by J. D. Monroe
“I don’t believe in this stuff,” she said.
He summoned the flame again, letting it drift closer to her face. Dancing light reflected in her warm amber eyes. “How do you not believe your own eyes?”
“This doesn’t mean dragons are real,” she said. “If that’s real, then show me.”
He chuckled. “Out in public? No. If you want to take a drive with me to somewhere secluded, I’ll happily show you. But I have a feeling you don’t want to go anywhere with me right now, least of all somewhere private enough for me to change.”
She stared at him. The anger in her expression had been replaced by hesitation and a hint of fear. “Okay. Let’s pretend for a minute that I believe what you’re saying. And that I’m one of you.”
“A dragon. You can say it.”
She winced. “Fine. You claim I’m a dragon. When did you know?”
“That you were a dragon?” She nodded. “When I saw you at the race. That’s why I confronted you. We have rules about blending into the human world. That includes no sports, at least with humans.”
“So, why didn’t you tell me before last night?”
He sighed. “I was trying. I invited you out for coffee to find out why you’d never presented yourself to Izarin, and then I realized you really didn’t know. But we started talking and…” He threw up his hands in frustration. “Same with dinner last night. I kept trying, but I didn’t want to ruin it.”
“Ruin what?”
“Us,” he said. Her eyes widened. “I mean, there’s not an us yet. But I enjoyed talking to you so much, and I knew once I told you, it would get weird. Obviously, it did.”
“I liked talking to you, too,” she said quietly. Her shoulders relaxed a bit, making her look less wary. “And how did you know?”
“Little things. Your height was what caught my eye,” he said. “Once I got close to you, I could smell you. No mistaking it.”
“The smoke smell,” she murmured. “Tellana showed me.”
He nodded. “Once you mentioned your headaches, and then said that you didn’t have any family, I figured you didn’t know.”
She gave a solemn nod. At least she’d given up on protesting everything he said. “And all this stuff about presenting myself to Izarin?”
“There’s a dragon community here in Portland,” he said. “There’s a lot to explain, but for now, just know that she’s in charge of the dragons here. When I said I had a big family, I oversimplified things. Izarin is my aunt, and Tellana is my cousin. But there are more than a hundred dragon shifters here in the city. We’re not all actually related, but we’re all family in a way.”
Her jaw dropped. “You’re like the Mafia. And she’s the Godfather.”
He laughed. “No. Well, maybe there’s a bit of common ground there, but we’re not criminals,” he said. “There’s a lot of upheaval in our world right now, and an unaffiliated dragon in the city is suspicious. They were worried you might be a danger to the community. That’s why Izarin was so intense last night.”
“So, I have to serve her or something? Assuming I believe you.”
“Assuming,” he murmured. “Not exactly. You agree to obey the laws of our kind. If Izarin asks you for a favor, you say yes. And in return, you have the support and protection of the whole family.” He shrugged, hesitating, and then stepped in front of Chloe. Her posture was tense, her strong legs poised to run again. “Keep playing along for a few minutes. Will you try something with me?”
“What do you want?”
“Run with me,” he said. Her neon yellow shoes were the same ones she’d worn for the race. “Are those your running shoes?” She nodded. “Then come on.”
He took off in a brisk jog. Her footsteps were feather light as she followed. Her stride was beautiful, her feet barely touching the ground as they propelled her into a long, loping gait. He accelerated, and she kept up with him. As he pushed his pace, trying to ignore the burning in his legs that reminded him it had been more than a week since he’d visited the gym, she kept up. Her breathing took on a raspy edge but she didn’t slow.
“What are we doing?” she asked.
“Just running,” he said, catching the words between short breaths. How was she talking so easily? “Try to keep up.” Her eyes narrowed, and she zoomed past him, her ponytail bouncing. He grinned and pushed himself harder. She was a much better runner than he was, and his height advantage barely balanced things out.
