“I need to know what you see when you touch this book.”
She’d known he was going to ask her that and had been dreading it. Sarah clung to the arms of the chair, not wanting to touch the book again.
“I know I’m asking a lot,” he began.
“You have no idea.” No one did.
“Then tell me what it’s like for you.”
Even kneeling in front of her, he loomed over her. He was the largest man she’d ever met, and there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. It was all muscle, but not the over-blown kind that many body builders had.
“Sarah?”
Crap, he’d caught her looking. His gaze narrowed, and his green eyes seemed to glint in the light.
“I see pictures, like photographs from the past. Black and white and gray.” She stared at the small volume he held in his hand and shuddered. “But not with that book. That one is different.”
“You saw something, didn’t you?”
She nodded, unwilling to lie to him about that. “Yeah, and it was like watching a motion picture in 3D.” It had been way too real. The pizza she’d eaten churned in her gut, and she rested her hand on her stomach.
“How bad was it?” His voice was grim. Some intuition told her he wouldn’t be surprised by what she told him.
“Bad. There was a room made of stone, and it was damp and dark. Cold, too. I have no idea where it was.” She tried to remember as many details as she could. “There was a group of men, all in robes, like monks.” But there’d been nothing holy about them.
Darius stayed kneeling in front of her, waiting patiently. She got the feeling he could be very patient when he wanted something. He didn’t fidget and appeared outwardly calm. She’d bet her savings that he was hell on wheels in the boardroom.
“They were chanting. A weird combination of languages. I couldn’t see what they were surrounding at first. Then the torches flared to life, and I saw a dragon. No, I mean a drakon.” Shocked filled her. “He told me that.”
“Who? Who told you what?”
“The dragon told me he was a drakon. He didn’t speak out loud, but I heard him in my head. I’d forgotten that.” How had she forgotten that? No matter, she was remembering it now.
“I take it that’s not normal for your visions.”
“There was nothing normal about this vision at all.” She bit her bottom lip and shivered. “He was chained. Thick, nasty chains. And they tried to kill him with a sword, but he fought. He was weak, but he fought. They cut his neck and collected some of his blood.”
As much as she wanted to deny it, she knew the vision had been real, like a recording trapped in the vellum pages of the book, one only she—and maybe a few others in the world—could read.
“I knew what he wanted me to do.” Darius was watching her, his intensity unnerving. “I’ve never been part of the vision before. Never.”
“What did you do?” he asked. His voice had dropped in timbre and was so incredibly deep it was almost a growl.
“I grabbed one of the torches and tossed it to him. He caught it in his mouth and then burst into flames. All the men scattered.” She looked directly at Darius. “I saw one of them before I dropped the book and broke contact. I saw his face and I recognized him.
“Who was it? Who did you see?” he demanded.
“Mr. Temple. But that’s impossible, isn’t it? I mean, the vision seemed older, but Herman Temple looked the same. And how could I be a part of the vision? I wasn’t there.”
“Maybe you viewed the scene through the perspective of someone who was there.”
She nodded. That made as much sense as any of this.
Darius stood, went to his desk, and tossed the book down. He pulled his laptop in front of him and began tapping the keys. A few seconds later, he turned the machine so it was facing her. “This Herman Temple?”
Sarah pushed out of the chair and came to stand beside him. “Yes. That’s the man who hired me. The same one who was in the vision.”
Darius reached into his desk and pulled out a phone. Damn, there’d been a phone in the room she could have used to call for help. He caught her gaze, and one corner of his mouth kicked up as he punched in a number.
“Herman Temple. I want to know everything you can find out about him. Businessman here in New York.” He glanced at the laptop screen and rattled off his address. “He’s one of the Knights.” He paused, listening to what the person on the other end of the line was saying. Then he nodded. “Don’t call this number. It won’t be in operation any longer. I’ll call you.”
“Don’t forget about his son,” she reminded him. “Christian.”
“Christian Temple as well,” Darius added. “He’s the son.” He ended the call and then closed his fist around the plastic casing. It cracked. As she watched, the phone was crushed to pieces. He opened his hand and let the remains fall onto the desk.
Her mouth went dry, making it difficult to swallow. She’d known he was strong, but that was downright scary.
“I’m sorry, Sarah, I can’t risk anyone using this phone to find the person I called.”
She leaned against the desk for support and summoned the courage to speak. “He’s important to you.”
“Very.” He said nothing more, and she realized that was all he was going to tell her. For some inexplicable reason, she felt hurt by his refusal to include her, which made no sense. They were virtual strangers who’d just met tonight. Yes, they’d been thrown together by a very unusual situation, but that didn’t make them best buds or confidants.
It was time for her to leave. “I’ve done what I came to do. You know about the people who are after you and you have the book. I need to get out of here.” She turned her back on him and headed for the door. Her role in this drama was over. She wasn’t part of this fight. All she wanted to do was hide so she didn’t become collateral damage.
