Love of the Dragon (Aloha Shifters: Jewels of the Heart Book 5)

by Anna Lowe

  He ignored both of them and glared at the woman. “The diamond you walked out of the auction house with. The one Drax so desperately wants.”

  Cassandra arched an eyebrow. “You mean, the one you so desperately want?”

  Damn it, he didn’t want anything desperately. He was cool and controlled all the time.

  Except around her, his dragon pointed out.

  Kai and Tessa were watching him, and he’d never felt so on the spot.

  “I don’t want it desperately.”

  “No? Could have fooled me.”

  Damn it. He hadn’t expected this at all. He’d expected a blubbering, tearful mess. Most humans reacted that way at their first sight of shifters. And judging by Cassandra’s reaction in the alley, it had been her first sight. He was sure of that.

  “What do you know about the diamond?” he asked, trying to gain some headway.

  “I know it’s mine. Eloise left it to me.”

  “Eloise who?” Kai scribbled on a notepad.

  “My aunt. She told me to guard the diamond with my life. And you can bet your ass, I will.”

  Silas stared. Did nothing scare her?

  Oh, she’s scared, all right, his dragon murmured. But damn, does she handle it well.

  “Guard it against whom?” he asked, getting back on track.

  One side of her mouth crooked up. “Dragons, of course.”

  He sat back a tiny bit. “Listen, I only want to help.”

  “I don’t need help,” Cassandra insisted.

  Tessa leaned in, thank goodness. “It’s more than just a diamond, you know.”

  Cassandra made a face. “Yes. It seems to have a magnetic effect on dragons.”

  Silas tried a different tack. “We’d be more than happy to pay you for it. No need to pay the auction house a commission. More money for you.”

  She crossed her arms. “Maybe I’m not interested in money.”

  Everyone is interested in money, Kai murmured into his head. Try again.

  Silas ignored him. “So what are you interested in?”

  “Keeping it out of the hands of dragons,” Cassandra said as if that were obvious.

  Silas snorted. “Believe me, I’d be happy for you to do that. But now that the diamond has attracted Drax’s attention…”

  “Yours too,” she pointed out.

  Somehow, she had a knack for taking the wind out of his sails. And for stirring every one of his senses. His dragon was restless, sniffing wildly, taking her in. There wasn’t a hint of city in her clean, clear scent. Just the fragrance of lavender and dandelions. If he closed his eyes, he could picture little white tufts floating across endless fields, someplace way out in the country where problems seemed far away.

  But he couldn’t close his eyes, no matter how much he wanted to. He had to remain alert and wary.

  “My goal is to keep others from abusing its power,” he assured her.

  “And who will prevent you from abusing its power?”

  Silas pursed his lips. He’d considered that very question himself. The Spirit Stones were notoriously difficult to control — a little like his inner dragon. If the five jewels were reunited, who knew what influence they might try to exert over him?

  He wished he could state the truth: that he would have preferred the Windstone to remain lost to the shifter world. That he didn’t want anything to do with it. But it was too late for that. Duty called, and he would answer.

  “You can trust me,” he said.

  “Can I?” She crossed her arms.

  Tessa lifted one eyebrow and looked at him. She has a point, you know.

  He nearly said, You have no choice but to trust me, but something told him that wouldn’t go over well.

  “Silas did save you from Drax’s fire, you know,” Kai pointed out.

  Cassandra’s eyes didn’t stray from Silas for a second. “Why exactly did you do that?”

  “I’m starting to wonder myself,” he muttered as another burst of pain shot through his arm.

  “Speaking of which, let me have a look at that injury,” Tessa said in an authoritative, I’m changing the subject now tone. She stood and signaled for him to lean forward.

  He leaned away. “I’m fine.”

  “Great. Then show me,” Tessa insisted.

  Silas made a face. He was alpha of a powerful shifter clan, and he would not be bossed around.

  But Tessa put her hands on her hips and crooked an eyebrow just the way his mother used to do when he was a kid.

  He sighed and gave in. That was the problem with strong-willed women who didn’t shy away from pushing the boundaries of clan hierarchy from time to time.

