by A. J. Stone
When he spied Marcel in the threshold, a huge smile broke out over his features. “I thought you might be out for the night.”
Marcel looked the alpha up and down. “A great time to make your escape.”
Mr. Lowry opened his mouth to speak, but Marcel beat him to the punch.
“Look, Mr. Lowry, let me be perfectly clear.”
Mr. Lowry leaned against the sink and crossed his arms. He had a wary look in his brilliant blue eyes. “Go for it.”
This wasn’t good. Images of domestic bliss winged through Marcel’s head, shoving aside his dream of being a dancer, and that gave him the courage to plow ahead. “I don’t care that you’re leaving. It would be awkward if you stayed. We’ve only known each other for a day.”
“I wasn’t leaving. I was going to run upstairs to Amar’s place and grab the overnight bag I keep there.”
That didn’t make Marcel feel better. Now that his animal had been sated, his better sense was back in control. And his better sense would let nothing stand in the way of achieving his ultimate goal. He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth against the unpleasantness to come. “I don’t want to be your omega. I came to Verdance prepared to work hard and make a name for myself in the theater, and that’s what I’m going to do. I’m not going to let an accident or an alpha stop me from pursuing my dreams.”
Chapter 5
Zeke
ZEKE STRUGGLED NOT to frown. In fact, he controlled his face so well that it betrayed no hint of the way Marcel’s declaration gutted him.
His omega didn’t want him?
He’d been prepared to accept that his omega was likely a canine shifter. He’d been prepared to break the news to his parents. He’d been prepared to have offspring—hybrid offspring—a century or two earlier than he’d originally planned.
He had not anticipated his omega rejecting him outright.
By some miracle, he controlled his temper. “You think I would stop you from pursuing your dreams?”
“I know you would.”
Zeke chafed at that. “You have no idea what I would or wouldn’t do.”
“You’re an alpha, and you’re an apex predator. It’s not hard to connect the dots.”
It appeared they were nowhere near a cease-fire. Zeke heaved a sigh. He’d been reticent to sleep with Marcel so quickly, but the omega had begged. He found he was a sucker for his canine’s whine. With that one sound, Marcel was going to be able to get him to do anything.
He realized he’d fucked up by not waiting. He should have resisted temptation a while longer. Recognizing it was best to let Marcel have this one, Zeke retreated. “I’m not playing connect-the-dots, cupcake. However, I recognize that you’re still feeling poorly. We will continue this discussion later.”
Zeke knew he should stay and talk it out, but the fury pumping through his veins wouldn’t let him attempt more small kindnesses. Without a further word, he left.
Out on the street, he ran, not caring that his suit shredded as he shifted, and he took flight in full view on a public street.
In a fit of rage and pain, he flew. Not caring which direction the winds took him, he glided on currents and fought against prevailing winds when they got in his way. The recklessness of his actions didn’t matter. A lifetime of admonitions against revealing the presence of dragons to humankind ceased to be a factor. He’d stopped thinking at all. His primal nature was, once again, in control.
High up in the mountains, he’d find a cave suitable for building a nest to raise young. He’d bring his omega here, where they’d be protected from danger and isolated from the outside world—just like his ancestors used to do.
Having a purpose, his brain focused on that task. As he calmed, his laser-sharp vision roamed the snow-covered crags in search of a place to raise his young. It needed to be protected from weather and predators, though no creature who wanted to live would challenge a dragon or its young.
He spotted a possible location, and as he dove to check it out, he became aware that he wasn’t alone in the late-afternoon sky. Three dragons surrounded him. Their sky blue coloring indicated Ice-Breathers.
Immediately on the defensive, he banked east, away from the location he was scouting. He hadn’t even claimed the nest, and already he was deflecting attention from it.
One dragon came closer, and Zeke let loose with a stream of fire. An expert flamethrower, he aimed the warning shot across the dragon’s nose. The would-be attacker veered off to avoid being singed, and the other two closed in.
Familiar with this style of attack, Zeke rolled and curled, turning himself sideways in midair to aim fire at one Ice-Breather while he used his razor-sharp talons to battle the other. Taking on two dragons was a feat in and of itself. Taking on three was lunacy.
