Chapter Fourteen – George

He hated these things with a passion. Too many people, all trying to outdo each other. The only reason most of them were here was to keep the peace between the clans: they all knew it, and they all played along with it.

The only thing that was going to make the evening more bearable than usual, was having Poppy here beside him. Although that soon raised other questions. Questions he had to answer truthfully. Questions that would leave him exposed to some of the most powerful other dragons.

“George, good to see you,” Percival asked, taking his hand, but his eyes were firmly fixed on Poppy, and with very good reason. She looked beautiful, radiant even, in the blue dress that hugged her figure but still remained understated. Her hair, piled high on her head, showed off her creamy shoulders, and the diamond necklace he had given her just before they left finished off the look of a woman who did not need to wear a revealing gown to command attention. She moved with grace and poise. “And who are you?”

Poppy smiled. “My name is Poppy. And you are?” She held out her hand, and Percival took it and pressed his lips to it.

“I’m charmed.”

“Lord, Percival, that is so clichéd,” George said.

Percival shrugged. “It was new once.”

“Poppy, this is Percival, or Percy to his few friends,” George said.

“George always was a funny man. At least he was until he let that… what was it, the thing… that you were entrusted with…?” Percival asked.

George smiled, and then said, “Are you that old that your memory is failing?” He sighed and then added, “Poppy knows about the blade.”

“She does?” Percival’s eyebrows raised so high his forehead nearly disappeared. “This is her?”

“It is,” George said.

“Oh my, this is going to be an interesting evening,” Percival said.

“I can, of course, rely on your discretion,” George said.

“Of course, George. You know me.” Percival let go of Poppy’s hand, who stood looking bemused, and walked off.

“He is not going to be discreet, is he?” Poppy asked.

“Nope. Shall we get a drink?”

“Not so fast. What game are you playing?” she asked, her hand on his chest, her fingers caressing him, which did not go unnoticed.

“A bad one.” George closed his eyes, trying to figure out if this was worth the risk.

“Tell me,” she said. Then she let her hand drop to her side. “Was the only reason you brought me here to use me?”

“No,” he said quickly.

“So why?” she asked.

“Everybody here knows that I lost the blade. It’s one of the reasons Tim Hucknall specifically invites me.”

“To embarrass you?” she asked with a frown.

“Yes.”

“But look at you…” Poppy said.

“I’m the dragon who let his mate steal the blade. That is what everyone here sees,” George said. “Me, I am not stuck in their old ways.”

“What does that mean?” Poppy asked.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought since you walked back into my life,” George said, passing her a glass of champagne.

“And?” Poppy said.

“I built an empire so that I could track down the blade and get it back. But really, the blade is part of the old world. Not the new.”

“Because money and power are all that matters, in this new world,” Poppy said nodding.

“And I have more money than everyone else in the room put together,” George said. “And I am not bragging.”

“So what is your plan, George Lancaster?” Poppy asked.

“To see who Percival tells my secret to. And then see how far it spreads. I believe sooner or later it will be heard by the right person.”

“You are trying to flush someone out.”

“I have a theory that the blade was stolen to order, for another clan.” George maneuvered them through the other guests.

“And what are you going to do when you figure out who it is?” Poppy asked.

“I already have a good idea, but I would rather have proof of my own. And when I do, I will use my new-world power to take down their old world.” He looked at Poppy, needing her to understand his motives. “I don’t want to put you in danger. If you want, we can go home right now.”

“Not a chance,” Poppy said firmly. “We are in this together. I need to know Charlie will be safe. And to do that we need to take down those who think they can threaten us. If we do that, no other clan will dare to come near you. Right?”

“That is what I think. We make an example.” George scanned the room. “I can see Percival, he’s talking to another dragon from the Fireclaw Clan.”

“That’s Tim Hucknall’s clan?”

“It is,” George answered. His suspicions were raised; the information gathered already pointed to the Fireclaw Clan being behind the theft of the Heartsfire Blade.

“Do you think he is behind it?” Poppy asked.

George tilted his head and thought for a moment. “It would make sense. I did beat him at cricket at school.”

“Wait, this is all because of a cricket match?” Poppy asked.

“English gentlemen take cricket very seriously.” He kept his tone light, but this went deeper than cricket. The pieces were indeed coming together.

“You do?” Poppy asked.

George laughed softly. “I said gentlemen.” He put his lips next to her ear and said, “Do you think I am a gentleman?”

“No,” Poppy said, pulling back, and adjusting her dress.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

“The dress?” Poppy said. “Yes.” She looked down at it, and then up at George. “Oh my god.”

He opened his eyes wide. “I’d rather the whole room wasn’t looking at us.”

She looked around, but when her eyes met his again, she looked mad. “I know why you got me to wear this dress. I am such a fool.”

“Wait? What?” George asked.

“I thought you were being romantic,” Poppy said. “But really I’m bait.” She handed him her glass, and then said, “I’m going to powder my nose.”

She turned around and left him, pushing her way through the crowded room.

“Trouble in paradise?” Percival said, coming up beside him. “Or is history repeating itself? You better check she didn’t steal your wallet.”

“Funny,” George said. “So how are things?” George had heard rumors that Percival had made some bad decisions on the stock exchange, and he was in danger of losing his family home. When he told Poppy that money was the new power, he wasn’t lying.

“Could be better,” Percival said, and downed his glass of wine in one gulp.

“You know if you need anything, you can come to me,” George said.

“No, I can’t,” Percival said.

“Why not?” George asked with a frown.

“Because Kyle Northridge owns my debt,” Percival said. “He’s got me right where he wants me.”

“In what respect?” George asked. Was Kyle Northridge trying to gain control of all the clans?

“I can’t talk about it,” Percival said. “He’s ….”

“What?” George asked.

“Coming this way,” Percival said.

“Hello, Percy,” Kyle said.

“Kyle.” Percival kept his tone civil, but George knew he hated being called Percy.

“George, I see you have a stunning woman on your arm. Have you broken your vow of celibacy?” Kyle asked.

“I never had a vow of celibacy,” George retorted.

“I thought you were being all noble and holding out for when your mate reappeared on the scene.”

“Correct,” Percival said, looking apologetically at George.

“Oh, she’s… And you knew, Percy, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Kyle gave Percival a look that made him look down in deference. “I will deal with you later.” Kyle snapped his teeth at Percival, who jumped, noticeably on edge around Kyle.

“What the hell is going on?” George asked Percival as Kyle sauntered off.

“He owns me. I’m his latest chew toy,” Percival said. “It’s all my own fault.”

“I’ve been out of the loop recently, he never used to be so…”

“Much of a bastard?” Percival said.

“Yes,” George answered.

“Power,” Percival said. “His family is gathering it, trying to tear the other clans apart.”

George mulled that over. “Do you know why? What their end game is?”

“World domination. At least in the dragon sense,” Percival said, then his expression softened. “They are scared.”

“Scared?” George spun back around to face Percival. “Scared of what?”

“One of the other clans… I can’t say.”

“Tell me, Percival. Unless you want to be my new chew toy?”

Percival face colored. “There are some perks to being his plaything. I’m not so sure about being yours.”

George understood the insinuation. “And you heard something?”

“Clan Lachlan.”

“What about them?”

“They are growing stronger, there is talk of war. There has been for years. But they are waiting for something. Or had been. Now they are on the move. Calling their clan together for some big powwow.”

George’s blood drained from his face, and he turned, scanning the crowd for Poppy. “Damn it, where is she?”

He barged through the crowded room, ignoring the murmur of disapproval he left in his wake. He had to find Poppy. Now.