She had never really understood why it went so badly with any dragon hearts they found. Both Troy and Jack were good-looking, hard-working shifters with more money than they could ever spend and powers that meant they could protect anyone.

  So what was going on? Looking at Troy’s dark expression, she suspected it was something to do with him.

  “I’m sure you’ll find her,” she said in an attempt to encourage them. Double dragons without a mate were at a disadvantage to mated ones because they didn’t have a third power in their party.

  Jack, always the confident one, shrugged and smiled. “I’m sure we will, when it’s right.”

  As Troy was turning back around with their bags, he stopped and narrowed his eyes at her, taking a few seconds to appraise her.

  “You’re different,” he said, scowling. “You look… happier. Healthier.” He turned to Jack. “Am I just imagining it?”

  Olivia felt a wave of embarrassment go through her as her longtime friends examined her, cocking their heads.

  “No, you’re not imagining it, Troy,” Jack said. “She does look like she’s doing well.”

  “Must be Jack’s vacation idea that we pushed on you,” Troy said, looking satisfied with himself.

  “Or all the home cooking they serve here,” Jack added, nodding. “Or the company.” He shot a look at Ajax, who just glared back.

  Olivia stepped forward, too embarrassed to let this go any further. It was getting difficult to keep her mind empty about the real reason she felt she was looking and feeling so good, and she did not need either of the double dragons reading her thoughts at the current moment.

  “It’s just the fresh air,” she said shortly. “Nothing so complicated.”

  Troy frowned. “Fresh air? Fresh air doesn’t—”

  But Troy didn’t get to finish his sentence because Jack elbowed him in the stomach and smiled warmly. “Whatever it is, we’re just glad that the vacation seems to be going well.”

  She was just about to thank him, but at that moment, a large black van pulled up with a bunch of people inside.

  Jack leaned in conspiratorially. “Come find us later. We need to talk about the mission.”

  Olivia blinked. “Any updates?”

  “Things are under control, but I can tell you more later,” Jack said as he took one of their cases from Troy and walked up the steps to the townhome that Harrison had begrudgingly set up for them.

  As they passed Ajax, he gave them both a silent nod.

  As the dragons went inside, Olivia heard them greeting the residents of Dragonclaw.

  But then everyone in the house came out to greet those who were just exiting the van.

  That must be the basilisks, Olivia thought as one of the doors to the van opened and a huge, tall man stepped out, wearing a dark shirt and jeans, with a towering build like Ajax and similar tattoos. However, this man had one red eye and one blue eye.

  Then another stepped out, with similar clothes and tattoos and build, but this one had blue eyes and a full beard.

  So basilisk eye colors could fluctuate. That was fascinating.

  She looked up to see Ajax walking forward to greet them, shaking their hands and talking to them as the others came up as well.

  Truly, with what was going on between the two of them, she didn’t really know how to handle things with their friends.

  When the double dragons talked to her later, and asked about her and Ajax, should she even tell them about her feelings?

  Wait, feelings?

  Oh crap.

  Her heart dropped all the way down to her stomach at the implications. Surely, this was just lust.

  No, as she watched Ajax with his friends and caught him still glancing over to check on her, her heart squeezed.

  Things had gotten a lot more complicated ever since that day at the skating rink.

  Olivia was really coming to care for this man, not just as a casual fling or a hot guy to spend her vacation with, but as more.

  More than she’d ever thought could happen in a week.

  What was wrong with her?

  For a moment, her brain entertained the idea of them staying together.

  But what would happen when the double dragons sent her on another assignment? Would he go with? Would he stay? Would he be fine moving to Dallas if the dragons asked her to leave tonight?

  Suddenly, her stomach was swarming with butterflies.

  What was she going to do?

  Suddenly, Ajax was there next to her and looking down at her with a frown. “What’s wrong?”

  Trust him to always pick up on her feelings like that.

