Chapter Six

Iris

“I need a break. Please. Right now,” I told Bessie, bouncing on my heels. I was excited yes, but the main emotion spiraling through me was relief. The notification on the app could be just the break I needed.

“Good thing I like you. Go on.” Bessie cackled as I found a stool and dragged it out the back door.

I sat in the sun and took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves before checking the app. The notification could be anything. Someone checked my profile, or I might have a match. Hell, for all I knew the app could be letting me know that a pregnant woman seeking two dragon mates to take her and her unborn child in and protect them was out of the question and out of the scope of what they offered.

My needs were great.

My hand pressed to my stomach when I clicked on the alert. I had a match. A match I didn’t expect. Maybe a wave or a wink, but a match?

Holy shit. They’d even sent me a message.

They.

As in two dragons.

Kicking my feet at the prospect, I let out a little squeal while looking at their profile pictures. They were more than handsome. They were gorgeous. Keir had brown hair, longer on the top and faded on the sides. His eyes were a deep green. Strong jaw. Boulders for shoulders.

And the other male’s name was Phoenix but he signed the message with Nix. Nix and Keir. Strong names for dragons. Nix had a short mohawk, no spikes or overuse of gel. Just a tuft of hair longer than the rest. He was thinner than Keir but not by a lot. Neither of them had missed a meal, but I’d learned that most shifters didn’t. Nix had a warm smile and beckoning wheat-colored eyes.

Hello, Iris.

The app showed us as a match. Your pictures are beautiful, and we understand the delicate nature of your predicament. We hope to hear back from you either on the app or via video chat if you like.

Nix and Keir.

I sent them a note immediately, asking them if they wanted to video chat that night. After all, my days were numbered with Killian lurking around. I had no time to be choosy and, even if I did, they were both handsome and did well for themselves. Plus, there weren’t many options for a woman already carrying someone else’s baby.

I knew a blessing when I saw one.

Their profile revealed more about them, and I read more and more on my breaks. At the end of my shift, I’d learned all kinds of things about Keir and Nix. They owned a security company. They worked for themselves, which meant their schedules were more flexible, but they also looked like they did a lot of traveling.

Nix marked all the places he had traveled, and I assumed Keir went with him since they were partners in the business.

Nix had listed all the comedy movies he liked, while Keir mentioned a handful of favorite books. Keir listed organization as a hobby. I cracked up at that. Who thought organization was a hobby? The two dragons seemed polar opposites, but clearly that worked for them.

They did mention a former mate on both their profiles but no name or details.

Couldn’t blame them. I had done the same.

I must’ve checked for messages a thousand times during my shift to the point where Bessie asked if I had a new beau. A new beau. I rolled my eyes at her each time. Truth was, I might have two beaus, if anyone ever called them that anymore.

By the time I got home, I was a bundle of nerves. Waiting for something, anything from the two dragons I’d been matched to.

After another long bath and a surprisingly uneventful night, meaning no Killian or any sign of him around, I received a message from Nix. It had his phone number, and he asked if I could call and we could talk. They wanted to hear my voice.

I wanted to hear theirs too.

“Iris,” Nix answered. He told me he was switching to speakerphone so Keir could hear me as well. Keir said hello and, even from a distance, their deep voices made my cheeks heat.

“Hello to you both. Did you not want to video chat?” I asked.

“We do but didn’t know what time would be convenient for you. We thought phone numbers and calling might be better than sending messages through the app.”

“I got off of my shift about an hour ago. If you’d like to video now?” I asked, eager to see them in person. Well, not in person but as close as I would get before accepting the match.

I was human but, looking back to when I first met Killian, I knew something was off. I had not listened to my intuition, but I felt a rage and a war beneath his extravagant gifts and declarations of a fated mate after only seeing me a few times.

Gods. I should’ve known better.

“Yes. We would.”