He swallowed, wincing because his throat was so dry.
“Ah yes, you need water,” Dalton said, uncapping the syringe as he grinned at Xander. “Well, I’ll put you on an IV once you’re out. It won’t be much longer.” The needle came closer, only inches from Xander’s arm. “Enjoy your last thoughts with your unaltered mind.”
Xander stared at the needle with wide eyes, wondering how everything could end like this.
But before it could touch his skin, he heard commotion just outside the lab door.
A second later, the door flew open. But not like a door should open. It was knocked off its hinges, flying forward into one of the lackeys, knocking him down and squishing him underneath.
Taylor stepped forward, big shoulders barely fitting through the doorway, a dark look on his serious face.
His brows lowered as he saw Xander and the needle and the man holding it.
He strode into the room, fists clenched, and Xander didn’t know if he’d ever been more relieved to see someone.
No matter how mad he’d been before, he’d be sure to thank Taylor for—
And then Janet stepped out from behind him, walking into the room in a gray sweater, jeans, and Converse, her red hair back in a bun.
Xander’s whole world seemed to stop turning, and all he could think about was how glad he was to see his mate.
And how pissed he was at Taylor for endangering her.
Chapter 19
“No,” Xander said, struggling, as Dalton turned his attention to Janet and Taylor. “Don’t hurt her. Don’t hurt them. I’m what you want. They’re just normal. They can’t do anything for you.”
Dalton backhanded him across the face, stunning him enough to shut him up as Janet gasped in shocked rage.
That scientist was strong. Maybe as strong as any dragon.
Or maybe, Xander thought darkly, even stronger.
“You’re going to regret doing that,” Janet said, face contorted with rage as she stepped forward.
Dalton gestured for his lackeys, who Xander assumed were wolves, to go forward.
Taylor stepped in front, cracking his knuckles. “Go,” he said to Janet, nodding at Xander. “Go to him.”
Xander cocked his head, confused, as Janet started toward his slab.
A wolf went to stop her, but a huge microscope came flying into his head, knocking him sideways.
Dalton turned in shock, ducking as another piece of heavy equipment almost hit him in the face.
Taylor walked forward, objects gathered and swirling around him, shooting out one at a time as the wolves tried to fight him.
Holy hell, Taylor was a silver dragon.
Xander never would have guessed.
But he didn’t have much time to think about it because Janet was taking advantage of the chaos to run over to him.
She stopped in front of him, hands clenched as she looked him over, making sure he was okay. Her green eyes met his, and when Xander saw there was still love there, he wasn’t sure why.
Didn’t she hate him for leaving?
She took a deep breath, and when she spoke, her voice was shaky. “I don’t even have time to yell at you right now for how stupid you’ve been, because I have to mate you so I can help you and Taylor fight.”
“Mate me?” He blinked. “Wait, you know about that?”
“Taylor told me all about it,” she said, coming forward to try and pull on his restraints. “Stupid, stupid man. Or should I say stupid dragon?”
“Why am I stupid?” he asked, watching her struggle with the band on his right hand. “Try my collar.”
She pulled on it, but it was no use. “I don’t know how to get it off. We’ll have to mate and hope I get a good dragon power.” She glanced over her shoulder at Taylor, who was still trying to keep them all busy.
“I’m not going to share you,” he said darkly. “I’d rather die than do that. Just get out of here. Tell Taylor to help you, and—”
“What are you talking about?”
His eyes met hers. “They were going to force me to take a partner,” he said. “I had to run. I meant to come back to you, I swear. I just couldn’t… couldn’t stand the thought of another man having any part of you.”
Her eyes narrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about? Taylor told me they wanted you two to be partners—”
“I don’t want a partner. I don’t want—”
Janet put up a hand. “But only because the two of you need someone to watch each other’s back. Taylor’s partner is dead.”
