Lost Dragons Box Set Volume Two

by Zoe Chant

  He supposed it wasn’t out of the question that there could be shifters in this town – maybe even one of these kids, Taylor or Jay, that Tai had mentioned might be a shifter, or have a shifter parent. It wasn’t so strange to find shifters in all sorts of places these days, now that clan rules weren’t so restrictive as they had once been.

  What was clear to him was that Mercy had clearly spent a lot of time and effort building up trust between herself and these kids. He knew from experience how fragile that kind of trust could be. He wasn’t about to destroy it by opening the door and giving Taylor and Jay a faceful of suspicion – if he was right, and one or both of them did have shifter heritage, they’d be able to sense it right away.

  Steeling himself and doing his best to wipe his unease from his mind, Dante opened the door.

  He didn’t think the man standing on the other side could possibly be either Taylor or Jay – he was at least as old as Dante himself, tall and broad, with blue eyes and dark brown hair. He wasn’t smiling.

  Dante’s dragon’s hackles immediately rose. Who is this man? And why does he feel like this?

  They regarded each other in silence a moment – a silence that Dante would not have described as friendly. His dragon, usually so clear and direct, was unsure within him. It was clearly rattled, but it was uncertain as to what exactly it was looking at – friend or foe, shifter or... not shifter. Dante felt as if his dragon was circling warily, trying unsuccessfully to get a proper read on what it was dealing with.

  “I was looking for Mercy.” The other man finally broke the somewhat uncomfortable silence. His tone, while not cold, still fell short of friendly.

  Dante narrowed his eyes. “And your name is?”

  “Roy? Is that... Roy Wilmore?”

  Dante turned at the sound of Mercy’s voice behind him. She sounded surprised, but far from displeased. She had come forward and was looking around Dante’s shoulder at the man, her eyes wide.

  At the sight of Mercy, the man’s face broke out into a wide smile, revealing white, even teeth.

  “Mercy Reynolds,” he said, all the coolness vanishing from his tone. “So it is you. I didn’t know if you’d remember me.”

  “Of course I remember you,” Mercy said. “I just... well, I just never expected to see you here again.”

  Dante glanced back at the man – Roy Wilmore, apparently – hoping to get a better read on him now that his guard was down. But there was still nothing: aside from the vague sense of unease, of some kind of shadow on the edge of his senses, he couldn’t make anything out.

  “True, I can hardly believe I’m back myself,” Roy said. “I got out quickly. Turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. But I’ve never forgotten this place. I’ve never forgotten you.”

  Mercy blinked, her mouth falling open slightly. “Oh – well, that’s – that’s nice to hear,” she stuttered, clearly surprised by his words.

  Immediately, Dante could feel his dragon surging forward. Who is this man? What’s his connection to our mate?

  “We should catch up, if you have time,” Roy continued smoothly, apparently oblivious to Mercy’s surprise. He glanced down at his watch. Dante’s instinctive dragon’s sense for anything valuable knew immediately that the watch was an expensive one – real gold, real diamonds – to go along with Roy’s clearly expensive suit. “You wouldn’t happen to have a moment right now, would you?”

  Mercy hesitated, glancing at Dante. “I don’t know – I’m just about to open.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Tai cut in. “I know what I’m doing, and doors don’t open for another hour. Anyway, I have excellent help.” She turned to smile at Dante. “Right?”

  Dante hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Roy. There was something about him he just didn’t like, though he couldn’t put his finger on what it was.

  He was clearly someone from Mercy’s past, however – someone she’d once known well. That was the only thing that was stopping him from getting up in this Roy’s face and asking him some questions – like What’s your business here, and Just what the hell are you, anyway?

  With effort, he pulled his dragon back. Dragons were innately possessive and jealous, but being a shifter meant tempering the beast’s baser instincts with human logic and rationality.

  Whatever the case, Dante knew that getting up in Roy’s face or warning him away from Mercy was likely to cause more problems than it solved – and Mercy was not the kind of woman who’d take kindly to such antics.

