All in all, he looked like the boy she’d known, but after surviving a hurricane.
He pushed past the oracle and locked his eyes on her, and his whole body froze as his gaze rushed over every part of her. His mouth opened slightly, and she could see the pulse at his neck as his hands tightened into fists.
He looked back at the oracle, and she could see him making decisions.
But what was he doing here?
“Aegis,” the dark oracle said, walking over to put an arm around him, which he shrugged off.
“Careful, witch,” he said, glaring at her. “We’ve been clear on this. I’m not your slave. And you aren’t supposed to capture dragons.”
“This one was trespassing in my area. Before I was frozen. She was frozen along with me, and we ended up together.”
Aegis blinked. “That doesn’t give you the right—”
“Why?” the oracle asked, turning on him. “Is she important to you? Do you know her?”
“No,” he said sharply. “I know her, but she isn’t important.”
Opal’s heart fell. Not because he was denying her, but because he was working with the dark oracle. It was all of her worst fears confirmed.
Aegis was on the bad side. Aegis was working with evil. She’d always wondered what had happened. She’d hoped in leaving, she’d be giving him a chance to be better, but here she was, confronted with the proof she’d done nothing but caused them both a ton of suffering.
I’m sorry, Aegis, she thought to him silently. I’m sorry for everything.
His eyes turned to her, and the pain there was breathtaking, even if she was sure she was the only one who could see it. He was always good at hiding from everyone else.
And then he was cold again, shutting his pain down like he could turn off a light inside him.
“We said you wouldn’t do this again,” he said to Irial.
“And you weren’t supposed to follow me here,” she said. “Like it or not, I’m still in charge, Aegis.”
“It wasn’t like that when I first joined you,” he said snidely. “When you needed me.” He circled her, slightly menacing, wearing dark robes over dark-green garments. Old-fashioned, which was so like him.
“Things are different,” the dark oracle said. “I have a new dragon. And you’re so busy moping and finding fault with the shifters here that you aren’t even much help.”
“Maybe I never cared about being much help,” he said, yawning. “Anyway, it’s late, and I’m tired.” His eyes appraised the mattress again and Opal’s bonds. She could almost feel the yearning from him to investigate further.
Whenever he so much as glanced at her, it was like a magnet fighting the urge to cling.
But Aegis had always had rigid control. “Give her to me,” he said. “And I’ll keep helping you.”
“What do you mean give her to you?” the oracle asked. “Aegis, you can’t seriously—”
“For a mate,” he said. “That is the cost of my loyalty.”
The oracle looked at Opal, whose heart was hammering in her chest. “I don’t know. She has decided not to help me. Perhaps…”
Opal gaped at the woman, unsure of exactly what she was capable of.
The oracle strode close and stroked a hand over Opal’s face, and she jerked away. “My dear, you’re lonely, aren’t you? Perhaps if I gave you to Aegis, he could keep you under control, and you would have someone to be with. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
Opal shook her head. “I’m not helping you anymore.”
“You can make her, can’t you?” the oracle said, looking at Aegis. “With your powers.”
Aegis gave her a smile, but Opal felt the urge to run, knowing with Aegis, you had to go by the feeling in the room, not the expression on his face. And right now, the feeling in the room was like the tingling just before lightning struck.
But the stupid woman was walking closer to him. Running a finger down his chest. “You haven’t taken interest in any woman here. And I feel I’m losing you for our cause.” She looked over her shoulder at Opal. “Perhaps this is the perfect solution to both of my problems.”
Aegis nodded. “Perhaps.”
Opal glared at him, still angry he was working with this demon of an oracle, on the wrong side of everything. How could he do that?
Well, she knew how. Aegis had a lot of damage, and she’d never been sure how to help him overcome it. Plus, an obsession with power stemming from a ridiculously awful childhood.
But she’d hoped for more for him.
He ran his tongue slowly over his top lip as he coldly appraised her. “So what is the deal? You give her to me, and I control her for you?”
The oracle nodded. “She creates my illusions. I need her.”
“So sheer vanity, then?” he asked.
The oracle folded her arms, tossing her hair brattily. “I may need it for other things later.”
Aegis let out a hollow laugh, walking past her. “Fine. Deal.”
“Shake on it?” the oracle asked, putting out a hand.
Aegis just raised an eyebrow at it, ignoring her. “No. You can trust me.”
The oracle sighed. “Dragons are more trouble than they’re worth,” she said, taking a step toward the door. “Well, mate her, then. Put her under my control again, and she’s yours.” The oracle’s eyes flashed. “Let me down, and you’ll see what I’m capable of, dragon.”
Aegis nodded but rolled his eyes as the door shut behind her.
Suddenly, it was just the two of them alone, with years of childhood memories and centuries of pain between them.
The loneliness in his eyes. The disappointment in her own.
And then the moment shattered like a window into shards of glass, and he rushed forward, kneeling at her side.
His head was bowed, leaning against the mattress, and his hands were dug into the sheets, holding on so hard she saw his knuckles turn white.
