by Rinelle Grey
“Quick, hide,” she whispered. “My dad’s coming.”
To her relief, Calrian didn’t hesitate, not even to ask further questions. He disappeared into her bedroom and out of sight more silently than she would have thought possible, just seconds before her dad walked into the room.
“I dropped by earlier, but you weren’t here.” Her father frowned as though she had no right to a life of her own, though he didn’t actually come out and ask her where she’d been. For once.
Usually Rylee tolerated his interference. She’d explain where she’d been just so he wouldn’t keep frowning. But then again, usually she had nothing to hide.
This time though, she wanted him out of here so she could get back to talking to Calrian. Even though she couldn’t see or hear the dragon, she could feel his presence like an itch in between her shoulder blades that she couldn’t reach to scratch.
“Did you want something?” Rylee asked her father pointedly.
Her dad’s frown deepened. Her unusual behaviour would probably arouse his suspicions. Why couldn’t she ignore Calrian’s presence and just act normally? She braced herself for questions. For comments about how ungrateful she was.
But her father obviously had something more pressing on his mind. “Tom from down the road said he’d seen a strange man wandering around his paddocks. When you weren’t here, I thought something had happened to you.”
Rylee’s heart skipped a beat, but not because of any potential danger. She was pretty sure she could guess who had been wandering around late last night. She deliberately avoided looking towards the bedroom door that Calrian hadn’t closed. Hopefully he was staying out of sight.
“As you can see, I’m fine. Did he say what this man looked like?”
Her dad shook his head. “No, just that the dogs started barking, and he saw a shadow in the trees. By the time he let the dogs off, whoever it was had disappeared.” Her father crossed his arms. “You and Rowan shouldn’t be here on your own until this is sorted out. You can come up to the house and stay there until we find out who it is.”
Rylee bit back a laugh. “We’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I’ll make sure I lock the doors.”
She couldn’t really explain that she’d be fine because the very man who’d caused the disturbance was hiding in her bedroom.
And being a dragon, she was pretty sure he could protect her against anyone wandering around, even if that person didn’t happen to be him.
Her dad, of course, knew none of that. He was just convinced she couldn’t look after herself.
“Don’t be stubborn,” he said firmly. “It’s not safe, a woman living alone like this. Not to mention the fact that you’re putting Rowan at risk. What kind of a mother does that?”
Rylee bristled at his comments. As if she’d put her son at risk. “I’m not a child anymore, Dad. I’m perfectly capable of looking after Rowan. We’ll be fine,” she repeated, her voice stiff. “Was there anything else?”
Her father looked irritated. “What’s wrong with you today? Usually you’re more sensible than this.”
More sensible? What he meant was more compliant. How had she never realised how similar he and Eric were? How had she missed the fact that she’d left one controlling male for another? She wasn’t in the mood for that at all.
An irritated retort rose on Rylee’s lips, but she knew that uttering it would only make the situation worse, so she swallowed it down. “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m sorry. I’ll keep an eye out, but I’m sure Rowan and I will be fine.”
Her father didn’t look convinced. “Keeping an eye out isn’t going to cut it if some crazy is wandering around. I can’t even hear you up at the house if you yell out. You shouldn’t be on your own.”
If only he knew. On her own was what she most definitely wasn’t right now. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her father, just to see the look on his face, but it wasn’t worth the backlash.
“I have a phone you know,” she said instead. “And I’ll make sure I keep the doors locked.”
Rylee was glad to have an excuse for locking up. That would stop any more unexpected interruptions.
Her father shook his head and muttered something under his breath. Rylee was pretty sure it wasn’t polite. Then he shrugged and headed out without saying anything more.
Rylee was relieved to see him go.
She waited, watching near the window until he disappeared off in the distance, and then pulled the curtains and clicked the lock on the door. The sound was most satisfying. That should stop any more unwelcome interruptions.
“He’s gone, you can come out,” she called to Calrian.
He joined her near the window, peering through the curtains and up the path. “Your father seems concerned about you. I’m sorry if my presence here is making things difficult.”
Rylee shrugged. “It has nothing to do with you. My dad doesn’t approve of the fact that I left Eric. He thinks I can’t look after myself.” She gave a slight laugh. “I figure I’m pretty safe right now with a dragon in the house.”
Calrian gave a half-hearted smile at that. “I can assure you, you are perfectly safe while I’m here. I will not let any harm come to you.” Calrian stared up the road for a few more moments, then returned to the living room.
Rylee sighed, and followed him. She put her father’s bullying out of her mind. She had bigger problems right now. They still had to figure out what they were going to do next.
She sat down next to Calrian, her leg brushing up against his, and winced as desire flashed through her.
Really, her best option would be to just sleep with him, kiss him goodbye, and let him be on his way. They could be done in an hour, probably less. Then she wouldn’t have to risk her father seeing him or worry about what to say to Rowan.
There was no denying it would be the least painful of all the options. And it was what she desperately wanted to do. What this Mesmer bond drove her to want.
