Dragon Elements (D.O.A. Book 5)

by Cree Storm

  Jude pursed his lips as he slapped his hand on his hip, “Yes, well, I’m his doctor and people around here just refuse to listen to my orders. I have a right to be yelling, they do not, and if they don’t knock it off, I’m going to have Smoky take a bite out of their asses.”

  “The only ass I might consider biting is yours, my sentience. I can toast them like a marshmallow if you like, though.” Smoky said with a smirk.

  “I think I have a right to yell when my sentience is talking about leaving us. I have every right to yell, pound my hand on a table, and if I get really pissed, light somebody’s ass on fire, so don’t turn around Jude or you may feel a little heat.” Taco snapped.

  Smoky peeled off Jude’s neck, and formed, saying, “Try it, taco boy, and I will rip your tail off and beat you with it.”

  Taco puckered his lips, saying, “You’d have to get past my spikes and horns, old one.”

  “I might be old, Taco, but that only means I have seen and learned more than you ever will. Now, stop threatening my sentience.” Smoky snarled.

  A loud whistle ripped through the air, Cobra shouting out, “Everyone stop the fighting, damn it. Besides this not being the time nor the place for it, I believe Gio has some serious explaining to do.”

  “And you all don’t need to be in here when he does it.” Taco added on.

  “I just need to check Gio’s bandages and stitches. Then I’ll go, but I swear if I hear shouting of any sort, I will return and things will get very ugly. Gio needs rest and calm, not all this angst and bullshit you all are throwing his way.” Jude stated, then asked, “Gordy, what are you doing here?”

  “I brought him. He was concerned about Gio. I think he thought I might have kidnapped or killed Gio, and I wanted to reassure him that his friend was still alive.” Cobra replied.

  Nodding, Jude said, “Friends are good for healing patients. Just don’t overtire him.”

  Gio lay there as Jude peeked under the bandage, “Everything is healing well. I think we can remove the stitches by the morning. Are you feeling any discomfort?”

  Shaking his head, Gio replied, “Not like earlier. I still hurt a bit, but not like I did this afternoon.”

  “Good. Okay, we’ll leave you alone with your mates and friend. Don’t overdo it and if things get too intense, yell, and I will come in and kick everyone out of here.” Jude stated.

  “And if Jude isn’t around, I’ll come in with Spirit, and we will do it for him.” Rylee insisted.

  Gio whispered, “Thank you.” Not really looking at anyone.

  It didn’t take long before everyone left, except for Cobra, Taco and Gordy. The tension in the room was palpable, and Gio had no idea what to do. It wasn’t like he could jump out of the bed and leave the room. Surprisingly, it was Gordy that broke the uncomfortable silence, asking, “About the store. If you give me the keys, I’ll be happy to keep it going until you’re well enough to return.”

  Not knowing what to do or say, “I… I don’t kn—”

  “Where are the keys, Gio?” Cobra asked gruffly.

  Gio blinked at the anger flowing from Cobra. It had to be because of what he had found out about Gio, and all the lies he had been living that upset the man so much. He didn’t want to hand over his keys. He didn’t want to let go of the life he had built, but apparently, that life was over. Feeling his tears returning, Gio whispered, “I-it’s the silver one on m-my keyring in my p-pants.”

  Cobra went to the closet and within seconds came out, handing the key to Gordy. “Thank you for holding down the fort until Gio can get back to the store. I know it means a lot to him.”

  Gio was confused by Cobra’s words. He looked to Taco, hoping to get some kind of answer, but all he saw was Taco with his arms crossed as he tapped his large sharp claws on his folded arm, while he tapped his foot causing those claws to make a tick tick tick, all while glaring at Gio. That had to be what they meant when they said, “if looks could kill,” because with that look, Gio felt like he should have some kind of funeral plan. Gods, he had no clue what to do.

  “Gordy, it seems that our sentience has some explaining to do. Would it be alright if you came back tomorrow? I’m sure Gio will be feeling much better when you return, and you can have a much better visit.” Cobra said, with one of the fakest smiles Gio had ever seen.

  Gio grabbed Gordy’s arm whispering, “Don’t leave me.”

