Drakon's Plunder (Blood of the Drakon)

by N. J. Walters

  “I think we need to do more research,” Tarrant told him. “It’s too soon to draw any conclusions.”

  “I agree,” Sam told him. As a theory it was worth investigating, but it was still only a theory.

  “I’ll keep my eye out for a good-looking psychic,” Nic assured them. The men chuckled, but the women were silent.

  “Just be careful,” she told him. She didn’t want anything to happen to any of Ezra’s friends.

  “You, too. I’ll see you soon.” Nic left the conversation.

  The others quickly said good-bye, and Ezra turned off the phone and stood. “It’s time for bed.

  …

  Ezra knew Sam had a million questions. He could see them in her eyes. He tucked his phone back in the charger and held out his hand. She took it and they walked through the house and up the stairs. “This is getting to be a habit.”

  “What is?” She yawned, her green eyes tired. She’d been running on adrenaline for days. In spite of ingesting some of his blood, her body had been through a lot. What she needed more than anything was unbroken rest, nourishing food, and time.

  “Going to bed when the sun is coming up.” Through the bedroom window, he could see the sun rising over the water. It never failed to stir his soul. Didn’t matter how many times he’d seen it.

  “Yeah, I’m beginning to feel like a vampire.” She crawled onto the bed, and he sniffed and caught a whiff of his laundry detergent. “Up all night and sleeping most of the day.”

  She yawned again and pulled the covers over her. He tossed aside his jeans and climbed in beside her. For the first time since he’d met her, he started to relax. Sam was safe, the immediate threat to her was gone, and the Knights had no idea where she was. He nestled her head on his chest and ran his fingers along her arm.

  “Tell me about your friends, your family.” Sam’s sleepy query startled him. He expected her to fall asleep instantly.

  “What do you want to know?” He loved having her beside him. Being able to touch her when he wanted, able to inhale her unique fragrance.

  She ran her fingertips over his bare chest. “I know Darius and Tarrant are drakons. I expect Nic is, too.”

  “Yes, they are.” If he expected her to share his life, he needed to be honest. “The Knights suspect Darius is a drakon. They made a run for him and Sarah.”

  She bolted upright, her eyes as wild as her curls. “But they’re safe where they are, aren’t they?”

  He eased her back down and started stroking her again. “They’re safe. Darius will take care of them. And Nic is close by.”

  She shuddered and clung to him. “I hate the Knights.”

  “We all do.” It was easy to forget how much she’d lost to them. They’d killed her mentor and altered the course of her life, leaving her no safe place to call home until he’d found her. “They’re my brothers,” he blurted.

  Sam popped upright again and stared at him with disbelief. “Your brothers?”

  He tried to draw her back down, but she wasn’t having any of it. She sat cross-legged beside him, all signs of sleep banished. He should have kept his mouth shut until after she’d had some rest, but it was too late now.

  He stacked his hands behind his head knowing she wouldn’t sleep until he’d given her some of the details. “Same dragon sire but different mothers. Tarrant and Darius knew about one another. They were from the same village.”

  “Where?”

  Ezra shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. It’s been nothing but dust for centuries.”

  She placed a hand on his chest. He knew she meant it to be comforting, and it was, arousing, too. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. That was a long time ago. After our sire left this world with the other dragons, we had to figure things out for ourselves, who we really were, what we really were.” That hadn’t been an easy time. Humans had either wanted to revere them as gods or slaughter them. There never seemed to be much in-between.

  “So how did you all find one another?”

  “Darius. He’s the oldest. We were all born within the span of a couple years, but he was first. He figured if there were two of them in their hometown, there might be more of us in nearby villages. He was right.”

  “Wow. Do you think you found all your siblings?”

  He’d never really considered they might have missed a brother, that there might be another drakon out there that belonged with them. “I don’t know.”

