Virginia got a peculiar expression, as if she was attempting complicated mental arithmetic. Dai could feel her fumbling
with the mate-bond, sending waves of random, unformed sensations at him. It was rather like being subjected to a kid trying out an unfamiliar musical instrument for the first time.
After a moment she gave up, shaking her head. "That's very strange."
"It'll become second nature before too long." Sensing that she was beginning to find him rather heavy, he reluctantly rolled off her, tucking her close against his side. He buried his face in the curve of her neck, breathing in her delicious scent. "My Virginia. My mate."
Virginia giggled, impishly shifting her glorious backside against his stiffening cock. "You've got to be kidding me. Again? Already?"
"I can't help it." He traced the gold and emerald chains looping her arms. "I'm wild for you even when you're fully clothed. You have no idea what seeing you properly adorned does for me."
"Hmm." To his surprise, Virginia wriggled away from him. He would have been dismayed, but the mate-bond reassured him that nothing was wrong—she'd just made up her mind about something. "Wait here a minute?"
Dai crossed his arms behind his head, all the breath sighing out of him at the enticing sway of her breasts as she got up. "Any longer and I'm coming looking for you."
True to her word, she was back in moments, slipping into the room with a shy expression and something concealed in one palm.
"You showed me yours." A mixture of pride tinged with a hint of nervousness radiated down the mate-bond as she held out her hand, opening her fingers. "It seems only fair that I show you mine."
Dai bolted upright. "Fuck me!"
Virginia burst out laughing. "That was my general intention, yes."
"No—I mean yes, but—" Dai clutched at his own head, nearly deafened by the roars of his inner dragon. The beast was a storm of flame and goldlust, wings beating frantically.
The jewel, the lost jewel, the Dragon's Eye! Jewel of kings!
A torrent of mental images flooded his mind's eye. Warriors in crimson cloaks, dragon-headed ships plunging across a storm-lashed sea, swords and shields and a dragon-eyed man crowned with gold and rubies...
"Dai?" Virginia touched his bare shoulder. "What is it?"
Dai became aware that he'd hunched over as if hurricane winds were howling around his ears. He made himself uncurl, clamping down on his inner dragon's agitation. He stared at the massive star ruby in Virginia's hand in disbelief. "That’s the artifact you found? It's called the Dragon's Eye, and it's important. It belonged to...a king?"
Virginia's eyebrows shot up. "I'm pretty certain it's from the helmet of King Brithelm. He was a Saxon warrior who founded the first settlement here, which eventually became Brighton."
"He was also a dragon shifter." Dai rubbed his forehead, trying to sort through the sudden influx of racial memories. "Maybe the first white dragon in the British Isles. Red dragons are native here, but the white dragons came over from Europe along with the Saxon invaders. No wonder Bertram's desperate to get it. Any dragon who claimed that gem would gain incredible dominance."
Virginia's fingers closed reflexively over the artifact. "Dai, if I could give it to you I would, but—"
"No, no." Dai shook his head emphatically. "It's yours. I won't let my dragon try to steal it from you."
His dragon lashed an indignant tail. Our mate's hoard is a wondrous as she is. We would never seek to diminish it. It paused for a moment, looking wistfully through his eyes at the ruby. Unless she wished to trade...?
Despite his headache, Dai chuckled under his breath. I don't think so, he told it. "Actually, my dragon is very impressed with you. That piece is a spectacular hoard all on its own. You'd have a lot of power and status, if you were a shifter."
Virginia sat down cross-legged on the bed opposite him, turning the artifact over in her hands thoughtfully. "You talk like your dragon half is a separate being to yourself."
"Well, it is and it isn't." Dai hesitated. "If you really want to have a serious discussion about the metaphysical nature of shifters right now, do you mind if we put on some clothes?" He gestured sheepishly at his groin. "It's really hard for me to think straight when most of my blood isn't making it as far as my brain."
Virginia's expression clouded with dismay. "I'm sorry, I killed the moment." She held up the Dragon's Eye. "I intended to ask if you'd like it if I adorned you."
"Oh," Dai breathed, as his inner dragon surged up. "Oh, yes. I would like that." From Virginia's brief downward glance and sudden smug smile, she could see exactly how much he would like it. Nonetheless, he got up. "But later."
"Why later?" Virginia asked, pouting a little.
He kissed her as he started removing his hoard from her gorgeous body, piece by piece. "Because our bond tells me that you're hungry."
"I am?" Virginia's eyebrows drew down, then she let out a surprised laugh. "I am. And so are you."