She bit her lip as she started up the steps, trying to be as quiet as possible, but realized he would hear the creak regardless.
Well, she did have her collar off.
She focused, making sure no one was watching her, and pictured the form she wanted in her mind. Felt the world becoming huge around her as she shot down and down, smaller and smaller.
Oh, it felt too good to use her powers again. Even if as a small, white mouse it was much harder to go up the stairs than it was as a human.
As the opal dragon, she was the only multi-shifter she knew of. Other than her family, who was long dead now. Her power was why her father had been so obsessed with keeping her hidden and then pairing her with the right dragon. He’d been obsessed with making sure her power went forward and combined with someone equally strong.
She shuddered at the thought and huffed as she finally cleared the top step and ran along the wall toward Aegis’s room, hoping no one came out and looked down.
His room seemed miles away in mouse steps, but she cleared it quickly, despite being out of shape. When she was close to the door, she sat back on her tiny haunches and listened with her large, rounded ears.
She heard scuffling, like Aegis was reaching in the carrier. “Come out of there. I’m not going to hurt you. Cuddles and loves. A new friend, that’s what the shelter said, right? My ass,” he muttered, and she warmed just listening to him. That was the Aegis she knew.
She was trying to peek under the crack of the door when she heard a shriek.
“Ack! Mouse!” She looked up to see a giant human, Lana, Dom’s mate, pointing at her with genuine fear.
But why? She was a tiny mouse. What about that was frightening? But Lana had taken off running for the stairs, and Opal heard chaos breaking out as Dom came running up to answer his mate.
“What’s going on?” his deep voice boomed.
“Mouse!” Lana said. “There!” She pointed, trying to scramble away from it as quickly as she could.
“I’ll catch it,” Dom said, crouching and coming forward.
Crap. Opal wasn’t sure what to do at this moment. If she shifted, they’d know her powers, and she was generally supposed to keep it secret. She winced back, studying her escape options, and then the door opened and a giant Aegis looked down at her.
“There you are,” he said, narrowing green eyes on her with a cruel grin. He bent down and scooped her into a hand and covered her with the other. “Sorry. This is mine. I lost it. Thanks for finding it.” He turned his back on the others and shut the door.
She breathed a sigh of relief just before Aegis glared down at her.
“What the fuck did you think you were doing?” He set her on the bed and paced, holding his hair. “You could have been killed. Humans hate little pests like mice.”
She transformed. “I didn’t know that.”
“You should’ve—” He turned around for a second, saw she was naked, and flushed as he quickly turned away again. “Put on some clothes.”
“I don’t have any,” she said.
He pulled off his jacket and tossed it at her. “One second.” Covering his eyes, he walked past her into the bathroom and came back with a long, white bathrobe. Then he tossed it at her. “Tell me when you’re changed so I can yell at you again.”
“No need,” she said, wrapping herself in the robe. “There, done. And I would have been fine. I could have shifted if I needed to.”
He faced her, looking hot in just the tee shirt and slim jeans and that damn hot leather cuff on his beautiful wrist. If he paid even a little attention, he’d notice her reaction to him. But right now, he was completely consumed in the need to chastise her.
Not her favorite thing.
It was odd how her being naked hadn’t seemed to affect him.
“Don’t you get it?” he snapped angrily. “You can’t afford to show them your powers. And of all things, a mouse. A tiny, soft…” He bit his lip and turned away. “You don’t understand, do you, Opal? What I went through when you left. You never will.”
Guilt ran through her at that, but she refused to be the only person blamed for everything that had gone wrong with them. She strode to him, grabbing his shoulders and yanking him around.
“You listen to me, Aegis. I’m not a child. You don’t get to scold me like that. And you think you’re the only one who suffered? I have been asleep or in chains for hundreds of years.”
His face softened, and he wrapped his arms around her. “I just didn’t like it. Seeing them coming at you. Thinking I could lose you again.”
