My Dragon Desire

Chapter Twelve - Backup

☆Blake☆

I had to find out who had been down there, I had too! It was worrying me, and I didn’t like the thought of a witch or warlock having access to all our documentation and more. At first, I had thought that Gloria and Tony may have had something to do with it but after doing a full investigation, I had been proved wrong. It was a relief but then again, it made me feel even more stressed out. If not them, then who? I couldn’t shake that uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right. I would get to the bottom of it soon.

“Blake?” at the sound of her voice, I smiled and turned away from the window and saw her standing by the office doors.

“Come in, Dawn,” I said as I watched her come inside. She looked lovely, as usual, but I could tell that something wasn’t right. “Is everything alright?” I asked her with concern.

“Oh! Yes, everything is fine, I just wanted to talk to you,” she said. I nodded as I guided her to the sofa. We sat down and I faced her.

“What is it?” I asked curiously.

“I overheard Josephine talking to some of the staff, firing them,” she started off and I nodded. She was probably concerned about her job. “I also overheard you talking to one of the girls here,”

“What?” this took me by surprise.

“She planted one of you, which I assume means that she kissed you, and then you told her she couldn’t do that because anyone could see,” Dawn explained and I knew I must have paled. I had been caught and yet she had the wrong idea.

“Dawn, I…look, the truth is Karen did kiss me. I told her she couldn’t do that anymore. I didn’t go into detail as to why because I didn’t want to tell her I was in a relationship. She may have done something drastic; I was protecting you. I was protecting myself. As for Josephine's firing staff, I gave her that order. I am with you and I don’t want any of the girls I’ve been messing around with to interfere with us,” I hurried to explain. Dawn didn’t look impressed and I realized that I had just admitted to frolicking around with the staff. I hung my head low in shame as I tried my best to explain my actions. “For as far back as I can remember, I could never commit to anything. Every relationship failed and I admit that it was all my fault. However, I want you to know that with you things are different,” I looked up and tried to smile at her.

“How are things different from me?” she asked.

“It is difficult to explain but my dragon and I both feel a connection to you. That is something neither one of us has ever felt before,” I informed her. “I am not proud of my actions and I have no excuses for it,” I took a deep breath as I reached out and took her hands in mine. “But I promise you this, I will never hurt you,”

“Alright, so all the staff are being fired, what about me and Bailey?” she asked as she gently pulled her hands from mine.

“No, you and Bailey are safe and will still be working here,” I said. “Males will be hired, and work will go on as usual,”

“Ok,” she sighed, and I waited patiently for her to speak her mind. “Ok, obviously I’m not impressed with your past, but I have to trust that what you are telling me is the truth,”

“It is,”

“Ok, well, time will tell,” Dawn said as she stood up. “Oh, by the way, I am sorry for listening in this morning, but I overheard you say something to Kayne about a witch or warlock masking their scent?” I was surprised by her straightforwardness but then again, I should’ve expected that.

“Yes, um…I felt a presence here in my office and I believe it was a witch or a warlock, probably snooping around,” I explained. It wasn’t a complete lie, but I couldn’t reveal what lay behind the secret door. I knew that she had seen me using that door before, but she didn’t have to know what was down there.

“Oh, did you catch them?” she asked, and I shook my head as I stood up.

“No, but it won’t take me long,” I said with confidence that I didn’t feel. Dawn nodded as she turned to leave. “Wait,” I reached out and grabbed her arm before pulling her against my chest. “Are we ok?” I couldn’t help but to ask.

“Yes, we are,” she smiled, and I felt like the world lifted from my shoulders. I leaned in and kissed her soft lips before letting her go to return back to her work. I watched her leave and I sighed. The second she was gone; I took out my phone. I listened to the dial tone and then finally he answered.

“Lord Blake, I had not been expecting to hear from you this soon,” Drake remarked as a greeting.

“Very funny, I called because I need your assistance,” I said.

“Oh? What kind?” he asked, and I chuckled.

“I need your nose, I need you to sniff out a witch,” I explained.

“I’ll be there soon,” he said before hanging up and I smiled. With another dragon, together we should be able to pick up the scent and follow it. I would find that one that dared to sneak around my castle.

☆☆☆

I stood ready for Drake on the flat part of the rooftop of the castle. He flew in and I admired his dragon. He dropped a bag and then he landed. I took a step back to give him the space he needed, and I glanced over at the beautiful sunset as he shifted back into his human form. I heard the zip of his bag and I waited until I heard it again.

“Thank you for coming,” I said as I faced him.

“Of course, I love a witch hunt,” he said, and I chuckled.

“Well, follow me,” I said as I led him inside of the castle attic. The silence between us was comfortable and I wondered if I should’ve taken him to the guest bedroom first. I decided not too as I led him to the office. He placed his bag down on the sofa and faced me.

“I can smell that magic was used in this room,” he announced. I took a deep sniff and nodded. How had I missed that before?

“Correct, follow me,” I went over to the secret door and pulled it open.

“Does every castle have this?” he asked jokingly, and I chuckled as I led him down the steps. “Strong magic was used down here,” he commented.

“Yes, very, take your time,” I said as I waved my hand around. I watched as Drake moved around the rooms, sniffing the air repeatedly. I waited patiently and finally, he stopped in the board room.

“Here,” I heard him say and I went over to him. “Whoever it was, I can tell you know that he or she is well trained and very skilled,” he said, and I nodded. I already knew that. He went in and I continued to follow him. He pulled open the door and turned to me. “Another way out?”

“Yes, it leads to a utility closet,” I said with a small smile. He nodded and made his way up the staircase. When we reached the top, he sniffed the air deeply.

