Breene smiled. “But...my animal is not a wolf. My beast is...a lot bigger.”
“A lot bigger than a wolf?” she challenged.
“Yes.”
“Are you a...” Her eyes rounded. “Blue whale?”
Lester quickly disguised his chortle as a cough.
“That's the biggest...” Simone shook her head. “Nah. Can't be right. You wouldn't have brought me up here if you're a whale shifter. You would have sailed me out to sea. So...a bear?”
Before he could answer, Simone dismissed the thought with a quick wave. “No. I think...” She blinked rapidly as she stared at Lester's folded wings.
“You're a bird shifter,” she breathed.
Breene smirked. “What makes you say that?”
“Duh. You made us climb all the way up to the very top of the tower. You're going to dazzle me with some aerial acrobatics, aren't you?” She folded her arms and smirked. “I guessed right, didn't I?”
“No you didn't.”
Simone frowned. “Not a bird? But you can fly, right?”
“Yup.”
“So you are a...”
Holding her puzzled gaze, Breene stepped back and let his beast rise. Before she could even blink, he had shifted fully into his other shape.
“Dragon!” she gasped.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Breene smirked when he heard Simone gasp. Yup, she had never seen a shifter like him before.
Help her climb aboard, Lester, Breene instructed.
Lester nodded and went to Simone. “Mistress Simone, would you step this way please? Master would like to take us on a ride.”
“A ride!” She gulped. “I have never...”
“Neither have I,” Lester confessed softly. “I have a...fear of flying.”
“Oh! But...” Simone glanced at his wings and frowned. “I thought...” She saw the look on Lester's face and stopped herself. “You're coming with me, right Lester? I don't want to ride a big, growly dragon all by myself.”
Breene huffed out a plume of smoke. Oh, she'll enjoy riding me. I guarantee it.
“Master!” Lester cried, shaking his head in mortification and disapproval.
“What?” Simone asked. “Are you guys talking behind my back again?” She glared at Breene and Lester. “You can communicate with him in your mind,” she said, pointing at Lester.
“Yes, Mistress Simone.”
“What did Breene just say?” Simone said, planting one hand on her hip.
Lester swallowed. “Nothing,” he said loyally and ushered her to Breene's side. “Please, allow me to help you up, Mistress Simone.”
Simone hiked her long dress up and arranged herself rather awkwardly on Breene's large back. She sat sideways and gripped the spikes at the side of his neck tightly.
Lester climbed up and sat behind her. The gargoyle took a shuddering breath and said, “We're ready, Master.”
Breene nodded. Hold on tight. I have to ascend quickly, but after that I'll go slow.
Lester gulped and dutifully conveyed the information to Simone.
With a low bellow, Breene leaped off the balcony and soared into the air. Simone squealed and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. She flattened herself against his back and he could imagine that she had squeezed her eyes tightly shut.
Tell Simone to open her eyes.
“Mistress Simone,” Lester said kindly. “Do not be afraid. It is safe. Master would like you to open your eyes. You can trust him, Mistress Simone.”
Breene felt Simone loosen her grip and straighten up slowly. He could hear Simone's thundering heartbeats above the beat of his powerful wings. She was both scared and thrilled, and she let out a small whoop as they flew higher and higher.
“Master says he'll go a little higher to get some cloud cover,” Lester reported. “Then we'll reach cruising altitude.”
Simone twisted around. “How is it that you can hear him?” she asked Lester in amazement.
“We communicate with our minds when Master is in dragon form,” Lester replied simply.
“Wow,” Simone said. “How come? I mean, how come you can talk to him and I can't? Is it because I'm human and not...paranormal?” She sounded a little jealous.
“No.” Lester hummed and hawed before finally blurting out, “It has nothing to do with whether you are human or gargoyle.”
“Why then?” she persisted. “Why can't I hear Breene in my mind?”
Lester stuttered, “Mistress Simone, it's like this you see. I...I think...” The poor gargoyle fumbled desperately and helplessly for a suitable explanation. One that wouldn't shock her or scare her off.
Ah, what do I tell her, Master? Lester asked Breene.
Breene thought for a while. Tell her the truth.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Lester cleared his throat several times before saying primly, “Well, Mistress Simone, if you must know, there has to be a bond before the mind link can be established.”
“A bond?” Simone twisted round to stare at Lester.
“Yes, Mistress Simone.”
“Hmmm.” Simone thought for a while. “So...for your guys, the bond is that of a master and his servant?”
“No. Definitely not,” Lester said emphatically. “I said bond, not bondage, Mistress Simone!”
An awkward silence followed.
“I'm sorry, that was...tactless of me. What a stupid thing to say,” Simone mumbled.
“The bond has to be strong, true and unbreakable, Mistress Simone,” Lester prompted gently.
Simone brightened up and slapped her thigh. “Oh I know! Of course. Yes, it's so obvious. Love is the answer!”
“What?” Lester righted himself quickly as he almost toppled off Breene's back in shock.
What? Breene jerked and narrowly avoided a messy collision with a flock of squawking birds.
“There must be love,” Simone declared, sounding triumphant. “There is love in true friendship. That is the strong, true and unbreakable bond between you guys. Friendship!”
