Madness Unmasked: Dragons of Zalara

by ML Guida

  “Did your mate say how I should break the news about Daidhl being her sister’s mate?”

  “I hate to say this, but she didn’t think the revelation would bode well.”

  “Maybe if I tell her about how kind and gentle Daidhl was before he was possessed by the Mistonian?”

  “You’re kidding right? You’re going to have a Fates of a time convincing her that you’re not like your brother.”

  “But Daidhl wasn’t responsible–”

  “I’m not sure there’s a good way to broach the subject at all, and the chances of her believing your brother was possessed are slim. According to Agnes, Lisa was her best friend. Whether you want to admit or not, Ysam, Daidhl was responsible for her death––possessed or not. Your best bet is asking for forgiveness.”

  Ysam didn’t look or answer him and stared straight ahead. Anonghos might be right. Before his possession, Daidhl had been the the kindest, most thoughtful, and dedicated dragon he knew. He just hoped his brother hadn’t had any control of his body. Otherwise, he had been a monster.

  This mission wasn’t just to save the Zalarians or to achieve Ysam’s dream. He could finally give his brother peace. Silently to himself, he vowed, “I won’t let you down, Daidhl. I’ll bring your mate home to you. I swear.”

  Chapter 5

  After a long hard week, Kathy walked into a crowded O’Toole’s to meet Agnes. People crowded at the bar and tables. Most people were standing, which she could used as an excuse on why she couldn’t stay long. She inhaled the smell of beer and fried food. Both had been Lisa’s favorites. She had loved to toss back a stout, indulge in shepherd’s pie, and dance.

  Every Friday night, O’Toole’s had a live band. Tonight was no different. Kathy usually loved to dance, but tonight all she wanted to do was go back to her hotel and veg out.

  Her stomach growled, but fried food was the last thing she wanted. Since Lisa’s funeral, whenever she ate, her stomach revolted. The bar’s aroma of french fries, gravy, and nachos sent her swirling stomach speeding out the door. She broke out in a hot sweat as if she’d just finished jogging a mile.

  She took a tissue out of her purse and wiped her face. How she allowed Agnes talk her into having a drink, she’d never know, but she was off her game.

  Eating wasn’t the only thing evading her. Sleep was evasive and Mr. Sandman hadn’t visited for two weeks. All she wanted to do was collapse in her hotel room and zone out watching the television.

  “Kathy!” Agnes waved her arm. She sat at a table with Anonghos, her brother, Frank, and another man she didn’t know. The man was clean cut like Frank except his hair was a lighter brown. She would have thought he was another G-Man except he wore jeans and a leather jacket. The FBI required all agents to wear a suit and tie or at least a dress shirt, tie, and sports jacket when they worked a shift.

  He’d be ruggedly handsome except for the fading bruises on one side of his face. He must be another detective that liked to use his fists instead of his head when confronting a suspect. Maybe he was Agnes’s replacement. No doubt she’d be representing his suspects.

  Marrying an alien would never be Kathy’s plan. She wanted to marry someone on Earth and live a normal happy life with cuddling on Saturday nights, kids, car pools, and football games.

  Nothing extraordinary.

  Agnes immediately gave her a hug. “How are you doing, hon?”

  Kathy squeezed her back. “As you would expect.”

  Agnes slowly released her. “I know. Have a drink. You’ll feel better.”

  Kathy smiled weakly. Drinking a glass of wine every night hadn’t taken the edge off her.

  “How’s my favorite attorney?” Anonghos gave her a bear hug and then quick kissed her on the cheek.

  “Surviving.”

  He put his hands on her shoulders. “You’ll get through this.”

  His strong voice only made her want to break out in her best attorney attack and tell him why he was wrong, but it wouldn’t be fair. Like her, Anonghos had had his fair share of losing family members.

  Agnes cleared her throat and Anonghos dropped his arms. “Kathy, this is Ysam.”

  “Nice to meet you Ysam. Kathy Strong.” She shook his hand. Being a defense lawyer, she could quickly judge a man or woman based on their handshake. His grip was strong and powerful––a mark of a dominant man.

  Dominant opponents never fazed her. In fact, she used to like a good fight in the courtroom, but then something she didn’t expect happened. Sparks of adrenaline ran up her arm, exploding into all directions. Tingles brushed over her flesh. Her body shook as if she just stuck her finger into an electric socket.

  The tavern grew smaller. Walls slowly moved trapping her as if she were in a horror movie with no way out. The noisy voices, banging plates, and clinging glasses faded. The only sound she heard was the blood thumping between her ears. All that mattered was Ysam.

  She unraveled her trembling hand. The minute she released his strong grip, the vision of shrinking walls vanished. The bar grew larger, the noise deafening, her breath panicked.

  Luckily, neither Frank or Agnes or Anonghos were looking at her. Agnes and Anonghos were busy kissing each other and Frank was watching the band set up. Maybe they hadn’t noticed. Her wild heartbeat slowly returned to normal as she fought to regain her composure. She wiped her sweaty palm on her skirt.

  Unfortunately, Ysam watched her with his curiously golden tiger eyes as if he knew she’d just had a panic attack of biblical proportions. The short attack left her knees knocking together like a bass drum.

  Unlike her, he didn’t seem to have a single reaction from their brief handshake. No sweating. No shifting. No blinking. He was cool, calm, and collected.

  “Kathy.” His husky voice was like a caress, making her shiver. How could just saying her name turn her insides into goo?