“Panic,” he said. I sniffed and nodded. Indeed, I could smell the panic that lingered in the air. He pulled opened the door and stepped out. Immediately the scent was gone. “Clever witch,” I heard him mutter. Was this a waste of my time? Of his time? I was just about to thank him when he turned to his left. “But not clever enough,” he started making his way down the hallway, sniffing the air as he went along. I followed silently behind him. I didn’t pick up on anything unusual, but I was curious as to where he was leading me. “There! Do you smell it?” he asked as he suddenly stopped just in front of the staff's entrance. I took a deep breath and sniffed.

“You are right!” I exclaimed as once again I picked up on that sickly scent.

“It’s the same in your office,” he pointed out before he continued by entering the staff quarters. I could see the long hallway with all the staff’s personal rooms ahead and it made me feel odd. Was this intruder working for me? Drake stopped yet again and sighed. “I’ve lost it,”

“How?” I asked as I sniffed the air. He wasn’t wrong, the scent was gone.

“I’m not sure, he or she may have masked themselves once again or they don’t use magic here,” he said as he looked around. “What area is this?”

“Staff’s quarters,”

“Right,” he walked around the hallway slowly, sniffing the air as he went. I did the same, but I picked up on nothing.

“Most have been fired,” I said as we started making our way back to my office.

“Oh? Why?” he asked curiously. “Did you suspect that there may be a spy among your staff?”

“No, personal reasons,” I responded dryly. Yet I suddenly felt relieved. Whoever it was, would probably be gone soon and I had nothing to worry about. I wouldn’t let my guard down again.

☆Dawn☆

I paced the room. I could smell them just outside my door. Bailey was out with Kayne and I was happy about that. It gave me the privacy I needed to worry about Blake possibly finding out that it had been me sneaking around his basement. I looked down at my phone and re-read the message I had received from Cora.

Cora: Do not be afraid. Believe in the magic of the spell. So long as you have masked your scent and magic, they cannot find you.

It didn’t help my feelings of anxiousness and worry. I did believe in the magic of the spell but if Blake finds out that I am the one snooping around, he will have my head. Hell, if he had to find out that I am a witch, he would definitely kill me. I could feel the panic rising and I quickly closed my eyes. I had to calm myself down. It was bad enough that my thread of magic was laced with panic. If I didn’t calm down, they could pick up on it.

“I’ve lost it,” I heard a male voice say and I breathed in and out deeply.

“How?” I heard Blake ask and I took a small step closer to the door. They were right outside.

“I’m not sure, he or she may have masked themselves once again or they don’t use magic here,” the male said. “What area is this?” he asked, and I turned away. He was right. I didn’t use magic here but that wouldn’t stop my magical thread. I had masked well. Well enough for him not to pinpoint that it is coming from this room. I was safe. I relaxed as I went into the bathroom. That was a close call. I turned on the taps of the bath and pushed the bath plug in. I sat on the rim of the bath and sent Cora a message.

Dawn: I believe the masking spell has worked. They came close but they didn’t find me. The fact that staff is being fired works in my favor. I will take a few days before I venture down there again.

I sent the message and watched the bath fill up. I was safe for a little while longer. However, I would have to be careful the next time I went down there. My phone pinged and I read Cora’s response.

Cora: Wonderful! You are doing well. I do agree that you should take a few days before doing any more exploring. Let them think the traitor has left. However, you need to be more careful. Thank you again for the information you sent us. It is quite helpful. Take care, Dawn.

I lived to see another day! I smiled as I put the phone on the counter and got undressed. I poured some lavender-scented bubbles into the water and turned off the taps. I stuck my foot in first and swished the water around to make the bubbles foam. This was what I needed, a relaxing bath, and no Bailey. As much as I had come to like the girl, she still irritated me from time to time. There was something odd about her and I knew that if it wasn’t careful, she would expose me. Kayne was another one I had to watch out for, and I couldn’t forget about Josephine. Although the female hadn’t looked at me suspiciously, I did not doubt that if word spread about the intruder, she would be looking at me and Bailey. I would have to be a lot more careful moving forward. I couldn’t risk being exposed. I hated lying to Blake but what choice did I have? Right now, none. I sighed as I relaxed in the warm foaming water and I stared up at the ceiling. I could feel the water caressing my tense muscles, lapping against my thighs as I moved my feet up and down in the water. It calmed me and I welcomed the feeling.

☆Bailey☆

“Did you know that ninety-eight of the staff have been fired?” I asked Kayne curiously as we sat across from each other at the relatively busy restaurant.

“I heard,”

“Do you have any idea why?” I pushed. I was curious about it. For as long as I had been working at the castle nothing like this had happened before.

“No,” he said as he continued to read through the menu. I huffed out in irritation as I picked up my own menu. I wanted answers and it would seem that Kayne wasn’t going to give me any. “Ok, look, Blake had them fired for Dawn,” Kayne admitted. I dropped the menu down on the table and stared over at my boyfriend.

“What?”

“You heard me,” he said before looking back down at his menu. Blake had them fired for Dawn. Well, I suppose his actions may come back to bite him in his behind. That was the only reason I could think of. He didn’t want Dawn to find out about his needs and how he had satisfied himself with the staff. Should I tell her? Maybe I should. I smiled as I picked up the menu once again. I had to admit, I was jealous of Dawn. As happy as I was with Kayne, I couldn’t help but wish Blake had chosen me instead of Dawn. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Who was she to get the Lord? No, I had to do something, and I would have to do it fast. From what Dawn had already told me, her relationship with Blake was progressing fast. Once I told Dawn about Blake’s s****l needs and how he used the women of the castle, she would be too upset to talk to him let alone see him. That would give me the chance I needed. A plan started forming and I smiled as I thought about the possible future, I could have with Lord Blake.