That made Xander go silent. He couldn’t even imagine—
Janet shook her head. “And the main reason it was suggested is because the oracle apparently had a vision about exactly this kind of thing happening to you!” She jabbed a finger in his chest, and he just stared in shock.
So he’d taken everything wrong? He really did feel stupid.
Then again, with his childhood…
“We don’t have time to talk about it,” she said. “Do you want to mate me or not?”
“I want it with everything in me,” he said hoarsely. “All I want is for you to be safe. But I can’t share you.”
“Why would you share me?”
“Because dragons of my kind, the ones who aren’t born twins, they usually… share a partner.”
She glanced back at Taylor, who was starting to get a bit overwhelmed. Then she looked back at Xander. “So you really were just trying to protect me?”
He nodded. “I know I suck at it. But yes. It’s all I want. For you to be safe. When I heard they were giving me a partner and no choice in the matter…”
She flushed. “You assumed…”
“That I would either have to share you or take a different mate.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t. I’d rather die.”
She was bright red now and bit her lower lip. “I… I guess I’m a bit touched by that. But honestly, Taylor isn’t like that. It’s only so you two are a little safer.” She put her hand to his face. “Xander, you have friends. People who care for you.”
He met her eyes. “After a hundred years all alone, just me and Tristan against the world, that’s hard to believe.”
Her gaze softened. “I get that. And I’m here. I wouldn’t leave you. Stay with me. Forever.”
“You forgive me?”
She sighed. “I mean, this was all incredibly stupid, but I get that you were stuck and just trying to protect me.” She reached in her pocket and pulled out a small knife. “Now mate me so I can protect you.”
He nodded quickly. “Do it. Did Taylor explain how?”
“Yes,” she said, gently cutting her fingertip as Taylor sent a wolf flying across the laboratory. She gently pierced Xander’s shoulder and touched her finger to his arm.
He didn’t know if it was because he was still off-kilter from his crash, but his whole body felt light and different than it ever had.
Like blood was rushing through his dragon, making it become more alive than ever before.
She smiled at him and leaned in to kiss him but stopped as something grabbed her around the neck, pulling her back.
It was Dalton.
While several wolves were battling Taylor, he’d managed to get free and grab Xander’s mate.
“Interesting,” Dalton said, dragging her back with him. Xander struggled, hating his collar more than he’d ever hated anything in his life. “I’ve never had a dragon heart.” He turned Janet to face him, gripping her by the shoulders. She was shorter than him by half a foot. He leaned in like he was going to kiss her. “I’ve always wanted to taste one.”
What happened next happened almost too fast for Xander to catch it.
Janet pulled back an arm and sent it forward in a powerful punch that landed right in Dalton’s face, sending him flying backward into the wall with a tremendous crash.
He slid down, unconscious, leaving a crater in the wall behind him.
Janet dusted off her hands as she glared at him.
“That’s what you get for threatening my mate.”
Xander blinked. “Oh my God.”
Janet jogged over to him, took the collar in her hands, and broke it in half, tossing aside both pieces. “Let’s go help Taylor.”
She ran to the silver dragon, who was currently punching a wolf in the face while another was biting him on the back. She punched the one on his back while Xander punched one who was attacking from the right, leaping toward them in wolf form.
Wolves in human and wolf form littered the floor.
Taylor growled as he punched the one he was holding, sending him flying into a pile with the others. He looked at Janet and smiled. “Great job, dragon heart.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” Xander couldn’t help saying.
Janet stared at him. “That’s really what you’re going to say?” A wolf nearby tried to push itself up, and she kicked it in the face, sending it sprawling.
“I’m sorry,” Xander said. “Thank you, Taylor, for helping me and my mate.” Another wolf tried to sneak up from the right, and Xander hit it with his boot, enjoying the crack its jaw made.
Taylor nodded in approval, a wide grin on his face. “It felt good to have someone’s back again.”
Xander frowned. “I’m sorry about your partner.”
