely to understand the spell. “Fine. Keep me updated on your progress. I want Maximilian ruined.”

  “Why go to such extremes? This won’t stop him from going forward to expose us.”

  “It’s not about that anymore. This is revenge.”

  Chapter 15

  April: 17 Months Later

  Max slid behind the sophisticated desk in the oval office and ran his fingers over the polished wood surface. Despite having more than a year behind him since his inauguration into the White House, every day still felt like a miracle. They were one step closer to accomplishing their dream of uniting shifters, magicians, and humans by coming out to the world.

  Although enjoyable, the first year hadn’t been all smooth sailing. Between adjusting to the presidency and giving Ēostre the proper courtship she’d deserved, his days were busy and the nights long.

  The staff went out of their way to make him happy, and fixtures from his old life in California were brought to add a sense of normalcy to his new but stressful routine. Hiring Lynette onto the housekeeping staff had at least provided a familiar face who knew his personal preferences. It also kept the young woman in a job, since he’d felt awful about laying her off after his departure from the governor’s mansion.

  For the most part, they kept the truth about his nature a closely guarded secret, and most members of his Secret Service detail remained none the wiser. Key members in the CIA, FBI, and Department of Defense knew, of course — Ian had given them full disclosure. The head honchos had watched Max with greedy eyes during their first meeting together, thrilled with the idea of a leader who could breathe napalm and rain fire from the skies on their enemies.

  Max didn’t plan to let them use him as a weapon, however. He lacked the volatile nature h
is fire dragon kin were known for and had visions of peace for the future.

  Ēostre entered the office and shut the door behind her. “Aren’t you finished working for the day?”

  “Not yet. I have a few e-mails to answer, and then we can meet with the planner.”

  “Mm… well, make it quick then.”

  The world’s most gorgeous distraction settled on the edge of his desk, facing him with her legs crossed. Her navy blue, sleeveless dress would have been knee-length on most women, but her long legs revealed inches of thigh.

  “I can’t believe it’s been over a year already,” she murmured. He idly caressed up and down her shin, appreciating the smooth silk under his touch. Sweet Ancestors, he couldn’t concentrate on his work with her near, and a year of making love to her in every way imaginable hadn’t curbed his urges in the least.

  “I can’t believe we’ll be married this upcoming week. Are you excited?”

  “It’s only a silly human tradition,” the dragoness said. Contrary to her words, a warm smile curved her lips and color bloomed over her cheeks, revealing it was more to her than a stupid mortal custom. It had come to mean something to them as yet another manifestation of their love.

  Maximilian shutdown the computer and stood. “The rest can wait until tomorrow. I’ll answer them before the teleconference with the British Prime Minister.”

  Arm in arm, they left his work behind and traveled to the covered walkway. Her heels clicked against the ground, a methodic noise amidst the chirping birds.

  “Where did you leave Spartacus?” Ēostre suddenly asked.

  “In my room. He likes to try and chime in on phone calls, the rascal. I asked Lynette to come fetch him during lunch.”

  Ēostre laughed. For his birthday, the family had gotten together and discovered an African Grey breeder preparing to retire several specimens from his program. Spartacus was an exceptional creature with a smattering of red plumage amidst the typical gray feathers. They loved him dearly, especially Astrid. He was family to them. “Yes, I can imagine a parrot offering advice to world leaders isn’t well accepted.”

  “Hopefully he hasn’t nested in your underthings again. He took personal offense to the last time he was parted from my office, and I think it would hurt his feelings to exclude him from the wedding, too,” Max jested. Ēostre had appropriated a few drawers in his bureau for her own personal belongings, dedicating one to French-cut negligee, softening the blow of losing his personal space. As far as he was concerned, she could have the entire dresser and all the closets if she’d fill them with silk panties and corsets.

  Max’s status as a single man made their occasional nights together scandal-free. No one cared about her sleeping over and warming his bed because it was expected, and most of all, because they’d been labeled adorable by the press. Reporters went out of their way to photograph Ēostre, and they loved her impeccable style.

  “He’d better not poop on my dress at the wedding or he’ll be a roasted bird,” she half-teased, half-threatened.

  “Astrid would never forgive you.” It hadn’t taken long after the parrot became part of the White House for them to discover Astrid had a unique talent with animals that extended beyond zebra keeping. She loved them, and they loved her in turn. Her natural proclivity for animal handling transferred to her dragon form when creatures were given a chance to adjust to her presence.

  Max and Teo had never seen anything like it in a cub so young. She was remarkable in every way, and with each new discovery, their full-blooded brethren grew even more intimidated by her, and by proxy, Teo’s son Javier, who also was part human.

  Their planner waited for them in the Palm Room, a woman in an elegant white and gold pantsuit who greeted them with an amiable smile. She had rosy cheeks and a pleasant face surrounded by a halo of golden curls.

  “Are you two having jitters yet?”

  “Hardly, Glinda. We were discussing the ring bearer,” Ēostre replied, stealing a glance at her future husband.

  Glinda’s smile widened. “I think it’s absolutely adorable to include Spartacus. So long as he minds his manners.”

  “He and I will have a chat man to man,” Max assured her, wearing a big grin on his face.

  “Dragon to bird, you mean? Now come along. Let’s discuss the final preparations.”

