“You don’t mean that,” she whispered. “I know that you’re afraid---”
“Nicole, stop it with this idyllic fantasy! I’m no good for you. I’m not what you need. Not now. Not ever. This shouldn’t have happened.”
Her tears spilled over as she sucked in a hard breath. “You don’t mean that. You can’t. Xander, you can’t deny what we’ve just shared. It was magical---”
“It was a mistake,” Xander said flatly. “And it’s one that doesn’t bear repeating.”
“No,” she whispered tearfully, her chin quivering. “You don’t mean it. Why are you saying these hurtful---”
“When will you finally get it, sweetheart? This is who I am,” he asked coldly. “And finally, you’re getting a firsthand look. Trust me, you won’t like the rest.”
Angrily, he stalked past her, and she realized that he was heading for the door.
“Where are you going?” she asked fearfully, coming to her feet.
“I just need to get out of here.”
“Xander, no don’t go! I---”
Miserably, she sank to the carpeted floor as he slammed the door behind him.
“I love you,” she wept softly. “I love you.”
Only the empty silence embraced her broken tears.
***
Within the dark woods, the black shadows danced across the mossy floor as he trudged through.
Quickly, he scanned the darkness.
He was alone.
Only the massive trees and bushes surrounded him and filled the deep woods with a vivid lavishness that graced the ages. Reddish, orange leaves dusted the dewy ground and dangled precariously from the trees’ limbs. Gently, ever so often, one would flutter to the forest floor as they celebrated their freedom. His booted feet scuffed through the dampened leaves as he ventured deeper within the copse of trees.
Momentarily, he halted his trek.
Throughout the century, how often had he treaded through this safe haven?
Not many, he reasoned silently.
And it’d only been times when he’d felt out of control or needed to release the explosive energy when it consumed him.
Out here, he was free to be himself---what he really was.
Here, he had no secrets.
And he could embrace every humanistic and monstrous element within him.
At once, Nicole’s hurt, innocent features swam before him.
His strides quickened as anger bit into him again.
Rapidly, he rushed past the huge spruce tree before going aerial. Only blind rage served him as he flew through the darkened expanse. Several, long minutes later, he landed on the high overhanging branch of the Georgian pine and balanced himself easily.
Bitterness tinged his gut.
Miserably, he stared down at the hard ground resting thousands of feet below.
What right did he have to feel the way that he did?
He had no right.
Frustration filled him again.
“What have I done?” he muttered to the silence.
He combed a hand through his dark hair.
How had things gotten so out of control?
Reality slammed into him hard.
“I love her,” he whispered anguished. “I love her.”
But, you will destroy her, his inner conscience whispered softly.
Even hundreds of miles away, her heartbroken sobs carried across the wind, and the blinding pain had nearly crippled him as he’d fled, leaving her behind.
His violent cry erupted within the darkened silence. “No!”
The rage surged through him as he leapt from the branch onto another one. Viciously, he knocked the branches away as they slapped against him, and they crumbled like broken matchsticks as they fell to the ground. His silver gaze had brightened, and a white light illuminated the dark woods. And in that moment, things had never held such clarity. “I will never be what she needs,” he whispered hoarsely, halting amidst the destruction. “Never.”
With a hard thud, he hit the ground before crouching down.
A frightened animal hovered in the nearby bush, and it peered at him anxiously with huge rounded eyes. Finally, it scattered away in a flourish.
“I’m nothing but a monster,” he retorted bitterly, rising up. “She deserves more than this---more than me!”
The wind tore against him as he broke into a full run.
More time elapsed as he tore through the woods. Luckily, its expansiveness would easily mask his wrath as a new dawn settled. A couple hours later, spent, he sat propped against the pine tree.
A wolf howled in the distance.
He grimaced.
Tonight, certainly wasn’t the time for anything or anyone to test his patience. He’d probably mangle it---
He tensed as the twig snapped.
A lone whistle soon filled the silence.
