Polly let out a sigh of relief and nodded. “That’s it exactly.”
“Is there anything that brought this up now?”
She shrugged.
He’d seen her in these down moods before. They happened to everybody, especially when it felt like nothing was going right. He wanted to be able to just hold her in his arms and assure her that everything was going to be okay. But it wasn’t. These problems that she had… they were just the tip of the iceberg.
And sooner or later, he was going to have to make it even worse for her.
Later, he thought. If I tell her now, she might just give up all hope.
“You said that you had to give up dreams,” he said softly. “What sort of things would you do if you had the chance?”
“Archeology,” she replied without missing a heartbeat. “But I don’t think I’ll ever be able to… I’m getting older and I’m only getting worse off for money.”
Gilbert couldn’t help but laugh at that, even though it wasn’t really funny. “You’re a long way from being old, Polly. It doesn’t matter what age you are, you can always learn new things. So, don’t give up on that just because it’s not happening now.”
Polly nodded, then looked up at him. Finally, a smile spread over her face. It didn’t last long, though, like the sun breaking through storm clouds only to be swallowed up again. “Thanks. I know it’s not the end of the world. I’m just not happy today. Partly because I didn’t sleep well. Partly because I was going over my finances all night. My mom wants a thousand dollars that she gave to me for university… I don’t really understand why now is so important, but I’m all she’s got, you know? I don’t want things to be weird between us.”
“Your mom,” Gilbert repeated. His heart pounded as he saw his opening. Maybe he didn’t have to tell her anything after all… maybe she knew more than they realized… “Has your mother ever told you about your father?”
Polly gave him a strange look. “Um… what does that have to do with anything?”
“Just curious, I guess.”
“Okay… I was the product of a one-night stand. My mom met my dad and she says that she got drunk and had a fling, only to wake up the next morning alone in her bed. She never drank again.” Polly’s shoulders slumped. “Sometimes I wonder if she would have kept me if she wasn’t so… I don’t know, determined to live this perfect life in the way that she was raised. Her parents disowned her for keeping me. And I know I should feel grateful that she loves me that much, but at the same time I can’t help but wish sometimes that I had grown up in a different family. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just a whining millennial who doesn’t know the first thing about real life. I just need to take my breaks and get over myself.”
His heart was somewhere in his stomach, but Gilbert didn’t speak. Sooner, later, what did it matter? They were on a time limit.
Even though he had told himself that he’d talk to her mother first, or wait until she was in a better mood, he knew that any excuse he made to put this off now would be an excuse to put it off later, too. He licked his lips, wondering how to go about it. He could tell her that everything that her mother told her was a lie, that she had been the one to leave, not her father…
But that seemed like too much.
“I know what it’s like to feel like everything is falling apart,” he said instead. The words burst out of him like a waterfall. Like if he tried to hold them in, he’d swell up and die with them. “I told you that my research was going well.”
Polly gave him a puzzled look and nodded. “Isn’t it?”
“Yeah. If I was just looking to learn more about neurology and to help future generations. But the truth is, I’m trying to work out a cure for the king of my clan.” They passed a park and Gilbert was almost tempted to suggest they sit on the swings, but they continued on. “You know I’m from a clan down in Belize, right?”
Polly nodded again.
“Well… my king is very sick. It’s a genetic disease,” best not to bring up curses yet, “and he’s dying. We don’t have much time left for him. I’m afraid that I’m not going to find a cure in time. The Queen Daughter—his heir—disappeared a long time ago. Without her, everything will crumble. And I’m afraid that…” He choked on the words that came next, that she was the one they needed. “I’m afraid that my clan will fall to pieces.”
“I’m so sorry.” This time it was Polly who took his hand. She squeezed lightly, her gaze full of sympathy. “What happened to his daughter?”
“Well—”
Before he could say another word, a van suddenly screeched to a stop beside them. They both jumped. The van was black, with tinted windows so dark that they couldn’t see what was inside. A man wearing a hoodie and ballcap sat in the driver’s seat.
