Emerald Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 6)

by Terry Bolryder

  “You’re good at making friends, aren’t you?” the oracle said. “Anyway, the collar comes off when you learn to care about something other than yourself.”

  “I care about Opal,” Aegis said.

  “Yes, well, because you consider her part of yourself,” the oracle said. “But have you thought about the fact that Opal clearly considers other people to be just as important as herself?”

  “Preposterous,” Aegis said. “No human is as important as a dragon.”

  The oracle sighed, putting her head in her hands. “Oh dear.”

  “What is it?” Aegis snapped.

  The oracle looked up at him, steeling herself; against what, he didn’t know. “All right, let’s do this. If Opal agrees to mate you, she can remove it.”

  He grinned. “Easy. She’s my mate.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure it’ll be easy,” the oracle said. “But I’ll let Opal know.”

  “Not really fair to put that on her,” he said.

  “She can handle it,” the oracle said. “She may want to.”

  “But what if she mates me right away?” Aegis asked, feeling like his luck was too good to be true. Of course Opal would help him get the collar off and run away with him, right? It would be just like the good old days. When Opal had run away…

  He frowned.

  “Anyway, I’ll leave you with that and go speak with Opal. She’s up talking to the other women,” the oracle said. “I think the other dragons wanted to talk with you anyway. Discuss some of the ‘rules’ of the house.”

  Aegis sighed. “Fine. But I think you’ve made a mistake. Opal is going to free me.”

  The oracle shrugged. “I guess we’ll see, emerald dragon. I guess we’ll see.”

  “No, I’m not taking your collar off,” Opal said, staring at Aegis and trying to decide if he was really crazy enough to think she was just going to do it.

  “Why not?” he asked.

  She led him away from the room where she’d been getting to know the other women in the mansion, including Sapphire’s pregnant mate, Hallie, who was a very nice woman. “Come on. We’ll talk out here.”

  She led him down the stairs into the main room. She’d been surprised when the oracle had come up to give her the update, but she understood the woman’s reasoning. Truthfully, Opal knew Aegis better than anyone else. She would know the right time to allow his collar off.

  What she didn’t know was if she would ever feel right about mating him. But the oracle had assured her that if she found she didn’t think they would suit, the oracle would find a different way of doing things.

  Still, it was one more thing to consider when she thought about the possibility of mating Aegis.

  “Come on,” Aegis said. “I don’t get what the big deal is. We’ve both known since we were kids, right?”

  She shook her head. “No,” she said. “I’ve known what my father, and other dragons, and yes, what you have wanted for me. But I haven’t had time to think on my own.”

  “Even after you ran?” he asked.

  “I didn’t get to be on my own very long before falling into the dark oracle’s territory and getting frozen,” she muttered. She was still a little pissed about that. “But no, I haven’t had time on my own. I don’t know what I want.”

  Aegis drew up to his full height. “And why wouldn’t you want me? I’m powerful. I’m handsome. Perhaps I need a little rest, a little workout, but—”

  “All of those things are true,” she said, giving him a smile and pulling him to the side so he would quiet down. “But it’s also true that you’re a wild cannon. You go off at anything, and you want a different life than I do.”

  “What do you want?” he asked.

  She raised an eyebrow. “Wow. The first time you’ve asked me.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ve always assumed—”

  “That’s right,” she said, jabbing him in the chest. “You have always assumed you knew what I wanted. You always did what you wanted without thinking about the consequences. Do you know how many people you beat up?”

  “I was protecting you,” he said.

  She pushed forward, backing him up as his expression began to turn doubtful. “You were protecting your own ego, and you know it. You have always acted like I’m some sort of treasure no one else is allowed to look at.”

  “No, I haven’t,” he said.

  “Look what happened with Zach,” she said. “That’s why I ran.”

  “I know,” Aegis said. “And I hate him for it.”

  “Not him,” she said. “You. I couldn’t see you act like that anymore. You became something I didn’t like.” She folded her arms. “And since I’ve been gone, you seem to have become more of it. So no, Aegis, no matter how hot you are, I’m not going to fall for it. I’m not going to take your collar off.”

