“So you mentioned that your friend might have killed herself…”
“Yes,” Stacey answered. “That’s my suspicion.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Right before she died she left this horrible Facebook message saying she was afraid I was going to kill her. We’d just got into this fight a day or so before about her borrowing my clothes and … taking my food without asking.”
“She was stealing?”
“I don’t know. I had food there in the pantry and it went missing. Nothing big, just a few tins. And of course she was the only one who could have taken them. But she denied it and … it got a bit ugly.”
“That doesn’t sound that ugly. Not something one would kill herself over.”
“Look, I … I don’t know if she did, or why she did or … I just know I didn’t do it.”
They reached the next floor and moved through the passageway. “Which floor are you on?”
“The one below this one.”
They found the next set of stairs and continued downward.
“We’re not going to find anything,” Stacey said. “Whatever would be there, the police would have found it. I don’t really…”
“Hush,” Zane cut her off. “Let me be the judge of that.”
“Okay.”
Soon they reached Stacey’s floor and she led Zane to her apartment. The door was shut and locked. Before she had a chance to speak and offer more words of caution, Zane pounded his fist loudly on the door.
When there was no answer, he called out, “Hello? Someone in there?”
Stacey’s eyes drifted to either side of the hall, afraid someone would come out to confront them.
“Hello?” Zane’s voice rang out.
Still no answer. He looked to Stacey.
“It’s probably empty,” she said. “They might not have found a new tenant.”
“Or the new tenant is at work,” Zane countered.
“Yeah, there’s that.”
He gave her a quick smile and then proceeded to ram his shoulder into the door. Stacey’s shriek of surprise was drowned out by the sound of the door ripping off its hinges and slamming into the ground. Zane confidently stepped over the wreckage and into the apartment. Despite the butterflies in her stomach causing a momentary paralysis, Stacey quickly joined his side.
“Hello?” Zane called out again.
“There’s no use in calling out to them now,” Stacey hissed. She could already hear the sounds of apartment doors being unlocked around them.
Zane walked through the living room and to the far wall where a glass sliding door led out to the balcony.
“She fell from here?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Zane opened the door and stepped out to the balcony. He put her hands on the railing.
“Is everything alright?”
Stacey turned to see one of her elderly neighbors peering in.
“I … I…” Stacey stammered.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” the woman exclaimed. She then spotted Zane behind her. “Who’s that?”
“A policeman,” Stacey said thinking quickly. “He’s making me review the crime scene again.”
“Oh…”
The old woman squinted, trying to get a better look at Zane. He returned to the living room.
“Can I help you, Madame?” he asked, daringly.
“No,” the woman replied. “No, I’m perfectly fine.” She slunk away from the door.
Stacey looked up to Zane.
“Don’t worry about her,” he said casually. He moved round to the right side of the room. “Can you show me the bedrooms?”
Stacey went to his aid and opened up both rooms. Their stuff was all cleared out. There was little more than a desk, chair and bed in each room.
“Where were you when it happened?”
“I was in bed,” Stacey said. “Reading a book.”
“Did you hear anything suspicious?”
“No.”
“Well, did you hear anything?”
“I didn’t hear the fall if that’s what you’re asking. There’s quite a distance between here and the ground.”
“Hmmm.”
“What is it?”
“Something about this … Doesn’t feel right to me.”
“Well, which part?”
“I feel … a presence here. In this apartment.”
“What does that mean?”
“Did you ever …?” Zane trailed off.
“Did I ever what?”
“Did you ever meet any of our dragons before?”
“What?” Stacey shook her head. “No.”
“Because one of us has been here before. I don’t know who. It’s … I …”
Suddenly there were a series of thuds from the living room. Zane looked up in horror, and Stacey stepped back in alarm.
“Attention!” a man shouted from the living room. “You are surrounded. Put down any weapons you might be carrying and come out from where you are with your hands behind your head…”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Wait here.”
Zane sat Stacey down on the bed and then proceeded out into the living room. Stacey listened to the showdown go ahead.
“I’m a dragon,” Zane declared. “Your bullets can’t hurt me.”
The cops started laughing.
“I’m serious, you can all get out of here at once, or I’ll blow you to hell.”
“For the last time, sir,” one of the cops continued, “please put your hands behind your head, or you give us no choice but to shoot you.”
“Very well…”
Stacey listened attentively to the few moments of silence that followed.
Then she heard several of the cops crying out in alarm.
Suddenly the whole apartment was coming apart. The walls were caving in, the roof was collapsing, everyone was running around in a panic. From beyond the edges of the door Stacey could see an immense wave of red fire running through everything, towards her path. She backed away against the wall frightfully as it broke away and exploded with the rest of everything. She saw the flames searing at her as she fell, numb and disillusioned.
