by Kali Willows
“You know?” Her eyes darted back and forth. When would Tatsu have had time to tell him? Yong’s touch made logical thought difficult anyway.
“Being twins, we have sort of a link, a connection.” Tatsu glared at him.
Gwen didn’t understand what he meant, but she was fascinated by everything about the pair. “That’s pretty amazing, like twin telepathy.” She settled into the cushioned seat.
Tatsu and Yong spent the next hour drawing Gwen out, asking her about her life, her likes and dislikes—and her failed marriage. She answered in monosyllables, dazed by their smoldering eyes and the extreme warmth she experienced sitting between them.
“So, you were married to him for ten years?”
“Yong!” Tatsu scolded.
“What?”
“No, really, it’s okay.” She patted Tatsu’s leather-clad arm, giving him a reassuring grin. “I don’t mind sharing some history. A little intimacy tonight would be a good thing.”
Tatsu nodded.
“In answer to your question, a very long ten years.” She flexed her tender wrist under the table, trying not to remember the other injuries she’d sustained in that decade.
“How long have you been divorced?”
“I left him six months ago.”
“He was a fool, letting you go.” Tatsu took her left hand from his arm, held it in front of him, and stroked the back of it with gentle fingers.
“I can’t argue with that.” She giggled, ready to put the past behind her for the night.
“His loss is our good fortune, brother.” Yong reached under the table, and collected her right hand, and pressed his lips to the backs of her fingers.
Desire swept through her.
“I—uh….” How can I suggest we head back to the room without sounding overeager?
“Gwen, would you care to join us at the guest house?”
“Tatsu, you must have been reading my mind,” she replied, relieved and a bit puzzled. Had he read her mind? Of course not!
While Tatsu headed over to the bar to pay for their drinks, Yong stood at her side and extended his hand to help her to her feet.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure, my lady.” He held her coat up while she slipped her arms into the sleeves, and then fastened the extra-large buttons with slow deliberation. Gwen wanted to step even closer to him; their gravitational pull was phenomenal.
“Okay, I think we’re all set.” Tatsu returned, and they headed through the lobby, each man holding one of Gwen’s hands. Approaching the revolving doors, she paused, pulling the men to a stop. Katrina stood at the concierge desk next to a luggage rack piled with bulging suitcases, a bit of beaded white fabric protruding from the one on top.
“I don’t care. I want my limo now.”
“What is it?” Yong asked.
Katrina spun to face her. No amount of high-end foundation or eye makeup could conceal Jamison’s handiwork. Memories came flooding back. Despite her dislike of the woman, Gwen couldn’t see another of his victims suffer without someone to lend a hand. Without Cindy, she didn’t know what she would have done.
“Excuse me for one minute, gentlemen.” Gwen sighed and approached the trembling woman.
“Are you all right, Katrina?”
“Do I look all right?” The blonde’s puffy cheeks and tear-swollen eyes belied her fierce tone.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” she said, tipping her chin up. “Where is my God damn limo?”
A frustrated doorman clutched her arm. “But, Ms. Harlan, the police are on their way. You can’t leave.”
She shrugged him off. “The hell I can’t.”
“Look, Katrina.” Gwen gripped her shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. “I understand exactly what you’re feeling right now, but if you let him get away with it once, it’s only going to get worse if you ever take him back. And I’m sure you know how persuasive Jamison can be.”
“Since when do you care? I recall something along the lines of good luck, you’re gonna need it. Sounds to me like you think I got what I deserved.” Half shouting and half crying, she remained straight-backed and stiff-shouldered
“I’m really sorry I was such a smartass. No one deserves to be abused. Not you, not me…no one.”
Tears began to stream down Katrina’s cheeks. “I don’t know what to do,” she whimpered.
“Tell the cops everything. Don’t try to protect him and don’t take him back.”
“The wedding—”
“—your life is more important.”
Gwen sucked in a deep breath and took a step back. Slowly, she lifted her mass of curls to reveal the deep scar behind her right ear. “I’ve been hiding this since the night he did it to me.”
Katrina stared.
“It could have been a lot worse tonight. Don’t make the same mistake I did and let him do it more than once. It almost got me killed.”
Gwen hugged her, wanting her to have some warmth on such an awful day. Katrina didn’t respond, but that didn’t matter.
“You’ll survive. Sic your dad on him—or your brother. Do you have a brother?” At her nod, Gwen smiled. “And file that police report. I wish I had the first time.” She offered a soft smile and walked away with a sense of relief, and in large part, forgiveness.
“Is everything okay?” Tatsu’s concerned expression stood in stark contrast to what her past relationships had led her to expect from a man.
“Better now. Let’s go.”
Yong stopped short. “I almost forgot, the guest house room keycard wasn’t working properly. I’d better have them check it while we’re still here.” He approached the concierge and Tatsu made to follow.
“Tatsu, while you deal with that, I’ll just use the restroom, all right?” She pointed across the lobby.
“Sure, we’ll meet you here.” He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. Her stomach fluttered at the warmth of his lips.
“Five minutes. I’ll be right back.”
