by Katie Reus
She couldn’t think about that now. Definitely not now.
She was going to sleep and let the man she’d completely fallen for hold her in his arms.
Because she felt impossibly safe—which sounded insane even in her own head. The world had completely gone mad, but with Reaper, she felt protected.
Treasured.
Safe.
Chapter 23
Greer opened her eyes into semidarkness, and stretched her arms over her head.
It took all of a second to realize that she was alone in bed. Frowning, she reached out and touched Reaper’s side. It was cold.
She was surprised he hadn’t woken her up. As she got up, she realized how refreshed she felt. And famished. It was still dark outside and something told her that it wasn’t the same night she had gone to sleep—and been brought to climax by Reaper.
Fighting the disappointment that he wasn’t still in bed with her, she searched for her cell phone. It was on the nightstand, and when she looked at the date she realized sure enough, nearly twenty-four hours had passed since she’d gone to sleep a second time. It was nine o’clock the next night and the house seemed very quiet.
No wonder she was starving. Even so, she could feel her energy burning bright inside her, warm and healing. She’d regained her strength.
After brushing her teeth and dressing, she checked in on the last two wolves who’d been at the house and found them gone and the beds stripped. They’d been so close to fully recuperating she guessed they’d left for good while she’d been asleep.
Downstairs in the kitchen she found it also empty—but the refrigerator was thankfully full. She wasn’t quite sure what was going on with the city’s food situation so she was grateful to not have to go out and hunt for food in dragon form. Still…she wondered where Reaper was.
As she started pulling containers out from the refrigerator, she called her Alpha.
“Hey, you’re finally awake. You needing to sleep was the only reason I haven’t called you,” Conall said upon way of greeting.
“Really?” She’d forgotten to text Conall and let him know she’d be out of touch for a while. And that wasn’t like her. But she’d also been dead on her feet and the world was burning right now so…she figured she was allowed a break.
“Yes. Reaper texted me and told me not to bother you.” Conall’s tone was dry.
“That sounds about right.” She slid a plate full of pizza slices into the microwave—a nice little appetizer.
“I saw the news feed with you two.” Again, his tone was dry.
“Is there a question you want to ask?” She opened the fridge again, looking for something cold to drink.
“What’s going on with you and the ancient?”
If it was anyone else, she would have brushed them off but she had a feeling he was asking as her Alpha. “Reaper and I are having fun. Well, that sounds weird considering the state of the world right now but we are just…” Oh God, how did she explain what was going on with Reaper when she didn’t even understand it herself? The mating manifestation had revealed itself, leaving no doubt that they were mates if they chose to cross that final line. He was kind and sweeter than she’d thought to imagine. He was also fierce and protective of her. “…ah, having fun,” she repeated lamely. Even as she said the words, she knew how pathetic they were. How untrue.
It did a disservice to what she’d shared with him. They were having more than just fun. But she wasn’t ready to open up to anyone about her growing feelings for Reaper or the fact that the mating manifestation had appeared. Not even to her Alpha, who she respected and had been friends with for a very long time. Things with Reaper were too new and she wanted to come to terms with this change before opening up. Unlike the younger generation of dragons, she didn’t need to open up about her every thought and feeling.
“All right.” He paused, the silence growing as the microwave dinged once. “Look, I don’t know if a male like that will ever accept an Alpha. Me or anyone.”
“Yes, I know.” It was a simple truth about Reaper. He was so ancient and capable, and unlike wolves who needed packs, dragons were quite complicated.
She’d definitely thought of that too now that the mating manifestation had made itself very clear. For some reason she’d always assumed that when she got mated, her mate would fit right in with her clan. In hindsight that seemed like an obnoxious assumption to make. She wondered why she’d never considered that she might want to live with her future mate’s clan. Maybe because she could be a little arrogant too? Hmm.
“Is there anything going on back home that I need to know about?” she continued, not wanting to talk about Reaper any longer.
“We have things under control. When are you coming home?” Blunt and right to the point.
And his question was fair. She’d just come down here to basically keep an eye on Reaper and Prima while Reaper looked for his friend. There was nothing keeping her here now. Well, nothing except Reaper. And she wasn’t leaving him. That much she knew. “I don’t know.”
He sighed, the sound almost resigned. “Why do I have the feeling that you’re never coming back?”
“Conall…” She struggled to find words to tell him that of course she’d be back. But things had changed. She had changed. Because of Reaper.
“If you decide to fly home, let me know. I’ll make sure you’re escorted by sentinels.”
“If I do should I fly home in dragon form, or on the jet?”
“The jet should be fine. The skies are fairly wide-open right now.”
His words were another reminder how much things had changed. Most commercial flights had been grounded because most airports were now nonexistent.
After they finished their conversation, she poured a glass of water then sat at the island with her food.
Before she’d taken her first bite, Reaper stepped into the kitchen from one of the open entryways, all silent and deadly.
“You’re here.” Joy burst inside her at the sight of him. He wore all dark clothing, right down to his black boots. Despite herself, she felt her cheeks flush as she thought of what they’d shared in his room—and what she hoped they got to do soon.
