The early spring scenery passed, but she saw none of it as the car sped down a very quiet Fairfax County Parkway to the hospital. Her mind focused on an internal debate. Her feelings for Draakar were evolving too fast, yet not fast enough. How could that be? They had just met, yet they had always known each other. According to him, Fate decreed they belonged together and had imbedded each with an immediate recognition, if not acceptance, of the other. Because she had recognized him.
She didn’t want to accept what her senses told her but could no longer deny he needed her as she needed him. She knew that in her soul. It called to his. The question remained, could she forgive him? He was here with her now when she needed him. Not a bad beginning.
They arrived at the hospital, much too soon for Maya. She looked up at the innocuous looking structure. Nothing particularly remarkable or memorable about it, yet the building chilled her down to the bone.
Her nana died in this place, and now her mother lay in intensive care. If she never had to set foot in there again, it would be too soon for her. If not for Draakar, she didn’t know what she would have done.
He helped her out of the limo. Maya couldn’t hide her anxiety and fear from him. He kept his arm around her waist as they entered the hospital. We’re here, Maya, and your mother is still alive.
I know, but I’m…I’m still worried. It’s like déjà vu.
She felt his kiss on the top of her head as they walked past the nurses’ station in search of her mother’s room. Because of Draakar no one bothered them. A slight tingling at the base of Maya’s spine told her he used some of his powers.
Yes. I am. He said to her having read her mind. I’m merely planting the thought that we belong here so we won’t be stopped or questioned.
Maya smiled, grateful for his presence. He found her mother’s room and stopped in front of the open door. Maya stepped around him but halted. Maya saw what he did. A man sat beside the hospital bed holding the hand of the woman lying comatose on it. A woman who looked a lot like an older version of Maya. It took a minute for the gray-haired man to realize others stood there. He raised swollen red-rimmed eyes to the doorway.
“Maya, Maya. Thank you, God!” the man cried.
Her father never got the chance to do more than rise from his chair before Maya caught him in a tight embrace. “I’m here, Daddy, I’m here,” she cried in her father’s arms.
In the short period of time she had been gone, her father, a big man, who at six feet always stood so straight and tall in her eyes, seemed to have shrunk into himself.
Ian, why don’t you wait outside in the hall, Maya heard Draakar send.
Ian, quietly backed out of the room and softly closed the door.
After they embraced for a few moments, drawing strength from the presence of each other, Maya’s father raised his head. He blinked; she knew he had finally noticed Draakar. “Who’s this, baby?” he asked.
She turned within the comfort of her father’s arms and stared at Draakar. “I’m sorry. Where are my manners? Daddy, this is Draakar Akgon, and he can save Mom. Draakar, this is my father, Vincent Trent.”
Her father looked at her then back at Draakar. “Is he a doctor?”
It was a reasonable question, but she saw what her father did. Draakar looked like no doctor she’d ever seen, but how should she answer his question.
Tell him the truth, just maybe not all of it…not quite yet.
Grateful, she nodded her head. “Not exactly.”
Draakar stepped forward to shake her father’s hand. Maya felt him pause before answering. “No, I am not a doctor in the conventional sense, but I am a healer. I can save her.”
“How?” her father asked. “The doctors can’t seem to do anything more for her. She’s slowly bleeding to death. She can’t undergo any more surgeries. All they can do is fill her with pain medicine. They don’t expect her to last the night,” he choked out.
Maya wanted to weep at the sight of more gray in his short-cropped hair and the additional lines around his eyes which were not there a week ago. Her parents always appeared younger than their age, but today her father looked much older than his fifty-nine years. “Dad, he can help.” She looked at Draakar and in that moment she trusted him completely, not just to heal her mother but also to heal her soul.
Draakar moved around to the other side of the bed and gazed down at her mother. Her father never took his eyes off him, but Maya sensed the moment hope infused her father’s heart.
