The Crime of Protection

by Gloria Martin

  *****

  “Luca?” I whispered hoarsely. The dragon took two steps towards me and I realized that his big body barely fit inside the clearing. He stretched his neck so that his head was right there by my chest. He sniffed my belly and seemed to purr almost, his breath gusting out in a soft rumble. Honestly I had to say I liked the dragon form of Luca better than the silent intense human one.

  “You guys are dragons? Like shifters?” I asked in a barely audible tone.

  “Yes, but that’s only part of what we have to tell you,” Alex said. Luca’s gaze swung over my shoulder to Alex and the dragon’s nostrils flared as a low warning growl left his chest. Alex spoke to him in their language and Luca backed up a few steps and I watched as his body seemed to crumple in on itself until he was just Luca again. Well…a very, very naked Luca. My wide gaze took in all of him. I knew he must have had a great physique from what I’ve seen of him clothed, but I wasn’t prepared. He had not one ounce of fat on him. The term ‘his muscles had muscles’ couldn’t be more true in Luca’s case. Then of course I glanced down to his groin and had to glance away, blushing. Luca certainly had nothing about his body to feel bad about that was for sure.

  “Um…I think I can stand now, on my own,” I told Alex. He removed his hand, almost reluctantly, but didn’t step out of my personal space at all. Luca pulled on his clothes quickly and walked over to me a bit slowly.

  “You have nothing to fear from us…” he said cautiously.

  “Well I know that, I’m carrying the children of one of you,” I said. Luca actually smirked while Alex chuckled.

  “You handled that a lot better than I expected you would,” Luca said respectfully, his strong and silent demeanor slipping a bit. I had hope that I’d see the real Luca soon enough.

  “Well I knew something strange was up…” I said slowly. I was distracted, also realizing that I really should have fainted or something. Any other person who was firmly secure in what they knew of the world most likely would have.

  “Well let’s get you back to the cabin, Doc West said you should be taking it easy,” Alex said.

  “Are you hungry?” Luca asked me and I nodded, I was actually. “I know a place,” he said and we made our way back to the Jeep.

  “So why was everyone bowing to you guys and such?” I asked them, unable to hold back my curiosity. A thousand questions jumped to the forefront of my mind.

  “I lead our clan and Alex leads our fighters. We command great respect in the north,” Luca answered as he held open the door for me to get in.

  “The north? So your territory spans…?”

  “We hold alliances with all the dragon shifter communities across Canada and the northern U.S.” Alex glanced back at me from the front seat and pointed to Luca with his thumb. “Luca was the first leader to unite this many dragons. As you can imagine our kind can be quite temperamental, doesn’t usually lead to much unity. But we are loyal,” he smiled at me warmly and I found myself hoping that the babies were Alex’s. I knew he could make a great father.

  “So you guys operate your territory under the guise of a Native American reservation?” I asked.

  “No, our clan in particular has held a long standing treaty with the tribe. We can live amongst them so long as we offer them protection and we have for many, many decades. It’s easier to keep our culture in the modern world this way,” Luca answered.

  “Oh…well where do you originate from then?” I wondered about their language, obviously it was ancient and probably kept to the dragon shifters alone.

  “Europe, but our kind has spread out through history. We’re everywhere, our numbers larger than anyone would think,” Alex said.

  “Does your kind…ah…mate with humans often?” I asked curiously. They both glanced at each other briefly before Luca answered.

  “Yes and no. It’s not often you come across a half breed shifter, but our males are males and if confronted by a beautiful woman? Well no one can blame a shifter for their more carnal nature.”

  I considered that and gazed out the window while Luca drove. Soon we turned onto a dirt turnoff and drove through a small township. Luca pulled into the lot of a large cabin, to me it looked like a Cracker Barrel sat out in the woods. There were a lot of other cars and such parked in the lot too.

  “Is this a restaurant?” I asked.

