Deception_Paranormal Romance_Dragon Shifters and Immortals

by Laxmi Hariharan

  His chest felt too tight.

  She was gearing herself up to say something. “He’s not exactly the mate I’d have thought you’d end up with.”

  “I almost lost him.” Her gaze was direct. She bit her lip. Whatever she was going to say, it wasn’t easy. She was working her way toward it. “How much do you know about Dragon’s mating bonds?”

  He stiffened. His scalp prickled. Where was she headed with this? “Considering until a few days ago I was fighting to stay alive in the arenas of London, it isn’t something I have given much attention to.”

  “You love her.”

  His breath stuttered in his chest. “Hell, Evie, we meet after all these years and you kill me all over again with those words.” He dragged his fingers through his hair.

  “It’s true, isn’t it?” She sat straight, posture stiff. Gone was his sister. The leader of the dragons pinned him with her gaze.

  His stomach quivered. “What are you getting at, Alpha?”

  “Dragons can only mate with other dragons of the species. If you mate with anyone else…” She let the words hang in the air.

  Blood beat at his temples. “What happens then?” Whatever she was trying to tell him, he wasn’t going to make it easy on her.

  “There’s a good chance they can’t take the impact of the mating bond.” Her jaw hardened. “They could even die.”

  The blood drained from his face. His limbs tingled. “You’re only saying this because you don’t want me to take her for a mate. Is it because she is an Elysian female and you don’t want her in the clan?” He was being unfair but he couldn’t stop himself.

  “No other species can withstand the impact of mating with a dragon. She is an empath, weaker than most of her species.” Her features were devoid of expression. “If you pursue the attraction you feel for her, you likely seal her death.”

  His mind raced trying to think through what she’d told him. “You and Cain—?”

  “Were an exception. I thought I’d lost him. Turned out, our shifter energies balance each other out on the psychic plane.” She placed both feet on the floor with a thump. “My dragon needs him to survive. His lion needs my energy to sustain his psychic shields.”

  Pressing her fingertips together, she leaned forward. “Aaron and Hope survived the mating bond, too. But he wasn’t a shifter. The rules seem to not count when it comes to an immortal. She raised her palms faceup. “About the rest, we can only speculate.”

  “I can’t abandon Pandora.” He cut the air with his hand. “She’s my…mate. She is all that stands between me and insanity. She saved me from not just the Elysians but from myself. My dragon takes form when she is around. Without her, I am just a twisted creature consumed by anger.” He pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. “If I did mate with her…what are the chances that she’ll survive?”

  “I don’t know.” She jumped to her feet and paced. “No one does. You can take a chance and try. If you fail…”

  “She dies.” His voice was bleak.

  “It’s so not fair.” She swore and punched a fist into her palm. “This is when I wish we weren’t born dragon shifters.”

  He flung off the sheets and placed his feet on the floor with a thump.

  Eve stalked to the window and turned her back, to give him privacy as he dressed.

  After pulling on the clothes, he sat on the chair to tie up his boots. “You found your mate. So did I.”

  Eve swiveled to face him. Hands on hips, she stood with her legs apart in a wide stance. Her figure was silhouetted against the light from the window

  “Only difference is that I can’t claim her.” Fear thrummed his nerves. He couldn’t put Pandora in danger, regardless that she was hiding something from him. She was his mate. He’d do anything to protect her.

  “I wanted to mate with Cain more than anything else in the world. When it felt like everything was breaking apart around me, when I had reached my lowest and knew I would die before I let him go, something changed.” Eve raked her fingers through her hair, displacing the strands from its knot. “We found each other.” Crossing the floor to him, she gripped his arm. “You’ll find a way to claim her and keep her safe, Rage, I’m sure of that.” Her jaw firmed.

  The dragon inside throbbed. He rubbed the spot on his chest over his heart.

  Eve was right. His only goal was to keep Pandora safe. If that meant that he had to walk away from her, then that’s what he’d do.

  18

  Pandora

  In the room she’d been allocated by the dragons, Pandora headed for the double doors that opened onto the beach.