  Taco snarled, “Do you honestly think either Cobra or I would hurt you?”

  Gio didn’t answer. Hell, even if he wanted to say anything he couldn’t. His mouth was bone dry.

  Cobra went to Gordon, “Go. Gio will be fine. No one in this room is going to hurt him.”

  Gordy looked torn about leaving Gio when the stress in the air was so evident. He looked at Gio, and then back at Cobra and Taco as he nibbled on his bottom lip. His indecision on what to do was etched within his features.

  Gio resigned himself to what was about to happen. Hell, he deserved whatever they were going to do to him and exhaustion hit him hard once more. At this point Gio just wanted to get this discussion over with, “It’s okay, Gordy. I’m going to be fine. Just go. I’ll be here tomorrow when you come to visit and I want to know all the good gossip going on in town.”

  Gordy gave Gio a nervous smile, nervously saying, “If you’re sure.”

  Gio wasn’t sure about anything anymore, and honestly, his heart was breaking at losing everything he had built in the last twenty-five years, especially Gordy. The man was the best friend anyone could ask for, and Gio didn’t even want to think about losing Taco and Cobra. It just wasn’t fair, but Gio had learned a long time ago, life wasn’t fair. “I’ll be fine. Tell everyone I’ll be ba—” Gio stopped himself, because as much as he would like to say he’d be back soon, he couldn’t promise it, so instead he said, “Tell everyone hello for me.”

  Gordy backed up, whispering, “I will.”

  With one more nervous backward glance, Gordy left the room.

  Cobra walked closer to the bed, asking, “Is there anything you need to help make you more comfortable?”

  “No, thank you.” Gio softly replied.

  “Seriously? He talks about leaving us and you want to tuck him in? What the hell Cobra?” Taco snapped.

  Cobra sighed, “We all need to just calm down, Taco and talk this out.”

  “Calm down? I know you don’t feel the link with Gio like I do, but—”

  “And whose fault is that Taco? You knew he might be our sentience and you said nothing to me. I am not real happy with you either at the moment, but I know the only way we are going to communicate effectively is if we all calm down and talk this shit out.” Cobra replied tightly.

  Taco huffed, “We already went over the whys, Cobra, and I apologized. Hell, at first I didn’t even understand what it was I was feeling, or why I was feeling it. Yes, Pit and the others tried to explain what it was like when they met theirs, but it isn’t the same when it’s your own. For the longest time all I knew was that I was drawn to be around him and loved the sound of his laugh. Maybe I should have told you, but, Cobra, you really have been taking on a lot of assignments and haven’t always taken me with you.”

  “I’ll give you that, Taco, but at some point you reached the decision on who Gio was to us and still didn’t say anything. I just don’t get it.” Cobra replied.

  Taco looked away, whispering, “I never felt the dragon heat, Cobra. I still don’t feel it and I don’t know why. If he is our sentience… and I know he is… why is it I don’t feel the dragon heat?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s something to figure out because I don’t feel it either. However, that is going to be something we look into at a later time. For now, we are going to find out why our sentience thinks he is leaving us. For that we need to be calm and rational.” Cobra stated, looking back at Gio.

  “I need to get out of here for a while, Cobra. If I stay here much longer I might say or do something I can’t take back.” Taco insisted, maki
ng his way to the balcony doors.

  Gio swallowed hard, worried that maybe he shouldn’t have encouraged Gordy to leave him here alone with a dragon and a D.O.A. agent.

  Cobra shouted out, “Taco, we need to work this out… all of us.”

  Taco shook his head, “I don’t think I can do this, Cobra. I don’t feel calm and I don’t feel rational right now. Gio wanting to leave as if we are nothing… I just… I need to go.”

  What? What was Taco saying. Gio didn’t want to leave, but he thought they wanted him gone? Was he wrong? But if he was wrong why were they so angry? Why did they all leave him when he was asleep?

  Gio called Taco’s name just as he got to the doors, but the dragon ignored him as he opened the double doors going to the balcony and quickly took flight.

  CHAPTER 7

  Taco was confused and angry. He didn’t know where he was going, but he couldn’t stay in that room another second. Part of him wanted to shake his sentience for wanting to leave, and another part wanted to drop onto his knees and beg him to stay. Taco’s heart was hurting, and this was something he had never felt in the thousands and thousands of years he had lived.