“I am here.” His words and expression were flat, surprising her. And he didn’t make a move to greet her.
Her dragon frowned, her fingers pricking slightly as her claws started to unsheathe. Oh, her dragon side did not like this. Before she could respond, she heard the front door open then close, and seconds later King stepped into the kitchen as well. So apparently people weren’t knocking anymore.
King nodded politely at them. “Apologies for just stopping by. My wolves are home and I wanted to thank you in person for taking care of so many in my pack. I won’t forget this, Greer.”
“Oh…it’s fine. And you’re welcome.” She felt weird receiving any sort of praise for doing something that simply came naturally, that was part of who she was. How could she not help others?
The sound of the front door opening and closing sounded again, causing both Reaper and King to turn. Cynara and Justus stepped into the kitchen seconds later. Cynara’s purple eyes were bright and her movements fluid—as if she’d never been injured at all.
“Hey Greer, glad to see you up.” Cynara rounded the island and wrapped her arms around Greer in a tight hug. “Thank you for all you did.”
As she hugged the hybrid female, she scented Justus all over her—the mating bond. “You’re welcome, and congratulations.” She smiled as Cynara pulled back. “Glad you finally made the right choice.”
“You and me both,” Justus said, rounding the island. But when he made a move to hug Greer too, Reaper growled low and dangerous in his throat.
Greer’s eyes widened at the primal display but Justus simply stepped back. “My bad, Reaper.” Then he turned to King. “I got a lead on Brennus. I don’t know if it’s solid yet but someone from the local coven reached out to me and said he heard you were looking for the dragon and any of his clanmates. He gav
e me a couple addresses, said he thought Brennus’s clan might own the properties but under a different name.”
“Who told you this?” There was a bite to King’s words.
Greer realized it was because this territory was his now. He would expect people to come to him directly with anything he deemed necessary. But…he couldn’t expect change instantly though. People were too complicated for that, supernatural or not.
“Ah…look. I’m not telling you their name. Vamps have a ways to go before fully trusting you, and if you want to build bridges between shifters and my kind, you’ll have to bend a little.” Spoken as one Alpha to another. “I only see the trust truly happening when you take a mate.” There was a slight questioning note in Justus’s voice, no doubt because it was rumored that King was supposed to have taken a mate right before all Hell broke loose on earth. But he definitely hadn’t or they’d have all scented it on him.
King nodded after a tense silence. “You’re correct. So, do you trust this guy?”
“I do. He has no reason to give me bad intel. Everyone is pissed about what their clan did.”
“Good, then.” King glanced between Justus, Cynara and Reaper. “You three feel like going hunting?”
“You’re not including me in that?” Greer asked.
King froze then looked at Greer. “Ah…you’re a healer. I just assumed… You want to go hunting?”
“No. But I don’t like being ignored.” Okay, she was feeling a little snarky right now.
“Fair enough. So?” He turned back to the others.
They all nodded, except Reaper, who turned to Greer. “I will stay,” he said to her.
“It’s fine, Reaper. I’m fully rested. Besides, I’m sure Prima is around here somewhere.”
“She left the country.”
Uh, what? Greer would ask more on that later. “Oh, well, it’s still fine. I’m a dragon and fully capable of taking care of myself. Go with them, find that traitor.” She’d never thought of herself as particularly vengeful or violent but Brennus and all his clan deserved to die for what they’d done. They were responsible for the death of billions. They could rot in Hell.
It was clear Reaper was torn. “You will stay here?”
She frowned at him. “I have no plans to go anywhere.”
“I’ll keep her company,” Cynara added, and while Greer appreciated the offer, she was annoyed. She was a grown-ass dragon. She didn’t need a babysitter. Then again…it would be smart not to be alone right now. “Ian and the others said they would stop by later anyway. If anything changes or if you need backup, just text me,” Cynara continued, looking at Justus.
The vampire nodded and headed out with King—but not before giving Cynara a searing kiss that would leave any female breathless.
To her surprise, Reaper hung back, though his distant expression and body language were crystal clear. What the hell was going on with him? “I will have my phone on me if you need anything.” His words were stiff and stilted.
Despite the fact that Cynara was still in the kitchen, Greer pushed up from her chair and rounded the island to face him head-on. “Have I done something to offend you? Yesterday you couldn’t keep your hands off me. Now…” He was behaving as if she were a stranger.
Cynara chose that moment to duck out of the kitchen, mumbling nonsensical words under her breath.
Reaper just watched Greer for a long moment, his dragon in his gaze. Finally he answered. “I will be back soon.” Which wasn’t an answer at all.
She wanted to stomp her foot in frustration but resisted the childish impulse.
He turned to go, but abruptly strode back across the expansive kitchen. Placing his hands on the countertop behind her, he leaned down, his expression no longer neutral. Now his dragon peered back at her, that bright electric amber gaze wild and angry. “What we did last night was more than fun for me. I’m in this for more than simple fun,” he added again, his jaw tight, his words hard. Waves of potent, red anger rolled off him—and to her surprise, she felt the sense of his hurt more than anything. “You are my mate.”
