“Not anymore,” Arsenic said, leaning back with folded arms. “And we all want you around .”
Cadmium’s posture tightened, but he turned to Casey with calm eyes. “Me especially. But we aren’t here to pressure you either. But never feel bad for being here. We’re enjoying it .”
“Okay,” she said, slipping a hand onto his leg under the table where no one could see. His eyes widened slightly, and then a smile curved his lips as he raised his mug to take another sip .
She smiled as well. It was late afternoon now, and in not too long, it’d be the evening. Then it would be night …
She could hardly wait to get her hands on that body once again. To feel that incredible connection they’d had the night before .
In some ways, Cadmium and his friends were very different from her, almost from different worlds. But in some ways, they felt just like her. Trying to adjust to a new place, trying to make friends and find people they could trust .
When she and Cadmium were in bed together, she’d felt so connected, so right for him. Maybe it was just because they were both two souls reaching out for connection .
Then again, she’d felt right about Benny when she’d first been dating him, and that all went to crap. Maybe relationships were always just this hot at the beginning. But she could swear there was something different here. Something deeper and more right that became more apparently every moment she spent with Cadmium .
A crazy little part of her felt she could call this place home. But then again, perhaps that was just the lonely part of her reaching out for something to hold on to .
Perhaps the fantasy she’d been entwined in would melt away like a snowflake on skin when she woke up on Monday morning and had to go back to her life .
But perhaps not. With the connection between her and Cadmium, it would be hard to imagine it .
She gave his leg a soft squeeze, then smiled up at him .
His eyes darted toward the ceiling, and then he frowned, as if he’d just remembered something. He stood. “I forgot. I need to check on something,” he said, giving her an apologetic look. “I’ll be back soon. You’ll be okay ?”
“Of course,” she said, sipping her cocoa and looking around at the others. “I’ve made some good friends here.” Her lips curled at the corners. “But be back soon.” There was something about his presence that made her more comfortable than anyone else’s .
“As soon as I can,” he said, making a slight bow. Then he disappeared from the room, and she let out a sigh. She took the mug in her hands and turned in her chair to glance out at the snowy landscape .
One more uncomplicated day in this beautiful place that somehow seemed wrapped in magic. Then everything would get difficult .
If only the real world could just disappear for a little longer .
* * *
C admium could feel a slight sense of foreboding as he went up the stairs to check on Zinc .
Zinc had been different the past couple of weeks, and though nobody was saying it, they were all worried for him. Not just because he was the future ruler of Drakkaris, but because he was their friend, their ally. One of the most noble of dragons from their planet yet humble enough to become one of them, a member of the dragon guard, willing to fight for the safety of their people .
Granted, Cadmium was noble-born as well. But there was no comparison in his status to Zinc’s, next in line for the throne .
He knocked on the door and heard Zinc’s voice .
“Come in,” he said, voice always calm .
The world could be ending, and Zinc could keep composed .
Cadmium opened the door and shut it behind him. Above all, he knew Zinc valued privacy, for a variety of reasons .
But more than anything, he hated showing weakness .
Cadmium found Zinc sitting his desk, working on something on a large laptop that he still made look tiny with his wide shoulders and imposing figure. Zinc slowly looked up from whatever it was he was working on and closed his laptop nonchalantly .
“Just reading,” he said, preempting Cadmium’s curiosity .
“How are you feeling today?” Cadmium asked, pulling up a stool for himself and sitting .
Zinc stood, stretching. And maybe it was just the lights that he always kept low or maybe it was just the cold and the Earth winter, but his best friend was starting to look a little paler. Not just pale, but grayer .
The poison .
“Stop that,” Zinc said, reading his thoughts. Zinc was the most respectful of keeping out of other people’s heads, but he and Cadmium had always been closer, more connected than anyone else in the dragon guard. And though long ago, it had just been fulfilling a duty on Cadmium’s part, sheer time and sacrifice together had brought them very close .
