“Come here. I want to show you something,” Bree said, leading him by the hand into the room with all her artwork. “Keep your eyes closed.”

“What if I trip on something?” Titus asked, feeling nervous. Aegis had given them a couple days alone and then called them, saying he wanted them to come to the castle and see him about something. Titus really hoped he wasn’t going to tell them to move home.

This place was his home now, and he was working hard to make it the best he could for him and Bree.

“What is it?” he asked as he heard her rustling around, revealing something.

“All right,” she said happily. “Open your eyes!”

He did, and his jaw dropped when it fell on the canvas in front of him.

“Bree…”

“Ta-da!” she said, moving to the side of it, a wide smile on her cute, freckled face. He just wanted to scoop her up and take her back to bed right this second, even though they’d just gotten up and gotten ready.

“It’s amazing.” He walked forward even closer, reaching a hand up to trace the details without touching the painting. “I never expected this.”

“I know,” she said. “But after I saw your dragon form, I found myself extremely inspired.”

“It’s beautiful,” he said, stepping back to take it all in again. “Not me, I mean. The painting. The land. The sky. You’re an amazing artist.”

“You’ve been working so hard on the house the last couple days, and I really wanted to give you the portrait I promised. But this felt so you.”

“Dammit, now I don’t want to give it to Aegis,” he said, studying it.

Her mouth pulled up at one corner. “Was that the intention?”

He nodded. “I mean, I love your paintings, but my main idea was for it to be a way for us to get to know each other. And the bonus was that it would annoy Aegis to have me around all the time, even if I wasn’t there.” He sighed. “Speaking of which…”

“Do we need to go?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “But there’s something I have to tell you first. There’s a chance he will want us to move in there. While the mercury dragon is still free.” In the past couple days together, he’d told her more about him and his crew and about their history finding mates.

He hoped she would understand.

“It’s fine,” she said. “I get it. It wouldn’t be permanent, though, right? And Biff could come?”

“Of course Biff would come.”

“Okay,” she said, flying into his arms. “I’m good, then.”

“Thank you,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “Should we go, then?”

“Yes,” she replied. “Should I get the car keys?”

He gave her a mischievous grin as he led the way down the stairs and onto the back porch, pulling her along beside him. He looked up at the sky, put a finger in the air as if to test the wind, and waited for her to understand.

“Wait, you mean—”

“Yes,” he said. “We’re going flying.”

He walked out ahead of her and transformed into the giant creature she’d seen before, and she gasped as he suddenly disappeared. He looked back and saw her staring up in confusion, knowing all she would see is a slight shimmer in the air, that his dragon was now transparent, as if it were made of glass.

“We can cloak to hide ourselves,” he said. “Comes in handy, especially in the modern world.”

“Oh,” she said, walking forward. “So then…”

“Come here,” he said. “I’m going to carry you.”

She took a few tentative steps forward, and he beat his wings gently, lifting in the air so he could drift backward so she was under his hands.

Then he lowered and caught her around the waist, lifting her carefully, securely.

She gasped and held on to him, then seemed to realize she was safe as they flew farther and farther off the ground.

He heard her let out a happy sigh.

“You okay, Bree?”

“I’m fine,” she said. “It’s perfect. All right, off to see Aegis.”

He grinned in agreement and beat his wings, setting off in the proper direction.

* * *

It was totally different looking up at the house now that Bree knew everything about the dragons.

Everything made sense now, from the opulence to the elegant furnishings (Titus had explained that dragons had treasure, and he and his crew had been allowed to retrieve theirs) to the way the men inside didn’t act like normal people.

That was even more true now, as when they went inside, the foyer was much fuller than she remembered.

She saw the man with gold hair who had fought with Titus standing at the edge of the living room, leaning on the wall. When he saw her and Titus, he folded his arms, made a little huff, and disappeared out of the room.

“Guess he’s still sore about the collars,” Titus said, looking in the same direction.

“He’ll get over it,” Liam said, giving Titus a hug and clapping him on the back. “Good to see you again.”

“Thanks,” Titus said. “You, too.” He turned to Bree as Magnus approached with a woman on his arm to join Liam and his mate. “Bree, this is Kate, Liam’s mate. And Lindy, Magnus’s mate.”

Bree liked the other women immediately, and the six of them were all talking when a door opened on the right and Aegis poked his head out, accompanied by a dark-haired man who had to be Citrine. Bree remembered Aegis mentioning him on her first day at the castle.

“We’re ready. If you could all come in here,” Citrine called out.

They all filed into the room and sat in the six chairs in front of the desk, while Citrine, Aegis, and a beautiful woman with pale, blue-purple eyes and dark hair sat behind it.

“This is my mate, Opal,” Aegis announced proudly. “And we have some news.”

“Oh?”

Aegis’s hand went to his mate’s stomach, and she practically glowed. “We are going to have a child.”

