by Rinelle Grey
“Don’t bother,” Warrian interrupted. “Clearly you’re not going to tell me the truth, so don’t bother lying.”
Warrian’s hope died with the expression on her lips. He needed to move on. He could manage without any help from her or humans. In only a few more days, the Mesmer ritual would be finished, and they’d go their separate ways. What happened now was irrelevant.
That was just the truth. His reluctance to push her had nothing to do with a fear of how she might react.
It had nothing to do with the fact that last time he’d pushed her for answers, she’d thrown it back at him, accusing him of not being who he’d said he was and not caring about her. He wasn’t sure exactly what she’d meant by that, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to find out.
What if she knew?
His heart pounded in his chest, and he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. No, there was no way she could. She knew nothing about dragons. He was the first dragon she’d met.
Or so she claimed.
A feeling of foreboding settled over him. What if that had been a lie too? What if everything Rita had told him was a lie? What had seemed perfectly innocent earlier began to feel more and more sinister.
“I just… I promised you some food, right?” Rita stood up, her movements jerky and awkward. She took both the phone and laptop with her, confirming her deception. “I’ll be back soon.” She retreated into the kitchen.
Warrian watched her go, then leaned back on the couch, staring off into space, and heaved a sigh.
Everything had been going so well up until that sandstorm. Well, it hadn’t been going so badly then either. He shifted slightly as his body responded to the memory. They’d been so close. Just a few moments more and they would have mated. Warrian would have known what she felt like. She would have been one step closer to being his.
Then everything had gone wrong. Warrian frowned. No, the sandstorm and Rita’s tent exploding had interrupted them, but there had been no doubt in Warrian’s mind they would have resumed their interrupted mating just as soon as they’d had a chance.
It had been later than that when things had gone wrong, after the sandstorm was over. Rita had just been about to tell him the truth, to finally open up to him, when the Trima life dragon had shown up. That was when things had gone wrong.
Her change of heart must have something to do with the Trima life dragon. Any fear the dragon might have caused would have long dissipated, so there must be something more. A chill ran through him. Had the Trima life dragon said something to her in dragon speech? If so, what?
She had accused him of not being who he’d said he was. She’d been angry, as though he’d lied to her and promised her more than he could offer. That didn’t seem like something that had come from the life dragon. It had seemed more about things that had happened between them.
Maybe she was angry that the life dragon had chased them at all? Maybe that had spooked her?
Warrian tried to tell himself it was better this way. They were already more than halfway through the Mesmer ritual. Soon there would be nothing tying them together, and Warrian would be free to return to his clan. It was better not to leave any entanglements behind.
Except Rita was more than an entanglement. He’d told her far too much, answered all her questions about dragons without even considering the ramifications.
He needed to find out what was going on, no matter how uncomfortable it made him feel. The question was, how? Rita had taken the phone with her, and Warrian couldn’t convince himself to take it off her by force. The only remaining option was sneaking behind her back. Rita was leaving him little choice.
He was just wondering how to go about that when something, or someone, banged on Rita’s door.
Warrian froze. Who was that? Was it a threat? The sound wasn’t angry or menacing, but after a short pause, it repeated, as though waiting for something.
Warrian rose and walked warily towards the noise. He’d nearly reached the door when a human voice on the other side called out, “Come on, Rita. I know you’re in there. Your car is here.” The voice was male, and it sounded irritated.
All those factors combined raised Warrian’s hackles. What was a human male doing visiting Rita? And sounding like he knew her well. Who could this be? Whoever he was, Warrian would make sure he left and didn’t return.
He was reaching for the door handle when Rita emerged from the kitchen and pushed past him. Ignoring Warrian, she wrenched the door open and glared at the man standing there.
When he saw who it was, Warrian glared too.
Todd.
He should have known it would be Todd.
Rita had insisted the man was a threat to him, that Todd would tell the world about his clan. She’d refused to let him deal with the man properly when he’d been chasing them down the road.
But she’d been communicating with him on her phone since they’d returned from the desert. The fact that she hadn’t denied it meant it was true, didn’t it? Warrian’s stomach churned. Why would she be talking to him? What were they talking about? Him?
Was Todd part of this group she spoke of? Had she invited him here?
Her greeting hadn’t exactly been welcoming. And if they were working together, why had she encouraged Warrian to stop him from following them when they’d first met?
None of this made any sense.
Todd’s gaze shifted from Rita to Warrian, down to the towel around his waist, and then back to Rita. He frowned. “Just what’s going on? What are you hiding, Rita?” He didn’t seem impressed at all. And when he stared at Warrian with jealousy in his eyes, Warrian realised why.
There was more between Todd and Rita than just dragons. If dragons had anything to do with it at all. Jealousy surged through Warrian as he tried to figure out their relationship, and it took all his effort to tamp it down. In fact, it was only possible because he was pretty sure, from her reaction, that Rita hadn’t invited Todd here and that she wasn’t pleased to see him either.
