Private Studies 🌶

ZAYDA

~Where to begin…~

I stood looking around at the immaculate laboratory that surrounded me. It was located deep underground at Xander University and was only known to those closest to Xander.

That meant me.

I watched as Xander made his rounds from station to station. He made a habit of checking on every worker and their equipment while taking extensive notes the entire time.

The lab was his haven. A place to pour his heart into something that he loved.

Yeah, it was awkward to think about Xander loving anything. Especially with everything I knew about how he treated Maddie and the others.

He’d kicked them out of school when Maddie refused to do his bidding.

But he had managed to keep me around. Talked me into staying with the reasoning that he could help me find my true potential.

I hadn’t realized I had anything to offer until I’d met Xander.

It only felt right to grow as a mage under his tutelage, while learning how to use my powers for good.

Xander walked up to one last station. The wall behind him was filled with several dozen vials of Dragonsbane. There were other substances as well—rust-colored concoctions that reminded me of overhead, the street drug Maddie and Harry were pushing.

Xander caught me watching and gave me a smile. I returned his with one of my own.

It was always best to keep your enemies close.

Even if that meant taking residence in the beast’s lair.

***

I watched as the centrifuge whirled at ridiculous speeds. Some of the test tubes inside contained my blood, while others had the blood of various other students from the university.

I’d mixed this potion before; to near-fatal results when Maddie used it on Loch and Hael. Instead of making them tame, it nearly killed them.

As much influence as Xander had on my work, it wasn’t my desire to follow his path. I wanted to be able to help the dragons—whether that meant healing them or dulling their more aggressive instincts.

But the potion just...wasn’t...working.

I removed a test tube from the centrifuge and looked at my blood. The machine had separated my blood cells from the plasma cells.

It gave everyone working in the lab a better understanding of how my mage blood differed from that of humans.

But that meant nothing to me at the moment if I couldn’t find the correct mixture for my potion. The other ingredients included berries, quicksilver, and frog poison.

With my mage blood added in, it should’ve achieved a calming effect when consumed by a dragon. But everything had to be just right.

This time, I added in more berries while pulling back on the frog poison. I kept the quicksilver amount the same.

I mixed my blood with the other ingredients and watched the new concoction fizzle before settling down.

Would this be the perfect batch? Only time and a dragon or two would tell.

“You have a way with potions that’s mesmerizing,” Xander said.

He’d been watching me from the door without giving away his presence—until he felt it was absolutely necessary.

This wasn't the first time he'd done it, and I imagined it wouldn't be the last.

“Thank you,” I said. “I’ve already learned so much in the short time I’ve been here.”

He held the test tube in his hand and swirled the contents, watching as the liquid became darker.

“We’ve taught you a few things,” he replied, “but you possess a gift that’s truly divine.”

I was flattered. Even if Xander was just saying it to keep me under his spell, it was nice to hear.

It also made me wonder how Maddie would feel hearing her father saying those words.

I watched Xander circle my station, and it made me feel uneasy. No matter how nice he seemed on the surface, there was always a hawkish glare behind his glasses that told of ulterior motives.

“Have you heard anything else about the murders in the city?” I asked, trying to change the subject. “I’m starting to really worry. It almost makes me want to sleep all night in the lab and not go home.”

Xander looked at me, but the fluorescent lights reflected off his glasses, obscuring his eyes.

“You should be worried, my dear,” he said quietly. “I believe something very sinister is happening out there.”

His words sent chills up my arms.

What could that possibly mean?

“I don’t mean to scare you,” he continued, “but I can’t allow you to put yourself in harm’s way.”

Oh, no. This really didn’t sound good…

“What do you mean? Do you know anything?” I asked.

He nodded his head slowly, eyes still concealed by his lenses.

“I fear that these murders are caused by none other than Loch Dobrzycka. The dragon mated to your friend Maddie,” he said.

“I don’t understand,” I said, confused.