  The heavy scent of sugarcane mixed with the lighter air from the sea washed over her. She flicked out her tongue and tasted the salt on her lips.

  It reminded her of when she had kissed Rage.

  She hadn’t known him for more than a few days, yet his essence was intertwined with hers.

  I should have cut the bond already. I’ve left it too late.

  She was never going to be able to forget him. Once she was gone, he would never think of her. He was home with his family, he would be safe. It was the most she could hope for. She just had to find a way to rescue her brother without hurting Rage.

  A knock on the door had her turning.

  A woman flowed into the room.

  She was tiny, her curves perfect, her face exquisite. A blonde cap of hair set off sharp cheekbones. She dropped off a pile of clothes on the bed.

  Straightening, the woman smiled, and her features lit up. Crinkles appeared at the edges of her eyes. Warmth radiated from her. Pandora’s shoulders relaxed. Her senses hummed, signaling this woman was a friend.

  Walking to Pandora, she held out a hand. “Indira.”

  The subtle scent of roses, and below that, the bite of dragon fire. She wasn’t a pushover, despite her fragile appearance.

  “Dora.” It was a testament to how much she already trusted this woman that she introduced herself by her nickname.

  “Call me Indi.” Her lips stretched, showing white teeth, the canines sharp.

  They would be deadly, but on Indi they seemed cute.

  Pandora didn’t make the mistake of underestimating her. “You’re a dragon shifter.”

  Indi angled her head. She gripped the railing of the balcony next to her and hung out the window. The wind ruffled Indi’s hair. She let go of the railings and spread out her hands as if she was riding the breeze.

  Pandora gasped and pulled at Indi’s shirt. “Careful.” Her voice had an edge of anxiety.

  Indi threw her a glance over her shoulder. “I’m a dragon. I can fly, you know.” Her eyes lit with an inner glow of mischief.

  “Right.” Pandora flushed. She stepped back from the railing, fixing her gaze on the distance. She could make out the white sands and the blue of the sea after that.

  The beauty of the island struck her anew. It would be so easy to call this home. She pushed the thought from her head.

  “Heard you saved my brother’s life?” Indi jumped down and turned her back to the sea. She fixed piercing dark eyes on Pandora.

  Dora shifted her weight, twisted her hands together in front. “It’s not a big deal. We helped each other out.”

  “In more ways than one, it would seem.” Indi’s tone was soft.

  Dora caught a hint of caution in it. “What do you mean?” Her heart began a slow beat. Had Indi guessed that she and Rage were connected through a fledgling bond?

  “I just swung by Rage’s room.” She held on to the railing with one hand and swayed on the balls of her feet.

  “And…?” Pandora was dying of curiosity to find out if Rage had mentioned her to Indi, but she didn’t dare ask the question. To do so would be to give away the depth of her confusion.

  “And,” Indi grinned, her features lighting up with a mischievous smile, “you sure have the poor man wrapped around your little finger.” She held up the finger in question and twirled it around. “He’s head over heels i
n love with you, girl.”

  Pandora blushed. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire. “He’s not in love…I’m not—”

  Indira snorted. “It’s written on your face.” She pointed at Pandora. “Besides, he all but confessed that he was taken.”

  The words dried up under the force of Indira’s mocking smile. Dora’s shoulders slumped. Her heart twisted with fear. If she couldn’t hide how she felt from a complete stranger, it meant the time had arrived when she must leave.

  She had hoped to give herself at least another day with Rage. Seemed that was not to be.

  She leaned her shoulder against the parapet next to Indira and looked out with unseeing eyes.

  “You know you don’t have to be afraid of anything, right?” Indi’s voice jolted her.

  She turned to the other woman, taking care to wipe her face clean of all expression. Indira was way too perceptive, and Pandora didn’t want her reading anything more from her features.

  “A dragon never forgets.” Indi raised her chin, her pupils flashing vertical. Just for a second, enough to lend weight to her claim. “You brought back our brother. We owe you. Enough to forgive any mistake you make.”

