City of Dragons: Blood Bonds

by Adrienne Wilder

  A half-hour later Haley pulled into the parking lot of her apartment from the back side. Living in a building with mostly elderly people had its advantages. Most were in bed by eight. With any luck, no one would see her.

  Haley got out and went around for Farley. When she had him in her arms she hit the automatic locks and carried him across the parking lot to the rear lobby. A keypad on the door kept nonresidents out. She keyed in her number. The light turned green and the locks released.

  There was no elevator in the back, which was exactly why she took this route. It wasn’t handicap friendly. And since more than half the residents used canes and walkers, they didn’t put in much time on the stairs.

  Haley climbed the steps. Her insides felt like they had ice floating in them. Pretty soon she’d be shivering. They needed heat and food. They’d burned up a lot trying to stay alive.

  With a quick peek through the window in the door at the top of the stairs, she verified the hallway was clear. Sounds of way-too-loud TVs wafted out into the hallway as she headed to her apartment.

  Standing at her door, Haley felt for her keys and realized she’d left everything in the car. She put Farley down long enough to tip the flower pot up and retrieve the spare from under it. He muttered something under his chattering teeth. His legs and arms danced as the tremors jumped up another notch.

  Inside, Haley carried Farley into the bathroom where she put him in the tub and cranked on the shower. Thanks to the on-demand water heater under the sink it came out steaming. Farley raised a hand, like he was reaching for something she couldn’t see, then rolled his head away, mewling. She didn’t want to leave him, but they needed food.

  Haley went back to the kitchen and threw open the freezer. She crammed what she could into the microwave and turned it on high. Chicken pot pies sat balanced on Hot-Pockets which were competing for room with three bowls of macaroni and cheese.

  Processed food was a poor substitute for the flesh and blood of their own. But Haley was in no shape to feed Farley and he definitely couldn’t tend to her. The food would help. If worse came to worst she’d just call Deshi.

  While the frozen dinners turned in the microwave, Haley looked in the fridge and found two packages of hot dogs. Haley emptied both of them into a plastic pan and went to check on Farley.

  The worst of the spasms had calmed under the hot water. He looked at her and smiled before closing his eyes. Now that the water had erased the blood, Haley could see the extent of his wounds. Unhealed bones in his legs bulged under his skin and pink scars marred his thighs and calves like a bad road map. The bites from the hatchlings were still open so that meant the scars were probably a lot older. Had they been doing that to him while Medan toyed with her?

  Haley didn’t want to think about the answer.

  The microwave beeped, and Haley made herself go back to the kitchen. She threw the hot dogs in for two minutes. It was the longest two minutes she ever had to wait. When it was done, she piled the load in her arms and carried it to the bathroom. She knelt by the tub and pulled Farley closer to her. With a pot pie in one hand, she used her fingers to spoon it into his mouth.

  He resisted and tried to spit it out.

  “There is meat in here. Chicken. You like chicken.” She pushed the food through his lips and onto his tongue.

  “It’s cooked.” He grimaced and tried pulling back.

  “Yeah, well, right now neither of us really needs to be eating anything cold. Think of it like coffee after an all-nighter at the bar.” She pushed another scoop into his mouth. “C’mon, Farley. Work with me here.”

  His legs scissored and his arms flailed.

  Haley abandoned the pot pie and went for the hot dogs. She bit off half for herself and chewed while she broke the other part into small pieces. Farley took that a little better.

  “I can’t feed you, Farley. You know I would. But I’ve got the chills too.” As if to drive home the point, when she reached for another Ball Park, Haley’s hands decided to do some break dancing. “Damn it.” She shoved a hot dog in her mouth. Her body rebelled with a gag reflex, but she managed to keep it down.

  “Haley?”

  “I’m right here.” She concentrated on keeping her hands steady so she could break off the hot dog into small pieces.

  “What if I can’t stop again?” Haley brought her gaze up. Farley’s eyes were dark brown. She preferred the gold. They weren’t so sad looking when they were gold.

