Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Everett laughed. “Sure, buddy, I’ll get right on that.” He looked at Dax. “So what do we do about these two?”
“I’ll call Xavier.” Dax stared down at Rick. “That stone never belonged to your family, so I know you’re after something else. Feel free to fill in my employer. Just know that he can sense lies right away.”
“Everything I’ve told you is true. That jade belonged to my family. Because my grandfather died, we’ll never know why he thought it was okay to gamble with it, but it’s worth a lot of money, and we want it back.”
Dax leaned down and spoke through gritted teeth. “You’re obviously aware of the world of magic, though you have none of your own, so I’m guessing someone in your family does. You know exactly what was in that stone.”
“Was?” Rick’s face went pale. “You let it out? Where did it go?”
Now everything made sense. This man was nothing more than a treasure hunter, and he made Dax’s stomach twist in disgust. Ignoring the questions now firing his direction, Dax went to Everett and handed him his phone. “Call Xavier while I keep an eye on this asshole. This man is no longer a threat to you now that what he wanted is gone.”
Everett took the phone, nodding. He looked like he wanted to say more but he just tightened his lips and left the study.
“It’s gone.” Rick scrubbed his hands over his pale face. “It really got away.” He looked back up at Dax and scowled. “You have no idea what you’ve done. My family has very powerful people, and they won’t rest until they find the creature you let loose.”
“You and I both know they’ll have a very difficult time of that.”
The man’s shoulders slumped, his face still ashen. But he said nothing else, staying quiet when Xavier showed up with Lake, one of the two warper wizards in his employ. They whisked Rick away.
“So,” Everett said as he hugged his arms to his chest. “Rick and his family sent all those creatures after me because they were going to try and break the spell on the nephrite. All because they believe that horrible thing inside is guarding a treasure? This was all about a treasure?”
Dax nodded.
Everett paled. “I hope your friends can protect whoever does have the treasure.”
“They will.”
“So, this is truly and utterly over now? We can get back to living our lives together in peace?”
Dax tugged Everett into his arms, then lifted him to carry him out of the study and up the stairs. Everett might complain about being too old to be carried but Dax knew he secretly loved it. “Yes. Now we go on to live our lives. Together.”
“For always,” Everett whispered as he buried his face in Dax’s neck. “I love you, Daxington Grobb.”
“I love you, too, Everett Page.”
Epilogue
Dax
Dax carried his last box into the house he now shared with Everett. They’d waited only one week to officially move in together but spent all their nights at one or the other’s home in the meantime. He could hear his mother in the kitchen, laughing with Everett and his heart warmed. Those two had clicked instantly.
When his phone rang, he set down his box and fished it out, smiling when Emory’s name showed on the screen.
“Dax, you are not going to believe what’s happening here.”
Dax waited for his friend to elaborate, frowning when Emory didn’t go on for several moments. “Are you going to tell me?”
“It’s Ivor. I’ve never seen him like this—completely gone over someone I never would have pictured for him. This guy is nothing like his usual type.”
He couldn’t help but grin over the thought of his incubus friend actually gone over someone. “Really?”
“Yeah. I’ll have to fill you in when I have time, but I really called to just wish you a happy housewarming. I expect a dinner invite when I get home.”
“Most definitely. Have you caught the draugr?”
His sigh was loud. “No, but we know for sure it’s here. And it’s bad. Shit, I have to go, so I’ll call back when I can. Just congrats on your new home and partner. I’m really happy for you, Dax.”
“Thank you.”
They said their goodbyes, and Dax left the box where he’d set it. He walked into the kitchen to find both his parents laughing now as Everett told them about some of his weirder reviews. He talked as he was putting the finishing touches on their dinner.
The beef bourguignon filled the room with heavenly smells but it was the laughter that really got to Dax. His parents had taken to Everett, and he returned their affection. Dax felt like his family was complete. For now. He knew both he and Everett did want children eventually. Just the thought sent a wave of joy through him. Everett already talked about filling this big house with little running feet.