Montana Dragons Collection: A BBW Dragon Shifter Series

by Chloe Cole

  “Watch your step, Mina,” he warned.

  “You’re the one walking through landmines here.” Mina didn’t back down, crossing her arms over her chest as she met Etienne’s stare. “Taya has the right to know exactly what fresh hell you’re dragging her into and that the big, juicy carrot you’re dangling in front of her is one she’ll never get a chance to sink her teeth into. At least, not for the long term.”

  “Is it true?” Taya heard herself ask, unable to remain quiet another moment. They were talking past her, like she didn’t even exist. And for a second, it felt like she didn’t. Her voice was barely a whisper, but she swallowed hard and forced herself to speak again. “Is what she said true? You can’t mate with a human? And you already have a…harem?”

  Etienne turned to face her, his expression going from flinty to soft and full of regret and she knew before he spoke that his answer would break her heart.

  “Taya…it’s complicated and we need some time to sit and talk this thr—”

  “It’s a yes or no question, Etienne. Either she’s telling the truth or she isn’t.” Her voice broke as she peered at him through tear-blurred eyes, her whole world crashing down around her, snuffing out the last light in the darkness.

  “So which is it?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Etienne stared into Taya’s pale face, her wide eyes like twin pools of pain and wished he could spare her. Wished he could tell her that it was going to be okay. That this woman had lost her mind and was making up lies.

  But he couldn’t do that.

  Because every word was true.

  It was commonplace for his kind to have many lovers and while he could change that—and would, in a heartbeat, for a chance to be with her—there was a far larger issue at play. With his race so close to extinction, it was his duty as a sky king to procreate eventually. Human women couldn’t physically bear the child of a dragon-shifter and live to tell the tale, so his only option was to find another race of shifters from which to choose his mate.

  He wracked his brain, desperate for some words that would ease her pain. Some way to explain himself and the choices he’d made in his life to this point. To get her to understand the ways of his kind. Damn it, he thought he’d have time. That they would have time to work through it all together, once he’d taken care of Mikhail. But how to convey it all now when the danger had escalated so quickly and when Mina had clearly dashed all trust Taya had in him?

  He closed the distance between them and took her icy hand in his. “Taya, please. Give me five minutes here with Mina and then we can sit and talk, you and I. You can ask me anything you want, and I promise to tell you the truth.”

  “You promised to tell me the truth yesterday, remember?” she asked, her bottom lip trembling in a way that made his guts churn. “But somehow I find myself more in the dark than ever.”

  She yanked her hand from his, and wheeled around to face Mina.

  “And you’re no better. Busting in here trying to intimidate and manipulate me. I don’t trust either one of you farther than I can throw you.” She took a step back, her face pinched and pale. “No point in asking more questions when all I get are half-truths and lies. I need some time alone to think. Don’t follow me.”

  She turned and scurried toward the stairs, her pace quickening with each step. By the time she reached the top, he could see her shoulders quaking with sobs.

  He stared after her, his stomach pitching like a raging sea.

  “Well, that didn’t go so hot,” Mina observed lightly as she lowered herself onto the couch.

  Etienne turned to face her, fury coming fast and hot. “What the fuck was that about? This is none of your god-damned business, Mina.”

  “If your uncle says it’s my business, it’s my business. I’m just a soldier, Etienne. I do what I’m told and I was told to come here and take care of business. I’m trying to do it before the Council’s emissaries get here in hopes of avoiding bloodshed, but if that doesn’t work…”

  He blanched at the mention of the Council. How had they found out so fast? Before he could ask, the phone in his pocket buzzed and he yanked it out to see three missed calls and a text message from Drake.

  Trouble coming down the pike, buddy. Mina’s in town.

  A day late and a dollar short. Trouble had exited the pike and was sitting in his living room next to his obliterated front door. He shoved the phone back in his pocket and met Mina’s gaze again.

  “How did they know?”

