Remiel pretended to freeze like the others, mostly so he could observe the stranger. Perhaps get a hint as to their identity.

But the smell was like nothing he’d ever encountered. The aura like nothing he’d ever seen—swirling smoke.

The power was vast, and a lesser being would be affected. Not a Gold. Which was why Sue-Ellen could probably move and thought to take matters into her own hands.

She’d failed. Whoever they faced had magic, a magic that wasn’t dragon or anything he’d seen, heard of, or been taught.

As Sue-Ellen found herself magically shoved off the building, he was faced with a choice. Save Sue-Ellen or the world?

The person in the cloak presented a clear and present danger to him and his kind.

Sue-Ellen was just one person.

As with all decisions in his life, there was only one answer.

He dove off the parapet after his angel and thus saw the moment that she finally made that connection with the dragon that had somehow found its way inside of her. He saw her explode into a fabulous golden beast of epic size and beauty, her scales lined in edges of green, a hint of her bayou heritage. Her wings unfurled from her back, mighty sails of thin gossamer. He saw the panic in her eyes as she fluttered them but still fell.

“They don’t work!”

He heard her mental screech of annoyance and almost smiled. “Don’t worry, angel. I won’t let you fall.” He’d never let her fall.

He dove, wings tight to his back, arrowing toward her and reaching out.

“Grab my hands.”

“Paws?”

“Whatever.” He caught her and flipped them midair so she was on top. Then he instructed her.

“Extend your wings all the way.”

One opened right up; the other wobbled.

“Both of them.”

“I’m trying.”

“Try harder.”

“Bully.” A complaint, and yet she did as told. Snap. The second wing fully extended, and she caught some air. He kept her atop him, though, his own wings bearing the brunt of the work, but not for much longer.

“Get ready to flap, but stay in this wind stream.” He let go of her and flipped over that he might show her by example.

Elation pulsed through his link with her.

“It’s working.”

“As if there was any doubt. Dragons are meant to fly.”

“I’m flying.” A sense of wonder filled the link between them.

Indeed, she finally flew, but the lesson took a few too many moments, and by the time they returned to the rooftop, the cloaked figure was gone. The priestess was still headless, and Aimi was on the phone, probably calling a cleanup crew to start on the mess. Meanwhile, Brandon held Samael in a headlock.

Landing, Remiel managed to brace enough to keep Sue-Ellen from rolling.

“I can’t believe I’m a clumsy dragon,” she grumbled as he caught her.

“You just need practice.”

“Practice being a fucking dragon.” Her majestic head shook, the silken spines on her mane shimmering. “I’m a dragon.”

“I know, angel.” A beautiful one, too.

“Does the gold thing mean we’re related?”

A good question. There weren’t many Gold choices around, and later that day, Xylia actually answered it as they held a sudden war room meeting to discuss what had happened.

All four Goldens had been invited, although Samael was under guard so he wouldn’t try any tricks. Remiel almost felt sorry for him, especially when Deka muttered, “Don’t worry, Remi”—her nickname for him—“I’ll keep an eye on the evil overlord. He won’t escape me.”

He almost laughed at the look of fear in Samael’s eyes.

No one objected when Waida arrived to lead the meeting, but she didn’t add much to the conversation other than to say, yes, there was a building movement amongst the humans against dragons and other cryptos. Yes, there was a lot of interest in kidnapping or controlling the newly emerged Golds, but not for power. The humans wanted their genes.

Xylia explained. “Somehow, the human scientists have discovered that the essence from a Gold can help ease mutations in humans without the insanity. But the more interesting thing is the results of the blood work. While Remiel and Samael are definitely related, their Golden gene is not the same as that carried by the Mercer branch.”

“So we’re not brother and sister?” Sue-Ellen asked. “Thank God.”

“Whose Golden essence do they carry, then?”

No one had the answer to that question.

Just like no one knew who the hell had been in that cloak.

“Surely the histories mention a race with red eyes?” Remiel snapped back at the mansion.

Aunt Xylia shook her head. “None. The dragons are green.”

“And gold,” Remiel amended.

“The shifters shine yellow. The faeries are amethyst.”

“What of the merpeople?” he asked.

“The dull darkness of kelp from the deepest reaches.” Xylia spread her hands. “I know not of any race with fiery eyes.”

“The humans do.” All eyes turned to Yolanda.

“Explain,” commanded Zahra.

“You just need to read one of their bibles to find it. Demons.”

“Don’t exist,” exclaimed Xylia.

“Neither did we, supposedly.”

The taunting rejoinder began a tedious back and forth that led nowhere.

The meeting lasted several hours, and all that was accomplished was Brandon agreeing to back down on his claim as king—too much work, he claimed—if Remiel was truly serious about making Sue-Ellen his wife.

Samael objected to Remiel keeping Sue-Ellen, to which Deka took offense. No one was surprised when he managed to escape during a break. Nor was anyone surprised when Deka didn’t return after. What did cause shock was her returning empty-handed—and not happy about it.

With his emotions conflicted about his brother, Remiel let Samael flee for now. Remiel had more important things to attend to, such as securing the position of his future queen.

This time, he chose a bed for his actions.

When everyone called it a night, Remiel took that opportunity to spirit Sue-Ellen to her bedroom. It wasn’t the grand suite deserving of a queen, but it would do for now.

Shutting the door behind him, he opened his mouth and found it attacked by Sue-Ellen. Ferociously attacked.

“Finally succumbing to my greatness,” he remarked.”

“Just glad you’re alive.” Said with a lick of his lower lip.

“As if there were any question.”

“Somehow, I’m alive, despite getting tossed from a roof.”

“I’d never let anything happen to you.” Ever.

“Looks like we’re still in danger.”

“That goes without saying.”

She placed her palms on his chest. “I love you.”

Of course she did. “I’ve always loved you.” He would only ever love her. For this woman, his angel, this king would kneel. He dropped to a knee, but he forwent a flowery speech.

“Would you do me the honor of being my mate?”

“Shouldn’t you have asked that before you seduced me?” she asked. “And before you told the dragons I was yours? And before you bargained with my brother?”

“Would the answer have changed?”

“No.” She knelt in front of him and cupped his cheeks. “From the first time I saw you, I knew you were the one. And now that we’re finally together…”

“…nothing can keep us apart.”

The promise rang between them, and it might have carried its own form of magic—-a lusty kind—because they tore at each other right after, their teeth clacking as their lips mashed together.

Theirs was a passion that would never subside.

Like a fire, it would only grow stronger. And lucky him, Sue-Ellen seemed determined to fuel that lust.

“Lie down for me. Hands behind your head.”