“Which I wish the two of you would get over,” Kian said.
“Never,” both Dax and Aiden said at the same time.
Everyone laughed. Cato approached, smiling at Winnifred with an inscrutable look in his eyes.
“And you must be Cato,” Winnifred said, offering her hand.
“It is a relief that things worked out for you and Aiden. I can see by your vitals that he has claimed you.” Cato scanned her with a laser from a bracelet at his wrist. “I was concerned. The mating impulse drove our quiet rogue to the brink of insanity. I feared his heart might stop if it took any longer to claim you.”
“What?” Winnifred stammered, placing her hand on her heart.
“She didn’t know?” Cato asked.
“Know what?” Winnie demanded.
“A dragon can go literally mad if they do not mate—and the madness eventually leads to death,” Everly informed her, bouncing the child on her hip.
“I had no idea,” Winnifred said, placing her fingertips on her lips. “Why didn’t you tell me, Aiden?”
“I didn’t want you to think you were obligated to mate with me because I might go insane and die if you didn’t.”
“Aiden,” she said with a slight catch in her voice. “Never keep anything like that from me again.”
“It all turned out. We’re together now.”
She nodded her head once, as if accepting the truth. Now that they could feel each other deep inside, they understood each other at the core level.
“You have a beautiful home,” she said to Kian, changing the subject as the entire family stood around them sharing their private moment.
“Would you like a tour?” Aiden asked.
“I would love that.”
“After you look around the house, come to the kitchen for lunch. I’m cooking,” Kian said.
The others scattered, leaving Aiden and Winnifred alone in the family room.
“I really wish you had told me what would happen if we didn’t mate,” she said.
“I tried so hard not to force you, Winnifred. After my mistake on the island, I couldn’t bear the thought of manipulating you in any way ever again.”
She let out an exasperated sigh and looked at the ground.
“What’s done is done,” she said. “What’s important now is that we are together, and you are healthy.” She paused for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts. “I truly appreciate you giving me so much space. It’s always been hard for me to trust anyone, with good reason. It was so strange for me when we met. I was inexplicably drawn to you, and I couldn’t understand why. I mean, you’re hot and all but…” She laughed. “I’ve known a lot of hot guys in my life. I understand now that feeling was my Dragon Soul calling for my mate. It’s almost like my Dragon Soul is the intuition that has always whispered to me at the back of my mind. It’s even stronger now that we’ve mated.” She let out a deep breath. “You’ve done so much for me.”
“I did what I had to.”
“Aiden. Stop. You’ve been so patient. It’s my turn to take care of you now.”
“I’d like that,” he said, taking her in his arms and grinning down at his sweet, strong mate.
“I’m done letting you bend over backwards for me,” she whispered into his ear.
“I know. I know.”
“Please. Just trust that I’m here for you as much as you are for me. Can you do that?”
“Of course I can,” he said, taking her hand and kissing the backs of her knuckles. He drew a sharp breath through his nostrils, inhaling her scent. It had changed just slightly since they’d mated, becoming even more fragrant and intoxicating.
He could barely believe she was truly his, or that she was asking him to stop sacrificing his own needs. He would do anything for her. Sacrifice his life for her comfort. But she didn’t want that. She wanted him to let her take care of him too. He held her close, exhaling a quivering breath. The relief that flowed through him was almost too much to bear. He’d refused to be vulnerable. Refused a single second of weakness. But with Winnifred bonded to him, he knew he could let her in, let her see him. Let her sooth his soul and his wounds with her deft hands.
“I’ll show you the rest of the house,” he finally said, kissing her forehead.
First, they walked into the game room and he explained the rules of dragon pool to her. She laughed at the absurdity as they walked across the hall to the library. After touring the bottom floor, they went upstairs, and he showed her his bedroom. He had a neat and tidy suite with a king size bed covered in a black fluffy comforter. A huge bathroom with white tile floors, marble counters tops, a massive standup shower, and a deep jetted bathtub.
“You certainly live a life of luxury,” she said, looking out the window onto the grounds.
“Between fighting vampires and saving damsels in distress,” he said. “We certainly do.”
She laughed as they walked downstairs to the basement. He showed her the control room of the spaceship they had buried under the house. Then they walked down the hall to the theater and the saferoom.
“This room can safely hold a dozen people for half a year. Kian had it built after he found Everly. It has ten times the security shielding of the compound itself, which has only had one breach so far. Each time the vampires attack, we learn more, and our technology becomes stronger.”
“These vampires really are a terrible threat, aren’t they?” she asked thoughtfully.
“They’ve kidnapped Everly, Ember, and Aria. We do not take the protection of our women lightly.”
“After we drop off the painting to my buyer, we can get my things, so I can move in properly.”
“I like the sound of that,” he said, kissing her. “Let me show you the grounds. You’re going to love it.”
Aiden showed Winnifred the ten acres of well-manicured grounds around the mansion, the boxwood maze, the screened in gazebo, the pool, and the basketball court. She marveled at the view of the hillside sweeping away at the edge of the compound up toward the mountain.