Gwen followed the ladies room signs down the hallway, giddy with excitement. Two men, all to myself? Their eyes, their handsome faces, I can’t wait to see what’s under their leather jackets.
As she pushed on the door, she was dragged backward by a large hand around her chest. Another clamped over her mouth. Kicking and flailing, she clutched at the fingers, trying to pry them away.
“Shut up.” Shit. She knew that voice.
Jamison dragged her out the door at the end of the hall. The heels of her stiletto boots scraped across the threshold and onto the hardness of the snow-covered ground as she kicked.
“Stop fighting bitch.” His grip tightened; the vicious force against her ribcage grew as his fingertips burrowed deep into her side. The familiar sour odor of his breath filled her nose as he pressed his stubbly cheek against hers.
He shoved her away and she landed on her side with a painful thud. The sharpness of the crystallized snow dug into her hips and thighs. She scrambled to her feet. “Jamison, what the hell is your problem?” A spark ignited inside her, the rising heat overtaking her pain.
“Did you think I was gonna forget the car door?” He grabbed a handful of her hair, yanking her back to face him. She teetered, trying to balance as her heels sank into the slippery snow.
She grabbed his fist and pushed down on his knuckles, ducking down and pulling free. He grabbed her by the throat and she stomped on his foot with her spiked heel and shot her fists up between his elbows and out. She stumbled back, the palms of her hands burning hot. Buzzing filled her ears. Sound faded, and her vision became a wash of red.
“You bitch.” He hobbled.
“You inspired me to take self-defense classes. You’re never gonna lay a hand on me again.” A powerful explosion of energy flowed through her. Flames filled her throat and she was no longer in control. Her worst fears unfolded before her horrified eyes.
“Gwen, it’s okay, it’s me Tatsu.” Barely audible,
his words coaxed her back to awareness of her surroundings.
“Hey, look at me, please?” He cupped her cheeks, his palms cool on her hot skin.
“That’s it, look at me. I’m right here.”
Chapter Five
Her high body temperature told Tatsu what was happening. He felt it himself in times of fury. A moment later, and she would have burned the bastard to a crisp. Maybe not a bad thing…. No, we’d never be able to explain the charred corpse.
“Gwen, focus on me.” He patted her face, working to rouse her from her trance. Her eyes glowed orange.
Yong, keep him away, I’ve got this.
Whatever you’re gonna do, do it fast. Yong’s thoughts held panic. Tatsu could feel the frenzy set in, and the acute stinging of his shoulder blades took hold, his flesh beginning to tear.
To his left, Yong restrained the belligerent drunk face-down in the snow; he wouldn’t be able to witness anything. Yong’s body was rising in heat too; flooding with adrenaline, it was fueling their change.
This wasn’t how he’d wanted their first kiss to be, but he considered it a necessary sacrifice. Insatiable desire rushed through him when he claimed her delectable lips. At first, she hesitated then accepted his touch.
He pulled back for a moment. “That’s it, sweetie, let it go, I’ve got you. Everything’s going to be okay.” He captured her mouth again. The consuming heat didn’t faze him in the least. He welcomed it. The sweetness of her fevered tongue intoxicated him. “Yes, that’s it, give it to me, I can handle it.” Tatsu sucked in her flaming breath, absorbing the energy, drawing out the last of her ferocity. She brought her hands up, placing them over his, holding them tight.
“It’s all right now; you’re fine.” Tatsu kissed her forehead; her flesh had cooled and her chocolate brown eye color had returned.
Yong, take her back to the guest house. I’ll handle him; we can’t afford for you to lose control now.
What about you?
I’ll be fine. I’ll just finish up with our friend.
Yong jumped up, leaving Jamison slumped in the snow. He flung off his bomber jacket, wrapped it around Gwen’s shaking shoulders, over her own, lighter coat, and scooped her up into his arms. She hung motionless with a fixed stare.
She’s in shock. Take care of her. I’ll be right there.
Tatsu eyed the beast clambering to his feet in front of him, as his brother disappeared toward the guest house.
“You might want to think, before you try anything stupid.” The internal flames were consuming him, and he doubted his ability to stay his hand should the fool continue to threaten their woman.
When Jamison lunged forward with a bellow, Tatsu gathered the last of his self-control and stepped aside. The angry man flew face first to the ground.
“Stay down or you’ll leave me no choice.”
“Fuck you,” Jamison growled, pulled himself upright, and charged again.
“Okay, that’s it.” Tatsu caught him by the throat and squeezed hard. His opponent dropped to his knees, gasping. “Stay away from Gwen.”
“What’s with your eyes? They’re glowing.”
Tatsu sent him crashing backward to the ground. “Next time I won’t be so nice.”
He spied a row of enormous icicles hanging from the edge of the rooftop over Jamison.
“You can’t protect her forever. I’ll find her, and when I do….”
Tatsu plotted his target along the eaves trough and opened his mouth, hurling flames at the daggers of ice.
“What the fuck?” Frozen spears pierced the ground around him, and Jamison curled into a ball, arms wrapped around his head.
Tatsu released the flame and his body temperature shot back down to normal. Agony surged through his shoulder blades.
“Gwen is off limits to you.” He maintained his stare until the other man nodded in agreement.