“It’s hard to understand. But something has changed inside him. Something dark and twisted. He’s revealed his true colors as a black-hearted beast who won’t rest until all of Requiem City is dead in his teeth. He’s no longer Loch anymore...he’s Lochness.”

He’s no longer Loch anymore...he’s Lochness.”

~Lochness?~

It sounded ridiculous, but Xander had a vast knowledge of dragons. His office was filled with all kinds of books devoted to them.

“Trust me,” he said with a grim certainty. “Lochness has killed many times already. And he will kill again. This isn’t the first time his evil has been unleashed in Requiem, but if our work is successful, it could be the last.”

If he was correct, then Maddie was in deep trouble. I needed to warn her before she ended up as the next victim.

MADDIE

I arrived in the ballroom of the Requiem Hotel a half hour after the fundraising gala had started. This was the swankiest hotel in the entire city. This party would be attended by the wealthiest and most privileged guests.

This meant I needed to be dressed in my very best. Luckily, selling overhead allowed for a wide array of choices.

Seducing Loch and Hael required the sexiest outfit I could afford. And damn if I didn’t look good.

I strutted through the ballroom in my black, sheer, bodycon dress with a slit that went all the way up my thigh.

Heads turned as I walked past. I made sure it was impossible to resist my exposed legs, toned by three-inch stilettos.

I grabbed a champagne flute as a waiter passed by and downed it in two gulps.

Liquid courage would have to grease my wheels if I was going to make anything happen tonight.

Before I could find a tray of hors d'oeuvres to help soak up the alcohol, I felt their eyes.

Loch and Hael were watching me.

I spun around. They were only standing a few feet away, smiling devilishly as they sipped martinis.

“We didn’t know if you would come,” Hael said.

“~He~ didn’t know if you would come,” Loch corrected. “But I ~knew~ you couldn’t resist.”

I looked around at our luxurious surroundings and nodded my head indifferently.

“Looks good. It's nice to know you two have finally grown hearts and actually pretend to give a shit."

They both sneered.

I reached up to play with a lock of hair that had fallen from my bun and slid it back in, allowing my dress to raise up higher, nearly exposing my skimpy thong.

“But it’s not the event I’m interested in,” I said with a wink.

Loch and Hael both drained their martinis. My plan was already working to perfection. I just hoped it wouldn’t work ~too~ well.

“I know I just arrived, but I’m already feeling a little stuffy,” I said, walking toward the two hulking men. “Maybe we can find a place a little more...private?”

Before I could blink, Loch and Hael had me by the hands. They pulled me into a hallway nearby that led to an empty room.

They shut the door behind me and started unbuttoning their shirts.

I held up my hand, motioning for them to slow down.

“We don’t need to rush things,” I purred. “Believe it or not, a woman can be turned on by moving a bit slow.”

“You don’t tell us how this works, little mouse,” Loch said with a scowl. “Or did you forget what punishment felt like coming from us?”

Hael took a step forward and touched my arm gently. “You like to order us around,” he said, “but don’t tease us. That will only make us want you more.”

“That’s exactly what I’m hoping,” I replied.

I slipped off one strap, allowing my dress to fall down, nearly exposing my left breast.

Hael could see right through me. Of course I wanted to make them yearn for me. What I hadn’t expected was how much being alone with both of them would make me want them in return.

My brand pulsed as Hael reached for the other strap and pulled it down, freeing both of my breasts from the tight dress.

Before I could even gasp, both of them were on each nipple, sucking gently as their hands moved along the length of my body.

I moaned with pleasure, feeling my underwear become wet with my desire. This wasn't what I had anticipated, but what else did I think would happen when I teased the beast with a treat?

Loch pulled away from my nipple and kissed my neck. The feeling was amazing, and I could feel my dress slipping further and further down my torso.

“I could almost eat you alive,” Loch whispered in my ear.

That’s it!

I snapped out of my sex-crazed daze and backed away from the two men. As they stared in confusion, I pulled up my dress, covering my breasts.

“That reminds me,” I said, looking Loch directly in the eyes. “Is it ~you~ who’s behind this city’s murders?”