She’s brethren, Maya. Draakar sent. Can you feel it? So is your father, although he merely carries a hint of brethren in his veins. No dragon dwells within. He cannot wield magicks, but he shows great inner strength and determination. I see where you get yours from.
Maya took her gaze off her mother to look up at Draakar, who glanced at her briefly. Your mother, however, is dragon but it’s still dormant, buried deeply. That just means she may not be able to wield much Earth magicks. She is sensitive to it, as is your father. I will have to call forth her dragon to aid in her healing. Once I awaken it, she should be whole.
Maya nodded, silently giving him permission to do whatever he thought necessary. He wasted no more time. “Maya, take your father’s hand then place your hand in mine.”
“Maya, what’s going on?” her father asked.
“It will be all right, Mr. Trent. Please take your daughter’s hand.”
When her father still hesitated, Maya grasped his hand then reached across her mother for Draakar with her other. He placed his palm on her mother’s forehead, linking them all. A soft golden glow surrounded her mother’s face then spread until it encompassed her entire body. It probably only lasted a few seconds but when it disappeared, both Maya and her father blinked at its absence. Her mother’s chest rose and fell, like she had just taken a deep breath, then her head moved to the side. Her breathing no longer labored nor were her facial features contorted in silent pain. Her entire frame relaxed and appeared more like a natural sleep.
Draakar removed his hand from her mother’s forehead and released her hand, then stepped back a little. “She’ll be fine now. She just needs rest for a day or two to continue to heal. She should awake by morning.” The beeping monitors seemed a more normal sounding rhythm, further giving truth to his words.
Maya watched as her father looked over his wife’s body at Draakar, who stood on the other side. Tears slowly rolled down her dad’s age-lined face. He stuck his hand out to grasp Draakar’s. “Thank you. I’m not sure who you are or what you did just now, but thank you. You saved her. She’s the love of my life, and next to Maya, the most important thing in it.”
Before anyone could comment, a sharp knock sounded at the door and Ian poked his head in. Draakar glanced over at Maya. Ian warned me there is a man at the door who wouldn’t go away and insists on seeing you and your parents. He claims he’s your fiancé.
What?
Draakar nodded. “Let him in now.”
Justin shoved his way past Ian and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Draakar. A pissed Maya watched as Justin’s eyes kept moving anxiously between Draakar, her father, and herself. How dare he tell Ian he was her fiancé! But she couldn’t take him down for the lie. She wasn’t supposed to know. Still she glared at him.
Finally he spoke. “Maya, honey, thank God you’re here,” he said, stepping closer to Maya. He quickly enfolded her in an embrace, which she returned but when he tried to kiss her mouth, she angled her head so his lips ended up on her cheek.
Funny, she used to think him a handsome man. Justin didn’t look so handsome any more. She had never really noticed the weakness to his chin, and the penchant he had for avoiding prolonged eye contact. She sighed, in truth not surprised to see him here. Ian trying to keep him out might have made him desperate. Anyone close to her parents would have been concerned for her mother. While she appreciated him being there for them, having him in the same room as Draakar make her uneasy. It felt all wrong. Justin, felt wrong, and his lie stu
ng.
Turning to her father, Justin said, “Vincent, I’m sorry I was gone so long. I had to go down the street for a decent cup of coffee.” He held the coffee toward Vincent.
Maya’s father took the still hot cup. “Thank you, Justin.”
Chapter Twenty-One
All this time Draakar never said a word. He just silently watched and assessed Justin.
He saw a lean, good-looking man about thirty, a little shorter than his six-plus frame, with blunt military-style cut blond hair and eerily hazel eyes. He sensed strong emotion from the man, his need to possess Maya, and his wariness at finding another man here with her. Draakar subtly encouraged his unease; the man had every right to feel wary. Nor did Draakar forget the lie the man told to try to gain entrance. He believed it. The man displayed an unhealthy possessiveness toward Maya.