  Olivia shook her head, pulling herself back to reality, where they were just having fun together. She didn’t need to be thinking such serious thoughts. “I’m fine, sorry.”

  For now, she just wanted to enjoy the evening and attempt not to worry too much.

  “Come on,” Ajax said roughly, taking her hand and pulling her with him gently over to his friends. “I want to introduce you to the other basilisks.”

  14

  “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

  Ajax narrowed his eyes at the large glass of cream-colored liquid that Beck, the mountain dragon, had just handed him. When he looked up, he was relieved to find that Diesel and Gunnar seemed to be sharing in his confusion.

  “What is this? Some kind of weird milk?” Ajax asked. “It’s yellow, and it smells off.”

  Beck let out a growl. “It’s my mate’s famous eggnog, and it’s fucking delicious, and I’ll shove coal down your throat if you say another word about it.”

  Ajax shot him a glare. Like that was possible. He held the glass up to his nose and inhaled deeply, taking in fragrant scents of cinnamon, vanilla, and something else he couldn’t quite place.

  That didn’t seem too bad.

  “Let’s make this interesting,” Diesel said.

  Gunnar, who was holding his eggnog up to the light, cocked an eyebrow. “How?”

  “We haven’t had our basilisk beatdown for this week. How about we—”

  “No fighting inside! Do you know how long it took to get this place set up?” Marian interjected, incredulous as she walked by the counter holding a plate of cookies.

  Ajax had to admit she had a point; the whole main house was gorgeously decorated. Tinsel and wreaths hung on the walls and doors, and in some places, a small plant called “mistletoe” was hanging.

  Since he’d seen several couples kiss underneath it, he wondered if Olivia would be up for that as well.

  But no one seemed to know they were anything but work partners.

  Or if they did, they were polite enough not to let on.

  “We could have a contest for drinking this weird liquid,” Diesel said, still staring at his suspiciously. “First to get their glass down is apex for the week.”

  “I’m in,” Gunnar said. “But don’t let Beck hear you call it weird.”

  “I heard,” Beck growled. “But you’re about to eat your words after you taste it.”

  It was good to see that his friends hadn’t completely lost their competitive edge since being mated.

  Though, now that he was with Olivia, he kind of understood.

  Something inside you calmed down when you were next to the person you would do anything for.

  But he still was going to win this contest. Absolutely.

  “Fine. Beck, call it,” he grunted, nodding at the mountain dragon that was now looking amused as he stood across the counter from them.

  Beck nodded, then ran a hand over his beard and counted down. “Three, two, one, go!”

  Ajax raised the huge glass to his lips and threw it back, drinking as fast as he could. It was hard to manage, it was so thick and sweet. But it did taste amazing and distract him from jealously pacing around Olivia, so he happily drank it.

  As he got to the bottom, he decided he would drink his next glass slower. This stuff was amazing.

  When he was finished, he pulled the glass from his mouth and slammed it on the counter. He eyed Gunnar and Diesel who were, to his triumphant surprise, still finishing their glasses.

  “I’m apex,” Ajax said, leaning against the counter cockily.

  Gunnar finished next, looking disappointed to be slower.

  Diesel came last, several seconds later, and his beard was covered in eggnog, which made him immediately grab for the towel Beck handed him. “Damn stuff is hard to drink. Delicious, though.”

  Beck nodded. “Damn straight, it is.”

  “I’m going to go take some to my mate,” Diesel said, cleaning off. “Anyway, gotta go. I promised Grace I’d help her decorate the Christmas tree.”

  “I’m going to find my mate as well,” Gunnar said, leaving the kitchen.

  Ajax wanted to go find Olivia.

  She’d been acting a little strange since this afternoon, but he’d just figured that was her nerves with meeting everyone.

  He’d also wanted to give her space to interact with others and be with her friends, so he was trying not to smother her.

  He followed his friends into the family room, wondering if Olivia was perhaps in there.

