by Blue Saffire
Bri
A songwriter once asked, can you die from a broken heart. I can honestly answer yes. At least that’s what this feels like. How did my world go from one extreme to the other? Finding love after years of searching for it, just to end up in the end losing the love I had all along.
I’ll never regret Wei coming into my life and teaching me what it feels like to be loved by a man, but losing my boys has showed me that I truly had real love all this time. Now they’re trying to snatch it away from me.
“Wei,” I call out to him as soon as I enter the dragon mansion we share.
I’ve been on the phone and online all night trying to find a place for me. I don’t have enough money to rent a place in one of the nice areas like I wanted to. A place that would ensure the boys would be safe, and that Tyrie would be allowed to go to a school with a great program for him.
Instead, I had to settle for the basics. I have to go see a place tomorrow and hope that I can get it before they release Tyrie from the hospital. Things aren’t a hundred percent, but at least I have a little hope.
I had to leave the hospital to shower and get a change of clothes and my car. I have to be at the apartment early in the morning and I plan on leaving from the hospital. Plus, I’m hungry. Despite feeling like my heart is in pieces at my feet, I still have to take care of the baby in my belly.
Just a few days ago, I was so excited when those two lines appeared on that stick. I was scared also. Wei and I hadn’t talked about kids or our future. We were just living in the moment.
But the longer I held that stick the more I realized that I was happy. Truly happy for the first time, and I would have someone else in this world that would love me.
“Wei, are you here?” The house is extremely quiet.
Like many times when I’m looking for Wei, I always find him. It’s like my body is automatically drawn to him. I find myself standing at the door. The one that leads to the uncle’s room. The place that has been off limits to me all this time.
“Come in, my love,” Wei calls for me on the other side.
I take a deep breath before I push the door open. I don’t know what I expected when I walked into this room, but it definitely isn’t this.
This room is the largest in the house. The size of an average two-bedroom apartment.
The ceiling has to be at least seven stories high, a bus size skylight is in the ceiling. The walls are done in a dark purple with silver damask design. The back wall is curved, letting me know that this is the tower that I see on the side of the mansion. The walls are lined with sconces, giving off low light. The decoration in the room looks more as if it belongs in a museum rather than in a reclusive billionaire’s room. The grandest bed I’ve ever seen takes up an entire wall.
“How do you like it?”
I spin around to face the voice behind me. Wei is there, once again in his favorite attire, loose pants, no shoes, and shirtless.
“What are we doing in here?” I whisper as if that’s going to make it better.
Wei chuckles and walks past me further into the room.
“It is all right. This is my room.”
It takes a second for his words to register.
“I thought… I thought this was your uncle’s room. The one you guys hired me to look after.”
He turns around and stands before his large bed. “That was a lie. I am sorry for misleading you.”
A chill runs up my back. I’ve been living with this man for a little over a month, and been working here for two. Why would he lie to me about this? Why hire and pay me like I actually had a job?
“I know you have questions.”
“A lot.”
He nods. “Do you remember the story I told you. The one about the dragon.”
“Wei, I really don’t want to hear about a story. I want to know why you lied to me?”
“It is all part of the story. Do you remember?”
I sigh, feeling tired, hungry, and frustrated. “The dragon warrior wanted to find love. He gave a girl three gifts and she picked him and now he’s cursed. What does this have to with anything?”
“Do you love me, Brianna?”
His question takes me by surprise. I admitted to falling in love with Wei, and I’ve even admitted to myself that I’m in love with him. Despite this recent discovery, I’m still in love with him. I guess it makes sense that he’s questioning my feelings for him. I never said the words outright to him. Out of all of my attempts at love, this time I feel it’s real.
“Yes, I love you.”
“Do not panic.”
The moment he says the words, his body ripples and transforms before me. Once my lover stood in his six seven glory and now a twenty-foot dragon is in front of me. Eyes red, snout long and full of sharp teeth.
His black iridescent scales seem to change color with each movement. Wings as wide as this room burst from his back. They expand from one side of the room to the other, nearly touching the walls.
Two curved horns sits like a crown on top of his head and another at the tip of his snout. He’s magnificent and enchanting. My heart is racing, yet I’m not afraid.
He lowers his head. I can tell he’s moving slowly so as not to scare me. His large head is the size of my upper body. When his snout is level to my head, he tilts down placing his forehead to mine.
It doesn’t matter that this creature could eat me alive, when he places his head to mine, all I feel is love and compassion. This is Wei.
“Hold on,” I say stepping back. “You were there that day. You came to save me from Scott.”
The dragon leans back, his body melting down until Wei stands in front of me.
“Yes. I came.”
“So that means… Scott is dead?”
His jaw clenches so tight I think it will break.
“He deserved nothing less.”
I’m not going to argue with that. Had Wei not showed up I’m pretty sure I would be dead.
“So, what now? Why are you telling me now?” As soon as the question is out of my mouth a loud booming sound comes from the front of the house. Wei immediately grabs ahold of me and tucks me into his side.
“What was that?”
