“What are you cooking me for dinner tonight?”
No missing the faint challenge in her question. “I figured I’d wheel out the barbeque and do a beer chicken. I’m starving since I missed lunch, so I thought I’d do a few sausages first with French bread. Maybe I’ll bake potatoes with the chicken, and you can make a salad so we balance the meat out with green stuff.”
“I have no notion of what a beer chicken is, but it sounds good. I’m hungry too and I ate lunch.”
During their dinner preparations, Manu kept up a steady stream of conversation. “My best friend is my cousin, Hone. Through Hone, I met our other friend Jack. Jack and his wife Emma have twin girls. Born last night, so I haven’t seen them yet.”
“Hone is married too.”
“He is. Cassie and Emma were best friends growing up.” He didn’t mention Cassie was a renowned country singer in the United States and becoming more established in New Zealand now that her latest album had released. “I’m expecting Jack and Hone to drop by later tonight. That’s why there is a lamb and a hippo riding in the back seat.”
Jessalyn laughed. “I admit to curiosity about the huge soft toys but didn’t like to ask. Danny has lots of cousins. My father was an only child so I don’t have oodles of relations. Danny was related to most people in P—” She broke off before she revealed where she’d grown up, but he’d already learned she came from Piha from her employee record. As far as he knew, the facts on there seemed genuine, and this information gave him a better starting point for his investigation.
“Was your mother a lone child too?”
“Dad said she came from a small town up north. If she had relations, I’ve never met them. Ugh! You’re sticking the beer can up the chicken’s—”
“Cavity,” Manu broke in before she could finish her sentence. “It might look rude, but I promise you, the meat will be moist and succulent once this bird is cooked.” He carried it out to the barbecue. Earlier, he’d put on two potatoes to start roasting. Now, he positioned the chicken with its beer can stand and closed the hood to let it roast.
“Which parent does your Maori blood come from?” Manu was betting it was the long-dead mother.
“My mother.”
“Did your father teach you about Maori mythology and customs?”
“No, everything I know, I learned from Danny and his relations and at school.” She scowled and pressed her hand to her stomach.
“Is that the first warning signal?” He gestured at her midriff.
“Yes.”
Her relaxed posture had faded in a blink and now she stood, slightly hunched, her palm pressed to her stomach.
“What do you normally do when you get to this stage?”
“Panic.”
Her honesty wrenched a chuckle from him. “Have you tried eating?”
“No.”
“Worth a try then,” he said. “Earlier, you said you were hungry. The sausages won’t take long to cook. I bought sliced ham. I’ll make you a ham roll to eat right now.”
While he made her a snack, he pondered this Danny and focused on tamping down the growl that built low in his throat. She’d known him since they were children and spoke of him with fondness. He had no right to the flash of jealousy. Yet, there it was pawing and snorting like a bull ready to charge.
Damn, he had so many questions for her, yet first, he needed to teach her to control her taniwha and keep her hidden from his tribe.
He handed over the filled roll. “Grab two beers from the fridge and sit outside. I’ll be out there as soon as I sort out the sausages.”
She tore off a bite of the bread and stuffed it in her mouth, nodding her agreement to his plan. While he prepared the sausages for the barbecue, his gaze went to her as she balanced her plate and pulled out two beers. Her clothes were baggy. The woman didn’t dress to impress—that was for sure—yet she moved with confidence and when she wasn’t apprehensive about the appearance of her dragon, she stood tall.
A vehicle pulled up in front of his warehouse. Two vehicles. He listened carefully and scented the air before relaxing. Hone and Jack.
“Where are the photos of my newest tribe members?” he asked Jack.
Hone had followed Jack into his kitchen, and he rolled his eyes. “Now he’s over the shock, he’s gone gaga. His phone is full of photos.”
“This is a fast trip,” Jack said. “I’m visiting Emma. She and the twins are coming home tomorrow.”
“Do they have names?”
“Not yet. We had a hard enough time agreeing on one name and now we have two babies, we’re rethinking,” Jack said.
