Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart (The Cedar River Series)

by Murray, Gemma K.

  The walk out of the woods exhausted me. Brady put the truck in gear to pull onto the road and that is the last thing I remembered until Brady nudged me awake at the restaurant.

  “Hungry, kitten?”

  I rubbed my eyes and nodded sleepily. He laughed and we went inside.

  We were almost done with our dinner when Bowie arrived. He looked awful. He sat down next to me and put an arm around my chair, “I’d like you to come home with us until after Christmas break.”

  I just looked at him. “I’ve got classes and a life here, Bowie. I can’t just go home.”

  He scrubbed his hands over his face. Brady leaned back in his chair and pushed his plate away. I looked at him, in disbelief. “What you, too, Brady? C’mon, you two, you can’t tag team me like this!”

  Bowie leaned up and put his arms on the table. “Annie, you saw the trouble we found in the woods tonight. Those four aren’t the only poachers. They are targeting shifter villages for some reason and it’s getting bad. We don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  I understood where he was coming from, but it didn’t mean I wanted to go back to Cedar River. That scene had scared the hell out of me. I put my hand over his. “Bowie, I know, okay? What if I promise to avoid the woods? Colin told me you will all be in Pine Bluff tomorrow. If you don’t catch the people who are doing this, I’ll go home with you. I will take the rest of my classes online.” I looked from one to the other. “Please, guys! This is important to me.”

  Brady leaned up to the table. “You are what’s important to us, kitten.” In the hazel eyes of one of the strongest men I’ve ever known, tears shone. That did it for me. Tears started falling down my face. “Damnit, Brady!” I whispered. “I know that, but I’m not in danger if I stay out of the woods, right? Friday night, you can come pick me up. I’ll be done by noon. If you don’t feel the danger is gone, I’ll finish up school in Cedar River. Okay?”

  I watched the two brothers exchange looks. Bowie sighed, “Alright, kitten. You win, but I want you to call the folks tonight. I’ve been spending most of my night combing the woods around Cedar River and I don’t always get to check in with Mama and Dad. They are worried about you.” I agreed.

  “I came up tonight because you haven’t been calling and I promised Mama I’d drag your ass back home. Tonight.”

  I looked into his eyes and saw something I’ve never seen before…fear. “I promise. I’ll call them as soon as we get back. That way I can tell Mama and Papa you’re okay. Kill two birds with one stone.”

  Brady cringed at the cliché, “Did you really have to use that phrase?”

  Chapter Six- Ana

  Viv was waiting up for me when I got back.

  “All of your family stuff dealt with?”

  I kicked off my shoes and climbed up into my bunk. “For now.” I dug out my cell phone to call home.

  “Can we skip the movie tomorrow night? I’ve got a date,” she asked.

  I laughed. It never failed; I leave her alone to study and she has a date.

  My dreams that night held nightmares like none I’d ever had before. The images in the forest became my family. My mom and dad, Mama and Papa, the boys, they all laid at the center of the woods. I woke up crying. It was four in the morning, but I was scared. There was only one person I knew who would be awake at this hour.

  His sleepy voice answered, “What do you need, kitten?”

  “Bowie? I’m scared.” His husky sigh came through the line.

  “Finally? Tell me what’s on your mind.”

  I climbed out of my bed and tiptoed into the bathroom. I curled up in the bathtub and spent the rest of the night talking to him. I told him about my nightmares and my fears. The sun was coming up when I finally hung up from him. His last words were, “I love you, Anastasia Plum.”

  “I love you, too, Bowie.” I got back into bed and slept a very peaceful sleep.

  Viv was gone when I got up so I went into the bathroom to shower. While I was under the running water, I wove a spell of protection around my family and myself. After getting dressed, I dug around in my jewelry box for the necklace my mother had given to me the night she died. I hadn’t worn it in years. It was a black onyx stone on a sterling silver chain. I charged it with my power to overlay whatever my mother had enchanted it with. Draping it over my head, I could feel the power of this talisman as it lay between my breasts. Feeling more reassured than I had in a long time, I curled up on my bed to study for my Monday class. I needed a good grade in order to get into the advanced class in the winter semester…if I ever returned. I pushed that thought from my mind and focused on the text in front of me.

