Heart of the Dragon

by Gena Showalter

  The twin eyes lit with glowing red beams. Jason's image formed in the middle. He was standing in front of Grace--who was chained to a wall. Vampires surrounded the two, eyeing Grace hungrily. She struggled against the chains. "What have you done with my brother?"

  "I recaptured him and that dragon whore of his. And if you don't shut your mouth, I'll kill him while you watch," he said with an evil smile. "Mitch told me how protective Darius is of you. I wonder how much he's willing to give up for you."

  "Leave him out of this," she spat, then pressed her lips together. Her face and clothes were dirty and her bottom lip was swollen. Darius's world darkened to one emotion: rage. It was a cold, calculated rage that wanted Jason's blood drenching his hands. They had sneaked into his home and taken her. They would pay.

  He forced himself to study the rest of the vision, searching for clues as to where Grace was being held. When he saw Layel, king of vampires, he knew--and his fear for Grace grew in intensity.

  The vision faded all too quickly.

  He squeezed his fingers over the medallion. "Those who are well enough, come with me. We fly to meet the vampires. Now."

  Wings sprouted from his back, ripping away his vest. Every dragon still breathing unfurled his wings, as well. He experienced a moment of pride. These warriors were injured, but they remained faithfully by his side. They would fight--and die if they must.

  THE VAMPIRE STRONGHOLD loomed on the horizon.

  Black stone gave the large structure a haunted aura, casting shadows in every direction. Even the windows were blackened. No foliage grew here, for no living thing could thrive among the destruction and decay. Drained bodies hung from pikes, acting as a visual warning of the death that waited within, ready to strike.

  Grace was inside.

  Swallowing back his fear for her, Darius flew to the highest window and motioned for his warriors to do the same. The thin railing provided no ledge to stand upon, so he simply hovered there. A cold sweat covered his skin, and his teeth gnashed together. He was a man who liked to wait and study his enemy before attacking. But he couldn't--wouldn't--wait. Not this time. His warriors watched him, floating on silent wings. He couldn't see through the darkened glass, but could hear voices.

  A woman's scream filled his ears. Grace!

  He immediately gave the signal. Glass shattered as they propelled inside. Vampires hissed and humans aimed their guns. No longer protected by the vests, the dragons were vulnerable--and they knew it.

  Darius pushed, shoved and sliced his way toward Grace. Careful not to burn her with his fire.

  When she spied him, she struggled fruitlessly against her chains. "Darius," she called, her voice weak, hollow.

  Jason Graves stood beside her, his expression one of shock and rage. Seeing Darius, the coward trained his gun on Grace's temple. Darius did not allow himself to look at his wife's face; he would have crumbled, and he had to stay strong. So it was then that he saw the blood oozing down her neck and onto her shirt.

  "We both know I'm going to kill you this day," he told Jason, deceptively serene. "Your actions merely dictate whether you die quickly." His gaze narrowed. "Or whether I make you suffer endlessly."

  Jason's hand shook as his gaze darted between Darius and the raging battle. Dragons breathed fire, scorching vampires and humans. Howls and shrieks blended together, creating a symphony of death. Sulfur coated the air.

  "Kill me," Jason said, desperate, "and you'll never recover the Book of Ra-Dracus."

  Intent only on saving Grace, Darius stalked toward him. "I care not for the book."

  "One step closer, and I'll kill her. Do you hear me?" he screamed. "I'll kill her!"

  Darius stilled completely. Yet...intense fury boiled in his blood, hotter and hotter until finally transforming him into his dragon self. He howled at the suddenness of the change, at the way his body elongated and sharpened. Scales armored his skin. His teeth lengthened and thinned, honed to razor-sharp points. His claws unsheathed. He felt the heat of the change and welcomed it.

  Jason's eyes grew round, filling with undiluted terror. "Oh, my God," he gasped. He whipped his gun to Darius and squeezed the trigger.

  Darius absorbed the impact of each bullet and launched himself at Jason. He twisted in the air, slashing the man's face with his tail. The bastard screamed, collapsed to the ground, blood seeping from the deep gashes, jewels tumbling from his pockets. Darius reached for him again, but gunfire came at him from a different direction. Another bullet pelted his arm, and he spun, spraying fire at this other enemy. Protecting Grace.

  Having regained his breath, Jason scrambled up and stuffed the fallen jewels back into his pockets, the battle forgotten in his greed. Darius swung back to him just as Jason glanced up. Their gazes clashed for one startling second, terror against determination, before Darius bit his throat. Unsatisfied with that, Darius lashed him with his tail, clawed with his hands and slammed the man into the wall. A sickening crack followed as Jason's neck snapped, and he collapsed to the ground in a lifeless heap.

  Jason's eyes stared transfixed upon a huge blue sapphire, and his fingers gave one last twitch, perhaps reaching for the sparkling diamond that rolled across the floor toward Grace's boot.

  It happened too quickly and wasn't nearly enough. Not for the harm Jason had done. But Grace whimpered, and he suddenly didn't care. Vengeance didn't matter. Justice didn't matter. Only his wife mattered.

  "Grace," Darius said, Jason already forgotten. His concern overshadowed all else as he rushed to her. His scales receded, revealing smooth skin. His fangs retracted. His wings curled into his back. When he reached his wife, he ripped her bonds from the wall, and she sank into his arms.

  "Darius," she murmured. Her eyes were closed, her face pale.

  He laid her gently on the floor and crouched beside her. As if sensing his vulnerable state, the vampire king swept before him, his eyes glowing that eerie blue. His sharp, white teeth were bared, ready to strike. The urge to leap up and attack was there, but Darius resisted. He wouldn't risk hurting Grace further.

