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Two alpha males in the sa her hands at her waist, Nefri offered a respectful bow "Baine"

"Nefri"

"Thank you for accepting ers to reveal the large diamond that shimmered with a white fire "You know I can never resist pretty baubles And I wasintrigued" A hint of a smile curved his lips as he tucked the diamond into the pocket of his loose pants "You are one of the few deo shifted to stand at her side, his expression tight as he braced hiainst the heavy throb of Baine’s power It was like the constant beat of a bass druh force to make the floor tremble beneath his feet

"Brave isn’t the word I would use," the aze turned toward Santiago, and Nefri tensed For now Baine was enjoying his role as beneficent host, but dragons were rumored to be fickle and vain with a quicksilver teer ao

"This is--" Nefri cut off her words as Baine gave a sharp wave of his hand

"I’ll hear it froo couldn’t offer a bow, or even lower his eyes as Baine slowly circled his rigid body Instead he tilted his chin and subtly tightened his grip on his sword

Stubborn vao," he said, his voice clear and steady

Baine came to a halt directly in front of hi with an inner fire "You don’t fear ed "I’on’s tattoos continued to swirl over his body in a dazzling display "You disguise it better than most," Baine murmured

"I’ve had a lot of practice"

"Yes" Baine sucked in a deep breath, as if savoring their scents "Such a violent world you live in"

Santiago took a wise step backward at the hungry edge in the dragon’s voice "It keeps on’s smile widened In anticipation? Difficult to say "I o asked

"The violence The blood" Baine o "The crunch of vampire bones ina restraining hand on the dragon’s ar with pain froenerated by his skin

Good lord, it was like touching an open flaent tones

There was a tense beat as the two alphas met stare for stare, then with a throaty chuckle Baine at last turned to aze

"I can’t play with your toy?"

"I’ve coed, thankfully stepping away frooad away frohted to be of service to a beautiful feer interest myself in your world," Baine infore of the past I seek"

The dragon paused, inwardly debating her request At the sah toof his sword He ht to be, but she wasn’t going to let hiuid wave of his hand "You may continue"

"I need information on a spirit who can infect a va her with a sudden curiosity Which, of course, was better than hunger

Just slightly

"I’ve never heard of such a spirit"

"Perhaps a book in your collection?"

"If the information was available in er over the swirling tattoos on his sto memories"

Nefri bit her botto "I see"

"Tell rimaced Siljar wouldn’t be pleased to know that Nefri had shared the details of the MIA spirit with Santiago, let alone a dragon, but what choice did she have?