If ever there was a day when Ezekiel Lowry was poised for lunacy, this was it.
The third Ice-Breather joined in the attack. The foursome wrestled in the sky, flying through the atmosphere in a ball of fire and clutching talons. Like Sharp-Winged dragons, Ice-Breathers had thick scales and sharp talons. It was difficult to cause damage, but not impossible.
Zeke used his wings as well, the protruding bones at the apex and ends of his wings acting as secondary talons to slice and stab.
The Ice-Breathers countered his fiery breath with subzero bursts, and the trio soon battled Zeke to the point of exhaustion. He found himself on the ground with three Ice-Breathers on top of him. Huge rocks cradled his belly and trapped his legs, rendering his talons useless.
What brings you to Pleasance, Sharp-Winged trespasser? A clear, blue iris surrounded the lizard slit of a pupil, and it studied him dispassionately.
Zeke hadn’t known he was anywhere near Pleasance. The Sharp-Winged tribe steered clear of Pleasance unless invited, spying, or looking for a fight. The way Zeke had flown in, the Ice-Breathers had every reason to believe he’d come looking for a fight.
And they’d obliged.
Ezekiel Lowry.
At the utterance of his name, Zeke’s primal brain ceded control to his better sense. The frantic glaze melted from his consciousness, and he forced his body to relax even though two Ice-Breathers still restrained him. He looked toward the dragon who’d thought his name.
It took him a moment, but he identified Lajos Edison, his counterpart at Gliding Principles. Lajos. Apologies. I didn’t realize I was near Pleasance.
Bullshit. Lajos’ disbelief was understandable. Only an idiot wouldn’t know where he was going. You came here looking for trouble.
He’d done that before, usually to deflect while Koren or another Sharp-Winged dragon stole tech or research. Both tribes made a habit of stealing from one another. Koren’s collaboration with Anshu Bray over genetic research was the first time they’d peacefully worked together.
If you let me up, I’ll shift. It was a peace offering. Just as he was not much of a threat when there were three of them and one of him, he was even less of a threat in human form. He’d be alone and naked, utterly defenseless.
Lajos motioned to his companions, and the duo slowly released their hold on Zeke. Following through on his promise, Zeke shifted.
The first thing he noticed was the freezing temperature. Though it was late fall, this high in the mountains, it was always winter. In dragon form, the temperature was balmy and pleasant. In human form, it was fucking cold. He shivered, but he refrained from crossing his arms.
Lajos shifted as well, but his lieutenants did not. A typical Ice-Breather, Lajos had straw-colored hair and pale blue eyes. Looking closer, Zeke found distinguishing characteristics—a sharp line to his jaw, thick lips, and a scar along the inner part of his right thigh. Due to the cold, his balls were every bit as shriveled as Zeke’s, so he didn’t make judgments there.
Stepping closer, Lajos held Zeke’s gaze. “No Sharp-Winged dragon comes here with pureness of intent.”
Zeke nodded, ceding the point. “Nevertheless, I didn’t come here with any kind of intent. I’ve had a
bad day, and I took flight to clear my head. I didn’t pay attention to where I was headed.”
Lajos circled wide, stalking to establish his superior position in the conversation. “That is unlike you. I remember you from school, Ezekiel Lowry. You were methodical and hyperaware, just as I am. It’s why we have both risen so quickly to the top of our profession.”
Most Ice-Breathers attended the same college as the Sharp-Winged dragons. Though they hadn’t become friends, they’d been aware of one another. The same could be said for Silver-Winged and Fire-Breathers. For the first time, Zeke wondered why they’d avoided forming friendships. They were all dragons.
Suddenly the tribal lines that divided them seemed arbitrary. Even so, they were etched deep in all their minds. Zeke didn’t think Lajos would have the same shift in thinking.
He inhaled deeply, letting the cold air fill his lungs. When he exhaled, he was once again completely in control of his faculties. “You know how we’re in the midst of an omega shortage?”