  Taking a deep breath, Dante stepped back, eyes narrowing as Roy threw a charming smile at Mercy, his blue eyes twinkling. “I promise I won’t take up too much of your time. It’s just that when I realized I’d be in town... well, how could I resist coming to see you?” He paused, his eyes flicking over Mercy’s figure appreciatively. “You look gorgeous.”

  A small smile tugged at the corners of Mercy’s lips as she shook her head. “Don’t bullshit me, Roy Wilmore. It didn’t work in high school, and it won’t work now.” She hesitated, glancing again at Tai, before her eyes moved to Dante. He returned her gaze steadily, hoping she could read his unspoken warning to be cautious on his face.

  Maybe she could, because for a moment, he saw a quizzical expression enter her deep black eyes.

  “I don’t want to hold you up – come on, let’s talk,” Roy said, gesturing in a gentlemanly fashion toward the door leading out to the restaurant floor.

  “Okay, sure,” Mercy said, after a moment’s hesitation. “But not for long, okay? I’m busy.”

  “It won’t take long,” Roy assured her.

  Just for a moment, Mercy glanced back at Dante yet again, a question clearly in her eyes – but then she turned away, leading Roy out of the kitchen.

  Dante narrowed his eyes as he watched them go. Roy’s back was turned to him, his broad shoulders blocking Mercy from his view. Roy had almost disappeared out into the corridor when he turned back slightly, glancing at Dante over his shoulder – and far from the warmth that had been in his eyes only moments ago, Dante now saw that they were ice-cold.

  Immediately, his dragon reared up, breathing steam. He tensed, balling his fists. But at the last moment, he managed to restrain himself from marching across the room and ‘offering’ to show Roy the door.

  “Who is that guy?” he asked Tai, aware his voice was little more than a low growl, but not able to care enough to stop it.

  “They were high school sweethearts,” Tai said. “Everyone thought for sure they were going to get married as soon as they graduated. But Roy ended up leaving town instead – he’s one of the few who managed to get out of this place and go on to bigger and better things.”

  Thinking about the expensive suit and the even more expensive watch Roy had been wearing, Dante could easily believe the part about bigger and better things.

  “You guys haven’t seen him since then?” Dante asked.

  Tai shook her head. “Nope. He’s never come back, and we’ve never left. Besides, I’m sure Roy has people from his past crawling all over him for handouts now that he’s hit the big time. I had no reason to think he’d even remember us – until now.” She turned to him, a small smile on her face, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “And it means you’d better get your act together, now that competition is in town.”

  Chapter Four

  Mercy

  Roy smiled as he sat across from her in one of the restaurant’s spacious booths.

  “I meant what I said, Mercy. You look just as beautiful as I remember.”

  Mercy smiled, shaking her head. Roy’s voice was sincere, but she knew flattery when she heard it, and she’d never had patience for flattery.

  “Well, that’s kind of you to say,” she said as diplomatically as she could. “You’re looking well yourself.”

  It was true: Roy had always been good looking. He’d been considered the hottest property around during junior high and high school, with girls always chasing after him. It had helped that he’d b
een gifted both academically and on the sports field, not that either had meant much here in Hainesville. Or at least, that was how it had seemed – Roy had obviously had bigger plans, though he’d kept them to himself. He hadn’t told anyone he was leaving until the week before he’d actually left.

  It had stung at the time, but Mercy had been able to be pragmatic about it. They’d been together exclusively for three years by that time – an eternity as far as high school relationships went – but they hadn’t made any promises to each other, despite the gossip that had swirled around them about marriage and kids. She’d cried her tears for what might have been, then put Roy firmly where he’d belonged: in the past.

  It wouldn’t have worked out between them, anyway: Roy clearly had big plans for his future, plans that he’d obviously pursued with the same determination he’d shown on the sports field. But Mercy had always known her place was here in Hainesville, doing what she could to make this town a slightly more bearable place to live.