But Zane was there to her rescue. From out of the fire his great dragon rose to swoop in for her, saving her from the blast. Before she could make head or tail of it, she was on Zane’s back again, and they were flying towards the skies, with the burning mess that used to be her apartment left behind. Stacey’s arms reached out and she squeezed her dragon for comfort.
“Thank you,” she whispered to him.
Zane’s body quivered in response. As she felt his vibrations her heart rate began to slow to a normal pace, and she soon joined him in his ease.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Another two hours in the sky, and Stacey could see that they had returned to the forest area that surrounded Zane’s brother’s town. Whether this was the wisest move for them, Stacey hadn’t asked Zane yet as they had only just landed. Her belly rumbled with hunger as it was late afternoon and she hadn’t eaten since their meal along the lakeside. How she wished to be blessed by such a comforting moment once more.
“I understand you are tired,” Zane said. “But we have yet another walk ahead of us. When we get back to Conrad’s I’m sure they’ll bring food for us.”
“Yes, I’m very hungry,” Stacey confessed. “But not so much tired. You did all the flying work.”
“Well, I think you helped a little,” Zane joked.
“Oh really? How did I do that?”
“I’m not sure anything would feel like work with you so close to me.”
Stacey’s heart beamed in delight.
And that’s how it was for them. Their trek back to town and Conrad’s estate didn’t feel so long because they were together. The bond Stacey and Zane had formed with one another was at its strongest and most proud. She literally adored him for his god-like beauty and heart strong protectiveness. There was something about Z
ane that made him so pure to her, so up to task. It was almost as though he had no faults, other than his temper which she didn’t want to get on the wrong side of. Crazy as it was, they’d already said they loved each other, but there were layers to that love. And for Stacey at least, the love was getting deeper and the layers were peeling back…
“Why have we come back here?” she found herself asking eventually.
“Conrad might have found where the portal is,” Zane said. “But I also want to speak to him about the presence I felt back at your apartment. It reminded me of someone, who passed a while ago.”
“Is this who you think killed Teresa?”
“No. Well … I just need to speak with my brother about it. I have to be sure about something…”
Stacey didn’t appreciate being left in the dark when the matter was so close to her, but still she surrendered to him and let it go. After all, he was her Master.
And she was his delicate Blossom.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Conrad wasn’t home. The servant at the gate let both Stacey and Zane inside the estate, and then explained he had gone to town a few hours earlier, on business. “He shouldn’t be much longer,” the servant said. “He told me if you were to come for you to wait for him.”
Inside the house, Zane asked that they be brought food, and were subsequently led in to the dining room in preparation. They sat opposite one another in the centre of the table, having light conversation to let the time pass more quickly. When lunch was served, it was steak and gravy with a side of fruit salad. Stacey ate everything, but for some reason, Zane just ate the fruit.
Half an hour or so afterwards, Zane suggested to Stacey that she lie down.
“Lie down?” she murmured. “What for?”
“We didn’t get much sleep last night,” he said, “and it really has been a long day. I don’t know how long the night will go on for or if there will be much time for rest. You should take it now.”
“Won’t you be joining me?”
“I’m going to go look for Conrad,” Zane said. “I have an idea of where he is. It’s important for me to make sure he didn’t cause too much trouble by asking on my behalf.”
“Well, okay…” Stacey murmured. “Are you sure it’s safe to leave me here by myself?”
“No one’s after you here,” Zane said. “If anything you’re safer without me around.”
“What?” Stacey yelped. “That’s not true!”
“All I meant is that I’m the target here. Not you. And that’s if my brother has betrayed me which I now strongly doubt.”
“Why? It seemed like a possibility before.”
Zane nodded. “Well, we can never be sure. Just lock the room you’re in from the inside. I’ll only be half an hour or so. I just have to make sure he’s not in trouble.”
“Okay,” Stacey said finally. “I’ll try not to be too scared.”
“Thank you, Blossom,” Zane said and kissed her. He then signaled to the servant. “See she has adequate chambers to rest in.”
The servant bowed his head and then led Stacey upstairs to her room. As she went there, she looked back at Zane who was watching her go. Even in the thick of troubles here, he was still putting her first above all else. Inside his heart anyway.
Once she was in the room, Stacey locked the door.
She climbed onto the silky red quilts and laid her head to rest on the pillow.
She closed her eyes.
And wondered if it was all a dream.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
A knock at the door. Stacey sat up.
She’d only been in the room for eight or nine minutes. Not even.
She started to get worried. The knock came again.
She got up off the bed and walked towards the door. “Who is it?”
“Zane.”
Sigh of relief.
Stacey opened the door for him.
He was standing there, awkwardly. Stacey blinked.
“Can I come in?” he asked.
Stacey shrugged and stepped away from the door. Zane entered the room and closed the door behind him.
Locked it. Stood in front of the door.
