Don’t listen to him, Magnus. He’s evil, and you’re not. Please fight him.
I can’t. I’m not strong enough.
I need you. I’m sorry I ran away. When I realized I cared for you, it scared me. Loving someone destroyed me once, and I didn’t want it to happen again. But I can’t live without you, Magnus. I love you. I’ll never leave your side again. Just finish him.
She loved him.
Hope spread through him, warm and strong, like sunshine on frozen water.
She didn’t judge him for what had happened, and it was time to stop judging himself as well. Time to stop thinking about that frigid, stormy night and start living again. Time to fight.
He opened his eyes to see the mercury dragon looking down at him, a sneer on his face. “You know, I think I’ll kill your mate first, just so you can enjoy the feeling of complete failure before I annihilate you, iron dragon. And then I’ll kill the rest of your crew, one by one. They all have weaknesses, just like you. They bleed just like any living thing does.”
“Just kick his ass,” Lindy shouted around her gag.
When Mercury looked up at her, distracted and annoyed, Magnus made his move. He pushed his weight up, knocking Mercury off balance, then grabbed his hand and the sword it was holding to pull it away from his neck. Then he rolled backward and flipped Mercury off of him, sending him flying over his head.
Mercury soared several yards backward, rolling over the ground, and then jumped to his feet as Magnus did the same, squaring off with him.
It wasn’t until Mercury looked to the small control panel at the base of the crane that Magnus felt alarm shoot through him
Mercury reached out and yanked one of the levers, then grinned. “Very well, mate goes first. Have it your way,” he said, glowering.
Magnus looked up and saw the cradle of the crane begin to slowly tilt forward. A second later, he heard Lindy scream as the car leaned, then pitched off the lift, plummeting toward the earth as it rolled.
Lindy had only a second to panic as the car she was in began to lean to one side. A moment later, her stomach dropped, and she let out a scream as the car dropped into a free-fall.
She heard a loud roar, like some sort of gigantic monster, followed by a jarring jolt as the car stopped midflight, bumping her into the worn cushions.
Something had saved her.
She looked out the window to see a gigantic metallic dragon peering into the car. Its bright, jade-green eyes were surrounded by reddish, iron-hued scales that ran in long rows down a long neck onto a huge body with glistening reddish metal wings.
“You okay?” It was Magnus’s voice, only a hundred times louder, as the car rumbled from the sound.
Completely stunned, the best she could muster was a nod.
“See? I told you. Dragon,” he said as he put the car down, using one claw to rip the door off like it was a toy.
He helped her out of it, carefully reaching one long, razor-sharp claw toward her and holding it there so she could use it to cut the ropes on her wrists. Then she took her gag off and looked up at him.
The dragon that could only be Magnus towered over her like a majestic, monstrous metal beast.
Her jaw dropped. He really had been telling the truth.
Not that he’d ever given her any reason to doubt whatsoever. It was just, well. It was the stuff of fairy tales and legends. Yet here he was, standing on all fours, with fangs and a tail and wings and everything.
Her awe was interrupted by an equally huge figure slamming into Magnus at full speed, crashing him into the side of the building as rubble cascaded down the side and dust kicked up in a thick cloud.
As the dust cleared, she could make out what had to be another dragon. It was an eerie mix of bright and dark silver, with steely scales and a long row of sharp spikes standing up from his back. His eyes were dark and soulless.
Lindy ducked behind the car, knowing this fight was out of her hands.
At least she had been able to help Magnus, though. She hoped finally being brave enough to tell him her feelings somehow made up for how she’d left him earlier.
She meant what she’d said. She wouldn’t leave him again.
Magnus the dragon pushed back on the mercury beast and breathed out a wide cone of white-hot fire. She could feel the heat of it as warm air blasted past her.
The slightly smaller mercury dragon ducked to the side, kicking up a thick cloud of dust, obscuring her vision even more, as he lashed out with his long, spiked tail. Magnus blocked it, then head-butted his opponent in the side, knocking him off his feet and onto the ground with a thunderous thud.