He looks down at me with frantic eyes. “This is your chance to save your brothers. Remember the curse?” I nod my head as that part of the story comes back. He offers me a wish and if I take it, it sends him back to his statue.
“Wait, I can’t take the wish.”
“You have too, my love. This is the only way to save your brothers. You must hurry, now that I have revealed myself to you, Renshu will come.”
Screaming draws my attention to the door. Mrs. Chen.
“Brianna,” Wei calls my name, cupping my face in his hands. “You must make the wish.”
“But I will lose you, and what about the baby?”
He pulls me into him and plants a kiss on my lips. He kisses me as if this one kiss could solve all of our problems. When he pulls away, I feel lost.
“You are my blessing. The one thing I’ve always wanted. I’ve lived a hundred lifetimes, but nothing compares to the time I shared with you. I will die knowing what true love truly is. My young will be my gift to you. Physical proof of our love.”
Another loud noise comes up the hall toward the room, pulling my attention over to the door.
“Now, my love. You have to make the wish now,” Wei shouts.
I know what he’s doing and why he’s doing it. With one simple wish, I could wish for enough money that will allow me to not only purchase that place in the better neighborhood with the best schools, but I could adopt the boys too. It would be a blessing, the miracle that I need. However, I can’t get the words to form. I cannot lose him.
“I love you.” I sob the words and he clutches me to his chest holding me tightly.
“Well, you just couldn’t wait could you?”
Wei sets me loose and spins around with his back to me, blocking my view of the person at the do
or.
“Renshu.” The name is spoken with so much disdain.
I peek around Wei to get a good look at the person responsible for all this mess.
“Tasha?” I ask, stepping around Wei to confront the woman that has tortured me, and the reason my brothers are being taken from me. “You bitch,” I shout, ready to charge her. Wei holds out a hand and blocks me.
“Show yourself, Renshu. Drop this disguise.”
Tasha tosses her head back and laughs before she’s surrounded by thick plumes of smoke. The high-pitched laugh turns into a deep guttural sound. When the smoke clears, it’s no longer Tasha standing before me.
In her place is a man. He’s shorter than Wei, which isn’t hard to be. Where Wei is all lean muscles like a swimmer, this man is stocky. His head is shaved, saved for a small patch at the top. He also has a long beard and mustache that falls to his chest.
“You thought to sacrifice yourself for your mate?” His deep voice growls. “You don’t get to determine when this is over.” Renshu waves his hand and appearing on the floor at our feet is a bloody and barely noticeable Zhong.
I squeal before dropping to my knees to help him. His body is already cold to the touch and lifeless.
“Oh my god. He’s dead,” I say looking up to Wei.
Wei never takes his eyes off of Renshu, but I can tell by the way his jaw clenches that he heard exactly what I said.
“Come to me, my love.”
It is a direct order I mean to follow. However, the moment I get to my feet, a strong wind circles me like a cage. I’m trapped inside of an invisible tornado. I scream as the wind picks me up off the ground and flings me up to the ceiling. I yell Wei’s name at the exact same time he shouts mine.
“I agree with you, Longewei. I will not send you back to your prison. Today, you will die,” Renshu shouts and then transforms into a large green double-headed dragon.
He’s much bigger than Wei’s dragon. His large body bursts out one of the walls in the room. He lets out a loud keening sound before flapping his wings and taking flight. One large black talon wraps around my body before he shoots out of the roof and into the night sky.
I scream for Wei as I watch the roof of his room fall down, crushing anything underneath it. Renshu flies higher and higher. The ground falls further and further away. We burst through a cloud formation and abruptly come to a standstill. His large wings flap keeping us in the air.
Soon the clouds burst open once again and Longwei comes barreling into us. We spin like a top until I’m so dizzy I feel nauseous. Both dragons are clawing and growling at each other. It’s hard to keep up with the fight, especially when I’m hanging from a claw miles above the ground.
Suddenly, one of Renshu’s heads falls down past me tumbling to the earth. I’m sure this is a victory. Clearly Wei is winning.
A pain filled roar draws my attention upward and I watch as Wei’s dragon plummets to the ground. My throat burns and my voice goes out from screaming so long and loud. I lose sight of him after a while. I’m too far up to see if he lands.
Renshu lifts my body up to face him, only one head remains. I feel like the woman in those old King Kong movies. His yellow snake-like eyes stare back at me. Even in this horrible form, his intentions are obvious. I have just a few seconds to yell no before he releases me, and I fall.
My first thought, a lot like the day with Scott, is of my brothers. I pray that they will be taken care of. That they will be placed together and that they know that I truly loved them.
My second thought, once again, is Wei. Despite how this will end, I hope he knows that I loved him. That had my hands not been forced, I would have chosen him over any wish. My final thought, this time, is of my baby. A child that I loved wholeheartedly, but would never get to meet.
The ground comes into view again and it’s just a clear enough view that lets me know that when I land, I will hit nothing but solid earth. I close my eyes, preparing for death, hoping it will be quick.
Suddenly I’m not falling any more. I open my eyes and I’m clutched to the large scaled chest of a black dragon. Wei. I hold on tight to his thick scales, each thick plate the size of my hand.
