Finding the Dragon (Dásreach Council Book 1)

by Josette Reuel

  That’s it. Kai remembered a cabin at the end of a waterway just southwest of Baton Rouge. Taking a straight path, he could be there within 20 minutes.

  Flying as low as he could to help with Alvena’s fear of heights and to further keep him off the human radar, he soon came to a more populated area where buildings and antennas caused him to have to fly a bit higher. He tried to fly around as much of the populated area as he could, but he didn’t want to take longer than he needed to get where they were headed and was taking the straightest course. Luckily his ability allowed them to stay hidden from view. Alvena continued to hang on tight, but he could feel her shaking. He wasn’t sure if it was from nerves or from the cold. Even with his ability to warm the air around him, it was still possible that the wind and air from the higher atmosphere was chilling his mate. Flying for him was exhilarating. Thanks to his animal guardian his thick dragon skin helped protect him from a lot of the cold and a lot of other things as well. But, he also ran warmer than most due to his dragon nature. So the wind flowing over him felt wonderful, but he was sure it was cold for Alvena and she hadn’t been dressed for cooler weather.

  He was so proud of his timid but brave mate. She amazed him at every turn. The way she had trusted him, even with the shock of him shifting. But, for her to worry for her friends while in the middle of the attack and his changing into a dragon, it showed a compassion and concern for others that was missing in a lot of people in today’s world. Her bravery at flying got to him too. When she had shouted to him her fear of heights, it wasn’t to ask him to go back down, but to ask him to hurry. Alvena Anderson was a true wonder to him. He was a lucky man to have been blessed with her as a mate. Kai knew she still hadn’t accepted him, but she was willing to at least listen, and as they say, that’s half the battle.

  Once again flying over a bayou landscape, Kai knew it wouldn’t be long until they reached their destination. He flew low over the waterway leading to the cabin and soon saw it up ahead. It would be a tight fit for a landing, but he had done it before and knew he could again. Thankfully it still appeared to be abandoned. The small cabin had a tin roof and sat near the water. A barn and shed sat a short distance away partially hidden by trees. He circled, checking once more to make sure that no one was around and that the open area around the house was still clear for him to land.

  “Alvena, hold on lass. We’re coming in for a landing.” Kai warned her as he slowed his speed. He flapped his wings in a hover maneuver and slowly lowered towards the ground. His back legs reached out for the hard packed earth below and with one last sweep of his huge wings he landed a bit harder than he had planned. He heard Alvena squeak in fear as she scrambled to hold on to his neck. His wings stretched up so that he wouldn’t hit them on the cabin or the trees that seemed a lot closer than he thought. He flexed the muscles and slowly pulled his wings into his side.

  Once he was settled, Kai held up his front leg and twisted around with his head to help her get down from his back.

  “Alright, lass, you can let go now. Hold on to my head and use my leg to lower yourself to the ground.”

  He had never had to do this before, and it was a strange experience and probably not the most well-orchestrated disembarking either. With a few slips and a bit of a jump to get down from his leg, Alvena was once again on the ground. Kai watched as she walked a few feet away on unsteady legs. Once he was sure that she had her balance, he shifted back to his human form. Thankfully the magic allowed him to keep his clothes.

  “You alright, lass?” Kai asked Alvena. She jumped at the sound of his voice and turned around quickly to look at him.

  “God. You scared me.” She said looking him over. “Thank goodness you have your clothes. I was wondering if you would or not."

  “Why wouldn’t I have my clothes?” Kai asked while trying to keep a straight face.

  “Well, in the books sometimes they keep their clothes and sometimes they don’t.” Alvena responded.

  “And, I’ve told you before, I’m no romance hero.” Kai grinned at her. “I’m yours.”

  “Kai, I’m not going to pretend that I understand any of this, but I surely can’t believe in this mate business.” Alvena said as she walked towards the water.

  “Alvena, what do you mean that you can’t believe in this mate business?” Kai said as he hurried after her.

  “It’s just…” She stopped and looked him over from his head to his toes. “Well, you’re you… and I’m well… me." She said as she waved her hands up and down her body.

  “I still don’t see a reason not to believe that we are mates.” Kai gave her a look of frustration.

  “Kai, I don’t know how else to say it. I’m just me. Boring, book addicted me.” Alvena said on a sigh. “And, you’re practically a god.”

  “Alvena, I’m nothing special. Just a Dásreach trying to do right by my people, the same as anyone else, and trying to find my way in the world. I’m no god."

  “You’re what? Seven feet tall?” She asked.

  “Just about.” Kai searched her eyes for answers.

  “So, you’re almost seven feet tall, full of muscles, no fat, you have those gorgeous blue eyes, and those dimples when you smile. Women have to swoon at your feet constantly.” Alvena responded with frustration.

  “And, what are you?” Kai swept his heated gaze from her toes to the top of her head, “Perfection that’s what.”

  “No Kai, I’m nowhere near that. I’m average, very average. A bit overweight, too. I have a dull job writing software documentation and spend more time with fictional people than real ones. I wouldn’t have any real friends if it wasn’t for the other Book Worms and Maureen.” Alvena said with sadness.