  I helped Viv get ready for her date. We giggled and had fun. All my cares were pushed aside so I could just be Ana for a little while longer. Viv never picked up on the fact that I was worried about something so I may be better at hiding things than I imagined. Of course, growing up with shifters who can smell the change in your emotions can make a girl paranoid. We were sitting on Viv’s bed eating a bag of popcorn when a text came through from Colin- HEY KITTEN. HEARD U HAD A ROUGH NIGHT. U OK? M/P R WORRIED. CALL SOON. <3 U

  “Something important?” Viv asked.

  “Nothing that can’t wait until later. It’s just my family.”

  Viv sighed heavily, “It’s really sweet that your family loves you as much as they do. I know you get annoyed at them, but Ana, my mom calls me once a month. I think it’s ‘Mom Law’ or something like that.”

  I had noticed Viv never talked about her family, but I figured there were issues there.

  “You just have such an amazing family. I’d love to be part of a family that functions as well as yours does. Maybe someday you’ll invite me home for one of those home cooked meals I hear so much about.”

  “Oh, Viv! I’m so sorry. I’d invite you home with me now, but this family drama is too bad to involve you.”

  She laughed, “I didn’t tell you this so that you’d feel bad for me. I would just like to meet your entire family though. The boys are pretty hot.” I laughed at her.

  ***

  Classes were finished for the week and I was on my way back to the dorm at noon. As I walked down the sidewalk toward my building, I saw Colin’s truck waiting out front. I opened the passenger side door. “Hey, you! Where’s Bowie?”

  Colin looked at me and smiled grimly. “Let’s go get your stuff. Is everything ready to go? Mama says to bring home all of your laundry.”

  I stood up, “Col, where’s Bowie?” He came around and took my hand, closing the door. “Let’s get your stuff together.”

  I pulled out of his grip. “Tell me, Colin, or I’m not going anywhere with you!”

  Colin took a deep breath and said, “There was an accident this morning. He and Lance Smythe…did you know Lance is one of Bowie’s deputies now?” I glared at him. “Sorry, he and Lance were looking for poachers this morning along with the rest of the search party from Cedar River and they stumbled upon the camp unaware. The poachers had managed to hide their scents and the carcasses. The poachers must have been watching them for a while.”

  I motioned for him to hurry it up. “Anyway, the poachers were waiting for them. They opened fire as soon as he and Lance stepped into an open area. Lance was shot in the arm. Bowie took a shot to his chest. He was wearing a vest, but whatever they used went through it. It missed his heart and lungs, but it nicked an artery. He’s in the hospital at Cedar River. They fixed the artery, but he hasn’t woken up since his surgery. Lance said Bowie’s last word before he passed out was your name.”

  I crumpled to the icy ground. My protection spell had failed. I felt as though my heart had exploded in my chest. Colin picked me up and held me tight.

  “I know, Ana. But I’ve got to get you home. The dragon posse was ready to come for you as soon as it happened. Mama convinced us to hold off until your classes were done for the day.”

  I looked into Colin’s chocolate brown eyes, “Tell me the truth, Colin. Is Bowie
going to pull through?”

  He took my face in his hands. “I don’t know, kitten. The doctors hadn’t been in to see him yet when I left to come get you. The quicker we can get on the road, the sooner we’ll get back.”

  I took his hand and we ran upstairs to get my stuff. I had packed the night before because for some reason, I had had a bad feeling. I threw the little stuff into boxes while Colin loaded the truck. When I was sure everything was packed, I quickly wrote Viv a note. I was pretty sure that I wouldn’t be coming back.

  Colin tried to discuss anything except the crisis at home. I finally asked him to be quiet. He looked hurt, but I knew he understood. We reached the city limits in record time.

  “Home or hospital?” he asked. I just looked at him. “Hospital, it is. Ana, be prepared. Bowie doesn’t look like Bowie. It scared the hell out of me when I saw him. He looks so weak. There are tubes and monitors hooked up to him. It’s fucking scary, kitten.”

