Aris: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (Stratham Dragons Book 1)

by Sarah J. Stone

  If he would have used his rational mind, he would have realized that she was feeding off Blane’s ever-present calm, and that his own intenseness might have put her off.

  Her eyes met his, and he held her gaze. She walked slowly towards him but stopped before she was much closer. “Thank you.”

  He wanted to reach out and touch her, but held back. She needed a lot of work before she could trust him. He could see how thin and malnourished she was. Bruises and scars – new and old – told a story of a young woman who needed a lot of healing.

  “Let’s get you out of here, huh?” He kept his voice low and didn’t try to go anywhere near her.

  She stopped at the back of the car. “Can I lay back here until we figure out where I’m supposed to go?” Her voice was raspy as if she didn’t speak much.

  Aris clenched his jaw, and Max jumped in. “Sure, if you want. I figured we get out of town and find a hotel for the night. Let you get some much-needed rest away from here.” He jabbed his thumb towards the house.

  “That would be nice, but I have no money.”

  “No one asked for any. We’re here to help you. Let’s just take the night and then go from there, okay?”

  Who knew Max w0uld be so good with her, and then he opened the back and helped her inside. Another one of his brothers that was able to touch her without her freaking out. What did that mean for him?

  He got in the front seat and slammed the door. His temper was getting the better of him, and he certainly didn’t want her to see that. He was jealous of his brothers. It was ridiculous. They all knew she was his mate, so why the hell was it bothering him so bad that she barely said two words to him and didn’t get close?

  Normally, Aris took the punches with the best of him. Nothing ever brought him down. He knew that nothing was set in stone, and that if he focused on the negative, then that’s what it would be. He didn’t want that to be what happened now. Sophie had it rough, and he was sure that she didn’t hate him. There was a reason she was less relaxed with him, and once he figured it out, he’d fix it. Because that’s what he did. He didn’t want to think about the past and all the horrible things that happened with each of his brothers, but this situation brought him back. He’d been patient with each one of them. He couldn’t do less for Sophie. That moment, he relaxed and took a deep cleansing breath, promising that he would do better in his reactions.

  ***

  Blane drove an hour before pulling into a tiny hotel. It wasn’t the best of circumstances, but they’d have cheap rooms and wouldn’t have to answer any questions. Sophie didn’t look that great, and that was bound to draw attention to them. They needed to get some sleep and then hit the road and get as far from this city as possible. Aris hated how it smelled and how many people wandered. He was happy he’d settled in Stratham. It was the perfect home. He was ready to be back in his own territory. Something about this area made him edgy.

  He went inside and scouted the room, planning an escape in case it was needed. The man behind the counter didn’t even look up from the TV before he slid a key out to him. “Pay before you leave.”

  Aris frowned but took the key and went back outside. The rooms were arranged in a straight line, and in between the buildings was a pool. The room he got was furthest back. He went to the car. “I’ll go ahead. She’ll want to get cleaned up, so I’ll make sure the room is all ready for her.”

  Blane frowned. “Okay—”

  “Don’t bother.” He walked away before Blane could say another word. His steps were heavy as if he could stomp down everything negative he was feeling inside. His pep talk apparently wasn’t completely successful, and he knew his attitude sucked, but he couldn’t help it. Inside, it felt like there was a battle going on, and it was going to tear him apart. Blane had told him about the research he’d found about abused victims. It wasn’t going to be very easy, and still Sophie didn’t even know she was coming home with them. He hoped Zarin was okay, which reminded him to call.

  “Hey, brother, how are you feeling?”

  Zarin coughed. “I’m okay. It’s been a little rough. One minute I feel like shit, and the next I’m like that energizer bunny we see on TV.”

  “Well, take it easy. You managed to get set up, right?”

  “Yeah, just have to go shopping. I have no idea what size of clothes to get.”

  “Just tell the person in the store it’s for a very petite woman. She’s tiny. And not healthy. We need to make sure she eats a lot of red meat. Blane did all the research. He said he left a list of food.”