The door slammed open, causing Polly to jump. Half a dozen men wearing Halloween masks jumped out of the van. Gilbert’s fires flared to life, smoke billowing from his mouth. The men carried guns and Gilbert acted on instinct; he threw himself in front of Polly and started to shift. Scales burst over his body and his wings snapped out behind him. The men started firing the bullets at him; it was like being in a hail storm, dozens of sharp stings hitting his body. The bullets bounced off his scales, though.
Gilbert whipped his tail at the men; he caught two of them and flung them over the van while the others yelled. Four more men hopped from the van and charged between his legs at Polly. Gilbert grabbed the van and hefted it into the air; it hit the ground several meters away as he turned to the men attacking Polly. She clocked one in the face and kicked another between the legs.
A swell of pride rose in Gilbert’s chest; his queen was a strong fighter, even without her dragon. He watched her for a moment, like a bulldozer against her attackers, in awe of the strength behind each punch.
Several more gunshots went off and he whirled, remembering that this was a real danger. This time the bullets pierced through his scales, making him roar with pain. Flame flickered in his mouth as he loomed over the attackers.
Do no harm.
A disgruntled noise choked him as he remembered the oath he had taken. As much as he’d like to kill these people for attacking Polly, he couldn’t. He couldn’t call himself a real doctor if he did something like that. So, he snapped out his wings and whipped his tail, knocking them all far away from Polly. She headbutted the last attacker, bringing him down.
Gilbert snatched her up in his arms. Polly gave a protesting shout, but he took off into the air at once. Polly squirmed a bit at first but grew still soon enough. His wings beat the air as he kept himself airborne. His fires hissed and burned inside of him as he considered that they hadn’t threatened Polly with their weapons, that meant that they were after her.
Had a rival clan found out who she was? Were they trying to bring his clan to its knees by taking away their Queen Daughter? He hadn’t taken the time to sniff out if they were human or dragon… but if they were dragons, wouldn’t they have shifted and fought him that way?
He made it back to his mansion soon enough. He landed on the wide lawn and shifted back into his human form. The bullets wedged in his scales fell out, leaving behind bruises and scrapes but nothing serious. They were all copper-plated; so, they had come thinking that they might have to fight a dragon. A growl rose up his throat as he picked up one of the bullets.
“We could have taken them,” Polly said. She put her hands on her hips. “What did you run away for?”
Gilbert stared at her. “Polly, they had guns. If they had turned them on you…”
Her eyes widened, as though she hadn’t even considered that. She swayed on the spot. “Oh. Okay. Then, thank you. I’m glad you didn’t let me try to fight my way out of it… who do you suppose it was? Kidnappers, trying to get me for ransom? We need to call the cops. Right now.” She glanced at him… he was utterly naked, but if she found it uncomfortable, she gave no sign. “And you lost your keys. Let’s get to my house, I left my cellphone there. Let’s hurry,
if we’re lucky the cops might be able to catch them.”
Gilbert followed her as they jogged across the lawn toward the Freemans’ mansion. Despite the situation, he had to smile… she knew how to take charge, didn’t she?
Chapter Five
It wasn’t until after the police had taken their statements and Polly told Bernie and Tyler about the attempted kidnapping, that it really sunk in. Especially when Bernie reminded her that she, too, had been kidnapped once and that she was there to talk if she needed to. After that, the angry beating in her chest died and fear came flooding in.
Somebody had tried to kidnap her. Maybe they were after Shane’s money. Maybe they were after Gilbert’s. It didn’t matter because it didn’t change that someone had tried to grab her in the middle of the street. It filled her with a shivering terror, huddled in her chest until she felt like she couldn’t even breathe. If Gilbert hadn't been there, she wouldn't have been able to fight herself free. It hadn't even occurred to her to run. If she had somehow found an opening, she would have wasted it, continuing to fight. And then where would she be? Kidnapped, at the mercy of someone who wanted her for who knows what nefarious purpose… or worse. They could have decided that she wasn't worth the effort and just shot her. She could be dead.
