Savage Dragon: Earth Dragons Series: Book 2

by Hartnady, Charlene

  “I don’t care what everyone thinks. Let them think whatever they want. It shouldn’t matter!”

  “It does matter,” he growled. “I am the goddamned Alpha. How will anyone respect me? I can’t even get my own mate to accept me.”

  “You should have thought of that before you forced me into this farce of a mating,” she snapped. Demi had never minced her words about how she felt. She wasn’t about to start now.

  “No one forced you. You walked down that aisle of your own accord. There was no sliver-bladed sword to your heart.”

  She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “There may as well have been. You threatened Obsidian. He would’ve been in a silver cage by now if I hadn’t done it. I warned you, Cody. I don’t love you in that way and I never will. I thought I could find a way to push past that fact, but I can’t!”

  “You haven’t given it a chance. It’s that blasted dragon again! I am so over that fucker. If it weren’t for him, we’d be fine.”

  “No, we wouldn’t!”

  “Yes, we would. You developed feelings for him. You would have accepted me by now if it weren’t for him. Admit it!”

  “I’ll admit that I was…am attracted to him. I will never feel that way about you even though you are an attractive male. I just don’t! It’s how it is. He isn’t holding me back though.” She shook her head. “That isn’t it at all.”

  “I don’t believe you, Demi.” His eyes were narrowed on hers. For a second there, her breath caught in her lungs. The way he was looking at her, his words, it was like Cody knew Obsidian had been to see her. She’d taken a long bath. Had washed herself from head to toe with berry-scented soap. He hadn’t said anything to her when he’d returned two and a half hours later. No, there was no way he could know. He would never keep quiet if he had somehow found out about it. He walked back over to her, pushing her back on the bed. Her back hit the mattress with a light thud. He was on her in a second, straddling her thighs and holding her hands above her head. His penetrating stare on hers.

  “Cody,” she struggled against him, “what the hell!”

  “Kiss me!” he demanded through clenched teeth. “Just do it. I’m not so bad. It won’t be as terrible as you think.”

  “Let me go!” She tried to yank free. “What has gotten into you?” she yelled. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Kiss me!” he growled again, sounding desperate. “I’m your mate and you can’t even kiss me.” He finally let her go.

  Her heart was racing. She struggled to catch her breath.

  “I swear, Demi, you need to accept this. You’re forcing my hand here. I don’t want to have to…” Cody shook his head once instead of finishing the sentence. His chest heaved. His eyes were filled with…rage…pure and simple.

  “What happened to you Cody? Why are you like this?”

  “Nothing happened,” he all but snarled. “I have accepted this. I’ve accepted us. You need to do the same.”

  “Or what? You’re not saying it, but I can hear it.”

  “You don’t want to find out, Demi. You need to get your mind right. I’ve tried being your friend. I’ve tried giving you space. What do you want? Dinner? Long walks in the forest? I’ll light candles. Sprinkle rose petals. I’ll do anything you want, but this needs to happen, and it needs to happen soon.”

  “I still hear an ‘or else’ in there and I don’t like it.”

  “Damn straight there’s an ‘or else’,” he snarled. “I’ve tried being nice and I’m starting to struggle with it.”

  “More threats. What will it be this time?” She sounded defeated. “There is nothing more you could possibly take away from me.”

  “You make it sound like being with me is akin to a death sentence.”

  “You were a good male but I’m not sure anymore. It’s how I feel right now. How you’re making me feel. Stop caring so much about what others think and ‒ for claw’s sake ‒ stop with the threats already.”

  “It seems like threats are the only thing that work with you. This can go two ways. You are going to be the decider.” He pointed at her. His chest heaved a few times before his whole demeanor softened. “Please, Demi. I beg you. Please. I’ll get on my knees if I have to. Tell me what you want from me to help you accept this.”

  He was giving her whiplash. One second a total asshole and the next the nice guy she had always known. “There is nothing you can do. This whole thing was a mistake. I mated you to protect Obsidian. I hoped you would come to your senses but you’re getting worse.”

