Dragon Awakened

by Jaime Rush

  So his death would be filed with the government but not the suspicious nature of it. No need to involve the Muds—the Mundane police force.

  “I’m not just here because of my brother’s murder.” Violet pulled out a piece of paper and laid it on the desk. It contained the names of five other Fringers. “Swamp trash,” she knew they were called more often than the Fringer moniker they’d given themselves long ago. “As I was about to say, there have been five similar murders in the last ten days. All Breathed. If you’ll look up these names, you may find that their deaths were all obscured, the same way you’re going to obscure Arlo’s murder. Surely the Guard has put together that something’s going on here. Someone’s inciting the feuding clans.”

  Mia barely glanced at the list. “The feuding clans are inciting the feuding clans. That’s what you do down there.”

  “We’ve been at peace for the last ten years. There has been no provocation, no stirrings or burglaries or anything. But there will be. My family is ready for blood. I’m sure these other families are, too. That’s how it works: someone’s killed for ‘good reason’ and there’s a retaliation murder, and then another.” The Garzas were completely wiped out. It pained Violet to know her family was responsible, even if the Garzas deserved it.

  Violet pointed to the list of names. “I bought time in my family by doing this research to show a pattern. They’re only going to hold out for so long before they start looking for justice. Justice the Guard can’t—or won’t—provide.” She met her gaze. “You can prevent bloodshed by finding out who’s behind this. A teenage boy died.”

  Movement beyond the woman caught her eye. One of the office doors opened, and a man walked out. Her Dragon snarled at the sight of him, the Vega who had tangled with her family on several occasions in the name of the Guard: Kade something or another. The one she’d attacked, but let’s just forget about that, shall we? His green-eyed gaze homed right in on her. Something fiery sparked between them, surprising her because she didn’t know what it was exactly. Sure as hell wasn’t that. She turned back to the Argus. “Will you investigate?”

  Mia shook her head. “I’m sorry, but this looks like typical Fringe infighting, and we are way too busy to deal with that particular kind of crazy right now. Maybe it’s the effect of living on the edge of the Field. Who knows what the lack of full Deus Vis does to you after a while—”

  “We get plenty of Deus Vis.” Latin for “god force,” it was the essential energy that fed Crescents’ deity essence. The supernatural energy emanating from the crystal makeup of the island was behind the electromagnetic energy found in the Bermuda Triangle that threw off ship and airplane instruments. The Field of Deus Vis extended in a crescent shape into the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area, fading at the edges. The Fringe lay at the southern curve of that edge.

  “But how would you know? I don’t mean to sound derogatory, but to give you an example, if you grow up crazy, that’s your norm.”

  If Violet cared to consider it, maybe it made sense. The Fringers were on the edge, in more ways than one. But she didn’t care to consider it, not now or ever.

  Violet stood, snatching up her paper. Her cheeks burned when she saw those who had been listening, smirks on their faces. Kade’s expression, as he paused outside the door from which he’d come, held curiosity, as though he were trying to figure out who she was. The last time he’d seen her she was grimy with mud, having just come from feeding the alligators.

  On the door of the office Kade stood near, a brass plate read LT. ALEC FERRO. Maybe he would be more open-minded. She aimed for Kade, pasting on a docile expression.

  Kade wasn’t buying it, not by the way he shored his shoulders and shifted his body to face her. The jerk was a waste of honey-colored hair and a mouth made for sin. Too bad a scar marred his gorgeous face, though the waves of his hair partially hid it. She remembered when the wound was fresh, bleeding like a bitch down the side of his face. His mouth curved in a smile. He was looking forward to tussling with her.

  Double jerk.

  She feinted left at the last second, pushing open the door and approaching a middle-aged man whose fire in his eyes indicated he was Dragon like her. Good. He stood immediately.

  “I’m sorry to barge in on you, but your officer isn’t taking me seriously. My name is Violet Castanega.”

  A hand clamped onto her arm, followed by the scent of sandalwood. Kade took her in with a surprised expression. “You’re Violet Castanega?”