A shadow crossed Taylor’s face, but then it was like the sun had come out again. His gaze no longer held that hollowness from before. “Thank you. But it felt good to have someone to watch out for. Someone to fight with again.”
“Will you take another partner?” Xander put his arm around Janet.
“I’ve already found one,” Taylor said gruffly, staring at Xander.
Xander was taken aback. “You don’t want another double dragon? Someone to share with?”
“It wasn’t like that with my partner. We never found a mate. We were only friends. I think, going forward, I wouldn’t want to replace him.” He looked at Xander and Janet. “But maybe a mate would be nice since my new partner already has one.”
Xander nodded eagerly. “Dude, we’ll hook it up. We’ll help you.”
Taylor put up a hand. “We should go now. And you should get your mate home.”
Xander looked down at Janet, and the love in her green eyes touched him deeply. He wasn’t a lonely dragon anymore.
He had friends and love and a place to belong…
And even the oracle and the double dragons had only been trying to watch out for him.
“I already called in the others,” Taylor said. “They’ll take care of the rest. Investigate this mess. I’m going to meet up with them.”
Xander looked into the other dragon’s eyes, unable to communicate how grateful he was to him.
Taylor actually flushed, looking flustered as he waved a hand. “No gratitude needed. Just get out of here with Janet.”
Xander nodded. There was nothing he wanted more.
Chapter 20
Janet let herself relax into Xander’s arms as he carried her up a long flight of stairs, looking around to catch his bearings in the sterile, creepy place.
Taylor was still in the lab, investigating what he could find and waiting for the others.
Janet was glad she and Xander were leaving, though. She just wanted to go luxuriate in the fact that they were together again and he was safe.
Inside, everything felt warmer, brighter since the moment she and Xander had mated.
“I know you’re a warrior, honey. You got the red dragon power, after all. But right now, I just need to hold you,” he said, blue eyes checking her over as if looking to see if anything was wrong.
She felt completely fine.
More than fine, actually.
She was alive. Alive in a way she’d never felt before in her entire life. She’d faced her fears, and instead of running, she’d fought for him.
“I have no problem being carried,” she said, snuggling in. “But I’m glad I can punch out creepy scientists. That was fun.”
Xander smiled at her, then glanced down the hallway. They still needed to find a way out of this place.
Even Janet wasn’t sure how Taylor had known exactly how to find Xander, taking them directly there with no detour.
“We’re upstairs now,” Xander said. “So I’m sorry about the dust, but—” To her surprise, he moved to the nearest wall, wrapped both arms around her, and then kicked the solid surface with one foot. Brick and other things blasted outward, making a huge hole, and Xander stepped out into daylight.
Wow, she’d known he was strong, but that was something.
Outside, the sun was starting to set, and Xander turned right, heading for the front of the place, where Taylor had landed upon first arriving.
“So you have a dragon power now. How does it feel?”
She flexed one hand, feeling mysterious strength in her muscles. “Good?” Her lips curved upward. “Think how many creeps I can punch for my friends now.”
He shook his head. “I think I should still do the creep punching for now.” He opened his mouth to say something else, but the sound of huge, flapping wings above them interrupted him.
Jan looked up to see a humongous, sparkling red beast lowering to the ground a small distance away. She gasped because it was so much bigger than Taylor’s dragon. When it landed, the ground shook from the sheer force of its weight.
It was staggeringly large, the size of a building just in itself. And a second later, it let out a loud roar, making Jan’s ears ring.
“Where are you, Xander?” The dragon’s voice was low and rumbly, panicked, as it lowered its wing and a tiny human-like shape leapt to the ground.
Was that… Kelsie?
Xander set Janet down, putting her behind him as he walked forward, waving his arms and calling up
“Hey there, tiger! You can call off the cavalry. We’re all right!” Xander said at the top of his lungs, drawing the attention of what Jan could only surmise was Tristan’s dragon.
But boy if it wasn’t huge. Did Xander’s look like that?