  “Don’t worry, Aris, I’ll have everything ready. I’ll only buy a little bit of clothing just to get her by.”

  “All right. We’re stopping for the night. I’ll let you know when we’re on our way.” Aris pushed open the door and wrinkled his nose. “It will be sooner rather than later. Take it easy.”

  Zarin said goodbye, and he went straight to the bathroom. Surprisingly there were several towels that looked and smelled clean, along with mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner. She would be able to get cleaned up. Maybe they wouldn’t even stay. The room felt bad, but he couldn’t figure out why.

  The others came in the room just as he left the bathroom. Sophie stood between Max and Blane. Her body shook as if she struggled to hold herself up.

  “I made sure you could get cleaned up if you want.” Aris didn’t know what to say, or if he should even speak to her. She was fragile, and human emotions weren’t something he understood.

  She nodded and when she walked towards him, he moved so she didn’t have to pass around him. He sensed she didn’t want to be near him, and no matter how much it sucked that his mate didn’t like him, he’d deal with it, knowing that maybe one day she would.

  The door shut and he jumped.

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself. She’s got a lot going on. So how about we leave you guys alone. You stay here and keep her safe. I’m starving,” Blane said, and no one would argue. Max and Ilias mumbled something about him being too bossy for his own good, causing Aris to chuckle. It did seem Blane had gained some confidence lately.

  “Fine. Go. But if she wants you to come back, you better not go far. I don’t want her to freak out being here with me.”

  “She’s your mate. It’s not you she’s afraid of exactly. It’s what you’ll think of her.”

  “How the hell do you know?”

  Blane paled. “I’m not sure, really. It’s almost as if I just feel it. She’s ashamed, brother. Don’t you think that would be common among people like her who've been hurt?”

  What the hell was going on with Blane? First, he had a new power of some sort, and now it was almost as if he could feel her emotions. Aris hadn’t thought of it that way. She might think he wouldn’t accept her. That would never happen. His body already wanted her, even though it shouldn’t. There was no way she’d be able to be intimate with him, and he knew it was wrong, but her scent aroused him – more like his beast, but still. He had to take it slowly with her.

  “We might get another room, too, if things go okay?”

  “I’ll let you know.”

  The three left him alone in the room with his mate. It should have been an exciting moment, and a part of him was thrilled that he was able to save her and that she was no longer locked in that disgusting infested basement.

  “Aris,” Sophie said through the door.

  He jumped. The way his name sounded from her lips tightened his gut. He stood outside. “Yes, love?”

  “Did everyone leave?”

  Crap. “Yes, they went to get food. Is that okay?”

  “Sure. I’m going to take a shower now.”

  He heard her walk to the shower, the sound of her clothes falling to the floor, followed by the spray of the water. He went to his bed and pulled out a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. It wasn’t much, but it would get her by. Luckily, Ilias was thin. The clothes would be big on her.

  He couldn’t sit. Not with her in the shower. The stron
g scent of her musk slipped under the door. With the hot water and his senses, he could smell her, and it was going to drive him mad. The water shut off, and he tried not to listen to her movements.

  “I need something to wear.”

  He picked up the clothes. “I have some sweats for you; just open the door a little, and I’ll slide them through.”

  Instead, she opened the door fully. Her body was wrapped in a towel and water slid down her neck. She wrapped her hair in a towel on her head. Even though she was tiny and he could tell she wasn’t healthy, to him, she was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen.

  He held out the clothes unable to speak.

  “Are you okay?” She didn’t take the clothes.

  “I’m fine. You should get dressed.”

  It was the wrong thing to say. Something like hurt crossed her eyes, and she nodded, taking the clothes before shutting the door in his face. He’d messed up, but he didn’t understand how. Couldn’t she see how much he wanted her and that he was trying to do the right thing? The only thing he could think of was how creamy her skin looked, and how much he wanted to nuzzle her neck and take in her scent. The dragons – and yes, he realized there were two of them now – wanted to roll around and bask in her attention.

