Rhett was on cloud nine and his mind reeled over the fact that Breslin agreed to a date night. In typical Breslin fashion, she dictated, “You have one fucking chance, demon. You will take me to The Melting Pot and I’m no’ talking aboot that human restaurant. Bhric and Alex will join us.”

Some males would balk at a dominant female, but it was one thing he loved about Breslin. Rhett appreciated that he didn’t have to lead everything or wonder what she was thinking or feeling. Each of the females at Zeum was strong, but none came close to the commanding presence of his Flame.

Rhett pulled through the iron gates of Zeum and his throat constricted. How would he be received by Zander and her other siblings? The only reason he escaped injury during his last visit was because Breslin needed his blood. He cringed as he recalled how weak she looked then. Her family had every right to hate him.

He’d always been a selfish male and was okay with that until Breslin came into his life. Now, he was in unfamiliar territory and didn’t know how to act.

It wasn’t second nature for him to think of others. It was about what he wanted and what felt good for him. So, when Breslin declared they were mates, his philandering side rebelled, and he took off without considering the consequences. It was an asshole move and he regretted it more than anything. The question now was could he make up for the damage he caused between them?

Breslin, Bhric, and Alex were out the door before he climbed out of his vehicle. It was a relief to not face Zander and the rest yet. He wanted Breslin on his side the next time he set foot in Zeum. Without her support, Rhett would never mend those fences. Sweat broke across his forehead as he stepped from his vehicle and made eye contact with Bhric.

The last time he’d seen his best friend, Bhric punched him in the face. Their relationship was always natural and easy, yet now Rhett was uncertain and felt uncomfortable. Thankfully, Breslin broke in and ended the awkward tension of the moment.

“Bhric, you and Alex take your car. I’ll go with the demon and make sure he doesna try and escape,” Breslin said with a wink.

Bhric chuckled. “I doona think he’s that stupid, puthair.”

“I don’t plan on making the same mistakes,” Rhett interjected with a smile as he opened the car door for Breslin. “Are you ready to make some magic?” he asked, meeting her amber gaze.

Breslin closed her eyes and her body went rigid. She couldn’t deny the pull they felt, and Rhett wasn’t against using their connection to win his case.

“Aye, I’m anxious to try my hand at blown glass,” Breslin replied, ignoring his heartfelt comment, but he didn’t miss that she trembled when he helped her into the seat.

Rhett hopped in his Mercedes Sedan and took off. Driving was one of his new favorite past times. They didn’t have cars on Khoth, or his home realm, so he hadn’t experienced anything like it until he arrived in Seattle. He found the speed and maneuverability exhilarating. Bhric let Rhett drive his motorcycle once but he didn’t see the vehicle’s appeal. The seats were uncomfortable and the insects beating at his face and body were annoying.

They drove in silence with Breslin staring out the window. Rhett groped for something to say but was at a loss for words. The sight of her was intoxicating and he could hardly concentrate on the road. Her muscles were more defined and the dark circles beneath her eyes were completely gone. Another feeding and he bet she’d be at the top of her game.

The sight of her bare legs was such a distraction. Her denim shorts were close to obscene. If they were any shorter, they’d be panties. And her low-cut t-shirt paid homage to her luscious breasts. His gaze snagged on her cleavage. He wanted to bury his face between them and stay there for days. Just thinking about it made his cock jerk with need.

“Do you use a forge to blow glass or do you rely on your fire?” Breslin said, intruding on his fantasy.

Forcing his eyes away from the lush globes, Rhett replied, “Before two days ago, I didn’t even know what blown glass was. I tried my hand at it and, unfortunately, I suck. Then again, I was in my apartment so probably not the best setup. I wish I could create something as beautiful as what Angus made at his mating ceremony. All I managed was a twig,” he said with a chuckle as he thought about the dragon king’s fire-wielding ability.

The night of Angus and Keira’s ceremony, he morphed glass into the most intricate tree Rhett had ever seen. It put his twisted mess to shame.

Breslin looked over and when their eyes met, her mouth twisted into a smile. She was trying her hardest not to laugh but couldn’t mask the giggle that escaped.

“That ceremony is why I’ve been wanting to go to this place. I’m no’ going to attempt anything that elaborate but I hope I can at least form a bowl,” she said with a smile. It wasn’t forced and she appeared to be enjoying her time with him.

“What exactly is this place?” he asked. “Killian told me was it was for artsy types that went there to make shit from metal or glass.”