Lajos’ eyes narrowed. “Anshu said he’d made a deal with the Sharp-Winged Tribe to find him an alpha.” His nostrils flared, and he peered closer at Zeke, his calculating gaze raking over Zeke’s body. “He is a good man. You will treasure him.”
Anshu Bray was the single dragon omega any of them knew about, but for some reason, no alpha wanted to mate with him. Zeke had met Anshu several times, and he’d never felt a connection with the omega. Instead, he’d fallen hard for a canine omega who wanted nothing to do with him because it might interfere with his aspirations to become a dancer.
A fucking dancer.
Zeke had seen people dance, but he’d never felt the need to try it for himself.
He shook his head, not to negate Lajos’ order, but to deny his intent to marry Anshu. “I have found my omega. He is not Anshu.”
It was an accurate statement. If Anshu was his destined mate, the omega would not have had sex with Zeke and then kicked him to the curb. Anshu Bray was no fool. Marcel Yardan, on the other hand, well, arguments could be made in that direction.
A moment ago, Lajos had relaxed a miniscule amount. Now his alert tension returned. “Then why are you here?”
Zeke closed his eyes. “Sincerely—it was a mistake. Things are not going smoothly with my omega, and I just needed to get away. I didn’t trust myself to be around him in my condition.” He shivered violently. “Look, my head is on straight once again. How about I head home, and we forget about this incident?”
Lajos stared. Zeke knew what his counterpart was thinking because he knew what he’d be thinking if he was in Lajos’ shoes. There was nothing he could say to hurry the process, and any attempt he made to plead his case would merely cause Lajos to doubt his story.
Finally Lajos crossed his arms. “Your omega is a canine shifter?”
Information was power, and Zeke’s training cautioned him against revealing intel. “Lajos, you and I are not friends. I don’t wish to discuss my personal life with you.”
“It’s happening here as well.” Lajos nodded to the dragon to Zeke’s left. “Jagger has recently mated with a canine omega, as have two other Ice-Breathers. Three female alphas have recently taken up with equine shifters, and a Silver-Winged acquaintance has mated with a feline shifter. Anshu is taking it all rather hard.”
“I’m sorry.” Truly, he was. Anshu seemed like a nice enough guy. “I know Anshu and Koren are working toward understanding this phenomenon.”
“I don’t care about it,” Lajos said. “I’ve known Anshu my whole life. We grew up together. I always assumed the day would come when I would take him as my omega mate, but when he tried to kiss me, my dragon protested—vehemently.”
This was of no concern to Zeke. He thought about his idea that tribal allegiances didn’t have to prevent them from forging closer relationships. “It seems like you do care about their research. No doubt you’d like to know why your dragon will probably imprint on a non-dragon omega instead of a perfectly good dragon omega.”
Pale lightning flashed through Lajos’ eyes. “I cannot find an omega before Anshu finds an alpha. I can’t do that to him.”
Zeke’s dragon rebelled at the idea of having an omega who wasn’t Marcel. He fought against the urge to take a step back. “Koren is looking. He’s met with Rock-Shaper and Silver-Winged dragons. He is working on arranging meetings between several interested alphas and Anshu.”
Politics had to be navigated. Clan identity clashed with a desperate need to find omega dragons.
Lajos motioned over his shoulder. “You will come peacefully back to Pleasance.”
Studying Lajos through a shrewd lens, Zeke realized that Lajos had more to discuss, but he didn’t intend for Zeke to freeze to death while that happened. A half hour later, he found himself in front of a fireplace, listening to the crackle of burning wood as the warmth of the flames chased the stiffness from his fingers. It was better than a jail cell or interrogation room.
Lajos had dismissed Jagger and Cezar, though the pair waited on the rooftop in case circumstances changed, and Zeke decided to become a threat.
He wore sweats and a cotton shirt, courtesy of Lajos. The two were of a similar height, though Lajos had the thinner build of his tribe.
“Can I borrow your phone?”
Lajos called from the kitchen. “Landline is in here. Cell phones have spotty reception this high in the mountains.”