We finally touch down with a thump and I slide to my feet, loving having them on solid ground again. Wei transforms before me and there is blood all over him. I can’t determine if it is his blood or Renshu.
I rush to him, my hands and eyes checking him over. I find the source of his bleeding. Four deep cuts line his side.
“Sit,” I command placing my hand over his wound. We’re back at his mansion, in the garden. I guide him to one of his stone benches so that I can examine his wound. “It’s deep. I think you should go to the hospital.”
Sad eyes look down at me as I kneel in front of him. He shakes his head. “I will not survive much longer. The poison will set in soon.”
The tears fall down my face without my permission. I don’t want to cry, this isn’t the time to cry.
“I don’t have much time left. The curse binds my powers.” He lifts up his wrist to show me those golden cuffs that he’s never without. He drops them weakly back to his lap. “I cannot heal myself. You have to make your wish.”
I don’t want to hear about a damn wish. The man I love is dying and he wants to grant me one last wish.
“Shhhh, just rest okay. I can get you help.”
Wei places his hand under my chin and lifts my head to look in my eyes.
“You have to do this. You have to let me go.”
“No,” I say angrily. How can he even think I would do that? “I just found you.”
“And you will have me always.” Just as the words escape his lips, a large metal rod flies through the air impaling Wei through the chest and out through the back. I scream right before I’m tossed in the air and thrown to the side, landing on my back. Renshu appears in his human form. He’s bleeding as well and a large chunk of flesh is missing from his shoulder. He marches up to Wei still pinned to the bench.
“I should have done this a long time ago, but back then you were too strong to defeat. Now, you are weak. The cuffs have stripped your powers for so long you are nearly human. You will finally pay for what you did to my nephew.”
“You are right, Renshu.” Wei’s voice sounds weak and raspy. “I should pay for what I did to him. I finally know what it feels like to love someone. I now know what he must have felt. He was in love with her, but she never deserved him.”
“Shut up,” Renshu shouts before backhanding Wei. “You don’t get to seek forgiveness now. You will rot in the eternal flames for what you did.” Renshu lifts his hand, a knife appearing out of thin air.
“Wait,” I shout standing to my feet. Renshu and Wei both turn to me. “I want my wish now.”
Renshu scoffs. “Who cares?” he lifts the hand with the blade in it again.
“Wei said that I could save my brothers. That I could get one wish.”
Renshu turns to me with a smirk before looking down at Wei. “It seems once again, your mate has chosen a wish over you. I think I will allow this. When I finally rid the earth of you, I want you to die knowing that once again you have failed.”
Renshu marches over to me and grabs me by the arm before pulling me back to Wei and pushing me to my knees. “Make sure your wish is sufficient, girl, I may still kill you when it’s over.”
My eyes lock onto Wei’s. Though he is in pain and fighting to stay awake, I can still read the love in his eyes.
“It’s all right, my love.” His body sways. “Make your wish.”
“Quickly, girl,” Renshu adds.
I close my eyes and think of all the things I will be giving up. All the things that I’ve wanted for so long will end with this simple wish. With a deep breath I say, “I wish to free Longwei from his binds and the curse that holds him.”
Renshu roars and backhands me so hard I collapse to the ground. The gold metal cuffs that circle Wei’s wrist break in half and fall to the ground. His color
that had started to fade returns to his face as he stands to his full height. He breaks one end of the metal rod in his chest, snapping it like a toothpick and then pulls the other half out of his back. Immediately the wounds heal.
“No,” Renshu roars charging for me with the knife raised. “You foolish girl. You will die in his place.”
He stands over me with the blade raised, but before he can drop it down, the blade of a sword comes out of his stomach, pushing through from his back. Renshu gasps. The blade then slides up his body cleaving it in half until he falls at my feet like the letter y.
Standing in his place is my dragon warrior. He’s dressed in full Chinese warrior gear, gold breastplates included. His sword disappears and his uniform dissolves, leaving him in the clothing that I’m so used to seeing.
I watch him warily, not sure what I should do. The curse made him fall for me, what happens now that it’s gone? Will his feelings for me go away too?
“Never,” he says answering my unasked question. He holds out his hand and I place mine it. He lifts me to my feet and pulls me into him. “You are my mate, whether there is a curse or not. If time permitted, I would bend you over a bench and let my cock remind you of it. However, tonight, we are going back to the hospital with Tyrie, and in the morning, we will figure out a way to bring the boys home.”
He seals his words with a kiss that promises for the rest of my life, I will never have to worry about finding love and being safe.
Epilogue
Wishes
Wei
“Papa Wei, look. Look what I can do!” Kyro shouts before diving into the pool.
I smile proudly at him. Every so often he comes up with a new name for me. Papa Wei started a few weeks ago. I haven’t rushed him to call me dad even though I am now their legal guardian.
It took longer than we wanted to get custody of the boys. Mostly because of Brianna’s background in foster care, the investigation of their missing foster mother, and the fact that I didn’t have a major footprint in this time, other than being a billionaire entrepreneur. Thankfully Zhong did have the foresight to get me a birth certificate and social security card.