  His eyes widened as he took in the obscenely large Christmas tree. It had to be at least fifteen feet tall and was covered in tiny, shimmering multicolored lights and ornaments, along with strings of tinsel and popcorn. It was unlike anything Ajax had ever seen.

  Reno and his mate Dani were laughing together as they placed a miniature Santa figurine on the branches of the tree. On the other side, Diesel’s mate Morgan and her daughter Grace were hanging a long string of popcorn.

  When it got too high for her to reach, she motioned over to Diesel, who grinned and picked her up so she could place the rest of it on the tree.

  Ajax couldn’t help but crack a smile, and it widened slightly when he saw Olivia step around from the other side of the tree, holding a glass of wine in one hand and a box of ornaments in the other.

  “Hands full?” he asked, making his way over to her.

  She snorted. “Obviously not.” Then she looked down at her arms and seemed to reconsider. “Well, maybe a little.”

  “I figured.”

  Olivia handed him the box, and her gaze flickered to his for a second before she looked away and held up her glass. “I, um… need to get more wine. Be right back.” Without another word, she hurried from the room.

  Ajax frowned.

  Yup, he was definitely not imagining things. His mate was avoiding him. The question was why would she be suddenly nervous? Had he said or done something wrong? He couldn’t think of anything.

  It was just the crowd, probably.

  He frowned, absentmindedly pulling one of the spherical ornaments from the box and placing it on the tree. In the background, Christmas music played through the air, emanating from a small speaker on the mantel.

  At least everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves. Harrison, who was on the couch with Marian, leaned back and sighed contentedly. “I don’t know how long it’s been since we held a Christmas party like this.”

  Reno peeked around from the side of the tree. “That would be never, actually.”

  Harrison chuckled and shrugged. “You could be right.” His eyes, normally hard and skeptical, twinkled slightly as he looked at the tree. “But it is nice to have everyone around for the holidays.”

  “I agree,” Marian said, snuggling a little closer to him.

  Ajax agreed too. Hell, even Clark, who was munching on his fourth cookie, seemed to be having a nice time.

  Ajax didn’t know the dragon well and held nothing against him—as long as he stayed far from Olivia.

  Clark was collared, and other than trying to find a new crater to rule, and cope with the loss of his old life as the god of a cult, he seemed to be doing just fine.

  Ajax looked around for Olivia again, not seeing her.

  Well, she’s probably just having a hard time with the size of the party, Ajax thought, hanging the last of the ornaments Olivia had given him. Later, when things calmed down, he would find her, and they would talk it out.

  When he moved to set the box down with the other empty containers, he frowned, catching sight of her. She had come back in and seemed to be enjoying an avid conversation with Clark.

  The bastard.

  Clark had the audacity to smile at her, the rotten jerk.

  Ajax clenched his fists, feeling something savage rise inside him.

  Olivia and he were standing near the front door, and he was handing her a cookie, which she turned down.

  Good.

  Clark had dark hair with silver streaks, a beard, and a build that signified dragon. He was older than the other dragons, but Ajax was sure he could still have his pick of mates, if he reformed himself.

  But he couldn’t have this one.

  Ajax took a step forward, then remembered Olivia’s words.

  Don’t be shifter-y.

  Dammit, he’d been about to do exactly what she’d asked him not to do.

  His monster snarled as he forced himself to step back and appraise the situation calmly.

  He looked at his friends, happy with their mates, and the other residents of Dragonclaw, who were all enjoying themselves peacefully.

  He wouldn’t mess that up.

  Then Olivia threw her head back and laughed at something Clark was saying, and Ajax’s inner basilisk saw red.

  Calm down. She isn’t ours, he told the beast.

  Yet, it retorted.

  Ajax’s hands clenched involuntarily at his sides as they talked. He took a step forward, then another, trying to hear what they were saying.

  Then, to his utter shock, he saw Clark point at the mistletoe above her.

  Ajax sucked in a breath as their conversation filtered into his ears over the other sounds in the room.