“Only one thing can make a man lose all sense of himself,” Princeton said knowingly, stepping out from within the dark shadows. The moonlight slanted across his brown features as he stepped closer. “From the looks of things, she must be quite something.”
“Princeton, cut the jokes,” he said dully. “I don’t have time for them.”
“Who’s joking? The earth trembles under your rage, and you’re barely restraining it. I hate to think what’d happened if I’d shown up earlier. Without a doubt, we’d have probably engaged in a vicious struggle. So, count yourself lucky because we both know who’d have been the victor,” the protector said coolly. His gaze was unwavering as he leveled it with his. “Who is she?”
“What?” he snapped, stiffening, and laughed bitterly. With an edgy slowness, he stood, and the air quickly embraced him as he stepped from the tree. “There is no ‘she’.”
Even he was surprised by how easily the lie slipped out. But, his soul cried out differently. The ‘she’ encompassed every fiber of his being.
He loved her.
The protector stared at him openly as he stopped before him.
“Are you sure about that?” Princeton demanded softly.
Too softly, he mulled, returning his stare.
“Are you calling me a liar?” he challenged.
“No,” the protector said deadpan. “But, I know you, Xander, and right now your back is up against the wall. And from what I’ve witnessed this evening, you’re far from in control. Let me help you.”
“Are you always this hard-wired about my so-called mission? This may surprise you, but I do have a life here, and not everything has to do with me finding the beloved ‘forbidden sacrifice’. This concerns anything but that,” he lied again, leveling his gaze with the protector’s, and eyed him coolly “As a matter of fact, I’m beginning to get a little sick of hearing about it all the time. Back off.”
“Ouch again,” the protector added with a humorless laugh. “Since you’ve turned a century old, you’ve grown quite foul-tempered. And you’d think it’d make you off-putting, but it’s rather the opposite. Truly, you’re acquiring the attributes of your father. He was rather bull-headed and strong-minded.”
He sobered at once. “What was he like?” he inquired roughly, struggling to tamper the sad feelings for the father he’d never known.
“Who---your father?” Princeton quipped, giving a curt laugh. “Strong. Courageous. Honorable. When Brigham put his mind to something, he just couldn’t let it go. It consumed him, ate him alive, day in and day out. But, because of it, our world was just, right, and stable.” His voice trailed away momentarily. “He was a half-breed: part vampire and black dragon. His intermingled bloodlines made him a formidable opponent. Many feared him. Envied him.”
“Was it difficult for him, being different from all the rest?” he asked, keenly interested in his response. Like a fascinated child, he hang onto the protector’s every word, hoping to find some connection between himself and his father. “A black dragon with treacherous bloodlines? Surely, he was shunned because of it.”
“Brigham basked in
his differences. And he learned to use them to his advantage. You see, he quickly realized that in both worlds, he held an edge, and that he’d be able to accomplish things that others wouldn’t quite be able to do. And it wasn’t long before the elders realized his efficiency and the worth he’d bring. He climbed up the ranks quite quickly. Before long, he was an assistant to the masters. And finally, he was crowned the ruler of Vale.” His words ended briefly. “I see the same things in you, Vamdragan prince.”
His gaze fell away uncomfortably.
Still, the pride surged through him.
The similarities between himself and his father were clear.
Wasn’t that how Nicole always described him?
Hadn’t she said that he was honorable, courageous, and strong?
“Where’d you go just now?” Princeton asked curiously, cocking his brow. “Unfortunately, I can’t decipher your thoughts and feelings, especially since you’ve mastered closing your inner portal. Another great feat, I’m proud to say. A true Vamdragan, you are.”
“Forget about me,” he quipped, and was soon on edge again. “What else can you tell me?”
“Your father was stealthy…dangerous…deadly. Like you, his stature was powerful and strong. The female dragons lusted after him with a potency that was quite embarrassing sometimes. Many battles were raged as they fought for his amorous attention. And he was totally immune to them all, except one---your mother, Catharina.”