  “Yes, the only one of ours that serves traditional foods…I hope you aren’t vegetarian?” Alex asked me before we got out and I laughed.

  “No…though really I should be considering what I do for a living,” I said and got out.

  “What’s that?” Luca asked me as we walked up to the building.

  “I’m a vet.”

  Luca snorted and Alex chuckled behind me.

  “Perhaps we can teach you how to patch up a dragon,” Luca said in a slightly teasing voice.

  “Will the babies be able to shift?” I asked him as the thought popped into my head.

  “From what we’ve seen only male half breeds can. Females have some traits, but are mostly just carriers of our genetics. If you were to have a daughter and she were to have a male child with a human, then that child would be shifter. If she were to have children with a shifter, then they’d most likely have our active traits,” Luca stopped walking though, just as we were about to go inside. “But I believe my child is a boy,” he smirked at Alex then who laughed.

  “I believe mine is a boy also,” he said and I shook my head at them both.

  “You really think one of the twins is yours and the other one yours?” I glanced at them both and they nodded. Not an ounce of doubt in their eyes.

  “We cannot explain the intricacies of our senses, but a dragon knows his young, the connection is forged when the heart starts to beat,” Luca said sincerely. Alex nodded, backing up his claim and I simply stared at them both, a little incredulous.

  “You do not have to believe right now. Not even when Doc West proves it. When the babies are born you’ll see,” Alex said confidently.

  They led me inside then. The restaurant was basically a large cafeteria like area and I slowly realized that people were speaking the same language Luca and Alex had been. And whenever they noticed them walk by their conversations became hushed and they saluted or actually got up and bowed. That was definitely something I had to get used to. As well as the curious and almost suspicious stares that landed on me once they got past their leader and fighting commander.

  We found a booth and Luca made sure to tuck me in next to the wall so that he was on the outside.

  “So why’d you guys visit Seattle then?” I asked once everyone was settled.

  “Well…ah…” Alex glanced at Luca who suddenly glowered in annoyance.

  “We were celebrating my last days of freedom. Before I had to sequester myself in our territory for the courtship ritual, which lasts until I find a mate to rule alongside me and carry my heirs,” he practically growled the words.

  “Wait…you’re looking for a wife?” I asked. He definitely didn’t seem to be enjoying that fact. I glanced over at Alex who simply ran a hand through his curls and kept quiet.

  “Looking for, doesn’t mean I’ve found one yet,” Luca murmured. Just then a server appeared with a huge tray of food.

  “My lords, miss,” the server was just a teenager, he respectfully inclined his head towards Alex and Luca with his greeting as his hands were full. “We have goat stew today as well as flaked fish and everything potatoes. I hope you’ll enjoy.” He set everything down as well as a pitcher of water and beer. I wondered if he was a dragon shifter as well, that tray had to be heavy.

  “I suggest you try the stew, it’s amazing,” Alex said, doling out a portion for himself as well as taking some bread.

  “Sure…” I took some stew, it did smell really good, and glanced at Luca. He was back to being silent as he took some of the fish and potatoes. “So…what happens when I have these babies? Say one is yours, what happens?” Luca looked at me then, but
took a drink of beer before answering me.

  “He…or she will be raised here as my first born. They will be heir to my position in the clan and loved by our people regardless of their blood.”

  Strong emotion flared in my chest. I wasn’t sure if it was indignation or what, but I didn’t like the idea of being separated from my kids at all. I had a good life in Seattle and didn’t want to give it up.

  “You both would insist that the kids be raised here in the territory?” I asked.

  “Well how else would they know of their culture? Of what they truly are?” Alex asked me.

  “I don’t know that I’m willing to just give everything up in Seattle to move out here…”

  “I’m sure you can find work in Neilton or Quinault outside of the reservation,” Luca said. “We wouldn’t think of separating you from your children, but it goes against what we are to have them raised away from our people, from family,” he added.

  “And what about my family?”