The mercury dragon got to his feet, hissing, and Lindy felt terror in her veins as its dark, black eyes trained on her.
She saw its mouth open, and black fire, hideous and corrosive-looking, jetted toward her. She saw Magnus look over, and a second later, all around her, cars and junk and metal flew from their heaps to right in front of her, moving like magnets attracted to their opposite poles, forming a giant wall of metal. A moment later, she heard the black fire connect with the wall, and she saw the metal shield melt and deform at the corners but hold steady.
“Dirty move, Mercury. I’m going to make you pay for that,” Magnus growled, making the earth beneath her tremble at the rumbling sound.
“Where I come from, there’s no fair or unfair. Just winners and losers,” Mercury spat.
Lindy tiptoed to the corner of the melted metal heap and looked, not wanting to put herself in more danger but unable to take her eyes off the two titanic beasts circling each other.
Real dragons.
Without further pause, the two dragons clashed in a horrific melee, breathing fire, slashing with their powerful claws, going for each other’s necks with their long fangs. Lindy couldn’t help but feel worried, until several moments in, she saw a wrecking ball hanging from a huge metal crane move on its own, as if pulled by the same magnetic force that the junk that had moved to protect her did. Not seeing it, the ball crashed into the mercury dragon’s side, knocking him over, as Magnus grabbed its neck and yanked him hard onto the ground with a loud impact.
Then before her eyes, she saw both dragons disappear into glimmering dust as she saw the figures of two men on the ground where the towering giants had once been. The one on top was Magnus.
She rushed up to them, jogging across the yard as the paler man with dark-gray hair struggled weakly, barely conscious, unable to escape.
“Try your disappearing act now!” Magnus said, holding him in one one hand and pummeling him repeatedly in the face with the other until he was unconscious. When she got closer, he looked up, throwing one more punch, then stopping.
There was a metal dumpster nearby, and he dragged Mercury to it and tossed him in, then sealed the metal cover over it carefully so he couldn’t escape.
The minute he was done, Lindy ran over to be in his arms, throwing herself against him, not caring about the dust or the blood.
He held her back, looking over her, jade-green eyes narrowed in concern. When he was satisfied she was fine, he nodded, pulling her in against him and wrapping his strong, comforting arms around her.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” she said. “I’m sorry I got us into this mess.”
“You didn’t,” he said. “I brought the dragons into your life somehow. I still don’t know why he was taking over Roscoe’s shop or what he did with Roscoe. I don’t even care. That’s for Aegis to figure out.”
“What’s for Aegis to figure out?” a cold voice said from behind them, and they both turned around to see the blond-haired man Lindy had met at the mansion walking toward them, several men behind him.
One she recognized as Citrine, with his silky brown hair and gold eyes, and another she didn’t recognize had short dark hair and eyes like an ocean. The third was the oddest of all. He had a long, blond braid that hung down his back and icy-blue eyes that were fixed on them.
All three were giant.
&
nbsp; They stopped in front of her and Magnus, and the one in front with short blond hair and a green tee shirt raised an eyebrow. She thought she remembered his name being Aegis.
“What should I figure out again?” Aegis asked impatiently.
Magnus bit his lip. “Uh…”
“Why Roscoe targeted this shop and what he did with the others, and what’s going on with Mercury’s master plan, I’m guessing,” Citrine said helpfully.
“Are you all right?” the one with the long braid said, stepping forward.
“I’m fine, Titus.”
“We were right there, waiting to see if you needed us,” the one with short, dark hair said.
“Thanks, Liam.”
“Looks like you had it, though,” Liam responded with a grin.
Magnus beamed. “Of course I did. Iron dragon.”
They fist-bumped, and Lindy watched in confusion. “Something human males do to celebrate victories.” Liam clarified for her.
She laughed, putting an arm around Magnus. “Very human indeed.”
