Dragon Knight Of Khoth

by Brenda Trim

  It was a close call, Lorne thought and wondered what the hell Cyril was thinking. He lost a significant portion of his army and had warned the council and Angus of unknown weaknesses. Now, they would call in every power in the universe to secure their city. Then, it would be the safest place for the hunted Vampire Princess.

  Lorne spotted Finn and stalked toward the male. “Where’s Cambree?” he mentally shouted into the dragon’s mind.

  “I’m headed her way now. Seemed to me this took precedence,” Finn barked in return.

  “You better hope she’s safe, or I’ll skin you alive, prole!” Lorne countered then took to the sky in search of Cambree. If he wanted something done right, he’d better do it himself.

  * * *

  Chapter 6

  “What a day,” Cambree exclaimed as she and Finn walked down the street. Ash floated through the air, and smoke singed her nostrils. Everyone in the city was still in shock about the attack on the market. The Unseelie demolished her favorite place to grab produce. Everyone had their reason for shopping at the market, but for her, it was the fresh fruit and veggies. They were out of this world.

  “You got that right. So, where do you want to eat for dinner?” Finn asked.

  He’d been hyper-vigilant ever since her disastrous date with Noah. It didn’t help matters when Lorne randomly appeared and scowled at the Máahes. Cambree wondered if he was trying to alleviate his guilt. It was evident Lorne blamed himself for the male that attacked her. An involuntary shudder traveled down her spine as the memories of that day in the alley pushed to the front of her mind.

  Rather than let it take hold and turn her into a bawling baby dragonette, Cambree focused on her surroundings. Countless dragons and other species were busy clearing the rubble from the recent battle and making way for the rebuilding to begin.

  As was the Cuelebre way, everyone pitched in and donated to rebuilding. The king announced his crown would cover the cost of materials if the citizens could donate time and labor. The goal was to have the first shops open in six months, along with a memorial for the thirty-six that lost their lives that day. Cambree didn’t personally know any of them, but her heart went out to the families. What a tragic loss, she thought as she surveyed the damage.

  As it had a hundred times over the past week, Cambree’s mind went to the sight of Lorne standing on her doorstep, clutching his side. He was dressed in black clothing, but she could see blood dripping through his fingers. The second he saw her, he’d asked if her parents were with her then said Finn would be by soon, and passed out.

  Her mother helped get him inside, and Cambree called emergency services. It turned out Máahes weren’t taken to the hospital, but the castle. According to Finn, they had their own medical team on hand, and she recalled the clinic she visited during her heat cycle. More than likely, it was the same facility that treated injured knights.

  She watched the clean-up efforts for a few seconds and marveled at the grass and flowers sprouting at random spots throughout the area. Given the charred edges, Unseelie blood killed the earth beneath. Whether it was Angus, the shaman, or the fact that Cuelebre blood was spilled there, the planet was restoring balance and life.

  Turning away she started walking again. “Let’s grab something from Gordough’s. I’m craving his meat pies. How he bakes them and gets the zarid root soft, I have no idea. Every time I try, the torc is tough, the crust burnt, and the zarid crunchy,” Cambree confessed.

  “My mom says the key to a good meat pie is to steam the zarid. If you boil it then it will turn to mush, and if you roast the root it’s still too raw,” Finn replied as he smiled at a passing female.

  It was good to see everyone calming down and returning to a normal routine. The biggest difference was now most spent their lunch hours working in the market. Cambree didn’t mind volunteering. A nice side effect had been a full week of peace and quiet from her chaotic life. Few males had asked her out, and it was almost like the good old days of solitude.

  She’d gone on one date the past week, and Finn was there to make sure the male didn’t take liberties with her. It was another dreadful evening, and she found herself thinking of Lorne the entire time. Cambree couldn’t figure out the male to save her life. One minute, he seemed to genuinely care for her, and the next he was downright rude, ordering her around like she was a child. She understood he was concerned for her safety, but he wasn’t her keeper.