  Her pulse rate accelerated. “You think I am going to commit a mistake?”

  “Falling in love with my brother would be one of them.” She chuckled.

  Pandora sagged against the railing, holding on to it for support. A bead of sweat slid down her face. Raising her sleeve, she wiped it off.

  “Not used to this heat, are you?” Indi’s mouth widened in a grin.

  “You’re not talking about the weather, are you?” Dora raised her chin, and her cheeks flushed again.

  First Rage, then Eve and Indira. What was it about the dragons that they seemed to bring out the defiant part of her which she had kept hidden all these years?

  Indi chuckled. “Not that I want to know about the kind of heat that you and my brother generate.” She bumped her elbow into Pandora’s side. “I’m the last one to be giving any advice on affairs of the heart.”

  “Man trouble?” Dora felt steady enough to turn her head and glance at Indi.

  “Always.” Indi blew out a breath. “We dragon shifters never choose the easy route. We’re stubborn, tend to fall in love with the wrong person, and have egos to match our fire-breathing appetites.”

  “I noticed.” A smile tugged Dora’s lips. “I think I’d have liked you a lot if I was here long enough to get to know you.”

  “You going somewhere?” Indira’s eyebrows furrowed.

  Dora cursed herself. She hadn’t meant to let that slip. “No.” She fixed her gaze on the distant horizon where the sun had just begun to set. “Thank you for the clothes.” Dora knew she was changing the subject, and not in a discreet way.

  To her relief, Indi didn’t push her earlier point. “No problem. You’re taller than me. What I wouldn’t give to have your legs.” Her sigh was theatrical. “Not that I am complaining; there are benefits to being small, too.” Her voice dropped an octave. “If you know what I mean.”

  “Ah, I think I do.” Dora had never had sisters or girlfriends. This imp of mischief had completely derailed her.

  “Now that I’ve thoroughly embarrassed you…” Indi waggled her eyebrows. “I came here to invite you to Eve’s bonding ceremony.”

  “Bonding ceremony?”

  “Just a chance to check out the men, good food, drink, and a chance to get henna tattoos.”

  “Sounds amazing.” Dora’s chest felt lighter.

  “Tomorrow night.” Indi headed for the door. “Wear the dress.” She nodded to the pile on the bed. “It matches the color of your eyes; it will make you irresistible.” With a wave, she dashed out.

  Pandora turned back to the scenery, feeling like she’d survived a whirlwind.

  She had just had a very entertaining conversation with a woman who could be a very good friend. It felt so far from the sterile, lonely existence she was used to. It felt amazing. Like she had found her place there with these dragon shifters.

  She shouldn’t get used to that. Soon she would be gone, but until then she could pretend that she belonged there.

  19

  Rage

  Next day

  Rage heaved the barbell up and over his chest. His shoulder muscles strained, his pecs flexed, and a trickle of sweat ran down his neck. He brought it down to just over his shoulders then raised it again. This time he held it up until his biceps protested. His thigh muscles complained as he thrust his feet against the floor for purchase.

  His shifter healing had well and truly kicked in, for he’d felt well enough to leave the infirmary after Dora had left.

  Eve had asked him to live with her and Cain. He’d refused, preferring to give the newly mated couple their privacy.

  Instead, he’d moved into a room in the complex of buildings where her team lived and headed straight for the gymnasium on the ground floor of his two-story residence.

  A good night’s sleep, and he’d felt fully recovered this morning. Enough to head to the gym where he’d spent the last few hours working out

  His instincts insisted he hadn’t seen the last of the Elysians. When he faced them next he wanted to make sure he was in full fighting condition.

  That, and pitting his body against the weights, kept his mind off a certain empath who’d invaded his dreams last night.

  His biceps strained as he raised the barbell again. Sweat broke out on his brow.

  A pair of legs clad in dark black formal pants came into view. “Don’t you think you’re pushing yourself a little too soon after your recent run-in with the Elysians?”

