by Aliyah Burke
“I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Those words drew her attention from the lifelike piece of art. “In terms of what?”
“Everything. I’m changing.”
She picked up on the fear in her voice. “We all are.” Dracen sat beside her on the stone. “Look, none of us know what’s going to happen. We’re all changing and now that the parts are all together, we don’t know when it’s going to happen either. It could be now or not for another few years.”
Calida scratched the inside of her wrist. “It’s a bit overwhelming.”
“I think it’s supposed to be. To weed out those who can’t handle it.”
“What if I can’t?”
“You’re his mate, you were strong enough when they picked you to offset his harshness. Look, we don’t know one another well and I’m not very good with the girly talk, but let me just say this. You’re perfect for him. He loves you more than anything in this world and I bet you ten to one he’s within a hundred yards of here, trying to figure out where you went.”
“I know where she went.” Tiarnán’s deep voice broke into their small world.
Dracen sent her a look, not all that shocked to hear him. “You know, sometimes a woman just needs time away.”
“And you, Dray?” Luc’s rumble filled the air.
Warmth hit her and she hid her whimper. There wasn’t any way for her to describe what his voice did to her insides. She lifted her head to see him striding across the grass toward her at Tiarnán’s side.
Both men moved with a grace that took her breath away, but Luc did something way more to her. From the gasp Calida emitted, her reaction to the other Guardian was similar.
Luc stopped in front of her and tipped up her chin. She arched an eyebrow. “We need to talk about that call from my father.”
“Right, the weapons.” She wasn’t going to address the women his father had spoken about—they didn’t matter in the scheme of life. Luc was hers, she knew that with supreme confidence.
Luc filled Tiarnán in while she replayed what she’d heard on her end. Danvers. It hit her. “I remember,” she bit off, surging to her feet.
“What?” they asked.
“Danvers. I remember. I have to go.” She took a step only to find her arm locked in Luc’s grasp.
“Tired of you running off and leaving me, babe.”
“Come on then. I hope you’re getting faster.”
“What are you thinking, Dracen?”
She looked to her brother. “I have to talk to someone.”
He scowled but she ignored him, looking back to Luc. “Let’s go.” They ran, leaving the other two there. She was more than confident Tiarnán wouldn’t leave Calida there alone to keep up with them.
Luc was fast, she couldn’t argue that, and they moved as one to the door leading down into the dungeon. As they hit the bottom floor, he let out a low whistle. “Seriously? A dungeon?”
She looked at him and said, “This is not full of terrorists, so don’t get close.”
“Got it. I’m just the observer.”
They walked in and she focused on the lone prisoner in the room, caged behind bars and anger stamped all over her features.
“Hello, Haley,” she said in silky smooth voice.
“Bitch.”
Luc looked around the stone room. Seriously, they have a fucking dungeon here? What else does this place have? He focused on the woman behind the bars. Her expression one of hatred and a coldness he hadn’t seen in anyone in a very long time.
“I’m going to give you one chance, Haley,” Dracen said, moving toward the door. “Tell me about Danvers.”
“How’s this for an answer, go fuck yourself.” She grabbed her crotch and spat at Dracen, who didn’t move.
Unease skated up his spine when, all of a sudden, the dragon wings of smoke exploded from Dracen’s back as she opened the door.
“I gave you your chance,” she uttered.
Haley glared. “My father will come for me. I hear you’re like me. Cale told me you have demon blood in you as well. Better be careful, you’ll be in here beside me before you know it.”
“Oh trust me,” she purred. “Hara will get your body back. Piece by every loving fucking piece. And I’m nothing like you, I don’t fuck up on a job. When I go to kill someone, I do it.” She stepped inside fully and pursued Haley, who, despite not wanting to give any ground by her expression, moved until the wall stopped her. Mist swirled around them and another of those unholy screams filled the air.
This ain’t good.
He ran in. “Dracen!”
Once he neared her he drew up short—she had Haley held up in the air, feet off the floor. Streaks of red and silver pulsed along Dracen’s skin—and on the wings of the dragon—as she gripped the woman who was now obviously dead, blood running from her eyes, nose and mouth.
“Dracen,” he snapped.
She turned her head to look at him, and for a second he didn’t recognize her, the hatred blazing in her expression contorting her to something else. She bared her teeth and opened her hand, dropping Haley to the floor.
His heart pounded hard. He moved closer and reached out to cup her face with both hands. Her rage pulsed along his skin and he held her gaze, doing what he’d done before to allow the anger to slide from her into him. He locked his knees to keep upright from the force of what hit him. As it flowed from her to him, he saw her once again as his Dray.
She shook her head and jerked back. “What did you do?”
He tightened his grip, refusing to allow her freedom. “What I will always do so you don’t have to carry that.”
It swirled around inside him before finally being cornered and shoved into a box. He swore sparks jumped between them.
“So,” a voice said from outside the cell. “How’s it work if she’s dead then, exactly?”