  “There is a civil war brewing among the wolves and has been for years. New blood versus the old guard. We’ve been keeping an eye from afar, but once Drake got involved with Willa, they sent someone out to monitor things. You know how it is. Too much action brings attention, too much attention brings Big Brother.”

  “Jesus, she’s an innocent, Mina. The Council is comprised of a bunch of ancient shifters with ancient ideas. Times are changing and we need to adapt. The days of thinking we’re going to be able to keep our existence a secret has long passed. Surely they can see that.”

  “They can’t, Etienne, and they don’t. I came as a favor because your Uncle Rene asked me to. I gave her an out, and she chose not to take it. Once the Council finds her, there is nothing I can do for her.”

  “Whose side are you on here?”

  His childhood friend and present nightmare held his gaze unwaveringly. “I’m on the side of right, as ever. Which side that is remains to be seen.”

  “Fucking Valkyries,” he growled.

  Mina’s kind was a tough bunch to love. Even more rare than dragons, the Valkyries were often viewed as cold and unfeeling, but in truth, no breed felt more deeply. Because of an innate sense of right and wrong and their ability to feel the emotions of others so keenly, they often closed themselves off entirely to intimate relationships. Of the handful of Valkyries in the world, he knew of only one who had married. The rest chose to remain unfettered by relationships rather than risk the total emotional obliteration that came with losing a mate.

  Mina’s integrity and her willingness to do whatever it took for the good of the shifter species made her an invaluable diplomat. Because he had taken her in when her parents were killed, she had an affection for Rene that was the closest thing to love as he imagined she’d ever felt, but it only extended to Etienne so far. He could only hope she would withhold judgment long enough to hear the entire situation and stand with him when it came time to decide Taya’s fate.

  Bile rose to burn the back of his throat. “How much time do you think we have before they come?”

  “Two days. Maybe three, if you’re lucky.”

  He hated to leave Taya. Especially like this, but the clock was ticking. Once he was able to ensure her safety, he would set his mind to the rest of it.

  But for now, he had one goal, and one goal only.

  To protect his woman.

  “Stay here. Guard her with your life. I’ll be back before sunrise.”

  Mina was an unwelcome guest, but for the time being, she was his best ally. The knot in his chest unfurled just a little when she nodded.

  “I will.”

  He strode to the foyer closet, scooping up a pre-packed leather duffel, taking a second to tie it loosely around his ankle. He yanked open the wide, cracked door and stepped out onto the porch, sparing a last glance at Mina.

  “Thank you.”

  “Mind telling me where you’re going at least?” she asked, eyeing him warily.

  “I have some wolves to kill.”

  Then the real work would begin.

  He thundered down the steps and exploded into dragon form, pumping his mighty wings, rejoicing in the strength of his body. He would need every bit of that strength to fight the powers determined to keep he and Taya apart. Because, come hell or high water, he would have her again. This time, for good.

  And woe be to the poor souls who tried to stop him.

  Obsession Part Three

  Taya Briarcroft knows too much
and, after barely escaping her last brush with evil, she now finds herself surrounded by it. Luckily, she’s doesn’t have to face it alone. Etienne is there to protect her, and she trusts him with her life…but can he be trusted with her heart?

  Etienne Beauchamp has already hurt Taya once, and he vows never to do it again. But when letting her go might be the only way to keep her safe, he will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

  Chapter Sixteen

  It was glorious. Amazing. She’d never felt so free.

  Wind whipped at her face as they dipped and glided, the late afternoon sun warming her cheeks. She let out a whoop of excitement as Etienne flapped his mighty emerald wings, taking them higher before tucking them tight against his body and diving in a free-fall toward the ground.

  Her stomach dropped, but she felt no fear. Etienne would never let anything happen to her. She closed her eyes and let the exhilaration roll through her in waves, extending from her belly all the way out to her fingertips.

  She plastered herself more tightly to her dragon’s back as he opened his wings again and leveled out.

