Zircon (Awakened Sea Dragons Book 1)

by Terry Bolryder

  “You did make love, didn’t you?” Marina asked. “Was he good at it?”

  Jenny coughed, nearly choking in shock at the statement. “Excuse me?”

  “In our day, he was a prude.”

  “What do you mean your day? Are you remembering things before your amnesia?”

  “I have little flashes of it,” Marina said slyly.

  Jenny frowned. She knew there were things her guests were hiding, but she also knew she trusted them just the same. Kai had even hinted that some secrets had to be kept. But moments like this made her so curious.

  Marina looked over her shoulder at Seaton and then back at Jenny with a sigh. “He doesn’t get serious very often. Don’t hurt him.”

  “I won’t,” Jenny said. “I mean, I’ll try not to.” He’s the one who could hurt me. How could she hurt that beautiful, powerful man?

  Marina looked uncharacteristically serious as she twirled the stem of the now-eaten cherry between her fingers. “I just mean… I know we are from different worlds, but if you could keep an open mind, that would be helpful.”

  “Okay…” Jenny said, not knowing what that meant. But every time she felt uneasy, she just had to look at Seaton to feel the ground safely under her feet again.

  No matter how weird the situation was, whatever was happening with him felt real and safe and like something she could fall into.

  Almost as if he could feel her watching him, he turned and looked back at her, his handsome features breaking into a smile.

  Her legs nearly melted underneath her, and she heard Marina let out a giggle.

  “Not a prude anymore if he can make you look like that,” Marina said. Then she winked at Jenny, chucked the cherry stem in the trash, and got up to adjust her apron as the first people approached the back doors of the restaurant.

  Jenny could only blush in response.

  Seaton grinned as he watched Kai air box along with the fighting match he’d selected on the TV.

  The only patrons at the bar were a family who seemed amused by his antics, and a couple of guys were more interested in staring at Marina.

  Seaton was carefully monitoring the situation, but it was hard when his eyes kept looking for Jenny. She was wearing a white button-up blouse today just like she had yesterday, and it kept making him think of the way she unbuttoned it, and those warm, trusting eyes, just before they’d gone into the sea.

  He just wanted work to be over so he could whisk her away again. Jenny bent down behind the bar, and Seaton saw a hint of cleavage peeking out of her shirt.

  He wanted to go over and stand in front of her so no one else could see, but the next moment, she was standing again, her cheeks healthily flushed, her auburn hair starting to come loose from the tight bun she’d put it in that morning.

  Her hair was heavy and thick and liked to try to escape any style she put it in.

  It was like her, yearning to be free and unconfined, he supposed.

  He’d felt her seeking her freedom in the water yesterday. He wanted to do it again.

  She smiled at him and walked around the bar, holding out her phone from yesterday. “I know you really enjoyed using this. Maybe you’d like to show it to Kai?” She grinned at Marina. “With the tips she’s pulling in today, I think we could go get one of your own.”

  Seaton’s heart leapt at the thought of it. So much knowledge at the palm of his hand. “Thank you.”

  “No problem,” Jenny said. “It’s the least I can do. She’s being so helpful.” Genuine gratitude shone in her brown-green eyes, and Seaton felt the slight sting of jealousy.

  “Do you want me to take the next table?”

  “No, it’s fine,” Jenny said. “Go ahead and take a break with Kai. Us girls have got it.”

  Seaton nodded reluctantly. He didn’t like leaving them alone, but he trusted Marina to take care of things should anything happen.

  Jenny went back to the bar and into the kitchen to prepare an order, and Seaton walked over to Kai, who was shadow-boxing, and tapped him on the shoulder.

  “What?” Kai snapped, dropping his hands irritably.

  “Enjoying punching the air?” Seaton asked sardonically.

  “Yes,” Kai said. He looked back at the TV thoughtfully. “Though I still think fists are so ineffective compared to storms.”

  Seaton laughed, putting an arm around his brother’s shoulder and guiding him outside. “Since most humans can’t summon storms, which is good, I think fists are the next best thing.”