After the tour of the grounds, they found the family in the kitchen, sitting around the table. Ember wiggled in her high chair, and Everly spooned baby food into her mouth. The dragonkin shrieked with delight upon seeing Winnifred and Aiden.
“She likes you,” Aiden said.
“She’s so cute,” Winnifred gushed.
“We have another one on the way,” Everly said, touching her stomach.
“Congratulations!” Winnifred said, sitting beside Aiden.
“It will be the first dragonkin born on Earth,” Everly said proudly.
Aiden held her hand, feeling the warmth of his family envelope them in its embrace. Despite his friendly competition with Dax, his heart, and his blades, and his claws, would always serve the House of Flames. Now his brave mate was a part of it. He couldn’t be any happier.
Kian served them a lunch of grilled turkey sandwiches with spicy mustard, pickles, tomatoes and lettuce, with his famous hand-cut potato fries smothered in olive oil, rosemary, and sea salt. Fresh berries and melons from the local farms nearby and tall glasses of lemonade accompanied the meal.
Winnifred ate her lunch as the crew chatted about the past and the future. Everyone was excited for the baby. Cato had already determined it was a girl. Another female dragon born to the House of Flames was a great boon for them all.
He hoped that one day, he and Winnifred would have a dragonkin of their own, but for now he was happy just to sit at the table with his duchess by his side.
Chapter 19
Winnifred and Aiden said goodbye to everyone as the crew gathered around and wished them a safe trip and a speedy return. Winnifred felt the warmth and acceptance of Aiden’s family deep in her soul, embracing her like loving arms.
Her own family had been broken, her mother an addict and her stepfather raging and abusive. She had escaped the dreadful situation, vowing to never let herself be bound by family loyalty again. But now, with Aiden and his crew,
it felt totally different. It felt like she could belong, safe and loved. She didn’t know quite how to process that since it was completely foreign to her.
As long as she could remember, she had lived with a deep sense of anxiety and mistrust for anyone who tried to get too close to her. It was all fading away now that she was bound to Aiden. She was beginning to let down her guard, open her heart, and let all her pent-up love break free.
They made their way out to the Mustang, climbed inside and started down the driveway. As they reached the edge of the property, she saw a shimmer in the air before they turned out onto the main road.
“What was that light?” She asked.
“You must have seen the shields glimmer. Most humans can’t see that.”
“I feel like something is changing inside of me. It’s like a butterfly coming out of its cocoon.”
“Mated Dragon Souls take on many of the characteristics and strengths of dragons. Although you will not be able to shift, you will be stronger, faster, and more resilient. We don’t have a full understanding of the transformation, since Everly and Aria are the first human dragon mates, but we have observed enough to know that there are changes.”
“It’s like a buzzing in my blood,” she said. “Coursing through my entire body, filling me with a confidence I’ve never known.”
“You’re already one of the most confident people I’ve ever own,” he said with a chuckle. “Soon you’ll be unstoppable.”
“I’d like to be unstoppable,” she said. “It sounds incredibly satisfying.”
“I’d like that too,” he said, looking over at her and patting her thigh. “My unstoppable bride.” His words purred in her ears, like the hungry, seductive pronouncement of a lover. She giggled and rubbed his leg as he drove. He shifted gears and drove faster along the highway, grinning at her and revealing his sharp teeth. He flipped on the stereo, and they swayed to the rhythm of the music.
The drive to the city was fun with Aiden by her side, playing his favorite songs. There was never a dull moment with him, and she looked forward to spending the rest of their lives together, growing as artists and as lovers.
By late afternoon, they made it to the art district she had previously called her home, parking in front of the building where her buyer had asked her to meet him. The window facing the street revealed a gallery within, and her curiosity grew as she stepped out of the car.
Aiden opened the trunk and retrieved her painting. Her buyer’s address wasn’t the gallery, but the door leading upstairs. Aiden pressed the buzzer, and they waited for the door to unlocked. A moment later a voice came through the intercom.
“Come in,” he said.
The door buzzed, and Aiden pushed it open. They trotted up the stairs and came to a narrow hallway that led to a single door at the end. He wrapped his knuckles on the painted wood and the door slowly creaked open.
“This place doesn’t smell right,” Aiden grumbled under his breath.
Inside, a man sat in an executive chair behind a desk, his back turned to them. She could see the arms of his purple velvet blazer and the top of his head covered in slick black hair.
“Winnifred Parker,” he said, not turning. “Could you please hang the painting on the wall behind my desk?”
Aiden tried not to let go of her hand, but she pulled her fingers loose and took the painting with her. He was nervous about letting her go, but this was her art buyer. She couldn’t let Aiden’s overprotectiveness prevent her from closing this deal.
She strode across the room, her ankle boots clicking on the polished wood floor. Something didn’t sit right with her intuition, but she was so determined to finish her sale, she didn’t listen to it. She glanced down at the man’s profile as she passed. His features were sharp but not unattractive, his skin pale and his eyes dark. She smiled and turned to the nail already anchored in the wall. Lifting her painting, she hung it on the nail. Before she could turn to ask him if he approved, she felt steely cold hands grip her arms and pulled her down.