  He grunted and lowered the bar to its resting place on the hooks over his head.

  The man moved to stand behind him and helped him slam the barbell home.

  Rage swung up and reached for his towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

  “Needed to clear my head.” He caught the bottle of water the man threw at him and chugged it down.

  More like he’d needed to work out to get his attention away from a part of his anatomy that seemed hell-bent on remembering a certain empath with silver-green eyes.

  Dragging the back of his hand over his lips, he surveyed the newcomer.

  The man was large enough that Rage knew he was a shifter. Where dragons had an underlying scent of wild fire clinging to their skin, this man’s scent was lighter. He wasn’t human, though, he was a…wolf shifter?

  The man canted his head. “Caleb.” He didn’t hold out a hand.

  “You’re Indira’s friend?” His eyes narrowed.

  “Eve’s bodyguard.” Caleb’s jaw firmed. “Eve sent me to get you for the gathering.”

  Rage shook his head to clear it. “Right. Eve’s mating ceremony.” Until a few days ago, he’d been struggling to stay alive. This sudden normalcy he’d been thrust into was overwhelming. This was home, but did he belong here?

  “You don’t want to keep your sister waiting, especially not the day she’s becoming a bride.” Caleb leaned back on his heels.

  “I suppose I don’t have a choice?” Rage scratched his beard. He’d barely begun to acclimatize to his surroundings. He wasn’t sure how he felt about having to face the entire clan so soon after his enforced time away.

  Caleb picked up a free weight and, bending his elbow, raised and lowered it, working out his biceps. “Pandora will be there.”

  Rage hesitated. He wanted to see his mate again.

  “There will be other shifters from across our allies, many of whom are bound to be interested in her.” Caleb’s voice was mild.

  His dragon snarled. A tongue of fire rippled over his skin. His focus narrowed, his gaze locked on the wolf shifter. Everything else faded from sight.

  The next second, Rage found himself hauling Caleb up by the collar, his fist raised. “What are you implying?”

  The other man didn’t fight back. He held his hands loose at his sides. “Unmated shifters, flowing alcohol, and e
motions running high make for a potent combination.” Caleb raised his hands, palms up. “Pandora’s quite enticing. She’ll have shifters and humans and vampires vying for her attention.”

  He tightened his grip. “Don’t play games with me, wolf.” Whiffs of smoke emerged from his nostrils.

  The other man had to tilt his head to meet his gaze. “Guess you’re not interested in her in that way?”

  His dragon strained at the psychic barrier, wanting to leap out and burn up this man who dared talk about his mate.

  A grin twisted Caleb’s lips, and there was a knowing look in his eyes. “If going a round will help you work off some of that frustration, I’d be happy to oblige.”

  “Bollocks.” Rage dropped his arms. “Indira would never forgive me if I hurt you, wolf.”

  Turning on his heels, he stalked to the punching bag in the corner of the room and proceeded to hammer it until he felt more in control. Breath coming out in gasps, he held the swinging bag in place and slicked his sweat-ridden hair from his eyes. “You proved your point.” He glowered at Caleb over his shoulder. “What would you have me do?”

  “I didn’t fight for the woman in my life, I gave up too quickly. I thought I wasn’t good for her, that because I wasn’t a dragon shifter we could never be together.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “Don’t make the same mistake.”

  Rage lifted his eyebrows. “Indi?”

  “I watched as she fell in love with my best friend. Indi waited for him to come back from a mission to mate with him. He never made it. He was killed in action.” His shoulders slumped. “She went into a period of mourning where she almost gave up her own life.”

  Rage stiffened. He couldn’t quite reconcile the saucy, strong sister he’d met with the broken woman Caleb was describing. “You helped get her back on her feet?”

  “She wanted to kill herself.” Caleb drew his arms close to his body.

  “But she didn’t, thanks to you.” Rage canted his head.

  “I couldn’t let her do that. I couldn’t go on living without her.” Caleb gazed into the distance. “I’d rather have her in my life as friend than not at all.” His voice was flat.