  Landing on the tall mountain that overlooked their home, Taco lay down, staring off at nothing. “Why would he want to leave us? I know he cares for me. I’ve seen it. I just don’t understand any of this. And why was he sobbing like he was? Did Gio honestly think he or Cobra would hurt him? He has to know that we would sooner lose a limb than cause him harm.”

  The sound of Gio’s crying was still echoing in Taco’s mind. Gordon had asked Gio why he had been sobbing, but Taco couldn’t remember if Gio had even answered Gordy, but honestly, he had been so upset when Gio said he was leaving him, all he felt was his heart breaking, and all he could hear was a loud ringing in his ears. Hell, Taco thought he might drop dead until he realized he hadn’t even been breathing.

  Closing his eyes, Taco thought that maybe if he just went to sleep he could wake up thinking that all of this was a really bad dream. Maybe he and Gio had fallen asleep after their picnic and he would wake up and Gio would still be Calvin, and Calvin would never have been shot and told them his real name, and then inform them all he was leaving them for good.

  Yes, sleep. That’s what he needed to do. Just sleep and pray he would wake up and realize all of this was a nightmare and they could all live happily ever after.

  Taco didn’t know how long he had been sleeping, when he was awoken by a sound. Opening his eyes, Taco lifted his large head and looked around, surprised to see Smoky flying back towards the house. Even more surprising was Lex walking up to him with bags and bags of Taco Bell. “So, I know that when I’m feeling down and out I like to eat my way to happiness. Well, I like to eat and since you missed your dinner, I thought maybe we could have a little something together, and maybe you would like to talk it out.”

  Taco sighed, muttering, “Thank you Lex, but I’m really not hungry.”

  “Depression eating isn’t about hunger. It’s about filling a void… or trying to. At least that’s what I remember someone on Oprah saying years ago. Now sit up, let’s dig into some of these tacos and you can spill your guts to me.” Lex said, laying a blanket out, and dumping what looked like a hundred tacos out onto the blanket.

  “What’d you do, buy out Taco Bell?” Taco asked with a snort.

  Shrugging, Lex said, “I at least called them ahead of time, so they could have the order ready and I got to ride on Solo’s Road King. Stone wasn’t happy about driving behind us, but there was no way we were going to fit all these tacos onto Solo’s bike.”

  “I can’t believe he agreed to even follow you.” Taco said, making his way to the blanket.

  Lex laughed, “He got road head on the way home. Trust me, he was perfectly fine with bringing the SUV.”

  Taco wanted to laugh with his best friend, but he just didn’t have it in him. Hearing the happiness flowing from Lex was a wonderful thing. The man deserved to be happy, and with everything he and his mates went through to get there, with their maharishi being kidnapped and an insane man sending snow globes with heads in them… yeah, Lex deserved all the joy he was getting from being mated. It was just really hard for Taco to see it and feel the cheer of it all, when his mating was being flushed down the toilet.

  Lex placed a gentle hand on Taco’s arm, saying, “Hey, it’s going to be alright. I refuse to allow it to be any other way.”

  Grabbing a taco, Lex unwrapped it and handed it to Taco. “Eat, and when you’re ready, you can talk and I’ll listen, and then we can figure out what to do.”

  “I’m really not in the mood.” Taco muttered.

  “Trust me, Taco, this is going to help. Now eat the damn taco.” Lex ordered gruffly.

  Taking the Mexican food from Lex, Taco ate the treat, and soon he found himself eating another and then another, until there were no more left. Patting his stomach, Taco murmured, “I don’t think I should have eaten that last one.”

  “You’re a dragon, Taco. You could eat an entire elk and not get full.” Lex said with a laugh. Lying back on the blanket, Lex looked up at the stars, saying, “It’s really pretty up here.”

  “Yeah, most of us dragons enjoy coming up here to just hang out and think. It’s therapeutic for most of us. It usually brings a sense of peace. Kind of like the pool does for the water dragons.” Taco replied, staring up at the sky.