  In the good old days… his dragon started before he shut it up.

  The good old days were a myth, and he would never want to live a different life, even if he could.

  Tessa plucked the jacket off his shoulders, and he slowly worked the buttons of his shirt down, grimacing the whole time. He must have been on an adrenaline high when he’d put the shirt on, because it hurt like hell to remove, especially where the cotton scraped against burned skin.

  “On second thought,” he said, ready to give up.

  “Come on already,” Tessa said.

  He took a deep breath. A good alpha never shows any sign of weakness, his father had always insisted. It wouldn’t be wise to reveal his injury to Kai, Tessa, and worst of all, Cassandra.

  We can trust her, his dragon insisted.

  How could the beast be so sure?

  She trusted us enough to board this plane.

  He considered for a moment, then slowly twisted and peeled the shirt off.

  “Ow,” he muttered when Tessa reached in to help.

  “Don’t be such a— oh.” Tessa gasped, seeing the extent of the burn.

  The skin on his forearm was blistered and bloody. The skin around his elbow, where he’d taken the brunt of Drax’s flames, was black and charred. His bicep area was a mess, and his shoulder—

  Kai’s jaw dropped, and Cassandra’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God…”

  “It’s fine,” he insisted.

  Tessa reached out, and he jerked away.

  “There must be a first aid kit on board,” she said, scurrying off.

  “Shit,” Cassandra whispered, staring at his arm.

  Yes, that about summed it up. But feelings weren’t meant to be shared, so he kept his mouth shut.

  Cassandra’s eyes grew morose, and her uncompromising voice changed to a softer, mournful one. “I’m so sorry. That’s my fault.”

  “Not your fault. It was Drax,” he corrected.

  And I’d do it all over again for you, his dragon added.

  A flash of her eyes made him guess she was reliving the firefight in the alley. Her fingers clutched the hem of her shirt, and her lips moved, though no sound came out.

  “Shifter healing will take care of it,” he said, trying not to wince at the next burst of pain.

  “Shifter…” Cassandra murmured, backing away. But a second later, she stopped herself and leaned closer, her face brave and resolute. “Let me have a look.”

  He wanted to turn away, but somehow, he couldn’t. He just sat there, helpless, while she lifted his arm. Gently, like a goddamn Florence Nightingale with a magic touch. It barely hurt. Well, it hurt, but not any more than it already had.

  Nice, his dragon hummed inside. Nice to have her help.

  Except he didn’t need help. He was an alpha dragon, for goodness’ sake!

  Tessa came back with a pouch and rooted around, but Cassandra waved away the ointment she offered. “No good. Not for a burn.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Cassandra nodded firmly.

  “What, then?” Kai asked.

  “Just leave it alone,” Silas growled. Really, he only meant Kai and Tessa. Cassandra’s attention, he didn’t mind. Just having her there was…comforting. Nice.

  I trust her. I like her, his dragon said.

  Kai shook his
head. “Shifter healing is all well and good, but how long do you want to be out of commission, especially if Drax comes flying along?”

  Okay, he had a point there.

  “Give me one second,” Cassandra said, heading to the galley.

  Tessa followed, while Kai poured a stiff drink from the bar.

  “Old-fashioned pain killer,” his cousin murmured, pouring a second whiskey for himself.

  Silas started bringing his drink to his lips, but when Cassandra came back, he got sidetracked again.

  “Can you check in the bathroom for lavender?” she asked Tessa. “And aloe. I could use some aloe.” She was like an emergency room nurse who knew exactly what she needed and expected it, stat.

  Silas frowned at what she’d brought — a couple of tea bags soaked in…milk? “I thought you were a bartender.”

  A little smile played at the corners of her mouth. “In my crazy family, we have home remedies for everything.”

  “How crazy?” Kai muttered under his breath.

  Tessa came back with two little jars. “I found this…”

  Cassandra studied the labels then discarded one. When she sprayed the tea bags with the second bottle, the scent of lavender filled the cabin.