  She wished she was brave like the females in her self-defense class. None of them would tolerate half of what she put up with from others. Some were strong enough to beat the hell out of a male, especially if they were attacked.

  It was challenging enough for Cambree to tell someone to stop, let alone strikeout and hit them. Her heart hammered in her chest when she practiced the moves taught in class. She didn’t possess the courage to act against another being. It was ironic that she was one of the fiercest creatures in the realm, a female Cuelebre.

  Females of her species were said to be far more violent than their male counterparts, especially where their young were concerned. You poked a mama dragon, and you ended up on the wrong end of her talons, ending as a tasty snack. Cambree didn’t know the truth of that statement because she didn’t have dragonettes, but she dreamed of having a houseful one day. She didn’t have siblings and felt her life would be so different if she did. What she wouldn’t give to have a sister. Someone, she could call her best friend, because that was something she’d never experienced, either.

  “Hey, you okay?” Finn asked and nudged Cambree, drawing her from her musings.

  “Huh? Yeah, sorry. What were we talking about?”

  “Meat pies,” he reminded.

  “Oh yeah, that’s right. You were telling me the secret to cooking zarid. My mother was an awful cook. Seems I got my talent in the kitchen from her,” she joked. “I’ll have to try steaming it next time,” Cambree stated.

  There was a reason Finn’s first question was where she wanted to eat. They’d gotten to know each other well enough for him to know she didn’t cook often.

  “Awful is an understatement,” Finn teased with a chuckle.

  He was handsome when he smiled, but it didn’t make her heart race like another Máahes she knew. Her life would be much simpler if Lorne didn’t make her feel like she was entering heat every time he was near.

  “Watch it, or I’ll cook for you again,” she countered and shoved his shoulder. “What can I say? If it’s not numbers and a spreadsheet, don’t ask me to try it. Doesn’t matter if it’s cooking, drawing, or building a house,” Cambree admitted.

  “You underestimate yourself. You’re damn good with a shovel. You clear debris with the best of them,” Finn said with a wink.

  She laughed at that and was about to respond when she sensed something that sent goosebumps spreading along her arm. Finn was on alert, as well, but then again, he always was. She wasn’t sure what caused it, and scanned the area in search of the source, but saw nothing to cause alarm.

  All she saw were smoke-coated buildings which lessened in number this far from the market. The downtown area of Duamutef was an eclectic mix of the old and new. Interspersed between the old wood and brick buildings were shiny, steel and glass structures that rose high into the sky. In the area surrounding the market, she could easily tell the two apart based on their height. The taller were the modern creations.

  Here, on the outskirts of town, Cambree saw the weathered brick exteriors she loved so much. She may have grown up when the modern buildings came into the picture, but she preferred the older ones. They had more character, and each told a story. She imagined the walls within harbored energy from the lives that passed through them.

  One specific building had tiny fossils in the stone structure. Cambree loved searching through the rock and discovering different fossils. She identified four types of extinct fish and three species of mammals in the ancient stones.

  As they arrived at Gordough’s, Finn held the glass door open
for her, and the aroma of cooked meat and roots wafted out to greet her. Her stomach rumbled in response, and Cambree couldn’t wait to order some of the delicious food.

  Wings flapping drew her gaze to the sky before she entered the building. Dragons flying overhead was a common sight on Khoth, but since the attack, more units were patrolling the skies. It made Cambree feel safe, and Finn assured her the Unseelie wouldn’t be that stupid to attack again.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re acting strange today,” Finn asked as she hesitated in the doorway.

  Shaking her head, she continued past him and headed toward the hostess. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired I guess.”

  “You did work that shovel pretty hard today,” he chortled. “Seriously, all teasing aside. I rarely see many females that work as hard as you do at manual labor. Most want to do the bare minimum.”