  “You have to at least try to make this work.”

  “I did.” Tears streamed down her face. “It may not seem that way to you, but I really did. I can’t be with you in that way and I need you to leave now,” she whispered the last. “You’re not making sense. You’re not yourself right now. I’m worried about you, Cody. You’re doing this for all the wrong reasons.”

  “I’m fine!” his voice boomed. “It’s you who has the problem. That problem is the dragon!” he snarled. “That fucking beast,” he muttered, as he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

  She was going to speak with her father in the morning. Demi hoped and prayed that for once, just for once, he would listen. That he would stop being a Council member and just be her father.

  Chapter 14

  The next day…

  “Where are you going?” Mountain folded his arms, leaning against the edge of the balcony. The cliffs and vast ocean behind him.

  Obsidian grunted. Shit! For a second there, he thought he had gotten away without being seen. Mountain had been keeping tabs on him. He’d been using Shale and Stone as well. Today, it was him personally. What a ballache!

  “No way.” His brother shook his head. “Grunting isn’t going to work on me. Not anymore. You’ve been talking just fine. Where are you headed? One of the males mentioned that you scented of a female yesterday. That the scent was musky…wolf-like.”

  “He was mistaken,” Obsidian countered. His voice a rough rasp.

  “What are you playing at?”

  “Playing?” He snorted, shaking his head. “I’m not into games.”

  Mountain narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck are you doing?”

  “Nothing that concerns you.”

  “Your safety and wellbeing concern me plenty. I told Stone that you would be at training later today. You should try to focus on other things. Take your mind off of a certain female.”

  Obsidian chuckled. “Training, you say? What would be the point? After de-winging that asshole, Clay, no one will go against me.” He snorted. “The fucker was antagonizing me. It was only one measly wing. You would think I beheaded the male.”

  Mountain laughed. “I wish I had been there to see you rip his wing off.”

  “Bull!” Obsidian rubbed his chin. “You had better things to do. You were with your mate.”

  “You are right,” Mountain nodded. “I can have a word with the males. I…I’ll make sure they allow you to train with them again. You are an asset to us. Or, at least, you could be.”

  “Thank you, but no.” Obsidian shook his head. “Don’t bother. I’m going to do some border patrol…alone. I need some time to myself.” His voice was becoming corded as he started to shift.

  Mountain put a hand on his shoulder. “Stay away from her, brother. It can only end in heartache. Please!”

  “I can look after myself.”

  “Don’t do it.” Mountain was frowning.

  “Demi has no one,” Obsidian pushed the words out between clenched teeth.

  “She has her mate.”

  Mate.

  Right.

  “The male is unstable. I don’t like the way he treats her. He’s a prick!” Obsidian growled.

  “None of our business. Why am I having to repeat myself? Stay the fuck away from her.” His demeanor softened some. “I don’t want you killed.”

  Obsidian choked out a laugh. “Let them try. As soon as I am sure she is s
afe…I will…”

  “Fuck! I had hoped I was reading this wrong. You’ve already been, haven’t you? That male did scent wolf on you?”

  “Yes, they haven’t consummated the mating yet. That bear fucker is trying to force her. If he does…” Obsidian shook his head. “If he…”

  “What?”

  “I’ll kill him,” Obsidian snarled.

  “Then both of you will lose your lives. You know that, don’t you? You’ll be put to death with his blood on your hands.” Mountain gripped both his biceps. “You have to reconsider.”

  “In that case, it will have been worth it. I need to make sure that he does right by her. Once I’m convinced, I’ll stay away.” Obsidian narrowed his eyes on Mountain’s. “I swear.”

  “He’ll never do right by her. Not in your eyes. You’re biased. You have feelings for this female. I can tell. This protective behavior. It can only end in heartache since she has a male already.”

  “I will keep that in mind.” Obsidian’s heart pounded.

  “Will you?”

  “Yes!”

  “I don’t think you can do that.”

  “I will!” he countered. “Demi has made it clear that she has no choice but to stay with this prick.”