  Kai looked alarmed, but Silas let his eyes slide shut, allowing the scent to take him to a different place and time. The south of France was alive with that scent in spring. He’d loved that as a kid. He saw rolling fields of purple flowers — rows and rows of them, hemmed in by stone walls and ancient monasteries. He pictured butterflies, buzzing bees, the warmth of the Mediterranean sun…

  “How’s that?”

  He glanced down to find Cassandra crouched before him, holding the tea bags against his arm. When he looked up, it was right into her eyes, and he just about lost himself there. His ears filled with a roar, and his heart thumped.

  “Fine,” he whispered. “Just fine.”

  Time stopped. The buzz of the engines faded. The pain too. Cassandra’s eyes brightened. His dragon hummed, and for a moment, the whole world seemed at peace. It was just him, her, and a warm, satisfied feeling he hadn’t experienced in…years?

  Ever, his dragon breathed. Haven’t felt like this, ever.

  His breath caught. Her cheeks flushed. Did she feel it too? The swirl of energy, the pulsing force that made him lean closer?

  Destiny, his dragon murmured. And yes, she feels it too.

  Maybe she did. Her lips cracked open in surprise, yet she kept perfectly still.

  Then Kai spoke — shouted, it seemed like — and the magic bubble Silas had been drifting away in burst.

  “How does that feel?”

  Silas blinked a couple of times, trying to pull together an answer. Good wasn’t the right word. Neither was great, because the pain was still there, though dulled. But right was a good fit. It felt right, surrendering to Cassandra’s touch. Trusting her.

  “Fine,” he bluffed, fighting to maintain an expressionless face. His shifter friends were so tuned in to him, they might pick up on the emotions coursing through his veins. He had to focus on something other than Cassandra. He had to put the diamond above everything, even his possible mate.

  Not possible mate. Definitely my mate, his dragon growled.

  “Maybe you should rest a little,” Tessa suggested.

  He nodded. Yes, rest sounded good. He was tired. So tired, his senses weren’t working properly.

  Not tired, his dragon protested as Cassandra helped him over to the couch. Not of this human. Just tired of some things.

  He put his feet up and tried to let his mind drift, but it kept coming back to the same theme.

  Getting tired of being tired, his dragon moped.

  He wasn’t tired of responsibility because he’d been born to lead others through the worst of times. Just the alone part of leading. The too-quiet, empty feeling that hit him at the end of most days. Kai, his younger cousin, had been a reliable confidant when they’d first moved to Koa Point. But these days, Kai had Tessa to talk to and spend time with. One by one, the other members of their shifter clan had found their mates too. In some ways, their group bond was tighter than ever. But in terms of company, it was either everyone together or Silas alone, and nothing in between.

  Well, Keiki, the kitten, always brought a smile to his face, but that wasn’t the same thing.

  Something soft rustled over his chest. A blanket? The leather of a nearby seat squeaked as Cassandra sat down, tucking her heels under her body as if settling down on a lawn. Making herself comfortable for the long ride.

  She didn’t say anything for a time. Eventually, she glanced toward Kai and Tessa, who had cuddled together in the forwardmost pair of seats, and then looked back at him.

  “Are you really all right?”

  He took a deep breath. Not really, but yes at the same time.

  “I’m fine.”

  She twiddled her thumbs before going on. “I’m sorry. I guess I thought dragons would be impervious to fire.”

  He allowed himself a bitter chuckle. “That would be nice.”

  “You put yourself in danger for my sake,” she whispered. “Why?”

  He rolled his head to look at the ceiling, avoiding her eyes. “Maybe I wanted to save the diamond.”

  A lie, but what the heck.

  “You knew I didn’t have the diamond,” she said in the same quiet undertone.

  “But you know where it is.” He studied her reaction.

  “Yes, I do. But I won’t give it to you. I won’t give it to anyone.”

  He watched his own chest rise and fall before answering. “Maybe I plan to follow you to the diamond and rob you.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “That’s your master plan?”

  He couldn’t help grinning. Pretty much nothing had gone to plan so far. “I’m improvising.”

  She laughed. “Well, I’m not dumb enough to lead you to the diamond, you know.”

  “That I know.”