She fell into the man’s lap as he twirled around in the chair, facing Aiden. In the time it took to turn to face him, Aiden had half-shifted and drawn his laser swords.
“I should have known it was you,” Aiden growled. “I smelled vampire residue all over this place.”
“Aiden,” she stuttered. “I’m sorry.”
The vampire turned his face into the crook of her neck, taking a deep draw of her scent.
“Not as sweet as you once were,” he said disappointedly. “But I won’t let that stop me from enjoying my revenge.”
“How did you find her?” Aiden barked.
The vampire’s canine teeth abruptly extended in his jaw. He opened his mouth wide, his eyes glowing yellow as he lunged toward her neck. Winnifred screamed. Aiden charged forward. The vampire clamped down on her neck. She felt the cold, sharp sting of his bite and his clammy wet tongue sliding over her skin.
He sucked vigorously for half a beat as Aiden rushed in, swords raised and ready to strike. But the vampire abruptly dropped her to the floor, screaming in pain and disgust.
“What have you done to your blood?” the vampire wailed, clawing at his neck.
Winnifred scrambled away, darting behind Aiden as he sliced his swords across the vampire’s neck, decapitating him. The head rolled away and thumped against the far wall, leaving a trail of dark blood across the pale wood floor. Winnifred screamed and covered her mouth in horror. Aiden stood above the creature and blew fire on its decapitated face and body.
“What is that thing?”
“He was an elder vampire,” Aiden said. “But he’s dead now.”
“You killed him?”
“I think you killed him,” Aiden said, kicking the vampire’s roasted head to scatter the ashes across the floor.
“Me? How could I have possibly killed it?”
Aiden faced her, slowly morphing back into the man she loved. His swords retracted, and he took her hands.
“I think it was your blood,” he said. “The mating bite, it changed you, made you immune.”
“Not only immune but deadly,” she said, standing over the ashes of the vanquished vampire. Aiden burned the rest of the corpse and then used his wrist device to create a containment unit that sucked up all the ashes.
“I’ll take the remains with us, just to be sure,” he said. “This is a very interesting development. Do you know what this means?”
“What?” she said, shaking her head. She was still too stunned to think straight.
“It means that you, Everly, and Aria are free to live your lives without fear of the vampires. I have to tell Cato.”
Could it be true? Could Aiden’s mating bite have made her blood deadly to any vampire who may try to take it? Her lips curled back in a satisfied smile as she walked across the room and took back her painting.
“And I thought he wanted to buy my painting.” She had to admit, she was a bit disappointed he wasn’t a real art collector.
“You will find much better buyers for your paintings. We’ll get Cato to set you up on every arts dealership on the Internet. You’ll sell out of paintings in no time, you won’t even be able to keep up with the demand.”
“That would be a dream come true,” she said as they walked out of the building and climbed back into the car. “Today, I think I can settle for not becoming vampire chow.”
Chapter 20
When Aiden and Winnifred arrived back at the mansion, Cato took them down into the spaceship in the basement. Aiden gave Cato the containment unit full of ashes and Cato put it on an analysis plate.
“Tell me exactly what happened,” Cato said.
“The man who contacted me to buy my painting turned out to be an elder vampire.”
“Was this the same vampire who attacked our compound?” Cato asked Aiden.
“It was him. The same one who attacked me out on the island. I’m fairly sure he’s dead now.”
“We’ll know soon,” Cato said.
He turned to Winnie. “And he had a negative reaction as soon as he bit you?”
“Yes,” Winnifred said. “He screamed and started clawing at his neck. He asked me what I had done to my blood. And then Aiden cut his head off.”
“The last time I cut off his head, he was still blinking. This time he was clearly dead. I incinerated his body just to be sure.”
“Very interesting,” Cato said, pulling out a syringe. “I’m going to take a sample of your blood,” he explained to Winnifred. “Aiden could you bring Everly and Aria downstairs? I would like to get a sample from them as well. I want to see if there are any similarities between them, and if it is something that is not found in a typical human or Dragon Soul blood sample.”
Aiden nodded once and left the basement, hurrying upstairs to find Everly and Aria. They were sitting in the living room with Ember.
“Ladies would you join us downstairs? We're running a rather interesting experiment.”
“Oh?” Aria asked. “What is it?”
“Come downstairs, and we’ll explain everything.”
They followed Aiden down to the ship, finding Cato had extracted a sample from Winnifred.
“So, what is this all about?” Everly asked, putting Ember in her baby bouncer in the ship basement.
“It seems that the blood of a mated Dragon Soul is deadly to vampires. Even elder vampires,” Cato explained.
“Really?” Aria said, her eyes glowing with hope. “Does that mean we could go out by ourselves?”
“It is a distinct possibility,” Cato said. “A vampire bit Winnifred earlier today and we suspect he died from it.”
Everly and Aria both gasped. “Oh Winnifred,” Everly said, reaching out to her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Aiden was there to protect me.”
“We want to make sure that it was because of the blood,” Cato said. “Aiden decapitated and incinerated him.”
“But he was poisoned,” Aiden insisted. “I’ve decapitated this vampire before. Even with Aria’s song, I could not take him down. This time I did.”
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