“Stop what?” Cadmium said, trying to act innocent .
“I don’t even have to read your thoughts to know what you’re thinking. And you don’t need to worry. I’m fine,” he said bluntly .
The metal in their bodies, flowing through their veins, was poison. And the purer their heritage, the deadlier it became over time. Zinc’s was by far the worst, though .
Which was why Cadmium had been brought to the palace when he was a kid. Cadmium metal naturally neutralized the dangerous properties of zinc. So even from a very young age, simply being around Zinc helped counteract the effects of the toxicity in his blood. And as they’d grown older together, more intense treatments had to be applied to slow the poison within him .
But things were still worsening .
“You’re not fine. It’s bullshit, and we both know it,” Cadmium said .
Zinc’s dark silver eyes just darted to him, then looked away, staying unengaged .
Sometimes Cadmium wished Zinc lost it. Stopped hiding the monster inside him. Instead, he kept himself locked up like a caged animal unsafe to be around other people .
“I just think the fight with the wyverns took more out of me than I thought at the time,” Zinc said, moving over and sitting on the edge of his bed .
“We can do another transfusion. I really think it would help .”
Zinc just looked to the side, his regal profile stony, unflinching. The price of princehood .
A price that Cadmium felt wasn’t worth paying .
And then it was gone, and Zinc’s mouth curled in a smile .
“So how’s Casey?” he asked, raising an appraising eyebrow .
“She’s fine,” Cadmium said, trying to keep his mind as clear as possible. The last thing he needed was Zinc worrying about Cadmium finding a mate .
Zinc laughed, a sound as rare to Cadmium as snow was on Drakkaris .
“You’re my closest friend and confidant, Cadmium. Do you think I wouldn’t know if you were falling for someone?” he said, his smile getting fainter .
Cadmium’s chest tightened. He couldn’t be disloyal to the throne of Drakkaris. Or, more importantly, his best friend .
His sworn responsibility was to help the next in line to be king. Not go falling in love with the delivery woman who’d stolen his heart from the first time he’d seen her .
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, Cadmium,” Zinc said, leveling with him. He stood, crossing his arms and moving to the window, looking outside at the waning light, gray and cold on his countenance. His gray, slightly over-long hair brushed his collar. “I think I might go back to Drakkaris .”
“Why?” Cadmium said, standing instantly .
“I’m not sure being on Earth is working out. We haven’t been sent on more missions. I don’t know if the oracle doesn’t trust us or if she’s just waiting to find out more information before she sends us .”
“Lead found his mate already, and we haven’t been here that long. You’ll find a mate, Zinc. I’m sure of it,” Cadmium said, unable to help moving closer to Zinc. But his gaze remained fixed on something outside, something far beyond the window of his room .
“It’s not that. Even if we were on missions every da
y, I can’t deny the feeling that I’ve abandoned my people, cast aside my duty to retain the throne, as is my birthright,” Zinc said, his eyes darkening .
“But what about our purpose here? Finding you a mate? Stopping the poison? That was the whole point of coming to Earth,” Cadmium said .
“I don’t know,” Zinc said, his eyes finally turning to Cadmium, his arms dropping to his sides. “I think I can handle it. Having something to think about beyond myself helps. My love for our people runs deep. And I’m sure they’ll find an eligible female dragon eventually. I just have to hold on .”
But Cadmium was more than a little skeptical about that. It had been years since any female dragons had been found on Drakkaris. In the past century, it seemed there had been less and less than ever before. And even their best scientists couldn’t determine why .
Which was why all of them of had competed so fiercely for Marina’s hand, even the possibility of having her, when she’d showed up so suddenly on their planet .
Having a mate wasn’t about love for them back on their home world. It was about survival. A matter of life and death .
“Don’t look so bleak,” Zinc said. “I’ve been handling this my entire life. It’s time I started to take care of my own problems .”