  Yeah, the one who jumped on you. She tried to yank her arm away and focused on Ferro. “I need to talk to someone reasonable.”

  “I’ll escort her out, sir.”

  Kade started to pull her away, inciting her Dragon. Getting into an altercation with a Vega at the station—or Catalyzing to Dragon—was only going to prove how uncivilized Fringers were. Or crazy, as the Argus implied. She would not prove them right.

  “Dragons are being killed.” She kept her gaze on Ferro as Kade pulled her toward the door. “Someone is targeting the Fringer families, starting a war…”

  Ferro held up his hand. “Wait, Kavanaugh.”

  She’d been out the door, but Kade stopped at his commanding officer’s order. Ferro crooked his elegant fingers, indicating that Kade close the door once they were back inside. Several officers, including Mia, hovered, ready to tackle her.

  Mia Kavanaugh. Ah, the two green-eyed jerks were related. Even though Kade looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, he felt old in a way she couldn’t pinpoint. Mia was probably younger than Violet.

  She focused on Ferro, who felt much older. He was distinguished and poised, the benefit of having lived a long life filled with privilege and pride. Behind him, a large, gilt-framed portrait showed a Dragon incinerating a village. The plate mounted on the bottom of the frame read DRAKOS. Dragon god of peace and war, and one of the Tryah. This man apparently idolized him. Maybe not so good.

  Ferro said, “Finish what you were going to say.”

  Her control had paid off. She pulled free of Kade’s grip, handing Ferro the paper on which she’d outlined the timeline of deaths. “Someone is killing and Breathing Dragons, and they’ve chosen the Fringe clans because they know the Guard will figure it’s us misbehaving. First, one of the most vengeful families was targeted. An unprovoked attack on the Peregrines guarantees backlash, so who in their right mind would do it? Then the Peregrines killed one of the Wolfrums, their biggest and closest foe.”

  Ferro leaned back in his chair, perusing the list. “Sounds like the typical barbarian activity we’ve seen before.”

  “But the initial attacks weren’t provoked. You hear things in the Fringe, at the least, rumors. Three people were killed, so the victims’ families felt they had reason to take revenge. We don’t kill without reason. Someone wants war. I’m asking you to find out why.”

  “What would one hope to gain by inciting the clans?” Ferro rubbed the gold pendant he wore, a symbol that looked like curled whiskers. The same one in the Drakos painting.

  “That’s what I’m hoping you can find out. Being the authority, and outsiders, maybe you could ferret out more information than I can.”

  “Fringers aren’t exactly cooperative where the Guard is concerned. Which, frankly, is why I’m surprised that you’ve come to us. Does your family know you’re here?”

  She almost snorted. Thankfully she held it in. “No. We don’t have a cordial relationship with the Guard.”

  Kade did snort. “If only you would stop breaking the law…”

  She flashed him a flame-eyed look, even if he was right. The Fringers, her clan included, had a long history of flouting the law. When they claimed the land at the edge of the Field over three hundred years ago, they decided they also lived on the edge of the law.

  She continued. “If the Guard intercedes and conducts an investigation, the clans would back off.” She hoped.

  Ferro glanced at her list, then at her. “I know it’s upsetting to lose one of your
family members, but these feuds have been going on for…well, since Lucifera. I remember the warnings about wandering into the pirate clan territories.”

  He remembered? “You were there? On Lucifera?”

  He gave a curt nod. “Even then the Castanegas and other clans had a reputation. The island’s Deus Vis drew ships to it like a magnet, trapping the inhabitants the way we are trapped here. Some were pirate ships, crewed by barbarians. Those pirates were already enemies, and their hatred for each other erupted into battles. They were banished to the far side of the island, and carved out territories adjacent to one another. Interestingly, they did the same thing here.”

  She craved more information about the island and the legends. None of her living clan members had been on the island. “How old were you when the island sank?”

  “Eight.”

  The oldest Crescents were only ten. “So you remember the war?” She nodded to the painting.

