Page 199 of Nobody Told Me Thrift Shops Sell Stolen Dragon Heirlooms

Dimitris crouched in front of him.

“I would love to make a speech,” he said softly. “Truly. I have several prepared. But you came into my home, threatened my collection, and put explosives near my guests.”

Luke’s hand twitched.

Dimitris caught his wrist and pinned it to the floor.

The sorcerer made one strangled sound.

“No,” Dimitris said. “You are quite done.”

Gold fire poured down his arm.

Luke screamed once, then there was only flame.

I moved in front of Quinn before I had fully decided to do it, blocking as much of her view as I could. She didn’t step back, but her hand found Max’s collar. Max leaned into her leg.

The fire burned hot and brief.

When it vanished, nothing of Luke Gildstein remained but a black mark on the stone and a curl of smoke lifting toward the broken ceiling.

Dimitris stood.

For the first time since we had met him, there was no smile on his face.

“Now,” he said, brushing ash from his fingers, “the evening may continue.”

The fire died back slowly, revealing a body younger than the one he had been fighting with. He flexed one arm.

I huffed smoke through my teeth.

“Do not,” Quinn told him.

Dimitris looked offended. “I hadn’t yet said anything.”

“You were about to.”

“I have been reborn in battle. A small amount of commentary is traditional.”

I growled again.

He glanced at me. “Rafe, your fire is magnificent.”

Quinn pointed the spear at him. “Terrible survival instincts.”

“And yet I survive.” He turned toward the cracked glass of a display case and admired himself openly. “Repeatedly.”

I shifted back so I could answer him.

The second change in minutes sent pain through every injury at once, sharp along my side and shoulder where stone had struck. I ignored most of it and turned first for Quinn.

She was already coming toward me with Max tight at her side, dusty and cut and shaking slightly, but upright. Alive. Her chin lifted when she saw my face. She knew exactly what fear still had its teeth in me.

“I’m okay,” she said.

I believed her only because Max didn’t contradict her.

Dimitris’s gaze moved to Quinn, then softened in a way I didn’t trust at all. “And you,” he said. “Terrifying woman.”