  Cambree snorted as she thought about her coworkers. “My parents didn’t raise a lazy dragon. I’m no less able than you. Besides, I insist on doing my part. It’s not really helping unless I do.”

  “That’s a rare trait indeed,” a male next to her murmured. Her heart raced, and her eyes widened as the stranger turned to fully face her.

  The male smiled, drawing her eyes to his perfect teeth and full lips that looked soft as butter. She leaned toward him, wanting to press her mouth to his and see if they felt like they looked.

  Whoa, what are you doing? Cambree thought as she stopped herself from kissing a complete stranger.

  Her dragon rose to the surface, trying to determine his species. The only thing she was certain of was that he wasn’t Cuelebre. His dark eyes were a dead giveaway, given they weren’t faceted like her kind. This male was something else altogether, but she didn’t know what. It seemed rude to blatantly inquire about someone’s species.

  “I’ve heard that a hard-working female Cuelebre is like finding an elf stone,” Cambree replied, surprised at the way she was teasing him. It was uncharacteristic of her shy personality.

  He was a big male, she thought as she scanned him from head to toe. His short blond hair was longer on top, and a loose tendril hung over his forehead. It partially blocked one of his intense black eyes. The darkness of his gaze frightened her, but before she could ask Finn to escort her out of the restaurant, calmness settled over her body, and she realized her fear was ridiculous. Her gaze automatically returned to his full, kissable lips.

  She waited for arousal to set her blood on fire like it did with Lorne. The night he came to her door told Cambree her initial reaction to Lorne wasn’t because she was going into heat. She was drawn to the knight like no other. That was, until now.

  Inexplicably, her body moved toward the male, wanting contact. She cursed her virgin status, wishing she had more experience, so she’d understand her compulsions. Perhaps this was what mutual attraction felt like.

  She allowed her eyes to trail down and over a broad chest covered in soft black fabric. She perused lower and discovered large muscular thighs encased in black pants.

  Without a doubt, he was an impressive male.

  His smile widened, and he lifted his hand to touch her lightly. She flinched when he reached for the shoulder that bore her Tuya mark. Could he sense what she was? Her heart raced for an entirely different reason as she worried he meant to harm her.

  “You had some ash on your shirt. It appears it’s my lucky day as I’ve found an elf stone. One that has the power to mesmerize me,” he husked as he stared into Cambree’s eyes. Apparently, he had no clue she was one of the chosen females. It was incredibly flattering that this gorgeous being was genuinely interested.

  Who was this smooth-talking male, and where did he come from?

  “I’m Damien,” he commented as if reading her thoughts.

  “I’m Cambree. And, this is Finn,” she introduced and gestured to the knight at her side. When she glanced at Finn, she noticed he was staring at a nearby wall as if in a trance. She’d never seen him like that before.

  Worried, she waved her hand in front of his face and called his name. “Finn. What’s wrong with you? Can you hear me?” Was he having a telepathic conversation with King Angus or his commander? She knew the leaders mentally called out to their Máahes during emergencies.

  When her panicked eyes swiveled around and met Damien’s black ones, she instantly calmed and wondered what had concerned her to begin with.

  “I normally don’t go out much. I’m a bit of a recluse, but I’m thrilled I followed the urge to stop here for a bite to eat,” the male divulged, and Cam didn’t miss their commonality. He was a homebody, too.

  “Cambree, do you believe in Fate?” Damien asked his deep timber causing butterflies to swarm in her belly.

  “Fate?” she croaked as his masculine scent washed over her, making her dizzy. “Not really. I’m a realist. If you work hard, you will excel. Fate had nothing to do with the successes I’ve had in life.” She reached up and placed a palm over the shoulder where she was marked. “Fate and the Gods have given me nothing but headaches, so no. I’m not really a believer.”

  “I beg to differ, my sweet. Fate brought you into my life and gave me an unexpected gift just when I was about to give up. One day you will believe,” Damien informed her as he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.

