Ashes of Blood: The Dragon Mafia Chronicles

by Lela Grayce

  “We need to keep moving,” he whispered into my hair.

  “Are we being followed?” I whispered, my body near the point of panic.

  “I’m not sure?”

  I could hear the frown in his voice, and it made me even more uneasy. I grabbed his hand when he released my waist telling myself it was so I wouldn't lose him in the dark, but the real reason was I was terrified. I was still processing the fact that that mob boss had been a dragon and he had guessed there was something different about me. Kreed was right, it wouldn’t take him long to connect the dots. I felt like there were neon arrows pointing at me from every direction announcing my differences.

  Kreed’s fingers slipped between mine and some inner tension I had been fighting eased. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I was lucky that I’d landed him as a protector, but I was really glad he was here.

  We walked through another alley, taking it slow since I was walking on stilts. After this I was done with heels.

  We crossed another street and we’re just stepping out onto another one when we saw a person. A tall man leaned against the door of a closed pawn shop. A spark in the shadows told me he was smoking. Maybe it was a late-night employee taking a smoke break. As we crossed the street, I could feel Kreed’s tension, but his outward appearance said he wasn’t bothered.

  The next lane smelled of rotten garbage mixed with sulfur. I fought the urge to gag. There must be a witch who lived nearby who used sulfur in their spells. When we were almost out of the alleyway, I chanced a glance over my shoulder and saw that the man had entered behind us. I squeezed Kreed’s hand in warning and he squeezed back his acknowledgement. We hadn’t known each other for longer than a day but already we could read each other. Must be the bond.

  We sped up crossing the street, at a jog which was hard with heels on, but I managed. When we hit the sidewalk, Kreed turned to the right sharply and led me onto a smaller road that ran between two buildings. It wasn’t even large enough for dumpsters. The smell of body odor was strong to my nose. I suspected this was a sheltered area perfect for those who were homeless. The further we went into the backstreet the more evidence of shelters and communal areas. I made a mental note of this place's location so I could come back with clothes and food. Most homeless people were Mutts who had nowhere else to go. I needed to help my fellow race.

  The alley curved to the right, hanging blankets acting as partitions. My eyes were crap in the dark so I couldn’t make out if there were any residences around. The place looked deserted. I hoped there hadn’t been a raid and if there had been, I hoped they all made it out in time.

  Kreed pushed back a blanket hanging right in our path to reveal a brick wall. It was a dead end. Shit.

  “What do we do now?” I whispered frantically.

  “We can’t go back. Our change of direction would have been noticed. There's probably more guys circling.”

  I looked around hoping for a convenient fire escape ladder, that the heroes just suddenly found in the movies, but there wasn’t any. There weren't any doors either.

  A scuffing shoe echoed down the sidewalk through the brick cavern. Kreed pulled me closer, his chest rising and falling while his eyes kept searching around us.

  “I have an idea,” he breathed next to my ear.

  He pulled away, motioning for me to do the same. He studied the wall scrutinizing its surface for what, I had no idea. Then, small blades appeared in his hands. Faster than I could follow, they flicked rapidly each blade sinking hilt deep into the mortar between the bricks.

  “ Climb,” Kreed said, testing the hilts of the blades with his hands. “They’ll hold.”

  I looked down at shoes and short dress. Next time I was wearing pants. I kicked the heels off cringing as the cool concrete met my skin then again as something squished between my toes. Never again.

  “I’ll boost you,” Kreed said, holding out a hand to me.

  The strong independent woman in me didn’t want his help. The other part didn’t want him climbing under me when I was wearing a dress. Neither option was ideal, but I was tired, weak, and very close to panicking.

  I placed my hand in his letting him pull me into position. The first blade hilt was above my head. If I jumped I could probably grab it with my hands but it wasn’t long enough for two and I didn’t have the upper body strength to pull myself up with one arm.