“Opal,” he said. “Opal.” Over and over he said her name as she watched in wonder while the scariest dragon she’d ever seen in her life openly wept.
Chapter 2
Aegis felt his whole body shaking, couldn’t stop the shock going through him, the completely overwhelming emotions coursing through him, just at the sight of her face.
Her voice.
She was alive. She was here. He felt tears streaming down his face and didn’t care to do anything about them. Who knew what his malfunctioning body was doing at this moment?
She was here.
He held on to the sheets, fearing if he reached out to touch her, she’d disappear into nothing. That this would all be a dream.
“Aegis,” her voice said, cutting into the painful haze that engulfed him.
No, he couldn’t look at her yet. Couldn’t see her. Couldn’t face her.
He hadn’t found her on his own. He’d let her be captured. How long had she been down here? Now that he was breathing better, he could let his mind wander over all the other terrible things he was thinking.
And what was she thinking?
He wouldn’t invade her mind. He’d never had to. And he’d always had a kind of respect for her that didn’t extend to anyone else. She’d never liked that about him, but that’s how it was. No one else had earned anything from him.
“You don’t… I can’t…” He twisted his hands into the sheets.
“We have to get out of here.”
His gaze snapped up to hers. Beautiful eyes, like full moons, shimmering in opalescent blue and purple. He wanted to stare into them forever, but she was right. They were in danger. That had been the whole plan when he’d told the oracle he was going to claim her. It had been the only way to get them alone.
But what was he going to do? He had no doubt the oracle could come after them.
He was done with this side, knowing what they’d done to Opal and that they’d never just release her on their own. The temptation to go after all of them, to wait until the oracle left and go burn them all
, was strong.
But it wasn’t the most important thing right now. The most important thing was rescuing Opal and getting her somewhere safe.
There was only one place he could go, and he felt his teeth grind at the thought of it.
He reached up and tested Opal’s chains with his claws, shocked by the toughness there. Truly made to hold a dragon, even one who seemed to be suppressed as Opal was. He’d seen enough collars by now to recognize them.
He let acid flow slightly from under his claws and watched it burn through the metal with a sense of satisfaction. When she was free, he jerked her forward and into his arms.
She struggled slightly out of shock, and then settled in, holding still, sensing he just needed to hold her for a moment.
He stepped back and flushed, realizing her gown was slightly see-through. Her curves womanlier and soft. He whipped off his robe and pulled it around her, wrapping her up with the belt.
“Aegis, you’ve trapped my arms,” she said gently, but he ignored her.
“Listen,” he said. “I’m going to kidnap you. That way if we get caught, if something goes wrong, you won’t be implicated.”
She swallowed. “Why?”
“We’re going somewhere I didn’t want to go.” One corner of his mouth turned up slightly. “But for you, I’ll go anywhere.”
“I’m touched,” she said drily.
“I heard the sarcasm there,” he said. “But I don’t care. Think whatever you want about me. I’m just glad you’re alive.”
She gasped as she was hefted up like she weighed nothing and thrown over Aegis’s shoulder. He walked toward the door and threw it open. He eyed her necklace.
“Let me guess. You can’t shift,” he said.
She shook her head painfully.
His face tightened in anger. “I’ll carry you.” He set her down and looked around them. No sign of the oracle. He closed his eyes and listened in, trying to hear her.
Nothing.
Then he transformed into his dragon, giant, easy to see, not safe unless they took off right now and found protection. As much as it grated, his pride meant nothing when it came to protecting Opal. He scooped her up in his talons, clutching her against his chest, and took off into the sky.
If he had to fly all night, he’d get to where they were going. If he had to beg on his knees for their lives, he’d get them sanctuary.
Fate had somehow delivered his mate back into his hands. Not just his mate, his best friend, the only person who had ever loved him.
He was never letting anything happen to her again. Never letting her out of his sight. By the end of the night, she would know what she meant to him.
She was his. She was safe. And she was never leaving his side again.
Aegis called out to Dom as they got closer to the mansion. He’d been here only a couple times before, but he knew the way by heart, and he wanted them prepared for his arrival. Opal would need clothing and food, and he would need them to be ready to not attack him as soon as he landed.
I’m coming in. I’ve got Opal, he called out in his mind, hoping Dom, with his powerful psychic abilities, could hear him.
Aegis? Dom called back groggily. What do you mean you’re coming here?
They had Opal, I saved her, and now I need a place to stay.
And you’re coming here? But the dragons—
They can deal, Aegis retorted.
Opal stirred in his arms. She’d slept for most of the trip, which was good because it was a long, cold ride and she didn’t need to tire herself more by staying awake.
All right, Dom said. We’ll be ready when you get here. As ready as we can be.
Good, Aegis said. See you soon.
The forests flew by in a dark blur beneath him, and he kept his eyes focused on the horizon. No point thinking about what the dark oracle would do when she found them gone, when she realized he’d betrayed her. No point wondering if she’d dare try to take on dragons with only Topaz by her side.
Right now, he just needed a safe place to land, and this was the only one he could think of.