  Aside from awkward attempts on the cheek, that was the closest she’d ever come to a real kiss from a male. It made her wonder what his lips would feel like pressed against hers. Again, she felt a pull toward Damien. No way was she going to make an ass of herself. Needing a distraction, she grabbed a nut from a nearby bowl and popped it in her mouth.

  “You mentioned you don’t go out much. What do you do, Damien?” Cambree asked, changing the subject. His intense stare had her knees shaking.

  “I inherited my father’s…company, and have been in charge for several centuries. What about you, my love?”

  Did he just call her love? Wasn’t that a bit forward? And, more importantly, why did she want him to repeat it?

  “I work with numbers. I’m an accountant. Is your office around here?” she stammered as sweat dripped down her spine. Did someone turn up the heat in the building?

  “If you’re asking if I will see you again, the answer is yes. I’m going to take you to dinner the night after tomorrow,” Damien announced and his lip curled at the corner of his mouth. The confidence he exuded was more attractive than his handsome face. She wanted that same kind of self-assurance more than anything.

  “What if I’m busy?” She did have a date with a male from her office.

  “Cancel. You won’t want to miss what I have in mind,” Damien declared with a smirk.

  She chuckled. He didn’t know her very well. If it involved going out, dating, and parties, she was happy to miss out. Although, she found his invitation extremely intriguing.

  “I’m not one to go back on my promises, but I admit, you have my attention. If I can get out of the date, I will,” Cam agreed readily.

  “It’s the hair, isn’t it? Ever since I cut it, females have flocked to me,” he joked with a sad shake of his head.

  “The tousled look does work on you,” she agreed, wanting to run her fingers through it. It was refreshing to be attracted to a male other than Lorne, especially since the knight didn’t reciprocate her feelings.

  “At least I know the stylist wasn’t lying about the over-priced gel she sold me. Give me your communication device,” he instructed with an outstretched hand. “Here’s my info. And, I am grabbing yours so I can contact you with a time and place. I hate to cut this short, but I have a pressing engagement.”

  “Oh, okay. It was nice to meet you, Damien.”

  “The pleasure was mine, sweet Cambree,” he replied and placed the device in her hand. His warm palm caressed hers, and Cambree’s heart hammered against her chest.

  It was disconcerting because she had no idea if it was pounding from desire or fear. It wasn’t quite the same as when she wanted to jump Lorne’s bon
es, but she couldn’t say it was terrible, either.

  “See you soon,” Damien murmured, and Cambree watched the handsome male walk out the door.

  “So, what are you eating tonight?” Finn suddenly asked.

  “Hey, what was wrong with you? Is something going on that I should know about?” she asked in a low tone.

  Finn cocked his head, and his forehead scrunched. “What are you talking about?”

  “You went total zombie on me just now which could’ve been bad if Damien was out to get me,” she explained as she stared at the doorway.

  “I didn’t tune out anything. I’m aware of everything that happens around you. Who’s Damien?” Finn asked and followed her gaze.

  “Yeah, right. So much for being aware,” Cam muttered with a frown. “Damien is a gorgeous male that just asked me out.” Cambree gasped as the words set in. She agreed to cancel another date to go out with a total stranger. Had she lost her mind?

  “What? Shit! Was it this Damien? I’m so sorry, Cam. Did he do something to offend you?” Finn demanded.

  “No. He was very respectful. But, I’m worried about you. You were checked out, buddy,” Cambree informed Finn as she carefully inspected him. He seemed fine now, but his behavior before was exceptionally bizarre.

  “I had no idea. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. I’m tired, but I shouldn’t miss a conversation completely,” Finn admitted with a shake of his head.

  “No worries. Let’s get our dinner and get out of here,” Cambree suggested.

  She knew he’d been working overtime, taking extra patrols after he left her at night. The poor male had to be exhausted, and she wasn’t going to add more pressure to that. Besides, her mind was elsewhere.

  She was going to see Damien again.