  “Her mate.”

  Obsidian clenched his jaw. Not yet he wasn’t! Fuck! Was he doing this to try to stop them from consummating the union?

  It didn’t matter. Either way, Demi needed protecting. He was going to be the one to do it since no one else would.

  “Take care, brother,” he heard Mountain say, his voice full of emotion.

  Obsidian completed his shift. Then he took to the skies and headed for Demi’s village, staying high so that he wouldn’t be easily spotted. He flew straight to the cottage, circling a couple of times.

  One heartbeat.

  Just the one.

  Unfortunately, he was too high to be able to tell whether it was the bear or Demi who was home. He scanned the area. Thankfully, the cottage was on the outskirts of town, bordering on the forest. He couldn’t see anything, or anyone, so he decided to move in closer. This was risky. He realized that. Probably stupid but he had to be sure that Demi was still okay.

  Obsidian dropped quickly. If someone happened to be looking just then, they might see something, but he’d be gone so quickly that they’d second guess themselves. They couldn’t see him so high up and they couldn’t see him once he touched down. It was that split-second in-between that he was vulnerable. Drifting down slowly was not an option, so speed and stealth were his friends.

  He touched down noiselessly in the back yard, taking in a snoutful of air. The bear! Damn! He listened for movement. For a change in the rhythm of the male’s heartbeat just to make sure he hadn’t been spotted. It carried on rhythmically. In fact, he’d wager that the male was probably sleeping based on the fact that it was slow and steady.

  Demi wasn’t there. Didn’t matter, he’d hit the clouds and keep a look out for her. Obsidian wasn’t going to approach her though, unless her prick-of-a-mate had hurt her in any way. Then he’d be forced to kill the fucker. He’d take whatever was dealt to him. No problem!

  He was just crouching down to take off when something hit him in the chest. It was instantly hard to breathe. It stung. His mouth fell open. What?

  Obsidian flapped his wings a couple of times, his body lifting but it felt heavy. Something else hit him, also in the chest, making him grunt this time. His limbs felt like they were suddenly made from lead. He was gasping for air, but it didn’t seem to reach his lungs, which felt like they were on fire.

  Obsidian crashed back down to the earth even though he was only a few feet in the air. He fell over onto his side and coughed. Blood bubbled up into his mouth.

  Blood?

  What?

  Why?

  His vision was turning hazy. He…

  “I told you to stay away.” The bear looked down at him. It took him a while to focus on what was in his hand. A bow. Strapped to the male’s back was a quiver, with green-feathered arrows sticking out of the top. He looked down to where four of them stuck out from his chest.

  Four?

  He’d only felt two. From the way his chest was burning, they had to be silver. He was so fucked! Obsidian coughed up a spray of blood. Then he blacked out.

  Chapter 15

  The backpack fell to the ground as Demi shifted into her human form. She took out her clothing and quickly got dressed. Next, she slipped on her sneakers before heading up the path that led to the front door of her parents’ house.

  She knocked once, stepping back. It didn’t take long for her mom to open up. Her face instantly brightened. “Sweetie, what a fantastic surprise. I didn’t expect to see you for another day or two. Where’s Cody?” She looked past Demi, down the path.

  “Hey, mom.” She smiled as her mom’s eyes moved back to lock with hers. “It’s just me.”

  “I see. Come on in.” Her mom gestured inside the house and then pulled her into a tight hug as soon as she was inside.

  “Please don’t say anything.” Demi knew her mother would be able to scent that she and Cody hadn’t consummated their mating yet.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” her mom said, squeezing her arms. Demi noticed that she looked really tired. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

  “Too late for that,” Demi muttered, wishing she hadn’t when she saw her mom’s eyes cloud over.

  “You know what I mean. Don’t take the next step until you are absolutely ready. You need to know, by the way, that I’m against this whole thing.” That came as a shock. It was the first time her mom had done anything other than encourage a relationship with Cody. “I don’t like the way it’s been handled. I—”

  “Demi.” Her father rounded the corner. “I thought I heard you two talking.”