She nodded against him, sinking into the hug. “Thanks for coming to my rescue. Again.”
“Sure,” he said.
She bit her lip and pulled back. “Anyway…”
“Yes, anyway. What were you doing outside my door? Eavesdropping?”
She flushed. “Um. No?”
“Oh?” he asked, taking a step forward. “That so?”
She backed up, sitting on the bed when her legs hit it. “Okay, maybe a little. I mean, it’s not like you to not even say hi.”
“I didn’t think there was any point until I’d started working on the new me. You made it clear you didn’t like me as I was.” He bent and looked in the carrier, his shiny blond hair swinging around his jaw as he did. “Here, I’m already working on this. I’ll have a cat following me around just like Dom. And I’ll cook you something, like Citrine.”
She heard a strained meow as Aegis forcefully pulled a large, gray cat out of the carrier, and the cat tried its hardest to stay in.
“Um, Aegis,” she said, wondering if maybe he should leave it be.
“No,” he said. “I’ve got this.” He tried to pick up the cat, but it hissed and leapt out of his hands and plopped itself flat on the ground with another hiss, not willing to move.
Aegis scowled. “You want to know what this little bastard is named? Cuddles,” he said sardonically, nudging the cat with his foot. “Not that I have any idea why—”
The cat hissed at him and then fixated on Aegis’s moving foot, which was encased in a sock.
The next minute, the cat had lunged, and Opal gasped as the large, fluffy, matted animal attached itself to Aegis’s leg. And began moving.
Opal covered her mouth, smiling widely, as Aegis looked at her cockily, clearly proud.
“See? Animals love me,” he said.
“Yeah,” she said, giggling. “Really love you.”
“What do you mean?” Aegis asked stiffly. Then he looked down and saw what she did, that Cuddles was humping his leg. Quite avidly.
“He fits his name,” she said, breaking into full laughter, holding her stomach as Aegis went pale with horror.
“Obscene,” he hissed, staring down at the animal as if he didn’t know what to do with it.
Fearing for the creature, she reached down to remove it, but before Cuddles could get any ideas, Aegis moved back, bringing the cat with him.
“No,” he said sharply. “I’m learning patience, but seeing this animal hump you would be beyond my tolerance.” He limped toward the bathroom, Cuddles still attached, his claws sank into Aegis’s new jeans, hanging on so he could get his lovin’.
Opal waited until Aegis closed the bathroom door before falling back on the bed, laughing outrageously.
She heard the water run and a hiss from the cat, and then Aegis opened the door and quickly shut it behind him.
She wiped tears of mirth from her cheeks and sat up, exhaling. “How did you get him off?”
Aegis frowned. “Cats hate water. I sprinkled some on him.” He folded his arms. “And you’re laughing at me.”
She nodded and giggled again as he lunged at her, catching her on the bed and straddling her, as he had many times when they’d wrestled as kids.
“Laugh at me. I’ll show you,” he threatened playfully, tickling her despite her struggles. It was all so familiar, so warm, and it wasn’t until he pinned her hands above her head in one of his that sh
e looked up at him and realized things were really quite different.
He was a man now, and she was a woman. They’d both had lifetimes apart, though she’d been asleep through much of it.
He seemed to feel the change in the moment as well and removed himself quickly from on top of her and sat down on the side of the bed.
She sat up slowly, her heart pounding, oddly disappointed it was over.
Shyly, she placed a hand on his. Despite how he’d worried her at times, or seemed to have no soul where other people were concerned, she had missed her Aegis.
He looked at her in surprise and then down at their hands. His face was so innocent when he looked at her like that.
Her eyes darted to his full, curved lips and then away again. That was dangerous.
He sighed. “Anyway, I’ll get the hang of that cat later. Show him who’s boss.”
“He’d like that,” she said, giggling.
“You…” Aegis said, but it was an empty threat. He squeezed her hand and then released it, standing. “Anyway, I have more things to do. I’ll have to talk to you later.” He pointed at her. “No mousing.”