Young dragons tended to come into their power naturally. He’d grown up among dragons, watching them breathe fire or ice. Like a toddler learning to walk, he’d tried to imitate them, moving his hands and roaring until it suddenly worked one day, a happy accident that he struggled to duplicate. Developing discipline and focus with that power, using it on command instead of belching it out randomly, that was much more difficult. Tellana had struggled for years to control it, growing increasingly frustrated. When she was tired of Izarin’s interference and her brother’s casual, just think about it, it’s easy advice, she’d come to Taegan.
“Faster,” he ordered, barely managing to keep the punishing pace. Chloe was breathing hard as they rounded the long track for a second time. When they reached the baseball field on the far end of the complex, he slowed his thundering steps, hoping he wouldn’t embarrass himself by puking in front of her. “Stop.”
She jolted, chest heaving as she turned to him. “What was that for?”
He stepped into the shade of a shuttered concession stand, its blue metal siding faded by the sun. The squat building blocked them from view. He grabbed Chloe’s wrists gently. “Trust me,” he said. Her forearms tensed, but she didn’t pull away from him. “There’s something in you. Something burning, something cold, something electric. Just find it.” He was almost certain she was a flame dragon, like him. Holding her gaze, he pushed hard on her mind. The psychic compulsion only worked on humans, but the energy would find the dragon part of her and call out to it.
Her pupils dilated in response to his touch. Crackling energy pulsed beneath her skin, and his own power clawed in his chest, growling and hungry, as it sensed something familiar. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, shaking her head. “There’s nothing.”
“Quit thinking so much,” he said. “I can feel it.”
“I can’t,” she said, pulling away and crossing her arms over her chest. He felt cold without touching her, like she’d thrown him into shadow. It took all his willpower not to grab her again, so that energy would rush into him once more.
“Then come on,” he said, taking off in a run. His chest burned, and his thighs felt like concrete. He was going to regret this later.
“Taegan—”
“At least you’re getting some training in for your next race,” he called back to her. “I don’t know how you won last weekend if you can’t even keep up with me.”
She squawked in protest, feet pounding as she overtook him. He grinned as he pushed himself even harder. Despite his efforts, she edged ahead. As fast as he could push himself, he couldn’t keep her pace. Determination was etched into every line of her body.
There were several ways to awaken elemental power in young dragons. One was distress or danger. When frightened or angry, most dragons would find their more primal instincts. But he wasn’t about to threaten Chloe, not after the way she’d found out last night. Far easier and safer was sheer physical exertion. Back in Ascavar, young dragon recruits, both full-blooded and hybrid, would be pushed to their physical limits, flooding their bodies with adrenaline and endorphins. When you were breathing so hard you thought you’d vomit, the conscious mind struggled to resist the primal forces stirring inside.
He just hoped he didn’t vomit before they made another lap. The concession stand came into sight again and he wheezed, “Stop!”
Her breathing was rapid, but she grinned with triumph as she slowed. Sucking in a deep breath that almost made him cough, he beckoned to her. “Come on. There’s something there.” He put his
hand on her chest, feeling the warm thrum of energy there. Heat surged through his arm, igniting in his chest.
She grabbed his hand, pulling it away, but he was stronger. “Stop it,” she snapped.
“Not until you show me the fire,” he replied. “I know it’s there.”
“I can’t—”
“Stop fighting it.” Her jaw dropped at his sharp tone. “Quit thinking about how crazy it is and just let it out.”
The heat under her skin swelled. That’s it. Her gaze was fixed on his, and he suddenly was tempted to lean in. If he kissed her, would he draw the flame right out of her? That was one other way he’d learned to call out the element, which had shocked him—literally—when he’d dated a woman with lightning in her veins.
“Taegan, I don’t understand.”
“Come on,” he said, pressing harder into her chest.
“Let go,” she protested, trying to jerk away. Her face was drawn, her brow furrowing with fear.
She was so close. “Make me let go,” he said. Her eyes narrowed, and he had just enough warning to turn his head before blistering heat billowed into his face.