“I got something for your girls,” Manu said. “A toy each for the babies and a voucher for a cleaner for Emma. I know it’s a boring gift, but I figured she’d be tired and could do with the help. Cassie suggested it.”
“Thanks,” Jack said. “Cassie and Hone gave us a food-box delivery. Emma is thrilled with that.”
“Grab a beer and come outside. I’ll introduce you to Jessalyn.” Manu picked up his plate of sausages and the buttered portions of French bread.
“Did you discover anything today?” Hone asked in a low voice.
“The basics. Name and address. I emailed a copy of her employee record to myself. I’ll forward it to you later tonight. Investigate further but don’t speak with anyone yet. I prefer to keep this on the down-low.”
“She’s pretty,” Jack murmured an instant after they stepped outside.
Jessalyn seemed deep in thought and hadn’t noticed their presence yet.
“Not your normal type,” Hone added.
“No, but that doesn’t make her any less my mate,” Manu said. “Jessalyn, this is my cousin Hone Taniwha and our friend Jack Sullivan.”
A wary expression darted over Jessalyn’s face. It faded almost immediately, replaced by a friendly nothing-to-see-here smile, but Manu saw it, wondered at her thoughts, her instinctive fear. Was it because she sensed their taniwha or was she shy meeting new people?
Manu checked his chicken and placed the sausages on the hot plate to cook. Hone and Jack joined Jessalyn at the picnic table while he watched the sausages. The heat of the day had dispersed, and the sun had dipped low on the horizon while he’d been preparing the food.
“Did the food help to settle your stomach?”
Jessalyn’s wariness was clear this time. “Yes.”
“That’s good. Jack, are you going to show me baby photos?” Manu figured talk of babies might relax Jessalyn.
“Congratulations,” Jessalyn said. “I hear you have twin daughters.”
“Yeah.” Jack flicked photos across his phone screen. He handed the phone to Jessalyn. “This is my favorite of Emma and the babies.”
“What are their names?” Jessalyn asked.
“One and Two at the moment. Not that I can tell them apart,” Jack confessed. “I don’t think Emma can either, but she pretends she knows which is which.”
The sausages were soon cooked, and Manu placed them on the table along with the bread.
“Where is the ketchup?” Jack asked.
“I’ll get it,” Jessalyn said.
As soon as she disappeared, Hone said, “I don’t catch a whiff of taniwha on her.”
“Me either,” Jack agreed.
“I’m certain it’s there. Today, I purchased two new fire extinguishers to replace the one I emptied last night. I gave her food to help settle her taniwha, but I don’t think it will be enough because she’s not eating at regular intervals.”
He fell silent when Jessalyn returned with the ketchup. Her face had turned pale, and she had her hand cupped against her stomach.
“Jessalyn?”
“I don’t—” She broke off to cough and a spark shot from her mouth. It flared briefly before spluttering out from lack of fuel.
Hone and Jack set down their beers and jumped to their feet, both watchful.
Manu took the sauce bottle from her and set it down. He grasped both her hands
and held them even though she tried to tug from his grip.
“I’ll burn you,” she protested, her voice deeper than normal.
“You won’t hurt me,” Manu promised, and as he uttered the words, he prayed they were true. “Try this. Instead of attempting to hold back the flames, put everything you have into it.”
“But I’ll start a fire.” She kept darting glances at Hone and Jack.
“They’re my family, and they won’t hurt you,” Manu said. “They’ll need to go through me first.”
Hone edged closer. “Try what Manu said, sweetheart.”
She blinked, a slow fluttering of long dark lashes over her panicked eyes. “Why is this happening? I’m a freak!”
“You’re not a freak,” Manu said.
“Should I show her?” Hone asked.
“That’s the quickest way,” Jack said, enforcing Hone’s suggestion. “Her mind is battling what is happening because she doesn’t believe.”
Manu dipped his chin, decisive because the suggestion made sense. “It’s dark and private enough here to avoid detection. Go ahead.”
He stood close to Jessalyn, ready to grab her if she panicked or to put out any fires she might start while Hone removed his footwear and clothes.
