“Can’t tell you that, but I wish I could.”
“Why?”
“Why not? I’ll tell you my ‘why,’ but you have to tell me your ‘why not’ first.”
“You. You’ve always been filled with a zest for life. Your family. You’re not the type who gives up on something that important. It’s Mutufa, you saw him, you know what he’ll do to the world if he wins. How could you help him?”
She raised her blue/green eyes to him while she straightened her shoulders then she pulled her shirt off.
Why aren’t we beating her down? Taking her shirt off around our male?
That black hole swirling in her chest wasn’t normal. I don’t care what group she belongs to. Willow moved to kneel beside the chair she was in.
“Don’t touch it.”
“What is it and how did you get it?”
“There was a time before he began to have dreams of world domination, before he used beings as science experiments before he tried to steal the dragon’s horde, before any of that I considered him my friend. My best friend. He knew about the male that was my mate. When my children were born, he was there.
“How was I supposed to know he was jealous? He was so good at keeping it inside. I always thought he had a mate, even if he never introduced us. I’d give anything to go back and stop him. Do an intervention so he could see the error of his way, but it’s too late for him now. He plans to rule the world, and I’ll stand beside him, or he will kill all the people I love with this.” She indicated the hole in her chest.
“That’s a good reason to work for him. I’d do the same thing if Javon’s life was in danger.”
He swung his gaze towards her. She could see the thoughts the questions running through his navy-blue gaze. She could look at him forever, it wasn’t a new revelation but having seen what was done to Selena it struck her in her heart.
“Where’s your family?”
“They go on without me. Sometimes I find a place to watch them. They know what happens if I get in touch with them. That doesn’t stop my mate or even my children from looking for me.”
She pulled out a warm quilt and wrapped it around herself.
“There was a note on this. I found it not too far away from my doorstep, it said you look cold. My mate, he worries about me. The easiest way to weaken Mutufa is to kill me.”
“That means killing your family also. We won’t do it. Tell her won’t do it Javon.”
She stood facing him. Her hands on her hips, she couldn’t see the fire in the depths of her brown eyes or the conviction in her heart. He could see it all and was amazed at who she was.
“You have to, I can be with them on the next plane.”
“You’ve barely had time to be with them on this plane. We won’t kill you.”
“You don’t have to I told her if she ever betrayed me that would be the end of her. Can you believe she tried to pretend to be my best friend as she left me alone? She got married even though she knew I loved her. Was it because I couldn’t take care of her? I’m destined to rule the Earth.”
Willow looked into his eyes, he was crazy, certifiable. He was also highly intelligent. There was no try in his eyes he knew exactly what he planned to do.
He raised his hand and pointed it at Selena. Willow screamed no or at least she thought she did as she jumped in front of the female. She was here to save lives not watch one get killed. Javon roared jumping in front of Willow raising a barrier before the next beam had a chance to hit.
He went after Mutufa, you couldn’t kill a shadow, but a body was a different matter. He disappeared right before Javon could wrap his hands around his neck.
“Willow.” He dropped to his knees beside her. She wasn’t moving, but there was a faint pulse on her neck.
He picked her up.
“Javon.” Selena looked at him the guilt on her face was a heavy reminder of what happened here today.
“If you want to live, go to the Oracles. Don’t let her sacrifice be in vain.”
He turned and headed for his jeep.
*~*~*~*
“What happened to me?” She wasn’t feeling too well. It was like every bit of energy in her body had been leached out. Her arms were shaky, and she decided that standing wasn’t a good idea.
Her hand pressed against the object she was lying on before she realized it was a concrete floor.
“Hello?” Where was Javon, he wouldn’t have left her alone.
“He can’t come here.” A male voice reached out, but she still couldn’t see him.
“Then why am I here?”
“Because you let Mutufa grill you like a cheese sandwich.”
“No food references please I want to be able to eat grilled cheese again.”
“Then you better get up and fight for your life because you’re dying.”
“What do they call you, Mr. Sunshine?” She pressed her hands against the floor feeling the pain in every line of her body.
Standing wasn’t easy because both her legs and her arms were shaking. It took her several tries with the male somewhere watching before she made it to her feet. Her body rocked back and forth reminding her of her time on the ocean.
“How many more tests do I have to overcome. It seems like my life has become one big test.”
“You brought this one on yourself, but you did save the lives of six individuals. Maybe that’s why you’re here.”
Relief had her shaking even more. The thought of Selena and her family dying broke her heart, and she had to protect her. She never meant to do it at the risk of leaving Javon alone. His heart must be breaking.
“It is. Yes, I read your mind, but don’t worry my kind does mind readings as parlor tricks.”
“What now and where are we?” Where ever they were was white except for the concrete floor. Gray floor, white everything else.
“This is where you get to prove you deserve to live.”
“What? Why should I have to prove it?” She looked around once again, but the voice talking to her was invisible.