It would solve all her problems. Once they’d slept together, he would leave, and she’d be able to get back to her normal, everyday life. Her normal, boring, everyday life. Get back to listening to her father complain about her choices. Get back to trying desperately to find a job so she could get out of here.
Rylee took a steadying breath. She needed to do all that. It was important. She knew that.
But being around Calrian, helping him, that was so much more fun. He genuinely seemed to need her, like no one in her life ever had. Well, Rowan did, but that didn’t count, he was a child.
The trouble was, after a week of this, of having Calrian nearby, being so sweet and supportive, of feeling this way about him, of thinking of sleeping with him—she knew she wasn’t going to want to let him go, no matter how much she knew she should.
Would it be any easier if she didn’t sleep with him? If they kept their distance?
She wished she knew because neither was going to be easy.
But the reality was, if it weren’t for this strange bond that tied them together, she wouldn’t even be considering sleeping with him, no matter how hot Calrian was. She knew she wasn’t ready for it. Getting involved with someone, no matter how temporarily, before she’d figured out her own life, was a mistake.
Because as much as she liked to blame Eric for being controlling, she’d also let him.
She’d gone straight from home, where her father made all her decisions, to Eric, where her husband did. She had so little experience at making her own choices that she still struggled even to do something as simple as choose a different washing powder. Being at her father’s house wasn’t making it any easier.
It would be all too easy to fall into that pattern again. Especially with someone like Calrian. He might be sweet and kind, but he was an honest to goodness dragon. How much harder would it be for her to assert her own independence when he was so powerful? So overwhelming?
When she felt like she’d be ready to do anything to make him kiss her, hold her, touch
her.
Make love to her.
Or as he would say, mate with her.
The thought sent a shiver up her spine. It sounded so exotic. So delicious. So irresistible.
But she had to resist. She wouldn’t risk losing herself again, or putting Rowan in that position.
“We’ll just have to explain to Rowan that this is temporary,” she said stoutly. “And try to keep the two of you apart as much as possible. That shouldn’t be too hard, since he’s at school all day during the week.”
Calrian frowned. “School?”
Rylee nodded. “Yeah, school. We send our kids to school so they can learn all the things they’ll need to know when they grow up.”
“You don’t teach them this yourself?” Calrian looked genuinely confused.
Rylee tried to explain. “The world, the human world, is complex. He’ll need to know mathematics, and science, and all sorts of things. Besides, I need to get a job so I can make money to look after us.”
That, at least, Calrian seemed to understand. He nodded solemnly.
“So, Rowan will be away during the day? It will be only the two of us here, alone?”
The words sent a jolt of desire right to Rylee’s belly. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
No, she needed to stick to this. She was already wavering back and forth all over the place. All Calrian had to do was say the word ‘alone’, in that hot, sexy voice of his, and she was ready to melt into his arms. That was not independent and strong, and she would not give into it.
“Yes, it will be just the two of us. I hope I can trust you to respect my wish not to mate.”
Her voice wavered on the last word, uncertainty creeping into her voice. But not uncertainty about what he would do, uncertainty about her own willpower.
Calrian knew it. She could see it by the flare in his eyes. They narrowed into slits again, as they had at the dragon lair, and seemed to almost glow blue.
Rylee felt herself being drawn to him, and before she could even catch herself, her hand was on his leg, and she was swaying towards him.
He caught her shoulders and held her there, their faces inches apart. He searched her face.
“I will respect your wishes, Rylee,” Calrian said, his voice a low rumble. “I will remember that you do not wish this, even when you are taking actions to the contrary. Even if it is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
Rylee swallowed. It was so tempting. He was so tempting.
She had to remind herself, yet again, that these feelings weren’t real. They were created by the magical bond that tied them together.
That was why she couldn’t give in. She might feel like she wanted to kiss him, but it wasn’t really her.
She took a deep breath and pulled back. “Thank you.”
Chapter 3
Calrian wasn’t exaggerating when he’d said not kissing Rylee was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. He’d felt the pull of the Mesmer bond before, more times than he’d liked to admit, but it had never felt like this. Then again, he’d never tried to resist it before. He’d never needed to.
That had to be why this was so hard, didn’t it? Because he was fighting the magical bond that was supposed to encourage him to mate with her so he could regain his energy faster. Maybe the longer he put it off, the stronger it became.
But he couldn’t help feeling like this was more than just the pull of the Mesmer.
This felt far stronger than any Mesmer bond he’d experienced before. He didn’t want to resist it. Didn’t even want to try.
Giving in to temptation would be so easy. He knew that all he’d have to do was touch his lips to hers, and she’d be ready and willing. He could smell her arousal and see the flush of her cheeks. She wanted this as much as he did.
But those reactions were only there because of the Mesmer bond. Not because she was actually attracted to him.
She didn’t even have the experience he did to really understand that the Mesmer was temporary. Taking advantage of her, especially after she’d made her wishes clear, went against everything he believed in.
So he made himself take a deep breath and release her shoulders when she pulled back. He forced a smile and tried to pretend that every muscle in his body wasn’t aching to be closer to her.