Titus sat up abruptly, looking around at the other dragons. “So it’s possible.”

“Of course it is,” Aegis said. “You should meet my godson. He was born between a gem dragon and a human mate. I would think that metal dragons are no different.”

“I assumed as much,” Titus said. “But it is still good to see another confirmation of it.”

“Yes,” Aegis said proudly. “So anyway, the news we have is that we are leaving the castle. The oracle has released us to be on our own.”

“Wait,” Liam said. “Does that mean we are going to be here at the castle, watching the noble metals?”

“No,” Aegis said. “Citrine will be taking care of that. Even with Mercury out there, I think the three of you are safe to go home with your mates.”

Both Magnus and Liam looked overjoyed at that, as well as their mates.

“I’ll be able to go back to my shop,” Lindy said. “Mike’s been watching it, but I’d still love to work on some cars.”

“Me, too,” Magnus said.

“I’m excited to go home and enjoy my new yard,” Kate said breathlessly. “So we’re really free to leave?”

“I mean, no one was forcing you to stay here,” Aegis said, slightly disgruntled. “But yes. You’re free to leave. The oracle will be keeping an eye on Mercury, and now that you all are mated, my guess is his focus will be on these noble metal dragons anyway. But that’s just a hunch. The main thing is that if the oracle says you are good to go, you’re good to go.”

Bree let out a long breath and looked at Titus, who seemed relieved but also experiencing another feeling.

“Aegis,” he said as the other dragons got up, said their good-byes, and filed out with their mates excitedly.

“Yes?” Aegis responded.

Titus took him by the arm, clasping his shoulder. “Thank you. For everything. I know the three of us weren’t always appreciative, but we’ll never forget what you did for us.”

Aegis, if possible, was blushing. He stammered as he stepped back to stand with his arm around his mate again. “I did it because it was my duty.”

“I think you went above and beyond,” Bree said, walking forward. She faced Opal. “Congratulations. I wish I could tell you how helpful your husband has been.”

Opal’s pale, beautiful features spread into a smile. “I appreciate that, but I already know just how ‘helpful’ he can be.” She gave him a nudge with her elbow, as if reminding him of some kind of inside joke.

“Aegis used to be a villain, you know,” she said.

“I can’t picture that,” Bree said. Aegis just glared, and she laughed. “Actually, I can.”

“We’re grateful to be going home, but please let Citrine know we’re happy to help with anything we can,” Titus said.

Citrine walked over and nodded. “I may need to consult with you from time to time. These dragons are unbelievably stubborn. Still strong, but they possess an ego that your kind didn’t.”

“They’re our kind,” Titus said. “Just a bit… odder.”

“I believe it,” Aegis said. “I’m happy they aren’t my problem.”

“I’m up to the challenge,” Citrine said, sweeping his long brown hair back. “I’m happy for you, Aegis.”

The two men shook hands and looked into each other’s eyes for a moment and then broke apart.

Opal wiped at her eyes.

“We can still come visit,” Aegis said. “If you really want. Once the baby is born.”

“Really? Oh, I’d like that, Aegis.”

“It was nice meeting you,” Bree said.

“I guess we’re going to get going,” Titus said. He turned back to Citrine for a moment. “Any idea what you’re going to do with this batch of dragons?”

Citrine smiled and gave him a long, slow wink. “I think I have an idea.”

Titus shivered next to her, and Bree looked up at him curiously. “What is it?”

“That guy gets some weird ideas sometimes. Then again, he made it so I could meet you, so I guess it’ll work out.”

“So why the shiver?”

Titus smiled. “I guess because taming those dragons is going to be a crazy adventure. And I’m glad I just get to settle down and have the life of my dreams with you.”

Her heart felt squeezed with warmth, and she cuddled in next to him as they walked out the front door and down the steps to the lawn.

“Are we going to fly back?” she asked.

He nodded.

“Good.”

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” he asked. “Freeing, right?”

“Yes,” she said, thinking about it. She slipped her hand in his and squeezed it as she turned to face him, looking up into his eyes. “Then again, I always feel free when I’m with you.”

“That’s the best compliment you could have paid me,” he said, dipping his head forward. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she said, reaching up on tiptoes to put her arms around his neck as he dipped down to seal his lips over hers in a searing, tender kiss.

Whether she was in the air or on the ground, every minute with her dragon made her feel as if she were flying.

* * *

* * *

I hope you enjoyed the third book in the Rent-A-Dragon series! If you enjoyed Titus and Bree’s story, I hope you’ll leave a review to help other readers find it. I really appreciate all your support.

Also, you may want to grab my limited edition Awakened Dragons Boxed Set, at .99 for a short time for all SIX BOOKS.

I never do boxed sets that extreme, and I usually wait about a year after release to put books in a boxed set, so get it while you can.

Thanks again so much, and make sure you are signed up for my newsletter here so you can be first to hear about the next dragon’s shenanigans:

Sincerely,

Terry