by Olivia Arran
He was a dragon shifter in his prime, one who had just found his true mate. And he was saying no?
I was speechless. Then I couldn’t breathe, pain stabbing me in the chest and twisting as his words sank in. He didn’t want me.
“I do want you, but I can’t have you,” he replied, and I realized I must have said it out loud.
“Why not?”
He shuddered, then his back straightened, steel infusing his spine as he turned to face me. “I have something I need to tell you, and it will explain everything.”
The deadly serious look in his eyes sent fear rippling down my spine. “Tell me,” I whispered, though a part of me was screaming that if this was something that would keep us apart, I didn’t want to know.
He took another deep breath. “Astrid, you’re not an ordinary dragon shifter, you’re a Seer.”
“A Seer?” I repeated. I’d never heard of it.
“A Seer is someone who has visions of the future. Turns out she, or he, can also hear other’s thoughts.”
I sat back in my seat, my mind spinning with too many questions. “Why have I never heard of it?”
“Because Seers aren’t usually shifters.”
Oh.
“They’re witches.”
“But I’m not a witch—”
“One of your ancestors must have been.”
Right. I felt numb, not sure what to say.
“After you left your brother reached out to clan elders around the world, searching for answers. He finally tracked down someone who remembered reading about something similar.”
“Who?” There was someone else like me? Hope swelled like a bubble in my chest.
“She was a shifter hybrid, like you.”
“Was?”
“She lived almost seven hundred years ago.”
The bubble popped, tears pricking at my eyes. Swiping at them furiously, I gritted my teeth. So what if I was the only one? I’ve made it this far on my own and I’m doing okay…
His hand hovered above mine before he snatched it back. “You can take a look at the papers the elder sent over when we reach Jewelcrest, but I’ve been thinking it over. I think that your two sides have been at war—the witch and the dragon—each vying for control and that’s why your dragon hasn’t shown herself before now.” His lips clamped shut, his eyes sliding away from mine, as though he’d said too much.
“But my dragon is emerging, does that mean that these Seer powers are going to disappear?”
“I don’t think so. I’m sorry, Astrid.” With a gentle voice, he crushed my small sliver of hope.
“So, what does this mean?”
“I was tasked to bring you home because you’re special. You’re the only one of your kind that we know of; we have no idea what your powers can do, or what you’re capable of.”
“And Bastian wants to use me.” It made sense now. I was valuable. Then it hit me. “That’s why you’re fighting this!”
He didn’t flinch under my accusatory stare, his warm brown eyes drinking me in as though it were his last chance. “Your destiny doesn’t include the likes of me.”
“Even though we are true—”
He cut me off, pain etched clear on his face. “Yes, even though everything inside of me is demanding that I make you mine. Especially because of that. You deserve the strongest of all alphas, one with a rich and powerful clan who can protect you.”
“You’re strong.”
“Not in the way that you need; I’m not influential or connected. I’m a nobody. You need to let go of any dreams you might have about us being together. It’s never going to happen, it can’t.” With those final words he slipped on a pair of headphones and closed his eyes.
I stared at him, unable to wrap my head around what had just happened.
I was a Seer, someone who could see the future. I was part dragon shifter, part witch. I was his true mate.
And he was mine.
But there was something he wasn’t telling me, there had to be, and I was going to figure it out. Because no matter what he said—or did—I’d seen it.
In my heart I knew, our future was together.
Chapter Ten
Trent
Grateful to be out of the flying tin-can I resisted the urge to kiss the ground, instead I escorted a still sulking Astrid into the terminal.
We hadn’t spoken for the rest of the flight. Something I couldn’t decide whether to be happy or pissed about.
I’d decided about halfway through the flight that it wasn’t my fault that she was some kind of super powerful all-seeing psychic. It damn well wasn’t my fault that I wanted her so badly, cared about her enough that I couldn’t bring myself to ruin her life. But for all the internal cursing and futile fist-shaking at the world in general, I couldn’t bring myself to wish that she was normal. I despised myself for even thinking the word, hating the connotation that Astrid wasn’t perfect, but, deep down, I knew that if she’d been a regular dragon shifter none of this crap would be happening and things could have been different.
Would have been different.
But she wasn’t your regular, run of the mill dragon shifter—she was unique. And it was her uniqueness that made her who she was.
And there I was, back to square one.
She’d sat next to me the whole flight, her gorgeous face creased in a frown of concentration. Probably listening to my self-loathing monologue.
I’d tried to think of something else—anything but her—but everything circled back to that kiss. The feel of her in my arms, the burst of contentment at having finally found the other half of my soul.
The fact that my cock was still aching for her, my hands twitching to grab her and never let go.
At least all the cards were on the table now, nothing left unsaid—out loud at least. Except for the gathering her brother was arranging for the night after tomorrow—the one where she’d select her future mate. Fuck. Just the thought of it made my head hurt. I couldn’t do it. I’d drop her off, demand assurance from Bastian that my clan was free of all debts, and go find a nice damp cave to hide in for the next fifty years.
Sounds like a plan.
