Instead of sitting down at his desk, he sat in the chair next to her, blocking the door. “Why else are you here?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I find it difficult to believe that you were in my class by chance.”
“Why do you think I’m there?” she asked.
“Most likely as a test,” he said.
Her dark eyes grew round. “A test for what?”
“To see how I react. To see how others react.”
“I’m not answering to anyone right now, or anyone ever again,” she said. Her volume was low, barely a whisper, but the tone was fierce.
“Who have you answered to in the past?” He needed as much detail as he could get before he called Quinn.
She shook her head, refusing to answer. He continued to stare at her, but she only bit her lip and stared into space. He pulled his phone from his pocket. The sooner he called Quinn, the better. That way, he wouldn’t be suspected of covering for her.
“You may not want to answer my questions,” he said to her, “and I’m going to hope that our encounter is just a coincidence. But a little over two weeks ago, I had a very unfortunate encounter with a group of dragon shifters, and if they find out you’re in my class, they’re not going to be very happy with me if I haven’t told them.”
“Told them what?”
He didn’t answer her. She didn’t need to know his sordid past. The less she knew, the better. He dialed Quinn’s number.
Quinn answered on the second ring. “Niall,” he said. “Is everything okay?”
Everything was most certainly not okay. “Today was the first day of university classes. In my very first class, there was a witch sitting on the front row.”
A few muffled curses came through the speaker. “Good God. Mate, you sure do get yourself in trouble.” That was certainly true. “What are you planning to do with her?”
“I’m going to keep an eye on her.”
“Good. I, for one, need a break from trouble,” Quinn said. “Do you need one of us to come over?”
He made the offer as if a trip to Ireland from Texas was no big deal. Maybe it wasn’t for them. Quinn’s brother, Kellen, was a billionaire. They had a private jet.
“No. I can handle it. I just didn’t want to hide anything.” He felt like a moron for calling to report on the little witch, but under the circumstances, it was necessary. If only he hadn’t been brainwashed.
“Thank you for telling us. As you know, they’re cunning. Don’t let this one pull the wool over your eyes.”
Never again. He thanked Quinn and hung up.
“Why do you have to report to a dragon shifter halfway across the world?” she asked.
“How did you know where he was located?”
She tilted her head. “He felt really far away.”
“Tell me. What are your powers?”
“As you know, I have some limited telepathy. I have to be in close proximity, and it works far better on one of us than on a human. In fact, I’m not sure it works on humans at all. I’ve never spent much time around them.”
“I thought you said you were going to be living a human life.”
“I am. I just don’t have any experience with it,” she said, keeping her chin high.
“I’ve been doing it for seventeen years. Since the day I left for college.” He smiled at her. “We have that in common.”
A small, half-smile turned up the corner of her lips. “I may need some pointers on how to blend in.”
He was letting her distract him. “Tell me about the rest of your abilities.”
The smile faded from her face. “I can make myself appear invisible. I’m not actually invisible, but humans don’t see me. It works on supernatural beings, too, just not as well. I can make things explode. Not too long ago, I made a tree trunk explode into millions of tiny shards of wood.” She twisted her hands together. “Otherwise, I can do typical spell work.”
Her abilities far exceeded the ones that he was familiar with. However, it didn’t really matter. Any witch was a dangerous witch. “Where is your coven?”
“I don’t have one.”
“You must have had one at some point.”
“I grew up near the Cliffs of Moher. My mother’s name was Niamh.”
He had to stop himself from recoiling. She had belonged to the coven that destroyed his clan. There was another phone call to Quinn in his future. “Get up.”
“Where are we going?”
He was not going to fall for her waif-like looks and her obvious nerves. Dammit, he was the one who should be nervous. Everything in his life was at stake right now. “To my house. You are not free to go.”
“Don’t you have other classes?” she asked.
“I’ll worry about my schedule.”
He didn’t want this witch in his home, but he could not take her to a hotel and endanger others in the process.
5
Nora
He’d said she was not free to go, but despite being detained by Niall, she was not panicked again. He was a gentleman, and his measured demeanor was such a sharp contrast to the werewolves.
His home was not what she was expecting. It was a white cottage surrounded by bushes and flowers with a cobblestone path. Nora had expected something modern and sleek, at least on the inside, even if the exterior was traditional. She thought maybe he’d have an apartment in downtown Galway, near Eyre Park, where he could walk to pubs. But he lived outside of town, in the country. She watched his strong hands grip the steering wheel of his car and was reminded that he was not a man. He was a dragon. Of course he would not want to be cooped up in the city.
“Do you live alone?” she asked.
“Yes, I do. If someone else lived with me, I wouldn’t be bringing you here.”
Stung, she turned her eyes back toward the ground. “I won’t hurt anyone.”
“Damn right, you won’t. I won’t allow it.”
Once again, she was cursed by her bloodline. Her mother’s crimes made her guilty by association.
Neither of them spoke again until they were inside the house. The inside was just as warm and homey as the outside. She was relieved at how very Irish it felt. Although she’d never lived in a house, it felt right. It felt like part of the land out here in the countryside.
