Chapter Two

Phoenix

I ran my hand over my shortish mohawk once we stepped inside our lair and breathed out a long sigh.

My dragon was most himself at home, and so were we.

“You know what’s crazy?” Keir said, setting down his bags neatly in a row, by size, the largest at his feet. “When we’re home, I’m itching to go fly or go on a new job and then, a week into the job, my dragon wants to go home. Can’t win with the beast inside me.”

“Same here.” I kicked off my shoes and removed my suit jacket. The other thing I liked about being home? Not having to wear much. My dragon ran hot and, even in human form, my body stayed at a higher temperature than even most shifters. We wore the suits because of our profession, but the damned things made a trickle of sweat run down my back, in even the most wintery of places.

Keir picked up my shoes and his and placed them into the organizer by the front door. “I’m starving. Should we cook, or you want to order in?”

He already knew the answer. My dragon wasn’t fond of eating out, and especially not fast food. No matter how much we ate of it, we were never satisfied. “I can run out and get some steaks. Chops. Grill outside and save some of the cleanup.”

“I’ll go with you. You never pick up any good vegetables.”

I chuckled. “That’s because I hate vegetables. What’s the use in them anyway?”

He shook his head. “Fiber, my friend. Besides, if you add enough butter and garlic, they all taste good. Meet here in ten minutes. We’ll take the Land Rover.”

Our home had two wings off the main living areas and an upstairs suite. I glanced up at the landing, only accessible by a spiral staircase on either side. My wing was on the north side. A huge bedroom with an en suite, a closet, and spacious office. Keir’s was the same as mine, but he chose to have a larger closet and a smaller office. My office contained a mini theater, whereas his closet looked like it belonged to a fashion designer.

I tossed the bags onto my bed and made my way to the dresser. I would have to wear a shirt to the market, but that would be the end of it for my time at home. I picked out a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt with our logo on it and a pair of hi-top sneakers and put them on, cursing the suit in the process. Once I was dressed, I grabbed my sunglasses, wallet, and keys. If Keir thought he was driving my Land Rover, he had another thing coming.

When I left my wing, I saw Keir standing in the living room. He wasn’t the type to play idly on his phone but instead, he stared at the upstairs of our home.

Upstairs was the mating suite.

It would be where we would spend our nights with our mates. Of course, we all had separate bedrooms because everyone needed private time, even mated throuples, but this very special suite remained empty.

Didn’t even know why we built it in the first place. We selected a mate, but things had gone south, and since her, there had been no other.

We were happy and then heartbroken.

Dragons only had one fated mate as far as we knew. It had been almost ten years…

Why in the hell I still had hope for a mate was beyond understanding. I blamed it on my dragon.

The beast.

“Ready?” I asked, tearing Keir from his stare.

“Yes.” We walked out to the kitchen and through the back door to the garage. Keir snatched my keys from my hand at the last second and jumped into the driver’s seat. I could’ve stopped him, but as soon as I got home, my hackles were given permission to stand down.

I got into the passenger seat, noticing my best friend’s smile. A win was a win, I supposed, and driving my truck wasn’t something I normally let him do.

He liked clothes and order. I liked cars and movies.

“Do you have to be on that thing even when we’re taking a trip?” he asked.

“I’m checking my emails. Calm down and drive. You’re just hangry.”

He snorted. “I am. I’m buying four of those tomahawk steaks. You can have one.” He chuckled at himself.

“That’s fine. I’ll buy my own.”

While I was scrolling, I noticed an ad at the top of my email. I clicked on it and read the reviews. An app that would match you to your fated mate.

I huffed out a laugh.

“What?” Keir asked. “What’s funny?”

“There’s an ad on my email. It’s an app that helps shifters and monsters find mates.”

He turned from the main highway into the parking lot. “Times have changed.”

When we parked, he turned to me. “Nix?”

“Our house is too fucking silent, Keir.” This ad, this spam communication had needled me right in the place that hurt the most. We had only had Rachel in our lives for a few weeks before she decided that another dragon, an alpha of a horde with more treasure, was a better mate for her. She said she never believed in all that fated mate stuff; we made our own destinies.

My beast needed a female in his life. Not only a mate but a friend and someone to come home to, or she could travel with us if she liked.

“I know, brother. It’s not for a lack of trying. My dragon looks for a mate in every female we encounter. He’s still looking for a companion for us, even though…”

Keir refused to speak Rachel’s name since the rejection. At first, I thought it juvenile but then, I realized it was simply a part of his self-defense against the hurt. He never spoke her name.

“Mine too. Maybe some meat will help,” I chuckled putting my phone away. The idea of the app had piqued my interest, but I would revisit it later.

He got out. “Yes. Meat always helps.”