Anna rustled up her prettiest smile. “Just for a few minutes.”
Nik raised a brow before his attention drew back to Puff.
“Please?” Anna entreated. She really needed to know what was going on in the dragon’s head, and she didn’t want to worry that something might be lost in translation.
Nik pursed his lips before he backed into the shadows, leaving Puff and Anna alone within the growing spectacle of dancing lights.
Anna eased down to the damp, rocky floor. Puff settled beside her and placed his talon on her right hand before he drew it away.
“No,” she said. “It’s fine. I know you won’t hurt me.”
“I’m sorry I have to touch you with a claw.”
Anna’s gaze flicked back to where Nik stood in the shadows, before her gaze drew back to Puff. She had to remember that the voice she heard, while Nik’s, was really now her dragon.
The lights above sparkled in Puff’s eyes, adding to his brilliance. “It’s not a claw,” she said. “It’s your hand.”
“I have a real hand. I wish I could show you.”
“I’ve seen it. You held me in the tavern, remember?”
Puff exhaled a gust of scentless smoke. She wondered if that was the dragon version of a laugh. “I suppose you wish you never walked in there.”
“Not at all. I mean, yeah, I spent half the night terrified.” She motioned to the glowing ceiling. “But this, you, and everything else has been amazing.”
He spun from the lights and looked at her. “I want to touch you. I want…” He turned away and shook his head.
Anna grabbed his muzzle and turned him back to her. “Hey, you’re sweet, you know that? You may be the sweetest guy I’ve ever met, and I’m incredibly honored that you chose me.” She ran her palm along his cheek. His scales were surprisingly soft. “It’s nothing personal. I just want someone human.”
He tensed beneath her touch. “I can be human. You’ve seen me.”
Anna looked away.
Yes, she had. His human form, Joe, wasn’t quite what she’d normally look for in a guy. She’d always dreamed of a tall, dark stranger. Maybe not so tall and dark and strange as Connor, but she’d had a vision of a knight in shining armor since she was a kid.
Fairytales were pretty hard to live up to when you lived in the real world. She didn’t need prince charming, but how about a nice strong guy to take care of her? That sounded primeval, but that’s what she’d always wished for. Gaston, without the asshole mentality. Connor, without the Connor-ness. But every guy she’d met who looked the part acted the part as well.
Then there was Joe, a short, pale, thin counterpart to Connor’s dark alpha-male-ness. He’d never stand out from the crowd, other than maybe to be stared at over his nearly-white hair.
When the fixture had fallen from the ceiling, though, Joe had moved with incredible speed and grace, catching the frame before it fell on Anna. He’d held up the wooden fixture as if it only weighed a few pounds, while the bartender seemed barely able to budge it.
She considered the deeply etched reptilian muscles beneath the shimmering scales on Puff’s shoulders. Looks could be deceiving, she supposed.
But none of that changed the truth that Joe was a dragon. A human and a reptile, the whole idea was insane. Even if Puff could shift into Joe once he was healed, that didn’t change the fact that in reality, he was another species. It was just weird.
Her thoughts drifted back to Connor, a lust dragon.
Had her sister really slept with him? In his human form, she could hardly blame Sybil. He was gorgeous, sure of himself, and sexy in a sleazy kind of way: exactly what her sister liked in a cheap screw.
Did Sybil even know she was sleeping with a dragon? If she did, was she okay with all this, or was Connor really controlling her mind and making her forget about the aerial battle, her falling, and him snatching her out of the sky?
Anna covered her face. All this was a bit much for her to take.
Puff moved closer. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I told you I would let you go home, and I meant it.” He looked up into the twinkling lights. “I’m glad that we got to share this, though. It will be a fond memory.”
Yes. Yes, it would.
Anna tried to remember another time when she’d sat in the dark with a guy who hadn’t tried to grope her. Lately, even on first dates they’d expected too much.
Then, she supposed, there were plenty of girls like her sister out there, ready to lay it all on the table, or the bed, so to speak. Maybe that was normal, now. Maybe Anna was the strange one, looking for a connection rather than just sex.
