by Lisa Oliver
He heard some muttering and then the sound of people coming towards him. Immediately trying to stand up, Dirk quickly learned that wasn’t an option. He sank back on the tiles as a quiet voice intruded on his ragged mind.
“Where is your mate?” Dirk heard Bryce gasp but he ignored him. He sniffed. The doctor was a griffin. Maybe he could help after all. They held all forms of magical powers.
“I can’t claim my mate,” he croaked. “I have a potential bond mate. Wedding in three weeks. Family honor. Can you…? Take this heat away, please.” Yes, Dirk was aware of the picture he made. Naked on a bathroom floor, his body racked with shivers. A far cry from the usual picture he presented the world as the Hollingsworth heir. But he was desperate. He’d beg. He’d plead. He’d give away his hoard if the griffin could magically take his torment away. It’s not as though he couldn’t build another one.
“No one can break a mating. Your dragon has staked his claim.” The doctor’s hand was cool on Dirk’s shoulder but it didn’t stay there for long. “I can medicate you. Make it so you can’t shift while you sleep, but when you wake up, you will go through more of the same.”
“Do it. Do it now before I go insane.” Dirk just needed a moment to think. To come up with a plan. He would dream walk with his dragon; explain why Erskine wasn’t for them. They would agree and all would be right with his world again. He barely noticed as Bryce and the doctor manhandled him to the bed. His dignity was already in shreds. Fuck. All this over a freaking dog. What the hell did I do to deserve this? Still raging over the ludicrousness of his situation, Dirk felt a prick on his arm and the coolness of the sheets, then blackness overtook him.
/~/~/~/~/
Taking a deep breath, Dirk opened his arms wide and embraced the cool salty air. He’d come to his dragon’s favorite place; the large red beast was curled up high on the rock face above him. His back was all Dirk could see.
“Can you come down? We need to talk.” Dirk knew better than to try and climb up. He wasn’t welcome in his dragon’s private space at the best of times.
“We have nothing to talk about.” Great, now his nose is in the air.
“You know how hard I’ve worked to be accepted and gain my position in our clan. Aren’t you proud of me?”
“That is human nonsense. Our position is secured among our kind. Always will be. More so when we claim our mate. The lovely Erskine.” The last word was drawn out with a low rumble.
Crap. It would seem Dirk would have to be more persuasive. “We’ve made a promise to bond with Celine; another beautiful strong dragon. We will have wonderful children together.”
Hi dragon sniffed. “Celine loves another. She is being forced into this just the same as you are. There will be no bonding. I will not bond with her against her dragon’s will. Wedding and bedding her won’t make any difference.”
Crap and double crap. The thing was, Dirk knew his stubborn dragon was right. If his dragon refused to bond with Celine’s, there was no point in getting married. They’d never have children, no matter how often they shared a bed and he was damn sure he’d never get a hard on again unless it was with Erskine; something he didn’t want to even consider. “She’s never mentioned it on the phone,” he called back, wishing his dragon would come closer. He felt like an idiot standing on the rocky shore, yelling up at the cliffs even if it was in his dreams. “The last time I spoke to her she said how much she was looking forward to coming over.”
“She only wants to see you so she can beg for you to end this wedding farce before it’s too late.” His dragon finally turned and faced him. “This bonding is your father’s idea. Even your father’s dragon doesn’t agree with it but like an old fool, your father won’t listen. I thought you were better than that. Why aren’t we with Erskine? He’s ours and he’s pretty and smart.”
“We can’t be with Mr. Erskine.” Dirk hated how his heart shattered just saying the words. “He shares his spirit with a common dog….”
Definitely the wrong thing to say if his dragon’s roar was any indication. “YOU WILL NOT MALIGN OUR MATE!” Dirk flinched as dragon’s fire roared around him. It couldn’t hurt him, but that wasn’t the point. “He is ours,” his dragon continued as he soared off the rock face and landed with a thump on the pebbled shore. “He was chosen by all that we hold dear to cherish and care for and hold for all eternity. He will provide comfort and stay loyal and true. There will be no other and I will not rest until he is in our care.”