  “So maybe you should just give up.” She twirled the ends of her long chestnut hair.

  He shrugged apologetically — well, as best as he could with the one shoulder and lying down. “Dragons never give up.”

  “Then you’ll be waiting a long time.”

  Was she teasing or warning him? Both?

  I can wait a long time if it means waiting with her, his dragon said. Talking to her. Waiting for her to realize she’s my mate.

  “I’m a patient man.” His voice dropped an octave, giving the words a subtle undertone he hadn’t intended.

  “Hmpf. I guess we’ll see.”

  She was throwing down the gauntlet, he sensed. Issuing a challenge. Or was he just imagining things?

  Either way, she didn’t sound like she would bolt at her first chance or poison his next drink.

  Of course, she wouldn’t. His dragon grinned like a fool, gleeful at the prospect of spending more time with her instead of rationally working through what to do next.

  Silas sighed. He was too tired to plan. So he closed his eyes, tipped his chin back, and for the first time in a long time, released his worries, if only for the next few hours.

  “I guess we will,” he murmured as a blanket of sleep eased over his body. “I guess we will.”

  Chapter Five

  “Welcome to Maui,” Tessa said, leading Cassandra out of the jetport.

  Cassandra followed with stiff steps. It had been a hell of a long trip. But now, she was wide awake – and not quite believing where she was. Of all places — Maui?

  Yes. Maui. Aloha, all the twinkling stars in the impossibly indigo night sky said. The air was thick with the scent of lush foliage and open ocean, the balmy temperature just right. So right that Cassandra had to remind herself the situation was all wrong. She’d had no choice but to leave New York with Silas and his dragon shifter friends. Luckily, they hadn’t tried anything sneaky — yet.

  In part, she was tempted to play along. As Eloise had once said, To conquer your enemy, you must know
him. Intimately.

  Which gave her libido all kinds of inappropriate ideas now that the strapping Mr. Llewellyn was part of the equation. But another part of her was dying to run for her life.

  “Great. Well, thanks for the ride.” She took two steps to the right. “I’ll just be going now…”

  Kai cut her off and stood glowering over a cardboard box they’d brought all the way from New York. “Going where?”

  “Are you saying I have no choice?”

  Silas looked so tired she almost felt sorry for him. But this might be her last chance to test the limits, so…

  Silas waved one weary hand toward the exit. “Of course, you have a choice. But your chances are far better with us than on your own, given what Drax is capable of.”

  His eyes were so sincere, she nearly gave in. But just in case, she walked past Kai, heading for the exit while listening for rushed footsteps behind. She made it all the way out to the sidewalk, where she peeked in the reflection of a car window. Silas and the others had turned right and headed for a boxy silver car.

  Huh. They really were letting her go.

  Cassandra let another full minute tick by while Silas and Kai loaded the box and their bags into the back of the car. Then something swooped by in the air — a bird? A bat? — and she found herself scurrying over to them, trying to salvage her pride.

  “Maybe I will accept a ride, after all.”

  When Silas turned, she fully expected him to laugh. But his eyes glowed in what looked like relief — genuine relief — and he quietly motioned her ahead.

  Tessa picked up without missing a beat, introducing her to a big bear of a man with a beard and a friendly smile.

  “Hunter, this is Cassandra.”

  Cassandra blinked. Wait a minute. Was he just a bear of a man, or was she facing another shapeshifter?

  Hunter murmured his greeting and opened the door to a Rolls-Royce. An honest-to-God Rolls-Royce that made Cassandra’s jaw drop all over again. When the vehicle hummed into motion — really hummed, like a musical instrument — she ran her finger over every perfect leather surface. She spent most of the drive like a dog at the window, sniffing the air. Brooklyn had salt air too, but heck. It had a lot of nasty smells, as well. Maui’s air was purer. Cleaner. More promising.

  She marveled all the way across the island to Silas’s estate. Yep — an entire estate, or so Tessa had said. Not that there was a hint of much when they turned off the main road — just a modest mailbox and a crooked blue receptacle that said, Maui News. But then the Rolls coasted down a gravel road and came to a huge wooden gate carved with an intricate design.