“Ha, that doesna surprise me. If it’s not aboot computers or nightclubs, he’s no’ interested. How is he anyway? I havena been to Confetti Too for months,” Breslin quipped and Rhett noticed her tense. She didn’t like the idea of him canoodling at the nightclub.

Wanting to assuage her assumption, Rhett replied, “Kill’s good. I haven’t been to the club since I returned to Seattle but he called me about a financial matter.”

She didn’t say anything but he noted she relaxed in her seat and unclenched her fisted hand.

“Business is booming but apparently, humans on the Dark Web discovered T-Rex and were trying to hack into the system. Luckily, they didn’t make it past his firewalls, and he added another layer of protection with a spell. No way will a human ever get through now,” Rhett told her as he followed Bhric’s SUV.

“I didna know it was possible to mix magic and technology,” Breslin murmured. “He’s brilliant.”

“That he is. He even had one of his cronies try to hack it after the spell was in place. The guy’s fingers were singed on the spot. He said electricity literally jumped off his keyboard with each attempt. Is this it?” Rhett asked as Bhric pulled into an empty parking lot with a large metal barn at one end. They were in the warehouse district and the building looked completely out of place.

“Aye. This is it. Canna you see through the glamour?” Breslin asked as she opened her door when his vehicle came to a stop.

“I can if I know about it. It takes a lot of concentration,” he replied and focused on the area. Finally, the illusion melted away and he could see it. “Ah, there we go. Great sign,” he chuckled when he saw the black metal cauldron with glass flames shooting from the top. The colored pieces of glass reflected on the sidewalk, creating a beautiful kaleidoscope.

“Oooh, I canna wait. My bowl is going to be amazeballs,” Breslin said excitedly. Not once in the time he’d known Breslin had he seen this side of her. Mostly, she had determination written on her face, black blood on her boots, and fire flying from her hands. Her unfettered joy of creating something as simple as a bowl was endearing.

They walked over to Bhric and his mate, and Alex was the first to say something. “Bhric said I can work on my power here. I haven’t done much with it. I wonder if I could form something from bending metal with my mind,” she stated excitedly.

Rhett glanced at Bhric. His friend had a massive smile on his face as he gazed at his mate. The love Bhric had for Alex was deep and passionate. Bhric always had a smile on his lips and a joke typically followed, so when Bhric’s smile disappeared as his gaze met Rhett’s, the fire demon’s gut clenched.

“You will make a stunning bowl, a chroi. You’ve managed to curve silverware. A sheet willna be too difficult,” Bhric assured Alex as he grabbed his mate’s hand and kissed it.

The group walked toward the building and Rhett noticed that the entrance consisted of two barn doors that were wide open, showcasing the interior. As Rhett peered inside, it became obvious why they used such strong glamour.

Humans wouldn’t know what to think if they passed by and saw a female stick her bare hand into a raging fire and withdraw a red-hot metal shield. Of course, that was mild compared to her luminescent skin which screamed otherness. Rhett would know because he had identical skin. It was a distinct feature for his kind and difficult to hide from humans.

Once inside, Rhett noted there were several work stations set up around a large open area. In the middle of the room, five large furnaces were arranged in an octagonal shape and each roared with blazing fires.

Off to the side, a desk was pushed against the wall, covered in paperwork. If that was the office, it was a cluttered mess and Rhett fought the urge to organize the clutter. He was anal as hell when it came to bookkeeping.

“Welcome to The Melting Pot,” the fire demoness called out as she held the shield up to a male standing at her side. “Do you have reservations?”

“Aye. Tarakesh for four,” Bhric replied.

“Oh, yes. Metal and glass. We are excited to have the royal family with us this evening. I’m Kari, and I’ve set you guys up over there,” she said and pointed to two tables on the far side of the room. “Head on over and I’ll be there in a few minutes to go over the process with you.”

“Sounds good. Thank you,” Bhric replied as he led Alex towards the tables.

Rhett was fascinated by the countless colored tubes, piles of metal pieces, long poles, and various other equipment.

“I wonder what that trash can of oil is used for?” Rhett asked as they walked past a large barrel.

“If I remember correctly, ‘tis for safely cooling the blade. Using water can possibly bend or weaken the metal,” Bhric explained.

Rhett picked up a large pair of tongs and used them to grab Breslin’s ass. She yelped and swatted it away. “Hey, no groping. Didna you read the rules?” she teased.

Rhett put down the instrument and moseyed up to her, placing his hands on her hips. “C’mon, Flame. It’s no fun if you don’t break at least one rule.”

Breslin snorted and crossed to the colored tubes lined up on a nearby table. “I’ll give you that. You’re a master of snubbing the law.” Rhett assumed she was putting him in his place until she lifted her head and winked at him. “Och. There’re so many colors to choose from. I doona know if I want to do a bowl in pinks or neon green.”