“My father will disown me; he will kick me out of the family and out of the company. We will be alone with no clan, no nothing.”
“Gods, how did you end up the human side of me?” His dragon looked and sounded disgusted. “Dragon’s don’t shun their clan members over such stupidity, no matter what your stupid father says. Our clan dragons are rejoicing; this is a great omen, for one of us finally to find our true mate. I have been receiving their blessings all day.”
“They don’t run the company or look after the hoards under our care. How can I help them increase their hoards if I’m out of a job?”
“Hoards are not a job, they are a life mission and you still have yours. There’s no reason you can’t work independently, if other dragons are silly enough to shun the old ways of building their own treasure pile.”
“Burning down buildings and stealing treasures are frowned on in modern society,” Dirk snapped. “It makes no difference. I cannot go against my father. I won’t lose my family simply because you have a puppy fetish. I control my life, not you and I say we are marrying Celine or,” he remembered what his dragon had said about her, “another woman from one of the ruling families. The merger will bring shared wealth, stability and prosperity to our families and that is the way it’s going to be.”
“That is your final decision?” Only a dragon staring down his nose could make a strong man’s knees tremble.
“Yes, it is and one last thing. Stop sending my body into heat. I can’t work, I can’t function when you’re doing that.”
“Fine. I will stop it. In fact, you won’t notice me at all. Good luck with that.” Arching his neck, his dragon let out a jet of flame at the sky. Dirk was always impressed with the strength and power of the animal he shared his body with. It filled him with confidence; a confidence that allowed him to cut through business bullshit and grow his wealth faster than any other. He allowed a small smile to hover on his face as he watched his dragon spread his wings and fly. It was nice to know he and his dragon were on the same page.
Chapter Six
“Jon,” Essie’s voice on the phone, pulled him from his work for the sixth time that morning. “Bryce from Hollingsworth’s is on the line again. Are you free to take his call?”
“Put him through,” Jon sighed and tugged at his hair. He’d gotten the remote access to the Hollingsworth servers first thing in the morning. He was running his programs through the data now. He couldn’t do a lot else until his programs showed him where the missing money was going. “Bryce,” he said as the call was transferred. “I am working as fast as I can. I should have results for you in another three hours. I told you that when you called me first thing with the access codes.”
“I’m just calling to see how you are.” Bryce’s voice was low as though he didn’t want to be overheard. “You seemed a little out of sorts when we spoke earlier.”
“You caught me before I’d had my regulatory three cups of coffee.” Jon smiled and leaned back in his chair. “I’m a snarling pit-bull without it.”
“So, you’re not feeling upset, or like you have a sudden urge to shift and maybe track after a certain person who will remain nameless?”
Jon clunked forward in his chair. “What do you know?” he snarled, keeping an eye on his office door. He felt all those things and more; the joys of having a mate who rejected him. What he didn’t understand is how Bryce knew about it. Had Hollingsworth talked about him?
“I can’t talk now. I need to see you. Are you free for lunch?�
�
Looking at his computer, Jon saw it was eleven thirty. “I can be, but I thought you guys were heading back to New York today?”
“The flight’s not booked until this evening. I’ll meet you at the sports bar just down from your office; say, twenty minutes?”
“I’ll be there and Bryce, remember, I can scent any lie so you’d better be honest with me.”
“So can I,” Bryce laughed. “See you in a bit.”
Jon put down the phone, tapping his pencil on his desk. There was a big part of him that wanted to get Essie to call straight back and cancel. It’s not as though he didn’t have work to do. But the two days since his first glimpse of Dirk Hollingsworth had been difficult. His search on dragon mating habits hadn’t given him any answers. The dragons were a closed off society and information on them was scarce. His gentle dog spirit alternated between pining and snarling; wanting to track his mate down and Jon couldn’t blame him. He wouldn’t mind a few words with the arrogant SOB himself. He wasn’t going to admit to the wet dream or two he had involving his dick and that fine ass he saw disappearing down the hallway, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a few things to say. The least Hollingsworth could have done was rejected him to his damn face.