  He parked as close to the entrance as he could. The sky was clear and the sun was shining bright. Tonight would have been the perfect night for flying. Bowie would have loved it. I fought back the tears. I went to the nurses’ desk and asked where Bowie Golden was. The nurse just looked at me as if she’d never seen me before.

  Cedar River Hospital is a special place. They deal with the shifters in town. They are able to deal with humans as well, but this is the only place around for miles where shifters can come for treatment.

  I slammed my hands down on her counter. “Damnit, Cheryl! Tell me where Bowie is!”

  Cheryl Mason’s family was one of the dragon families that didn’t want me in the nest.

  “Only family can see Mr. Golden,” she stated with a sneer.

  I was climbing over the desk to kill her when Colin pulled me off the desk.

  “Nice, Cheryl! My father will be talking to the hospital administrator over this,” Colin threatened.

  Cheryl actually looked scared for a moment. Colin took my hand and led me to the elevators. “You have got to calm down, kitten. If you would have waited for me instead of sprinting off, we could have avoided that whole incident.”

  The elevator doors opened and we stepped inside. Colin kept a hold of my hand, knowing my fear of closed in places. “Bowie is on the 3rd floor in the ICU. Family is allowed in one at a time so I can’t go in with you. Be strong, Ana. He needs us to keep it together.”

  The doors opened and we walked into the waiting room. Everyone was there. Mama and Papa held me in an embrace between them. Brady and Callum stood aside with Colin. Papa held out an arm and the boys joined in the embrace. Mama kept stroking my hair and saying, “You’re home. You’re home.”

  I stood in the center of the circle of my family, feeling their love pour over me. I finally pulled away. “Bowie. I need to see Bowie.” Papa nodded and led me to Bowie’s room.

  “Anastasia, you two have always had a bond deeper than what you have with my other boys. I don’t know what that bond is, but he needs you. Bowie needs you. I don’t know how I know that, but I do.” Tears poured out of Papa’s hazel green eyes.

  I kissed him on the cheek. “I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll do what I can.” The door hissed open and I walked inside, leaving Papa outside.

  Bowie was lying in bed, hooked up to a bunch of different devices. Dr. Goodman, a wolf shifter, was looking at his chart. He looked up, “Anastasia Plum! How are you, dear?”

  I smiled at him. He was a very kind soul. “How is Bowie?” I asked.

  “He’s strong, Ana, but we can’t figure out why he isn’t healing. His blood should have helped him stop the bleeding in the forest, but it didn’t. We’ve done everything we can, but to be honest, we’re baffled.”

  I stood studying Bowie. “Thank you, Dr. Goodman. And to answer your first question, I’ll be better once Bowie is better.” He nodded knowingly and walked out.

  I pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. I took Bowie’s hand in mine. I felt the calluses of his working hands. I studied his short nails. His chest was bare except for the places where the monitors were hooked up and where the tubes went into his chest. I remembered the first day I’d realized Bowie was a man. I’d been at the lake with my girlfriends and he’d been there swimming with his friends. He’d come up on shore and his golden skin glistened with water. My breath had caught in my throat. He’d reminded me of the pictures of Poseidon I’d seen in books.

  He still looked god-like except for the tubes and wires. I stroked his big paw-like hand. “Bowie, you need to wake up. We need you,” I pleaded. “I need you,” I whispered. I closed my eyes and focused all of my energy on Bowie. I opened up my other senses to see if maybe I could sense the problem. Why wasn’t he healing? Shifters can heal quickly. Wait…there… it was a smell that wasn’t right. I kept my eyes closed as I stood up to smell Bowie’s breath. There was something off. Bowie smells of the woods and campfire…always. But there was an awful smell that was underlying his own. I smelled his neck. The smell was getting stronger. I smelled around his wound. It reeked there. Mercury! The bullet that he was shot with contained mercury, the only thing that will hurt a dragon.

  What kind of monsters were invading our lands? A regular bullet would take down most shifters, but dragons were special. I ran out of the room, yelling for the doctor. A nurse came down the hall, “Miss, this is a hospital. You have to be quiet.”

  “Please listen to me, page Dr. Goodman immediately.” She actually listened to me.

