“Absolutely,” I said meekly, taking a couple of steps toward the stairs, wondering if I dared make a break for it.

She took three steps toward me, literally pressing me against the banister. “The wedding is scheduled for tomorrow at four p.m., in the office of the only individual in the whole of England who was willing to be bribed into making room for you. If you do not make this appointment, your father and I will leave immediately. Do I make myself absolutely clear?”

I nodded frantically. “Perfectly clear.”

She snorted as she gave me one last piercing glare, then turned on her heel and stalked back to Drake’s study.

As soon as the door closed, the one across the hallway opened. Drake peered out. “Is she gone?”

I nodded weakly and sagged against the banister. “She’s in your study.”

“I know. It seemed better to let her occupy it. She’s in a bit of a mood,” he said, coming over to me.

“That’s putting it mildly. She scared the crap out of me.” I transferred my limp form from the banister to him, wrapping my arms around him as he tilted my head back to examine my face. “I think I need massive kissing to restore my strength. And then if you wouldn’t mind mating me again, I’d be very appreciative.”

“Jeez, Ash! Just ask him to boink you right in front of me!” Jim tried to look appalled, but failed.

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. I was simply trying to tell this handsome hunk of dragon that I am no longer the mate of the blue wyvern, and if he would be so kind as to offer me a lifetime of undying love, affection, and steamy, sweaty lovemaking, I’d be gracious enough to accept.” I nibbled Drake’s lower lip as I spoke the last bit, expecting him to sweep me off my feet and make mad, passionate love to me before offering me matedom.

Instead he looked troubled, his eyes more human than dragon. “I’m afraid it’s not quite as simple as that.”

“Why not? Is there some sort of re-mating ritual we need to do?”

Drake cast a quick glance at the closed door of his study and pulled me into the living room. “We will talk in here.”

“Oh, yeah, talk, that’s a new name for it. Hey! Don’t I get to wa—” Jim started to ask.

Drake shut the door on it.

“I’m getting a little sick and tired of people doing that!” it bellowed, audible even through the door. “Just because I’m a demon doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings!”

I opened the door and narrowed my eyes at it.

“And I thought your stepmom was scary,” it muttered as it took itself off to another part of the house.

“All right,” I said, closing the door and leaning against it as I looked at Drake. “What’s the problem? Does the sept not want me back?”

“The sept would be delighted to have you back. They accepted you as my mate, and they will not forswear that allegiance.”

That warmed the cockles of my heart a bit. I slid my arms around him and bit his chin. “Then what’s the problem?”

His hands were warm on my derriere, his eyes shuttered. “The problem is that you are not available to be my mate.”

“Ah. I see the confusion is bogging us down. You didn’t know that Bastian beat Fiat and took over as wyvern. Well, he did, and his first act was to de-mate me, so I am, actually, available, and if you play your cards right, I can be yours.”

He didn’t smile at my teasing tone. He didn’t even look remotely happy, two things that surprised me.

“I know about the challenge,” he said, his hands sweeping up my back. I shivered a little, his touch stirring the desire that was always simmering.

“You do? How? Uncle Damian went off to see some of his friends, and Nora had work to do, so Rene took Jim and me straight here after we left Bastian. Did someone call you?”

He nodded.

“Who? Bastian?”

“No. Fiat.”

I stared at him for three seconds before swearing profanely. “Jesus H. tap-dancing Christ! Fiat called you?”

“Yes.” He pulled me close, nibbling a spot behind my ear that made me turn into a big old blob of goo. “I’m sorry, kincsem. Fiat apparently escaped Bastian’s custody shortly after you left. He claims he is still the blue wyvern, and you are his mate.”

“How can that be?” I wailed. “Dammit, Bastian beat him at a challenge! We were there! We saw it!”

He sighed into my neck, his arms tightening around me. I wanted to cry again, not sure if it was the pregnancy hormones stirring my emotions, or just the frustration of never seeming to catch a break that drove me to the brink. “There is a bit of a situation. Fiat is claiming that the challenge was invalid because Bastian did not present the terms of it before the challenge started.”

“You mean he cheated by getting a jump on Fiat? But Fiat did the same thing with Dmitri…oh, hell.”

“Abaddon,” drifted in faintly from the hallway.

“Stop listening at the door!” I bellowed. “And that’s an order!”

The sound of toenails ticky-ticking on the tile floor faded away to nothing.

I looked back at Drake. Regret was stark in his face. He nodded, brushing his thumb over my lower lip. I bit him.

“I wondered if you would remember that challenges for a sept always follow the formal challenge, while challenges for a mate are pretty much anything goes.”

“So Bastian didn’t really win control of the sept?” I asked, my heart breaking into a dozen little pieces.

To my surprise, his frown eased somewhat. “Actually, that isn’t quite clear at the moment.”

“What do you mean? Either Bastian is wyvern, or Fiat is. They can’t both be wyverns…can they?”

“Not of the same sept, no,” he answered, his hands getting busy.

I grabbed his wrists as they swept along my hips, heading for higher ground. “Trying to get a straight answer out of you is like trying to ride a greased weasel.”

“Would you like to ride me, instead?” he asked, his eyes alight with interest.

“You are utterly shameless. Luckily, that’s one of your charms,” I told him, pushing myself away from him in order to keep from jumping him right then and there. “Spit it out, Drake. What’s the deal with Bastian?”

“I’d rather talk about you riding me,” he answered, his dragon fire building inside him.