She didn’t think it was going to be easy to get off the grid, which was what she was going to have to do with people like Darius and Mr. Temple involved. They had way too much power and money, and Mr. Temple apparently had government contacts as well.
She was well and truly screwed.
She made it as far as the door before a long, muscled arm snaked around her waist. “I can’t let you go. It’s not safe for you out there.”
The husky murmur in her ear made her entire body clench. This was so not appropriate, but there was no stopping her reaction to Darius. Her nipples puckered and her panties dampened. Frustration ate at her, so she went on the attack.
“What are you going to do? Protect me from Herman Temple, his son, and his military contact?”
He tightened his arm around her, drawing her back against his large body. “Yes. That’s exactly what I plan to do.”
…
The situation with Sarah was quickly spinning out of his control. Darius knew he should put her on one of his private planes and send her to one of the many secluded islands he owned around the world. No one would find her, at least not anytime soon. She’d be safe while he dealt with this newest threat from the Knights of the Dragon.
But he simply couldn’t let her go.
Every time she tried to walk away from him, the beast inside him roared to life. Instincts honed over thousands of years screamed at him to keep her near, to protect her.
Unable to stop himself, he nuzzled her hair and the curve of her neck, drinking in her unique feminine scent. Every cell in his body reacted to her presence, his muscles clenching, his blood thickening.
He wanted her.
There was no denying the attraction even if he didn’t quite trust it. He no longer believed she was working for the Knights, but he was wary of feeling so much for a woman so quickly. That didn’t mean he was going to let her go. No way was that happening until he’d had her in his bed.
Patience, he counseled himself. Now was neither the time nor the place. His apartment was being watched, which meant Sarah was in danger.
He forced his
arms to release her and was surprised when she continued to lean against him. She turned and peered up at him. “You have enough to worry about with protecting yourself. Why would you concern yourself with me?”
He could tell she was honestly bewildered. That made two of them. Other than his brothers, Darius had worried only about himself for thousands of years. What made this slip of a woman different?
Yes, he’d had human friends over the years, even some who’d known his secret. But the last one of those had died several hundred years ago. The world had changed too much, and money meant more than honor to the vast majority of people.
Maybe that’s why he was attracted to Sarah. She was risking her life and her livelihood to warn him of the threat, even turning down money when he’d offered it. She’d been downright insulted when he’d suggested such a thing.
She was brave and honorable and beautiful, a very deadly combination to someone like him who valued all three traits. The human side of him valued the bravery and honesty. The dragon side of him admired her beauty.
“Because you risked your safety and freedom to take that book.” He hooked a short strand of hair over her ear. “It took honor to contact me.” He cupped the entire side of her face with his large hand. “And it took incredibly bravery to come here with me and share what you know.”
He knew he was making a mistake, but Darius couldn’t stop from lowering his head, touching his lips to hers. Sweet…she tasted sweet like the wine and slightly spicy from the pizza. Delicious. He licked her bottom lip and groaned when she gasped.
He slid his tongue into her warmth and tasted heaven.
She braced her hands on his shoulders but didn’t push him away. As he explored the cavern of her mouth, she curled her fingers inward, clinging to him. Then her tongue tentatively touched his, and he lost it.
He was vaguely aware of lifting her off her feet, of her sliding her hands around his neck. He stroked her tongue and sucked on it when she ventured into his mouth. Her breasts were plastered against his chest, and he wished they were both naked so he could feel her skin to skin.
He was so lost in the sheer delight of her that it took him several moments to realize she was no longer clinging to him but pushing him away. He stopped kissing her, but it wasn’t easy. All he wanted to do was strip her naked and devour her from head to toe, tasting every smooth inch of her skin.
She was panting as heavily as he was. Her chocolate-brown eyes were glazed over, her lips swollen and damp. When she licked them, his cock swelled, although he didn’t know how that was possible since he was already so aroused.
“That—” She broke off, swallowed, and tried again. “That got out of hand.”
“Should I apologize?”
“Are you sorry?”
He shook his head. “No.” How could he be sorry for such an incredible experience?
“You can put me down.”
He didn’t want to, but he knew it was for the best. He had to start thinking with the head on his shoulders and not the smaller one in his pants, or they’d be in big trouble. The Knights were not to be taken lightly. They’d captured and killed many drakons over the centuries.
He set Sarah on her feet, but she gripped his arm, not moving away immediately. She took several deep breaths and finally took a step back. “So, what do we do next?”
Darius had to bite back his first thought, which was to suggest they go to his bedroom and continue what they’d started. Not smart on so many levels. Not only were the Knights watching his apartment building and him, but he didn’t think Sarah was ready for them to get naked together, which was really too bad.
She was never going to have sex with him if she thought he was crazy. From her perspective, what he was telling her didn’t make any sense. People didn’t go around claiming to be the son of a dragon and a human. She also had to trust him if he was going to be able to protect her. Otherwise, she might run off if given the opportunity. She’d already proved herself resourceful, or she would never have been able to smuggle that book away from Temple.