  “Fall for it?” he asked. “I wouldn’t trick you.”

  “Right,” she said. “But you’d trick the others, wouldn’t you? You wouldn’t think twice about betraying and leaving them if that collar was off, would you?”

  He stared flatly at her, his stunning green eyes luminous and guilty. “Of course.”

  “Ah, so you can tell me that.”

  “I see no reason to lie to you.”

  “That’s the problem,” she said. “You see no reason to lie to me, but you’d lie to anyone else. Leave everyone else in the dust.”

  “What has anyone else done for me?” he asked stubbornly. His blond hair was hanging over one eye, making him look disheveled. Had he given up completely on taking care of himself?

  “Aegis, you asked me what I wanted from life. I’ll tell you. I want something like this, with friends and teammates around. People I can trust and protect and who protect me. You just want us to be alone, fighting everything in the world and keeping me all to yourself, no matter what I want.”

  “And that’s why you left,” he said. “Because I wasn’t enough on my own.”

  She shook her head. “No. Because you never cared to ask me what was enough. You never asked what I needed. You just fought everyone we came across, no matter how friendly. Broke any rule or any trust to get what you wanted. You’re ruthless, Aegis, and with or without other people, that’s not how I want to live.”

  “So you want a puffball like Citrine,” he said bitterly.

  “No, I…” She trailed off, wondering if maybe she should use the jealousy flickering in his green eyes to her advantage. “Sure. Maybe. Maybe I like the gentlemanly type.”

  Aegis’s eyes narrowed. “I see.”

  “And maybe I like a man who takes care of himself. Who washes his hair and keeps it trimmed, who dresses like other people instead of some medieval—”

  His angry glare cut her off. “Fine. I get it. Anything else?”

  Onyx walked by with Ruby, and they both stopped to take a look at Aegis’s collar. He took a deep breath and turned to them, clearly trying to keep his temper under control as he heard Opal’s objections.

  But hey, at least he was listening to her for once, not just flying off the handle.

  If he could really do all of this, really try to change, then maybe this could work. She did like him. He was attractive, and—

  “Ooh, look at the collar,” Zach said. “It’s cute.”

  “Oh, punch yourself,” Aegis snarled, and Zach’s eyes glazed over.

  He reached up with his own fist and punched himself in the face, staggering back with a shout. Then he shook it off and glared at Aegis, who was smirking.

  “Oracle!” Zach shouted. “We’re going to need an adjustment.”

  Opal put her face in her hands, praying for patience, as the oracle came out of the kitchen, where she’d apparently been saying good-bye.

  As Zach and Ruby held Aegis while the oracle did something to his collar, Opal sighed. Of course it wasn’t going to be easy. Nothing with Aegis ever was.

  Chapter 5

  When the oracle had left, Aegis sought out O
pal, realizing she’d somehow disappeared in the ensuing fight after they’d adjusted his collar.

  No matter what anyone said, he was going to hate Zach until his dying breath. Even if the man hadn’t caused trouble for him and Opal, he was insufferably arrogant and rude and had the nerve to make fun of Aegis’s collar.

  And Aegis knew being restrained, having less power, was no laughing matter. People did things to you when you had less power. Hurt you.

  Or they had him when he was younger. He still remembered how he had found his power and what a great day that had been. Awful but then great.

  He sighed and looked up at the blue sky, enjoying the sun for a moment as he listened around him for any sign of Opal.

  He had excellent hearing and could also hear thoughts at some range, though nothing compared to Dom.

  He walked along a path that led to the back of the house and heard giggling. Giggling.

  He narrowed his eyes as a bench in the gardens came into view, and Opal and Citrine were sitting together on it. His hands curled into fists as he started to storm toward them, but then he remembered Opal’s words.

  She wanted him to play nice. Wanted him to be a fluff. Wanted him to be like Citrine. Well, fine. He’d meet this Citrine and be just like him. Be even better than him, in fact. Be the mushiest, horrible, sweet dragon possible. Just to show Opal that wasn’t really what she should want.