  He sat up and raked his fingers through his hair. “Darius and Tarrant found me first. Then we found Nic.” They’d stopped searching once they’d covered the immediate area. “We were thinking like humans.”

  “What do you mean?” Sam scooted closer and touched his arm. He wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her so she was straddling his lap. If he had to talk about a subject he’d much rather forget, he’d at least like the pleasure of being able to touch Sam.

  He blew out a breath. “We were all lost when our sires abandoned us. After it became obvious we weren’t exactly like them, that we were more human than dragon, they decided their grand experiment was a failure and left. They went back to the dimension they’d come from.”

  Sam’s jaw dropped. Ezra put his index finger under her chin and pushed until it closed. “That’s…” She trailed off, obviously not knowing what to say.

  “So there I was all alone with a mother who hated me. She was frightened of what I was becoming. There was no way to hide it in the beginning. I was too young. We all were. My village cast me out.”

  “That’s horrible. And your mother didn’t stop them?” She bit her bottom lip and concern filled her eyes.

  “No.” That day was burned in his memory, as fresh as if it had happened only yesterday. “She led them.”

  He’d felt so totally alone that day. Hurt and bleeding, he’d stumbled into the wasteland beyond his village, no longer sure he wanted to live.

  “Darius and Tarrant found me wandering in the desert.” It turned out he was a lot harder to kill than he’d thought. His physical wounds had healed quickly. “At least it wasn’t as bad as what Darius and Tarrant went through. Their mothers tried to poison them. When that didn’t work, the entire village tried to kill them.”

  “That’s so unfair. It wasn’t your fault. How could your mothers do such a thing?” She sat back and cupped his face in her small, capable hands.

  “They were afraid.” He’d come to terms with his mother’s failings long ago. “My mother was alone in the world with a son who wasn’t totally human and no man by her side. She didn’t know if we came from the gods or demons. She did what she had to in order to survive.”

  “You were a boy.”

  Ezra shook his head. “No, in those days I was considered a man.” Still he’d felt the loss of home, such as it was, he’d belonged somewhere.

  “Did your sire tell you nothing about what you were?”

  “He was mostly absent when I was young. He told me what he was, what I was, when I was twelve. Then he watched me for a couple years to see if his dragon genes would dominate. But we were all something completely different.”

  “And what about Nic?”

  “After Darius and Tarrant found me, we went to every village within two hundred miles. We found Nic half buried in the desert.” No need to mention he’d been curled into a ball crying for his mother. He was the youngest of them all. He’d been lying on the burning hot sand surrounded by rubies.

  Nic had been wary of them at first and then overjoyed to have family. It was Darius who’d gathered the rubies and made Nic take them. His brother’s tears had gotten them their start in life, enabling them to purchase the supplies they’d needed to survive.

  “Poor little boy,” Sam murmured. “All of you.”

  “But we stopped looking. We were thinking like humans. We knew how far apart our villages were and how often our sires visited. We thought we’d found everyone.”

  They might have lived for thousands of years, but once
they’d found one another, they’d simply given up the search. Sure, over the years they’d come in contact with others of their kind. Tarrant actively tried to find drakons, wanting to be able to reach out to them if he felt it necessary. But they’d never gone looking for another blood brother. He didn’t know if that made them stupid or simply complacent. Not that it mattered. The results were the same.

  “You didn’t factor in the fact he could fly.”

  Ezra closed his eyes. To think he might have another brother out there on his own—maybe even more than one—made his soul ache. They all knew what it was like to be alone. “Drakons are solitary creatures by nature, but having family helps anchor us.”

  “You were all children and you’d been through a trauma. It’s amazing to me that you found one another at all.”

  He knew she was right, but that didn’t stop the sick feeling deep in his stomach. “I’ll have to talk to the others. But it’s time for you to sleep now.”

  …

  “No, it’s time for me to love you.” She whisked the shirt over her head and tossed it aside. The sun shining through the window warmed the space. It was chilly outside, but here in Ezra’s bedroom it was cozy. This was a safe place for the two of them.