  “I remember fighting, but the Tryah were scapegoats.” He gave her a tight smile. “At least that’s my opinion. But you’re not here to discuss Lucifera.”

  No, she wasn’t. “This isn’t about the feuds.” She pressed her hand to her solar plexus. “I feel it here. Something isn’t right.”

  “I think it’s probably a combination of the temperament down there, plus the unusually strong fluctuations we’ve been seeing from the impending solar storm.”

  That again. “We’ve felt the effects before, and they’ve never incited anyone to murder.”

  “I would suggest you weather the storm and stay out of trouble.”

  He was dismissing her.

  Violet’s gaze went to a map of Miami on the wall behind him. Went, in fact, to a red pin at the western edge of her clan’s territory where Arlo had died. She took several steps forward, Kade shadowing her. She pulled up the memory of the map she’d made at home. Six red tacks that matched where the murders had happened. This map had some yellow ones, too.

  “You know about the murders. What are the yellow pins for?”

  Ferro moved to block her view of the map with his large, muscular body. “We are investigating, Ms. Castanega. As you can see.” Those words grated out. “But I cannot discuss the details of the case.”

  This didn’t make sense. He was dismissing her, yet he knew about the murders. “Thank you for your concern,” he said. “I’m sure it took a lot of courage for you to come here.” He looked beyond her. “Escort her out.”

  Okay, that was a dismissal. Kade put his hand on her back to guide her out the door. The prickles that zinged through her at his touch were as odd as what she’d felt when their eyes had met. She involuntarily jerked away from him. He grabbed her arms and shoved her against the wall, pinning her wrists and flattening his body against hers.

  “No fast moves,” he said, his voice a growl in her ear, his breath hot on the back of her neck. “Or I’ll remove you from the premises bodily.”

  Bodily. Which meant, his hands on her body. The idea crackled across her skin like the heat flush she got when she had to go into the alligator pens. Except Kade smelled a hell of a lot better.

  “Going for another cheap thrill?” she rasped, her cheek mashed against the wall.

  “What?”

  She lowered her voice to a near whisper and turned to look at him. “You grabbed my boob on our last tussle.”

  “That was an accident, and you know it. Come on, you think I need to cop a feel on a suspect to get off?”

  No, she supposed not when he looked like that. Arrogant son of a bitch.

  In her peripheral vision, she sensed other officers at the ready, but Kade’s body heat enveloped her, overwhelmed her senses—and had her Dragon panting. “I was moving away from you. Your hand on my back, specifically. I don’t like being touched. If I promise to be a good girl, will you let me go?” Contriteness saturated her voice.

  The fog in his eyes swirled provocatively. “Can you be a good girl? Is that even possible?”

  “Try me. After all, you have plenty of backup.”

  “I don’t need backup.”

  What were they talking about? Oh, Heathe, Dragon goddess of sensuality, were they…flirting? No. Not possible. Why did her body tingle then? Why was her Dragon shivering with a lust she hadn’t felt in forever?

  Enemy! Stop that. I know it’s been a while, and then only with boring ole Mundanes, but really.

  Kade released her, and she rubbed her shoulders where he’d held them. “I can find my own way out.”

  “Sorry, policy.” His fingers settled on her mid-back again as he guided her toward the door. “I have to escort you.”

  She heard someone whisper, “Wouldn’t want her to go bat-shit crazy in here.”

  Her mouth tightened in response, the only one she would show.

  Another man murmured, “Kade said she’s as nuts as the rest of the Fringers. I wouldn’t mind her going nuts on me.”

  Several men chuckled, the thick sound of innuendo charging their laughter.

  Kade lifted his hands, not looking the least bit contrite. “You did go crazy. Jumped me, tore a chunk of my hair out.”

  “You were beating my brother to a pulp.”

  “He deserved it. I came to arrest him. He should have gone peacefully. Instead he Catalyzed and went all scales and fangs on me.”

  She swallowed back the angry things she wanted to say as the memory of that terrible day returned. She eyed the fine line that lanced Kade’s right eyebrow and across his temple. “Nice scar.”

