Jim snorted. I had to admit that I agreed with his sentiment. “I’ll let that subject go for now because there is a more important issue, and that’s your demand that I leave Sweden. My house—”

He sighed. “I will hire someone to take care of that for you. It is not safe for you to remain here. I have explained that numerous times now, and I grow weary of having to repeat that the red dragons will not stop until they find us.”

I thought about that for a minute. “I suppose that would be all right, so long as I get the okay from Bee and Rowan. The three of us own the house together, and I’m sure they’ll want in on the plans to rebuild. But I doubt if the fire officials and police are going to be happy with me taking off like this.”

“I do not concern myself with mortal police,” he said dismissively.

“Lucky you.” I was silent for a moment before asking, “What’s in Paris that’s so important we go there right this minute?”

“We need help to use the ring, and we can likely find that help in Paris.”

He released my arm to go talk to a man who emerged from a door, looking around hesitantly. Kostya showed him the paper, and the man nodded and gestured behind us.

“Ever been to Paris, Jim?” I asked, backing up as the man got into the plane and taxied slowly past all the hangars.

“No clue,” he answered cheerfully. “But I expect the trip is going to be fun.”

“Fun?”

“Yeah. They give you meals when you fly, right?”

“Sometimes.”

“Like I said, fun.”

“Famous last words,” I muttered, and trotted forward when Kostya gestured for us to come.

The ride to Stockholm took less than an hour, but it was another couple of hours before Kostya could book us a plane to Paris, and then he had to go to the expense of a private jet rather than a commercial one.

“Isn’t this kind of pricey?” I asked when he fetched Jim and me from the lounge. “It’s nice and all, but I don’t mind taking a normal flight. It’s not like the dragons are going to implode if we don’t get to Paris immediately.”

“I have no passport, you have only the identity papers that were in your car, and we don’t have time to have documents made that would pass the mortals’ security. Thus, we will take a private plane and bribe the pilots.”

“Plus that means we get all the in-flight meals,” Jim said as he marched up the short set of stairs that led to the interior of a sleek-looking jet. Judging from the exterior, it must have cost a small fortune to hire. “Can I have the chicken and the fish? Or both of whatever meal choices they offer?”

“Quiet,” I ordered, catching sight of a flight attendant who hurried from the cockpit to greet us. “No talking around normal people. Hello. Yes, the dog is going to ride up here with us.”

The woman looked a bit askance at Jim but got us settled quickly enough on some butter-colored leather captain’s chairs. The plane was smaller inside than I imagined, although it had a long couch and four chairs that swiveled around to any position with small tables that could be popped up and adjusted to sit next to the chairs. I settled in one while Jim hopped up on the couch and proceeded to loll about like he was a pasha.

It didn’t take long for us to get airborne. I waited until the woman was done pressing food and beverage upon us (Kostya accepted both, and after a moment’s thought, I did as well. It goes without saying that Jim stared at me with huge eyes until I ordered a meal for him, too) before I said what was uppermost on my mind.

“About the ring—” I said around a mouthful of lemon-herb crusted chicken.

“Oh man, now I want onion rings,” Jim said, looking up from his spaghetti and meatballs.

“Jim!” I shot a hasty glance toward the front of the plane, but the attendant was busy chatting with one of the pilots through the open cockpit door. “Hush.”

“You said I couldn’t talk when someone could hear us. She’s too busy hitting on that pilot dude. Are you going to eat those potatoes?”

“Yes,” I said, scooting my plate closer to me. “Stop ogling my food and eat your pasta. And, no, you can’t have onion rings.”

“Meanie-head. I just know my coat is going to lose its glorious luster if you keep me on such a harsh diet.” He returned to his meal with a pouting air.

I turned back to Kostya. “How’s your steak?”

“It is food, nothing more,” Kostya said, although I noticed he consumed his steak and mushrooms with an expression that hinted on blissful.

“Well, my food is excellent. If this is the sort of meal they serve on a private jet, then I’m all for traveling this way. Now, where was I in the important talk? Oh yeah, about the ring—”

“No,” Kostya said, nodding toward the attendant. “We will not discuss that here.”

“Oh, come on. We’re in the air, and no one can overhear us. You can’t seriously suspect that those people are baddies, can you?”

“They are not dragons, no, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t working for them.”

“Isn’t that a little paranoid?”

He shrugged. “I would rather be overly protective than be caught unawares again.”

I don’t know why I felt like I had to argue the point, but I did. “You told me that the red dragons have tried to kill you a number of times, yes?”

“They have.”

“And yet you’re still here,” I pointed out. “If you managed to survive this long, I don’t see that there’s any reason you shouldn’t continue.”

“There’s a very good reason why I cannot relax my guard.”

“Oh, really? What’s that?”

“You.” He pushed his empty plate back and stood, nodding toward the back of the plane. “There is a bedroom back there. When you are finished eating, take the demon and sleep. You will have several hours before we get to Paris.”

“What do you mean me? Wait, a bedroom? Really? Okay, that’s like the most decadent thing ever, and I really have to see it, but don’t even begin to think that I’m not going to pin you down about why you are so adamant that I’m not your mate, and yet you’re doing the he-man protective thing with regards to my safety. Which I appreciate, in case I didn’t say that, although I seriously doubt if it’s necessary. Jim, are you done?”