Suddenly, the gigantic beast was evaporating into glimmering red sparkles, disappearing as the shape of Xander’s twin appeared, coming next to Kelsie and running up to meet Xander.
“We heard everything from Taylor and the double dragons. They said you’d been captured,” Kelsie said, following behind Tristan.
But right now, Tristan’s mouth was turned down in a frown as he strode toward his brother. That, and he was cocking his arm back…
“I know. I’m sorry for worrying you,” Xander said placatingly. “It was nothing, though. Just a—Whoa, slow down, bro.” Xander said, bracing as Tristan practically charged at him.
But instead of punching him, Tristan extended both arms, pulling Xander into a firm bear hug. Xander’s hands, which had been waving defensively just a moment before, hung in the air, then wrapped around his twin as they embraced.
“Don’t ever, ever try to leave like that again,” Tristan said, eyes shut.”
“I’m…” Xander seemed stunned. “I’m sorry, man.”
“If you’re going anywhere or if you’re in trouble—anything—we do it as a family. All of us, okay?”
“Okay.” Xander and Tristan pulled away, and Tristan’s blue eyes glanced over to Jan, a relieved smile finally on his face.
“So are you mated?” Tristan asked. “Because Xander definitely looks like he just won the lottery, even though he was just kidnapped by psychos.”
“Uh, yeah,” Jan said. “I mean, I punched a pyscho into a wall, so…”
“Oh my God, Janet, you’re a dragon heart too? I knew it!” Kelsie exclaimed, coming up to Jan as she pumped her fists animatedly. “What did you get? Tell me.”
“Red,” Janet said.
“Oh, that makes so much sense,” Kelsie said, excitedly babbling now. “Because you’re strong, and you always stand up for people and—
“Yeah,” Janet said with a laugh. “We can talk about it more. I want to know about yours too. God, how did you
keep it a secret?”
“I know!” Kelsie said with a squeal. “It was so hard.”
“Welcome to the family,” Tristan said, wrapping one hand around his mate and extending a hand outward, which Jan took in a firm shake.
“It’s a little messed up, and heaven knows my brother can be hard to deal with, but we’re happy to have you in our lives.”
“Thanks,” she replied just as Xander appeared at her side, also pulling her in against him.
“She likes that I’m hard to deal with,” Xander said, smirking as a look of rage crossed his brother’s face.
Tristan’s expression darkened. “You dare talk so shamelessly around my mate, you—”
Kelsie laughed. “It’s fine. We’re all fine.” She let out a breath. “Phew. We were so worried.” She patted her husband’s chest. “Don’t let him fool you. He’s a big softie. I thought he was going to lose it when Taylor texted him, telling him Xander was gone.”
Tristan looked to the side, embarrassed. “Whatever. It’s fine now.” He eyed Xander. “My brother knows I worry about him. Anyway, you two have a lot to talk about, and we’ll be here a while, helping Taylor and the double dragons get things sorted. Go home, get some rest. The place is all yours.”
“All mine,” Xander said, nuzzling Jan’s ear, making her cheeks flame at the PDA. Tristan’s gaze drifted away, seeming embarrassed as Kelsie did a wolf whistle.
Tristan clapped an awkward hand on his brother’s shoulder and then left in the direction of the hole Xander had just made, Kelsie following along and holding his arm.
“You and me need to talk, girl. Soon,” Kelsie said, peering at Janet and pointing a finger between them comically.
“Soon,” Janet exclaimed, and her friend disappeared behind Tristan inside the building.
Leaving just the two of them alone outside.
“So… is it just me, or was that a really big dragon?” Janet asked Xander.
“Why do you ask? Wanna see mine? It’s even cooler,” he said, coming over to her and lifting Jan off the ground again. “Okay, actually, it’s exactly the same.”
She laughed. “Let’s save your energy. You’re going to need it when I get you alone again.” She grinned up at him suggestively, and this time, he was the one who blushed.
Dragon Meets Girl: Forgotten Dragons Book 2 Page 12