  Preparing to jump, I squeaked as Kreed’s cold hands grabbed my waist. He hoisted me up high enough so I could put my foot on to the first hilt. I grabbed the next one and pulled myself up. Kreed’s hand was on my butt steadying me as I got my bearings and stayed there a bit longer than was necessary, but I was telling myself it was necessary.

  I began to climb trying to hurry. It was hard scaling a wall, in the dark, with a night-seer, probably looking up my dress. Good thing I traded the G-string for regular underwear. I could not do this with floss between the cheeks. Talk about a permanent wedgie.

  In no time, I was at the top pulling myself up on the small ledge that the wall provided. Whomever put a random wall in the middle of an alley was and idiot. I moved over so Kreed could climb up beside me while I tried to catch my breath. He didn’t even look like he exerted himself at all. I was so out of shape. Cancer did that to you.

  “How do we get down?” I whispered quietly. I knew that Kreed’s super-duper hearing would pick it up.

  “I’ll jump down first, then I’ll catch you.”

  Excuse me, crazy dude. Say what? “Are you serious?”

  “As a heart attack,” he replied.

  Did he… just make a joke. What a time to find out that the stoic asshole had a sense of humor. A terrible one but you had to start somewhere, right.

  Before I could protest any further, he swung his legs, crooked his lips at me, then dropped. My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t sure if it was from his devilish lips or the dramatic fall. Maybe both.

  I gave myself a quick pep talk because I did not want to be that girl who made such a fuss that the bad guys catch up and you know, murder them. Wait. Were these guys actually trying to kill me or just capture or maybe study me? None of those options sounded good so I scooted my butt to the edge of the wall and prepared to jump.

  A shout rang from behind me, followed by a soft thunk in the wall below me. I looked and there stuck into the mortar was a round throwing star. These guys were here to maim or kill me and they weren’t your average thugs, these were ninjas. At least the boss had to deploy his best which made me feel super extra special.

  “Jump, Nik,” Kreed called.

  Trusting the untrustable, I scooted to the edge, slid off, and dropped. I closed my eyes which was stupid since I couldn’t see anything anyway.

  My body collided into Kreed’s arms. He rocked back with the force but didn’t fall. The crash had knocked the wind out of me. It took me several seconds to catch my breath and think of all the bruises I’d have tomorrow.

  Kreed swung my legs down and steadied me on my feet before grabbing my hand and pulling me forward.

  We took exactly three steps then a concussive blast rocked the world. The ground beneath my feet heaved, wrenching Kreed’s hand away, I flew through the air then skidded to a stop. Dizzy, I put my hands on the ground and tried to push myself up but everything spun.

  Callused hands grabbed my arms and pulled me roughly to my feet. It was so dark I couldn’t see who was holding me. I knew it wasn’t Kreed. My head spun and I was scared I’d throw up on the first ninja I’ve ever met. Too bad he’d be the last one.

  Grimy hands wrapped around my neck, cutting off my airway, as my back was pressed to a hard surface. I clawed at the fingers, wishing I had my heat so I could burn whoever had me but I didn’t have enough.

  Stars danced in my vision but before darkness overtook me the hands were ripped away. I slid down the wall gasping barely registering the sounds of fighting and grunts around me.

  I shook my head trying to clear it, but it only made it worse. Finally, I was abl
e to raise my head without feeling like I was going to vomit or pass out. A streetlight flickered at the end of the alley.

  I glanced around looking for Kreed who had to be hurt. Instead, what I saw was a sight that would haunt my dreams. Kreed was crouched, his arms wrapped around a body whose neck was twisted unnaturally so, holding it while he drank from its neck. Blue eyes streaked with copper and gold blazed as he swallowed mouthfuls. Other bodies lay around him unmoving with suspicious bites on their necks.

  I gasped and Kreed’s eyes found mine in the gloom. He looked crazed and I finally understood what it meant when the books I read tried to describe blood lust. That was something dangerous and taboo which was totally appealing to the female population, but this was something else. It was primal instinct, mixed with desperation. The pain and craziness in his eyes was clearing. A hint of danger like I had just witnessed something that I shouldn’t have was still there and it sent chills down my spine.