I half expected her to call me on it, to demand that I honor my promise to her, but she remained silent as she followed me out of the airport and across the parking lot to my truck. Two minutes later we were pealing out onto the highway, the squeal of tires on tarmac punctuating my silent frustration.
Jabbing the radio on, I flicked through the stations, eventually settling on a generic soft-rock song, the wailing guitars fitting my mood to a tee.
Click. Bouncy pop filled the cab.
My eyes slid over to her. She was perfectly still, her bare arm settled on the open window, the crisp fall breeze tickling her hair back and forth. Her eyes were closed as a small smile played on her lips, the frown from earlier smoothed out.
“You missed it?” I didn’t mean to ask the question, but the words came anyway. A serenity surrounded her, a calmness that I hadn’t seen before.
Not opening her eyes, she replied in a low murmur, “Everyone misses home when they’ve been gone.”
Not everyone, I wanted to say, but that would be inviting questions. And I wasn’t ready to answer them, not yet—maybe never. “Bastian has missed you,” I eventually said. Her brother might act like a controlling bastard, but I’d seen his eyes when he’d blackmailed me into this task. He cared about his sister, maybe more than he actually was willing to admit, even to himself.
Shifting my focus back to the road, I sped up. The fields around us blurring into a stream of green with the tang of promised rain filling the air and settling on the back of my tongue. I was hoping for a storm; there was nothing better than flying in a sky filled with lightning, the thunder of the clouds loud enough the drown out all thought. Yeah, I’m praying for a storm.
“Maybe he has.”
It took me a second to figure out what she was talking about. Bastian. “He only wants what
he thinks is best for you.” Even if I don’t agree with it.
“Don’t you think I know what’s best for me?”
It wasn’t just her voice that seemed far away, she was physically curled up on the far side of the cab, nearly hugging the door. I realized that since leaving London we’d been in constant contact, even when arguing. Until now. How can I miss it already? “He’s not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do.” I’d make sure of it.
Shit. That would mean hanging around.
“And you’re going to teach me how to fly,” she added, a dreamy look on her face.
Yeah, definitely hanging around. My plans of sneaking off at the first opportunity vanished. I couldn’t do that to her. I couldn’t leave her to face the crowd alone. “I promised, didn’t I?” I injected forced enthusiasm into my voice, hoping she wouldn’t notice.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw her turn her whole body to face me. “What was that?”
So much for not noticing. “What?”
“That.” She pointed at me while making a grimace. At my silence she let out a loud chuff of exasperation. “You’re not the one being thrown into the lion’s den.” She folded her arms across her chest and I had to bite back my groan as her breasts plumped and jiggled with every huff.
“Lion’s den?” I muttered in a hoarse voice, sending out silent thanks that I was a shifter. A human would have been in a ditch by now with the amount of attention I’d been paying to the road.
“I’m not stupid; my brother has some sort of plan for me. Probably one in which he profits by my return. So, spill. What is it?”
She wants to hear me say it. And who could blame her; she probably had questions. Wrenching the wheel, I pulled the truck over to the side of the road and slammed it into park. “I know you’re meant to pick one of them, but I don’t think your brother would make you if you hated them all.” There, I’d said it. My secret fantasy—that she refused all the wealthy, powerful alphas, and everything they offered, and chose me.
And that Bastian agreed to the match without penalizing my clan. Never going to happen.
I hadn’t even dared think it until now, knowing that she’d hear me. But, fuck it, desperation was riding me like a long lost friend.
“Pick one of who?” she said slowly. Then her eyes widened, her mouth falling open.
“A mate…” my voice trailed off, taking in her apparent shock and putting two and two together. “You didn’t know?”
“You brought me home to pick out a mate?” she squeaked out.
She didn’t know… The words circled in my head, picking up speed, until they were a roar. How did she not—? Why—? Motherfucker! Grabbing her hand, I tugged her until she was next to me. Tilting her chin, I capture her eyes with mine. “You can’t read me, can you?”
She tried to look away, but I wouldn’t let her, willing her to tell me the truth. “Tell me the truth, can you read me?” I growled in a low voice.
She swallowed hard, her throat working as her lips parted.
Our faces were inches apart. All I had to do was lean in a fraction and I could taste her again, drink in her breathy moans and sip at her flesh. But I needed to know. “Tell me…”
“No.” It was a whisper, a sound so vulnerable and lost and scared. Her bottom lip quivered for the briefest moment before she pulled it back into line. “So, now you know. You’re the only person I’ve ever met who is silent to me.” She gave me a shove, and I felt like the biggest schmuck alive.
I let her widen the gap between us, but I didn’t retreat. Something niggled at me. “Why could you read me on the plane?”
She shrugged. “I had a vision.”
So, that bit had been true. I wasn’t sure if the roar I bit back was one of triumph or frustration. She’d seen us together. But did that mean it was going to happen, or it might? Did it fucking matter? “I’m sorry—”
“Trent … don’t.” She dismissed me, turning her head away from me, her shoulders set in a rigid line.
“Astrid, I—” A hand appeared in front of my face.