“Because you doubt it. I would run.”
There were loud growls, behind her was a pack of…She didn’t know what they were, but they were big with drool coming out their mouths and their yellow eyes were on her. She ran channeling Kat Everdeen for everything she was worth.
Her already shaky legs were protesting while her pumping arms were calling her names and none of them were nice. Now she could use that voice in her head the one that was supposed to help her. Where had she gone?
Why should I help you? You tried to kill us.
“I saved the life of a family. Are you that conceited that you can’t acknowledge that.”
I hear you, but isn’t our life important?
“It is.”
Then why don’t you act like it?
Had she been acting like her life wasn’t important? She saw so many people doing great things, and then she measured her life against theirs. She didn’t want to do what they were doing so it wasn’t jealousy. It was simply the mere thought she should do more when she was doing what she enjoyed and helping when she could. If she did what they were doing, who would do what she was doing?
“Our life is important. If I led you to believe otherwise, I ask for your forgiveness.”
That’s a start the voice sniffed.
She stumbled almost falling, and the animals were now on her heels. She could feel their hot breath and knew one of them would bite her.
Turn to the left.
She did no questions asked. There was a door ahead of her, all she had to do was reach it before she became a tasty meal. Her body sprung out lunging for the door just as one of the animals locked onto her heel. She screamed in pain as her hand grappled with the knob. The door opened, and she pulled herself through as she kicked at the animal holding her heel in its jaw.
She thought he was coming in with her when he hit a barrier and was forced to let her go. Safety. She sat against the door that was closed an
d cradled her heel in her hands. Silent tears slid out. The pain was almost too much for her to take and she wondered if she would lose her foot or even her leg.
“Is that what they teach you humans? To sit around and cry as you hold the part of you that is broken?”
“What’s wrong with you, don’t you have feelings?”
“Should we sit around in a group circle and talk about them or do you want to get away from the rising water before you drown. Or do you like pain?”
She would kill that voice. No, she was going to gut him with a rusty sword. Maybe she could burn him. No that wouldn’t be satisfying enough. Back to the sword. They would call this bloodthirsty, she never got mad, but right now she was so furious she was shaking. She leaned over and looked. He was right the water was rising, and there were sharks in it.
Was it too much to ask to catch a break? She tore a piece off her sundress and wrapped it around her heel hoping to keep it as clean as possible.
She was standing on the edge of a plateau. It could have been one they used for hydroponics. A quick glance at the water told her it didn’t matter she needed to climb. One hand over the other as she looked for foot holds that seemed to be non-existent she pulled her body up by the sheer force of her desire to live.
There were voices all around her telling her to give up or maybe they were the voices in her head that were tired and wanted to give up the fight. She wouldn’t give up she might die by the water or the sharks, but it won’t be because she let her body sink backward.
Her feet were wet and slipping, but she climbed faster. Her arms were shaking soon she wouldn’t be able to hold herself up. Looking up she saw the next plateau if only she could reach it. The water was up to her knees now, but she was almost there.
A tidal wave surged over her loosening her fingers and the ground she was clinging onto. She fell backward into the deep water.
Chapter Twenty
She flailed in the water. Drowning was in her future, it should have been obvious when she was thrown overboard.
You think too loud. Quiet. Go straight down.
Her inner voice was trying to kill her. No matter how much she tried to break the surface something blocked her like an invisible shield. Down she went putting those high school swimming lessons to use.
How much air did she have left? Death by drowning she wanted to die in her bed at a nice old age with lots of kids and grandkids around her. Maybe she was asking for too much. The water got darker, and she could feel the sharks rubbing against her legs. Fear held her in its grip even as she went further down.
That’s when she spotted the doors. She could get out but which one to take. There were four of them all different colors. Green, red, blue and yellow.
“Pick carefully. Only one will lead you to freedom.” The male voice was back again making her hesitate.
How was she supposed to know which one to pick? The brightest one, her favorite color, she needed help.
“I know you’re there which should I pick?”
Only you can choose.
Why did she have a super-secret voice in her head if it wasn’t helpful in times like these? Her air was running out. There were black spots floating across her eyes. She made a choice and went for it. Air rushed at her, she gasped her starved lungs breathed deeply.
She looked around this wasn’t freedom. True she wasn’t being chased by wild animals or on the verge of drowning or becoming shark food, but she wasn’t free. Freedom looked like the mountain she lived in with Javon. It looked like his navy-blue eyes and his arms holding her tight.
“I’m here what now?” Whatever test she was being put through was still going on, and she was getting real tired and wanted to go home.
“Why did you choose that door?”
She chose it on instinct. What was it that made her move towards it? “It was golden just like my dragon.”
“He’s not your dragon.”
“What are you talking about? He’s mine, and I’m not giving him up.”
“Then why haven’t you claimed him?”
“What?” She had claimed him, she remembered making the decision that she was keeping him forever.
