Binding Magic (An Obscure Magic Book 7) by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page B

have shocked Minerva. “You have time off? What happened?”
    As the Cursed One, Sophy was always on duty. Minerva didn’t remember her having a day off... ever.
    Sophy chuckled and took the bag. “Call me when you are done here, and I will tell you over coffee.”
    “Done.”
    Sophy’s man followed her out of the specialty shop, and Minerva started to breathe again. He knew. She didn’t know how he knew, but Sophy’s companion had sensed what she was.
    She made a face and tidied up. Tabeel would be back in a few hours. Going out for coffee would be a piece of normal that she had been missing. Benny was married and working with the XIA, Freddy was still holding down her job at the online newspaper, Sophy had a day off and Minerva was going to take complete advantage of it.
     
    The Patchwork Dragon was alive with customers. It was no wonder. Jennifer was an excellent seer, and a reading could be purchased with coffee if you were so inclined.
    Sophy’s male friend was sitting at a table of his own, and his gaze kept coming over to watch them. Minerva grinned at her and casually said, “He is staring again.”
    He was sitting with a sample of every type of coffee and tea available at the Patchwork Dragon in front of him. The table was covered with little white cups.
    The servers were bickering to attend his table as he took sip after sip and made notes on a small piece of paper.
    He was looking toward them with a hungry gaze.
    “He is staring at you, Min. He and I have already had the talk that firmly lodged him in the friend zone. I am not his type.”
    Minerva chuckled. “You are nearly every male’s type. Even the gay ones want to befriend you. I am pretty sure that you just got some signals crossed.”
    “I am pretty sure I didn’t. Frankly, it was my virginity that put him off. He’s repelled by it. Funny, right?” She sighed and sipped at her bowl of cappuccino.
    Minerva scowled. “You are kidding.”
    “Nope. His mouth dropped open.”
    “I don’t know what to say. Perhaps things were dif—no that wouldn’t be right. A few hundred years ago, it was a prize.”
    Sophy shrugged. “I am used to rejection. Once folks realize what I do for a living, I am out on my own. It isn’t something that most guys would sign on for.”
    “Well, I am currently dealing with a similar but opposing situation. I am used to guys running the other way, but an arms dealer is currently after me for sexual purposes.”
    Sophia blinked. “You are kidding.”
    “Nope. He is one of the mountain dragons. I was singing a few weeks ago to get a treaty ratified for the goblins, but when it was over, he invited me to dinner.”
    Sophia winced. “You didn’t.”
    Minerva blushed. “I was hungry. It takes a lot of effort to maintain this figure.”
    “So, you ate with him, and then, he seduced you?”
    She fudged the details a little to make her seem more adventurous. It was silly, but she suddenly felt the need to be more than the seduced. “Well, we had sex on the table. I excused myself afterward and made a run for it. The goblins were bound by a geas, and I didn’t think he would be able to find me.”
    Sophy chuckled. “You do stand out, and they track by scent and taste. Body and magic.”
    Minerva grimaced. “I found that out when I did my research after the encounter. I haven’t run into a dragon in a business situation before. It caught me by surprise.”
    Sophy thought about it. “Zemuel.”
    Minerva had a visceral reaction. Her fingers spasmed, she blushed and her breath caught in her chest. “How did you know?”
    “Only so many dragons in North America. He is the only one with mines and property that the goblins would be interested in.” Sophy chuckled. “I have worked with him before. He is a good sort, though he does like to collect mages around him. You would have gleamed like a diamond in sunlight to him.”
    Minerva groaned while Sophy sipped at a bowl. That explained his fixation. Well, at least