  Kai approached his mate and took her hands in his own. Hers were so much smaller than his larger ones. How could he help her to understand what he saw when he looked at her? How lovely and wonderful she was to him.

  “Alvena, you may not see it, but when I look at you I see a beautiful, sexy, strong woman.”

  “Fine. I won’t argue my looks, but I am not strong. I can’t even protect myself.” Alvena responded.

  Kai stopped himself from responding immediately. He looked into Alvena’s eyes, saw the insecurity mirrored there. What could he do to help his mate? What would help her gain the confidence to be the woman he saw when he looked at her? She was so brave and strong of spirit. But, from the look in her eyes she would never see that in herself. Unless…

  “Alvena, how about I give you self-defense lessons?” Kai asked.

  “What?” Alvena seemed shocked. Whether from his change in subject or that he offered to teach her was unknown.

  “You seem to be concerned about defending yourself and the only way to change that is for you to learn how. What do you say; want me to show you a few things while we’re together?” Kai gave her a reassuring smile.

  “Kai…” She stopped and looked at him. “Yeah, I actually would like that a lot.” Alvena said and smiled.

  “Good. Now let’s see if we can find a way to reach the guys. I didn’t have my mobile on me when we went outside to walk before the attack." Kai turned and led Alvena towards the cabin.

  ***

  Al followed Kai to the cabin, where she watched as he tried the doors and windows looking for a way in. He came back around to the front and stood staring at the door.

  “I guess I’m going to have to bust it down.”

  “Hold on.” Al said as she walked up to the door and looked around on the ground. A-ha. She reached down and picked up the fake rock. She opened the secret compartment and found a key, which she slid into the lock on the door. With a flourish she turned the key and opened the door wide. She turned to Kai, a grin on her face, and motioned him to enter. He laughed, a deep, bone melting laugh that made Al think of things she shouldn’t.

  “After you, lass. But, couldn’t you have mentioned that before I walked around the cabin and tried all of the windows and doors?”

  “What’s the
fun in that?” She giggled. “Besides, I didn’t think they would have anything like this out here. I figured you would have looked when you went around the building, but you never looked down, so I thought why not check.”

  “Well, you are a smart lass for checking.” He said as he motioned for her to enter before following her.

  Al looked around and found the cabin to be extremely dusty. It was obvious that no one had been here in quite some time. She saw a small kitchenette off to her left, a short hallway with a couple of doors off to her right. A sitting area was directly in front of her, crossing almost the whole front of the small house. She followed a set of stairs that started on the right side in front of where the hallway started. They were open and led up to a loft area that covered the back half of the structure. Al stood at the doorway as Kai brushed past her and went down the hallway opening the doors.

  “Bathroom,” he said after opening the first door, “Laundry,” after opening the second door. At the end of the hall he opened a third door. “Appears to be an office, and there’s a hand radio here.” Kai yelled from the back. The light coming from the windows provided enough light to see the basics, but she couldn’t see to the end of the hallway or up into the loft. Al figured she would see if there were any lights and if they worked. Glancing around, she saw a lamp on an end table next to a couch. She walked over and clicked the button. Nothing. Damn. She looked up to see Kai coming back down the hallway.

  “I’m going to see if there is a generator. I’m thinking it’s probably out in the shed.” Kai said as he walked out the front door.

  Al stood alone in the small cabin. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. She wasn’t sure how long they were going to have to wait here before they could return to New Orleans. Her only real wish was that someone would send a car, because she sure didn’t want to have to fly again. She was surprised that she hadn’t fallen off on the way here. She had kept her eyes squeezed shut and her hands griped the scales around his neck so tight that she had grooves in her hands – her inability to see and the feel of him under her hands the only reason she hadn’t screamed the whole flight. She rubbed her hands together; they were still a bit numb and tingly from how tight she had clung during the ride. Kai still insisted she was his mate, but how could she be with her fear of heights? Every book she could remember reading, had the heroine excited about, or at least brave enough to do, whatever activity they had to in order to be with their hero. Yeah, Al didn’t see that happening with her and flying on Kai’s back. She loved looking at his dragon. The scales glinted in the sun, green and blue, emeralds and sapphires in the rays of light. The huge wings, so strong and graceful in the air, and the feel of those muscles flexing as he moved. He was an amazing creature in human or dragon form. But, she would much rather keep her feet firmly on the ground.

  Speaking of keeping her feet firmly on the ground, she needed to remember that Kai was not the type of man someone like her could keep. With his reaction to her she knew that she could have him for a short time, but she was also aware that if what he said was true – and with him shifting into a dragon, it most likely was – that he was the leader of a group of men that would soon take over leadership of their people. The Dásreach. She was nowhere near the type of woman he should have as a mate. He needed someone stronger, braver, and, simply just more. But, oh the fantasies she could have about that man. Long lean muscles, wide strong shoulders, and strong arms. Not to mention his eyes, which were such a clear, bright blue. When she had looked closely they had a blue denim ring around a sky blue iris. They were breathtaking. His mouth would fuel her fantasies for months all on its own, those plush lips and the adorable dimples that showed every time he grinned or smiled. Sigh. No, no matter what Kai thought, she could not be his mate. She could not believe that he would stay focused on her for the rest of their lives. Of course, that was assuming that mates mated for life. Maybe this mating thing wasn’t what she thought. Could he have meant something shorter term than what she was thinking? God! Why is everything I know based on books? How can anyone take me seriously when my only romantic comparisons come from paranormal romance novels?