“Fuck you, Cale,” Dracen said, color coming back to her skin and her sign settling. She made another attempt to move away from Luc but he shook his head.
“Not happening. Are you okay?”
“I know who Danvers is.” She turned her attention to the five Guardians outside the cell. “Joseph Danvers is the son-in-law to SecNav.”
Something passed between all of them before Aminta and Tiarnán branched off and left. He released her face but obtained possession of her hand. They walked to the door and she glared at Cale before walking by him. Luc dropped her hand and punched Cale in the face before continuing on. It hurt like hell, but felt even more satisfying.
He might very well have just made an enemy right there but he didn’t give a damn. As they walked up the stairs, he ignored the commotion behind him. “What’s going on?” he asked as they turned a corner.
“Aminta’s readying the jet and we’re going after Danvers.” She wiped her hand below her nose as if she believed it was bleeding, for she checked the skin after.
“When are we leaving?” She slanted a glance at him. “Don’t you fucking think you’re going anywhere without me, Dray. If I have to cuff us together so be it, but we’re in this together.” Until he knew more about what was going on, he wasn’t about to let her be without him.
She didn’t argue, just picked up the pace and hurried outside to jog across the grounds to where Tiarnán waited in a vehicle. She vaulted into the back and he followed suit, immediately after which Tiarnán took off, wheels kicking up pebbles.
The easily distinguishable whirr of engines made him smile and he jumped out when they screeched to a stop at the hangar. The plane was black, sleek, and the familiar tingle he got before a mission alighted his nerves. He immediately loped up the steps.
Tiarnán and Dracen followed suit.
“Cale should come,” the tiger was saying.
“No. He doesn’t want to be around me. If you feel the same, then get out. I can take what I need from him without you.” She gestured in his direction. “Luc’s with me.”
“He’s not a Guardian.”
&n
bsp; “No, he’s not,” she conceded. “But he is my mate and apparently keeps me in balance.”
“Want to tell me what the fuck that was about you killing her like that?”
“Nope. She deserved to die. We all knew it, there was no point in keeping her alive any longer. Now you can send her body to Hara and piss him off even more.”
Luc leaned forward as they took off. “Look at me, Dracen.”
She listened and he stared at her eyes. He moved back some loose strands of hair and focused on the one eye that was like one of his. The gray was again darker again.
“We need to learn what’s going on here with you.”
“With us,” she amended.
Tiarnán listened without commenting.
“About two hours,” Aminta said, voice piping in over the speaker.
“I thought you said SecNav.” He took Dracen’s hand in his, thumb skimming the back.
“I did, but Danvers lives in Utah.”
“How do you know he’s home?”
“Edmond.”
Luc shook his head, forgetting they communicated much faster than others. “Right. And had he been elsewhere, we’d be going there.”
“Of course.” Her expression softened. “Are you okay?”
He kissed her palm. “I told you, I can handle it.” He stood. “Now, where are there some weapons for me on this plane?”
“Back by the bathroom.”
He left them alone and opened the panel exposing the array of weapons. As he armed himself, he continued to look up the plane and watch her interaction with her fellow Guardian. Luc wasn’t a fool—seeing her as he had in the cell had freaked him the fuck out. In the lines of her face, he’d seen the creatures they were after and fighting.
A possessive growl rose within his chest when he watched the man touch her face. Luc swallowed it down, but it didn’t stop the emotion from racing through him. Strapping on a leg holster, he shoved in the Desert Eagle after making sure it was loaded.
This should be interesting. Ran a lot, had sex in the woods, ran some more, went to a dungeon, and am now going to another situation. A shower would be nice, but I guess it’s going to have to wait.
He walked back to his seat and joined them. They were both relaxed and he stretched out, reclining his chair. A smile lifted his lips when she took his hand, twining their fingers.
Chapter Sixteen
“You two need to get over this.”
Dracen fought a yawn. They’d returned from Utah at two this morning and Lian had been waiting for her. She’d followed him to his study where a sullen Cale was waiting. Both of them sat facing the large ornate desk behind which sat the man she respected more than anything.
She wanted to be in bed. Take a shower and get some rest. But telling Lian no wasn’t an option. Now he glared at them both.
“There’s nothing to get over, Lian,” Dracen said.
“There is a rift. I feel it. The others feel it. They feel it.”
He looked drawn and tired. Each day he got worse. It was killing all of them to see him deteriorating before their eyes.
“We’re fine,” Cale bit off.
“Really?”
“Your hatred for the blood in her body isn’t something to take lightly. When this fight comes—and trust me, it’s coming—they will use everything in their power to split you up.”
“He’s right,” she added. “We’re fine.”
“They’re picking sides. Just because I look tired doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention to what is going on around my house.” He began coughing and Cale half rose only to be waved back. “I see and I hear. The walls scream of your troubles.”
