by Zelda Knight
“Stop!” Elder Gou commanded.
Too late. Zihao fell to all fours and shifted. Once in full dragon mode, he felt her hand on his shoulder.
Zihao wrapped his tail around Sonya. No one would make her cry or hurt her.
No one. Not even the Elder of the Xiongxin clan.
Everyone shouted and spoke at once.
“Silence!” Elder Gou barked, his eyes scarlet and his skin flushed. Both the Gous sat back down, but begrudgingly so. Zihao’s eyes had dipped into the red and could perceive only heat signatures. He backed up farther and pulled Sonya closer with his tail.
“What is it, Zihao? Her guardian is on alert. We all should be.” Elder Gou raised a hand to silence everyone.
Sonya didn’t know what the hell had happened, but she struggled to keep her own dragon from shifting in the now-tight den. She stroked Zihao’s tail, feeling his scales beneath her palms. It reminded her that this was real and not some horrible
nightmare conjured by a really bad meal. Every inch of her wanted to strangle the life out of them all, but above all her beast wanted to rise and shift. She couldn’t let that happen. Not with Zihao already in his dragon form.
Elder Gou turned to her. “Your dilong is very protective.” “That is what he’s trained to do.”
“He must feel you are in great danger, for he is in his dragon self.” Elder Gou did not move or alter his tone. “Your antics with the humans earlier today nearly cost not only this keep’s cordial status with the locals, but also caused a complaint to be submitted to the United Draconian Empire. Not to mention the shame you wrought on your parents and the Gou line.”
Sonya swore. “I was attacked. If it wasn’t for Zihao I could’ve been killed. No one seems to care at all about that.”
“You shouldn’t have been out in the first place,” her mother spat.
“I had permission, remember, Mom?” Sonya replied, her words holding the same level of anger and bitterness.
“Irrelevant. The general public now sees us as a threat. So, in the meantime, I forbid you leave the keep.” Her father finished his declaration with a nod.
Sonya gaped at her uncle, then her father. Forbidden to leave the keep. “You can’t be serious.”
Her mother gave her a blank glare.
Okay, so she’s serious. “The keep won’t be my prison.” “No, but you won’t be leaving,” her father added. “For how long?”
“Until after the Gathering,” her mother explained and leaned back. “Though honestly, I hope you’ll be mated by then.”
Elder Gou nodded. “Yes, you could mate.” Zihao growled at that comment.
“I will be mated, but not to Malcolm Chee.” Sonya patted his tail.
“I see you’re upset. This close to your mating age, you cannot be allowed to be with human populations.” Her father stood and reached for her mother’s hand.
“Or what?” Sonya asked, hands resting on her hips.
“We don’t want you mated to a human,” her mother explained with a tsk.
“I have a mate option. One I like!” Sonya put her hands on him, and made sure to look her father in the eyes. Difficult work, but she had to let her father get the point. She wasn’t going to be anyone’s messenger or pushover any more. “One. I. Like.”
He snorted, stroking his well-trimmed beard. “Like hell you do.” “I do!” Sonya exclaimed. “Z will be my mate.”
Her father shrugged as if her happiness didn’t matter. Typical. “This isn’t about your wants, Sonya. This is about what’s best for the clan.”
Beline rose from the floor. “As I have taught you often. No Gou will mate with a dilong.”
The community reigned above all. She’d heard that since her youth, but never had the sacrifice been in such complete conflict to her own needs. “Take one for the team, is that it?”
“Sonya…” Her father’s eyes held warning, but at this point, she didn’t care. “You test the length of my patience,” her mother rumbled.
“How is that different from any other day?” The large grin on her face felt cold and detached. The walls of her father’s den appeared to be closing in on her. Sonya swore. Any place was better than here. “Come on, Z.”
“I have not dismissed you.” Her father stood also. “I know.”
Elder Gou cleared his throat. “Little sun… There are other factors at play here.”
She froze. He came closer to her. His prying and penetrating eyes probed into her. She flinched, blinked, and tried to look away.