  “We aren’t saying you’d be prisoner here Chloe, of course you can visit your family,” Alex said. I took a deep breath and sighed, deciding to let the conversation go for the moment. I put a spoonful of the stew into my mouth and nearly melted into the seat.

  “Oh my word…” I practically moaned, the stew was literally the best food I had ever tasted.

  “Anyway you might like it here…” Alex smirked at me as I took another bite of the magical stew.

  *****

  “My lords,” A woman came walking up to our table, flanked by a guy just as big as Alex and Luca. She was really pretty in a face like way, with big eyes and porcelain features. But she held herself fiercely and her gaze was focused in a way that reminded me of a police officer or something of the like.

  “Layla,” Alex acknowledged her and she glanced at both him and Luca.

  “Our scouts have returned from the south and I have a pressing report,” she said in a quietly urgent tone.

  “Of course, feel free to join us,” Luca said and Layla’s gaze finally touched on mine. Luca made a quick introduction in a no nonsense tone.

  “Chloe this is Layla she heads our scouts. Layla this is the mother of our young.” Layla’s eyebrows arched and I glanced at Luca with wide eyes. All he did was shrug and gesture for Layla to sit. She glanced at Alex for a moment and then seemed to collect herself and gave me a respectful nod.

  “It’s good to meet you,” she said, shock evident in her tone.

  “Likewise…” I said with a small smile, feeling incredibly awkward. Especially as the guy she walked up with just stood by the table in watchful silence.

  “So what news do you have?” Luca asked her.

  “The clans are banding together, they heard of our northern alliance. It doesn’t appear that they are allying under one clan, but simply banding together in a common goal. Though as far as our scouts know that goal hasn’t yet been blatantly stated. They fear it is in response to our alliance, instead of following our lead in the hopes of being a united race,” she said. I quirked an eyebrow, in interest as to what was going on, but remained silent. Simply taking another bite of stew.

  “We can’t ignore this information,” Alex said. Luca simply nodded, thoughtful.

  “We shouldn’t exactly do anything either. It has too much potential to be taken as a threat. We should however, inform the other clans of the north. Advise them to welcome any southern friendships and reiterate the goal to be a united species. Send your scouts to the borderlands with my authority,” Luca told her and Layla nodded.

  “Consider it done. I’ll get back to you with my next update,” she said and got up to bow. Soon she was hastening out with her guard, or whatever he was.

  “Are there other…non-human humans out there?” I asked slowly and Luca snorted.

  “Have you ever heard the saying ‘truth is stranger than fiction?’” Alex asked me and I nodded. “There’s a wealth of strange things out there,” he said cryptically which sent a small shiver up my spine.

  “It’s why our kind should always stick together, who knows when certain beings will want to come out of the shadows,” Luca murmured before taking a bite of his fish. I wondered what sort of world I stepped into, what world my kids will be born into.

  ***

  Luca and Alex took me around their territory after lunch and showed me their hidden kingdom really. Luca’s house was huge, a modern mansion that blended in with the trees nicely. Then they showed me their community center, where they had clan meetings and Alex’s fighters trained and such, and their schools. They had an entire uncharted town intermingled with the reservation.

  “So? Our territory is just like any other suburb,” Alex said when we finally got back to the cabin. I was ready to sink onto the sofa and take a nice nap.

  “It’s nice, yeah…not what I expected in the least,” I admitted.

  “We’re just hidden away is all,” Luca said. I sank down onto the sofa and stretched out. Noting that my belly was finally starting to poke out a bit.

  “Look, I have a bump,” I beckoned them over and pointed to my stomach.

  “I felt it earlier,” Alex smiled as he knelt down next to me and put his hand on my belly.

  “Well let me…” Luca almost pouted. He walked over and put his hand on my stomach.

  “Hey…will there be any complications for when I give birth?” I asked them, the thought only then occurring to me.