He reminded himself why he was doing this… Of his sister. Of the dragon, Ultrima, who’d thought he had a right to mate with her just because she had felt something for him, despite the fact that she’d said no. That dragon’s actions had caused the war that had led Calrian here.
No good came of ignoring someone’s wishes, no matter how much you believed they wanted to be with you too.
“Maybe we should keep our distance a little.” Rylee’s voice wobbled, and Calrian could only imagine how confusing this must be for her. “That might make it a little easier to resist each other.”
“Possibly,” Calrian allowed. “But it will also slow the process. The further apart we are, the longer the ritual will take to complete.”
Rylee heaved a sigh, and Calrian felt himself echoing the sound. This wasn’t going to be easy. For either of them.
They sat in silence for a few moments. Rylee was the one who broke it. “Your world must have been very different to ours. Maybe, since we’re sitting here anyway, you could tell me a little more about being a dragon, and what happened to your clan?” she suggested, a thread of determination in her voice. “Perhaps that will distract us.”
Calrian wasn’t convinced. Talking about his clan, about his worries, about what might have happened to them, was only likely to make him more concerned.
But he couldn’t really say no to Rylee, not after all she was doing for him.
So he took a deep breath and considered where to start.
“It all started when a lightning dragon, Ultrima, or Ultrian as he was known then, fell in love with my sister,” he said in a dark tone.
“A lightning dragon?” Rylee interrupted. “What does that mean?”
There really was a lot of explain. Calrian settled himself in for a long talk. Perhaps it would offer a distraction after all.
“There are six main types of dragon magic,” he told her. “Lightning dragons can create electrical energy, which is one of the most powerful kinds of magic. There’s also fire, water, wind, metal, and sound.”
“Which magic do you have?”
Calrian smiled. She was curious. He liked that. “I’m a water dragon.”
Rylee nodded, then pulled the conversation back on track. “Tell me about Ultrian.”
“Well, he thought he was in love with my sister. But she was promised to another dragon. Lirian had a seventh type of power, one that was very rare, one of our clan’s few life dragons. It was hoped that they would produce life dragon children, to help strengthen our clan.”
Rylee’s forehead wrinkled. “Was she in love with this Lirian? Or was she in love with Ultrian?”
Calrian wasn’t overly surprised that Rylee got straight to the heart of the matter. He’d already seen that she was very perceptive. “I believe she was in love with Ultrian, yes, though she wouldn’t admit as much. She certainly never pretended to love Lirian. But she was the eldest of our family, and thus would be queen one day. She felt it was necessary for her to put the needs of the clan above her own personal needs. She also knew that once she mated, she would love her mate no matter how she felt about him before that. And that she would have no further interest in Ultrian.”
“That doesn’t seem very fair.” Rylee’s frown didn’t dissipate. “Surely it would be better to mate with someone you love?”
Calrian tried to explain. “Love is different for dragons. When a pair of dragons mate three times, a magical bond is formed, similar to the one you and I have right now, only stronger, and unbreakable. It’s very difficult to tell where the magic ends and true feelings begin, just as it is for us now. It is normal for dragons to choose to mate for practical reasons, knowing that we will love our
partner regardless of how we felt before the mating.”
“But what if you hated someone?” Rylee persisted. “Would those things you hated about them suddenly not be there anymore? Would you suddenly like them?”
Explaining this to a human wasn’t as easy as he’d thought. Their customs were so different, it was hard to find a point of connection. “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of a dragon mating someone they hated,” he said. “Sarian certainly didn’t hate Lirian. She respected him and admired him.”
“But that’s not the same as love.”
“No, it’s not,” Calrian agreed. “But it was the decision she made.”
Rylee nodded, accepting it, if not understanding it. “So what happened then?”
Calrian took a deep breath to try to stop the pounding of his heart. He became angry whenever he thought about this part of the story. “My older brother, Warrian, caught Ultrian trying to force himself on my sister. He thought if he mated with her first, before she could mate with the life dragon, that she would love only him.”
To his relief, Rylee looked suitably incensed. “He mustn’t have really loved her then, if he couldn’t respect her choice.”
Calrian nodded agreement. “That was the conclusion the rest of us came to. Sarian and Warrian exiled Ultrian from the clan. Unfortunately, he had strong support among the lightning dragons, and he urged them to come with him. He and his kind split off from Rian clan, and formed their own clan, Trima clan. He even changed his name to Ultrima.”
Rylee was staring at him, her eyes wide. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“It wasn’t.” Calrian’s voice was grim. “Though those of us who remained in Rian clan may have outnumbered them, the lightning dragons were powerful, especially as a combined force. They attacked us several times. And on the last time I remember, all of my brothers and sisters were gravely injured. We entered the Mesmer sleep to recover, to be ready to fight again, and that’s all I remember.”
Rylee sucked in her breath. “Wow, that’s quite a story. No wonder you want to find them so badly.” She reached out and patted his leg again. She meant it to be comforting, but it had the opposite effect on him.