Chloe screamed in surprise as the gout of flame rose between them, licking at his face and singeing his jaw. She pulled away from him, flailing to put out the flame. Her feet tangled, and she sat down hard on the concrete, staring up at him in disbelief. Then she inspected her palm, unmarked and smooth. “What the hell was that?”
“That was your power,” he said. “Now, do it again.”
She stared at her hand, narrowing her eyes. The tendons in her neck stood out as she forced her will onto her palm. Now, she was trying too hard. He knelt in front of her and grabbed her wrists.
“Look at me.” Her eyes were brighter now, filled with excitement and wonder. He smiled at her. “This is a part of you. You don’t have to work so hard at it.”
Staring at her hands, a flicker of flame appeared in her right palm. It faded then intensified as she let out a cry of surprise. “Oh, my God,” she murmured.
He smiled, putting his own hand next to hers and producing a flame. The flickering tongues intertwined. The energy flowing from her was palpable, and he suddenly needed to fly, to let the primal creature run free.
Her gaze lifted to his. “You weren’t making it up.”
“Told you so,” he said. “Now, do you really want to have some fun?”
“So, you saw him after all?” Maura asked. “You said last night was a disaster.”
“It was,” Chloe said. “But I left my—I left something at the bar.”
“Your panties?”
“Maura!” she exclaimed. Telling her it was her shoes probably wouldn’t be much better. “Yes, I saw him. And he apologized.” Ahead of her, Taegan put on his turn signal. They were heading out towards the suburbs. He’d only said it was a private place where he could teach her more.
“I hope he’s apologizing with his tongue,” she said.
“You’re a pervert,” Chloe said with a laugh.
“No, I’m a woman who recognizes that a healthy sex life is good for you,” she said primly. “And I didn’t say where he was putting his tongue. Maybe you’re the pervert.”
“Goodbye, Maura,” she said.
“I want to know all the details tomorrow,” she said.
Chloe just laughed and hung up. There was no way in hell she could give Maura even a fraction of the details. At this point, she didn’t even know what was happening.
She’d given in to Taegan’s pleading to hear him out. Damn his smug confidence, but it really wasn’t about the shoes. Even in the insanity last night, she knew deep down there was more to this than parlor tricks. The flames, Izarin’s snake-like eyes, the smell of smoke with no source…
And something in Taegan’s words swayed her, wearing down the last bit of resistance. She was still half convinced she’d wake up from this insane dream any second, but now she was willing to play along.
Taegan signaled again, turning down a side road ending in a gated lot. High, wrought iron fencing encircled a huge warehouse. He leaned out of the car to type a code into a keypad and waited for the iron gate to swing open. She followed him closely and parked next to him. Her heart thumped with apprehension as she surveyed the dark metal exterior of the building.
If she was watching a movie and saw a woman follow a man she’d known for less than a week into a secluded warehouse, she’d have thrown her popcorn at the screen and declared her too stupid to live. But she wanted to trust him, to see what secrets lay beyond these walls.
He rooted in his trunk and slung a duffel bag over his shoulder. “I don’t want you to be shocked. You’re going to have to lose the clothes for part of this.”
She instinctively took a step back. “Um…”
He threw up his hands, like he was trying to back away from the mess he’d made. “I shouldn’t have led with that. If you’d be more comfortable, I’ll call for my cousin. If it would be easier with a woman instead. I won’t watch you, if you’re worried,” he said. “I’m not a creep.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I told you that you were a dragon. That’s not a figure of speech,” he said. He summoned the flame in his hand again. “This is just icing on the cake. I want you to see what you really are. But if you’d rather—”
“It’s okay,” she blurted. He smiled, sending a warm thrill down her spine. “I trust you.”
“Thank you. That actually means a lot,” he said. He typed a code into the keypad by the door, pulling the doors open with a metallic screech. Darkness yawned beyond the doors. He ignited the flame again, lighting the way until he found a light switch. With a mechanical whir, fluorescent lights flicked on in a large warehouse.