The thought of her running around the city on her own was intolerable. The Knights were not opposed to using torture to get what they wanted. They were ruthless when it came to the pursuit of wealth, power, and eternal life.
“The next thing we have to do is convince you I’m not out of my mind.”
She started to object but quickly shut her mouth again. Damn, he hated knowing she thought he wasn’t quite sane.
“I’m not dangerous,” he said, but he had to rethink his statement when she snorted in obvious disbelief. He blew out a breath. “Okay, I am dangerous, but not to you.” He pinned her with his gaze. “Never to you.” It was important she understand that.
He held out his hand to her. “Come with me.” He held his breath and waited. There was so much riding on this next moment. She could come with him willingly, or he could force her. He wanted her to come of her own free will.
Exaltation filled him when she put her small hand in his. He detoured back to the desk long enough to grab the book. Darius wasn’t about to let it out of his sight. It seemed heavier than it had before, and a low hum of energy emanated from the leather binding.
He led her out of the office and down to the end of the hallway. A floor-to-ceiling painting filled the narrow space. Even though the painting and the frame looked old, the subject matter would be at home in any video gamer’s room. A large dragon filled the sky while the people below shot arrows at the beast. Several flaming arrows were embedded in the creature’s body while a hooded man stood nearby reading from a book.
She squinted, and he could tell she was trying to see the writing on the book, but it was impossible to make it out. Darius reached up and pressed a hidden lever at the top of the frame. The painting swung back to reveal a doorway.
Sarah gasped and tugged her hand away. His stomach dropped, and a deep sadness filled him.
“What’s that? Where are we going?”
“I need to show you something.” He could explain, but it was better to show her. “Trust me.”
She studied his face and finally nodded. Then she stepped onto the staircase behind the painting, and started downward.
…
Herman Temple took a sip of the fine cognac in his glass, savoring the rich flavor before swallowing. Flames danced in the fireplace, the only illumination in his study. This was his favorite place in the world. He was surrounded by art and books, and able to relax and forget his worries, if only for a short time. He swirled the amber liquid in the crystal goblet and admired the deep color.
A knock came on the door, and he frowned. His staff knew better than to disturb him while he was in his study. This was his time, and he coveted it greatly. Whoever was there was either stupid, or something was very wrong. And since he didn’t hire stupid people…
He sat forward and set his glass on the oak table next to his chair. “Come.”
Matthew Riggs, the head of his personal security team, stepped into the room. “I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but we have a problem.”
Herman waved the man forward. Riggs had been with him for two years now and wasn’t one to exaggerate. “What is it?”
The former military man strode across the room and came to a halt in front of him. He stood at attention as he gave his report. “I spot-checked the security footage from today, as per usual.”
Herman knew that Riggs liked to do that to make sure his team didn’t miss anything. Then the security footage was filed away or deleted, depending on whether Riggs thought it might be useful down the road.
“And?” Herman was getting a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“One of the security team had to go remind Ms. Anderson when it was time to leave for the day.”
Herman didn’t see why that was a problem. It wasn’t the first time it had happened, and he didn’t expect it to be the last.
“The man monitoring the security feeds chose that moment to step away and go to
the bathroom.” There were no visible signs of emotion on Riggs’s face, but Herman could tell he wasn’t pleased. Neither was Herman.
“What happened?”
“Maybe nothing, but it seems she was studying a particular book when Martin went to inform her it was time to go. It was a rather old Bible,” Riggs told him before he could ask.
“That’s of no consequence.” Herman began to relax slightly. There’d been a breach in the security surveillance, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed.
“That’s what I thought at first, sir, but I viewed the footage several times.”
The knot was back in Herman’s stomach. He didn’t need any more problems or delays. He needed Sarah Anderson to find the book so he could capture and contain Darius Varkas.
The book should never have been lost in the first place. He blamed his son for that. Christian was lax with security. It was only after the book had gone missing that Herman had instituted extra security precautions inside his home. He’d never bothered before, because only the most trusted Knights were allowed entry into his private library. His son hadn’t been as prudent. As much as Christian denied it, Herman didn’t doubt that he was lying to save his own hide.
After all Herman had taught his son, Christian had still trusted the wrong man. It was a weakness, his son’s need for validation from his lovers and close confidants. Usually that validation was bought with money or favors. This was the first time the repercussions had been so dire.
And there was no denying that Gervais Rames had known exactly where to find the book. The only bright spot was the alarm on the vault had been triggered, and he’d been unable to escape the building. Rames hadn’t gotten away, but he’d managed to hide the damn book in one of the libraries before he was caught, and no amount of torture had been able to get the location out of him before he’d died.
Time was running out, and Herman was under pressure from the head of the order of the Knights of the Dragon to capture Varkas. And the book was key. Herman might be a man of science, but there was no denying that certain inanimate objects contained power. The book was one such item.
Drakon's Promise (Blood of the Drakon) Page 8