Grateful no hotel guests had wandered out during their melee, Tatsu trudged away from Jamison. He smoothed back his hair and straightened his coat. As he reached the front of the hotel, a police car screeched to a halt and a pair of officers spilled out. The driver ducked his head to the side, speaking into his shoulder radio.
“Dispatch, be advised, we are on scene and searching for the suspect.”
“Hey, officers, I think the person you’re looking for ran back there. Be careful of falling ice though, looks dangerous.” Buttoning his jacket, Tatsu crossed the bridge, heading toward the guest house and the most important evening of his—and his brother’s—life.
***
Yong sat on the couch with Gwen, his arm protectively around her, when Tatsu came in and shut the door, shoulders slumped.
“Wow, this is different, a tunnel for a room?” Tatsu glanced around at the arch shaped walls.
“Unique, isn’t it?” She smiled. “Look at the window at the end. It’s like peering out from inside a globe. You can see the water falling.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Are you okay?” Yong asked.
“I’m fine. How are you, Gwen?”
“Better, thanks to you both.”
She nuzzled into his embrace, and Yong snuggled her close.
Concerned, he sent a quick thought.I felt your fire. Did he see anything?
Nothing anyone would believe.
What is it? Yong stood, sensing his brother’s pain.
“Okay, what’s going on here?” She went to Tatsu, patting him down. “Did Jamison hurt you?”
“It’s all right, nothing to worry about.” He turned away from her with a grimace. “The police arrived, so they were dealing with him. He smelled like a fifth of rye, probably headed for the drunk tank to sleep it off.”
“Thank God,” she sighed.
Tatsu, it’s started, hasn’t it?
Don’t scare her, please. Maybe we should send her back to the hotel.
No, she can handle it, I think. Let’s give her a chance.
“Hey you two, knock it off with the twin mind-reading already. Talk to me.”
“It’s a long story. Not what you signed up for tonight.” Tatsu brushed past them and sat down on the black suede couch.
“In case you forgot, neither of you signed up for dealing with my psycho ex, either.”
“True, but this goes beyond—”
“Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What are you two? Shape shifters or something?”
“What?” Double sounds of shock filled the air.
“I read, you know…all kinds of science fiction and paranormal. There is no way you could be human, not with how you managed me just now. Yong told me everything. I could have burned him alive, and you took over like you deal with this weird shit all the time.”
“Gwen,” Yong pleaded.
“We’re in this situation together, so I need to know who I’m involved with…or what?” Hands on hips, she tapped the toe of her stiletto boot on the floor. “Do you think I would or could tell anyone about you after what happened to me tonight? I’m not so normal myself these days.”
Yong stared at Tatsu. I don’t know what to say to her.
She’s our last chance; it’s now or never. “We are human,” Tatsu said.
Yong sat beside him and leaned back.
“You are?”
“Half, anyway.”
“Half human? What about the rest of you?” Her widened eyes darted between them.
Yong pulled a brown leather journal from his coat pocket and handed it to her.
She flipped through the pages. “I can’t read it.”
“It’s written in kanji—Chinese calligraphy.”
“I can see that much. What’s it about?”
Yong patted the couch between them. He took the book as she snuggled in. “Our grandfather started his journal as a boy and kept writing over the decades, knowing he would have to pass the information down someday.”
“About what?”
“Chinese culture sometimes refers to our people as “Descendants of t
he Dragon.”
“Go on.”
“We’re parahuman—half-breeds.”
Gwen shrank back, staring blankly at the page.
We’re going about this all wrong, little brother.
Gimme a minute.
“Our mother didn’t hook up with a dragon, or anything bizarre like that, but we believe we evolved from them centuries ago. Grandfather’s research says that our people carry the dormant gene, and twins born during the year of the dragon receive the dominant version.”
“I’m listening.”
“We were born in 1976, the year of the dragon.”
“So what does that mean?”
“Legend has it, twins born under that Chinese zodiac sign are in fact one dragon’s spirit, split in two.”
“So we’re talking talons and scales, with wings and fiery breath?”
“Not yet, but it could happen. The tales say one twin will at some point overpower the other. The stronger one will remain human. The other will shift into the form of a dragon then die—reuniting the spirit in one body.”
“So, you believe the story? The ramblings of your grandfather’s lifelong obsession with legends?”
“Of course we do.”
“Why? It’s just fiction. People write about that kind of stuff all the time.”
“Fiction is often based on some element of truth. Grandfather was born in 1940.”
“What’s your point?”
“The year of the dragon.”
“And?”
“He’s the surviving twin.”
She got to her feet and looked from Yong to his brother. “Stand up, right now.”
The brothers complied. She circled them at a slow pace.
“Take your coats off.”
Tatsu shook his head.
“Please.” She stepped in front of him and cupped his pale cheek in her palm. He allowed his leather coat to drop to the floor.
Running her hands along both their chests, she frowned. “Now your shirts.”
Tatsu winced, sucking in a breath as he lifted the turtleneck sweater over his head.
“What are these tattoos on your chests? They’re the same.” Her fingers glided over the markings.
“The kanji symbol means double dragon,” Tatsu said.