“Please. I need to think. I’ve just found out that my brother is planning on mating me off to a man I’ve never met—one of several possible men—and you’re not going to do a damn thing to stop him. In fact, you’re helping him!” She slid back over to her side of the cab, and I let her.
What could I say? I had helped, but that was before I’d known her, and realized who she was to me. And has that changed things? I felt like I was slowly being torn in half, the needs of the man warring with the duty owed to his clan. To his family. Which brought me around in a full circle, I wasn’t equipped to keep her safe—my clan wasn’t strong enough, or rich enough, to guard a Seer.
The Seer.
And her safety was more important than anything.
I slid the car back into drive and pulled back out onto the road.
Chapter Eleven
Astrid
The truck had barely rolled to a stop before I’d thrown myself out and was racing up the stairs to the oversized, stone built house I used to call home. Not bothering to knock, I pushed open the door, making my way into the vaulted foyer, the slate tiles clicking beneath my heels with every step. Familiar art work decorated the walls, washing the otherwise gray space with splashes of color. The only furniture in sight was a large love seat crammed into the far corner.
I knew most dragon shifters liked their space, and they liked durable furniture. Or none at all. It came in handy with the fire breathing, not to mention the wings and tail.
Bastian had re-decorated since I’d left, or more like un-decorated, and it didn’t bode well for his temper.
I heard Trent come in after me, the soft click from the door closing giving him away. Not bothering to turn around—I was still beyond pissed with him—I strolled across the foyer, heading toward the clan living area.
If my brother thinks he can pass me off to a man of his choosing, he has another thing coming! And as for Trent? Well, it didn’t matter how sinfully handsome he was, or how his muscles were a work of art that I wanted to explore with my tongue, or even how he was the only man I could be myself around—including the blessed silence he gave me. He was on my shit list right now. Way up there at the top.
Wondering where everyone was, I pushed open the door to the lounge. A tall man stood with his back to me, his back straight and his shoulders squared as he stared out of the window. Dark hair curled over his ears, his tanned arms bare and gleaming in the sunlight misting through the window. Tension radiated off him, and I watched as a shudder ran down his spine, his shoulders stiffening before he turned to face me.
“Bastian,” I whispered, drinking in the sight of him. His eyes were as blue as I remembered, the color of sapphires, sparkling alarmingly like the jewels as he looked at me.
“You found her,” he eventually croaked out, his gaze redirected over my shoulder.
Heat bathed my back and I resisted the urge to lean into Trent as he came up behind me. Stiffening, I curled my hands into fists, digging my nails into my palms.
Bastian’s eyes flicked back to me, the worry and hurt and relief that I could see on his face echoing in his thoughts. He opened his arms and I was in them, my feet having carried me across the room before I’d even realized. “I’ve missed you so much,” he muttered in a gruff voice, his hold tightening as if he were scared I’d up and leave again. “Why did you go? Where have you been?”
Trent hadn’t told him? I resisted the urge to glance at the man in question. My hideout—my little store—was still safe. For now. “You know why I had to leave. Everyone was afraid of me … even you.”
I stepped back, but his hands on my shoulders stopped me from going too far. His face scrunched up as he winced. “Yeah, at first I was a little shocked. I mean, you knew things you couldn’t possibly know!”
I scowled at the uncertainty in his voice. He still wasn’t sure whether to believe it, even after they’d given me the title of
Seer! “Nothing’s changed.”
“I know. It’s just hard to wrap my head around it. My sister—the Seer. Who would have thought it?” His eyes widened as he gazed down on me with new found respect.
I resisted the urge to preen, knowing my brother well enough to recognize flattery when I heard it. “Knock it off, Bash. I know why you asked Trent to find me.”
He winced at my deliberate use of his childhood nickname. “You told her.”
“She deserved to know.”
My brother’s attention reverted to me. “But you came home anyway.” A wide grin spread over his face.
I poked him in the chest. “Hey, not so fast. I haven’t agreed to it.”
He shrugged. “You’re here.”
“Only because of him.” I jerked a thumb over my shoulder, all the while wondering why I was giving Trent the credit. Was I searching for Bash’s approval of the man who would be my mate?
“Good.” My brother let go of my shoulders and walked around me, his long legs carrying him across the room in a matter of seconds. Spinning around, I watched as he held a hand out to Trent. “Your debt is now paid; you may return to your clan with honor.”
What the—? “You’re not a part of the Jewelcrest clan?” It came out on a shriek I immediately regretted. I’d been playing it cool, trying not to let Trent see how much he affected me. No chance of that now.
Bastian’s eyebrows arched. “No, Trent is of the Greenwing clan.”
“But—” My protest died on my lips once I saw the look on Trent’s face. He was embarrassed—but why? With herculean effort, I pulled myself together and made my way over to the scheming pair. “Trent isn’t going anywhere,” I stated firmly, daring either of them to tell me otherwise.
“Astrid—”
“She’s right,” Trent cut in smoothly, the corner of his mouth twitching. “I promised to teach Astrid how to communicate with her dragon.”
You promised to teach me how to fly … but I suppose for that I’d need to talk to her. I nodded, noting the annoyance that flitted through my brother’s eyes.