Stacey stared at him curiously. “What are you doing? Is he back yet?”
“No,” Zane shook his head. “But I wanted to check something with you.”
“What?”
Zane walked slyly across the room. He stood near her, but they did not touch.
“I’m your Master, aren’t I?”
Stacey’s eyes bulged. “Yes.”
What was he up to?
“Then come to me.”
She went to him.
He put his hands round her neck and leaned forward to kiss her.
For some reason it felt a bit weird. Stiff, almost.
They broke away. “What’s happened?” Stacey asked. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Zane gave a small smile. “Come sit with me.”
They climbed onto the bed and sat next to one another. He removed his pants, exposing his massively erect cock.
“Whoa,” Stacey murmured.
Zane smiled at her. Then nodded.
“What the – Are you angry with me? Did I do something wrong?”
“Not yet,” he said quietly.
Stacey swallowed. This was different. His approach. His manner. Something must have happened. She hated not knowing and yet, if she didn’t obey her Master now, she risked him getting even more upset.
Stacey put her mouth over his cock.
She felt Zane sigh, but not deeply. She reached out for his hand but he wouldn’t hold it. Instead he put his hand to her head. Not really hard. But … Well…
Stacey broke away. “What did I do? Tell me.”
Now Zane appeared troubled. She could see it in his eyes.
“I’m being too forceful?”
“Uh… I don’t know,” Stacey said. “No. I just.”
“You want this to happen don’t you?”
Stacey put her lips together. “What about what happens to you when we –”
“Don’t worry about that,” Zane said. “Are you ready or not?”
Stacey blushed. “Okay…”
Zane stood up from the bed. “Strip for me. All of it.”
Stacey started removing her dress as he proceeded to rip his own clothes off. And then all of a sudden he was on top of her, tearing hers off. He smothered her with hard kisses. He bit her neck enough that it hurt. He bit her ears. He bit her hair.
This was getting wild.
His firm hands centered around her backside, as he slid her panties off. Without hesitation he forced himself inside of her and the bed began to rock.
It was like being fucked by a drill hammer. Zane was so aggressive now, he barely looked at her other than we he was grabbing at her face, to almost manipulate it. For Stacey, it felt good, a little too good, but because she didn’t know where it was coming from she was unable to fully enjoy it.
It just felt so different to how it had before, she didn’t know what to make of it.
If something had happened that had caused Zane to want to fuck her this way, then she should at least understand it. Then again, he was her Master. He was not hers to question.
Zane flipped her over on her stomach and spread her legs to be fucked doggystyle. It went ahead, rough as guts, and he was clearly enjoying it. She noticed though his cock wasn’t burning up inside her the way it had before – it wasn’t even warm. The longer and harder he fucked her, his prick became colder and colder still, until it felt like it had been just taken out of the fridge. His arms were cold now too. His fingers at her tits, his lips at her neck, so cold.
This was bad.
Something really had happened.
“Ooh Stacey,” Zane moaned. “That’s so good.”
She blinked. Once.
Twice.
It was only a breath away.
He never calls me that. He never, ever, ever calls me my real name – h
e – he –
It wasn’t him.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Too late. Already, there was someone outside the door, and they were pounding loudly.
The man fucking Stacey cursed, but didn’t stop.
Zane’s voice outside rang out – “Blossom? Open the door, please!”
The man grunted and then shot his ice cold sperm into her. Then discarded her.
As Stacey gripped the nearest pillow for comfort, she watched as the man she previously thought to be Zane, morph into his true form, Conrad.
“No,” Stacey whispered. “No, no, no…”
The door burst off its hinges and Zane stormed into confront them. His eyes darted from his naked brother to Stacey clutching the pillow.
“Um…” Conrad mumbled. “Sorry?”
Zane roared angrily and then punched Conrad square in the face. He rammed his fist into his gut and sent him flying to the other side of the room. Conrad started to get up and Zane kicked him. He kicked him until he didn’t get up.
Then his gaze met with Stacey’s.
“I don’t ever want to see you again,” he snapped. And then abruptly turned to leave.
“Please,” Stacey wailed. “I didn’t know –”
Zane was already gone from the room. Stacey crawled off the bed and grasped what was left of her clothes. She put the remains of her dress on and limped back down towards the stairs.
“Master?” she cried, running down. “Master?”
Suddenly the Human Mage appeared in her path. “Going somewhere?”
Stacey screamed and then ran back up the stairs looking for an exit.
Broken and bloodied, Conrad was standing in the middle there. He wiped the blood from his nose and scooped her up effortlessly.
“Come on,” he said. “I want to show you something.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Conrad brought her into his study, and moved quickly across it to the window behind the chair. He placed Stacey in front of it as she struggled to get out of his grasp.
Shared By The Dragon Clan: The Complete Set Page 8