The Dark Lord also sensed something else about this Justin. He carried brethren blood but like Maya’s father, he sensed no dragon within. He blocked Draakar’s mental probes so he could not read his mind. A sensitive to magick energies, and one with strong natural barriers.
Interesting.
Draakar would have to touch him to breach the barriers and read his mind, frustrated he had to do so. His powers weren’t at full strength, and he had to expel some of his magicks to heal Maya’s mother. So far what he could sense on the surface of the man appeared relatively harmless—concern for Maya’s mother and jealousy toward Draakar. This Justin had no right to be jealous. Such a privilege, should he choose to exercise it, belonged solely to him.
“Who’s this?” Justin asked, indicating Draakar with his chin. “A new doctor? And who’s the guy at the door who wouldn’t let me in?”
“Mr. Akgon,” Vincent began.
“Draakar, please, and if I may, Vincent.”
“After everything you’ve done, of course,” Vincent readily replied. “Justin, this is Draakar Akgon, and…yes he’s a special doctor Maya brought with her.”
Draakar read the doubt in Vincent’s mind. Vincent’s confusion, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, the importance of letting Justin believe Draakar was just a doctor. Draakar knew Maya’s father thought he had saved his wife. His daughter trusted him, so he would too. He would keep the man’s secrets. Whatever they were. Draakar smiled to himself at Vincent’s thoughts.
“And I believe he’s helped her already,” Vincent said aloud.
“Well that’s wonderful news,” Justin said, smiling at everybody. “Mr. Akgon, how can we ever thank you?”
Maya raised her eyebrows at Justin’s proprietary manner, and then glanced at Draakar. He smiled at her. But when he turned that smile on Justin, it never reached his eyes.
“I’m sure Maya will find a way,” Draakar said, leaving no room for argument in his tone.
Draakar could feel Justin gearing up to respond and so could Maya, because she spoke into the momentarily charged silence. “Dad, I know you’ve been at Mom’s side all night. Why don’t you go home and take a little break? She’s fine now, and like Draakar said, she’ll probably sleep till morning.”
“Yes,” Justin said, nodding in agreement. “He’s been here all night.”
“You’ve been here with me most of that time,” Maya’s father said to Justin. He looked between Maya and Draakar and continued, “As soon as Justin found out about the accident, he rushed over here after having just gotten back from his trip. He’s been with me ever since she came out of surgery. You’re probably tired, too,” he said to the young man.
“Tell you what,” Justin replied directly to Vincent. “I’ll take you home, and you can get a little rest so you’ll be fresh and more relaxed when Carrie wakes up.”
“That’s a good idea, Dad,” Maya agreed. “You go home with Justin. I’ll stay with Mom and call you immediately if there’s any change.”
“Well…”
When Vincent hesitated, Draakar spoke up. He could see the fatigue on the man’s face. “Your wife will be fine, Vincent. You have my word.”
Maya’s father nodded once as though in silent acknowledgement of Draakar’s pledge. “Okay, you all have convinced me. I can use a ride home. A friend gave me a lift to the hospital. I couldn’t drive when I got the call.”
“And a friend will take you home,” Justin interjected. “When you’re ready to come back, just call me. I’d be happy to bring you.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Draakar and Maya said simultaneously. Draakar glanced at her before he continued. The sooner Justin understood his position the better. “I’ll have my driver pick him up when he’s ready to return.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble,” Justin insisted. “I’ll want to check on Carrie, too. She does mean a lot to me and she’s also Maya’s mother.”
“Oh,” Draakar said ominously. “What exactly is Maya to you?” Let the bastard make his claim to Draakar’s face.
The air in the room dropped exponentially to match the chill in Draakar’s voice. Maya moved to stand at Draakar’s side, brushing her shoulder with his, calming him with her contact while presenting a united front. “A friend,” Maya stated, vehemently, “Justin and I are only friends.”