  “I can respect a good fight,” Kai said. “Wanting to prove yourself.” He narrowed his eyes at Seaton. “You never did want to spar with me or Marina. Perhaps you don’t like to fight at all.”

  “I fight as needed,” Seaton said. “If I have to protect something. But I’m the calm sea, remember. That is my job when there isn’t something to battle.”

  “Fine,” Kai said. “But it’s boring.”

  “Here,” Seaton said, handing him the phone and unlocking it. “I have something to show you.”

  Kai’s blue eyes went wide and he pushed his hair back behind one ear as Seaton began to explain what the phone was for. Kai said he’d seen this used on the TV yesterday and wondered how they could get one or how they worked.

  They spent close to an hour out on the sand, looking through it, and then decided it was time to go back inside.

  “You can hold on to the phone until Jenny needs it,” Seaton said. “After all, I had it most of yesterday.” He looked in the direction of the water and smiled. “It helped me win my mate over.”

  “Those scraggly flowers on the bar?” Kai asked. “I assumed those were yours.”

  “Women like flowers, according to that,” Seaton said.

  Kai looked down at the phone. “Maybe there is a way to search for our kind.”

  “We have to be careful,” Seaton said. “I think she can see what we search.”

  Kai frowned. “I see. And you aren’t afraid she will find out about your embarrassing endeavor to win her?”

  “It should already be obvious that I’m trying to win her,” Seaton said flatly as they walked back to the doors of the restaurant. “I’m not trying to hide anything about—”

  They were interrupted as something huge came flying toward them, thrown from the restaurant. It hit the sand with an, “Oof,” and rolled a few feet, stopping in front of them.

  “What the—” Kai looked down at the human male groaning at his feet.

  Seaton looked up to see Marina storming out of the bar, hands on her hips, head up like an avenging Valkyrie. Oh shit, to steal a human phrase.

  “How dare you show such impudence!” Marina said, bending down to grab the human by the collar. She lifted him in the air, ignoring his struggles. “Apologize now!”

  “I’m sorry,” the man grated out.

  Seaton hurried to Marina, hoping to stop her before Jenny noticed, but it was too late. Jenny just stood there, gaping, one hand wrapped around her waist nervously.

  “Put her down,” Seaton said in Marina’s ear. “We have an audience.”

  Marina pouted and then released the man, letting him drop to the sand. She jerked her head in the direction of his friend still sitting in the bar. “Get your friend and go!” she snapped.

  He did, dragging his friend with him toward the parking lot as quickly as he could, making pathetic apologies.

  “What on earth happened?” Kai asked, stepping forward.

  Marina’s eyes were flashing like a storm-tossed ocean, and her usually delicate features were drawn in intense rage. “They had the audacity to touch me uninvited. And when Jenny tried to stop them, they pushed her.”

  Seaton felt rage come over him with the speed of lightning. “Are you okay?” he asked Jenny.

  “I’m fine,” Jenny said, coming forward slowly. “I just feel bad that happened to Marina. It hasn’t happened in my bar before.”

  “Human men are pigs,” Marina said, spitting on the sand and brushing her hands o
ff dramatically. “I had forgotten.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jenny said. “Truly.” She bit her lower lip. “But how did you do that? How are you so strong?” She looked between all of them. “Are you superheroes or something?”

  “No, why would you ask that?” Kai asked flatly.

  “Because,” Jenny sputtered. “Because she just threw a man ten feet with one hand!”

  Seaton sighed, not sure how to get out of this one. He couldn’t disagree with Marina’s actions. She’d protected herself and Jenny, and as a powerful dragon, there was no reason for her to suffer the insults of any weak human male.

  At the same time, it could have blown their cover.

  He berated himself for not being there.

  “I taught her some mixed martial arts,” Kai said, folding his arms. “You know, like we’ve been watching. I thought it would help her defend herself.”