  Frustrated with herself, Al walked to the door and looked out toward the shed where Kai had said he was heading. The shed door was open, a broken chain hanging from the handle. She could hear banging and what sounded to her like an engine cranking over. After a few more bangs and curses from Kai, which made her grin, she heard the engine catch and begin running in a growling rumble.

  She watched as Kai came walking out of the shed, dirt and grease smudged on his face and arms. Yeah, she would definitely have some fantasies about this man, probably for the rest of her life.

  “Hey, lass, we should have power now.” He said as he walked up to her. “I’m going to try to reach Dar, Malkum, and Charlie on that radio in the back?”

  “Are you sure you’ll be able to reach someone on it?” Al didn’t know many people who used the antiquated communication device.

  “Aye, we have one in the house to reach those that go out in the bayou. Mobile phones don’t get much signal out there. Dar and Malkum are usually the ones using it, but they showed everyone how to set the dials and call out from it or to call back into it. Good for us that they were insistent that I learn.” He grinned.

  “Okay, then. I guess I’ll…” Al looked around, unsure of what she could do while Kai contacted his friends.

  “How about you see if there is any food still edible in the kitchen while I try to get some information?”

  Al looked at Kai, she could be one of those women to take offense easily, thinking that Kai was being a chauvinist, but she could tell that he just wanted them to split up duties and he needed to contact his friends. He might be trying to keep her busy, but really, what was wrong with that? Nothing that she could see.

  “Sure, Kai. But, I wouldn’t hold my breath. By the looks of this place anything in there would have to be ancient.”

  “Most likely true, lass, but I need to know if we can stay here a few days or if we need to leave a lot sooner. I don’t want you to go hungry.” Kai responded with a smile.

  Al gave Kai a smile in return and headed to the kitchen. She was almost scared what she would find in there.

  ***

  Kai watched Alvena walk away. How could he not? Her arse swayed, tempting the eyes and hands. He had always been a breast man, and she definitely kept him captivated there, but he might have to add her backside to the list of the seven wonders of women. Hell he was going to have to change that to the seven wonders of Alvena, because he would never look at another woman as long as he lived. She didn’t seem to believe that he could be that captivated by her, but with each second he noticed another wonderful item to add to his list of his favorite things about her. Her body alone had to have a million places that he wanted to taste and touch.

  As she rounded the counter out of his sight, Kai shook himself and walked back down the hallway to the tiny office where he hoped he would be able to reach someone on the hand radio. It was a good thing that they kept one at the plantation, or he wouldn’t have any idea who to contact. Kai wasn’t familiar with this area of the country. He had lived in New Orleans off and on with Malkum and Charlie over the last nine years. Once they had finished their training and were sent out to find their mates, they had decided to run the tattoo shop together. Malkum was from the area originally and wanted to come back home for a while. Since, they would have to spend the next twenty years at the Tiranam Dásig when the Thirteen took over the Council at the summer solstice. That is, if they all found their mates. Malkum ran the tattoo shop pretty much on his own, with Kai and Charlie being called back to Tiranam Dásig more often than Kai liked by the Council, they weren’t much support. Luckily Malkum was a bit of a control freak and enjoyed taking care of the shop on his own. Kai really shouldn’t complain about the current Council including them in council business, he knew it would be helpful in the long run. It just seemed to take up so much
of his time that, looking back, he should have been using to help his brothers find their mates. He could only hope that with three of the thirteen finding mates, that the others would soon be as lucky as he, Charlie, and Malkum were. That is if they could keep their mates safe.

  Kai sighed and flipped the switch on the hand radio. He had cleaned it off and plugged it in before going out to start the generator. So, adjusting the dials to the correct settings he began calling for Dar.

  “Come in Bear. This is Dragon.” Kai said into the mouth piece of the radio. “Bear, Dragon calling.”

  “Kai, is that you?” Sounded through the speaker.

  “Thank the great spirit that I reached you.” Kai responded. “Alvena and I are safe. How are the others?”

  “Safe, at least as far as we can tell, you are the first we have heard from.” Dar responded.

  “Shite. I was hoping the others would have contacted you already. What happened?” Kai was worried for his brothers, but needed to know what happened to everyone he had left behind at the plantation house.

  “No worries here, Kai. Once you, Charlie, and Malkum left with the women, the attack ended. Several of them followed Charlie, but the rest took off since they couldn’t follow you or Malkum without the ability to swim or fly.” Dar chuckled.

  “Did you catch any of them?”

  “No. There were too many of them for us to take any down without exposing ourselves further. We did find traces just a bit ago that some of them followed Malkum into the bayou from another location though. So, I’m sure Malkum and Charlie both are working to keep their mates safe against the ones after them."