So, lunch. Jon stood and pulled on his jacket. He couldn’t cancel. Bryce was his one opportunity to ensure Mr. Hollingsworth was all right. It’s not as though he would ever use Dirk’s number on the card left for him even if it was safely tucked away in his wallet. He’d have this lunch. Hear what Bryce had to say and then bury himself in his work until he was sure Mr. Hollingsworth was safely on the plane. Then he’d let his dog out and maybe indulge in a howling session or two.
“I’ll be out for an hour, Essie,” he called out as he strode past the reception desk.
“You’re going out for lunch?”
Jon could understand Essie’s surprise. She often had to resort to bribery or physical threats just to get him to go home after dark. He winked over his shoulder. “Business meeting,” he said as he hurried out the door.
“With that swagger, I know exactly what kind of meeting you’re going to,” Essie laughed. “Go get some, tiger. It’s about time. Get some for me while you’re at it.”
Yeah, if only that were true. Jon couldn’t remember the last time he’d had sex. And that was something he was going to have to learn to do without. Thank the Fates he was such good friends with his right hand…or his left, if he wanted diversity. He was still chuckling to himself as he walked out into the sunshine.
/~/~/~/~/
Bryce was waiting when Jon got to the bar. He was dressed more casually this time and Jon admitted to himself Bryce was a good-looking wolf. His long dark hair was loose and fell around a well-defined face and his full lips did his smile justice. If his dog half wasn’t so involved in the man’s boss, he’d be interested, although he doubted that interest would be reciprocated.
“I’ve taken the liberty of ordering. I take it you don’t object to steak?” Bryce said as Jon slipped into the booth opposite him.
“Appreciate it. Thank you. I’ll just have water, thanks,” Jon added to the hovering waitress. He waited until the waitress took Bryce’s empty glass and then leaned his elbows on the table. “I’m sure your boss will be looking for you and I don’t have much time. Spill.”
“Straight to the point. I like it. Let’s see. After our meeting the other day, the one where my boss only got as far as your office door before he high-tailed back out again for a non-existent meeting, did you notice anything strange in the scents in your hallway?”
“If this is your roundabout way of asking me if I think your boss is my mate; I know he is.” Jon didn’t care how blunt he sounded. His nerves were on edge and he wasn’t sure they’d settle even after Bryce and Dirk left his town. “I also know, thanks to you, that he’s due to be married in less than a month. After speaking to Raoul that evening I further learned he rang and was insulting about me and my animal half. So, if you think I am going to do anything to stop you guys getting on the plane this evening, you’re totally mistaken. You have nothing to worry about.”
“I wish you would stop him leaving.” Bryce looked around. It was lunchtime and the place was filling up. But their booth at the back wasn’t getting any attention. “He’s not the same. That night he was burning up like he had a fever. I called a doctor who came and medicated him. He was calling for you, but saying no, no, no, at the same time.”
“Is he all right now?” Caring for a mate trumped any bitterness Jon felt personally.
“That’s the weirdest thing.” Bryce shook his head. “I’d swear he was dying, right? But with the dope the doc gave him, Dirk slept until lunch the next day and when he woke up, he said he was fine.”
“Well, that’s all right then, isn’t it? You don’t want him sick when his new bride arrives.” Jon patted himself on the back for not choking on the word.
“He’s not fine.” Bryce leaned over the table. “His power’s gone.”
“What on earth do you mean gone and what power? He’s a dragon; an animal shifter just like you and me, only bigger. Are you telling me he’s magic too?”
“I am talking about his shifter strength; the power of his dragon spirit, it’s…it’s muted somehow. Like, you know when us canines get together and there’s always that sniffing around and you can tell who’s got the stronger animal?”