“Oh, I would do both. Those colors look great together,” Alex said.

“I agree, and they make the best designs when worked together,” Kari added as she approached their group. “I see you found the glass. Have you ever done this before?”

“Nay. I havena, but I can wield fire so this should be easy,” Breslin said with a smile.

“You have an advantage over others. As do you,” Kari told Rhett with a wink. He was careful to keep his smile cordial but not overly-friendly, and wrapped his arm around Breslin’s waist in a clear sign that he was there with her. “Are you all doing glass this evening? I thought I read in the notes that some of you were working with metal.”

Rhett was about to ask where, in the huge pile of paperwork scattered on her desk, did she come across notes but bit his tongue.

“No. I’m…” Alex began, but hesitated and met Bhric’s gaze. He gave his mate a nod and she continued. “I’m here to practice, I guess you’d say. I have power over metal and I want to see what I can do without ruining more of Elsie’s pots and pans.”

The human was learning the ropes of life in the Tehrex Realm. He could only imagine what she thought of supernaturals. She obviously loved Bhric and was eager to explore her newfound ability. Rhett liked her enthusiasm and could see why Bhric was crazy about the female.

“Well, you’ve come to the right place. All the metal over there is scrap and perfect for your purposes. Let me know if you need anything. As for you two, I’m going to give you a brief class in blowing glass and then I will set you loose to create,” Kari explained.

Rhett and Breslin listened as Kari explained the use of the blow pipe, cutting shears, tweezers, mashers, pliers and shapers. There were more tools involved than Rhett ever considered. He was a hands-on male and anxious to try everything. Once Breslin finished asking questions, Kari left them to get started.

“Come to mama,” Breslin crooned as she picked up several colored tubes and started heating them. She was bending over and the sight of her long legs was a temptation he couldn’t refuse.

Rhett walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Her curves teased him as she pushed back and rubbed her backside against his front as he helped her shape and form her glass.

“You really do like playing with fire,” he murmured.

“Aye. It runs through my blood,” Breslin countered with a wiggle of her hips.

He groaned and kissed her neck. She shuddered and lowered the pipe in her hand as she leaned against him. Rhett supported her weight and stepped closer. He wanted to scoop her in his arms and find a private room so they could make their own fire.

Suddenly, Alex shouted and Breslin jumped away from him. The glass tube in her hand fell to the ground and shattered. “Shite. I loved that particular color,” Breslin complained.

“Sorry, Bre. I didn’t mean to startle you. But look, I’m doing it,” Alex said excitedly. “Watch this.”

Rhett and Breslin observed as the metal in Alex’s hand sloped and the edges rounded out.

“I’ve never seen anyone with a power like that. It’s fascinating,” Breslin told Alex before going back to her project.

Rhett joined her as she scooped up the broken pieces. “Let’s sprinkle this across the bottom of your bowl,” Rhett suggested.

“Oh! What a great idea,” Breslin said and added the shards of glass before she called fire to her palm. Her flaming hand skimmed across the surface, melting the glass.

Rhett ignored his project and spent the next hour helping Breslin create a large colorful bowl and when they finished, Breslin was beaming. It was a test of control as Breslin’s body teased him to an aching arousal. More than once, he almost grabbed her lush bosom as it pressed against his arm. He craved her body more than he needed to breathe.

“Our bowl should be on display at the Lourve. We created a masterpiece,” Breslin announced proudly. “Och, that was so much fun.”

“Next time, I’m going to make a glass piece,” Alex said, “but I learned so much tonight about my ability. C’mon, Ice-Man. We need a hot fudge sundae.”

“Only if I can lick mine off your body,” Bhric countered and kissed Alex deeply.

Rhett watched Breslin fidget and wring her hands. Rhett once again wondered if Breslin was feeling Bhric’s arousal. The flush to her face and the way she gnawed her lower lip told Rhett she was.

Bhric broke the kiss but kept Alex close as he turned to his sister. “You okay, Bre, or do you want to come with us?”

Breslin looked from Bhric to Rhett and nodded her head. “I think I’m good. You two have fun. I’ll see you back at home.”

Rhett grabbed Breslin’s hand and led her to the car. “Dessert sounds good to me, too,” she murmured when he opened the passenger door.

Rhett’s cock hardened further. Was she talking dessert or something else? Not one to second-guess, he leaned down and brought his head inside the car.

“So long as I get mine first,” he murmured, claiming her sweet lips in a searing kiss.