  They stayed there in silence, until Taco asked, “How did you talk Smoky into bringing you here? He usually doesn’t allow anyone to ride with him except for Jude and Casper.”

  Lex laughed, “So he told me, and then Jude told Smoky to take my ass to wherever you were, or he and Casper weren’t going to have sex for a week, which in turn had Casper gaping and Smoky’s eyes were as big as saucers. Casper snarled at Smoky telling him he’d better do as Jude asked or he was going to kick the dragon’s ass. Smoky told me to get my shit and go. So here I am.”

  Taco laughed, “You should know why Smoky was freaking out, since you have a maharishi of your own. From what I learned from Spirit, it is just as orgasmic for us as it is for you and your mates.”

  Lex sighed, “You’d think I would understand how the hell this mating thing with my mates and maharishi would work, but honestly I haven’t been mated all that long and I don’t get the whole maharishi mating thing, or how my having sex with Solo and Stone is like having sex with him, and honestly, I don’t really want to think about it because it kind of gives me the willies. I mean I love Talpa with everything in me, and the thought of anything happening to him scares me just as much as if anything were to happen to Solo or Stone. I just don’t get how when we have sex it’s as if Talpa gets off just like we do. Hell, sometimes I think he has a better orgasm then I do and I can tell you I always have one hell of an orgasm with my men.”

  Taco smiled, “He probably does. Think about it, Lex. As a maharishi we are soul bonded with our sentience as well as our agent. When you complete the mating, all of our souls are bound together, and for the dragon we can feel what you feel. If you were sad, Talpa would know. If you were scared, Talpa would know. When you find your release, all those feelings you have running through you run through your maharishi as well. Talpa has three soul bonds. That means he feels everything times three. We are all quite envious of him. Even Smoky and I heard him talking to Jude once and telling him that he might feel like Casper and Jude are killing him, but what a way to go.”

  Lex turned to look at Taco. “So, if you can feel everything your sentience feels, why can’t you understand what’s going on with Gio?”

  “Because our bond is not complete and from what he said to Gordy, I don’t see that it ever will be.” Taco muttered.

  “I don’t believe that, Taco. I’ve seen the way Gio looks at Cobra, and I have seen how he is with you. Hell, everyone in Drago will tell you that Gio adores you.” Lex replied.

  “Then why did he tell Gordy he wanted to leave us?” Taco asked with a harrumph.

>   Lex thought a moment and asked, “Are you sure he said he wanted to leave or did he say he had to leave?”

  Taco thought back and then said, “Gio was telling Gordy his real name and some of the things he had done. Gordy asked him if he had ever killed anyone. Gio said no and that it wouldn’t matter because it didn’t change anything, because he wouldn’t be able to stay in Drago.”

  “So, he didn’t say he wanted to leave, Taco. You said he woke up and started crying, right?” Lex asked. Taco nodded, then Lex said, “Where were you when this happened? I mean, did he look at you and just start crying?”

  Shaking his head, Taco replied, “No. Cobra had gone to the meeting with Pit and the others, and I stayed with Gio. I felt the need to be as close to him as I could, so I attached.”

  “You mean like the tattoo thing that Talpa does with us sometimes?” Lex asked.

  “Yes. It’s the best way a maharishi knows to feel some tiny bit of a connection when we are not bonded, and after the bond it kind of helps ground us when we are feeling… I don’t know… anxious or off balance for some reason? I don’t know if I’m helping you understand or not.” Taco replied.

  Nodding, Lex said, “You need a connection because you feel disconnected for some reason. Kind of like when I need a hug. Sometimes I get this anxious feeling inside for no real reason and things around me don’t really make sense. I just need one of my mates to hold me tight.”

  “Exactly.” Taco answered.

  “So, tell me step by step what happened after you attached to Gio.” Lex directed.

  Taco sighed, “I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake. It took me a minute to realize it was Gio, crying. I don’t mean just crying, it was soul deep crying. I felt it from within me and we aren’t even joined yet. I kinda freaked out and didn’t want Gio to think I was intruding so I made myself as small as a fly and landed on the curtain unsure of what to do to help him.”

  “So, he reveals everything about himself and is given something that knocks him off his ass. He opens his eyes and doesn’t see anyone in his room…”