Jon nodded. He wasn’t part of a pack but he’d had a lot of wolves think they could dominate him and make him do what they wanted. It didn’t work, but he did know what Bryce was talking about.
“Dirk has always been the strongest wolf, so to speak. Always, ever since I’ve known him and that’s a good hundred years or so.”
How old is my mate for fuck’s sake? Not that Jon asked. He just nodded so Bryce would keep talking.
“After he woke up, he said he felt physically fine, but he wasn’t. The doctor came back and seemed really surprised the fever had gone, but he was tight lipped about anything else. Dirk asked him why he felt so weak and the doctor said it was a consequence of the medication and should pass in a few hours.”
“But it hasn’t?”
“No, if anything it’s getting worse. Jon,” Jon looked down to see Bryce’s hand clutching his. “What if he’s lost his dragon because he rejected you?”
“Is that even possible?” Jon sat back and removed his hand as the waitress approached with their lunch orders. The smell of beef and blood filled his nostrils and his stomach rumbled.
“Go on,” he urged as he picked up his knife and fork. “I know you wolves don’t like talking over food, but we’re both on time constraints here.”
“Right.” Bryce took a couple of mouthfuls before resuming their conversation. “I admit all of my information about dragons is secondhand but I made a few discreet inquiries. That heat Dirk went through was the result of his dragon trying to force a shift. Dirk’s dragon was looking for his mate and when Dirk ran, his dragon side started putting pressure on Dirk to get back to you.”
“But the medicated sleep stopped that?” Jon was pleased Dirk’s animal side hadn’t rejected him.
“I don’t think it had anything to do with it,” Bryce said around another mouthful of steak. “I think Dirk’s dragon is so pissed off because Dirk won’t accept you he’s gone, or at least, he’s withdrawn his power so Dirk can’t call on him.”
“Is it really noticeable, or do you just know about it because you’ve been with him a long time?”
“Oh, it’s noticeable. Hugely noticeable. As soon as Dirk steps back into his office, his family are going to be on him like foxes in a chicken run. I don’t think he realizes how much his dragon was a part of him. He tried telling a maid to pick up the socks he left on the floor this morning and she laughed at him. She told him her job was to change his sheets and towels and that was it. Totally ignored him after that.”
“Maybe she was having a rough day.”
“She was a deer shifte
r. Normally, she’d be too scared to even come into the room. I stayed as far away from her as possible so she could do her job in peace, but Dirk was right up in her face and she laughed. The only one who made her slightly nervous was me.”
Jon’s steak wasn’t settling well in his stomach. “I don’t know what you want me to do about it. He’s made his choice.”
“Can’t you talk to him? Go and see him at the hotel before we check out?”
“It won’t achieve anything.” Jon put down his cutlery and fished out his wallet, throwing a twenty on the table as he stood. “Your boss rejected me as a mate without even having the decency to talk to me first. That hurt more than you can know. Oh, I’ve lived with the slurs from predators my whole life, but what your boss did was torture by comparison. I am doing what I can to help him find his missing money but after that, I don’t expect to hear the Hollingsworth name again.”
“This is hurting your animal, too.” Damn, Bryce could be grabby when he wanted to be. Jon shook Bryce’s hand off his arm.
“That’s not your problem. Your problem is about protecting your boss. I’m sure his dragon won’t stay dormant for long but until he makes his presence known, your best thing would be to keep him from as many of his kin as you can. If they’re like a lot of other clans and packs, they’ll gut him like a shark in a feeding frenzy once they realize he can’t fight back.”
“Don’t you care if that happens?”
“Of course, I care.” Every instinct in Jon’s body compelled him to track down his mate and sit by his side; in his shifted form if necessary. “But I’m not putting myself in front of a man who can’t even look me in the eye. Your boss made his choice the day he ran out of my office and then insulted me to our mutual friend. I’ll work on his money problems and I won’t stop until I’ve found the culprit and the missing money, but that’s all you will get out of me. Good day.”