  “No, you won’t give birth to live dragons if that’s what you think,” Alex said with a chuckle to his voice. I stuck my tongue out at him then got distracted by Luca’s rubbing of my belly. It felt nice, so nice that the ever talked about pregnancy hormones suddenly came to life. My skin tingled with an awareness I wasn’t prepared for. I felt Luca’s warmth as if he were pressed against my skin when in fact he only had one hand on me. His icy blue eyes locked onto mine and I knew he sensed my change in mood.

  “Um…uh, I think it’s getting…late,” I said, trying not to sound as breathless as I felt with Luca’s gaze intent on me. By then the muscles in my core were clenching with need and my body temperature was rising. I stood up, but Luca was right there and not moving at all. Alex looked up at me with a small smile.

  “You can’t expect us to leave, you’d be unprotected,” he said. I glanced at Luca who put his hand on the small of my back, knowing exactly what he was doing.

  “No one knows about me…well other than Layla,” I said and side stepped Luca.

  “It doesn’t matter. It would go against our nature not to have you by our sides while carrying our young,” Alex said, he stood up on an inhale and his gaze sharpened on me. “Feeling okay?” he asked with a small smirk and I rolled my eyes.

  “I’m fine just tired. There are two guest rooms. Make yourselves comfortable,” I said and practically marched away from them. I almost forgot about King and Charles as I passed the kitchen and saw them sitting by their bowls. It was strange that they didn’t come out when I got home. But they greeted me normally when I went to put food into their bowls.

  “You have cats…” Luca’s voice came from right behind me and I nearly jumped. King and Charles let him scratch their heads as they ate.

  “Yeah…I do,” I said and took a deep breath.

  “You know; you shouldn’t shy away from your needs. You have two of us here,” he said with a hint of humor in his voice.

  “My needs?” I played dumb, trying to avoid the conversation entirely and retreat to my room for the night.

  “Aren’t you hungry again by now?” he asked me and squinted at his innocent expression. “As far as I know you’ve only eaten that stew from lunch.”

  “Well it was quite filling along with the bread,” I said slowly…wondering what his game was.

  “Alright…and the other thing?” he asked while taking a slow step towards me. I opened my mouth to say something, but I drew a blank. Luca moved very deliberately, backing me against the counter, until he was barely a breath away from me. I i
nhaled his scent, which smelled like warm pine and clean skin. I swayed into him and he lowered his head to mine, his lips hovered directly over mine.

  “You smell really good,” I said softly and he chuckled.

  “Do I?”

  I nodded and he ran his thumb up under my jaw, tilting my head to the side. He put his nose to my throat and inhaled. Never would I have found a guy sniffing my neck to be such an incredible turn on. But everything south of my belly button seemed to quiver.

  “Luca…” I breathed his name, unable to speak like a regular person. His hand slid around my waist and he pressed his erection against my belly. My breathing hitched and a slow burn began to work its way through my veins. He trailed kisses up from the base of my throat to my jaw and finally his lips sealed over mine.

  *****

  Luca’s hands slid down from my waist then and right at that moment my stomach decided to growl as if I was carrying two baby dragons inside of me. I pulled back a fraction, pressing my lips together in embarrassment. Luca simply chuckled and he took a step back while taking a deep breath.

  “Let’s get some food into you,” he said. I pouted, wishing my stomach hadn’t complained at all.

  “Right now? This second?” I protested and Luca chuckled.

  “Yes, I can’t have you enduring hunger pangs,” he said while going around the kitchen and looking in the fridge and cabinets for food. “None of this will do…” he murmured, then called for Alex who appeared in the kitchen a moment later.

  “We need to get her some proper food,” Luca told Alex, who nodded. “I’ll be back in a moment,” he said, much to my displeasure. I didn’t want food as much as I wanted…well him. Luca gave me a small smirk before he left and I simply glared at him.

  “What’d he do to you?” Alex asked with a chuckle.

  “A very mean thing,” I murmured. “Is he always so…” I grasped for a word that would describe Luca and came up with a blank.