“The good kind of complicated?” he asked nervously.
She patted his arm and then ran her hand over it, warming him and soothing him. “The best kind of complicated.”
He smiled down at her, bursting with happiness at having her by his side.
“Now come on, we’ll be late for lunch,” she said, dragging him forward to catch up with the others.
When they caught up, there were more hugs and talking, and as they all piled into the restaurant together, Red found himself more grateful than ever that he’d been awakened.
Sure, he’d gotten his treasure back and his powers. But the real prize was his mate and his new family, made up of humans and dragons in a way he’d never expected.
That was his new treasure.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
Alistair, diamond dragon, looked up from his cage to see the small human woman who usually attended him coming down the dank, stone steps as carefully as possible.
As usual, she was carrying a tray of basically inedible food, and as usual, she was trying her best not to look at him as she did what had to be done.
Perhaps she avoided his eyes because she could see the anger there, at being awakened and entrapped, here in this dank cell made of moldering stone.
He was one of the most powerful creatures on earth, at least he had been in his time.
Thanks to them keeping him down here in the semi-darkness, he had no idea what the world was like now.
He didn’t know how long he’d been here either. Weeks maybe. The only people he saw were the men in white coats who came to take his blood, and a couple of masked shifters who spoke to him while hiding their faces.
Damn right they should hide their faces. When he got out, he was going to hunt down every last one of them for the indignity of putting him in chains.
Enslaving him for his blood.
He let out a low growl and saw the girl let out a small squeak and stop at the bottom of the stairs, hesitant to come forward.
“Please, don’t stop on my account.” He held up his chained wrists. “I can’t hurt you.”
Her green eyes met his. “So you would if you could?”
“I didn’t say that,” he said in a smooth voice, leaning back in his stall to make himself appear as harmless as possible. Something that wasn’t easy with his sheer size and height.
He knew he looked nothing like the humans of her world, if the ones he’d known in his day were any indication. His long white hair and eyes showing every color ruined that.
“Your dinner,” she said quietly, walking forward and setting the tray down. She pushed it forward, under the bars, and he just stared at it before taking it.
He picked up a small, round, bread-like object and tossed it to the mangy cat who sometimes took naps at the end of the hall. Alistair couldn’t stand the stuff, but his only friend might.
The cat batted the bread around and then began nibbling, as the girl watching Alistair cleared her throat.
“You have to eat,” she said nervously, pushing back her blond hair. It was straight, and sort of unkempt. She clearly wasn’t one who cared much about appearances. She was rather plain, but there was something about her.
“Why should I?” he asked. “So I can produce more blood for these vampires?”
“It’s just experiments,” she said. “They aren’t eating it.”
“What do you know about it, human?”
She bit her lip. He read her thoughts, and saw that she only barely had any idea who she was dealing with. When she’d accepted a job here, she hadn't known anything about shifters.
Now she knew some things, just from seeing things she shouldn’t. And she was scared.
And she should be.
He almost felt sorry for her. She’d accepted a job position in the worst place on earth, and the shifters here saw humans as trash, or at best, means to an end.
When they didn’t need her anymore, or even before that, they would either try to turn her, experiment on her, or throw her to the wolves, literally.
Wolf males were horny and never had enough females. Only the truly noble alpha ones had ever been worth anything, and they were few and far between.
No, as much as he pitied his own situation, a powerful creature reduced to nothing, he pitied her more.
Because whatever her fate was, it was bound to be tragic.
As she turned to go back up the stairs, an idea came to him. One that would be easier to explain if he had his powers, but he would have to do his best either way.
“Wait,” he said authoritatively.
She looked over her shoulder. “Why should I?”
“I’m sorry if I haven’t been nice to you,” he said. “Captivity makes me…churlish.”
“I understand,” she said softly.
“You’re in danger,” he said. “You must realize it, don’t you?” He pushed off the wall and stood, walking to the front of the cell. “They don’t tell you anything, but you see things, don’t you? You haven’t put together what is happening, but you know it’s not right. And you know it’s only a matter of time before you aren’t safe.”
“I know you’re manipulative. Persuasive,” she said. “They warned me.” She turned to face him but stayed where she was.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Bridget,” she said.
“Odd name,” he murmured.
“Thanks,” she said, and he liked the little spark in her eyes. The first sign he’d seen of a backbone. Maybe this little human could be interesting after all.
“Bridget,” he said. “You’re a smart girl. You see what is happening.”
She folded her arms and took a step forward. “Don’t patronize me. I’m no girl.”
“Woman,” he said. “Human. You have to know that as a human, you are at a distinct disadvantage here.”
“You’re just trying to get me to free you,” she said. “Trying to get me in trouble.”
He read her thoughts again, sorting through the troubled mash-up running through her mind. There it was. “Ah, but you’re already in trouble, aren’t you?”