“Nothing,” Rita denied, a little too quickly. “Nothing other than the fact that I haven’t actually been looking for a story at all. I’ve been a little… distracted…” Warrian might have been preoccupied, and a little surprised by the implication of the words and the saucy look she threw him, except it didn’t reach her eyes.
Why was she trying to convince Todd something was going on between them when it wasn’t?
Her eyes were full of concern and fear.
For him, or for Todd?
It shouldn’t matter. Either option was bad for his clan and thus bad for him.
But the need to know burned.
Todd’s eyes narrowed, and he looked Warrian over again, more slowly this time. “I don’t think you were distracted at all. This is what you meant, wasn’t it, when you said you had a story that was better than mine. He’s a dragon, isn’t he?”
Warrian’s world shifted dizzyingly again. Todd did know something about dragons. And the fact that he was openly admitting it meant Rita knew Todd did. He and Rita were rivals—rivals who had been, or were, involved.
Rita had told Warrian that Todd wanted to tell the world about dragons. Apparently he wasn’t the only one. Forgetting about Todd, Warrian rounded on Rita. “What story is he talking about?” he asked, his voice dangerously calm.
The colour drained from her face, but to give her credit, she didn’t back down. And her voice didn’t waver as she said firmly, “Let me handle this.” She had the gall to ignore him and turn back to Todd. “You should leave. Now. Before you end up in over your head.”
Warrian opened his mouth to object. He couldn’t possibly let this human go now. He already knew too much.
But before he could say anything, Todd beat him to it. “Wow. And you were angry with me for airing that story before you did while we were together. Never would have guessed you’d sleep with a dragon just to get the scoop on me.”
Todd actually looked kind of impressed, but his words just made W
arrian see red, and not for the reasons he should. The man’s words just confirmed everything Warrian feared.
Any concerns Warrian might have had about the existence of dragons becoming public paled in comparison to the rage he felt at the thought of this man mating with Rita.
The Mesmer bond was really doing a number on him. He’d never felt like this about anyone before. Dragons didn’t get jealous like this, especially not due to the prior relationship of a woman he had no intention of forming a long term bond with.
Unfortunately, his emotions refused to listen to the logic of his brain. Before he’d even thought his actions through, he’d taken a step towards Todd and raised a fist. He’d only intended to threaten the man, to make him realise what a mistake he’d made, but Rita didn’t know that.
She jumped between them. “Leave him alone,” she said firmly.
Warrian had already checked, even before she’d finished her sentence, although Rita’s defence almost made him reconsider. If Rita cared enough about this man to try to protect him, then Warrian had even more reason to ensure he disappeared.
No, what Rita and Todd did together was none of his business. Not once the Mesmer ritual was finished. He had his own problems to deal with. Unfortunately, right now it appeared Rita was one of them. His hand dropped back down to his side, and the logical part of his brain clawed back its hold over his thoughts.
He’d deal with Rita later. The magic binding them together meant she wasn’t going anywhere. Todd was another matter. “I can’t let him leave. You understand that, don’t you? I can’t let either of you tell the world about dragons. The war with Trima clan is bad enough. I can’t deal with humans right now.”
How had he ever thought humans could help Rian clan against Trima? They were far too volatile and unpredictable.
Todd stared from Rita to Warrian then back again. “You haven’t told him?” He whistled. “And you said I was cold.” He seemed inexplicably amused by the situation.
Warrian wasn’t amused at all. “Told me what?” he demanded.
Todd raised his hands. “Don’t ask me. Ask Rita. She’s the one who’s screwing you, buddy.”
Warrian had already asked Rita. Several times. The fact that she still wouldn’t tell him burned.
Instead of wasting his time asking her again, he stepped past her, ignoring her protests, and grabbed Todd by the collar. Warrian lifted him off the ground a few inches until Todd’s face was level with his. “How about you tell me?”
The human’s expression changed, and the whiff of fear Warrian caught from him was particularly satisfying. “Now, now, no need to get violent. Not with me. I’m not the one who published the first photo of a dragon in the paper for the world to see.”
Warrian’s world spun around him. Rita? Rita had been the one to reveal the existence of dragons to the world?
He’d told her everything. He’d told her all about dragons’ weaknesses, all about their society, everything the humans would need to bring them down. All because he’d been fooled by her swinging ponytail and the magic of the Mesmer bond.
What a fool he’d been.
Chapter 3
Rita’s heart skipped a beat at Todd’s revelation.
There was no hiding it now. No more lies. No avoiding it. The truth was out there.
And Warrian was going to hate her for it.
Not that she cared anymore. But no matter how much she tried to convince herself of that, when his head whipped around to stare at her with accusation in his eyes, it still hurt.
“You?” he demanded. “You told the world about dragons?”
Rita wished she could deny it, but it was the truth. Her shoulders slumped. “I did,” she admitted. “Not that anyone believed me.”
Warrian dropped Todd, who immediately scurried back out of his reach, and stepped towards Rita. “Why did you do that? What right did you have?”
He didn’t raise a hand, and his voice was unnaturally quiet, but Rita wasn’t fooled into thinking he wasn’t angry. The barely contained rage on his face was undeniable.