His mother…
How many nights had he mourned for her?
Princeton gave a curt laugh. “Their love was intense, and no one stood a chance against it. That’s partially why our world is in such chaos, the non-acceptance of their deep, abiding unconditional love.” He sighed heavily. “As much as I’d like to continue discussing it, I can’t. I have news for you.”
“What kind?” he asked, stiffening.
“I have some information on the vampire league that’s flourishing in the Atlanta undergrounds,” Princeton suggested quickly. “And it’s not good.”
He tensed further. “How many are there in the pack?”
“They refer to themselves as the Dark Riders, and there are thousands of them. Their leader? A two-century old vampire named Vincent Breaux.”
He kept his face impassive.
Of course, he already knew that much.
“Unsurprisingly, he’s heralded like the master by those who follow him,” Princeton continued. “His followers are vexed, obviously, especially since they’re willing to do anything and everything that he asks. Vampires, lycans, shape-shifters, and nightwalkers make up the brooding pack of bloodsuckers.”
“Then, what are we waiting for?” he asked sharply, feeling his anger rising. “Let’s take them out. No one deserves to be mutilated by his miserable lot.”
“While we’re certainly elite when it comes to immortals, we can’t afford to be too lofty,” Princeton said slyly in his usual suave tone. Then, his dark brows arched upward. “In this case, you’re overestimating our capabilities. It’ll take more than us to wipe out his army.”
“So, what do we do?” he demanded as his frustration mounted. “Just sit back and do nothing? Better than anyone, you know that I lack passiveness.” Then, he frowned. “Tell me more about this Vincent Breaux.”
“Over the centuries, Vincent Breaux has been able to accumulate a tremendous amount of wealth, and he masks his lunacy and madness quite well. Breaux’s no idiot. He’s a respected, savvy businessman, and sole owner of Breaux’s Winery. Money, wealth, and power makes it even that more difficult for us to control him. The bloodsucker is elusive. Only a few have been fortunate enough to even lay eyes on him, let alone share his company.”
“No one’s untouchable,” he disagreed quietly. “Not even him.”
“The Atlanta undergrounds are literally infected with bloodsuckers,” Princeton mentioned briefly. The protector eyed him speculatively. “It gets worse.”
“How could it get any worse?” he quipped tightly.
Hadn’t he already destroyed the only woman he’d ever loved or ever would?
“You’re his target.”
“What do mean, I’m his target?” he asked evasively, his gaze sharpening further.
Princeton looked up at the pale moon.
Then, he fixed his sharp gaze on his again.
“Briefly, I’ve made contact with our world. I’ve received word that your whereabouts have been discovered by our enemy, Chandrath,” Princeton said as exasperation filled his tone. “Even now, I can’t fathom how that’s possible. Throughout the century, we’ve been extremely careful. There has to be---”
“The murderous dragon lord knows that I’m here?” Xander cut in abruptly, blind anger seizing him. “Already, he’s taken enough from me. He can’t win.”
“We won’t let him,” Princeton said chillingly. “Chandrath has made contact with the underworld, and he has recruited Vincent Breaux to do his dastardly deeds. Apparently, he hasn’t been successful in finding the antidote to transport here---at least not yet.” Rage filled his tone. “Even now, a century later and worlds apart, we still manage to feel the sting of Chandrath’s cruelty.”
A deep silence blanketed the air now.
“Chandrath murdered my mother and father, slaughtered many. Forcefully, I was exiled to this foreign world, and I have no right to claim any part of it,” he said bitterly. “But, I’ll be damned if I let him take what little I have left.”
“We won’t. You have my word on that,” Princeton added coldly. “At the moment, Breaux is our immediate threat, but he won’t attack you outright. Unsurprisingly, he’s like his mentor when it comes to playing sick, twisted games. That means that he won’t attack you right out. He’s not going to get his hands dirty. He’ll send a minion, someone of little or no stature. Even now, I’m stunned that you haven’t had an encounter just yet.”