  Of course, what she should want was Aegis.

  He strode up to them, trying to stay cool, and stopped in front of them as they looked up. He put his hands behind his back, spread his feet, and tried to look casual as they stared at him.

  “Can we help you?” Citrine asked in a low voice.

  “Hm?” Aegis asked. “No, can I help you?”

  Citrine looked at Opal, who was avoiding Aegis’s eyes. “Um. No, I think we are fine. Did you need something?”

  Aegis fought down the urge to smack the other dragon in the head. If he didn’t have his collar on… “No. I just… wanted to introduce myself. I’m Aegis.”

  “I’m Citrine.” Citrine gave him a mild smile, but his eyes suggested he didn’t quite trust him, which made Aegis respect him all the more. They shook hands, and Opal glared up at him.

  “Can you go now?” she asked.

  “Why?” he asked. “Aren’t we all friends? Isn’t it best to all hang out together?”

  Citrine looked vaguely amused as he observed them but in no hurry to leave. “It’s fine with me.”

  Opal stiffened. “It’s not fine with me.” Her eyes were so beautiful in the sunlight. Soft purples and blues, iridescent like butterfly wings. Aegis couldn’t even hear what she was saying to him.

  Something about the whole thing with Zach and how that was exactly what she was talking about, and—

  “You aren’t even listening to me, are you?” she asked, exasperated. She pulled her long, black hair back with both hands and tied it in a ponytail. It made her features look sharper, but she still had a sweet, kind face. With those small but full lips, those pretty cheeks.

  “Stop it,” she said. “Ugh. Citrine, can you give us a minute?”

  “No need,” Aegis said. “I was listening. What’s the problem?”

  “No, you weren’t,” she said. “You were checking me out. And I suggest you listen, because if you ever want that collar off—”

  Citrine looked over as if he had just noticed the collar for the first time. “Ah. Congratulations, by the way.”

  Aegis turned to him, nearly dropping his polite mask in shock. “Excuse me?”

  “I meant no offense,” Citrine said politely. “It simply means you’re on our side, and I wanted to congratulate you.”

  Whatever snarky comment Aegis had been formulating disappeared, leaving him speechless in the face of Citrine’s disgusting “niceness.”

  Aegis folded his arms, truly bested. “Oh. Well, thank you.”

  “Anyway, I’m going in to get a late breakfast,” Citrine said. “I guess I missed all the excitement. I’ll have the others update me.” He took Opal’s hand and gave it a squeeze, and Aegis fought the urge not to kill him. Or beat on him.

  Because Opal apparently hated that.

  “It was good to see you again, Opal. I hope you stick around.”

  “I intend to,” she said, letting his hand go reluctantly.

  Aegis felt a growl building in his chest as he watched the other man go, and it didn’t subside until he felt Opal’s hand on his arm, stopping him.

  She sat down, tugging him with her. “Ugh. Did you have to ruin that, too? I was having a good talk with him.”

  Bitter bile swirled in Aegis. “Oh, were you? Well, you did say you were into that.”

  She sighed. “And what would you do about it if I was?”

  He shrugged. “Wait for you to see that he’s nice but utterly unsexy and not what a girl like you needs.”

  “Oh, and what do I need, great Aegis? Pray tell, since you know everything.”

  “I’m going to ignore the sarcasm because I do know everything, at least in regard to you,” he said, crossing his legs. “You see, you’re a good girl. A nice girl. Too afraid to offend anyone. Too afraid to hurt feelings or turn anyone down. That’s why a bad boy is perfect for you. I don’t give two shits what anyone thinks, and I care about you above any other.”

  She sighed. “But don’t you think you could be protective and not be quite as bad?”

  He cocked his head. “I don’t think so. It wouldn’t be any fun anyway.”

  She threw up her hands. “This is hopeless.” She started to stand, but he put a hand on her arm.