  Demi noticed how her mother’s back went stiff. How she set her jaw as soon as her eyes landed on her father. Her dad was looking her way. He frowned, his nostrils flaring.

  “I came to see you about something,” she quickly blurted, not wanting to cause any more trouble between her parents, because there was clearly trouble brewing.

  Her dad nodded. “Let’s go into my study to talk then.”

  “Would you like something to drink, honey?” her mom asked.

  “I’m fine, thanks,” her dad responded.

  “I was talking to Demi.” Her mom’s tone was distinctly cold.

  “Um…I’m fine, thanks, mom.” She looked between her parents. Maybe she shouldn’t have come. Then again, she was there now, may as well get it over with.

  “Anytime, sweetie.” Her mom hugged her again. “I know you moved out a few years ago already, but I wanted you to know that this is still your home.”

  “Demi has a home and a life of her own,” her father said.

  “Don’t butt in,” her mom kept her eyes on her, “I mean it,” she added. “I love you so much.” Her eyes shone with sincerity. “I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you. I’ve been so focused on what I lost, I forgot to recognize what was still right in front of me. I’m with you on this…”

  “Delilah,” her father warned.

  “Don’t you Delilah me!” her mother yelled.

  “Thank you, mama,” Demi said, trying to defuse the situation. She felt something ease in her. This despite the friction in the room. “I appreciate it. I need to talk with dad about a couple of things.”

  “I mean it.” Her mom gripped her by the hand and squeezed.

  “I know you do, and I love you too.” She squeezed back before letting go. Her mother nodded once, her demeanor relaxing slightly.

  They made their way to his study. “You’re not mated yet,” her father stated, as soon as the door was closed.

  Talk about getting right down to business. “I’m fine thanks, and you?”

  “This is serious, Demi. There have been fights within the packs. Why haven’t you mated yet? Why are you putting off
the inevitable?”

  “I told you that I don’t love him.”

  “Do you think that every female for generations has been in love with her promised and vice versa? I’ll answer for you, Demi, it’s a no. A resounding no. Of course not. Everyone has done their bit. Your mom and I had it hard to begin with, but we made it work. We all did our part. You need to do yours.”

  “We live in the twenty-first century now, dad. It’s no longer the dark ages. You had it happen to you. You know how it feels. It’s an outdated tradition.”

  “You’re sounding like a human. We’re not humans. We are governed so much more by our traditions, our heritage. Not loving him isn’t enough to not go through with this. You need to do this. I know Cody is on board. Please, honey.” His shoulders slumped and he rubbed his eyes, looking stressed and tired. There was more grey in his hair and crow’s feet around his eyes. His skin looked sallow. Guilt flared.

  “Cody isn’t acting like himself though, dad. I’m worried about him.”

  “Take a seat.” He gestured to a chair on the other side of his desk. He himself moved around it and sat down, leaning back and folding his hands. “Tell me everything.”

  She went on to tell her father how Cody had manipulated her using Obsidian. About what had happened the night before, how Cody had held her down and tried to kiss her. “The worst of it is that he has called me Brie a couple of times. I suspect he’s going to use me as a replacement for her. So, not only do I feel like I’m betraying my sister, I’m doing it with a male who is pretending I’m her. It makes it so much worse.”

  “That may be true,” her father shrugged, “but it is still no reason to call off the mating.”

  “No reason? You can’t mean that!”

  “I do.” He nodded. “Cody is trying to do his best to make the most of a difficult situation. He is under a lot of pressure.”

  “He’s doing his best to accept this by pretending I’m Brie.”

  He raised his brows. “If that’s what it takes.”

  Demi couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I don’t think he’s worked through his grief. We’ve never once seen him break down over Brie’s passing. Think about it. Sure, he’s been upset about it. Riddled with guilt because he blames himself, but he’s never actually grieved. The only time he visited the burial grounds was when we…” She paused a second, feeling her chest tighten to the point of pain. “Was for the passing ceremony.”