She slid her hands up his chest. Oh, she’d screwed up big time. “Reaper, I’m—”
He stepped back. “I’ve got my phone on me. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need me.” Then he was gone, disappearing from the kitchen before she could blink.
Her stomach tightened as she collapsed back into one of the chairs. Clearly he’d overheard what she’d said to her Alpha about just having fun with Reaper. Inwardly she winced, not exactly surprised by his reaction. If she’d overheard him say that, it would have cut her up. Because what they’d shared went deeper than that. She simply hadn’t been willing to talk to her Alpha about what was going on with Reaper.
Because she wasn’t sure herself what was going on. Even so, she still felt like a giant jerk. When Reaper returned, she would make things right with him.
* * *
Reaper was in straight battle mode as they headed out onto the street, his dragon right at the surface, waiting to be unleashed. He tried to forget what he’d heard Greer say, but her words kept playing over and over in his mind as she’d told her Alpha that they were just having fun.
She had not said anything about him being her mate, about him being a worthy, capable male.
He wanted all of her. Forever. Perhaps she did not feel the same. But how could she deny what was between them? She’d seen the mating manifestation. The entire neighborhood would have seen it. She was his. He’d been pleased when it had finally revealed itself, but it hadn’t mattered.
Because he had known deep down that she was his mate, with or without that manifestation. And even if they never took the final leap and fully mated, she was his. So to hear her dismiss what they had shared cut far deeper than any blade or claw, burned more than any dragon fire.
King’s cell phone rang, interrupting his thoughts as they headed toward a darkly tinted large vehicle he believed was called an SUV. He was not sure what the acronym stood for though.
“Yeah?” the wolf said.
Whoever was on the other line spoke too low for Reaper to hear. Or maybe the Alpha had some sort of muffling mechanism on his phone. The more he learned about human technology, he figured that something like that was possible. Because his hearing was exceptional and he should have been able to eavesdrop easily.
King gritted his teeth as he slid his phone back into his pocket mere seconds later.
“We have a new problem,” the Alpha said as they reached his vehicle. King slid into the passenger seat and Justus and Reaper got into the back. Reaper was not sure he cared for these vehicles—they were too small and stifling. He would prefer to simply fly everywhere.
The driver, another wolf, simply nodded at them in the rearview mirror, but did not speak otherwise.
“Head to Washington, near the cemetery,” King ordered.
“What’s going on?” Justus asked.
“A bunch of humans have broken curfew. They’re pushing the boundaries intentionally, I believe. They aren’t quite rioting, but they’re not listening to my patrols or returning home.”
“Or they are simply scared,” Reaper said. For him change was inevitable and he was easily able to adapt, but he had learned that adapting was hard for some humans. Many had lost people they loved in an instant, their entire world changed in a massive way.
Now that he had found Greer, the thought of losing her was too much. So yes, these humans had a right to be afraid. Oddly enough, he felt he could relate to the humans.
King sighed. “True enough, but they’re not getting a pass. Whatever this is, I’m putting an end to it tonight. Then we’ll head to the address your contact gave you,” he said to Justus.
The Alpha didn’t ask if Reaper and Justus even wanted to go on this new mission so it appeared they were going. Which should have annoyed Reaper. But to his surprise, he kind of liked the wolf. The male was arrogant but that was not always a bad thing. And he had seen the male hold his ow
n against dragons. The male was resistant to dragon fire—something that was impressive in itself. Only a few supernaturals had that gift, and they were very old and very powerful.
He rolled his shoulders once as they rode in silence down the cobblestone streets.
He forced himself not to think of Greer’s dismissive words, of her tone. He knew what they had shared was more than just fun. He refused to believe otherwise.
If she decided she didn’t want him as her mate? He…would not contemplate that thought now. He could not.
She was his.
He would soon claim her.
Chapter 24
Brennus answered the video conference call, even as he prepared himself to see his father on-screen. They had spoken many times over the last couple days as certain sects of their clanmates had gone into hiding—his own territory being one of them.
One of their younger clanmates had gotten trigger-happy and released dragons too early in London. So they’d been forced to release all of them worldwide before they had been completely prepared with each city.
At least they’d been able to disable all nuclear weapons.
His father didn’t bother with any sort of greeting as he looked at him and the others in the room with Brennus. “Shenzhen, Moscow and Izmir are now in our clan’s control.” That was only three cities. Not that impressive. Brennus kept the thought to himself as his father continued. “I’m taking down Bayne today. We all need to make our moves.”
Brennus nodded in agreement at his father’s assessment. After the fires and destruction, only handfuls of supernatural-strong cities remained fully intact. Of course there were more rural areas that hadn’t been touched. Areas his clan would claim soon enough. But first they had to take over the main supernatural strongholds. His father was currently in Edinburgh and the shifter in charge there was a dragon named Bayne. An obnoxious asshole.
“I’m ready to go. King will fall tonight.” Brennus was prepared for battle with the wolf. The male might be fireproof—something he’d only recently learned—but he was no match for Brennus. He was a dragon after all.