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Stig snorted but had the decency to look chagrined. We didn t want to interrupt you just in
case.
Griff narrowed his eyes at the pair before grabbing some shorts for himself and a nightgown and
robe for Avani. We ll be out in a few minutes. Make yourselves useful and put on a pot of tea.
Sure. Stig headed for the small kitchen, but Ignatius still hadn t moved or said anything. He
seemed deep in thought. Griff doubted he was going to like what their leader had to say.
Back in the bathroom, he found Avani combing out her hair. She reached for a hair tie from her
toiletry case but he stopped her. Leave it down for me.
She eyed his reflection in the mirror. An indulgent smile curved her lips. All right.
He kissed her bare shoulder. Thank you.
When the two were dressed, they emerged from the bathroom holding hands. She slid close to his
side, almost as if seeking his protection. He unlaced their fingers and curled his arm around her
shoulders. Tucking her smaller body against his, he sent a daring look Ignatius s way.
Hands up, Ignatius gave a slight shake of his head. His one good eye remained fixed on Avani. I
have no intention of driving a wedge between the two of you, so lower your guards. He hesitated.
The issue of the blood feud, however&
Griff pulled out one of the chairs at the table and sat. He dragged Avani between his open knees
and tugged her down onto his right thigh. She happily perched on his lap and gripped his hand, as if
still mistrusting Ignatius. He couldn t blame her. The ancient dragon had quite a reputation among
their kind for being a serious hard-ass.
Exhaling loudly, Griff asked, Has Mad been located?
Not yet, Ignatius answered, while Stig steeped tea at the counter behind him. Niko and Reynard
are on their way. They ll find him and Ivy.
So it is her. He eyed Ignatius carefully. You didn t know she was missing?
Neither did Niko, Ignatius replied reluctantly. We tried to give her a normal life, and that meant
staying far away from her so as not to rouse the suspicions of the Knights. Clearly, somewhere along
the way, we made a mistake, and they were able to track her down and take her. Regret and guilt
darkened Ignatius s voice. We won t fail her again.
What about her connection with Mad? Avani nervously interjected. She swallowed and glanced
at Griff. Back at the house, you said that Niko gave her some kind of treatment that included your
cousin s blood. She self-consciously touched her lips. Blood magic is strong magic. It s the reason
my species seals a mate bond with a bite. If she has his blood in her, maybe it s more than dreams
connecting them. What if& what if she s about to go into heat for the first time? She s the right age. I
was a junior in college when I first experienced it. What if it s I don t know awakened something
within her?
Griff s concerned gaze skipped to Ignatius. The one-eyed dragon looked rather impressed with
Avani. I suspect you re correct. It s something we feared might happen, back when Niko devised the
therapy, but it was a risk we agreed to take.
Why Madoc s blood? she wondered.
Chemistry, Ignatius answered with an uncertain shrug. Niko had his reasons for choosing Mad
as the donor, and I trusted them.
Griff wasn t so sure Mad had been fully apprised of the possibilities associated with giving his
blood for Niko s experimental treatment. It was the type of thing Mad would have told him and
something they would have discussed at length. He hoped for Niko s sake that he d been honest with
Mad up front about the side effects, because if Mad discovered he d been lied to, there would be hell
to pay.
Stig brought the mugs of tea to the table along with spoons and some milk. Avani, I need to
apologize for what happened at Mad s house. I shouldn t have attacked you.
She shrugged. It was chaos. I can only imagine what it must have looked like when you two broke
down the door to find me biting him.
I should have taken a moment to assess the situation more calmly.
We re fine, Avani assured him.
Ignatius stomach made a loud growling noise. He cleared his throat. Excuse me. I missed
dinner.
Stig pushed the sugar bowl toward him. You ll have to make do with tea. Cora doesn t trust me
with her scone recipe yet.
Taking his seat next to Ignatius, Stig said, Cora will be thrilled to learn she s no longer the only
mate in the group. Laughing, he added, Expect a big basket of baked goods to drop onto your
doorstep very soon.
The mention of Stig s pretty mate left Griff questioning the blood feud issue. It wouldn t be as
simple as declaring it over and done. Affairs like this were governed by archaic rules. So, Ignatius,
what happens with the feud between our families?
Ignatius sat back and sighed. Well it was a blood feud. You can t simply shake hands and call a
truce.
Griff bristled at the idea of causing Avani harm to satisfy the feud or vice versa. If you think
we re going to fight and draw blood just to satisfy some stupid old feud, you are out of your damn
mind.
Ignatius tilted his head and pointed to Griff s neck. She s already drawn blood. I doubt those
marks are from the poison darts.
Griff touched the mating bite that had been interrupted back in Mad s bunker. He looked down at
Avani who had fixed her attention on her mug of tea. There was no mistaking the blush of
embarrassment on her cheeks. It s part of the Naga mating ritual, he explained. They bite to cement
the bond.
Biting? Stig s eyebrows waggled suggestively. Kinky.
Griff picked up the nearest spoon and flicked it at his friend s chest. Grow up.
Ignatius ignored Stig s dramatic protest of pain as the other dragon rubbed his chest. Perhaps
Avani could make a peace offering to your tribe.
Avani exchanged a look with the Brotherhood s leader. You want me to give him the sword, don t
you?
You could always call it an engagement gift. Ignatius smoothly maneuvered her into a corner.
Griff shifted uncomfortably. We haven t discussed that far into the future.
She gripped his hand more tightly and winked at him. But we will.
His chest threatened to burst as his heart swelled. Not wanting her to feel pressured to give up the
sword she d taken from the Knights who had slaughtered her family, he said, You don t have to give
up the sword. It s yours to do with as you please.
It needs to be destroyed. I don t need the leverage anymore.
Because you ve got me, he thought.
She turned her attention to Ignatius. Will handing over the sword to Griffin as a peace offering
satisfy the feud?
Only a handful of Griffin s tribe remains. As long as no one files a grievance with Reynard, I m
sure he ll put an official end to this tiresome matter. Ignatius sat forward, grabbed his mug of
steaming hot tea, and downed it all in one big gulp. He rose from the table and carried his mug to the
sink. Turning back to face them, he said, It s time we pulled together. This war is ramping up again,
and our numbers are dwindling while theirs remain steady.
He gripped Stig s shoulders and gave them a squeeze. On that note, Stig and I really should leave
the two of you. I m sure you have more important things to discuss than blood feuds and missing
cousins.
Taking the hint, Stig finished off his tea and headed for the sink. I ll be staying upstairs until
morning. If you need me to stay another few nights, I m happy to do it.
No, I think we ll be fine. Griff didn t think the Knights would be stupid enough to come after
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