  She was mildly surprised now to find that, despite the fact that Roy’s looks had only gotten better with age, she wasn’t in the least bit attracted to him. She could see, objectively, that he was a handsome man. But that was all it was: an impartial observation. There was no passion or attraction there at all.

  Unlike Dante.

  The thought rose unbidden in Mercy’s mind, and she licked her lips, trying to push it aside.

  It was true, though. She could look at Roy and think nothing more than that’s a handsome guy, despite their past together. But when she looked at Dante...

  ... Well, when she looked at Dante, it was like someone had set a fire in her belly. Like electricity was running through her veins. Looking at him left her feeling light-headed and dizzy with the sheer power of her attraction to him. She’d never felt anything like it before in her life.

  Pulling in a deep breath, Mercy forced herself to stop thinking about Dante. She’d only met him last night – but that didn’t seem to mean much as far as the pounding of her heart whenever she looked at him went. Right now, however, she knew she needed to focus.

  “So what brings you back to Hainesville after all this time?”

  “I have to have a reason to look up an old friend?” Roy asked, smiling.

  Mercy shook her head. “No. But it’s been years, Roy – what made you suddenly show up now? Don’t tell me it’s nostalgia – no one could be nostalgic for this place.”

  “You’re probably right about that,” Roy answered. “And no, I wouldn’t call it nostalgia. Maybe it’s something else – an urge to give something back?”

  Mercy stared at him, surprised. Of course, what Roy had been up to in the years since he’d left was no secret. He was one of only a couple of alumni of their high school that the school ever made any mention of, since he was one of the very few who’d actually gone on to make a success of their lives in any way that anyone cared about – which meant, of course, that’d he’d become rich.

  Mercy couldn’t pretend she hadn’t felt a twinge of envy – or the pang of what might have been, had they stayed together. The thought of what she could have done for the kids of Hainesville with the amount of money that Roy was rumored to have accumulated made her chest ache.

  She licked her lips. But now, here Roy was, sitting in front of her – was he really saying what she thought he was saying?

  “Give something back?”

  Roy nodded. “I think you know what I mean. I grew up here, after all. Even if I left, I haven’t forgotten. I have some good memories of this place, after all.” The flash of his smile told Mercy exactly what he was thinking about with that statement. “And I don’t think I should forget where I came from.”

  Mercy swallowed. Her heart was pounding. “Well... what kind of thing did you have in mind? Because I can think of at least a hundred things around here that could use some help, if you’re offering.” She paused, shaking her head. “It’s not that money would fix everything, but I’m not going to lie – it’d sure help.”

  Roy laughed. “I can always count on you to come straight to the point, Mercy. You never did beat around the bush. It’s why I thought I’d come to you first. I know I can trust you to tell me exactly what I need to hear. No games, no bullshit.”

  “So... you want my advice about where you think your charity would be most helpful?” Mercy asked.

  “Don’t think of it as charity,” Roy said. “I don’t like that word. I worked for what I have, and I expect everyone else to do the same. But that doesn’t preclude giving them a bit of help to get there. So, yes. That’s why I’m here, Mercy. I need your help.” Roy shot her a rueful look. “When I told my business manager what I was thinking of, he thought I was crazy. And then he said he’d organize for me to talk to some developers who’d gone into disadvantaged areas and built them up, gentrified the places. I told him that’s not what I wanted to do. I want to help the people who’re already living here.”

  “I – I think that’s... amazing,” Mercy said, unable to hold back any longer. Admiration for Roy and his plans swelled within her. She might not have been interested in rekindling her romance with him, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t sincerely admire him and what he was trying to do.

  That is, if he really means it.

  Mercy pushed the thought away.

  Of course he means it, she told herself. Why else would he have come here out of the blue like this? Sight-seeing?! Yeah, I hear the tire yard is real attractive this time of year.

  But her common sense was telling her she still needed to exercise caution. The things she’d recommend that really needed doing weren’t the kind of things that’d seem exciting or necessarily attract a lot of positive media attention.