  “Don’t be silly, you’ll be fine.” She tossed the pieces of hotdog into the pot pie, stirred it with her fingers and spooned it up. “Here, open wide.”

  “But what if I can’t?”

  Haley stared at him. The mush she’d made slid down her fingers. Not stopping just wasn’t an option.

  “Shut up and eat this.” She pushed the glob between his lips. He grimaced. It took her rubbing his throat and holding his mouth shut for it to go down.

  “Man, that’s terrible!” Farley shook his head as she came at him with another bite. “No more, please.” She forced him to take it. “Jesus Christ, how can you eat that shit?”

  “It’s not that bad.” Haley held back another gag when she took a bite. “I’ve seen you put away half a dozen Big Macs. This can’t possibly be as nasty as those things.”

  “It’s the--” She shoveled in another scoop while Farley’s mouth was open. “The sauce makes it edible.” He coughed and sputtered but held it down. The improvement was a welcome sight.

  Haley made Farley eat the last two Hot Pockets on his own, then stripped off her clothes and climbed under the water spray. Her temp wasn’t dropping, but it also wasn’t getting better. She curled up next to him, relishing the heat blasting against her skin.

  They laid there, bodies pressed together, metaphysical currents exchanging back and forth. Haley couldn’t help but stare at the web of flesh on Farley’s shoulder marking him as hers. An ugly imperfection mucking up his otherwise flawless Human shell. It was obscene.

  “I don’t mind it.” Farley’s hand touched the back of her head and petted her soaking wet hair.

  In a species burdened with vanity, she had a hard time believing that.

  “It’s different because this is a mark. It shows I Belong. It’s a badge of honor.”

  She looked up at Farley. “How are you doing that?”

  “What?”

  “Reading my thoughts.”

  “I’m your Marked.” He licked her cheek. “It’s part of the job description. Knowing what you need.” He licked the corners of her eyes. “Marks are supposed to take care of To Whom They Belong.”

  “But you’re reading my thoughts.”

  He nodded and ran his tongue across her lips. “Only this close. Only when we touch like this. I couldn’t hear you when you were in the kitchen.” He nibbled her lip. “Open for me, Haley.” She parted her lips and his tongue slipped inside.

  Farley made a pleased sound like he just tasted something wonderful. The metaphysical lines between them hummed and Haley gasped. It never did that. Not before she fed him temporal fluid.

  “That was before.” Farley’s words brushed her lips. “Now I Belong to you...” His tongue plunged into her mouth and his hands slid down her back, pressing her against him. Fingertips pushed between her shoulder blades and at the base of her spine, hitting both ulysiss glands at the same time. Haley couldn’t contain the cry rising in her throat.

  Farley caught it with his mouth, growling. “There’s more than one way to make heat.” He smiled, flashing fangs.

  Haley put her hands on his cheeks and made him look at her. Part of her was terrified that what he was doing was because of the Marks, not because he wanted to. How could he want to be around her after Medan used him like that?

  “Have I ever not wanted you? The Mark has nothing to do with how I feel.” Farley licked her cheek. “Always have felt.” Again. “Always will.”

  They had been sharing their bodies for decades. But something had changed.

/>   Farley snarled and pushed her under him. “The only difference between now and then is this.” He tilted his head to his shoulder. Haley’s gaze went to the scar nestled against his collar bone. “You feel now what I’ve always felt.”

  “You don’t regret it?” She kept her eyes on the scar. Farley had learned to enjoy Human ideals of individualism. Haley never treated him as a lesser. Outside the Dens he was safe to speak his mind. But she couldn’t look, because looking at him might tell her something she didn’t want to know.

  “Oh, I have regrets.” Her eyes moved against her will. Farley tasted her mouth. “I regret you didn’t do it sooner.” His hand slid down Haley’s side. “I want to do this again, later, the right way.” Fingers pushed into her lower back and a hand tightened on her thigh. Heat welled between her legs, hotter than the scalding water that pelted her skin. “But I can’t wait and neither can you.” Farley rubbed himself against her and hissed. “God of Man, Haley, I can feel your every need.” He pushed her legs wider, hitched her upward and buried himself with one hard push. Haley was on fire, and he wasn’t even moving yet.