  Talking about his past had been difficult for Ezra, but he’d done it. For her. Nothing could change his past or erase what he’d been through, but his future would be different. She would see to it.

  “What are you doing?”

  She placed her hands on Ezra’s bare chest and traced the contours of his abs. “If you have to ask, I must not be doing it correctly,” she teasingly repeated what he’d said another time they’d made love.

  He ran his hand over her hip. “You’re not doing a damn thing wrong, but you’ve been through a lot. You have to be tired.”

  She was, but her need to comfort Ezra, to love him, overrode everything, even the need to rest. “Touch me.” She needed his hands on her.

  “Baby, you never need to ask.” His voice deepened, his amazing turquoise eyes darkened. He stroked upward, caressing her sides.

  She moaned. His hands felt so good, so right whenever and wherever he touched her. She wanted to make love to him, but more than that, she wanted him to know he was loved.

  He was hers for the foreseeable future.

  But what about when she started to age and he didn’t? She ignored the doubts that slipped into her mind. She wouldn’t start looking toward the end when they were just beginning.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  She didn’t want to talk about her stupid fears and insecurities. “It’s nothing.” To distract him, she stroked her fingers over his chest.

  “You know I love it when you touch me.” Her heart skipped a beat when he said the “L” word. “But, Sam, don’t pretend there isn’t something bothering you.” He trailed his fingers over the side of her face. She turned toward his warmth.

  “It’s stupid,” she muttered. She really didn’t want to talk about it.

  Ezra shook his head. “It’s not stupid if it’s upsetting you.”

  So much for being a femme fatale, able to seduce a man whenever she wanted. She was stark naked on his lap, and he wanted to talk.

  “Are we in a relationship? Are we exclusive? Permanent?” Boy, that came out sounding needy. “I just need to know where I stand,” she clarified. “Should I be getting ready to leave, or am I staying?”

  Ezra jerked back as though she’d hit him. He stared at her for so long she began to fidget beneath his intense scrutiny.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Sam closed her eyes and promised herself she wouldn’t cry. She’d always believed she wouldn’t be here for long, although she’d begun to change her mind, to hope. She should have known better. “That’s okay,” she began, but he cut her off.

  “No, it isn’t.” He framed her face between his big hands. “Look at me.” She didn’t want to. She wanted to crawl into a closet somewhere and have a good, long cry. She finally looked up at him.

  His eyes practically glowed. So did his tattoo. He pulsed with a tangible energy, and she could feel the fine hairs on her body standing on end.

  “I’m sorry you had to ask me that. You are my everything.” He shook his head. “If you try to leave, if you wanted to leave, I’m not sure I could let you.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “Are we in a relationship? Most definitely. Are we exclusive? Absolutely. Are we permanent?” He leaned closer, caught her bottom lip between his teeth, and gave a gentle tug. “Forever.”

  She shuddered and felt a tear slip from the corner of her eye. He caught it on his tongue. “Salty. I love salty.”

  She surprised herself by laughing. So many emotions were battering her right now.

  “I shed drakon tears for you.” They both glanced at the small fortune in gems piled on the nightstand. “They’re the equivalent of a human wedding ring, only more binding. A drakon will only shed tears in the most extreme of circumstances, and only for love.”

  She sucked in a breath, not sure she was hearing him right. “You love me?” She groaned and buried her face in her hands. “Ignore me, please.”

  He chuckled. “That’s one thing I won’t do. You love me.” He peeled her hands away so he could see her. “You told me so.”

  “I do.” There was no one like him.

  “And I love you.” He placed one of her hands over his heart. “Forever.”

  “I’m human. I’ll get old, and you’ll still be young and hot.” That startled a laugh from him. She smacked his chest. “That’s not funny.” She sighed. “You’re right. I need to focus on the positive. We have forty or fifty good years to look forward to. Maybe more. Hey, I’ll be a cougar in a few years, and you can be my boy toy.”

