Dragon's Secret

by J. D. Monroe

  “What’s the signature cocktail?” Chloe asked.

  “The Dragon’s Flame,” the bartender said. That was a little on the nose, even for Tellana. “Do you like peach?”

  “Love it,” she said.

  “You’ll like it,” he said.

  She grinned. “Then I’ll try it.”

  “Scotch, straight,” Taegan said. “Whatever you’ve got.”

  The bartender mixed Chloe’s drink, creating a pretty red and orange gradient like a flame. After accepting a generous pour of scotch, Taegan dropped a sizable tip into the vase on the bar then turned to watch as the restaurant slowly filled with Kadirai. He vaguely recognized a string quartet version of a pop song playing over the speakers loud enough to be audible without drowning out conversation. Chloe tentatively sipped her drink and smiled. “That’s good.” She offered it to him. “Do you want to try?”

  He was about to politely decline, but her eyes caught him, eager and welcoming. Her lips were curved in a shy smile, making him wish desperately he’d gone for it in the elevator. Meeting her eyes again, he took a sip of the drink. The sweetness nearly covered the burn of liquor, but it was stronger than he expected. “That is good,” he said. “Chloe, I should tell you—”

  “Taegan!” a female voice crowed. The voice sent a shudder down his spine. He fixed a smile on his face as a slender Kadirai woman in a bright red dress sidled up to them. Shit. She waited expectantly as he slid off the stool and leaned down to kiss her cheeks. Now began the parade of greetings.

  “Elizira,” he said warmly. “You look lovely.”

  “Thank you. Izarin is always good for a fancy party. I don’t get to dress up nearly enough,” she replied. Her bright amber eyes flitted to Chloe. “Hi, we haven’t met. Are you from out of town?”

  His stomach plunged through the floor. Don’t ruin this.

  Chloe frowned. “No, I’m local. I’m Chloe.” She set down her drink and offered her hand to Elizira.

  The Kadirai woman glanced at him and fixed a toothy smile on her face as she shook Chloe’s hand. “A pleasure. Elizira Tehrados.”

  “That’s a pretty name,” Chloe said. “How do you know each other?”

  “Family friends,” Taegan blurted.

  Elizira shot him a strange look. “How have we not met, Chloe? You’re far too pretty for me to not have noticed you already.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean,” she said.

  Taegan switched to Kadirai and leaned in to speak quietly to Elizira. “It’s complicated. Let it go.”

  The woman’s amber eyes widened, but she hid her surprise well. “Well, enjoy the party. Really nice to meet you. Love your dress, by the way,” she said. With that, she flounced off. As she walked away, he saw a younger Kadirai male headed his way and groaned. The stocky man was Rhafa Shar, one of Izarin’s bodyguards. Had Izarin already heard they were here?

  “That was weird,” Chloe murmured. She glanced down at her dress, passing one hand over her hip as if she was suddenly self-conscious. “Am I missing something?”

  “She’s just very assertive. There’s nothing wrong with you,” Taegan said. “Listen, I need to—”

  “Taegan!” Rhafa said, his voice deep and smoke-tinged. “Glad you made it. And who is this lovely companion? We’ve never met, have we?”

  “Chloe Madsen,” she said, offering her hand. Her eyes flitted to Taegan again, but she smiled at Rhafa and shook his hand.

  Before Rhafa made things complicated, Taegan said in Kadirai, “Don’t ask where she’s from. Long story.”

  Rhafa’s gaze flicked to him but he nodded. “It was very nice to meet you. I hope you enjoy the party, Chloe.”

  As he disappeared, Chloe shot him a strange look. “Okay, what’s going on? And what language are you speaking?”

  “Turkish,” he said smoothly.

  “Are you Turkish?”

  “Half,” he lied.

  She frowned at him, then took another sip of her drink. Suspicion lingered in her eyes as she surveyed the room. “You know a lot of really attractive people. Every woman here looks like she belongs on a Hollywood red carpet.”

  He frowned. “Uh, did you not look in the mirror to get ready? You look like you walked off a magazine cover.”

  Her cheeks flushed as she looked down. “I, uh…thanks,” she said, flashing a smile. “My dress is a rental. Don’t judge me.”

  He laughed. “No judgment here.”