But it didn’t frighten her. She didn’t for a minute believe Warrian would ever hurt her. She should, after hearing how he’d lied about what Ultrima had done to his sister. But that didn’t change what she knew in her heart.
She needed to make him understand. That need might have been motivated by her guilt over the almost finished article sitting on her laptop in the kitchen. No one had believed her last article, but this next one was a different matter.
“I didn’t even know you then,” she insisted. “All I knew was that fairy tales had suddenly come to life and suddenly there were dragons flying around the outback. I felt my people, humans, had a right to know. We live here too, you know. How was I supposed to know if you would hurt us or not?”
“You could have waited to find out. You could have asked us.”
“Would you have asked us if the situation were reversed?” Rita demanded. “You’ve never once considered humans in any of your decisions. Why should I have considered dragons in mine?”
Warrian stared at her, anger written across his face. Then suddenly, it was gone. His shoulders slumped. “No reason at all.” His voice was low and almost defeated, and instead of continuing to argue with her, he turned back to Todd.
Rita’s heart skipped a beat, and she didn’t even wait to see what he would do or say. She jumped between the two men again and put her hands against Warrian’s chest as though she could push him away. Yeah, right.
As soon as she touched him she felt weak at the knees. Ready to swoon into his arms like some pitiful romance heroine.
She pushed that feeling away. She had bigger things to focus on. “Leave Todd alone,” she said firmly. “It’s me you’re angry with. And it doesn’t matter what he says now. The news is already out there. He can’t do any more damage to your clan.”
“He could tell my enemy where I am,” Warrian said firmly. Then his voice filled her mind. “And since I’m not at full strength, that could be disastrous to both of us. Did I mention that if I die, you do too?”
His statement distracted her from her angry defence of Todd. “What? You’ve never indicated that before.” His words sent a thrill through her, one that should have been fear, but that she couldn’t deny felt more like excitement.
She couldn’t help feeling her connection to him deepen. They were in this together, for good or bad, until death, apparently. No matter how they felt about each other. The inevitability of it was somehow intoxicating.
“It hasn’t been relevant up until now.”
“What didn’t he indicate?” Todd demanded. “Surely you already knew he had enemies. The Trima clan hasn’t exactly hidden their animosity.”
Rita glanced in Todd’s direction, but she wasn’t really seeing him. She was too busy trying to process this new information. “Is this just now…” she broke off, hesitant to say too much in front of Todd. They needed to get rid of him. “Or will it be permanent?”
“It ends when the Mesmer bond ends, which will be soon.” Warrian’s eyes, burning into her with an intensity that took her breath away, said they could end the bond now if she wanted.
They definitely needed to get rid of Todd. Now.
She gulped in a few breaths, trying to steady her heart and cool her head.
Any connection she felt to Warrian was transient. She couldn’t afford to let it sway her or influence her actions. He was using her, trying to keep her quiet. She was using him to get this story. And he had used his sister to start a war. There was no mystical connection between them, just mutual exploitation.
That excuse triggered her guilty conscience. She was exploiting him right now, as the article sitting on her laptop just proved.
“Is what permanent?” Todd demanded.
He just didn’t give up, did he? “Nothing,” Rita said. “It’s time for you to go.”
“I can’t let him leave,” Warrian repeated.
“And I won’t l
et you do anything else,” Rita insisted. “The only information Todd is capable of getting is what your clan gives him to release anyway, and I can assure you Todd isn’t going to tell Trima clan where you are, are you, Todd?”
She didn’t bother looking over at Todd, but she wasn’t surprised when he agreed immediately. “I won’t tell Trima clan anything. I’m not going near them, and their lair is surrounded by police besides.”
Rita’s hand was still on Warrian’s chest, and she could feel his heart racing. Somehow, the fact that he wasn’t as calm as he appeared reassured her. She stared up into his eyes and wished she could speak into his mind as he did into hers. This conversation should be private. “You go and get dressed,” she insisted. “We have a lot to discuss.”
Warrian stared down at her, his eyes whirling, and Rita held her breath. Would it be enough?
Finally, his eyes not breaking contact with hers, he ordered, “Get out of here, Todd, while you still can.” Warrian turned and walked into the bathroom, hopefully to fetch his clothes.
Rita watched him go, hoping Todd had the sense not to object, but apparently he wasn’t quite as suicidal as she thought, because she heard his footsteps retreat and the door close behind him.
Warrian took only a few moments to dress, but it was enough time for Todd to be completely gone. Leaving her and Warrian agonisingly alone.
Agonising because now she had to try to explain herself. To justify what she’d done.
Was there any point? Did it even matter if he understood where she was coming from if she couldn’t trust him anyway? Maybe it would be better if she just let him hate her so he would leave? Then this could be over and she could go back to normal.
The beautiful, painful, agonising connection she felt for him would be gone. She’d be completely alone again.
That thought was even more terrifying than Warrian hating her.
What would she do once this was over? The thought of publishing the story she’d been writing held no joy anymore. She couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for it at all. Not when she thought about Warrian being gone.