Cadmium just ignored it, though. “You’re going to be okay. I’ll be here. And soon enough you’ll find a mate, like Lead did. And you’ll be happy, brother,” Cadmium said, walking up and clapping Zinc on the shoulder .
Even though they weren’t brothers, Cadmium felt closer to Zinc than he could a sibling or blood relative. Through adversity, through peace and war, they’d been inseparable .
And if Cadmium settled down here, mating a woman and tying himself inextricably to this planet, then it might only push Zinc harder in the direction of going back to Drakkaris. And back on their home planet, without Cadmium there, he knew Zinc’s days were limited .
There was the sound of voices downstairs, talking animatedly about something, and Cadmium turned to the direction of the noise .
“Go. Make our impromptu guest feel welcome,” Zinc said, his hand on Cadmium’s shoulder now. He looked slightly better just from having Cadmium in his presence. “I’ll probably come down later. Regardless, it would be a pity to have my best dragon wasting his time withering away up here when he can be brightening other’s evening with his cheery disposition .”
True, Cadmium was cheery. He liked to see people smile, wanted to make them happy. But it didn’t change the fact that he did what it took to fulfill his promises .
“I’ll stay a while longer,” Cadmium said. “Make sure I don’t need to do a transfusion .”
Zinc rolled his eyes, but didn’t protest as Cadmium got onto the bed and lay down next to him, sharing his space, but not invading it .
They were both quiet as they stared at the ceiling, but Cadmium could feel the heaviness in the air come into balance as he stayed around his friend .
“You’re a good man, Cadmium,” Zinc said. “A good dragon. Casey will be lucky to have you .”
Cadmium just smiled at him, torn. When he was done here, assured Zinc was fine, he would go find Casey. His heart was nearly always seeking her, only satisfied when she was nearby .
He had to win his mate .
He had to save Zinc .
It felt as though the world was pressing down on him, yet he knew he’d be up to the challenge if he didn’t let despair overwhelm him. Even if his mate still didn’t know who he was .
When he was done here, he would go find her and figure out more ways to show her .
Chapter 9
C asey thought it a little odd that Cadmium was gone for several hours, given how insistent he usually was about being around her .
It made sense he had things to do, but with the knowledge that she might not be spending that many more hours with him, she supposed she was growing impatient to see him again .
“I can’t believe you’ll be leaving tomorrow,” Brittany said. “I mean, yeah, you live and work out there. It just feels like you’re already a part of our home .”
They’d eaten dinner, and Chromium had taken two plates upstairs silently, presumably to wherever Cadmium was with his friend , Zinc .
It seemed to be a topic no one wanted to talk about, so she didn’t press it, but there was definitely something going on .
“I know,” Casey said. “It’s odd how quickly they make you feel at home here. How long have you been with Lead ?”
Brittany flushed, looking up at the big warrior-looking man at her side. “Feels like forever now, though it’s only been a few weeks. No matter how long, it feels it’ll never be enough .”
“Aww,” Casey said, feeling a deep longing along with a warm sense of pleasure for her new friend. Brittany and Lead looked transcendently happy, and while Brittany definitely looked like the odd one out in this mansion, she seemed really happy here. “How did you two meet again ?”
Brittany bit her lip and looked up at Lead, who was frozen, clearly trying to think of an answer that might not be the truth .
“Um, is something wrong?” Casey asked .
“Nothing,” Cobalt said quickly, interrupting. “It’s just… things went pretty fast for them, by human standards, and they’re a little embarrassed about it .”
Casey giggled. “Things going fast. I think I get that,” she said, more to herself than anything .
Everyone at the table suddenly looked very interested .
“So are you enjoying time with Cadmium?” Brittany asked, and Casey saw the other men around the table bristling. “I notice you spend a lot of time with him .”
Casey nodded. “I mean, I knew him from delivering packages. He orders so many, you know .”