  She raised her eyebrows, looking toward the patio. “Here comes another one. Why does everyone seem surprised they haven’t met me?”

  “It’s just—oh shit,” he muttered.

  Tellana was headed his way, looking resplendent in a blue sequined dress that glittered like dragon scales. For once, his cousin was the last person he wanted to see. He forced a smile, lowering his head, so she could kiss his cheeks. After he returned the greeting, Tellana turned to her and said, “Hi, Chloe.”

  “Oh, hi,” she said, flinching slightly. “Have we met?”

  Tellana shot him a look, and he shook his head. “No, but Taegan told me about you,” Tellana said. She offered her hand. “Tellana Asharin. I’m his cousin. I’m the one who screwed up your coffee date with a dead battery. Sorry about that.”

  Chloe laughed. “It’s nice to meet you. No worries.”

  “There’s someone here who really wants to meet you,” Tellana said. “Come outside with me.”

  Chloe shot him a strange look as she slid off the barstool. He couldn’t tell if she really wanted to go with Tellana or if she was afraid to be rude by refusing.

  “Tellana, it’s not—” he started.

  “She’s been wanting to meet Chloe ever since she heard about the race,” Tellana said firmly. His cousin’s tone was light and playful as she spoke to Chloe. “Don’t you love this place? One of my favorite venues in town.”

  “I’ve never been here,” Chloe said.

  “Oh! It’s fabulous,” Tellana said. “Maybe we can have lunch here sometime.”

  “Uh…sure,” Chloe said. She glanced back at Taegan, giving him a look that said help me.

  But he could only trail after them like a puppy, heart pounding as they walked toward the inevitable. She was going to freak out, and he was never going to get that kiss. Maybe he was an asshole for being more concerned about his lust than her wellbeing.

  As he’d suspected, his aunt Izarin sat outside, holding court from a white leather couch. Twinkling string lights overhead cast a pleasant, hazy glow over the terrace. Tellana’s older brother, Malek, stood at the end of the couch, hands clasped lightly in front of him. His dark eyes moved constantly, searching for any sign of danger. Izarin’s melodic voice rang out as she spoke rapidly in Kadirai to the pair of women on the couch across from her.

  “Kuthra,” Tellana greeted her mother in Kadirai. “This is Chloe. You wanted to meet her. Chloe, this is my mother, Izarin Asharin.”

  Izarin was a regal woman, with dark hair threaded with silver and white. A black dress with sheer sleeves accentuated her slender figure, while glittering silver jewelry embedded with rubies exuded the wealth of her family. Taegan had never been to the dragon home world of Ascavar, but he imagined that Izarin would have stood among the queens there. Her bright blue eyes gleamed in the light. “Ah, yes,” she said in English. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse me. I would love to continue our conversation over lunch this week. I’m curious to hear more about your venture.”

  The women nodded, getting up without protest. Taegan watched with a dull sense of dread pooling into his belly. He felt like a boy again, handing his mother a bad report card and awaiting the scolding and punishment that ensued.

  “Miss Madsen, please, come and sit.” Izarin gestured to the white leather couch that had just been vacated. Tellana sat next to her mother, though she sat at the far edge of the couch.

  Chloe hesitated then sank into the seat. She fiddled with the hem of her dress, trying to cover her knees. Her gaze drifted up to Taegan again,
but he couldn’t bring himself to meet her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m a little confused. Do we know each other?”

  “Not yet,” Izarin said. Her pleasant smile evaporated. “And that’s why you’re here. Who are you, and why are you in my city unannounced?”

  Chloe’s mouth went dry. “I’m sorry, what?”

  The beautiful older woman tilted her head. Her jeweled earrings sparkled in the low light. Taegan’s cousin, Tellana, stood behind her, watching Chloe intently. She suddenly felt like she was on trial for a crime she didn’t know about. “How long have you been in Portland, Miss Madsen?”

  “A little over two years.” She glanced at Taegan, who stood behind Izarin and stared pointedly at the ground. Another large, well-dressed man stood at the other end of the couch, watching Chloe intently with bright, honey-colored eyes. What the hell had Taegan brought her into?

  The older woman’s bright blue eyes widened. “And you’ve never presented yourself?”