  “Kreed?” I asked tentatively. Trying my best not to sound threatening so I wouldn’t spook him.

  He took one last draw from the dead guy before he let the body fall. It slumped to the ground with a disgusting sound that I never wanted to hear again. Kreed stood and turned, grabbed the hilt of one of his katanas and pulled it from a body. He wiped it clean, returned it to its sheath, then approached me with eyes locked on mine.

  I watched him stroll closer then crouch in front of me. I felt conflicting emotions that were hard to make sense of. I was grateful to him for saving my life, I was curious about what had just happened and a bit disgusted, not gonna lie, and I seriously wanted to touch him.

  “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice very calm. He was acting like I was the scared animal.

  Maybe I was. That was seriously messed up. It felt wrong in all sorts of ways. The main thing I wanted to know: why.

  “Yes,” I replied, my voice hoarse and my throat sore.

  “We need to move,” he said in that same emotionless tone.

  I nodded and I grasped his hand when he offered it, hesitating for only a second. I told myself it was because his hand was covered in blood, but it was the absolute murdery vibe he was giving off. Seriously, who the eff was this guy.

  I lifted my hand and placed it in his and he grasped it, intertwining our fingers like this touch was a lifeline and he was drowning. We rose together, our faces so close I could feel his breath on my cheek. He smelled different, still delicious, but there was a spice to it now that could only be from all the blood he just drank. It was intoxicating and I found myself breathing it in and liking it.

  I opened my mouth ready to say something, but the words died on my tongue as his eyes zeroed in on my lips. He had just had his mouth on other dudes’ necks, drinking from them and he was looking at my lips like he wanted to taste them. And I like it. A lot. Which disgusted me and aroused me all at the same time. You’re one messed up Mutt, Nik.

  Voices echoed from the way we’d just come followed, by running footsteps. Those thug-ninjas who Kreed suspected had been circling were closing in on us. We needed to get out of here, fast.

  Kreed pulled me in the opposite direction from the voices. He was gentle but I could feel the unnatural strength he now had. Drinking that much blood must have given him a boost of some sort. It was gross and I couldn’t think about it without feeling sick so I pushed it from my mind, needing to concentrate on the here and now because this pile of Chia poop we were in stank with no end in sight.

  The street beyond the alley was lit softly and completely deserted. We ran across not pausing for anything. I thought it was strange that there were only people behind us, wouldn’t they have people all over?

  We entered the other street and my bare feet splashed into something liquid that had me cringing but there was nothing I could do. The passage was empty as was the street and alley after that. I was flat out running and Kreed looked like he was on a leisurely jog. I had a stitch in my side and breathing was painful. I was very nearly about to swallow my pride and ask for a lift when Kreed stopped and pushed me against the wall at the mouth of another alley.

  He pressed in close, his body barely touching mine. It made my stomach flip nonetheless. I wanted to ask him what was wrong but knew better. This was a classic move and if the chick would just stay silent, they might get passed by unnoticed. So, instead of asking questions, I tried to catch my breath.

  Looking up I saw that Kreed had his head turned and he was holding his breath like he was listening to something. I remained still and quiet and continued to study him. After a couple minutes, he looked down at my face and his brow wrinkled slightly. Before I could question him with my eyebrows he ducked his head bringing his cheek down to press again mine. What the what?

  His hands rested on my waist then slid down my sides passing my hips and finally stopping at my thighs. This had taken a turn. I was all for being felt up or down by him again, but the timing just didn’t feel right. We were in a gross alleyway with ninja-thugs following us. I was barefoot and probably smelled bad from all the grossness I’d been near or stepped in.

  I was jarred back to awareness when Kreed suddenly lifted me up by my thighs then pressed his body closer holding me there against a building wall. A bright spark lit in my lower stomach and it nearly made me cry. My heat was coming back. I hadn’t expected it to come back when I was in this specific position, and with this person, but it was there and it made me so happy. I was feeling more and more like me and I wanted to equal parts jump for joy and to kiss Kreed. The second option felt like it would work best in this situation.