She leaned her head on Puff’s hide, and smiled as his warmth rose and fell with each breath. Why she expected him to be cold, like an iguana, she didn’t know. He was the warmest, most sincere creature she’d ever met.
Nanna was right. He would have been a great king.
Puff shifted slightly, and his wing rose and gathered around her. “Is this okay?”
She smiled settling against him as she had last night. “Yeah. Actually, it’s pretty nice.”
“You’re warm, for a human.”
Anna laughed. “I was thinking the same about you.”
He craned his neck to look at her, before touching his nose to hers. “I know humans think differently from dragons, but I hope you understand how important you are to me. Even when we part, a portion of my soul will remain with you, forever.”
Part of her wanted to push away and tell him he was being ridiculous. He was moving too fast. That this kind of connection was impossible between two people, especially two who had just met.
Instead, she stared into his eyes, soaking in the sparkling lights dancing around them. A ball wadded in her throat and twisted. Somehow, she understood what he meant, as if part of her reached out to this dragon, needing to cling to him as if her soul required his presence— like she’d be lost if he didn’t wrap his wings around her and protect her from everything that ever tried to harm her.
But again, that was ridiculous, and she allowed the thought to drift up and away, lost to the flickering lights above.
What she wanted was a pipe dream, and pipe dreams, like everything else, exploded.
She leaned closer, and Puff slipped his thick, scaled arm around her. His touch felt strong, sure, and oddly enough, human. She lost herself in his warmth, closing her eyes to the sparkling lights, and shutting out everything other than the intense heat seeping through her skin and warming her soul.
She knew this was more than she should ask for, that sharing this one fleeting moment wasn’t fair to either of them, but she cuddled closer, accepted his embrace, and lost herself within the perfection he offered.
Just this once.
17
Anna woke to the soothing sounds of trickling water, and a commotion from down the stone hallway. Puff stirred beside her, his wing tightening and pulling her snug to his body.
The light clicked on, changing the green, soothing mottled glow to a bright, yellow blast that stung her eyes.
Nik stood beside them, his hair sticking out at the sides. “I heard it to.”
Anna tugged at Puff’s wing until he released her.
“He wants you to stay beside him,” Nik said.
She glanced between the two of them. After last night, she equated that voice to Puff. It seemed strange, now, hearing the smooth, melodic tenor from Nik’s lips.
Torchlight danced along the walls in the hallway before Pops emerged. “Excuse the interruption. Great One, but the mighty green has returned.”
Puff glanced at her before he started walking toward the hallway.
Nik followed beside her. “He’d hoped for some more time with you this morning.”
Anna smiled, but didn’t answer. Something stirred within her, delighted that Puff enjoyed her company.
But why? Once Connor helped his friend, they would leave, and the Maori would bring Anna down the mountain. After today, she’d never have
to worry about dragons again.
She shivered, as the delight she’d reveled in only moments ago slipped away, leaving her feeling alone and empty even as she stepped into the room crowded with people.
The Maori parted to the sides of the cavern, revealing Connor, shirtless and wearing the same too-short khakis as yesterday.
Nik glanced at Puff, then to Connor. “He says you smell like…” His eyes narrowed. “Exactly where have you been?”
A wry grin lifted the edge of Connor’s lip. “As I said, I went to get help, but this morning I flew towards the villages to check on my queen’s sister.” He kissed Anna’s fingers. “She is in excellent form, by the way.”
Anna drew her hand back. “You slept with her again?”
“How could I resist? Dragons like beautiful things. She is a gem like no other.”
The same questions spun in her head. What did Sybil know about Connor, and why was she sleeping with this strange guy and not calling the cops about her missing sister?
“Did she ask about me?”
Connor’s grin spread to his whole mouth. “I assure you, she is unconcerned. I have been keeping her occupied.”
A tremor of disgust ran down her spine. “Don’t hurt her.”