Zeke reluctantly left the glow of the fire. He dialed a number. “Amar, I left all my stuff on the sidewalk in front of your building.”
Puzzled silence greeted him. Then Amar cleared his throat. “Any particular reason you’re calling from a Pleasance number?”
“I’m in Pleasance.” He did not go into detail. “Don’t ask, okay? Just get my wallet, keys, and cell.”
“Are you in danger?”
“No. I’m fine. We’ll talk tomorrow.” He wasn’t fine, and he knew his friend knew that.
“Zeke, I can be there in an hour.”
“It’s fine. I’m having a drink with Lajos Edison.”
“I thought you were having dinner with Marcel? Edgar said he’d left the two of you alone.”
“He did.” Zeke was glad Edgar hadn’t been there to witness Marcel’s rejection. He could stand a lot of things from the effusive omega, but not pity. “I’m going to go now. Thanks for getting my things. I’ll be by in the morning to collect them.”
He didn’t figure on getting out of Lajos’ apartment until the predawn hours.
When he ended the call, he turned to find Lajos offering a mug. “Irish coffee. It’s strong. You look like you need something strong.”
Zeke wasn’t sure whether Lajos referred to the icy sojourn on a rocky mountain outcrop or Zeke’s emotional state. He opted for the former. “Thanks. It was damned cold out there.”
He followed Lajos back into the living room, and the pair settled on chairs in front of the fire. It was quite a domestic scene, completely at odds with the way he’d envisioned his night a few hours ago when he’d taken flight.
They sipped in silence for a few moments, and then Lajos said, “I don’t expect you to confide in me. As you mentioned, we are not friends. However, I think the time has come for us to become acquaintances.”
Zeke agreed, but years of rivalry meant that instant trust wouldn’t be part of their new association. “What brought this on? An hour ago, you were ready to kill me.”
Lajos waved his hand dismissively. “If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead. When security spotted you flying around, I will admit I was surprised and puzzled. Your flying pattern indicated you were searching for something.”
This was a fishing expedition, and Zeke was never going to admit his intention. It had been a wholly primal and inhumane reaction. And so he went with something safe that confirmed the narrative he’d been feeding Lajos. “I was searching for things not found outside myself, like restraint and perspective.”
“Because you had a fight with your omega?”
If it had merely been a fight, Zeke would have won—or at least he’d have arrived at an acceptable compromise. He’d never been handed an ultimatum by someone on whom he couldn’t use violence to disagree. “Yeah,” he muttered. “A fight.”
“Omegas can be headstrong.” Lajos sipped his coffee and stared into the fire. “An alpha must be strong enough to wait them out.”
Zeke didn’t know how much patience he could muster for a stubborn man who refused to even acknowledge that, with one primal act, they’d cemented their bond. He looked over at Lajos, noting his pensive expression. “You have an omega?”
“Yes. And no.” Lajos sighed. “I cannot be with him until Anshu is settled, but my omega is not sympathetic to my plight. He won’t return my calls, and when I knock on his door, he refuses to open it.”
It was unlikely Marcel would answer the door if Zeke knocked or answer the phone if Zeke called. He lifted his mug and took a swig. “Mine isn’t submissive either. He wants to be a dancer, and he thinks I’ll stop him from achieving his dreams.”
“You will,” Lajos said. “Alphas like us want an omega who will manage our lives and our children. It will leave him no time for a career.”
Zeke thought about Edgar and Chay, omegas who were happy to be house-husbands. Serving Amaricio and Koren made each man happy and fulfilled. Zeke couldn’t deny wanting an omega who focused his whole life on his alpha.
He downed the rest of his coffee, luxuriating in the burn of hot liquid mixed with Irish whiskey. “I’m fucked.”
“We both are.” Lajos chuckled. “I brought you here in the hopes of getting you drunk enough to agree to take Anshu back with you. Koren Tafari can collaborate with him much easier in Verdance. I’d hoped you might see an opportunity for Draco International to own the data and whatever develops from it. And, of course, it will put him in Tafari’s cross-hairs, which might spur him into finding an alpha for Anshu all the faster.”