  This was living.

  She’d barely completed the thought when a shiver ran through her and the reddish light behind her lids faded to black. The warmth of the sun was eclipsed by a blast of icy air that stole her breath.

  She fought back a wash of dread, forcing her eyes open despite the battering wind. The last of the light faded to black, almost as if it had been sucked into a vortex of darkness.

  Etienne’s warm scales turned chilly beneath her hands and she flinched. What the hell was happening?

  A chorus of bloodcurdling screeches filled the night, coming from all directions.

  “Etienne?” she shouted, squeezing her thighs more tightly around his cold neck. “What is that horrible sound?”

  He didn’t answer, but it only took a moment to figure out why. His body had turned to stone.

  Almost as if in response to her stunned realization, his massive form shuddered in midair and then began to plummet, hurtling toward the rocky cliffs as she screamed.

  Black, feathered birds with ice-blue eyes assaulted them from all sides, screeching, pecking and clawing as she tried to beat them away with her fist.

  “Stop, please! Leave us alone!”

  Tears streaked down her cheeks only to dry an instant later as they picked up speed, bulleting downward so fast, their assailants couldn’t keep up.

  How close were they to the ground? A thousand feet? A hundred?

  She swallowed back the rush of nausea and forced herself to peer past Etienne’s diamond-shaped head. The jagged, rocky terrain filled her vision and she gasped. It was over.

  They were doomed.

  Taya bolted upright with a start, her heart hammering wildly in her chest as she glanced around the dimly lit room. Her whole body was slicked with sweat and she swallowed hard to dislodge the lump of terror wedged in her throat.

  A dream. It was just a bad dream.

  Only it wasn’t, really, was it? Not entirely. The ending bit…the part where she and Etienne were doomed?

  That part was all too real.

  Memories from earlier that day assailed her and she squeezed her eyes closed as a wave of dizziness passed over her.

  A dark woman in leather.

  A line of dragon shifters almost extinct.

  A harem.

  They may not have plunged to the ground, and Etienne certainly wasn’t made of stone, but what they’d had…or what she’d thought they had?

  It truly was good as dead.

  He had lied to her more than once, and the things he’d been untruthful about were so very important, she wasn’t sure she would ever be able to forgive him.

  Not that he needed her forgiveness. He’d known from the start that they could never be together. She’d clearly been nothing more than a diversion to him. A way to pass the time.

  A sharp pang pierced her chest as their night together flashed through her mind. Those hands. That mouth. His scent. The memory of it made her want to weep.

  She sniffled loudly, rose to her feet and glanced at the clock. Five PM. She’d been up most of the night before with Etienne and spent the morning and half the afternoon in tears before succumbing to exhaustion sometime in the afternoon. One would’ve thought getting some rest would’ve helped but the dream had only made things worse.

  Stop thinking about it.

  She needed to put it out of her head and get a grip. Now more than ever, she needed to be strong. If what Mina had told her was true, there were some very bad people after her. Clearly, Etienne wasn’t going to be around for her forever, which meant she needed to learn how to take care of herself in this new world she’d stumbled into.

  And in order to do that, she needed more answers.

  She flipped on the bedside lamp and squared her shoulders before heading for the door. As vain and hopeless as it was, she couldn’t stop herself from taking a glance in the mirror as she passed and running a hand through her tousled hair.

  “Give it a rest, you idiot,” she muttered under her breath. “He couldn’t care less what you look like.”

  She’d just managed to get her breathing under control and lay one hand on the doorknob when a low knock sounded.

  Her pulse stuttered out of control and she wet her dry lips. How could she have thought she was prepared to face him already, questions or no? The way she felt right now—like her insides were twisted in knots—she wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready.

  “Taya?” A low but brisk female voice murmured. “It’s time to get up. We’ve got things to do.”

  Taya squeezed her eyes closed, resisting the urge to bang her head against the door.