  Which is the other reason he could be doing this, Mercy admitted to herself. It’d look great for him on the news – billionaire returns to the shit-poor neighborhood, throws some cash around, news crews come from miles around, and then poof! He’s gone as soon as the story’s out.

  Mercy looked across the table, studying Roy’s face. She found to her surprise that she couldn’t read it at all – his blue eyes, even as they twinkled with light, were completely blank.

  “I – ” she began, just as the doors that separated the kitchen and main dining area swung open, and Dante emerged into the restaurant, his arms loaded down with fresh paper napkins.

  Mercy’s mouth went dry, her eyes drawn to him like a magnet. Dante glanced quickly in their direction, his brilliant green eyes flashing.

  Everything okay?

  It was almost as if she could hear his voice – low, soft, and with a hint of growl – in her head. Mercy blinked, momentarily disconcerted, but then found herself mentally responding, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.

  She hadn’t really meant to answer him – since, of course, he hadn’t actually spoken to her at all. Confused, Mercy almost shook her head as if that would help clear it, before she noticed Dante nodding, as if he, in return, had heard her.

  What, we’re psychically connected now? Mercy thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at herself. Honestly, Mercy, what the hell is wrong with you? A hot guy appears in your life and you’re losing your marbles. She paused, swallowing. It wouldn’t be the first time you did that, though, would it?

  A chill shot through her gut. It took more effort than it should have to push the thought away. It wasn’t helpful to think like that. She hadn’t lost her marbles, and thinking or speaking of it like that would have – rightly – got her in trouble back when she’d been working as a nurse.

  Mercy looked down at her hands. Why was it so hard to show herself the same kindness she’d showed her patients? Why couldn’t she ever let herself catch a break?

  Breathe, Mercy. Breathe.

  She closed her eyes, swallowing, her gut twisting. She could feel a pain in her chest, as if her heart was suddenly too big for it.

  “Mercy?”

  The sound of Dante’s voice pulled her out of t
he dark spiral of her thoughts. She looked up to find him standing by their table, his eyes filled with concern.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I – I’m fine,” Mercy stuttered. Dante looked down at her, the corners of his full lips downturned slightly. It was clear he wasn’t buying it. He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Roy broke in.

  “We were simply discussing a bit of business, Mr. – ?” He quirked an eyebrow curiously.

  “Dante,” Dante responded.

  “All right, Mr. Dante,” Roy said, waving a hand dismissively. “The lady says she’s fine. We can get back to our discussion now.”

  Dante’s eyes never left Mercy’s face. “Mercy?”

  Mercy took a deep breath. It was true, a moment ago she’d recognized only too well the symptoms of an oncoming panic attack. They could come on at random – but thankfully, this one didn’t seem to be too severe. “It’s okay, Dante. I’m okay. I promise you.”

  Dante studied her face a moment longer, his green eyes as deep as the ocean.

  “All right,” he said after a moment. “But I’m here if you need me.”

  Mercy nodded, not sure she was able to explain the gratitude that suddenly swept through her.

  “All right,” she said softly. Dante nodded, and then turned away, going back to preparing the tables and booths for any customers who might turn up.

  Mercy watched him for a moment, unable to pull her eyes away from the broad line of his shoulders, before looking back at Roy.

  She blinked in surprise at the expression on his face – it was an expression she’d never seen him make before. His blue eyes were cold, his lips pressed into a hard, thin line as he looked at Dante.

  “Roy?” she said, too surprised to hold back.

  Roy’s head flicked back toward her, and the cold look in his eyes immediately evaporated. He half-smiled at her, as if he was amused. “Good help you have here. Very... dedicated.”

  Mercy frowned. She wasn’t about to explain the full circumstances of Dante’s arrival at the restaurant – it was too long a story to begin with, and she realized that to anyone but herself it’d sound like she was taking an unbelievable risk letting a man she barely knew and who she’d met while patching him up after a knife fight stay with her. There was no way of explaining it in a way that anyone would understand – the strange, instant connection she had felt with Dante, or the way she had known just from looking into his eyes that she could trust him.