The Rebellious Mate

12(i) The Rejected Dragon

"Would you care to repeat that?" Drach couldn't quite believe his ears.

Krev winced. Despite the wide study table between them, he stepped back as if that would protect him.

Drach gripped the arms of his chair; the wood smoldered. He didn't require his valet to reiterate the calamitous news; it lay typed on a sheet in front of him. The stark, printed words left no room for interpretation. Yet he struggled to accept that Krev had failed him.

'So did you, you weak, skin-coated worm!' Attor roared.

"My Prince, pardon me," Krev pleaded, almost in tears.

"Was this an impossible ask, Krev?" Drach hissed, though he knew it was his fault. "You had access to infinite resources and no budget..."

"A third party proffered a hefty bribe to the counselor and a participant to persuade Lady Berber into reconsidering and even contacted the owner. They couldn't sway her, meus seigneur. She stands firm—" Krev whimpered.

The doors of his office opened. Calek sauntered in and sniffed the air. "What's burning? Where is the extinguisher? Krev, didn't I tell you to place one in each room? Update the fire retardant measures immediately. Now, scram. I fancy a chat with my inflamed frater."

Krev gulped. He threw a petrified glance in Drach's direction to confirm the instructions before staring at his shoes.

"Get out. Oh, you're dismissed." Drach's wings tore out of his back and through his shirt. "I have no use for incompetent cowards." He ripped off the shreds and hurled them aside.

Calek patted the EA's shoulder. "Nostrum seigneur means it. You're fired... but I predict HR will call to rehire you when this fireball runs out of clothes. And for threatening you, he'll grant you a pay hike, say fifteen percent. Now go, spend the day with the comely iguana who's got you wrapped around her little finger."

Krev scampered out.

"He's lucky I didn't have him thrown in the dungeon," Drach grumbled.

Unperturbed, Calek settled into the chair opposite him. "You're seeing red and your pupils are scarlet. May I remind you that Krev is a highly qualified executive assistant with a master's in business administration, not a lowly secretary? Yes, he handles your correspondence and fields your calls, but he also manages your affairs. Not to mention, he represents your interests in most meetings and speaks for you. He oversees most of your ventures and every other aspect of your life, along with the management of your precious Drachenhöhle. Kindly cease treating him like a butler."

His icy hard gaze held Drach's furious glare, reminiscent of bright amber eyes that could do so too. No one except Calek could do that, not even the so-called Emperor.

"So, what has you so perturbed that the castellan begged me to return from Monaco? The staff is quaking in their boots. Even the birds on the grounds are dead silent."

Drach had fired Wrm, the castellan, this morning too but couldn't recall why. He waved at the missive. Embers flew off him as he took off his pants and underpants.

Calek snagged the cape of coarse wool hanging off the back of a chair and draped it over Drach. When he squeezed Drach's shoulder, a chill spread through his heated flesh.

"Yes, yes, you're fuming. Tuck your wings in, Attor. Let me talk to Drach. We'll sort out whatever's lit your fires. The sheep killer rampaging the countryside won't solve whatever is annoying you," Calek said. He walked to read the letter aloud.

"'Exalted Prince Nassau,

With a heavy heart and trembling hand, I have the unfortunate task of informing you Ms. Asena Berber has decided not to pursue your suit for the time being.