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
“That wolf that’s been bothering you. Galen, is it?”
She shook her head, taking a step back this time. “How did you know that?”
“I see things too,” he said, holding the bars. “And I see that you and I need to leave this place.” He shrugged. “But in the end it’s up to you.”
“I can’t,” she said, her eyes haunted. “Who says I would be any safer with you? And yes, I’m probably doomed here. I’ve seen enough others like me disappear to realize it’s not going to end well.”
“Then what do you have to lose, letting me out?” he asked in a silky voice.
“You scare me,” she said quietly.
“I would give you my promise. You would be safe.”
“How can you ensure that?” she asked, walking closer. “You can’t.”
He grinned. “Girly, I’m a dragon. I can ensure anything I want.” He beckoned her closer with one long finger. When she was only a foot away, just on the other side of the bars, he could smell her scent. Fresh water, spring grass, and wildflowers.
Delicious.
He looked into her eyes and saw his own reflected. Felt her body react to his nearness. Humans found most shifters tantalizing, dragons even more so with their supernatural strength.
“Whatever you want, your wildest desires,” he said. “Help me get out of here and back with my kind, and I’ll grant them. I promise.”
She sighed, her green eyes still wary despite her body’s response to him. “I would probably be stupid for trusting you.” She shook her head. “I can’t be manipulated. You’re just so charming, and persuasive and—ugh.” She turned on her heel. “You’re trying to get me killed, and you would probably turn your back on me the moment you were out.”
She strode away, but he grinned as he read the last of her thoughts as
she disappeared up the steps.
Her mind knew that letting him out was a bad idea. But her heart wanted to run away with the dragon in the basement.
We’ll, she’d be back.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed Red and Faye’s story and your little sneak peak of Diamond! You’ll want to be on my newsletter so you can know when he’s coming out, so sign up here:
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Sincerely Terry
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King of Rock
King of Rock
When Beau walked into his brother’s luxurious office, he noticed Ace was anxious. Then again, when was he not?
“You okay? You need to calm down,” Beau said, folding back the leather cuffs of his jacket as he plopped into an overstuffed chair and relaxed with one long, elegant leg draped over the arm.
Ace stopped running his fingers through his tortured blond hair and gave him a freezing stare. “Right. Because relaxing is always easy for you, isn’t it? Because there isn’t anything riding on you. Because you’re the middle son.”
“The oracle has a mate for me,” Beau retorted lazily. “I’d say that’s something riding on me.”
Ace just let out another exasperated sigh and continued to pace.
“Ace…” Beau started, but his brother cut him off with a glare.
“Stop calling me that. You know my name is Axel.”
“But I like Ace,” Beau said, pouting. He stood, took a slow stretch, enjoyed the wide green lands through the window at the front of the office, and then turned to face his brother.
He caught him by the arms and made the older man look at him. Though brothers, they appeared quite different. Where his brother had sharp, almost fierce features, Beau was aptly named because he was the pretty boy of the group. But both had tall, intimidating bodies, as all lion shifters did. They were at the top of the shifter world, and they needed the size and charisma to match.
“Calm down. I’m going to take care of this. You know that, right?” Beau tried to get his brother to look him in the eye. “Besides, I’ve been looking forward to taking a mate. You know, when the right one comes along.”
His brother snorted and pushed away with a bitter laugh. “You? The playboy?”
Beau was a little disappointed by that. He hadn’t expected his brother to buy into the public persona he portrayed in his profession. Sure, he loved women, and women loved him. But he wasn’t a heartbreaker. Not on purpose. He broke hearts every time he stepped on stage, but that wasn’t his fault.
He was just that beautiful.
“And whoever it is, I’m sure the lucky lady won’t be averse to me, so that’s good,” Beau said thoughtfully, walking over to the windowsill again and sitting on it. He gazed out the window and thought about how different his homeland was to the cities he was always performing in. So much lush, untouched land here. But then again, it was a small country, mostly hidden from the world on a small island, and mostly populated with passive and active lion shifters who were locked in a secret battle for power.
And the safety of the human race.
“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what’s at stake,” Ace said. “Honestly, I was hoping Cain or I would be the first to have their mate chosen. Then you could continue your… lifestyle.”
“Don’t forget this is the lifestyle you chose for me so I could have influence in high places in human society,” Beau said, referring to his status as a well-known rock star, a heartthrob who instantly filled giant arenas with screaming female fans.
“I know,” Ace said, his eyes softening. “Plus, I knew you loved music. You were always good at it.”
“You seen any of my concerts lately?” Beau asked.
Ace laughed and shook his head. “Seen one, seen ‘em all, right?”
“You’re no fun.” Beau pouted and slumped in the chair again. “So when is she coming? Or am I going there?”