Connor glanced at Puff, then back to Anna. He held up his hands. “I swear to you as my queen, all I have done is made her forget about dragons. She thinks you are touring the countryside with the handsome blond stranger you met in the tavern. She, in kind, is enjoying the wealth of pleasure Joesephutus’s best friend has to offer her.” He held out his arms and bowed low at the waist, his trousers riding higher on his ankles.
Was he really that pompous?
He straightened. “I have a feeling I will be spending a great deal of time in the villages when this is all over. I’ve grown quite fond of her…” He glanced at Anna’s waist, then back to her eyes. “Her finer assets.”
Yes, he obviously was that pompous. Pig!
But he was exactly what Sybil wanted: a mysterious foreign stranger— the sleazier the better. Her poor sister was probably better off not knowing the truth, as long as she was safe.
Connor turned his attention to Puff. “I have procured the help of a few unlikely allies. I’d hoped they would be here already.”
A few people outside screamed. A dragon roared.
“It sounds like help has arrived,” Connor said.
Puff scampered to the door and pushed through the boulders as he had the previous morning. Connor grabbed Anna’s hand and drew her through the human exit with Nik and the others following.
Outside, two identical, young blond men stood in the dark, staring at Puff. Their hair caught the light of the torches, the breeze drifting through the golden layers. Puff’s milky mane stood out, ghostly in comparison.
The newcomers’ attention darted to Anna.
One approached, narrowing his golden— yes, they were actually golden— eyes. “Is this our new queen?”
He sniffed her hair. Anna squeezed Connor’s hand, doing her best not to shudder at the odd greeting.
“This is Shun.” Connor pointed to the second boy as he approached. “And this is Takata.”
Another dragon appeared. His golden hide shimmered in the torchlight. He hovered before alighting on a rock and staring down at them.
“And that is Pijeth,” Connor continued. “They are gold dragons, if you hadn’t guessed.”
Takata’s gaze started at her feet and drew slowly to her face. Anna couldn’t help but feel like a piece of meat in a display case, being summed up by a potential buyer.
“She’s perfect.” Shun stepped back. “You should take her, Quenor. Bring her back to Dragonmount and end this.”
Anna backed up a step, but was stopped by Connor’s iron grip.
“I thought I made myself clear,” he said. “The girl belongs to Joesephutus.”
And Joe had promised to let her go. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. As long as Connor stayed loyal to his friend, she’d be fine.
Takata pointed over his shoulder at Puff. “Have you seen that tear in his wing? We’re golds, we aren’t magicians.”
Connor held Anna tightly to his chest. “I am well aware of the extent of his injury. The question is, can you heal him?”
“Yes.” Takata glanced at his brother. “But not in time. You need to take his place, Quenor. Take her. Take the crown.”
“I will not.”
“You must.”
His grip on Anna tightened. It started to hurt, but she didn’t dare to move, as she was stuck quite literally in the middle of an argument between three dragons.
Connor pointed at Puff. “He’s bonded to her. Dragon manifesto isn’t just a code of decency. It has to do with honor. If I took a female from a bonded male, I’d be no better than the king we’re trying to overthrow.”
Puff moved beside them, his head held low.
Connor directed Anna to him, and Puff reared up on his hind legs, standing in a nearly human pose.
Anna slipped her arms around her dragon, and felt him sigh as they embraced. His warmth seeped into her, stronger and faster than last night. The right-ness of it left her dizzy.
Takata leaned toward Connor, fire in his eyes. He was dwarfed by the taller man. Anna suddenly realized that these twins were young, barely teenagers.
“Fuck decency.” Takata spat on the ground. “It’s decency that’s kept us enslaved all these years. Decency killed Elor.”
Puff released Anna and roared, dropping back to all-fours. The younger dragons stepped back. Even Pijeth, above on the rocks, fluttered his wings as if he might fall.
The torchlight danced across Nik’s face as he looked nervously from Puff to the others. “He, umm, wants to know what happened to Elor. Who’s Elor?”