The mansion appeared in the distance, faint lights on in some of the rooms, the grounds huge and immaculately kept. So much nicer than where he’d been staying. As if they deserved it simply because they thought they were better than him. They too had picked the side that suited them; they just wanted to act all noble about it.
He tried to suppress the rising anger that filled him at the thought of seeing the other dragons. He would need to be calm, not show any disdain, if he was going to get them to help him.
Holding Opal tight, he descended onto the lawn and landed with a thump, protecting her with his arms. He set her down and then shifted quickly into his human form just as he saw dark figures walking out to meet him.
In front was Dom, the amethyst dragon, with his black hair and ridiculous purple highlights. Behind him was Alistair, the diamond dragon, with his white hair shimmering even on a moonless night. And then behind him was his worst enemy, Zach, the onyx dragon. He’d made himself the impromptu leader of this little crew, and he’d also made Aegis’s life a living hell and never apologized for it.
Onyx walked forward past the others and stood in front of Aegis, folding his arms. He nodded to Opal, and Aegis let out a hiss, moving in front of her.
“Don’t even look at her.”
Onyx raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And you’re in the place to be making demands, are you, Aegis?”
Aegis frowned. It was true he wasn’t in the best position, and he hated that.
“I’m afraid you need our protection now, and you’re going to do what we tell you to, or you won’t be here at all.”
“But Opal—”
“If we figure out Opal isn’t going to harm us, then she can stay. But you’ve caused trouble for several people here, and with Sapphire’s pregnant mate here, we aren’t eager to have you.”
Aegis paced. “I’m not going to cause trouble. I just left everything I knew to come over to your side.”
“Why?” Onyx snapped. “Because of her?” He jerked his head at Aegis. “So without her, you would have kept on being evil?”
“Careful,” Aegis said. “I’m not collared. And while I think it would be good to align with you, if you test me, I’ll figure something out on my own. And when the oracle comes looking, I think you’d prefer to have me here.”
“We can manage,” Onyx said.
The two men glared at each other stubbornly, and then Dom stepped forward, holding out a hand to Opal. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, walking forward to shake his head. “Dominic, it’s good to see you.”
“Do I know you?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “But I know of you. I know of all of you, having studied dragons.” She shook their hands, and Onyx softened slightly.
“You understand, we have to protect our mates,” he said.
She nodded. “I think that’s all Aegis is trying to do, with his misguided notion that I’m his mate.”
The other dragons looked at him. “Is that true? You think she’s your mate?”
Aegis just gaped at Opal. They never spoke of this between them, but he’d always assumed she was on the same page. Except for that whole running away thing. But if she wasn’t his mate, why had she stayed with him so long?
“I’ll take your dumbfounded silence as a yes,” Onyx said.
“I don’t think. I know,” Aegis said, sending a glare at Opal. “I’ve known since we were children.”
Opal shook her head. “It’s neither the time nor place to fight about it, but I’m trying to help them understand you.”
Aegis snapped his gaze to hers. “I don’t need anyone to understand me. They’re lucky I’m offering to be on their team at all."
“So lucky,” Onyx said, rolling his eyes. “Anyway, we’ll have to have a meeting with all the dragons. Opal, you’re welcome to come. Probably best, since we’ll have questions for you as well.” Onyx looked ba
ck at the mansion. “The mates are asleep, as you chose to show up in the middle of the night, you anarchist.”
Aegis just shrugged. That was a fair description.
“But you better hope you didn’t bring any danger down on us,” Onyx said, starting back toward the house.
“None that wasn’t already headed your way,” Aegis said. “Except now you have two more dragons on your side.”
Onyx gave him a suspicious look. “As if I could ever trust you to be on our side.”
Aegis said nothing because the man was right. Opal gave him a curious look and then followed the others, and Aegis went with her, keeping his thoughts to himself.
Thoughts about how quickly he could use the others to be safe and then ditch them without a moment’s notice when he didn’t need them anymore.
Chapter 3
Opal felt a sense of foreboding as they entered the dragons’ mansion.
Aegis was behaving even worse than she’d expected with the group of dragons.
He was the worst at teaming up with others, preferring to be alone or with her only. He hated depending on or trusting anyone else.
In fact, she was surprised he’d come here at all. She guessed if he had anywhere else to go, they wouldn’t be here.
But it was hard to read him with that rictus smile plastered on while the other dragons led them into a large dining room with red carpet.
They sat with Onyx at one end of the table, looking like a pirate king with his dark, rakish hair and eyes and loose linen shirt over sweats.
All the dragons looked like they’d been abruptly awakened, in various states of tired dishevelment. Diamond looked the most alert, with his rainbow eyes and white hair Opal found personally alarming.
And then there was Dom with his ice blue eyes and dark hair. Was it just the light playing tricks on her, or was she seeing little bits of purple in the amethyst dragon’s hair?
She pulled Aegis’s robe tight around her, soaking in the warmth. Aegis was sitting at the other end of the table, facing Zach, and she hoped he wasn’t cold without his robes on. He had on a dark-green tunic over breeches and looked old-fashioned compared to the rest of them.
Emerald Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 6) Page 2