He tensed.
Suddenly, the truth hit him.
The crazed vamp.
He was the one that he wanted.
Not Nicole.
Unwittingly, she’d become an obsessive pawn in his game.
And she was in more danger than ever.
“I have to go,” he said abruptly, turning on his heel. Within seconds, he’d placed some distance between him and the protector.
“Is that where you’re going now---to find her? The very one that you’ve fought hard to conceal from me?”
The raw tension seized the dark night.
The dark shadows danced around him as he came to a standstill.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked coldly, the dark forest beckoning to him like a deep abyss.
“You know exactly who I’m referring to, dragon prince of Vale. Her---Nicole. The woman that you love---the forbidden sacrifice,” Princeton said knowingly. “End your lies. You bear the same desperate look of those bound by this earthly feeling called love. I know that look. I’ve witnessed it endless times between your mother and father. There are a lot of things that you can hide, but with love and desire it’s impossible.” He laughed curtly. “I pity you all. The petty emotion is crippling, making one lose sense of all rational reasoning. And like your father, you’re drowning in the essence of what you’ve found. But, you can never forget that she’s our salvation.”
“You don’t have any right to her,” Xander raged angrily, and his words echoed in the darkness. Several feet separated them as he faced the protector again. “I won’t let you hurt her.”
“And do you honestly believe that I will?” the protector thundered furiously, and the ground shook under his fury. “My sole purpose has been to serve you. She’s one of us now, and along with you, I’m bound by my oath to protect her. How can you even contemplate for a second that you can handle this alone? I’m all that you’ve got.”
“How did you find out?” he asked tremulously, finally showing a hint of emotion.
“The last time that we met, I had my suspicions,” Princeton admitted sl
owly. “There was something different about you. Never had I seen you more alive. Only one thing can lance a Vamdragan to his core and make him weak---his soul mate.” He paused briefly. “It certainly wasn’t difficult to find out who she was, especially since she lives next door. But, I didn’t want to push. I was biding my time, foolishly thinking that you’d make your admission willingly---that you’d found the forbidden sacrifice. Xander, you have been incredibly selfish. Better than anyone, you know that the stakes are high. Our world weeps for her presence. Our brethren eagerly await her arrival, knowing that it will release them from the bondage of Chandrath’s slavery. They need her, and rightfully, she belongs to us.”
“She doesn’t belong to anyone!”
With blinding rage, he tore across the forest floor. Releasing a feral cry, he plowed into the protector. He barely restrained his anger as they hit the hard ground.
“Nicole is not some useless pawn in this immortal war! She deserves everything---love, joy, and happiness! I’ll be damned if anyone deprives her of that very right. She will not be a part of any of this. Do you understand me? I won’t let her be,” he seethed, breathing hard, and clenched Princeton’s shirt collar tightly. Then, disgusted with his own behavior, he shoved him away in frustration and stood. “I’ll die before I let anything happen to her. She’ll become no one’s sacrifice, and that includes mine. Willingly, I’ll embrace death’s vengeance if it means saving her.”
“Well, fuck. There’s no second-guessing the trigger to your switch. I suppose you’ve made your point,” Princeton frowned, coming to his feet, and then brushed the debris from his clothes. Then, he arched an arrogant brow as he faced him. “To say that you’ve got it bad would be putting things mildly, young prince. You’re fully gone where she’s concerned. Fortunately for you, I’m willing to overlook this childish display. I know that you’re in an emotional state, acting out with your human tendencies. So, you’ll be spared---this time. But, I’m going to warn you now,” he said, inching closer until only mere inches separated them, and a fierce glint gleamed in his dark eyes. “Don’t you ever make the mistake of laying your hands on me again. If you do, you won’t have to worry about the likes of Breaux or anyone else. Next, time, I’ll gladly beat the living shit out of you. You got that?”
Dragon Reign: A Paranormal Love Tale Page 32