  Sex between them was always good. Nothing about Farley was spectacular or unique, but they fit together like puzzle pieces. A lot of the pleasure was just in the comfort, but now that he was marked every touch was magnified.

  Farley shuddered and his breath blew against her skin on a pant. “Christ, I don’t know if I can do this.”

  Haley slid her hands down his back and dug her fingers into his hips, keeping him where he was. “Don’t you dare stop!”

  Farley laughed against her shoulder, but it was a desperate sound. He pulled back slowly and came forward again. It was like a thousand pleasure points pricked her skin. Farley’s knee slipped against the bottom of the tub, and a cry escaped his lip. Even accidental movement was too much to bear. Haley arched her back, taking him deeper, forcing him to move. It felt so good. It was painful, but she couldn’t let him quit.

  “Roll me,” Farley said.

  “I’ll hurt you.” More like kill him. Haley felt like a hatchling with very little control. Any other time she might have risked it, but now she didn’t trust herself. Her metaphysical energy was simply too wild.

  Farley shook his head. “No, no you won’t. I can do this if I’m in the Rise. You need this. I can feel it.” His breath burst against her neck. “Please, Haley...”

  This was why Males died for those who marked them. Self-preservation was abandoned at the door. Haley wasn’t about to let him be that way. A mindless, willing Kin.

  “Farley?” In spite of her body screaming for more, her voice was calm. He looked at her, brown eyes swimming in gold. She stroked his chin with her thumb. “Give me your mouth.” He obeyed and she brushed his lips with her own. “Open for me.” She petted his back until his muscles began to relax. “That’s it...”

  Farley growled. “If you just--” Haley cut him off by covering his mouth with hers. “Roll me.”

  “I can’t do that and you know it. If I kill you, how are you going to live up to your promise to do this right the next time? Later, there will be more touching.” Her words came out muffled against his mouth. “There will be more biting.” She pulled him against her, using her legs. “Licking.” Her voice trembled.

  Farley ran his tongue across her cheek and slid to her ear. “Let’s not forget...” His lips latched onto her lobe and pulled with a wet sucking sound. She laughed and he moved. The new metaphysical lines between them were like a cramped muscle that didn’t want to move. But it had to. Even if it hurt.

  It didn’t take long for Farley to quicken his pace. Haley clung to him as he pushed into her. His hands gripped her hips and jacked her higher. The angle hit her deep, made her gasp, and he barked against her neck, trying to hold back until that moment right before release where she could Roll him without tearing his metaphysical energy apart.

  Heat spread across his lower back and down his thighs. Haley could feel it through every inch of skin that touched her.

  “Please, now, please.” The muscles in his neck stood out and his grip tightened until it hurt. Haley’s Female instincts reveled in the pain she caused him. She knew she could hold him there at that brink and never let him cross. He would fuck her until his hearts exploded if she wanted it.

  The fight to reign in what Haley’s instincts demanded of her was a familiar one. A strange sort of comfort.

  But stronger than her primal urges was knowledge of what Farley felt. He would die for her. He would surrender anything she wanted. And what made her value that were the Human instilled concerns she’d impressed from her Mother.

  Haley threw out her preternatural-self, heat flaring until water hissed. The metaphysical lines binding her body in Human form intertwined with the energy that was Farley’s. She entered him and it was his turn to cry out. His body tensed against hers until his spine bowed. His teeth sank into her neck, a reflexive reaction, and she reached inside with those invisible lines, pulling at the core of what gave him life.

  Farley thrust with desperation and the orgasm took them both. It wasn’t over. She spun him down, drawing everything he was straight through her, into her, moving herself inside his mind, through his thoughts. He screamed, releasing his grip on her neck. His body spasmed, crushing her against the back of the tub while he kicked.

  Farley collapsed against her, chest heaving. He’d be out for a while. It was the same way with Deshi. Even when they were both with her at the same time.