  Jenny gnawed her lower lip and then exhaled in resignation. “I guess that could make sense. I mean, she is tall, and… well, I guess it isn’t my business.” She threw up her hands. “Who am I to say what a woman can and can’t do.” She looked at the back doors nervously. “Hopefully they won’t be back. I’ve seen them a few times in here before…”

  Protectiveness surged through Seaton. No matter what he had to tell Kai in the future, it could wait until they were home. He wasn’t leaving Jenny alone in the bar again where any men could approach. The thought of what human men could do made him sick.

  “And you’re sure you’re okay?” he asked, coming close so he could look her over from head to toe.

  “I promise,” she said. “Thanks to Marina.”

  Marina smiled and gave a salute, her good-natured demeanor returning fairly quick. “I have your back anytime, Jenny.”

  “Not that humans would ever be a problem,” Kai said with a snort.

  But Seaton wasn’t so sure. Yes, no matter who came, Seaton and Kai could deal with them.

  But if anyone tried to hurt Jenny or his family, Seaton wasn’t sure he could limit his strength. How far could they go without getting found out?

  And how could he ever explain to Jenny, who didn’t know dragons existed, that he was a dragon? Especially when he couldn’t even use his form to prove it?

  Chapter 11

  That night, Jenny closed the bar at eight, deciding to put new hours into effect with the slowing season.

  By the time they finished dinner, joking about work and Kai’s boxing obsession, all awkward thoughts about what had happened earlier in the day were forgotten.

  At least until Seaton approached her with a firm set to his lips as she went to leave the kitchen.

  He pulled her aside with that gentle strength he always utilized. “Can we go for a drive?” he asked. “I’d like to talk to you. Alone.”

  She smiled and nodded. “Just let me get my things. Did you tell Kai and Marina?”

  “Yes,” he said.

  “Oh,” she said, feeling the telltale signs of blood rushing to her face. “That’s good.”

  Seaton’s hair looked more mussed than usual, and he’d seemed distracted ever since the incident at the bar. Had she done something to displease him?

  He opened the front door for her, and cool night air hit her, making her take a deep breath of it.

  “Beautiful night,” she said as he walked her out and down the front steps.

  “Yes,” he said, looking at the moon rising over the trees all around them. Then he looked down at her. “Not as beautiful as you.”

  “Aw, thanks,” she said, fanning her face. “You have to stop that. You’re going to make my face explode.”

  He stepped back in alarm. “You aren’t serious.”

  “Of course not,” she said with a laugh. “I just mean I blush so easily, and—”

  “Oh,” he said putting a hand to her cheek and brushing errant hairs back. “But I like that.”

  “Um, thanks,” she said, pulling away and continuing toward the car. If she let him touch her too much, she’d turn into mush and not be able to drive. “Where did you want to go?”

  “Anywhere we can talk without those two watching us,” he said, pointing at the living room where two tall, imposing figures were staring out the window.

  They looked sort of like dogs waiting for their owners to come back to work, and she laughed inwardly at the image.

  Still, she liked how close they all were to each other. She envied that closeness, as she’d never experienced it with her own family. They were kind to each other, sure, but in a way that was more like passing by one another without having much to say.

  These siblings all needed one another. Depended on one another. It was unique and special, and she didn’t intend to come between them no matter how serious things got with Seaton.

  “We’ll go somewhere with a view, then. Somewhere romantic,” she said, winking at him.

  His smile was warm and inviting, but it didn’t totally hide the worry in his eyes.

  She started the car and drove to a lookout point she often visited on clear nights when she wanted somewhere to think. She opened her door and motioned for him to follow her.

  There was a bench overlooking the ocean and a small old railing in front of it to prevent people trying to wander over the sandy cliffs.

  In the moonlight, the waves were blue and silver, tiny like little moving moons across the water.

  The moon was bright and full over the water, and she almost wanted to raise a hand against the brightness of it. It lit up the clouds around it to a misty blue-gray, despite the nearly black sky.