Connor took in a deep breath and released it. “Sorry, I didn’t want to tell you until all this was over.” He glanced at Anna. “Elor flew with us. He was the gold dragon’s hope for the crown.”
“And our oldest brother.” Shun crossed his arms.
Connor grunted. “Elor was Gale’s only real competition for the throne. Five minutes into the flight, the grays turned on him.”
Puff hissed.
Takata drew up a chord tied about his neck, pulling a long, sharp, black claw from within his shirt. “This talon was lodged in my brother’s throat. I yanked it out right before the sentries dropped from the clouds to burn his body.” He spun on Puff. “A lot of good you did to save him, fluttering around at the back of the pack, hiding like a coward.”
Puff howled in the boy’s face, but the young blond barely flinched.
“Don’t embellish your anguish. He was my brother. I’m the one who knows the throbbing sting of loss.”
Puff grumbled.
“He didn’t mean to belittle your pain,” Nik said.
Takata turned on him. “Shut up, human. I am not incapable of hearing.”
Connor held up his hands. “Gentlemen, this isn’t helping.”
Shun pointed at Puff. “That prepubescent dragon can’t fight Gale.”
“Not if you don’t help him.” Connor moved beside Puff. “I don’t know about the rest of Dragonmount, but I am tired of bowing to the grays. I stand beside my new king, no matter what the outcome.” His gaze darted between the two boys. “If I die, so be it. At least I will have done my part.”
Puff raised his head, straightening his posture as he gazed down at his friend.
Connor ran his palm down his friend’s neck. “In two days, we will know our future, and I, for one, hope it’s crystalline.”
The golden boys stared at him, expressions blank, before they eyed each other in silence. Their gazes then drew to Puff where they lingered, until the brothers separated, sharing a silent, pointed look.
Takata turned to Nanna. “I need a small glass jar, and a cheese cloth. If traditions hold true, you would have had several receptacles prepared for the Seventeen Year.”
“Yes, of cours
e, just in case.” Nanna’s smile beamed. “I’ll be right back.”
Behind them, Shun held out his arms and a brilliant yellow light encompassed him. Anna shielded her eyes as night turned to day. The dragon’s body blurred within the glow before a spectacular golden dragon with dark, coppery horns took his place. Puff didn’t flinch despite the dragon being two times his size. Anna couldn’t say so much for herself, especially since the dragon still watching them from the rock was even bigger.
Shun bowed to Puff before nosing the smaller dragon’s stitches. Tyler held out the injured wing, adjusting the sutures as the young dragon worked what Anna hoped would be a miracle. If they really were going back to the mountain empty handed, Puff needed to defend himself.
She closed her eyes, remembering Gale’s monstrous bulk. Would healing him even make a difference? What would these three dragons do when they found out that Connor had lied to them to get their help?
Puff wasn’t going back to their mountain to take the crown. At the very best, he’d slink home in shame, and Anna would be on the next plane to the United States, keeping well out of the reach of any dragon still looking for her.
Puff glanced in her direction. Even in dragon form, she could tell he was smiling. Warmth flooded her, as if nothing could ever harm either of them if they were together.
But that wasn’t true.
The dragon they feared, Gale, knew she was with Puff. Even with a mended wing, how long would her dragon last if Gale truly was the beast they all claimed?
Shun drew away from Puff’s injury and growled a few times.
Takata scanned the crowd. “He needs…”
“The container.” Nanna parted the onlookers. “Give an old woman a chance.”
She set one glass canister on the ground, and held the other up to Elaina, who adjusted a thin white cloth over the top, attaching it with several rubber bands. The young girl handed the container to Takata before they got to work on the next one.
Takata eyed the jar. “Is this the largest you have? His injury is…”
“Extensive, I know. I helped sew him up.” Elaina circled the rubbed bands on the next jar. “We followed the customs and brought the jars, we just never expected to have to use them. Glass is heavy to drag up the side of a mountain.”
Sirens and Scales Page 368