  Haley hit the nozzle with her foot, cutting off the water. She lay there for a while holding his unconscious body, his weight a welcome and familiar comfort.

  Oddly enough, everything felt perfect.

  And for some messed up reason, that bothered the hell out of her.

  When she pushed Farley over, he flopped like a broken doll. And that made her think of broken bones, scars, and bruises. She touched his shoulder and arm. The Roll had healed everything except for the mark. Too bad the Roll couldn’t erase the fact those terrible things had ever happened.

  Haley climbed out of the tub, grabbed a towel and dried off. She wrapped Farley up and carried him to her bed.

  Heat was no longer a problem. Both of them burned, almost feverish. Another side effect of the Roll, being so focused. Haley put a pillow under his head and pulled the sheet over both of them. She adjusted her positioning so she had her head on his shoulder and their legs were intertwined. This way she could listen to him breathe, feel his hearts, smell his scent.

  Her fingers danced along his neck and played with his hair, stroking the short red tufts. The ends were beginning to curl. He’d have to cut it again soon or risk looking like Howdy Doody.

  That thought made her smile. He’d been okay with his curls until that show had gotten popular in the late forties.

  Not to mention his obsession with zoot suits.

  Haley laughed out loud. Farley’s pinstripes, and his fedoras, had been the talk of the office back then.

  Of course, in the twenties...

  She stopped herself and stared at him.

  A hundred years and she’d never known how he felt. How he really felt.

  Love is a Human emotion.

  Then what sent her into the Hive after him? What made her break a dozen or more Bureau rules, risking everything she’d worked for?

  It was something and it was powerful. Haley could feel it burning in her chest, making her body ache. The strange thing was she didn’t want it to stop. The end of it was a fate worse than death.

  Chapter 13

  Colonel Dobson stared at that monster of a Male Kin called Niles Fury.

  To him, Kin didn’t have names, they just called themselves something. Parents gave their children names. Kin chose theirs, or they were given to them by the Humans they terrorized.

  Christ, that son-of-a-bitch was huge.

  There weren’t many things that scared Dobson, and he wasn’t about to admit this thing scared him either, but it did do somethi
ng. Like make his balls draw up into his stomach and his mouth go dry.

  They’d lost an Alchemist moving the beast from the trauma room to the holding cell under the lab. Goddamned dragon moved too quick. One minute he’d been down and the next he was eating that bastard’s throat out.

  He should have been dead. The Male, not the Alchemist. The lab lackeys cracked his chest and restarted his hearts with the defibrillator.

  Twice.

  And yet here he was, thirty-five feet below, in a concrete cylinder forty feet across. At least three inches of woven steel acted as a net between the viewing chamber and the top of the cell. Separating the rooms were an additional eighteen inches of fortified polymer, capable of taking a direct hit from mortar fire.

  The devil himself couldn’t have gotten out.

  And Dobson still didn’t feel safe.

  All the damn thing did was pace. Wall to wall, back and forth. Every muscle in his body rolling and surging. It moved, not like a Human being, but the thing it was. Liquid. Deadly.

  Niles stopped and his head tilted up. Dobson frowned. If he had a way to poke out the fucker’s eyes, he’d be blind. Damn things would probably grow back. The Kin pulled up his lip and flashed long teeth. Scales rippled across his chest and arms.

  Those Alchemists were going to have to do something about that. Their oisis pins didn’t seem to affect him like it did the others, not even the Queens. It confirmed Dobson’s feelings about the thing below. It was destruction waiting to happen. That meant there was only one thing to do about that. Find out how to control it.

  His cell rang and he checked the number.

  Speaking of Devils, she was on line four.

  Dobson let it ring because it would piss her off. He liked pissing her off. It was a thing of beauty. Right before it clicked to voice mail he answered. “And what do you want?”

  Silence. He knew she was there. He could hear her breathing. Or more precisely the breathing of the thing she talked through.

  Kinda hard to dial those little numbers with big nasty claws.