And what if they tried again?
Tyler called Shane when he found out what had happened, and before she knew it, Polly found herself with her boss and her neighbor discussing the best way to protect her. She let them talk, even though she was certain she was safe for the moment. There was no way onto the Freeman property without being noticed. Still, there was the question of what level of danger she was in when off the property. If they tried again… she wished she could have seen their faces… but she hadn’t and there was no use in freaking out about it anymore.
But they had been watching. They knew she and Gilbert walked that path every day and they had brought copper-plated bullets to use against him. That much work wasn’t going to just be ignored because of one failed attempt.
“Here.” Kayla, her eyes creased with worry, handed a mug of tea to Polly as she sat on the couch in the Freemans’ living room, still listening to the low murmur of voices coming from the adjacent room. She sat next to Polly and gently patted her shoulder. “I know it’s a terrifying experience. How are you holding up?”
“Fine, I guess.” Polly stared into her mug. “You were kidnapped too, right?”
Kayla nodded. Bernie, who rocked a sleeping Xavier nearby, snorted. “You know, that was probably your sexy, hunk of a dragon mate.”
Polly turned a confused gaze on Bernie.
“What are you talking about?” Kayla asked.
Bernie leaned forward. “Well, think about it. I was kidnapped by sex slavers, Tyler rescued me, and then we got together. You were kidnapped by members of an illegal fighting ring, Shane rescued you, and then you two got together. Esther, she’s part of the dig,” Bernie added for Polly’s benefit, “her dragon mate kidnapped her… well, he essentially kidnapped her. I don’t really know that whole story.”
“He kidnapped us both,” Kayla said, her voice contemplative. “That’s how I met Shane. We were attacked by one of his rivals and Bryant panicked. I’ve forgiven him for it, but Shane still doesn’t like him. And Esther’s friend, Dominique, she was kidnapped by a dragon, too. I don’t remember if he kidnapped her and then someone else kidnapped her and he rescued her or if it was just someone else kidnapping her.”
Bernie waved a lazy hand. “Either way. The point is, all the human women I know who have dragon mates, kidnapping plays a part of it. So, you missed your chance to find your mate by not letting yourself get kidnapped.”
Polly laughed, her heart lighter after having heard all that. “Well, I guess that just goes to show that I am cursed after all. I can’t even get kidnapped properly.”
“Well, maybe not.” Kayla got a wicked gleam in her eyes. “I’ve seen those heart eyes you give Gilbert when he’s not looking. And he did save you…”
Polly ducked her head. There was a pleasant twist in her stomach thinking about Gilbert and how protective he had been, but she was smarter than to think that meant he was her destined mate. She had talked with him about what his clan said about mates, because a lot of dragons considered two people to be mated to the first person they had sex with and unable to form a proper bond with anybody else. He told her that the idea of mates wasn’t strong in his clan, and that had ended the conversation.
“I very much doubt that I’ve been throwing heart-eyes at Gilbert,” Polly said, her voice strong and confident.
She was aware that Gilbert harbored some feelings for her. She also couldn’t deny that there were plenty of times that she imagined what it would be like to see him naked in the moonlight, his head between her thighs. The feel of his body pressed against hers. But it couldn’t happen. She had always known that she wasn’t going to get involved with someone until she was ready for forever, and she simply wasn’t. Not when her life was such a mess. She didn’t want to go into a relationship thinking that it was going to fix everything.
She set aside the tea and stood. “I’m really tired. It’s been a long day. I’m going to go home.”
Bernie frowned at her. “You should stay in the mansion tonight.”
“Thank you. But I’m going to be fine. The community is guarded and with the extra police presence, the only way they’re going to get me is if they tunnel up through the ground like moles.” Polly smiled, even though she was admittedly nervous about returning to the guest house on her own. “I’ll be fine.”