  He paused at the door that led out to the reception area, drawing his finger across it. “Yes, it is. Scars are a badge of honor in the Guard. Arlo did me a favor.” He arched that eyebrow. “And the ladies like it. Gives me a dangerous look.”

  “How’d that shiner work for you? Did that make you look mad, bad, and dangerous, too?”

  A black guy who reminded her of Wesley Snipes hovered nearby, amusement on his face. “Kavanaugh, you didn’t tell us this little girl gave you that shiner.” He eyed her up and down, the kind of survey that made her feel marginalized. His taunting gaze remained in place as it shifted to Kade. “You must be getting soft.”

  Now it was Kade’s mouth that tightened into a line. This was not friendly camaraderie, especially since the black guy was jabbing Kade in front of her.

  Why the hell she had the insane urge to defend him, to say that he’d fought…well, like a tiger, she had no idea. No, take satisfaction at humbling him in front of his colleagues. And umbrage at the Wesley guy calling her “little.” Not at five foot seven.

  Get me out of here. She turned the door handle.

  It wouldn’t move. Damn. She wanted to get out of there. Now.

  Kade leaned close, pressing a series of buttons and pushing the door open for her. “Allow me.”

  She gave him a look that, while it may not kill, hopefully would singe him. Except, no…he gave her a bemused half-smile. She stalked out. Behind her, she heard the muffled laughter of the people who had no doubt heard every word of their exchange.

  THE DISH

  Where Authors Give You the Inside Scoop

  From the desk of Jaime Rush

  Dear Reader,

  DRAGON AWAKENED and the world of the Hidden started very simply, as most story ideas do. I saw this sexy guy with an elaborate dragon tattoo down his back. But much to my surprise, the “tattoo” changed his very cellular structure, turning him into a full-fledged Dragon. I usually get a character in some situation that begs me to open the writer’s “What if?” box. And this man/Dragon was the most intriguing character yet. I had a lot of questions, as you can imagine. Who are you? Why are you? And will you play with me? This is the really fun part of writing for me: exploring all the possibilities. I got tantalizing bits and pieces. I knew he was commanding, controlling, and a warrior. And his name was Cyntag, Cyn for short.

  Then the heroine made an appearance, and she in no way seemed to fit with him. She was, in the early version, a suffer-no-foo
ls server in a rough bar. And very human. I knew her name was Ruby. (I love when their names come easily like that. Normally I have to troll through lists and phone books to find just the right one.) The television show American Restoration inspired a new profession for Ruby, who was desperately holding on to the resto yard she inherited from her mother. I knew Ruby was raised by her uncle after being orphaned, and he’d created a book about a fairy-tale world just for her.

  But I was still stumped by how these completely different people fit together. Until I got the scene where Ruby finds her uncle pinned to the wall by a supernatural weapon, and the name he utters on his dying breath: Cyntag.

  Ah, that’s how they’re connected. [Hands rubbing together in anticipation.] Then the scene where she confronts him rolled through my mind like a movie. Hot-headed, passionate Ruby and the cool, mysterious Cyn, who reveals that he is part of a Hidden world of Dragons, magick, Elementals, and danger. And so is she. Suddenly, her uncle’s bedtime stories, filled with Dragon princes and evil sorcerers, become very dangerously real. As does the chemistry that sparks between Ruby and Cyn.

  I loved creating the Hidden, which exists alongside modern-day Miami. Talk about opening the “What if?” box! I found lots of goodies inside: descendants of gods and fallen angels, demons, politics, dissension, and all the delicious complications that come from having magical humans and other beings trapped within one geographical area. And a ton of questions that needed to be answered. It was quite the undertaking, but all of it a fun challenge.

  We all have an imagination. Mine has always contained murder, mayhem, romance, and magic. Feel free to wander through the madness of my mind any time. A good start begins at my website, www.jaimerush.com, or that of my romantic suspense alter-ego, www.tinawainscott.com.

  From the desk of Kristen Ashley

  Dear Reader,