Pia glanced at him with an inward smile. He always had a vital, powerful presence, but now his dark bronze skin looked burnished, and his gold eyes shone with radiance. “Come inside and tell me all about it. Liam’s gone down for a nap. Eva and Hugh barbequed steaks for lunch, and they set aside plenty for you.”
His expression flared with interest. He propped the plank beside the back door and followed her inside. The interior was much cooler than outside. They had closed up the house and turned on the air condition. While he washed up, Pia piled the steaks on a plate for him and set it on the dining room table in the large, sunlit kitchen.
He thanked her as he sat at the table and began to eat. Pia eased into the seat across from him, and Eva and Hugh came to join them while Dragos told him about his flight and the search in between large bites of the juicy meat.
“By the time I found it, I was getting tired and needed air, so I wasn’t able to stay down for very long.” He sprinkled salt on the steak. “I didn’t have a chance to examine the wreck too closely, but I did notice there was a jagged break toward the back third of the ship, between where the main mast would have been and the rear mast. It would have been a hell of a storm to cause that kind of damage. Poor bastards never had a chance.”
“So there is at least one magic item with the wreck?” Pia asked.
“Yes.” He polished off the last bite with a satisfied sigh. “In fact there are several. I want to go back down, maybe first thing tomorrow morning, and see what I can bring up.”
Pia nodded. “I wish I could come with you.”
Pushing away his plate, he crossed his arms on the table and smiled at her. “You could, at least in a boat. You would have to wait on the surface, but if we took a boat out, I could make a couple of dives to bring things back up.”
She clapped her hands. “Let’s rent one!”
He grinned. “You bet.”
Eva spoke up. “I looked through the brochures the rental agency left. You can rent a boat from them. I’ll give them a call.”
“Great.” Pia looked at Dragos. “So that’s tomorrow morning. What do you want to do this afternoon?”
“You relax, enjoy the sun.” Dragos pushed away from the table and stood. His face turned sharp as a blade. “I’m going to go on the hunt for a big Light Fae male who is not a nice man.”
Pia stood too, quickly. That dangerous face was so sexy it made her knees weak. Sometimes she still wasn’t quite sure of her reactions to Dragos. “I’m coming with you.”
His inky-black eyebrows drew together in a frown. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Well, I do.” She put her hands on her hips. “You know what’s going to happen if we find him. He’s going to be an asshole, and, Dragos, you can’t kill him just because he’s an asshole. You’re not Lord of these islands.”
He regarded her with a dark expression. “Fine. Come on.”
Pia looked at Eva. “We’ll be back later.”
The other woman’s face was full of suppressed amusement. “Have fun.”
Dragos went out the back door to get the plank of wood, which he set on the floor of the backseat of the Mercedes. They took off.
That afternoon Pia developed a healthy respect for how many bars, restaurants, grocery and marina supply stores, and fishing shops could be found in the Bermuda islands. Dragos was single-minded and didn’t tire, and she was determined to keep up with him.
They scored a hit with their perseverance in Hamilton Harbor a couple of hours later. After Dragos parked, they walked along the rows of shops and bars at the edge of the marina.
Almost immediately, Dragos’s nostrils flared. “He’s here. Hold on a minute.”
Dragos had literally been in the Light Fae male’s face last night, so he had to have gotten a good fix on the other male’s scent. Thank God. Pia was hot, tired and thirsty. She just didn’t have a hunter’s drive or instinct. If it had been up to her, she would have quit searching an hour ago.
She stood waiting while he strode back to the SUV. When he returned, he gripped the plank in one hand. Then he led the way unerringly to a bar located at the end of the lane, pushed open the door and strode in.
Bracing herself for whatever came next, Pia followed.
Inside, the décor was sturdy rather than elegant. Wide windows faced the water. They had been propped open in the heat of the day. Wooden tables dotted the floor, and tall stools lined the bar against the interior wall. Loud music played, the place was crowded, and it smelled of alcohol and fried food.
Pia spotted the Light Fae male right away, leaning against the bar. This time he appeared to be alone.
Despite the noisy, crowded atmosphere, Dragos’s fiery presence drew attention. People fell silent, and the clink of cutlery against dishes ceased.
At the bar, the Light Fae male turned. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of Dragos and Pia. He straightened, and his smile was more of a sneer.
“Get out,” Dragos said. The dragon was in his voice.