How to Date a Dragon

from opening the bar, and I assumed it was simply because they didn’t want that element near their home. Now I understand from both you and Nick that the Balogs seem to be in the Council’s employ.”

“I think you’re all right as long as humans don’t discover the bar’s real purpose as a safe place for paranormals to meet and get to know each other as fellow, well, creatures.”

“It’s more than that. They don’t want humans knowing about our existence at all. I can understand their concern since I employ humans. I’ve tried to find paranormals to work here, but most aren’t interested in such mundane duties and lousy pay.”

Drake laughed. “Can you blame them?”

“No. If I didn’t firmly believe in my theory that hostilities between the factions would cease if everyone just got to know one another’s daily struggles and challenges, I wouldn’t be doing this, either.”

“It’s a positive message and I, for one, hope it’s working.”

Anthony nodded. “For the most part. I’ve had to mesmerize a couple of employees who’d seen too much, but it was absolutely essential. They had to forget about our… uniqueness.”

“I understand. But Bliss knows about me, and now that Vulcan has intervened, she may know a lot more.”

“She’s a smart woman, and I trust her not to blab. You must too if you’re sitting here and talking to me casually. I thought you might ask me to mesmerize her.”

“As you said, she’s smart. I think she knows no one would believe her, and I trust her not to jeopardize my safety. Just now, she made up a crazy story about being knocked out and having a near-death experience.”

Anthony’s brows shot up. “That’s a little much, isn’t it? Why not temporary amnesia?”

“I don’t know. I’ll ask her about it later. Right now I want to wait until her shift is over and see if I can talk her into going to my place for the night.”

“You don’t believe she’s safe here anymore?”

“It isn’t that. She’s probably safe anywhere. Vulcan said he was going after Zina and Bliss was back at the bar. You have no idea what a relief that was. The Council must have Zina in their custody by now.

“I can’t imagine that Bliss would have been able to escape without their help. That’s probably why she made up that bullshit story about seeing God. I can hardly wait to hear what really happened.”

“Ah, I think I understand now.”

“If I’m right, we should have nothing to fear from Zina from now on. Thanks for your help while she was being a menace.”

Anthony chuckled. “I may ask you to return the favor someday. Wait until you see Ruxandra on a rampage.”

* * *

Mother Nature screamed a string of obscenities. “Are you kidding me? You had that dragon bitch in your grasp and you lost her?”

Vulcan’s gaze dropped to where his white robe met his bare feet. “I’m sorry, Gaia. She was about to open the bathroom door and I panicked. I grabbed the mortal and returned her to safety instead of grabbing the immortal and going back for the other one later. You’re absolutely right. I should have done it the other way around. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You were thinking it would be easier to deal with a helpless mortal than battle a nasty fire-breathing dragon.”

It chafed, but she was probably right. That’s why Vulcan didn’t visit earth very often. He was much more comfortable in his solitary workshop or among his own kind. Mortals were so frail and easily broken, they made him nervous.

“Not only that, but you actually brought the mortal here.” Mother Nature tossed her hands in the air. It was never a good sign when she began talking with her hands. “Here! No mortal has ever— or should ever—be aware of our location. They need to think we’re everywhere. Otherwise there will be chaos wherever we’re not.”

“Yes, Goddess.”

“Fortunately I was able to blind her with uber-bright direct sunlight. If I hadn’t, she could have seen everything. How would you have explained it to her then?”

“I don’t know. I am very, very sorry.”

“Well, get your sorry ass back down there and find that friggin’ dragon. You know how I hate dragons! I’ve almost wiped them out completely, but if this one manages to get pregnant… Gaaaah!” Thunder rumbled in the distance.

Vulcan had never seen Mother Nature this angry. Well, no, that wasn’t quite true. She’d caused some impressive earthquakes and tsunamis when she was really on a tear. Vulcan wondered what kind of destruction was taking place on earth during this tirade, but he wasn’t nearly as concerned about that as he was with his own hide at the moment.

“I’ll find her, Goddess.”

“Damn right you will, because you won’t be allowed back here until you do.”

Why did I ever volunteer to help in the first place?

Chapter 14

“I thought you didn’t want me to leave my building. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad to be out and about again. I was beginning to feel like I was on house arrest.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re safe now, or I wouldn’t have suggested coming here.”

Drake unlocked his front door and led her down the hall of the old brick house. Near the end of the corridor, he unlocked another door and let her go inside first.

“I know it’s small. Someday when I have more money saved, I’ll look for a bigger place. Basically, it was affordable and convenient to walk to work.”

“Your place is… cute.” Bliss took in the entire apartment from her vantage point. The room couldn’t have been more than twenty by twenty-five feet, but he had managed to make every square inch useful. There was one door in the middle, which had to be the bathroom. On the left side stood a very efficient kitchen.

A set of bookshelves ran the length of the opposite wall, but built into the middle was a dresser and, on top of that, a TV. The wall unit looked as if it had been custom made. Perhaps it was. She remembered his telling her about making his own Murphy bed and desk combination. She spotted them on the other side of the bathroom door and walked over. “Am I in your bedroom now?”

“Oh, yeah,” he said in a sexy, low voice. “And you look mighty good there.”

She chuckled. “Where do you sit and talk? You do still want to talk, right?”

“We should. Let me fold down the bed. It’s my sofa too.”

She backed up out of the way, and he made short work of flipping up his desk, fastening it in place, and dropping down a queen-size bed.

“You made that look easy.”

“I’m used to it.” Then he gestured to his bed, inviting her to sit on it.

She couldn’t help but wonder if other women had been to his place. It really wasn’t an entertainer’s paradise. She had a hard time reconciling her social guy with a place like this. Bliss took a seat on the end of the bed and tried to cross her legs at the ankle and tuck them beneath her. She was a little too close to the ground for a ladylike position.

Drake sat down next to her and pulled her close for a long, warm kiss. Afterward, he rested his forehead against hers and spoke so softly, she almost didn’t hear him.

“I’ve never been so worried about anyone in my life.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put you through that.”

He brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s not exactly your fault. It wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t involved with me in the first place.”

“Yeah, well, I’m glad I am. I just don’t understand why Zina wants you so badly.”