  “Ma’am, I’m so confused about—”

  “She doesn’t know,” Taegan blurted. He rounded the couch and dropped to one knee in front of Izarin. “I’m sorry. I was trying to tell her, and I couldn’t do it. Be angry at me, not her.” The older woman’s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing as she glared down at Taegan.

  “I don’t know what?” Chloe demanded. The pleasant buzz of alcohol turned into a sick, shaky feeling. The other man took a step closer, sending a jolt of adrenaline surging through her system. “What are you talking about? What were you trying to tell me?”

  Tellana glared at Taegan, then turned to Chloe. “You’re a dragon. Somehow, you don’t know, but that’s it.” She threw up her hands in a jangle of jewelry. “What the hell was so hard about that, Taegan? Three words.”

  “I’m what?” Chloe asked. There was no way she’d heard correctly.

  “Dragon,” Tellana said. “Scales, wings, breathing fire. Well, sometimes.” Flames ignited in her smooth palms, swaying gently in the light evening breeze. As if that wasn’t weird enough, Izarin leaned forward. She snapped her fingers, producing a flame in one hand. In the moonlight, her blue eyes had the long, slit pupils of a snake. Then she smiled, and her eyes returned to normal.

  Blood roared in Chloe’s ears. She felt like she was watching this whole bizarre scene from outside her own body, making it utterly unreal and too real at the same time. Her brain couldn’t process what she was seeing. It couldn’t be real. These people were into some bizarre fantasy roleplay or something. She’d heard of far weirder things back in college. But regardless of how incredible Taegan looked in a suit, this was too much.

  Her hands shook, rattling the ice in her cocktail glass as she set it down on the low table. “I need to leave,” she said. “Thank you for dinner, Taegan. Enjoy your party. It was nice to meet you all.” She rose, unsteady on her feet. Izarin simply raised her eyebrows. Before Chloe had even taken a step, the other big man behind the couch lunged toward her and grabbed her arm. “Hey!”

  “Sit down,” he said. His touch was blazing hot on her bare arm, as if fire burned beneath his skin. “Izarin is not done talking to you.”

  “Malek, let her go,” Taegan said. “She’s not a danger to anyone.”

  Why would she be a danger when she was surrounded by freaks who thought they were dragons? She was on a roof with these weirdos, with only one exit that didn’t involve jumping to her death.

  Her eyes drifted from Taegan to Izarin to the door. Past a crowd of women in expensive dresses was a path to safety. Fear and urgency sharpened her senses. She relaxed and said, “Okay. We’ll talk.”

  His grip loosened, and she threw out her hands to shove Malek away. He grunted in surprise, staggering back to the couch. She bolted inside, slamming into a waitress with a precariously balanced tray of drinks. Her ankle turned, and she nearly stumbled. Glass shattered. Women squawked in protest as cocktails went flying. Kicking her shoes off, Chloe sprinted barefoot across the cold tile.

  “Chloe!” Taegan called after her.

  She ignored him, hurrying through the crowd. Almost to the door. Almost safe. This was why she didn’t go on dates. She was going to call Maura and scream, I told you so. And then she would buy a family of cats and never bother with men again.

  Touching his ear, a broad-shouldered man in a suit stepped into her path and blocked the exit. She barreled into him. Hitting him actually hurt, like she’d run into a brick wall. He grasped her shoulders and pushed her back slightly. Easily six and a half feet tall, he was the biggest man she’d ever seen in real life. Electricity crackled along his fingers as he pointed back toward the balcony. “Izarin is not finished talking to you. Please go back outside.”

  “Get the hell out of my way,” she seethed, balling her fists tight.

  He frowned at her. “The queen has given orders. You will follow them.”

  “The queen? What the hell? I’m not into your weird roleplaying shit, okay? Just move,” she said, trying to push past him. He blocked her path with one meaty arm, gently pushing her out of the way.

  “That’s enough,” a female voice said. She looked back to see Tellana walking calmly toward her, hips swishing with each step. Her blue eyes were narrowed. “Chloe, come to the ladies’ room with me.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” she said. Her heart thrummed, like she’d sprinted a mile.