You are hiding, little sun. Elder Gou’s quiet voice spoke within her mind. He’d called her little sun when she was a youngling. Forever ancient, the elder liked her nickname of Son, but thought she shined bright, like the sun.
I’m entitled to my privacy.
There is great trouble brewing. Keep your guardian close. No recklessness.
“I see,” Sonya whispered aloud.
Both her parents turned back to her. They’d made their way toward the rear recesses of the den. At her words, they paused. Beline came back into the great room. Concern stained her weathered face. She glanced once back at her husband and then to them. “The meeting is on for tomorrow.”
Elder Gou did not look in her direction, but instead held Sonya’s determined stare.
I love Zihao. I will not be mated to another.
That does cause a problem, since the dilong has taken a blood oath not to mate. He loves me. I know it. My dragon and his are destined.
Elder Gou stroked his beard. It probably was her imagination, but she thought
she saw a small smile ghost his lips. “I see, little sun. You have illuminated much.”
What you propose is dangerous. Elder Gou spoke to her as he started for the exit.
Dilongs have their place.
Sonya tossed back her hair back and leveled her gaze at her uncle. Yes. His place is next to me.
At that moment a rush of shouts and screams punctured the silence and bowled over her. A splinter rippled through her universe like an unfurling fury. Earth and shards of rock slammed her against the wall, spraying heartache and pain. Sonya couldn’t think—her ears rang. Discombobulated, she struggled to stand, but she couldn’t get her balance. In front of her, Zihao growled and shook his head. He’d leapt in front of her, taking the brunt of the impact. Dazed, her head throbbing like a sledgehammer, the pain worked on her temples. She touched her face, and her fingers came away wet. She winced. Hints of copper flooded her mouth, and she wiped away blood from her lips. A haze of smoke caused by debris filled the den. Everything seemed to shift, and her dragon rose.
Zihao struggled to a standing position. Still dragon, he turned to face her. He searched the cavern, but how he could see anything, she didn’t know. A rush of adrenaline roared through her, making her blood pound in her ears. Through squinting eyes, she peered at Zihao. His body a shield, he blew out a hard snort. Her heart lunged forward as the cold fingers of fear squeezed.
“Z?” she uttered a breath before another explosion rippled through the keep. Sonya heard more screams.
Before she faded to black, she wondered if one of those terrified shrieks belonged to her.
Chapter Five
Pushing off with his feet, Zihao powered through what was left of the outer wall of the Gou’s den. Such a proud clan—but more importantly, powerful—the Gous wouldn’t allow Sonya to marry for love. None of the other children had been allowed to do so, which was why the Gous held so much political clout. Even those married to humans had been strategic movements on a well-developed chessboard. How then did Malcolm Chee’s family figure into the Gou’s new plans for power? What had the elder said of Sonya? She was the seventh of seven—the lone female.
The attack had nothing to do with Sonya. Zihao growled. He’d been a fool. A damn fool. Blinded by his own selfishness and narrow focus. The entire clan could’ve been destroyed.
Or not. Other clans had taken up residence in the keep because of The Gathering. The attac
ks could be between others. Yet he didn’t believe it. The council members had been clear. A dedicated faction had targeted the Xiongxin clan.
Son, come on! Damn his dragon self. So large, he lacked the finesse to maneuver through the debris without creating more, Zihao crashed into piles of rock and broken furniture. The formerly precisely crafted walls and ceiling had been destroyed and now crunched beneath his passive feet. Unstable, the den could completely collapse. He had to get her out of here. When he gazed back, he saw her heat signature fluctuate. Dust covered everything and moans bubbled into the silence. The charred stench of death and blood rolled in from the smoke-infested tunnels.
From outside the den in the corridor, voices grew closer, and muffled screams drowned them out seconds later. He couldn’t see and so he gritted his teeth. Focus. Rivulets of sweat raced across his flesh. Seconds swept by as his scarlet vision receded, and the edges of his human vision returned. Once back in human form, he blinked and staggered. Pain shot through him, and he grimaced at the nasty gash across his abdomen. It leaked blood, but had been smaller on his dragon body. Damn it. His beast healed him faster, but as a man, his injuries became more pronounced.