The barren space was bisected by a wall, leaving a large, open area easily the size of the school’s gym. Along the side wall were wooden racks laden with sharp weapons glinting in the harsh light. Before she could ask about it, Taegan spoke up. “We use this for training sometimes. And for when the young ones are ready to change.”
The corner closest to the entrance was covered with rubber gym mats and sectioned off with metal benches. A white circle was painted onto the mats, creating a fighting ring. Taegan sat down on a bench, prying off his running shoes. “You must have a lot of questions.”
“Do I,” she muttered. She sat next to him. Though there was a foot of empty air between them, she felt the heat radiating off him like a sunlamp. He felt good, and with her senses on high alert, she realized he smelled good, too. Something primal was awake now, and she was overcome with the urge to get closer, to touch him, and trace the lines of his face. She averted her eyes, hoping he couldn’t sense exactly what she was thinking.
He chuckled. “I can’t imagine how weird this is for you.”
“No, you can’t,” she said, flashing him a smile. She lifted her head and winced. “Is it normal for my head to hurt? It hurts worse than it did before.”
He nodded. “This is kind of new territory for me, since I’ve only ever worked with people that knew what they were,” he said. “But I’m guessing when you finally tapped into the flame, you woke up the dragon. Now, it wants out.”
Her heart kicked against her ribs. “Dragon.”
“I wasn’t kidding,” he said again. “Let me show you first.” He stood and peeled his shirt off, and she had to resist the urge to search for dollar bills in her purse. He was lean and wiry, with capped shoulders and the subtle definition of a six-pack. Black tattoos, like stylized wings, curled across his shoulder blades. “I don’t want to offend you, but I kind of have to…”
“Oh,” she said. She hung her head and covered her eyes.
“I mean, I don’t mind. You’ll learn quickly that shapeshifters aren’t shy,” he said with a laugh. “But all things considered, I’m pretty sure it’s in poor taste to get naked without warning you.”
The word naked sent a warm bolt of heat straight to that mindless place between
her legs. Get it together, she thought, at the same time as, hell yes, take it off, crossed her mind. She averted her eyes, staring at the floor as a pile of black fabric pooled on the floor. His bare feet slapped across smooth concrete. Feeling like a complete creeper, she stole a look and nearly gasped.
No one had any business looking that good. With his wiry frame and muscular legs, Taegan looked like an MMA fighter. And with his long, loping stride, she caught a glimpse of everything else. Her cheeks flushed, and she snapped her eyes closed again. Her chest tightened as she pictured herself entangled with him, that perfect body warm and pliable under her touch.
Making fire out of thin air was one thing. Taegan hadn’t warned her that being around him was going to turn her into a horny, single-minded mess. This was not okay.
“Okay, come over here,” he said.
Yes, please. Her cheeks flushed. “Are you decent?”
He laughed. “No, but you can’t see anything.”
Not that it mattered. Even if she went blind, the sight of his body would be burned into her retinas for eternity. She opened her eyes to see him kneeling in the middle of the floor, legs carefully positioned to keep from displaying all his equipment. As she approached him, she noticed deep gouges in the concrete, suspiciously like claw marks. Nerves fluttered in her belly. “Is this safe?”
“For whom?”
“When you say that, it really doesn’t make me want to find out,” she admitted.
He laughed. “Sorry. It’s safe. I’m not sure what you’re picturing to see, but please know I’m not going to hurt you. It might be scary, but you need to watch me and feel how you react. Your instincts will kick in. Can you do that?”
She drew a deep breath. “I’ll try.”
“Here we go,” he murmured.
With his hands planted on the concrete and back curved slightly, he looked like a runner about to set his feet against the starting blocks. Then his spine arched and cracked in a series of noisy pops. Bluish light emanated from him, like it was seeping from his pores.
The skin over his spine split, revealing blinding white light in a thick seam. An impossibly low groan was broken by a horrifying crunch of bone. She felt queasy at the sound. His muscular limbs swelled, and the tanned skin darkened to a sapphire blue, with hard, crescent-like scales emerging. His scaled form expanded, double, then quadrupled, and even larger.