Lester mumbled incoherently.
“You guys are like Kerry and me. Friends, best friends,” Simone went on. “True friends.”
Just hearing Simone speak of her friend, Kerry, made Breene's heart swell with pride and joy. He could feel Simone's deep love for her friend and he could even feel the happiness and confidence that Kerry's friendship had given Simone. He wanted to know more about this wonderful woman who had made his Simone so happy.
Ask her more about Kerry, Breene prompted.
“Mistress Simone, would you tell us more about your best friend, Kerry?” Lester conveyed. “The lady Kerry sounds absolutely delightful!”
“Oh she is!” Simone exclaimed. “She, her husband Nathan and her sister, Tia, are all my very good friends. They're more like family to me actually. And Kerry's little girl is my goddaughter! I think I told you that already. Remind me to show you all the pictures of Corinne in my phone, okay?”
“We would love to see the pictures. Um, Master asks if you have any other family,” Lester said.
“No. But...I was married once.”
Breene tensed.
“It wasn't a good marriage. It was a...mistake. Trent was volatile and violent, but I was too scared to leave. It was only after I lost my baby that I finally found the strength and courage to divorce him.” Simone's impassive voice quavered a little.
“If only I had left him earlier. I wouldn't have miscarried. Trent pushed me and I fell. That was how I lost my baby.”
Where is that bastard now? I will fucking kill him!
Lester tactfully remained silent, choosing not to verbalize Breene's furious thoughts.
Simone sighed and continued stoically, “But even after the divorce, Trent didn't leave me alone. He found me and started hounding me for money. I thought he would go away if I gave him the money, but he demanded more and more. He harassed and threatened me, and when I finally told him that I will give him nothing more, he came to my house and.
..hurt me.”
I will hunt him down and burn him to ashes. I swear! Breene spewed a stream of fire from his mouth and a plume of dark smoke exploded from his nostrils. He wanted to hunt down this cowardly, violent bastard who had hurt Simone so badly and grind his bones to dust.
“Where is this Trent now, Mistress Simone?” Lester asked as calmly as he could. Breene could hear his friend's voice shaking with suppressed anger and pain. Lester was just as shocked and outraged at hearing of Simone's abuse.
“You don't have to bother about him...” Simone began.
“Oh, we will protect you from that...that...man, Mistress Simone!” Lester cried with feeling. “Trent will never come near you again. Master and I both swear that...”
“Don't worry, Trent can't hurt me any more,” Simone answered.
“But Mistress Simone...”
“Kerry's husband, Nathan Chase, killed him.”
Breene released a slow breath. So this sorry excuse for a man was dead. He felt grudging gratitude towards Nathan Chase for removing this vile menace from Simone's life. But at the same time, he resented that another male had protected Simone. He should have been there for Simone. Yes, all this happened before he'd even met Simone, but still, he didn't like the thought of another male protecting his woman. He wanted to shake Nathan's hand and crush his bones at the same time.
Simone was his to protect, pamper, cherish and treasure. She was his.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
They flew on in silence for a while. Breene glided through the clouds, flying at an easy, comfortable speed. There was so much on his mind, and Breene took care to shield his thoughts from Lester.
Simone was his. His female, his anchor and his future.
The realization both excited and soothed him. For the first time, he felt as though he had finally come home. He had traveled the world over and lived in so many different countries, but he had never felt a sense of belonging, of home, anywhere.
But right here, right now, he felt he belonged.
He belonged here, and he belonged to Simone.
Breene knew that it wasn't easy for Simone to share her past with them, and he was proud of her for overcoming her pain and fear. It made him love and respect her even more. Simone was strong, sensitive and loving. And she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.
Feeling Simone's soft, curvy body on his back was putting all kinds of erotic images in his mind, images that involved naked bodies, entwined limbs and hot, heavy, sweaty action.
Simone ran her hand down his scales and he shivered. If she continued touching him like that…
“What about you?” Simone said suddenly. “How did you and Breene become friends?”
Lester didn't speak for a long time. Breene kept quiet, waiting to hear Lester's reply.
“Master Breene saved me,” Lester murmured.
When Lester didn't go on, Simone sighed and said quietly, “I see.”
She turned around so that she was facing Lester. “Do you know why Trent was still able to get to me and hurt me even after we got divorced?”
“No, Mistress Simone.”
“It's because I allowed him to use my guilt and fear against me. I felt guilty for something which wasn't my fault. I actually felt responsible for the abuse I suffered. Which was ridiculous! It was totally ridiculous, and I see that now. But at that time, I was still stuck in that very dark place, and I didn't allow anyone to see my pain. Not even Kerry. I didn't tell her about my past, because I felt too ashamed. Outwardly I looked fine, but inside I was dragging all this guilt and shame around.”
Lester swallowed. “Oh Mistress Simone...”
“What happened to me wasn't my fault,” she carried on in a stronger voice. “Yes, I suffered, and I suffered horribly. But once I was out of that horrible situation, I shouldn't have continued to suffer in silence. But for a long time, I couldn't talk about what happened to me. I felt ashamed, damaged and broken.”