“She’s coming here,” he said. “She seemed eager to meet with you on our own land. Eager to meet you in general.” He snorted and straightened his tie. “Your effect on the other gender is something else.”
Beau just shrugged. “I love the ladies, and I guess they love me.”
His brother had nothing to say to that, but Beau could see a twitch on his brother’s handsome face.
“So where’s Cain?”
“You know him,” Ace said. “Probably off somewhere racing or performing.”
“Right,” Beau said. “What extreme sport is he into these days?”
“I think motocross,” Ace said. “Hope he doesn’t kill himself.”
“Aren’t we basically immortal?” Beau asked.
“Hard to kill.” Ace corrected. “Not invincible.”
“A little bike isn’t going to hurt him, then,” Beau said. “Anyway, let’s not talk about him now.” A shiver of anticipation went up his spine. “I’m getting a mate.”
Ace nodded and continued to pace, and Beau thought about the situation and studied his feelings on it. It was something he didn’t allow himself to do very often. He preferred to stay in the moment, feel what was happening, keep with the flow.
But if he were honest, he was nervous as hell. He’d never had stage fright; he loved performing. But sitting here, knowing at any moment he’d hear who the perfect person was to spend his life with, he felt all his nerves standing on end.
What if she didn’t like him? What if it was all politically motivated? His family was in power at the moment, and if they didn’t listen to the oracle in their choice of mates, she could easily support someone else. And whoever had the oracle’s support made the rules.
He sighed and slumped deeper in the chair, letting his long legs sprawl in front of him.
“Did you have to dress like that?” his brother asked, dressed professional as always.
“You’re king of a country,” Beau retorted. “Do you always have to wear suits from off the rack?”
Ace rankled at that. “At least I look trustworthy. You look like you could rob someone.”
Beau looked down at his torn jeans, fashionable combat boots, and leather jacket over a white tee shirt with pink writing. “Hey, it’s my brand.”
“But right now, your brand should be ‘meeting the oracle,’” Ace said.
“And that’s why I’m here. Trust me. She knows who she’s matching. We’ve known her since we were little.”
The oracle was an eternal grandmother figure, living until the next oracle was born, which could be hundreds of years. She was perpetually a little old lady, though her eyes held startling youth. They were smoky gray, so light they were almost white, fringed in dark lashes.
Though he and his brothers all had the classic golden hair of a lion’s mane, the lion shifters on the island had all different manner of hair and skin colors.
Many of them left the island and went to the mainland to breed with humans or other cat shifters to send their genetics into the world.
He’d grown up around many of the females who might be an option. He couldn’t really think of any of them who wouldn’t be delighted to be his mate.
On that thought, the doors to the office swung open, and the oracle walked in. She was curvy and petite, her dark hair short and curly, her eyes and skin pale. She pointed a gnarled finger at Beau the moment she came in and smiled.
“You rascal,” she said.
He walked forward and picked up her hand and kissed the top of it, and she flushed, slapping his hand away.
“What are you doing teasing old ladies?” she asked, fanning her face.
“Ace, tell your brother to stop.”
“Stop,” Ace said flatly, making both Beau and the oracle laugh.
“I missed you,” she said, wagging a finger. “You and your brothers had better not forget you owe me.”
“Everything,” Beau said genuinely.
“Good,” she chirped. “And as long as you handsome, strapping young men remember that, we won’t have any problems.”
She could be sweet and sassy, but Beau knew beneath that grinning exterior and finger wagging was a sharp mind and a lot of power to overturn the entire world if she wanted to. The very pinnacle of shifter existence.
Ever since she’d created the dragons, the lions had far less to do.
But while the dragons tracked down the misbehaving shifters, lions were still responsible for the opinion of shifter kind toward humanity and making sure the world all got along together.
Even if some lions didn’t want to so much.
“So much conflict on such a young face,” she said, reaching up as if to touch him.
He stood still, looking down at her, as she caught a lock of his hair in her crooked finger. She twisted it slightly, narrowing her eyes at it, and then let it go.
“Interesting,” she said.
“Hardly so young,” he said. “I’m in my thirties now, you know.”
“Ageless,” she said on a sigh, looking over him. “And far too beautiful. Nevertheless, the woman to mate you will be fortunate indeed.”
“I think so,” he joked, and her face sharpened.
“Not with that attitude.”
“I’m teasing.” He relented.
“All right.” She shook her head and took the chair Ace had pulled up for her while they were talking. “Kneel.”
“That’s it?” Beau asked, heart thumping. He’d sort of been hoping for more small talk, more verbal sparring. He’d answered his brother’s summons with the same casual nonchalance he used to live most of his life, but now that he was here and it was really happening, he felt panic welling up inside him.
And then peace as the oracle’s hand landed on his shoulder. “It’s going to be okay. If I can match up dozens of damn complicated dragons, I can match you.”
Ruby Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 3) Page 13