Justin looked at her as though he would argue, but instead he seemed to think better of it and sighed. Draakar hoped he resigned himself to her distinction. “Yes,” Justin finally conceded. “We’re friends.”
When Maya stepped forward to briefly hug the man, Draakar’s dragon almost growled but she immediately returned to Draakar’s side and took his hand, calming him. “Thank you for staying with my dad and taking him home,” Maya said. “Draakar will have a driver pick him up later. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know how she’s doing. Maybe you could visit her then.”
Justin stared at their joined hands for a moment before responding. “Okay. That’s fine. Well, I guess I better go.” He turned to Vincent. “Ready when you are.”
Vincent leaned over the bed and kissed his wife. He whispered something to her. Everyone in the room, even without enhanced senses could accurately guess what he had said to his wife of thirty years. ‘I love you.’ He rose from his chair and hugged Maya, who sat down in his place. He pumped Draakar’s hand and squeezed his shoulder. “I’m sure I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, you will.” He held out a card for Vincent to take. “My private number is listed there. When you’re ready to come back, just call me and I’ll have my driver pick you up.”
“As long as this won’t be an inconvenience,” Vincent said, taking the card and glancing at it.
“None what so ever, Vincent. It’s my pleasure to be of assistance.”
Justin placed his hand on the doorknob and paused. “Ah, will that guy out front allow us to leave?” Justin asked, half jokingly.
“Yes, he will,” Draakar answered.
“Who is he anyway? Some kind of bodyguard? I’ve never known a doctor with a bodyguard,” Justin complained.
“Some kind of something.” Draakar offered no further explanation.
Justin nodded, maybe realizing his questions weren’t going to be answered to his satisfaction. “Oookay,” he said, “Nice to meet you anyway. Maya, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Have a good evening.”
Vincent kissed his daughter’s cheek. “Bye, sweetheart. I’ll only be a few hours and I’ll call the number when I’m ready to come back,” her father said, waving Draakar’s business card in front of her.
“See you soon, Daddy.”
Maya and Draakar watched the door close behind the two men before turning to face each other.
A rush of emotion flowed through Maya’s veins for the man in front of her. Her dragon surfaced, reaching out and connecting with his. She had truly forgiven him. Thank you.
You’re welcome.
I may have misjudged…
Maya…Maya, is that you?
They looked down at her mother on the bed. Her sleep still appeared a natural one, but she had clearly spoken in their minds.
Yes, Mom, it’s me. I�
�m here.
Who…who’s with you?
You know who I am.
Yes…yes I do. But I…don’t really understand. I’m so tired, so tired—must rest.
Yes, rest. All will be well. Maya will stay and watch over you.
Yes, Mom, rest. I’m right here. You’re going to be all right now.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Maya suddenly came to full awareness. She had no idea why, but something had pulled her from sleep. She opened her eyes and raised her head to check on her mother who still appeared asleep. The disturbance hadn’t come from her, and that’s exactly what she had sensed, a disturbance…a discord in the environment.
She reached mentally for Ian. Draakar had left him to watch over her while he went to the house he had here. His use of power to heal her mother had weakened him. He needed the rest of the brethren to help him access the Stones from this distance. What he really needed was her.
Ian, she sent again. Only to be met with cold silence. She stood and had started for the door when it opened. A bright light blinded her vision. Maya raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glare, but it didn’t seem to help much.
Maya, Ian is hurt. I am coming. The betrayer is there. Draakar’s voice abruptly cut off in her mind.
Draakar! Draakar!
At last, Maya, at last you’ve awakened and I have you. The sound of an unknown, yet familiar voice vibrated in her head.
What? Who the hell are you?
You know who I am.
The betrayer. You bastard! What have you done to Ian?
Familiar masculine laughter flittered through her mind. He thought to stop me from entering—again. This time I was able to show him the error of his ways.
What he said in her head didn’t really make sense to her. Did you kill him too, as you’ve killed others?
No, at least not yet. To make sure it stays that way you will come with me now.
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