“Start talking,” he said. “I want to know everything.”
She did what he requested. She told him her entire life story, starting with birth. She didn’t leave out any details—except for the werewolves. Werewolves did not have a home in Ireland. They didn’t leave Russia, and she refused to tempt fate by bringing their story into this. So when she spoke about the past four years, she implied that she had traveled to Eastern Europe and stayed with different witch covens.
For his part, Niall listened intently. She had no doubt he would recall every detail later on. Instead of feeling panic as she recounted the story of her early life, she only felt numb. It was as if she were detached from her past as she spoke. But when she talked about wanting to find her father, her voice cracked. Niall got up and went into the kitchen. He banged around for a few moments and came back with a steaming cup of Assam tea. She sipped it gratefully. When she finished, he picked up his phone.
“I’m calling Quinn, the dragon shifter that lives in the States, from the tribe your mother destroyed. You’re going to talk to him.”
That was the last thing she wanted to do, but she had no choice. “Hello,” she said into the phone.
“You’re Niamh’s daughter,” Quinn said.
She couldn’t keep the emotion from her voice. “I wish I wasn’t.” A tear slipped down her cheek.
“Why is that?” Quinn asked. “Why do you wish you weren’t her daughter?”
“She only cared about being the most powerful. She wanted spells that manipulated and controlled. Every moment that I lived in the coven, I was miserable. I hated it.” When she thought back to the day Niall’s clan was destroyed, she could ba
rely breathe.
After listening to her take a few ragged breaths, Quinn spoke up. “Hey, it’s okay.”
“It’s not okay.”
“You know what I mean. It will be okay,” he said in a sharp tone. Then he chuckled, breaking the melancholy mood that had descended for their conversation. “Oh, man,” Quinn said. “So I leave Niall alone for one day, and he’s already gotten himself into hot water. Damn.”
Quinn’s manner put her at ease. He was friendly, and he was funny, but underneath his easygoing comments, she sensed that he was made of steel. His role was to protect his family and his clan. She could respect that. After they finished their conversation, she was left alone with Niall again.
“Are you hungry?” he asked. “When was the last time you ate?”
She had not eaten last night when she arrived. It hadn’t seemed important. “I’m not sure,” she said. “Probably when I left Finland.”
Niall’s blue eyes darkened. “Do you often skip meals?”
Yes, she frequently skipped meals. When the wolves were in hunting mode, they caught several deer, and they’d rip into them with their sharp teeth. The coppery smell of their blood was horrific. Nora preferred to eat only plants after watching the wolves devour so many of the sweet-natured deer.
“Yes,” she said.
“That stops now. Poor eating habits lead to bad decision making.”
She pressed her lips together. He was a formidable opponent and an impressive dragon shifter, but he was fussing over her like a mother hen. She ducked her head, letting her hair fall into her face.
“Are you smiling?” he asked.
“Maybe,” she said.
“Good. I like it.”
A warm sensation spread through her chest. In spite of everything, she was content. He went into the kitchen and began to fry eggs. While they cooked, he pulled fruit out and sliced an apple. She pushed herself up, wobbling as she went. Wow, she really was hungry. And probably sleep deprived too.
He appeared next to her and guided her back to the couch. “Sit.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“What exactly do you want instead?”
“To help. You’re doing everything.”
“You can rest. It’s clear you’ve had a rough time lately.” He lifted his hand to her cheek and smoothed away a lock of hair.
Her heart rate picked up. Her stomach twisted. As his warm fingers brushed over her skin, she was reminded of how gorgeous he was. He moved away, and she watched him move. Under his dress shirt, his biceps flexed as he tossed another log onto the fire he’d built. Then he grabbed a soft blanket and unfolded it, spreading it over her.
“Sit there,” he said. “Don’t move.”
“Yes, sir,” she said.
He turned to her and grinned. “I’m glad you’re getting the hang of it.”
She drifted, deliberately keeping her mind blank. A few minutes later, he was handing her a warm plate with eggs, toast, and a sliced apple. She roused herself and ate. Each bite was better than the last. She put her hand on his leg and said, “Thank you.” No one had ever taken care of her like that, not even when she was a child.
He squeezed her hand. “You’re welcome.”
6
Niall
The feel of Nora’s small hand in his was causing his body to react. His cock was rock hard, but there was no way for him to get any relief, not any time soon. He cleared his throat and moved away from her while she finished her food, saying, “Quinn will be here sometime in the next few weeks.”
“He’s coming here?”
“Yes. He may say he trusts us, and he actually might, but he’s going to want to meet you for himself. It may seem like a step too far for you, but your mother traveled to Texas just a year or two ago to threaten Quinn’s sister in law.”
“She did what?” Nora closed her eyes. “I was in Russia at the time, so I was unaware of the details of her exploits. However, with my coven, nothing would surprise me.”
“Yes, Liam’s wife, who is also a dragon shifter, was pregnant with their first and only hatchling. Your mother flew to Texas when Brynne was alone. She said if Brynne didn’t leave their clan in Texas, she planned to kill her baby.”
