Dragos Takes a Holiday (Elder Races #6.5)(3)

He gave into temptation and sank his hand into her soft, luxuriant hair. “It’s unpredictable, which is not quite the same thing. There’s a tangle of crossover passageways all over the area. The routes loop around and over each other, and the shifting ocean currents make most of them virtually impossible to map, although some old legends say that pirates found passageways to Other lands where they lived in secret hideouts.”

She shuddered. “You could get caught up in one of those passageways and get lost forever.”

“Yes, theoretically, and it’s possible that the Sebille did just that.” He tilted his head and buried his face in her hair, which was soft like silk and scented with her floral shampoo. “But it’s also not likely, either, because they would have needed to stumble onto the exact path of the crossover passageway. If ships stick to the established shipping lanes, they’re safe enough. Probably the Sebille sank.”

“Have you been to Bermuda?” She walked her fingers across his chest.

“No, I’ve only flown over it several times.”

“Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean—I’ve never been anywhere like that. I bet they’re beautiful.” She sounded wistful.

His phone buzzed, and they both sighed. He pulled the phone out of his jacket pocket and checked the display. It was Graydon again. Dragos gritted his teeth. “How long before we eat?”

They had come to a mutual decision several months ago. Dragos would not take any business or sentinel calls during dinner. Pia told him, “We’ve got at least a half an hour. You have time to take the call.”

He kissed her forehead, handed Liam over to her, and stood to walk down the hallway as he answered his phone.

“Sorry to bother you.” Graydon always apologized when he called after work hours.

“Never mind, what is it?” Dragos asked.

After listening to a few sentences, he switched direction and walked back into the living room. He met Pia’s gaze. “Would you mind keeping dinner warm for me? I’ll be as quick as I can.”

She nodded, looking unsurprised. “Of course.”

He strode out and didn’t make it back until after midnight.

When he finally returned home, the penthouse lay in deep shadow, except for the kitchen, where a light burned over the stove. Pia had left a note on the counter. Your supper plate is in the fridge. Microwave for three minutes. Love you.

He smiled. She had never lost patience, no matter how challenging this last year had become. He opened the fridge to locate his supper. She had plated the roast-beef meal beautifully and even garnished it with sprig of parsley.

Too hungry to wait while the food heated, he ate it cold, standing at the counter. Looking forward to sliding between cool silk sheets, he walked down the hall to the heart of the place, the large bedroom he shared with Pia.

She had left another light on, her bedside lamp. Wearing dark blue cotton shorts and a thin, matching T-shirt with spaghetti straps, she had tucked her legs underneath the covers and sprawled across the bed on her stomach, fast asleep. The pile of library books lay strewn around her like abandoned toys. The fingers of her right hand curled around The Lost Elders.

Moving gently so he didn’t wake her, he stacked the library books on her nightstand. As he leaned to pick up The Lost Elders, the sound of Liam crying came over the baby monitor.

Pia stirred. “Unh.”

“Stay where you are,” Dragos whispered. “I’ll take care of him.”

“You sure?” Her voice was sleep blurred. “You’ve had such a long day.”

“I’m positive.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine. Go back to sleep.”

He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder, pulled the bedcovers up and tucked them around her. Still carrying the book, he walked into the nursery.

The mellow glow from a nightlight lit the room. In the crib, Liam had come up on his hands and knees but sank back a bit, so that he sat like a frog as he cried. Dragos set the book on the side table by the rocking chair and gathered up the baby.

“What is this?” He kept his voice soft and gentle. “Life is not nearly half as tragic as you think it is.”

Liam shuddered and hiccupped, blinking up at Dragos with violet eyes that swam with tears. He embodied innocence, his energy so bright, shining and new, and Dragos loved him with a ferocity he had never felt about anything or anyone before, except for Pia.

“Now, what’s wrong?” Dragos asked. “Is it your mouth?”

The baby nodded, and his soft face crumpled.

He nestled Liam against his chest. “I’ll make it better.”

He walked to the large rocking chair, sat and whispered a beguilement until Liam’s small body relaxed. The baby sucked his thumb for a while and fell asleep as Dragos rocked him.

Peace settled around Dragos like a warm blanket. He was tired, and he wanted to go to bed. He wanted to block out the rest of the world and make love to Pia. But this quiet, intimate time with his son was too perfect, and it would pass all too soon. He would not be too quick to turn away from moments like this.

He remembered the book and picked it up. Still rocking, Dragos opened it. He began to read, and lost himself in thoughts of ancient gold and lost treasure.

Chapter Two

“You sure you weren’t too clever for him?” Eva asked. “Don’t get me wrong, I know he’s bright. He’s Lord of the Wyr and all, but he is still just a man.”