“Very much so.” He leaned toward me, and even though he had no physical presence in the shadow world, goose bumps rippled down my arms at his nearness. “Shall I tell you a secret? Before I met you, I had never had sex with a human.”

I gazed at him in surprise. “No humans? Not even immortals?”

He shook his head. “Only dragon females. You were the first who was not. I found it a bit awkward to begin with, since you did not respond to any dragon signals, but now—yesterday morning will remain in my memory for a very long time.”

My face froze in what I prayed was a blank expression; all the while my gut churned with misery.

“That is why it pleased me so much a little bit ago when you initiated a mating dance. But I see now that the intensity of the experience frightened you. I promise that in the future, we will go slower, little bird. There is much I look forward to you learning about dragon ways, but you have an eternity to learn them. Do not fear I will rush you.”

I dragged my gaze up to his, sick as it was driven home just how much he preferred a dragon version of me to the original. The question that remained was whether I was willing to allow the dragon shard to consume me. Gabriel certainly would have no complaints. Was it really such a big sacrifice? And wasn’t he worth it?

“What is it?” he said suddenly in an annoyed voice. Immediately, he looked contrite. “My apologies if I startled you, Mayling. Tipene seeks my attention. I will return.”

He faded away into nothing as he returned to his body.

I contemplated remaining where I was, but I’ve never been much for introspective moping, no matter how overwhelming my problems seemed. I reminded myself that I was not Cyrene and, mentally girding my loins, returned to Gabriel’s suite.

He was hanging up the phone just as I entered the living room, his face a study in resignation.

“What’s wrong now?” I asked, quelling the need to rub my body against his.

“It’s Magoth. We’ve found him at last.”

“Why do I suspect I should not break out the champagne and doves just yet?”

A wry little smile twisted his lips. “Perhaps because you know him too well. Magoth is in jail.”

“Jail?” My eyebrows rose. “The watch nabbed Magoth? What on earth did he do to attract the attention of the L’au-dela?”

“He is not being held by the watch,” Gabriel said, watching me carefully. “He was arrested in Paris by the préfecture and is being held at a station on the rue de la Montagne-Sainte-Geneviève.”

“He’s been arrested by the mortal police?” I asked, aghast.

“Yes. Apparently for indecent exposure.”

I blinked a couple of times, unsure of what to say about that.