  They stepped back outside and travelled the few feet to the garden grounds. Tulips in every color bloomed amidst the rose bushes and trees.

  “Now, the staff will complete the arrangements on the day. Here is my finalized layout.” Glinda opened her binder, revealing digital sketches printed on fine paper. From the garden where the ceremony was set to take place, to the East Room’s reception, they reviewed every detail and made minor adjustments as needed.

  “This will be more spectacular than Teo and Marcy’s wedding, and that’s saying something.” Glinda winked. “I’ll provide a copy of the final plans to your security office, of course.”

  “He’ll hire you to plan a birthday or something to get back on top,” Max said. “His ego will demand it.”

  Both women laughed, but Glinda spoke up first. “More money for me. Now then, I’ll keep in touch up until the day but other than that, we’ll see each other at your wedding.”

  “Thank you, Glinda. You really are the best.” Ēostre hugged her.

  After their planner departed, Max took Ēostre’s hand in his and led her back through the gardens. “Last chance to say screw it and elope to Vegas.”

  “Absolutely not, Bel. We are going to have a lovely wedding.”

  He brought her hands up to his mouth and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “We are. One you deserve.”

  ***

  Ēostre twisted in front of the mirror to view her reflection from all angles. She was adorned in a masterpiece of champagne silk, flattering her curves where it flared out from the hips and created a majestic train. The lace embroidery reminded her of flowers and matched the chosen theme of their wedding: spring.

  At first, Ēostre and Max didn’t expect their fellow dragons to show interest in the event, especially those scorned by the recent — at least by dragon standards — decision to end the secrecy, but they proved her wrong when other wyrms and younger dragons arrived in force, even the creatures whom she thought were least likely to respect a mortal-laced affair.

  “Tlaloc did not come to attend the ceremony, but he wishes you both well and wants you to have this on your day,” Xochiquetzal said for her mate. The black dragoness shook her head and placed the contents of a velvet-lined pouch into Ēostre’s hand. Small shards of polished dark blue volcanic glass glittered beneath the lights, connected by strands of silver.

  “Xochi, this is beautiful. Did he—?”

  “No, Tlaloc did not make this,” her friend said, chuckling. “He does not have a single artistic bone in all of his body, but I love him just the same. This was a bauble he commissioned many centuries ago from none other than Maximilian himself, as a gift to me, and now we would both like for you to have it. It is blue obsidian, glass from a special volcano he and Belenos once explored as young drakes. So you see, my mate may not agree with what you plan to do, but he loves you both, and would see you happy no matter the disagreement.”

  Ēostre blinked her stinging eyes and swallowed through the tension constricting her throat. “Thank you, my friend. Help me put it on?” She adjusted her veil and tugged it aside for Xochi to secure the necklace.

  “You’re beautiful,” Chloe gushed. “This is going to be amazing, you’ll be the most gorgeous bride to ever strut her shit through the White House.”

  “I don’t want to strut through shit, I want to look elegant,” Ēostre said, scandalized by Chloe’s choice of words.

  Chloe laughed. “No! It means you’ll be on point, fantastic, looking fabulous, and all that.”

  Astrid twirled in her pale, rose pink gown. She wore a woven flower crown in her hair, the stems artfully twined together. “I feel like a princess.”<
br />
  “So do I.” Centuries of experience in preparing princesses for the crown hadn’t prepared Ēostre to feel like one herself. “I feel beautiful, too.”

  “You’ve always been beautiful, Grandmother. Today just means everyone who doesn’t already love you gets to know it, too.”

  She crouched down and pulled the girl in for a hug, careful not to muss her hair. “Thank you, sweetling,” she whispered.

  Astrid kissed her cheek. “I’m going to go see what Grandpa Max, Daddy, and Uncle Teo are doing. I hope they aren’t drunk again. Daddy had so much tequila last night he couldn’t walk.”

  “Astrid!”

  “Well, it’s true,” the girl said, much to her mother’s embarrassment.

  “They’d better be sober,” Chloe muttered darkly.

  Ēostre promptly burst into tears the moment the little girl left. “She’s so sweet.” Once they began, the waterworks wouldn’t stop until her chest heaved in spasms and her eyes stung. Chloe and Xochi, like a bridal rapid response team, descended swiftly with tissues.

  “Hey now, no crying. You’ll ruin your make-up.”

  “She is right, Ēostre. This is your day for happiness and peace. Embrace it with joy instead of tears.” The Latin dragoness gently pushed a strand of Ēostre’s hair back from her face. “For such a silly mortal celebration, I have grown fond of attending these events. Humans are capable of creating the most beautiful and amazing traditions,” she mused.

  Ēostre sucked in a deep breath. “I don’t know why I’m in such a fuss. I know we’ve already mated, that this doesn’t mean anything, but…”

  “Because it does mean something to you, Ēostre. It’s your wedding day, and brides are allowed to get emotional. Still, I’m so glad we opted for the minimalist look,” Chloe said while dabbing Ēostre’s cheeks. “Because if we’d put a full face of makeup on you, it’d be ruined right now.”

  The door cracked open again, allowing Chloe’s friend Marcy to lean in. “It’s time! Come on, chicas… you look amazing and everyone is waiting. We have a full house, all abuzz with dragons, supernaturals, and shade-wearing special agents.”