Kayla and Bernie both tried to change her mind, but Polly was resolute. She headed home, considering everything. Her mind went back to the fight, when she had been filled with fury and strength. It was like something had clawed at her chest, trying to escape to destroy the people who dared attack her. There had been something in that moment… as though she wasn’t angry that they were trying to take her… but that they dared to attack her.
She shook the thought off as she entered her home, exhaustion dragging at her bones. As she moved to the bathroom to shower off the stress of the day, a flicker of movement caught her eye. She whirled, hurling the nearest object at what she thought was a mouse.
A very human cry answered her. Her heart jumped into her throat as a masked man sprang out from behind the couch. He aimed a gun at her.
“Come along quietly and there’s no need to get hurt.”
A coil of heat wrapped around her heart. Fury rose up in her. Fire built in her stomach, spreading to every inch of her. Without even pausing to think, she launched herself across the space between them. The man yelped as she collided with him; she noted that he hadn’t fired the gun as her body slammed into his. She grabbed his wrist and pounded her fist into his shoulder until he released the gun, then she tossed it away.
“Who sent you?” she screamed in his face. Her hands clenched over his collar and she lifted him from the floor to slam him back down. He struck out, punching her in the face. Something cracked and more fury filled her. She drove her fist into his face again and again, then peeled the mask off. Her eyes widened. It was one of the security guards. “Duncan? What the hell are you doing?”
Duncan’s gaze shifted to behind her. Something cold and round pressed into the back of her neck. She growled, tensing, but a cool, emotionless voice spoke before she could act.
“I have no problem bringing you in dead. We can get what we want from a frozen body as much as we can from a breathing one.”
Polly resisted the urge to whirl around and beat the crap out of this guy, too. He wasn’t like Duncan… this one, she knew, would kill her without a second thought. She rose her hands, and Duncan threw her off to scramble to his feet. Blood smeared his face; his own and, Polly realized, hers. Blood dripped from her nose.
“Get up,” the voice behind her said.
Polly got to her feet.
“Now. We’re going to leave quietly and without a fuss un
der—”
The crashing of glass interrupted him. Smoke filled the air. Polly hit the floor instinctively. A gunshot went off as she felt it whip through her hair. Duncan gave a cry of pain. Then heat seared the air. The man behind her screamed. Polly flipped over to see Gilbert’s black dragon half in the house. His eyes burned red as he sucked in another breath, fire flickering between his teeth. The man with the gun lay on the floor writhing, trying to put out the flame on his coat.
Polly lunged, grabbing Duncan’s discarded gun.
Gilbert opened his mouth again, ready to burn the man to a crisp.
“No! You’ll burn my house!” Polly shouted at him.
The door flung open. Both Shane and Tyler raced in. Shane took one look at what was going on and went for the intruder while yelling at Tyler to secure Duncan. Polly opened her mouth to ask what she needed to do, but at that moment Gilbert shifted back to his human form.
Her mouth went dry as she looked at his naked form. His very beautiful naked form. A ragged sigh escaped her as her gaze trailed down the hard contours of his muscles. She had never thought that muscles were really that attractive, but she had never seen a man like him before. It was like she hadn’t really seen him earlier, she was so enraged. But, this time, she saw him fully.
“Are you okay?” he came towards her and she averted her gaze, embarrassed.
“Yes.” With one hand she gingerly probed her nose. “I’ll be fine.”
Tyler and Shane tied up the two intruders. Gilbert reached to pull her away, but she put a hand to his chest, stopping him. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the two men. She strode forward, grabbed a fire poker from the hearth and slammed it into the floor next to Duncan’s hands.
“What did you hope to accomplish here?” she demanded. “Were you two part of the crew who tried to kidnap me this morning? Who are you working with?”
The Dragon's Secret Queen Page 3