“What is he doing?” Jessalyn demanded.
“Watch,” Manu said.
“But he’s taking off his clothes… W-what is he doing?” she whispered.
She crept closer to him, and on instinct, Manu looped his arms around her tense waist.
Hone’s human body shimmered as it reshaped and scales rippled across his skin. Dragon shifts were typically fast and soon Hone towered over them—a red-and-black dragon.
“W-what just happened? How? Why aren’t you surprised?” Jessalyn trembled within his embrace, and Manu savored her proximity, the softness of her hair against his cheek and her scent filling his lungs. His taniwha purred, but his dragon’s joy at having his mate so close remained muted.
“Hone, show her your fire,” Jack said.
Hone’s elegant head turned as his elongated gaze met Manu’s. Manu gave a thumbs-up, and Hone inhaled once and blew the breath out with a stream of flames. He aimed his fire at the edge of the concrete area. When the flames died out, the concrete had turned black but Hone had enough control not to start a blaze.
Manu turned Jessalyn in his arms until he could see her face. “Do you understand now?”
Jessalyn’s mouth dropped open as she gaped at Manu. His cousin had transformed into a freakin’ dragon the size of a small house. Manu and their other friend—Jim? No, Jack. Neither of them had blinked at the unusual sight.
“Jessalyn?”
“No,” she said, her reply automatic while her mind grappled with the big red-and-black dragon sitting before them. “I understand nothing.”
She gawked at the not-so-mythical beast standing… No, the creature was slouching as if this entire situation bored him. This wasn’t real. Convinced this was an elaborate joke at her expense, she stomped over to the dragon and slapped it on the shoulder. Whoa! She followed this up with a quick pinch, but the creature’s skin was hard and didn’t give.
The dragon turned its big head toward her, and she could’ve sworn it wore a smirk. Its face held hints of black swirling within the red coloring while its torso was all crimson-red scales. Jessalyn already had firsthand knowledge of their hardness, but they were beautiful too and gleamed in the evening light. The dragon bore the same combination of red-and-black on its four legs. The creature’s wings appeared to be red, but it was difficult to tell since they remained furled close to the dragon’s torso. Two antler-type protuberances topped its angular head while sharp white teeth filled its great maw. The dragon’s tail sat motionless on the ground but Jessalyn imagined it, too, could be used as a weapon.
When the red dragon bent its head to sniff her, Manu growled and stomped over to her and the dragon.
“Cut it out,” he ordered.
The dragon grunted, and the sound reminded her of laughter, but he straightened and edged away. A weird glow radiated from the creature’s scales, and before she could comment on the phenomenon, a naked Hone stood where the dragon had been seconds earlier.
“Eyes here,” Manu ordered.
The heat of his touch on her shoulders zipped through her body and sank into parts she hadn’t considered for months. Awareness of his masculinity followed—his height and breadth, his scent, and when she finally obeyed and raised her gaze to his face, his magnetic eyes snared her.
“Don’t look at Hone.”
His tone commanded, and she submitted even as the fact peeved her. How did he do that?
“You’re a taniwha, Jessalyn,” Manu said once he had her full attention.
His hands still clasped her and now it was easy to spot the concern in his expression.
“A taniwha? No.” Jessalyn shook her head. She vacillated between outright panic and amazement. Impossible. She couldn’t transform into a different shape. Her gaze slid to Hone, who now wore clothes. Impossible for her, she amended her thoughts. “No,” she repeated, more certain this time.
“How do you explain the fire?” Manu pointed out.
She couldn’t. She had no answers. True, although she’d seen the dragon, the creatures were fictional. But she had touched it…
No, impossible.
“You put something in my food.”
Manu laughed as did his friend Jack.
“Can you do that?” she demanded of Jack.
“Yes, but I’m a different type of dragon, and I get trapped in my dragon for longer than Hone and Manu.”
“You can do that too?” Jessalyn asked, frowning at Manu. In the words of the famous Mr. Spock—one of her father’s favorites—this was not logical.