“Introduce us to your mate, idiot,” Aegis said impatiently.
“Fine,” Magnus said. “Lindy, this is Aegis, the gem dragon assigned to watch out for us in the modern world, and Citrine, his pet.”
“Excuse me?” Citrine scowled.
“Sorry,” Magnus said. “Citrine, his assistant.”
“I can blind you,” Citrine said pleasantly. “Permanently.”
“Citrine, the most wonderful host and a terrific dragon,” Magnus added nervously.
“Nice to meet you,” Lindy said, stepping forward to shake everyone’s hands. She’d liked Citrine the minute she’d met him and liked him even more after seeing him spar with Magnus.
Her eyes went to Liam and Titus, and she wondered what they were thinking if they’d watched the fight. If they’d seen how Mercury manipulated Magnus.
“We never felt the way he said,” Liam said, focusing on Magnus.
“Yeah,” Titus said. “I’m glad you had your mate to snap you out of it, because that was bogus.”
“He’s been watching a lot of eighties movies,” Aegis clarified.
“Either way,” Liam said, stepping forward and placing a hand on Magnus’s shoulder as Lindy stepped back so they could have a moment alone. “We never held it against you. We’re a crew. We all know we would die for each other. We never blamed the storm or sinking on you. And if we had known you were suffering over it, we would have told you sooner.”
“It was blessedly fast and instantly dark,” Titus said. “At least for me. And what was the point in laying blame anywhere?”
“Mercury sabotaged the ship,” Magnus said. “Though you may have heard that part.”
“Yes,” Liam said. “We heard. Apparently, he’s had it in for us for a long time. Do you think he targeted this shop because he scented you on your mate and knew you’d be meeting up with her again?”
“I have no idea,” Magnus said.
“Another thought is that he is just trying to find a way to control humans and is working to invade any business that has mob dealings.”
Magnus shrugged. “I’d love to stay here and go over theories, but right now I’d just like to be home with my mate. I did sort of just beat up a dragon and save the day, super heroically.”
Lindy laughed at that, and the other dragons all looked over at her. “Sorry,” she said. “It was funny.”
“I’m glad someone gets Magnus,” Citrine said.
“We get him,” Liam said, and Titus nodded in agreement.
“You two are coming to the castle, right?” Aegis asked. “Until we figure this out, we can’t let you live at home.”
All eyes turned to Lindy. She knew this was her chance to make up for everything she’d done so far, clinging to her life, afraid to move on, when all she really feared now was giving up a chance to truly live again.
“Of course we’ll come,” she said, seeing Magnus’s eyes light up in her peripheral vision.
“Good,” Aegis said, looking like he was trying to hide how pleased he was. “Then you two can get out of here, and we’ll take care of the rest.” He walked over to the dumpster and lifted the lid. “Wait. Where’d he go?”
Liam walked over and looked inside. “There’s a hole. He slithered out I guess, since he can be liquid.”
“What do you know about a mercury dragon?” Aegis asked.
“Just legends, I guess,” Liam said. “When we get back to the castle, I’ll try to remember.”
“He’s out there,” Lindy said nervously, looking up at Magnus.
“Yeah, with his tail between his legs,” Magnus said. “Because I beat him. He won’t be coming back for some time. Not until he regroups and figures out a new plan. We have time to go to your place one more night.” He glared at the others. “Get some time alone while we still can.”
“There’s plenty of room at the castle for alone time,” Aegis said. “But point taken. Now get out of here, you two crazy kids.”
Lindy didn’t have to be told twice. She squeezed Magnus’s arm, getting his attention. “Love? Let’s go home.”
13
As they walked into Lindy’s small apartment, greeted by an overly excited Perky, Magnus realized he was really going to miss this place.
It was small and nowhere near as elegant as the castle, but to him, it was home.
Because he’d been with his mate there.
“Do you think Perky will be safe in the castle?” Lindy asked, picking up the hyper dog and letting it lick her face.
