Ashton's head cocked to the side at the appearance of the large spider. He hadn't seen its approach, but that was the way with creepy crawly things, he knew. They were experts at getting into places without disturbing things. He'd caught many spiders in his lair. Fire usually took care of them if they became a nuisance or he believed they were spying.
This one was pretty, though. Not gold-pretty, but pretty. He watched Paxton lift the arachnid up, watched her display of threatening legs, and the dragon gave a small smile. What a curious power this demon had.
The next question wiped the smile from Ashton's lips and he narrowed his eyes at Paxton. "If I am bribed with gold, I refuse, of course!" He huffed, sniffing and sitting up straight. "Unless... unless the gold is especially bright, and a lot of it. Then, perhaps..."
The dragon's thumb was stroking the gold rings on his fingers again and he brought one to his lips, pressing it there, breathing in the scent of his gold and, from behind his hand, Ashton even licked the metal, a shudder running over him.
He pulled himself out with a shake of his head and fixed Paxton and his spider with a look. "What does it mean, an affinity for the creepy-crawly?"