  CHAPTER 8

  He didn’t want to see her. Sophie understood why, but seeing him standing there avoiding looking at her only added insult to injury. She was clean now. The scent of Ron was washed from her skin. Ron was right, it seemed.

  No tears slipped from her eyes. She knew he saved her out of some sort of obligation. The problem, though, was where was she going to go?

  After she slipped on the clothes which ended up being quite big, she took a deep breath and left the bathroom. Her black hair fell around her shoulders, and she walked timidly to the bed. Aris was sitting on one side, watching her without a word.

  She sat on the bed and scooted closer to him. All she wanted was to feel him. Without thinking, she reached out and ran her fingers over his hand; it was the same place she had in her vision, only this time the skin was smooth.

  “You’re not human, are you?”

  He didn’t pull back from her touch, so she looked him in the eyes. They were the color of honey, and she felt herself falling into them.

  “No, I’m a dragon,” he replied in a low voice.

  A dragon. Not what she was expecting, but it explained the scales and the eyes. “You’ve been real this whole time?”

  “What do you mean ‘whole time?’”

  “I’ve been seeing you for months.”

  “Months?”

  “Yeah, I thought I’d finally gone crazy, that you were a figment of my imagination. Until two days ago.” She rubbed his hand, hoping he would reach out and hold hers, and he did, finally, lacing their fingers loosely together. It felt right, even though he made her feel tiny and fragile, like someone to be treated with delicately. It was nice.

  “I’m very real, Sophie. No one will ever hurt you again as long as I can help it.”

  “But I haven’t been out of the house since I was 15 years old. I was locked up like a prisoner. I have nothing or nowhere to go.” She refused to cry. She couldn’t let him see that she was weak. He’d already seen the very worst of her; now it was time to show him the best. She was strong and stubborn.

  “You’re coming home with me…with us.” He frowned as if he wasn’t sure what to say. “I mean, that’s what I planned. Sophie, you’re my mate, and I know that you’ve been hurt, so I won’t pressure you, but I hope someday you’ll love me like I already love you.”

  He did love her. “Then why…” She was about to ask him why he seemed so angry with her, but his body tensed, gripping her hand and crushing the bones of her fingers together. She tried to pull free, but she couldn’t. She whimpered, tugging at her hand. This seemed to get through to him, and he grunted before letting go of her hand. Then, his body tightened and he fell back against the bed. Aris’ body convulsed and claws replaced his fingers. Scales covered his arms. His body shook, and he growled in pain. Sophie didn’t scream, but she wanted to. What was she supposed to do? Her body was weak. There was nothing she could do other than lay with him. So, that’s what she did. She climbed over his body and gripped his sides to keep hold of him while the tremors took over. He jerked around, pulling her with him. The impact knocked the wind out of her, then his arms wrapped around her. She wasn’t scared, but she couldn’t move much. When she could breathe again, she slithered her body up his so she could reach his face and hold it still. She’d seen a seizure before. Her mother had them. You had to make sure the person didn’t bite their tongue off.

  She moved slowly, and his arms tightened. His shirt was scrunched up, and she felt scales through the thin fabric of the shirt he’d given her. He was shifting. He’d just told her he was a dragon, and a part of her wondered if she was going to find out exactly what one looked like in real life. The thought should have scared her, but it didn’t.

  Finally, she was able to reach up and grab both sides of his jaw. She held him still, using every bit of strength she could. “Aris, I’m here.”

  His body froze and his arms locked tighter around her. She was smothered, but she couldn’t panic. Her heart raced. This was the first time she had ever been close to a man willingly. It wasn’t anything like she experienced. He was hard and strong. Every bit of him was covered in muscle. When she moved her body, she felt him grow under her. That should have made her sick, but she could tell he had no control over what was happening to his body.

  Her face was above his now. His arms had loosened, and the scales on his body had disappeared, but his eyes were shut and his breathing stopped. She couldn’t feel his heart against her skin.

