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it had more to do with the fact she wanted to believe Brayden. And oddly enough, she did feel safe with him. Somewhat. An inner instinct – or third eye as the elders called it – told her he wouldn’t harm her. Not intentionally anyway.
    “Where are we going?” Callie noticed he didn’t immediately release her hand once they exited the building. She also noticed she liked the way his hand felt against hers. A bit rough and calloused, but also strong and secure.
    The sensation caused her heart to flutter against her breastbone.
    “My house.” Brayden’s steps were swift and purposeful. She practically had to jog to keep up with him.
    Callie cast a quick look toward the green Focus parked in front of Grigori’s World of Magik. “What about my car?”
    “Pick it up later.” He didn’t wait for her to argue but pulled her along the sidewalk with him.
    Seconds later he stopped in front of a sleek, black mid-size sedan parallel parked along the curb. Ever the gentleman, he yanked open the passenger door for her then closed it with a bang. With dragon speed, he slid behind the wheel and started the engine. His hand stilled on the key.
    “What is it?” Callie swallowed hard.
    “Cyrus.” The clipped word sent tremors over her body. Callie turned in her seat and looked around nervously.
    “Where?” She craned her neck to get a better view out the back glass. “I don’t see anything.”
    Brayden started the engine and pulled away from the curb. “There.” He pointed through the windshield in front of them.
    Callie turned back around and wished she hadn’t.
    Cloaked in the black night, directly in front of their car, hovered a looming dark shape. A shape with yellow glowing eyes, a long forked tail and expansive bat-like wings. It reared back its head and breathed. Fire exploded from the dragon’s mouth, lighting up the sky like a detonated bomb.
    Callie felt the blood drain from her face. “Omigod!”
    Brayden muttered an oath, geared up and floored it.
    The sedan sped along the highway at an alarming rate. Luckily, the streets were almost empty of traffic or else Callie was sure they would have wrecked. She gripped the side handle on the door and held on for dear life. She didn’t know which would be worse – crashing in the car or being barbequed by the thing in the sky.
    A few minutes later Brayden slowed the car down.
    “What are you doing?” Callie released her death grip on the handle just a fraction.
    “He’s gone.”
    Callie whipped her head around and peered out the back window. She didn’t see anything except the waxing moon and rows of cypress trees on the side of the road. “Are you sure?”
    Brayden nodded curtly. “For now.” He turned off the main highway onto a gravel road.
    Callie expelled the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding when Brayden finally pulled into a long driveway lined with a canopy of oak trees.
    Callie gasped, her heart rate finally returning to its normal beat. “Where are we?”
    “My house.” The corner of Brayden’s mouth lifted. “What do you think?”
    “What do I think?” Callie repeated in awe. “I think it’s beautiful. How many people live here?”
    “Just me.”
    “Seriously?” The look Callie threw him was incredulous. “All by yourself. In this huge castle?” She nodded toward the three-story stone structure with a stone walkway leading to a drawbridge. Two turrets stood proudly in the north and the south wings obviously serving as watchtowers. His home reminded her of something out of the middle ages. Brayden chuckled. “Just me. Though I do have a cook and a butler who come in each day. They live with their families in the guest houses behind mine. I offered to let them stay in the castle.” He shrugged. “I guess they prefer their own home. I also have a gardener, but I like to do most of the landscaping myself. I do have a bit of a green thumb, if I do say so myself.” He shot her a grin and slid out the car then