  “To be fair, you’re not going anywhere without me, either,” Tellana said. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to chat without a room full of nosy people staring.” She glanced over her shoulder, where the man who’d grabbed her lurked in the door. She shook her head and he retreated outside. “Give me ten minutes, then you can go.”

  Chloe surveyed the room. It was oddly quiet, and dozens of people gawked openly at the scene. She looked once more at the huge bouncer, who hadn’t moved. She was trapped with these people. Finally, she turned back to Tellana. “I’ll sit out here with you. Ten minutes, then I’m gone.”

  Tellana laughed, apparently unfazed by her sharp tone. “Fair enough.” She threw up her hands and glanced around. “You all have fantastic hearing, so you don’t need to stare,” she said mildly. All at once, the gawkers snapped back to their conversations, though some watched intently as Tellana sauntered toward one of the elevated booths. Two men sat there, both sipping drinks and gaping at Tellana. “Excuse me, I need this table.”

  The pair got up without protest. Both men bowed politely to Tellana and nodded to Chloe. What the hell was going on? They acted like Tellana was royalty. The other woman slid into the booth. As if they were just meeting for a normal conversation, she gestured to a passing waiter and put up two fingers.

  Once Chloe sat down across from her, Tellana spread her hands open. “Ten minutes starts now. You’re a dragon shifter. Meaning you can turn into a dragon. You also have other powers that go with it, but that’s the big one.”

  “I don’t believe in dragons,” Chloe said.

  Tellana scoffed. “I don’t care what you believe in. We’re real. You’re real. Taegan told me you were smelling smoke, right? Do you smell it now?”

  She breathed deep, picking up the scent of liquor, rich bacon in one of the hors d’ouevres trays, heavy perfume, and the incongruous scent of wood smoke. “I do.”

  “It’s not actually smoke,” Tellana said. “You smell dragons.” She offered her wrist like she was sharing her new perfume. “Smell.”

  “This is—”

  “Just do it,” Tellana said, voice sharp.

  Chloe reluctantly leaned forward, sniffing at the woman’s wrist. She caught the scent of soap and a floral perfume, but much stronger, the scent of smoke. She leaned back quickly before Tellana could get a handful of her hair.

  “Humans don’t smell it, but you do because you’re not human.”

  The waiter returned with two cocktails, the same reddish-orange color as the Dragon’s Breath Chloe had ordered earlier. Staring at it, she groaned inwardly. They were really into this drag
on thing. Tellana picked hers up and took a sip, then looked expectantly at Chloe.

  “I’m not drinking that. You could have put something in it,” Chloe replied. Her hand snaked under the table, finding her phone inside the clutch.

  Tellana pursed her lips, swapping their glasses. She took a sip of the second one and shrugged. “They’re not drugged. But smart girl for being cautious,” she said. She took another drink, pushing the first glass toward Chloe. “Anyway, Taegan also said you mentioned headaches. How long has that been going on?”

  “He told you all of my business,” she muttered. She toyed with the glass, eyes drifting toward the door. The huge bouncer was still there, eyes on her and Tellana. The other guests had gone back to their conversations, but it didn’t make her feel any safer. She needed to get out of here.

  “Chloe, answer the question,” Tellana said. “How long?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “At least six months, maybe longer. I thought maybe I had allergies to something here.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-nine.”

  Tellana nodded. “You’re well overdue. The headaches are a sign that you’re ready to start shifting but you haven’t yet. If you’ll forgive the expression, you have blue balls right now.”

  Chloe barked a harsh laugh. “This is insane. You can’t possibly expect me to believe this.”

  Tellana shrugged. “It is what it is.”

  “If you’re a dragon, show me your wings,” Chloe said.

  Tellana gestured to her dress. “Girl, this dress was eight hundred dollars, and I’m practically sewn into it. I’m not ruining it to prove a point,” she said. “But if you want to see wings, come fly with us tomorrow afternoon. We’ll show you everything.”

  “I can’t…this is ridiculous,” Chloe said.

  Tellana glanced over her shoulder and crooked her finger. Chloe followed her gesture to see Taegan lingering at the bar, looking like he was going to be sick. Her heart thumped as he approached. And he was in on the whole thing, pretending like he was this charming, normal guy who watched Netflix instead of pretending he had magic powers. She could have punched him in his tantalizing mouth. “Taegan, show her your flames.”