Pushing the pain aside, he scanned the carnage. He didn’t see the Gous or the elder, but he couldn’t wait to dig them out or go hunting for them. Scrambling over the rocks and scattered destruction, he wrestled Sonya into his arms from the spray of rock and earth. Selfish? Yes. Narrowly focused? Absolutely.
Sonya’s head lolled to his chest. Unconscious.
“Hey! Over here! This way!” came a male voice, the English accented.
He scurried through one of the holes blown through the great room. The Gous’ den seemed to be the target. Cries, wails, and roars rent the once tranquil environment of the Alaskan keep.
“Check in there!” shouted another voice.
The accent came from England. Zihao had started away from the still rumbling violence with Sonya in his arms. As furiously as his dragon rumbled inside him, his duty was to take care of her. He hurried through the impromptu exit, propelled by adrenaline and rage. The wilderness awaited. Until he knew who he could trust, he couldn’t stand around. Explosions continued to erupt within the depths of the keep.
Maybe it wasn’t just about the Gous. He raced toward the waning sunlight. Outside, the chilly weather of May hovered just above fifty degrees. Once he lost the light, Zihao knew it would get colder. Living on a mountain had its benefits, but also serious setbacks. His dragon blood kept him warm, but that had limits.
Go. Now! came a weak telepathic message. Zihao couldn’t figure out who had sent it and didn’t have time. The elder, maybe. He took the advice and made his way down the mountain, careful to keep Sonya close to his chest for warmth. Thankfully, twilight provided cover for their escape. Once at the base of the keep, Zihao looked back to the entrance. Smoke and flames erupted out of the cavern’s mouth.
He placed Sonya down just off the path, in a thatch of trees. Panting, he searched the landscape around them. Safe houses awaited for such a time as this, but he hadn’t
been able to get to the escape tunnels. Who had called out for him to run? Who had lingered outside the Gous’ den?
He’d been sloppy. The council had tried to warn him.
“Oh. Damn my head,” she said, sitting up. Wincing, she held her head and looked at him.
Some guardian. Dried blood caked a long, thin line down her face. Her bruised lips had swollen and scratches littered her hands, her shoulders and face. Despite her injuries, Sonya still stole his breath and tugged at his carnal hunger. Beautiful hardly described her eternal appeal.
“Careful.” He looked away. He’d allowed that to happen to Sonya.
“Who would do this? Invaders?” She struggled to stand and almost instantly fell onto his arms. Incredulousness appeared on her face as she looked up at the keep. Using him as a post, she clawed her way to standing position.
“I don’t know, but we can’t stay here.” Zihao wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her and anchor against him.
“What? Where are you going?” She unraveled herself from him. Pushing her hair out of her face, she quickly braided it to keep it out of her way.
“We have to get to the safe house.”
She looked back to the keep and then to him. “Our people are in there. My parents. My brothers. Nieces. Family. For fuck’s sake, Z, that’s our clan!”
She started for the path, but a wall of earth shot out of the ground, blocking her. He didn’t like using his power against her, but they couldn’t stand out in the open discussing it. Once their enemies discovered she wasn’t amongst the debris and the dead, they would come for her again. Agony shot up his torso and he clenched his teeth. He needed to shift to speed up the healing.
“No,” he insisted with a quiet determination resounding in his message. A growl rumbled low across to her. “We have to go. Now.”
Staggering, Sonya didn’t get too far up the path before she crumbled. Cursing, he stomped over and gazed down at her. The woman’s stubbornness knew no limit.
“You’re weak and in no condition to fight.” Zihao lifted her over his shoulder. She didn’t have the strength to stop him, and for once he was glad. He loved Sonya’s spitfire personality, but now wouldn’t do. His human self wouldn’t sustain her weight over the distance they had to travel to get to the safe houses. He shifted into dragon, his beast thrilled to be free. Using his tail, he wrapped it around Sonya’s waist and hoisted her up. He placed her on his back, close to his shoulders.