Brittany laughed. “Yeah, he does. That guy gets bored easily. I wish I knew what he’s even been buying .”
“Maybe I should ask him,” Casey said, sharing a playful look with Brittany .
Lead had relaxed again, his arm settled around Brittany’s much smaller shoulders. Seeing his protective, solid presence made Casey miss Cadmium even more .
Not that she really had a right to have a claim on his time, but she did miss him. Cadmium was completely the opposite of Lead, whose glowering intensity was what most people pictured when they thought of an alpha male, but that made Cadmium perfect for Casey .
She preferred someone who made her constantly comfortable, who opened the conversation, and who smiled enough for the two of them .
And with Cadmium’s height, she doubted he’d have trouble taking anyone on .
Why she was even thinking about that, she didn’t know. Perhaps it was just the way the men had fought outside, as if they were good at it. As if they enjoyed it. Arsenic certainly had .
Across the table, Arsenic cleared his throat. “Perhaps someone should go check on them. I’ll do it.” He stood and walked out of the kitchen, black hair swaying on his shoulders .
“What’s going on there?” Casey couldn’t help asking since it had been brought up. “I haven’t seen Zinc much, and I know Cadmium often goes up to him .”
There were cagey looks all around, and the chairs at the table creaked as everyone shifted uncomfortably .
“There’s something really weird about this place,” Casey said, leaning her chin on her hand. “I really wish you could just tell me. I wouldn’t say anything .”
“There’s just… It’s not our place to tell,” Lead said. “We aren’t allowed to .”
“Allowed by whom?” Casey asked, feeling more confused than ever before. Was there someone they answered to? Maybe someone who had provided this house, since it seemed none of them had jobs .
Brittany waved a hand and changed the subject. “So, Casey, what’s the plan tomorrow, then, if you aren’t staying ?”
“I’m going to call a repair truck, and hopefully, my friend will be home from visiting her family and will be able to pick me up .”
“I would drive you, but Lead
doesn’t like me to leave the mansion,” Brittany said .
“Oh?” Casey asked .
“Lead’s kind of controlling,” Brittany said, ignoring Lead, who was frowning at her. “Stop that,” she said to him, patting his arm. “Casey is here with Cadmium. She has to know some things.” She sent Casey an understanding smile. “Lead and the others are all pretty similar. Controlling. Overprotective. They have some other things in common , too .”
“They’re hot?” Casey asked, and Brittany giggled .
“ That , too .”
“Anyway, it should be fine having a friend come get me,” Casey said, glad that at least one person from her old life hadn’t turned on her like the rest had .
She hated leaving the mansion, but on the upside, she’d be going back to a job she loved and a home that was all hers, free of the toxic presence of the man who’d been stalking her ever since he cheated .
“You’ll come back, though, right?” Brittany said .
“Of course,” Casey said. “I mean, as long as Cadmium orders more packages .”
There was nervous laughter as everyone looked around awkwardly, and Casey couldn’t figure out the odd feeling in the room .
All of them jumped as the backdoor that led out of the kitchen and onto the front deck slammed open, causing a flurry of cold, snowy air to burst in .
A man with short, dark-gray, shimmery hair stood there, tall and intimidating, with eyes that could only be described as shrewd. He probably could have been handsome, like the rest of the men, if he didn’t look incredibly pissed .
And all of that pissed intensity turned to confusion as he glared at her .
“What are you doing here?” he asked, kicking his boots over the mat to knock snow off. He walked to the fridge and pulled it open. “Where’s dinner ?”
“We weren’t expecting you,” Cobalt said as Chromium dutifully got up to pull out the Tupperware that held the leftovers of dinner .
It appeared this man was another friend of theirs as well. She didn’t like how rude he was .
“I’m rude?” the man asked, stepping forward, almost as if he’d read her mind. “You’re in my home, and I don’t even know you .”
Cadmium Dragon (Dragon Guard of Drakkaris Book 2) Page 7