“Yes.”
“No.” Her mouth dropped open. She could hardly blame this situation on alcohol. “Prove it.”
Hone chuckled and the more solemn Jack flashed a quick grin.
Manu gave a heavy sigh and removed his clothes with quick efficiency. So fast, she didn’t have nearly long enough to peruse his impressive muscles.
He strode to a spot of clear ground. Hmm-hmm. Very sexy gluts and wow! The tattoo on his back was amazing. Before she’d finished her visual examination of the inked dragon, Manu turned and folded his arms over his impressive chest. The same weird glow emanated from his body and a gasp escaped her as he morphed to a large black dragon.
Spotting one dragon tonight told her there was something iffy in the food or drink, but two? Yep, she was quietly slipping toward insanity.
“Touch him,” Hone said, his tone sly. “He’ll like that.”
Jessalyn didn’t hesitate. She strode over to the black dragon. Manu. Okay, she admitted the existence of dragons. Insane or not, there was one standing right there. Manu lowered his head and sniffed her hair. A loud purr came from him an instant before he licked her cheek.
“Hey!” She took one giant step backward and rubbed her cheek. “Don’t slobber.”
A commotion behind Jessalyn had her turning to investigate. Hone and Jack were both laughing, but trying hard not to do it openly.
“Can I touch him? Is it safe?”
“He touched you,” Jack pointed out, and Hone sniggered.
The dragon—Manu—issued a grumpy growl. Jessalyn blinked. The Mr. Spock side of her mind lectured about impossibilities despite the evidence. She approached cautiously, eager to appease her curiosity.
This time, she patted the dragon’s chest where the scales were smaller and more pliable. She rubbed, and the dragon rumbled. The sound vibrated beneath her palm and she smiled. She rounded the dragon and spied a big-arse sword clutched in its claw. Large red stones—rubies, perhaps—glittered on the scabbard.
Manu bent his head and nuzzled her hair, his warm breath tickling her neck and bringing a smile. His wings lifted, and awed, she sidled closer, her hand trembling a fraction as she reached out to touch him.
“Wow,”
she whispered.
Manu licked her cheek again. In truth, he hadn’t slobbered the first time, but he’d surprised her. Now, he made the move without haste and his abrasive tongue tickled her.
“I don’t slobber.”
Jessalyn frowned.
“You’re not hearing things, sweetheart. I can mind-speak while in this form. Stand back with Hone and Jack. I’m going to shift, and I’d hate you to get hurt.”
Speechless at this new development, Jessalyn hurried to join the other two men. Manu shifted and pulled on his jeans. Still shirtless, he approached them at a prowl. Jessalyn stared at his chest and studied the portion of his tattoo that curled around his side. The dragon’s tail.
“I’m guessing your ability comes from your mother’s side,” Manu said.
Jessalyn shook her head since none of this made sense. But she had breathed fire, a tiny voice reminded her.
“I don’t understand. Why didn’t this happen earlier? Why now? My father never said a thing.”
“Perhaps he didn’t know,” Jack offered.
“Or he might have watched you and when you showed no sign of shifting, he decided not to mention the taniwha species,” Manu said. “We have no way of knowing for sure.”
“B-but what do I do now?” As she said the words, Jessalyn realized she hadn’t blown more fire. During the previous times, once she’d started, the fire-breathing had carried on for an hour, sometimes closer to two. “I guess shock will do that,” she muttered.
“What?” Manu asked.
“I’ve stopped vomiting out fire when normally I keep going for an hour or longer.”
“You ate beforehand,” Manu said.
“But I’ve eaten before. The first time this happened I’d had dinner out before I went to work.”
The men frowned, their gazes seeming to conduct a silent conversation before they turned back to her.
“How long was it between when you ate dinner and when you breathed fire?” Jack asked.
Jessalyn frowned, thinking back. “Danny and I had dinner at the café, and I left to start work at six. It was after midnight by the time I closed up and finished cleaning ready for the following day.”
Black Moon Dragon Page 8