  As the page came across the PA system, the Goldens came running down the hall. “Mercury, Papa! Those fuckers used mercury filled bullets. They knew what was hunting them.”

  Papa told Brady to go call the Smythe’s and tell them about my discovery. Apparently, Lance’s wound wasn’t as bad, but it wasn’t healing either. Dr. Goodman came down the hall.

  “At last, a break in the case,” he said with a smile. He called the lab and ordered a test for mercury on Bowie’s blood. Then, the doctor ordered up a special cocktail IV to combat the poisoning. The nurse came in and put the needle directly into Bowie’s carotid artery.

  “This will get the detoxification process started quicker,” Dr. Goodman explained. He pulled me into the hallway, “How did you figure it out, Anastasia? We’ve pouring over every medical journal we could find.”

  “I smelled him. I know Bowie’s scent. It’s imbedded in my senses. There was a smell there that wasn’t Bowie. It smelled odd. Then, it hit me. Mercury is the only known substance that can hurt a dragon.”

  He patted me on the back, “You may have just saved his life, young lady. Now, I’m off to the emergency room to get this same cocktail for Deputy Smythe. You may want to consider a career in medicine.”

  I sat in a chair beside his bed and rested as best as I could. It was shortly after midnight when his hand stroked my hair…lightly. I sat up and looked into his amber eyes. “Bowie,” I cried.

  I called for the doctor, who came in to remove the breathing tube. I went to tell the family he was awake. Mama and Papa met me with tears. It looked like this particular stage of the nightmare was over. The doctor allowed all of us in to see Bowie.

  “Our kitten saved your life, Bowie,” Mama said as she brushed his hair off his forehead.

  “If it hadn’t been for Ana, we would never have discovered that you were shot with mercury filled bullets,” Dr. Goodman said.

  Bowie’s stare penetrated to the depths of my soul. I held his gaze for as long as I could before I looked back down at the floor. I didn’t want him to see the tears in my eyes. I’d almost lost one of my best friends in the world and my heart hurt over that.

  Bowie reached out a hand to me. I went to his side and took it. “My wise little kitten,” he whispered through his sore throat. “Thank you for saving me.”

  I stood at his side crying and holding tight to the hand that had comforted me so long ago when they had found me in the woods.

  Chapter Seven- Ana

  The doctors made
Bowie stay a couple of days in the hospital. I stayed with him the entire time. Since it was my spell that failed, it was my duty to take care of him. Mama would bring me clean clothes in the morning, and the doctors let me use their showers. Papa would bring me lunch, and the boys would stop after work with dinner.

  Bowie and I played cards until we both got sick of it. Even sick, he beat me at poker. I owed him a month of filing at the station. He’d watch television while I worked on my schoolwork.

  Viv called to see how Bowie was. She understood why I had left without a real goodbye, but she still missed me. She said Toby had asked about me, which completely sucked. Of course, he would choose to notice me now. Men!

  Finally, on Monday Dr. Goodman told Bowie that he could go home. Mama, of course, took that to mean the familial home where she could take care of him.

  Bowie begged me, “C’mon, kitten. Convince her to take me to my house. You would stay and take care of me, wouldn’t you? She’ll smother me if I go home.”

  I laughed at this big, tough guy brought to his knees by the idea of having his mother take care of him. “There’s no way. I’ve already tried. These are the consequences you must pay when you get shot and scare the shit out of Mama and the rest of us. Besides, I’ll be there to keep you partially sane.”

  He pissed and moaned all the way out to the car. He was being crabby with everyone as he left the hospital. He growled at the nurse who wheeled him out. He scared the hell out of her, too.

  I smacked the back of his head, “Be nice. She’s just doing her job.”

  “Ow! Gunshot victim here,” he cried.

  “Keep it up, Bowie. You’ll be the victim of an “accidental” smothering by pillow later.” I apologized to the nurse for his behavior. This was going to be a horrible week.

  Getting Bowie settled into his childhood home was a whole different thing. I was given the task of running into town and getting his stuff. He gave me a list of clothes, CDs, DVDs and snacks to grab from his house. Once Mama left, he begged me to go to the station to get his laptop. “I’ll go crazy here if I can’t work, kitten.”