  “Moan,” Kreed breathed, his lips fluttering against my throat.

  “What?” I was not at all surprised that my voice had gone husky.

  What a shitty time to be turned on.

  He shifted against me, his hardness giving away how affected he was by this. His mouth pressed against my neck where the dragon had bitten me then traveled up to my ear. If I didn’t know better I’d think he was doing this as a bit of four-play, but knowing supes and their ways, I knew he was trying to erase whatever scent lingered from the dragon with his own. It was intimate and possessive and not something supes did whenever they felt like it.

  “I said, moan,” Kreed ordered, his teeth scraping against the tender flesh of my ear which made me do as he asked.

  The sound was pulled from me and my back arched wanting to get closer. I was two seconds from throwing caution to the wind and exploring what he would let me do when drunken laughter filled the night echoing off the walls of the alleyway.

  “Hey, someone’s getting something tonight,” a drunk voice slurred.

  “He’s got better than you do,” a second voice snorted.

  “Struck out like a chumb,” a third laughed.

  “Goo’ luck, friend,” the first voice snickered before all three stumbled off into the night.

  When their voices became faint Kreed loosened his grip on my thighs and let me slide down the wall until my feet touched the concrete. My cheeks were blazing and I was thankful for the first time that it was still relatively dark out. Kreed stepped to the corner and peeked around it probably making sure that they had moved on far enough.

  “I think we’re good,” he said turning back to me with his hand outstretched.

  I looked at it then back to his face. I was considering smacking him across the face again. I’d never met a guy who deserved slaps more than this guy. By the look on his face I knew he could tell that I wasn’t happy but by the grace of whatever deity was out there laughing at our meager existence, he remained quiet.

  “That was… embarrassing. Don’t you ever put me in a position like that again or so help me I’ll hit you again,” I hissed placing my hands onto his chest.

  He grasped my wrists, then without warning jerked me closer. I slammed into his chest, the hand he held twisted behind my back. Leaning over me, his eyes flashed, making my breath catch. He leaned closer until our noses were centimeters away from touchi
ng.

  “Trust me when I say that when I have you it won’t be in a dirty alleyway against a brick wall. There will be no embarrassment between us,” he nearly growled and it was so damn hot I thought my panties would ignite.

  “You seem awfully confident in yourself,” I retorted.

  “Just so you know,” he whispered, his lips barely brushing mine. “I can smell as good as I can see and hear. I know exactly how confident I should be.”

  Holy mother-of-furry-shifters.

  “That’s not pervy at all.” Why couldn’t I talk normally? I sounded breathy and I was desperately trying not to imagine what it would be like to be with him like that.

  I wasn’t inexperienced when it came to sexy time, I’d been with guys like him. However, I knew very little about him. He struck me as the type who was very attentive and dare I say it, rough.

  “We should get going. Brutus will be worried,” he said, then took a step back slowly like he was reluctant to be too far away from me.

  He might not like putting distance between us, but I did. My skin felt tight, the heat inside was rising to a smolder. I had to grit my teeth and refrain from pulling him back and seeing if he could get the heat inside up to a blaze so I could lose myself in it. Now wasn’t the time.

  The street was deserted as Kreed led me across ducking into another alley within seconds. I listened to sounds around me, but my dull ears would never be able to pick up the sound of ninjas. So instead my thoughts turned to what I had witnessed Kreed doing and what it could mean. I knew his father was a Vartian, which would make him one too, except for the whole drinking from dead people thing. What did it mean? Was he a type of zombie who drank dead people's blood instead of brains? Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if that was the case. I mean, look at the world we lived in.

  I was so distracted by my thoughts that I ran right into Kreed’s back when he stopped. I rubbed my nose, then glanced around to figure out why we had stopped so suddenly. Dark shadowy figures surrounded us, weapons drawn and ready. Well, this was it. Death had finally come for me and right when I’d thought I had escaped it for good.