She slanted a look to her brethren. His scowl was still firmly in place. “Problems come up, Lian. We’re not kids anymore. We’re fine. Trust us to know not to let Them come between us.” She stood and walked to his side, where she kissed his cheek. “I love you, Lian.”
Then she departed the room, determined to get some rest. Back in the room, Luc waited up for her, already laid out in the bed.
“Everything go okay?”
She stripped and walked to the bathroom. “I’m not playing well with others.”
“Cale?”
She turned on the shower. “Exactly.”
“He’s an ass.”
“Yes, but he has the right to feel as he does.” She stepped in the water and made short work of cleaning herself off from the day’s grime. Finished, she killed the water and stepped out. Towel in hand, she stared at her naked body in the mirror. The scars on her chest were still there, faded, but still there. She turned away and rubbed the towel over her body.
Naked, she walked to the bed, shutting off lights on the way. At the bed, she slid in beside Luc and curled up to his warm form. He wrapped his arms around her and she sighed as contentment circled her.
* * * *
While she knew it was longer, it felt as if she’d just closed her eyes when a perimeter alarm went off. She bolted up and dressed in record time, making tracks out of the door. She and Roz were at the front when the doorbell rang.
She drew it open to find a tall, black-haired man standing there. Incredible blue eyes peered out from his face. Morning light had begun to pierce the lingering effects of night. “Can I help you?” she asked.
The guy cleared his throat and shifted on his feet. “I’m sorry, I was looking for Lian Yang? I was told he lived here.”
“He does. It’s early. Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but I’ll make one if that’s what I need to do.”
Roz stepped up closer. “What is this in regards to? Something legal?”
He seemed a bit taken aback and shook his head. “No, nothing like that.”
“You may as well come in,” Roz said. “We’ll get Lian.”
The man stepped by her and behind his back she mouthed, “What are you doing?”
“I get good vibes from him.”
Vibes? You’re letting a stranger in the house because of vibes?
Taylor walked into view and smiled. Roz made introductions while Dracen tried to decide if the vibes Roz experienced were good enough to leave them and get Lian. It’s not like she’s not a Guardian herself.
So she jogged up to Lian’s room and knocked on the door.
“Enter.”
He was standing before the window, his hand around the knob of his cane.
“Good morning, little dragon.”
“There’s a man here to see you, Lian.”
“And that means we forget the most basic of human manners?”
While his tone never modulated, she felt the reprimand as if he’d hit her with a brick. “Good morning, Lian.”
He sighed and reached to the window as if searching for something he’d lost. “My Lana loved to be outside, this was one of her favorite times of day. She always said it was when the world was new, fresh. We had endless possibilities. While we may have screwed up yesterday, the new day was a fresh canvas on which to paint our lives.”
She gazed to the picture on the wall, much like the one hanging over the stairs. Lana with a smile that told all you needed to know about the woman. Her love, kindness and heart.
“Shall we go see who is here?”
“After you.”
They walked together to the door and he stopped before stepping out into the hall. She waited, expecting him to speak, but he just shook his head and went on his way. She followed him down but bypassed him and entered the room before, just in case.
The man had been sitting in the living room in a chair by the fireplace, Roz not far from him, and the others also in there. He stood, ran his palms down the sides of his slacks and cleared his throat.
“Mr. Yang?”
“Yes?”
“I know this is a bit odd, but I’ve been looking for you.”
Those words had her narrowing her eyes and prepping to attack. The tension skyrocketed in the room as her siblings had the same reaction.
He’s stronger than all of us, even if he is sick.
“Nothing, I didn’t mean to give you the impression I needed something from you. I came to tell you thank you.”
“For?”
The man took another step closer. “Forty-three years ago, you took in a baby who’d been found in your field. Gave him a home until a permanent place could be located. You even gave him a name. Mark. But that’s not all. You also ensured that he had a trust that would allow him to attend any school he wanted to.” Another step. “I’m Mark.”
“Mark,” he said on a gasp.
“Yes, sir. I wanted to track you down and let you know how grateful I am for all you did for me.”
Lian moved toward him and took his outstretched hand. Dracen swore she saw tears in Lian’s eyes but they never spilled over. She shared a look with the others and they backed away slowly, allowing them a private moment.
In the kitchen, as she fixed breakfast, someone cleared their throat behind her and she turned to find the normally cheerful Taylor with a frown on her face.
“We’re friends, and if Cale has an issue with it, that’s his fault.”
“I need to respect his wishes.”
“Bullshit. You and I are friends. I trust you. Nothing else matters.” She pivoted and stomped out.
Dracen rubbed her temples and groaned. I need a house of my own.
The children started pouring in and she focused on feeding them and the adults who followed. She avoided Cale’s gaze and the glare from Taylor. After the meal was over, she went to the workout room and picked a pair of kama from the wall.
“Ready?”
She turned to find Cale there, his own tonfa in hand. Spinning the handles, she nodded. “Let’s do it.”