Sonya whacked him on the back. “We have to go back. Put me down!”
If you’re dead, we give them exactly what they want. He started running and veered off into the Alaskan wilderness. To his right, the lake stretched out toward the edge of tomorrow. To his left, the smoldering smoke of their home.
Sonya attempted to lift her head, but she slumped down against him. The warmth of her face against his skin told him she remained in her human form. At some point, she held him close, her hands gripping his hide. Despite his sharp focus, he could feel her heartbeat against his skin.
Exposed and in the open, Zihao hurried to get to the closest safe house. Fast.
“There is an old adage about poking a dragon with a stick.” Zihao’s voice infiltrated the painful haze as Sonya tried to open her eyes. Achy. Sore. Where the hell was she?
“What does that mean?” Sonya managed through cottonmouth. Gods, she needed something to drink. A sharp, stabbing pain lit up her head. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to get her bearings. Her body had already healed the damage to her temple and to her mouth, so why did she feel so strange? Flushed? The headache continued to throb. Damn it.
When she opened her eyes, she found him standing in the shadows. Even from here, she could see his face. His features were impassive and his voice sounded indifferent, absent of emotion. Something had happened while she slept. Along the way to get here, she’d fallen asleep. Hell, she’d passed out.
“Nothing.” Zihao’s voice was hard.
She quickly hushed him as she struggled to push herself up on elbows. The room had been draped in darkness with only the solitary glow from a lantern. As the events filtered back to her in anguish-filled waves, she lay back down. The attack. Her parents. Her clan. Her clothes.
“Where are we?” She didn’t recognize the ceiling, the bed, or any of the furniture she could make out in the limited illumination. Although she could see some furniture, she didn’t see Zihao. He’d melded farther back into the dark.
“Safe house 30.”
“How long was I out?” “About sixteen hours.”
“My clothes?” She threw back the blankets and ran her hand over the silk gown. These definitely weren’t the clothes she’d left the keep in. She’d kill for her purse now. Its satchel style allowed her to cart around extra clothes for Zihao, makeup, and a ton of other things she needed. Not to mention her cell phone and its contacts. She could have called her bro
thers or tried to contact her uncle.
“I…removed them. They were covered in blood, dust, and glass. I also bathed you.”
“Z…”
“I had to make sure you didn’t have any serious injury…” His cold tone canceled any thoughts she might have -pleasure from seeing her nude. Not that he hadn’t seen her naked before—they were dragons. Nudity came with the territory. Many dragons walked around the keep without a stitch on when they shifted out of their clothes, just as their ancestors had done.
“The keep?” She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them close. Numb. Fear cloaked her person. She could feel Zihao moving across the room from where she sat, but she wanted him to come and wrap his strong arms around her. “They’re all dead, aren’t they?”
At this, Zihao emerged from the shadows. Her breath caught at the sight of him. The ebony T-shirt hugged his rippling torso, skating across hardened pectorals and rock-hard biceps. His short hair had been tousled and it still looked wet. Dark gym pants clad his legs, but she could still make out his delicious thighs, rigid and tight. Most dragon shifter males kept fit and lean due to a high metabolism, but none wore their muscles as sexily as Zihao. The sleeves had been pushed up to his elbows, and as he came farther into the light, she saw the blankness of emotion on his face. He’d shut her out and clamped down on his feelings. He looked like what he was—a dilong guardian. Lethal. Dangerous. Dedicated.
“I haven’t received any messages.” He stood over her with his arms crossed. “None. No information. No signals. Nothing. Not one damn note.”
She gritted her teeth against the pain and laid her head against her knees. “Nothing.”
Closing her eyes, she lowered her mental guards and reached out for her uncle, her parents, someone. She couldn’t feel them. No whispers of them. “Nothing.”
Zihao gestured to the darkened flat-screen television mounted above a fireplace mantle. “The humans didn’t report any hint of a disturbance or anything odd from our section of the wild.”