Magnus reached out to give Perky a pet. She closed her eyes and leaned into his hand, then let out a little yip and struggled to get down. “I think she’ll run the place,” he said.
“Hey, Perky, can you give us a minute? We’re gonna need some privacy.”
The little Pekinese cocked her head, and then, almost as if she understood him, trotted over to her little bed and curled up, tucking her head over her paws, a tiny ball of fluff with a scrunched face.
“I’m guessing you want to make this mate thing official,” she said. “Which I’m assuming includes mating?”
He shook his head, then nodded. When she laughed, he clarified. “I mean, yes, I want to make love to you. But that’s not what mating is.” He reached for the chain around his neck and removed an iron ring she’d never seen that was hanging on it.
He took her hand and slid it on her finger. It morphed slightly until it was a perfect fit.
It was ornate-looking and old, with dark engraving, and when Magnus reached over and twisted it, it opened to reveal a row of sparkling diamonds running down the center.
“I’ve always wanted to show that to the person who was my mate,” he said, smiling. Then he twisted it and locked it back up, showing her how. “Something for your eyes only.”
She stared down at it and felt tears well in her eyes.
Magnus looked stricken.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, panicking.
“No, no,” she said, waving a hand. “It’s just that I’m happy, and it’s been a long time since I was happy, and it hurt somehow. Like a muscle I’m not used to using.”
“So I just have to keep making you happy until you’re used to it, then,” he said.
She nodded, blinking away tears. “Something like that. You already make me so happy I don’t know what to do with it.”
“Then why did you run?” he asked, gathering her against him. “I mean, you told me somewhat when you were up in the crane, but I didn’t understand all of it.”
“When you lose someone, you lose a part of you. Depending on how much you love them. I didn’t want to love you because I knew I would lose too big a part. When you told me how you felt about your ship sinking, I was devastated for you. Your pain was my pain, and I realized I loved you and it scared me more than anything.”
“Oh,” he said, as if he’d never thought of that. “I thought you were angry with me. Or disgusted.”
“Never,” she said. “I was trying to keep myself from being destroyed. Instead, I almost got myself destroyed. I’m realizing life can hurt you, but it can also be wonderful. And you can’t run from it. You have to just let yourself experience everything it has to offer. And hope that eventually, if you endure, the right things or the right people come along to help.”
He nodded against her head, still holding her, stroking her back. “I’m glad I could come along, because when you came along, it changed everything. You were the light in my darkness. I want to be yours.”
She let tears stream over his shoulder. Happy ones this time, because she was allowed to feel her feelings and she wasn’t alone. Then she wiped her eyes and pulled back.
“I still want to mate you,” she said.
“Yeah? But you’re crying,” he said.
“I’m done,” she said. “I’m sure there will be crying in the future. But happy times, too. I’m ready for a happy time now.”
“Me, too,” he said, sweeping her up in his arms and carrying her to the bedroom.
When he laid her on her bed, she arched back, enjoying the feel of the covers and displaying the curves of her body, loving the way his eyes lit with heat, making her feel far sexier than she ever had in her life.
As he crawled onto the bed with her, he took her lips in a firm, claiming kiss that lit her down to her toes, pushing her onto her back so he was over her.
She leaned up to whisper in his ear, “Can you pin me again?”
He grinned and nodded, taking both of her wrists in his and pinning them over her, straddling her with his muscular thighs, looking every bit the Viking warrior with his beautiful, mussed hair and intense green gaze.
Not to mention that hulking body.
“Are you sure?” he asked, watching her. “I don’t want you to feel like I’m forcing you.”
“It feels good to give up control,” she said, flushing. “Because I trust you.”
That made his grin spread wider, and he used his free hand to lift her shirt over her head, struggling for a second with his hold. “One second,” he said, releasing her and focusing on removing her clothing. Her shirt and bra were gone seconds later, followed by pants and underwear.
Iron (Rent-A-Dragon Book 2) Page 11