“I don’t even have any words for how awful that is.” Nora wiped her hands and placed her plate on the coffee table. She sank into the soft couch cushions and covered her face with her hands. Her slender shoulders shook as she sobbed.
He hated watching her cry. His protective instinct made him want to help her, but his mind knew that she was a witch. He wanted to put his arms around her and hold her tight while he comforted her.
He couldn’t stop thinking about how gorgeous she was. He also couldn’t get over how brave she was. It was hard to believe she was only twenty-two years old. He was over a decade older, and he still was in awe that she walked away from a coven.
It would not have been easy to defy both her mother and her coven.
He picked up a tissue box and went to sit beside her. Screw it. He was going to touch her. He put his hand around her shoulders and pulled her close. She responded by lifting her head and accepting one of the tissues. She sniffed and blotted her eyes. When she was done wiping her face, she laid her head on his shoulder.
He ran his hand up and down her arm, and she snuggled in closer to him.
“Sorry,” she said. “It’s been years since I’ve cried. I guess it was all building up.”
“There’s no need to apologize. You’ve been through quite a bit in your twenty-two years,” he said. He suspected there was quite a bit more she wasn’t telling him, but he wasn’t going to push it for now.
“I’d like to have a break and not go through anymore,” she said.
“I would definitely like that too.”
She pulled away from him a little and looked up at him. Her eyes were red and puffy, but she was just as pretty as ever. “How did you survive?” She hesitated for a moment. “How did you survive the attack on your clan?”
“I was in Portugal. It was a point of contention between my parents and me. They didn’t understand why I wanted to go away for college, but the urge to get out and explore the world was overwhelming. I loved my time in Portugal. But one day I got a phone call from one of the clan elders. He told me what had happened. He called mid-battle. He didn’t survive the attack. I rushed home as quickly as I could, but it was too late, and everyone was already gone.”
A crease appeared on her forehead. “But Quinn and his brothers survived.”
“Yes, they did. I didn’t know that at the time, or I might have looked for them. The four of them are quite resourceful. They always have been.”
“What will happen when Quinn gets here?”
“He’ll want to talk to you some more. He’s a doctor in Texas, so I imagine he’s good at telling when people are fudging the truth.”
He picked up the plate and took it to the sink. Then he added more wood to the fireplace. He wanted her to be warm. He wasn’t sure why, but he had the impression she’d had very little comfort for the past few years, maybe for her entire life.
If she were a human student, he would not allow any of this to happen. But she wasn’t human. So they, as supernatural beings, had to make their own way in the world.
“Come here,” he said.
Once again, she scooted closer. He put a pillow in his lap, and she laid her head down. He ran his fingers through the silky strands of her black hair. “Close your eyes,” he said.
She hummed as her entire body relaxed. He sat there, stroking her hair for nearly an hour. He didn’t pick up a book or his phone, nor did he turn on the television. He just sat with her, enjoying the feel of her slight body against his.
Once her breathing was slow and steady, he tucked her in the blanket and lifted her into his arms. He laid her on top of his guest bed and spread the cover over her. He wanted badly to kiss her, just on the cheek or forehead, but he didn’t. Instead, he skimmed his hand o
ver her face.
“Good night, Nora,” he said. “Sleep well.”
He usually liked stretching out on his king-sized bed, but that night, his empty bed felt a little lonelier than usual.
7
Nora
When Nora woke up, she was toasty warm. She was lying on a comfortable mattress under a red plaid blanket. Niall, the dragon shifter. He’d recognized her as a non-human and taken her to his house, where he and his friend had interrogated her. But they’d both been kind, and Niall had spoiled her for the rest of the evening.
In the next room, a fire crackled. The smell of coffee and cinnamon filled the air. Faint strands of Christmas music reached her ears. She sat up and looked around. She was alone in a bedroom. She was lying on top of the covers, and she was still dressed. She pulled the plaid blanket around her shoulders and stood up.
The door was open, so she wandered into Niall’s living area. Her backpack still lay on the floor where she’d left it. Was she going to class today? Was he? Just then, he appeared. He wore khaki pants and a blue button-down with a red tie. He was freshly shaved, his hair was slightly damp and curling at the ends, and the glasses were missing.
She walked over and looked up at him. She wanted to touch his face, but it seemed overly familiar this early in the morning. “The glasses are just for show?”
“Yes. My vision is perfect. It’s far better than a human’s.”
She smiled. That’s what she thought. It was a shame that he partially hid those blue eyes. “I want to go back to school,” she said.
“You can go.”
“I don’t have any clothes.”
“I’ll take you by your dorm first,” he said, checking his watch. “We should have plenty of time.”
“Why are you letting me go back? I have four other classes that aren’t with you.”
“Because I’m choosing to trust you. I believe you.”
It was really nice that Niall believed her. He accepted her explanations and her stories as the truth. If it were up to her, she wouldn’t leave a single witch alive, not after what they’d done to his family. No, scratch that. Maybe she would leave them alive. Maybe one or two of them could end up being good like she was trying to be. But she sure wouldn’t leave them alone without supervision.
Professor Dragon's Virgin (Irish Dragon Shifter Brothers Book 5) Page 3