  “No!” she gasped, and swiveled her body. She laid her lips against his. They were cold. “No, no, you can’t do this. You saved me, but you can’t leave me!” She sobbed and didn’t care when tears slid on his skin. The tight grip of his arms was lost. One arm hung off the bed, and the other thumped to the mattress. She sat up on him and punched his heart. She didn’t know what to do.

  She lifted his shirt and trailed kisses down his torso stopping right at the beltline. She would only go that far, but maybe her touch was enough. He’d said she was his mate. Didn’t that mean for life? That she should be able to save him?

  “I’m your mate, and I accept it!” Between her sobs, she yelled the words, to whom she didn’t know, but then the door slammed open and the others came back. She jumped off his body and slammed into Max, who began punching Aris as if that would change anything. “Something’s wrong. He had a seizure. I tried to help him I swear.”

  Max held her close. “He’s not dead,” he said and then repeated it. The more he said it the tighter his grip on her.

  She gasped and pushed at him. “Too tight.”

  “Wait, I hear something. It’s faint.” Max let out a breath. Aris wasn’t gone. He let go and spun her towards him, but Sophie didn’t want to see him dead. It would break her even further, but then she looked at Blane who was smiling.

  “His heart just started.” Blane’s head was tilted to the side. “It’s faint but there.”

  “Are you sure?” She crawled back on the bed and put her head on his chest, letting out a cry when she could hear his heart. “You can’t leave me. You just found me,” she whispered against his chest, and suddenly he was warm.

  Aris coughed and looked down at her. If he was surprised by her attention, he didn’t let it show. “What’s going on?”

  She slapped him on the chest and untangled from his body. She blushed, realizing how she had looked when the other three had walked in. Once she put some distance between them – though not too much – she decided to let the others explain.

  “Your heart stopped, you idiot!” Ilias yelled. Sophie watched the fear in the young one’s eyes. She could tell he was young; she wasn’t sure how. Something of a feeling, she guessed. He was the most damaged, too. His eyes lo
oked like hers.

  Aris sat up and looked to her for confirmation.

  “It did after you had a seizure.”

  “But I’m fine now.” He jumped up from the bed and stretched, and when he looked back at her, he was smiling. “I’m not sick anymore.”

  She had no idea what that meant, but the other three gasps led her to believe that is was something big.

  “How do you know?" Max asked. He was chewing on a slice of pizza which made it hard to watch him. Sophie didn’t understand how he went from nearly crushing her like a bug to eating in a matter of seconds.

  He noticed her stare, like everything that had happened was the most natural thing in the world. “Oh, want some?” He held out the piece and licked his lips. “It’s really good.”

  “Uh, no, thank you,” she replied, but her stomach growled, and the others laughed. “I guess I am hungry though.” She wouldn’t tell them how much of an understatement that was. Aris’ heart had stopped, and she didn’t know what she would have done if he had died for real. Her heart raced, and her eyes met his. He was hers. Of that, she was certain.

  Now, she just had to figure out how to fully accept him into her life, because no matter how much her heart fluttered or how much she knew she wanted him, she still had a lot to deal with. All the things that she shoved as far back as she could when she thought Aris was dead came rushing back, pulling her into the darkness she’d lived in for so long.

  CHAPTER 9

  Aris never felt better. He recalled the better part of his life knowing there was something wrong, but he was never able to pinpoint exactly what it was. He wasn’t as strong as he could be or able to do as much as he should be able to, but now he felt whole. He knew Sophie saved him. He would have been a goner if she hadn’t accepted him as her mate. That was enough for his dragons…for the moment. Their hearts swelled and breathed life back into him. And now when he closed his eyes, he could finally see there were two, and he wondered why he hadn’t seen the golden dragon before. They swirled around one another as if feeling the other out. One was the same golden he saw in his birth mother, but it had a single black stripe down its back. The other was solid black with pure gold eyes. It seemed the gold eyes and the black stripe connected the two as one. Both of them looked through his eyes and focused on Sophie. She was their balance. They were one, just like his mother told him.