She put up both hands. “I learned my lesson.”
“Good,” he said. “Because I know you trust these people, but I don’t. And if they know your powers, we lose a lot of our leverage.”
She sighed. “Fine, Aegis. But I’m going to tell them at some point.”
He rested his hand on the door handle. “Wait until I’m un-collared.”
She didn’t know when that would be. “Aegis…”
“I’m going downstairs,” he said tersely. “I still have many steps on my way to becoming a marshmallow. When I’m sugary sweet like that stupid Citrine, we’ll see what you say.” He paused. “Oh, and don’t tell any of the other dragons what you saw.”
“You mean your love affair with Cuddles?” she asked. “I mean, I think you’ve found your mate, and they would want to know, but—”
She heard him cuss as he hurried out the door and shut it behind him. She laughed, lying back on the bed, missing him.
His cold, spicy scent was still all around her. Like an icy pine forest. She breathed in deeply and remembered how he’d felt on top of her.
If only he could decide to be good, it would be everything she had hoped for. The boy she had loved and a man she could live with. Without leaving the rest of the world behind or betraying it.
She rested back on the bed. Maybe she’d just stay here until she calmed down.
Chapter 6
The next day, Aegis looked down at the cookies he’d baked Opal with growing despair.
Green. How had they become green? He supposed this was what happened when the poison dragon decided to make culinary delights. But hopefully they tasted better than they looked.
He eyed Cuddles, who had taken a break from humping to take a nap under the counter, and wondered if he would be a good test subject.
But then he could just hear Opal scolding him for that, and after all, even he wouldn’t actually hurt a helpless animal. So he picked up one of the cookies and took a deep breath.
He closed his eyes and took a big bite, chewing rapidly.
Not too bad, something like mint. Or lemon? Or acid. He felt a slight burning in his throat but decided it was nothing to be too worried about.
Zesty, that’s all they were. He coughed, pounding his chest, and took another tray out of the oven, putting them onto foil as the recipe had instructed.
He rubbed his stomach as he stared down at the cookies. Not an utter failure, but not exactly what he wanted to feed his mate.
He sighed and leaned on his arm, staring at the blasted things and willing them to be any other color than green. He looked up at the clock, aware he wouldn’t really know if he suffered any ill effects from them for a few hours and couldn’t really give any to Opal until he was sure.
Sapphire entered the kitchen, and Aegis let out a sigh as he leaned on the stove and stared at the other man. Sapphire was just such an incorrigible “good guy,” with his waved blond hair, bright-blue eyes, superhero physique, and boy-next-door good looks to match.
Aegis always felt vaguely like punching him.
“Making something?” he asked. “You need any help?”
Aegis frowned. “No. You can taste test them if you want.”
“Sure,” Sapphire said, walking forward and then stopping as he stared down at the cookies. “Um. No.”
“Fine,” Aegis said. “I just tested one on my own anyway.”
Sapphire raised an eyebrow. “And how are you feeling?”
“Fine,” he snapped, moving the cookies off the foil and onto a plate, wondering if they would look better on white porcelain.
But they didn’t. They looked like someone had taken a number of very diseased dumps on fine china.
He growled as he tossed them all into the garbage and pulled out Erin’s recipe book to start again.
“You really are going all out with this, aren’t you?” Sapphire asked, pulling up a chair to watch.
“Do I have a choice?” Aegis asked. “Opal told me what she wants, and I’m going to do it. Be a marshmallow,” he muttered.
“What’s that about marshmallow?” Sapphire asked.
“She likes Citrine,” Aegis said grumpily. “Sweet guy, likes to make people lunch and cook things. And go out on dates. A fluff. A marshmallow.”
“I’m not sure I’d call Citrine a marshmallow,” Sapphire said. “Or any dragon for that matter. I think it’s a mistake to think of anyone nice as being weak.”