  “I’m mateless; you’re mateless,” Clark said, still pointing at the mistletoe with a grin. “You’re a beautiful woman. We could—”

  Ajax moved without thought, without the ability to stop. In a split second, he was there, and then his fist was colliding with Clark’s face as Clark’s eyes flew open in confused shock.

  Then the punch took hold as a shockwave made Clark’s cheek ripple for a millisecond before he went flying backward, crashing through the door behind him, which was instantly knocked off its hinges.

  Clark let out a yell as he flew out, and Ajax heard a thud as he landed outside.

  Ajax stood there, frozen, as he realized what had just happened. The entire room was silent, and Olivia was just staring at him in horror.

  “Ajax,” she said. “We weren’t going to do anything. He was just—”

  “What’s going on here?” Harrison asked, coming forward to put his hands on his hips.

  “He attacked me!” Clark said, somehow up despite the huge hit he’d taken from Ajax. “Out of nowhere, he sucker-punched me in the face! I demand a fight! I demand satisfaction!”

  Harrison put up a hand, silencing Clark. “Are you all right?”

  Clark snarled. “Of course I am. I’m a dragon. But I’m insulted, and—”

  “Olivia, are you all right? Did anything happen?”

  Olivia blinked, her dark eyes looking lost for a moment. “No, of course not.” She looked at Ajax, and he wondered if she was disappointed in him.

  Shit.

  She’d already been on edge, already warned him not to behave like this, and he hadn’t been able to heed those warnings.

  The only thing he could do that would be even worse was explain himself to everyone by saying that she was his mate.

  His fists tightened, itching to hit Clark again for even daring to go near Olivia.

  Bastard.

  Olivia didn’t know what to say as the others came in and began to gather around.

  “I misunderstood,” Ajax said, turning to Clark. “I’m sorry.”

  Clark just glared at him. “It’s enough that I’ve lost my home and have to wear this wretched collar. I don’t deserve to be hit in the face for—”

  “You know you shouldn’t be talking about mates with Olivia or trying to make a move on her,” Beck said, stepping forward. “We all know she likes Ajax.”

  Olivia’s eyes went wide, but she didn’t deny it, which was definitely interesting.

  “We aren’t… like that,” Olivia said quickly, dashing Ajax’s hopes and making hurt lash through him.

  But she was right. They had no commitment.

  “My bad,” Beck said, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Ajax, I need to talk to you,” Harrison said.

  Ajax folded his arms. “I apologized.”

  Harrison frowned.

  “We’ll talk to him,” Diesel said, stepping forward with Gunnar.

  “Yeah, this is a basilisk job,” Gunnar said, grabbing one of Ajax’s arms while Diesel grabbed the other.

  Ajax wanted to stay, to talk to his mate, to try and explain his behavior in a way that wouldn’t make her hate him, but he couldn’t.

  He looked into her eyes, trying to communicate that he truly had only been trying to protect her.

  But he’d broken a damn door. He looked over at it. “I can fix that.”

  But Harrison was already pulling it up and looking at the hinges. “It’s fine.” He looked at Gunnar and Diesel. “But you two go talk some sense into that jealous bastard before he destroys my house.”

  “I’m not jealous,” Ajax muttered, as if he could convince anyone, including himself, that he wasn’t a complete mess.

  But Gunnar and Diesel were already marching him down the hallway toward Harrison’s private office.

  Once they were inside, Gunnar let go of Ajax and folded his arms. “All right, what’s going on with you and your woman?”

  Ajax snarled. “I don’t have a woman.”

  “Right,” Diesel said mockingly. “That’s why you punched the door off a house.”

  “I punched a man out of a house,” Ajax said. “He broke the door.”

  Gunnar exhaled roughly. “Ajax…”

  “I know,” Ajax said. “It was a mistake. I reacted faster than I could help it.”

  “So she’s your mate,” Diesel said helpfully.