“That’s not claiming. It’s slightly stalker-ish though.”
Her teeth ground together before she could stop them.
“What do you mean by claim?”
“When the two of you come together with the express purpose of being one. You’ll hear his voice in your head, and he’ll hear you. You’ll know what each other is feeling. Maybe you don’t want that.”
“I want that.” She needed to be as close to him as possible. How was it she didn’t know there was another level of intimacy they could achieve? “I want that.” Maybe he didn’t want that with her.
“Now for your next test.”
“No!” she screamed it. “No more test. I know what you’re doing. You could test me for a hundred years, but I have to hear him say it. I’ve been burnt before, and I won’t just assume.”
“Fair enough. Take the red door.”
She nodded her head and moved towards the door. “What about my power? How are we going to integrate?”
“Your strong Willow, but do you really think you could do all this by yourself? You embraced your power when you were young. I do recommend you talk to each other more.”
The voice faded away, and she stood looking at the red door. Her future was behind that door why was she hesitating? Because her heart would break if he rejected her. Then she put her hand on the knob and turned because she believed in his love.
She woke up in her body with a gasp. She was lying on the bed Javon was hunched over her holding her hand. His eyes were red. Had he cried for her?
“Javon?” Her voice was a whispered.
He raised red-rimmed eyes to look at her. “Willow?”
“I’m here, I’m well.” She moved shoving the cover off of her as she raised to her knees and got closer to him.
“I thought I lost you.” His arms crushed her as he rocked back and forth.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think. I just knew they couldn’t die.”
“You made the right choice. The Oracles said if she had died, the last barrier holding Mutufa in place would have been removed. You scared me. I didn’t know I was capable of fear until I saw your broken body lying on the floor.” His words were a confession that made her heart skip several beats. “I want you to be my mate.”
“You do?”
“I tried to wait, to hold back, to give you some time. I can’t wait anymore Willow, I need you. If I lost you, my life wouldn’t mean anything. This life that you gave me back is yours, and I want to be connected to you.”
“I thought.”
“What did you think?”
“Nothing, it’s silly now that I look back on it.”
“You thought I didn’t want you. I tried to show it.”
“You did, your every action said you wanted me. It was all in my head.”
“I don’t just want you, I love you.”
Tears of joy streamed down her face, and she didn’t care if you weren’t supposed to cry because she loved him so much.
“I love you Javon. I have for a while now. I might have loved you when you came to me in that first dream. Teasing me, challenging me, or maybe it was when you called me Brave Willow. My heart belongs to you.”
His hand caressed down her side.
“We have to wait until you feel better.”
She flexed her foot, her heel was undamaged. Her lungs weren’t gasping for air.
“I’m well.”
“Willow.” Passion and caution choked the words coming from him.
“I don’t want to wait another hour or another minute. I want to be one with you.”
“I know, I want to be one with you.”
He picked her up and laid her in the center of the bed. He grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled the tee over his head. Her eyes took him in. His long, lean muscled body called
out to her making her want to touch him.
She watched him as he undid the buttons on the jeans he was wearing. The rasp of the zipper was loud in the silence of the room. His hand gripped the sides of his jeans pushing them down. His thick cock rose to greet her.
Visions of her on her knees went through her mind. She needed a day, a week or more to explore his cock for the first time. Then she would take a lifetime to make sure she got it right the first time. He stood there naked, she suddenly felt overdressed.
When she went to rise, he shook his head no. She laid down and waited for him. He went to the bottom of the bed and took her foot into his hands. His strong fingers caressed her instep before he began to massage the foot. He took the other in his hands massaging it.
His hands slid up her calves working the muscles until they felt soft and pliable. A sigh of pleasure came from her as his strong hands kneaded her legs making her body languid even as her pussy tightened with need.
“I love what your hands are doing to me.”
“I want to touch you. Sometimes I get so caught up in starting from the top I never reach the bottom.”
“I’ll encourage you to massage me any day.”
His hands went to her knees and began to push her sundress up as his hands rubbed her.
“Are they sensitive?”
He placed a kiss on the back of her knee that had her twitching.
“Yes, sensitive.” He lifted her other leg and did the same thing.
How could she not know she was so sensitive there? Her dress was lying over her thighs now as his hands moved upward. He was kissing and tasting her. Using his hands to drive her passion higher then petting her until she could catch her breath before he started again.
“Lift your hips.” It was a growl that hit her pussy. She began to spasm, a mini orgasm overtook her even as she tried to raise her hips.
His talented fingers caught the edge of her panties and pulled them down. He took the hem of her dress and pulled it up until it was around her waist.
“You look good enough to eat.” He reached over and help her sit up as he took the dress off. Then he reached around her back and undid the bra leaving it in place. He helped her lay down and looked at her.
Willow's Dragon: Dragon Mates: A BBW Paranormal Romance Page 12