  Mina.

  The last person she wanted to face right now, with the possible exception of Etienne or the assassins who were on her trail. Given the way her last encounter with the woman had gone early that morning, she had no doubt that the door wouldn’t stay closed long if Mina wanted in, so there was no point in putting it off.

  She turned the knob and yanked.

  “Wow, do you look like shit,” Mina observed, pursing her full lips as the door opened and she scanned Taya’s face with her startlingly blue eyes. “I guess I can’t blame you. It’s been a trying day.”

  That was the understatement of the century but Taya let it slide without comment as she stepped aside to gesture the other woman into the room with a wave of her hand.

  As much as she hated the idea of talking to Etienne when she was feeling so vulnerable, at least she knew he was invested in her safety for the time being. He had saved her life more than once and she was certain he would do his best to protect her. She didn’t know this cold-hearted woman from Adam, and she didn’t trust her one bit.

  “What do you need from me, Mina?”

  ”Oh, no, human. The question is, what do you need from me?” Mina sauntered across the room, trailing a finger over a watercolor painting of the Eiffel Tower as she passed. “I don’t mean to be glib, but the shit is about to hit the fan. Now don’t get me wrong, I would love to give you more time to sulk, but I’m afraid that’s not in the cards right now. You’ve got to shake it off before Etienne gets home so we can make some decisions moving forward.”

  So Etienne had left the château? The knowledge gave her pause. Either he trusted Mina enough to leave them alone together, or he had decided his responsibility to Taya had run its course. Neither possibility quelled her growing sense of dread.

  She lifted her chin and turned to face the other woman. “I wasn’t sulking, I was sleeping,” she said coolly, proud that her voice hadn’t trembled in the least. “And we don’t need to do anything. When I figure out what I’m going to do, I’ll let you know.”

  It was tough talk and she thought she’d pulled it off, but then Mina’s stare went chilly and it was hard to suppress the shiver.

  She was scary as hell. When the raven-haired beauty threw back her head and let out a sharp crack of laugh
ter, Taya nearly jumped out of her skin.

  “I like it, little human,” Mina said, a grudging respect lighting her eyes. “I was wondering if you were going to grow a set of balls at some point.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Too bad it didn’t happen sooner when it could’ve helped you some. But now isn’t the time to push back. Now is the time to sit your ass down and listen if you want to stay alive.”

  Mina took a menacing step toward her, and Taya swallowed hard before lowering herself into the chair in front of the vanity.

  She wanted to be strong and in control of the situation, but the fact was that she was exactly what Mina had said she was.

  Human.

  No match for any of the beings in this new world. She would listen to what Mina had to say, and hope against hope that she found some salvation in her words. Because as it stood, right now? She felt nothing but despair and hopelessness.

  She couldn’t help but wonder again if she would’ve been better off not knowing about all the things that went bump in the night. If she would’ve been happier living in the dark with the rest of the world, believing they were invincible. The top of the food chain.

  But that was so far from the reality, it chilled her to the bone, and she was pretty sure they’d only scratched the surface.

  Mina shifted from foot to foot, the sound of her boots on the hardwood floor breaking into Taya’s thoughts.

  “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I want to help you.”

  Taya shook her head incredulously. “You don’t know me, and what you do know, you clearly don’t like. Why do you care if I stay alive at all? What’s in it for you?”

  Mina seemed to consider the question for a long moment before responding. “It’s not about what’s in it for me. It’s about what’s right. You’ve clearly stepped into something you had no real control over, the scope of which you couldn’t possibly understand, no matter how much you think you might. I came as a favor to a friend to give you an out. You chose not to take it, so I’ve opted to stick around for the time being and help Etienne keep an eye on you, because that’s the right thing to do.” Her lips curled into a wry smile. “Although I’m pretty sure he’s not feeling all that grateful right now. I really pissed him off this morning. I think he would’ve preferred to tell you certain things himself.”