  He started to choke. “Boy toy?” he sputtered.

  She shrugged. “That’s what everyone will think.” She winked at him. “I’m fine with that.”

  “Sam,” he began.

  “No. I’m done talking.” Fatigue was starting to wear on her, and she wanted to make love with him before she fell asleep. She kissed him, pushing all else aside but their lovemaking. It was tender and sweet and filled with passion.

  When they’d both found release, he collapsed to the side, dragging her with him and curling his big body around her. Sunshine filled the room, but she knew that wouldn’t keep her awake. She was beyond exhausted. She was also strangely content.

  It didn’t matter that the Knights of the Dragon would never stop looking for her. She had Ezra. Any risk was worth it to be with him. She’d had a price on her head before he’d met her. That she’d found him and he loved her was more than she’d ever expected.

  A low rumbling sound rose from deep in his chest. She snuggled closer and closed her eyes. She smiled when she felt the comforter being thrown over them. That was Ezra, always thoughtful, always thinking about her.

  “Sleep,” he murmured. “We’ll talk more later. But know this. You’re never leaving me. Not while I have blood in my body.”

  She knew there was some significance to what he was telling her but she was too fatigued to make sense of it. Later. She’d think later.

  He kissed the top of her head and they snuggled together as the sun bathed the room in a soft glow.

  …

  Talking with the authorities always gave Karina a headache. “No, I had no idea anyone was missing from the crew. Aaron Dexter was in charge of the operation and he assured me everyone was fine. Obviously, he lied to me. Now not only is he missing, but you’re telling me the archaeologist I hired is also nowhere to be found.”

  Karina was nothing more than an innocent victim. At least as far as the police were concerned. Having them show up at her home to question her was something else she could blame Dexter for. If he wasn’t already dead, he soon would be.

  “Is there anything else I can do for you?” She kept her tone light when she really wanted to scream. “I don’t know any more than I already told you. I funded the ex
pedition to explore the wreck of the Reliant, but the research vessel sank. As far as I know, they suspect a whale rammed the boat, puncturing holes in the bow.”

  “It was insured?” the detective asked.

  “Of course it was. Everything I own is insured. It’s also a great nuisance to have to buy and outfit another research vessel.”

  “But you plan to?”

  “Of course.” She wanted to be ready in the event there was another artifact to be salvaged somewhere in the world. She glanced at her watch. “If that’s all, I have another engagement.”

  “We appreciate your cooperation.” The detective stood, as did his partner. Karina remained seated. “Thank you for your time,” he added.

  “Whatever I can do to help. I hope the authorities find both Doctor Bellamy and Mr. Dexter. I have questions for them both.”

  The men turned and walked away. Birch, who’d been standing just inside the office, walked them to the front door. Karina was up and pacing by the time he returned.

  “I want to know if Dexter is dead or alive.” She paused and smoothed down her Channel suit. Classic clothing never went out of style.

  “We’ve got a man on the coast guard vessel. We’ll know as soon as they know anything.”

  “Good.” Karina paused by the window, but she barely noticed the view of the city. “If Dexter isn’t dead, I want him questioned before he’s disposed of. He might have tried to fake his own death. We don’t know what he found. He might have been lying about what Doctor Bellamy discovered among the artifacts of the Reliant. Bottom line is we can’t trust anything Dexter told us.”

  “Agreed. What about Bellamy?” Birch asked.

  “I suspect she’s dead. Dexter probably killed her. He either stole the artifact from her or it was already lost. Either way, we watch the area for the next few months, we also watch the other Knights, especially Temple, in case he’s gotten his hands on whatever it was they found.”

  “You’re writing off the Integrity?”

  “Yes. The insurance adjuster says it’ll cost a small fortune to refloat her, and all the high-tech equipment on board will have to be replaced regardless.”