  Layel dove for him. Darius hunched over, protecting Grace with his body. He made no other move toward his opponent. The vampire's teeth sank into his shoulder, but as quickly as Layel attacked, he withdrew.

  "Fight, you coward," Layel growled. "We end this here and now."

  He glared up at him. "You cannot provoke me. The woman's life is more important, and I will not risk it. Not even to rid our world of your existence."

  Blood dripped from Layel's mouth, slashes of red against his pale skin. He looked ready to pounce again, but instead offered, panting, "What are you willing to do for me to save your woman?"

  "Call off your bloodsuckers, and I will not burn down your home."

  "Burn my home and I will ensure your woman burns with it."

  Grace uttered another whimper. Darius smoothed his hand over her brow, whispering soft words in her ear, though he never removed his gaze from Layel. "My warriors will disengage as soon as the woman is safe."

  "I like having your warriors here. Easier to kill them." As he watched them, something indistinguishable came over Layel's expression. Something...almost human. He licked the blood from his mouth. "You love her?"

  "Of course."

  "I loved once," he said as if he couldn't hold back the words.

  Darius studied the taut lines of Layel's features. "Then you understand."

  The vampire king gave an almost imperceptible nod, then closed his eyes for a long moment, pensive. When he refocused, he said, "To save the woman, I will allow you and your men to leave my castle in peace. But there will not always be a woman to shield you and we will fight again, Darius. That I promise you."

  "I welcome the day."

  Layel unfurled his cape and turned, but he wasn't about to leave without offering one final blow. "I now possess many dragon medallions. Won't be long before your home is mine," he said, grinning over his shoulder.

  Before Darius could reply, smoke eru
pted around him, and the vampire disappeared. Just like that, the rest of the vampires disappeared, as well, and the dragons were left in midbattle stances. Confused, they swung around, their expressions feral as they hunted for their opponents.

  "Search the dungeons," Darius called. He continued to hold and rock and coo at Grace, willing his strength into her body.

  Long moments later, Renard dragged a human man by the arm. Teira raced at his side, shouting that he was not to be hurt. Alex, Grace's brother, Darius realized. The human paled when he saw Grace.

  "Grace," he shouted and fought to free himself. Renard held tight.

  "These two were in the dungeon," Renard said. "This is the man your woman spoke of, is it not?"

  "Release him."

  The moment Alex gained his freedom, he sprinted to Grace. "What have you done to her," he snarled, trying to rip her from Darius's arms. "Let her go."

  "If you do not remove your hand from my wife, I will remove it for you," he snapped. "The woman is my mate. Mine. That you are her brother is the only reason you will live. No one touches her but me."

  Wisely Alex dropped his hands to his side. He lost his fury and desperation, both replaced by confusion. "Your mate?" He knelt beside them. "Is she..."

  "She lives. She is merely weak from blood loss."

  "She's pale."

  "Give her time," Darius said, gazing down at this woman he loved and caressing a fingertip down her nose.

  "I'm awake," she said quietly. "I'm sorry I let them get me. I tried to fight, but..."

  Relief shuddered through him, and he couldn't hold back his next words. "I love you, Grace Carlyle."

  "That's Grace en Kragin." Her eyelids fluttered open, and she smiled slowly. "And I love you, too."

  Darius didn't know where Javar's medallion was, how many medallions Layel had or when the vampire would try and use them. Nor did he know where the Book of Ra-Dracus was, but he had Grace, and that's what mattered.

  "I was so afraid..."

  He cupped her cheeks in his hands. "Hush. All is well. Your brother is here."

  To verify this, Alex leaned into her line of vision and grinned. "I'm here, sis. I'm here."

  "Oh, thank God." With a grimace, she sat up and wrapped her arms around him, hugging, her grip fragile. "I missed you. God, I was so worried about you."

  Darius allowed her a few minutes to reunite with her brother, then reclaimed her in the circle of his arms, exactly where she belonged.

  She glanced up at him. "So what do we do from here?"

  "I want you to live here with me. We can build a life together and raise our children."

  Her eyes filled with tears. "Yes. Yes."

  Chuckling, he smoothed back her hair, then kissed her nose, her lips, her chin. "I think your brother will be staying, as well."

  "Really?" Grace glanced at her brother curiously.

  Alex wagged his brows and motioned to the beautiful blonde. "He means," her brother said, putting his arm around Teira, "that I've found love, too. Grace, I'd like to introduce my future wife, Teira."

  She and Grace shared a secret smile, then Grace turned to Darius. "We can't leave my mom and aunt Sophie on the surface without us."

  "I'm sure Layel has room for them."

  "No!"

  He smiled at her, a true, genuine smile. "I was teasing, Grace."

  She stilled. Blinked. Darius? Teasing? How...shocking.

  "You do find teasing acceptable, do you not, sweet Grace?"

  "Of course. I just didn't expect it from you."

  A tender light consumed his golden eyes. "You thought I lacked humor?"

  "Well, yeah," she admitted. She drew in the masculinity of his scent, closed her eyes and savored. "But I love you anyway. You'll adore having my mom and aunt with us."

  His lips twitched. "I'm not sure my men are prepared," he said with an undercurrent of humor. "But for you, anything."

  "I love you," she said again. "Have I told you the one about the dragon who couldn't say no?"

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-5351-7

  HEART OF THE DRAGON

  Copyright (c) 2005 by Gena Showalter

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  (r) and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with (r) are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

  www.HQNBooks.com