Aegis just shrugged. To him, they were one and the same. People were only nice to get what they wanted. And after that…
His stomach gurgled, slightly painful this time, and he stopped moving and put a hand on his chest.
He felt slightly dizzy.
“You sure you’re okay?” Sapphire asked, standing in concern. “I could take a look if you want.”
“Shut up. Go away,” Aegis said tersely. “I’m fine, and even if I wasn’t, like I’d trust you to do anything for me.”
“I would help,” Sapphire said.
“Sure,” Aegis retorted. “Even though I kidnapped your mate.”
“But didn’t do anything to her and made sure she knew she was safe,” Sapphire countered.
“Yeah, well, your funeral if you really want to make friends with a guy like that,” Aegis said.
“A guy like you?”
“A guy who has done what I did,” Aegis said.
Sapphire stood with one hip cocked, unconvinced. “I’m not sure we can judge people just by their actions. There is also intent.”
“My intent was to kidnap your mate,” Aegis said. “Nothing more, nothing less.”
“So how did you lose Opal anyway?” Sapphire asked, sitting down again. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“What would give you the impression I would?” Aegis asked.
“No reason,” Sapphire said. “Just sometimes we need someone to talk to about difficult things in our lives.”
“Well, I have her back, and I’m fine now, so you can just stop worrying about it,” Aegis said.
“I didn’t say I was worried,” Sapphire said. “We were friends, Aegis, as much as anyone can say that with how little you were in our lives. But I’m just trying to rekindle that. Make you feel at home.”
“You would,” Aegis said. “Stupidly kind dragon.”
“Kindness is brave, not stupid,” Sapphire said. “It’s a lot easier to be mean and sarcastic. Being kind, being loyal, being a decent person, that opens you up to being hurt.”
Aegis knew that already. Why did Sapphire think he enjoyed being evil? Much less opportunity to be stabbed in the back.
There was only one person he wanted to be sincere with, and that was Opal, who was standing in the entryway, her wildflowers-in-the-rain scent preceding her.
So fresh and clean it almost made him forget the nausea he was feeling.
“I’ll go check on Hallie,” Sapphire said, standing and nodding to Opal. “It was good talking to you, Aegis.”
“You, too, Sapphire,” Aegis said tightly, unsure whether he meant it. He hadn’t exactly minded the other man’s company, and he supposed Sapphire had a soothing feeling around him, but—
“Are you feeling okay?” Opal asked, coming closer.
The room was beginning to swim around him in shades of green, but he nodded. Opal was coming so close to him. That was nice.
“What were you talking to Sapphire about?” she asked, sitting down at the same table where Sapphire had been.
Yes, what had he been talking to Sapphire about?
Uh…
“You’re flushed,” Opal said. “And I know this shouldn’t be incredibly weird for the emerald dragon, but you’re a little bit green.”
“I’m fine,” he snapped. “Having to talk with super-nice dragons just makes me nauseous. That’s all.” He took the moment to turn away from her and fan his face slightly. Why was it getting so hot in here?
“You’re doing really good, you know,” Opal said. “Much faster than I thought.”
“How so?” he asked, hoping he didn’t sound strained.
“Just, I can really see you’re trying to be different.” She smiled. “Talking with Sapphire and not even getting in a fight. Look at you go.”
He shrugged. He was only doing all of this for her. Once she liked him and agreed to mate him, he could go back to his old self.
“You’re also looking good,” she said, standing up and walking toward him again.
Her scent was overwhelming. He just wanted to sink into her arms and inhale it all day. Fresh wildflowers on an icy mountain in the rain.
But he stayed standing, strong.
She came closer, pulling him around to face her. Despite being a dragon female, and fairly tall, she was short compared to him. She put up a finger and twirled it in his blond hair, twisting it around and pulling him tighter. “I like your haircut.”
“Thank you,” he said, suddenly uncomfortable with how close they were. She didn’t want to mate him, right? So what was she doing?
Emerald Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 6) Page 5