She paused to let her words sink in before saying, “Bad people will try to break us, but we shouldn't let them win. It takes time to heal and become strong again, but we'll get there. Eventually, we all get there. And we'll get there faster with a little help from our friends, true friends, people who truly love us.”
Softly, she added, “I am still getting there. Maybe...we'll get there together? What do you say, Lester?”
“Yes, Mistress Simone,” Lester whispered.
Gently, Breene turned around and flew back to Redrock Valley. They flew past the hills and forests, and Simone shook off her pensive, introspective mood and livened up the conversation by telling them about her growing up years and the happy memories she had of Redrock Valley.
“But Redrock Valley has changed quite a bit,” she remarked. “For the better, I must say. It's a lot more vibrant now.”
“It's all thanks to Master Breene,” Lester said proudly. “He built many homes and offices here, and the company will be undertaking many more community projects soon.”
Simone reached forward to pet the side of Breene's neck. “You did a lot for the town, Breene.” She hesitated before adding shyly, “Maybe one day...I'll be able to hear you in my mind, Breene. I...I like you, and I have a feeling that we could be...great friends.”
Breene smiled when he heard her whisper under her breath, “Perhaps...more than friends.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“I can see your castle from here!” Simone exclaimed as they started to make their descent. Breene circled the highest tower a couple of times before swooping down towards the spacious balcony.
Simone ran her fingers through her tangled, windswept hair and clambered down rather ungracefully from Breene's back. She managed a few shaky steps and turned around when she felt the air move behind her.
She was just in time to see the dragon fold its wide wings neatly against its body and change back into a man. In just two blinks, Breene had shifted back to human form. Where a magnificent silver dragon had been crouching just a few seconds earlier, Breene now stood watching her with a smirk on his handsome face.
“Did you enjoy the ride?” he asked, striding towards her.
“Y-yes,” she managed as she smoothed down her dress. “Thank you.”
Lester gave a deep bow and said, “I'll get back to my chores now, Master. Have a good night, Mistress Simone. It was...a pleasure, and an honor.”
“Good night, Lester,” Simone replied. “But please, just call me Simone.”
Breene chuckled as Lester mumbled to himself and disappeared down the hallway.
“Good luck with that. I've been trying to get him to stop calling me 'Master' since day one,” Breene said.
“Is Lester the only one you can communicate with when you are in dragon form?” Simone asked, glancing towards the now empty hallway. The gargoyle had made a very quick and soundless exit.
“Yes.”
Simone nodded thoughtfully. That meant that Lester was Breene's only true friend. There was no one else he loved and trusted.
“Thank you for sharing your past,” Breene said softly, holding her by the shoulders. “I know it wasn't easy for you. You exposed the wound in your heart, the part of you that you believed was broken and ugly. That was brave of you. And I know you didn't do it for yourself. You did it for Lester.”
She released a slow breath. “I recognize a fellow wounded soul when I see one,” she whispered. “Being a victim can erode your self-esteem, dignity and confidence. I've been in his shoes, and I know how debilitating and isolating fear and guilt can be.”
Taking a step back, she flashed him a quick smile and said, “Well, it's certainly been an exciting evening. I'd better get going. I hope I can still get a room at one of the inns in town...”
Breene looked at her like she had just spouted gibberish. The look of incomprehension and exasperation on his face was almost comical.
“I thought we agreed that you'd be staying the night,” he said at last.
She sho
ok her head. “I didn't agree...”
“Simone, I own a castle. How many rooms do you think a castle has?”
“I don't know.” She shrugged. “Too many to count.”
“Exactly! So why are you thinking of spending the night at an inn when there are countless empty rooms in my castle?”
“Well...”
“Are you scared of me, Simone?” Breene asked. There was no trace of humor on his face.
“I...” She bit her lip. “No. I guess.”
“You guess,” he repeated solemnly. “Don't guess. Feel, Simone. Know what you feel.”
She held his solemn gaze and swallowed.
“Are you afraid of me, Simone? Now that you know that I'm a dragon.”
“No.”
His lips curved just a little. “Do you trust me?”
Simone stared into his piercing gray eyes and found herself nodding. She knew that Breene would never hurt her. She just knew that she could trust this man with her life.
And her heart.
Simone gasped. Where did that thought come from?
She hadn't dated anyone seriously since her divorce. She just didn't want to get hurt so badly again.
But the way Breene looked at her seemed to make her doubts and fears all melt away.
There was heat, passion and desire in his eyes. But there was also tenderness and understanding. And even though his touch was sending fireworks through her body and making all her womanly bits awaken with a vengeance, he was infinitely gentle with her.
He held her like she was the most precious, fragile, beautiful thing he had ever seen. And she was sure he had seen plenty. His eyes were intelligent and knowing, but he wasn't a jaded, cynical old soul. Breene was dynamic, energetic and he had a mischievous, sparkling sense of humor. He was also protective, kind and loyal.
“Simone,” Breene whispered, tilting her face up with his forefinger under her chin.
They were standing alone on the highest floor of his castle, and it felt like she was standing at the top of the world with Breene.
The Dragon Tycoon's Bride: Billionaire Shifter Paranormal Romance Page 6