  “Don’t go,” he said. “I’m trying. I am. I just…”

  “Not enough,” she said, sitting down again. “Like I said, that thing with Zach. I wish you could just forgive him.”

  “No,” Aegis said.

  “Or forgive yourself,” she muttered.

  “What was that?” he asked sharply.

  “Nothing.”

  He’d heard her but had no idea what she meant and didn’t want to explore it. “What do you want from me? How can I prove I’m a marshmallow?”

  She sighed. “It’s not that I want a marshmallow. But I do want someone who isn’t going to make the world burn when I take off their collar.”

  “Hm,” he said. “So a marshmallow.”

  “I want to know you can care about something other than me,” she said. “I know you care about me. But what else? Nothing, seemingly.”

  “What does that matter?” he asked.

  “Because I don’t want to live in a dungeon,” she said. “And if you hate everyone, then even if we have physical freedom, we are still trapped behind mental walls. And I don’t want that for us. When we were little, we had to be alone. We had no one to trust. We were vulnerable. But we’re stronger now. We’re adults. And it’s time to learn to trust.”

  “I don’t want to trust,” he said. “People are awful.”

  “Well, I want to,” she said. “And if you’re going to be my mate, you may want to think about that.”

  Aegis frowned and stayed on the bench, pouting, as she started to leave.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “Inside to see Lana,” she said. “She promised I could play with one of her cats. Do you know Dom raised them from tiny kittens? That’s why they trail after him.” She sighed. “What a man.”

  “Marshmallow,” Aegis said, burning with jealousy.

  Opal gave him a wave and walked back to the house.

  Aegis just stared after her, simmering.

  Opal didn’t know what Aegis was up to for a while, until she was eating lunch with Onyx and his mate Erin.

  “Would you look at that?” Onyx said as Aegis walked in the front door with some sort of carrier under his arm.

  Opal cocked her head as Aegis stepped aside, shut the door, and set down the carrier and some bags he’d been holding as well. He was dressed differently than before, and his hair had
been cut.

  It was no longer shaggy and bedraggled. Now it was shiny, fashionably cut to frame his face, which looked much less tired.

  He was breathtakingly handsome. But then, he always had been.

  He had on new clothes, a leather jacket in a dark olive green that went well with his olive skin and a loose black tee shirt under that. Slim jeans that accented toned, muscular legs. And a black leather cuff on one wrist. Aegis always had nice hands. Long fingers. Strong.

  She swallowed, and her knees felt funny. Kind of weak. Her breath held in her chest as she waited for him to come over to her, start harassing her as usual.

  But he surprised her by just giving her a slight smirk and then picking up the carrier and bags and heading up to his room.

  Onyx raised an eyebrow, looking at Erin, who then looked at Opal. “What’s going on with you two?” he asked.

  Opal felt her throat go dry, thinking of Aegis again. “I just… let him know I expected more from him.”

  “I guess you’re the only one who can,” Onyx said. “Well, he looks good. I mean, not trustworthy kind of good. Not good personality kind of good, but—”

  Erin whacked his arm. “Maybe he’s trying.”

  Onyx rubbed the back of his neck. “Ouch. Yeah, maybe.” He put an arm around his mate, curving his hand over her stomach protectively. “How is the baby doing?”

  She sighed. “Fine. Stop asking every five minutes.”

  “But I want to know every five minutes. I’m actually holding myself back. I want to know every one minute.”

  Erin sighed. “Zach, it’s fine. The baby is fine. I’m fine. We’re all fine.” She looked up at the stairs. “Except maybe Aegis. He seems mildly insane. I can’t believe he’s on our side now. Supposedly.”

  Opal bit her lip. Supposedly was right. Right now he was behaving, hell bent on winning her. But that didn’t mean it would continue.

  But as she watched Onyx tease his mate, she remembered what Aegis had said before about humans mating dragons. What did Aegis mean by that? She meant to get it out of him sooner than later, no matter how stubborn he was about it.

  She left the two together and walked toward the stairs, too curious about what Aegis was doing upstairs without her to not go check on him.