  “I have missed moons like this,” Seaton said quietly, taking his seat on the bench beside her.

  “They are beautiful,” she said. She put her hand beside her on the seat as an invitation, and he took it, warming her fingers in his own. He raised her hand and blew on it lightly. It wasn’t a very cool night, but it was still comforting to feel his warm breath on her skin.

  Arousing, too.

  “So what was it you wanted to talk about?” she asked, keeping her hand in his.

  He was quiet for a long time, just watching the waves on the ocean, and then turned to her with a serious expression. “What happened today at the bar, does it usually happen?”

  She shook her head, then really thought about it. “I mean, not as extreme. But sometimes men get out of line. That’s normal, though.”

  “In what world is that normal?” He thumped his free hand on the side of the bench, making it shake. She jumped slightly, and he looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, but it makes me angry. Men like that… they need to…”

  “Need to what?”

  “Get their ass kicked,” he said. Every day he sounded less and less odd compared to the day she’d met him. Like he was taking in everything around him and emulating it.

  Or perhaps just remembering what he’d forgotten.

  “Doesn’t it scare you sometimes?” she asked. “Not having a memory.”

  He grimaced as he looked over at her. “I don’t know what to say to that. I can only say that when I’m with you, nothing scares me, except the idea of something happening to you. I don’t like you working at the bar if things like that are going to happen.”

  “Good dodge,” she muttered, pulling her hand away and into her lap.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I was talking about your amnesia, and you’re just talking about my bar. What makes you think you can tell me what to do anyway?”

  He turned on the bench to face her, looking slightly alarmed. “I don’t think I can tell you what to do, but you can’t say that you like that happening.”

  “If it happens again, you can stop it,” she said.

  “That’s what I’m worried about,” he said quietly.

  “What?”

  “I’m worried that if it happens again, I’ll be so angry I’ll do something awful. I won’t know how to stop.”

  “Even if they do something small?” she asked nervously.
<
br />   “Nothing is small!” he said a little too loudly. She flinched back, and his tone softened. “I’m sorry, but as far as I’m concerned, no one should be allowed to touch you. Or Marina. Or any woman who doesn’t want that kind of attention. I’m irritated because I know you love that bar, but I can’t picture you always staying there and enduring that kind of attention.”

  “It would be wherever I go,” Jenny said. “I mean, it used to happen on the bus or at the doctor’s office or—”

  He turned to her, right eye twitching, forehead vein looking like it was going to pop out of his head. “Stop,” he said. “I can’t take it.” He put a hand to his forehead and rubbed. “What has the world turned into?”

  “The world has always been cruel to women,” she said. “I guess, as a man, you don’t know that sometimes.” She shrugged. “But I’m sure it doesn’t happen to me as often as it happens to Marina.”

  “Marina can take care of herself,” Seaton said almost bitterly. “After hearing all this, I’m inclined to let her teach anyone a lesson. But no, I just want both of you safe.”

  “I’m telling you the bar is safe. I’ve had very few incidents there,” she said.

  “What about that Drew guy?” Seaton said. “The one I rescued you from before.”

  “Well, he doesn’t come around much, and he has never been that aggressive.”

  “He doesn’t act like a business partner.”

  “Well, I guess that’s because he’s interested in me romantically. I wish I’d caught on to that sooner, or I wouldn’t have gone into business with him.” She shrugged again. “I mean, just another way women get screwed over. Imagine, thinking that someone actually wanted to invest because I had a good business idea, not just because they wanted to fuck me.”

  “Don’t talk about yourself that way,” Seaton said. “It’s his problem, not yours. And if he wants so badly to be your partner, why doesn’t he come to the restaurant and protect you? Why do you have to deal with bad situations on your own?”

  She harrumphed. “I’d rather deal with them on my own than have him there.”

  “Well, you don’t have to anymore,” he said, putting his arm around her and pulling her in close. His strong body seemed to block out any hint of cold, and the confidence in his voice made her feel as though the world couldn’t hurt her.