  She rubbed the bridge between her eyes. God, maybe she was having a nervous breakdown.

  Someone gently touched her arm.

  Kathy jumped backward like a terrified rabbit, knocking the chair over. Ysam caught the chair before it crashed onto the floor and put it back into place.

  She bumped into a waitress with a tray of drinks high over her head.

  “Hey, watch it,” the waitress yelled.

  Kathy moved out of her way. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Her voice was barely audible. She glanced at Ysam, heat brushing over her face. “I’m not usually this clumsy.”

  He stood up and smiled. “No harm done.” He motioned. “Have a seat.” He was a gentleman and in her business, they were few and scarce.

  “Thank you.” She slid into the empty chair, and he skidded it toward the table. His fingers brushed against her back, and the goo churning inside her turned warm then hot. In a few minutes, she’d be panting in heat. What was it with this guy?

  Agnes looked at her with concern. “Are you okay? Your face is bright red.”

  Kathy waved her hand in front of her face. “It’s hot in here. That’s all.”

  Ysam’s eyes reminded her of Anonghos’s and Agnes’s. He couldn’t be a Zalarian since Agnes said they all looked like they played for the Broncos’s defense. He was slightly smaller, but his shoulders were wider than Frank’s, and Frank was no slouch of a man. Besides, Agnes knew how she felt about aliens, and had sworn never to introduce her to another Zalarian, ET, or any other creature from outer space.

  Frank gently touched her arm. “Tough week.”

  “Understatement of the year.” Bitterness snapped out in her voice.

  Frank winced, and she immediately regretted her tone.

  “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to live one day at a time.”

  “Frank, Anonghos, and Agnes told me about your sister. I am truly sorry for your loss.” Ysam’s husky voice stirred something inside her.

  She’d been strong for so long, and she thought how comforting it would be to lay her head on his chest and for him to hold her. What was she thinking? Having a relationship was the l
ast thing she wanted. She’d absolutely no energy to meet the needs of a dominant man and needed to get the hell out of here before she did anything else really stupid.

  She put her hands on the table and looked around anywhere but at him. “What do we have to do to get a drink around here?”

  A dark-haired waitress came over, hoisting a tray of four beers over her head. “Hi. Here we go.”

  Kathy frowned. “I didn’t…”

  Agnes laughed. “Don’t look so surprised, Kathy. I know your favorite beer. Besides, if I didn’t order as soon as we got here, we’d die of thirst.”

  The waitress smiled. “You’re right about that. It’s going to be hopping all night. Is there anything else I can get you?”

  “When you get a chance,” Kathy said. “I’d like a glass of water.”

  “Sure thing.”

  She thought about going to the ladies’ room and splashing water on her hot face to put out the lusting fire burning inside her whenever she glanced at Ysam, but women were already standing in line outside the bathroom. Downing her beer and making excuses would be faster.

  Ysam cast her a brief smile, his eyes mesmerizing her. Usually when she wanted to discourage men, she’d put on her attorney face, but she was too damn tired.

  Instead, she took a long swing of her beer, squashing her fiery desire.

  Ysam followed her lead, but he took a smaller sip of ale. His eyes widened, and he licked the foam off his lips. “This is actually good.”

  She’d never seen anything so sexy, so tempting to kiss. God, her lawyer composure must be half dead. Men usually panted over her, not the other way around.

  Frank put down his beer. “Kathy, are you still living in a hotel?”

  Kathy tensed thinking of what used to be her sanctuary. She’d been so proud of her antiques, her artwork, all her modern conveniences, but thanks to Daihl, they were all tainted with the memory of Lisa’s murder. Every time she looked at any of her belongings––such as a chair, a painting, or even her expresso machine––all she could think of was her sister’s mangled body. “I don’t think I can ever go back there.” Her voice faded into misery.

  Agnes rubbed her back. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Thanks.” Kathy smiled weakly. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.” She looked at Frank and Anonghos. “All of you.”

  Tears blurred her vision. But enough was enough. She slumped into her chair and swooshed the unicorn bracelet around her wrist. She took a deep breath and raised her head high.

  Putting her interrogation face on, she looked at Ysam. “So, what do you do? Are you in law enforcement? I haven’t seen you around the department. As a defense attorney, I know most of the officers and detectives.”

  “And they know you,” Agnes smirked.

  She shrugged. “Cops don’t always clap their hands and jump up and down when I walk into the room. I’m fiercely protective of my clients’ rights. Guilty or innocent, they deserve to be treated fairly.”

  Frank rolled his eyes. “We know, Matlock.”

  “Admirable.” Ysam smiled. “Even the underdog needs their day in court.”

  Kathy blinked, not believing what she’d heard. She usually got the condemnation of how her clients should all be hung by their buster-browns.

  “But to answer your question, I’m not a security officer…yet.” Did she imagine it or did he nervously glance at Anonghos who shrugged.

  They didn’t know each other, did they?

  “I am actually studying to be in law enforcement,” Ysam said. “Right now, I’m in…research.”

  She frowned. Security officer? That was a strange term to use. “What kind of research?”

  “Scientific.”

  His short answer intrigued her.

  “Is it violent?” She took another sip of her beer.

  He lifted his eyebrow.

  She smiled slowly. “Your bruises. How did you get them?”

  “I had a disagreement with some friends.” He twirled his glass around as if lost in thought.

  “Some friends,” she murmured under breath.

  He was definitely hiding something, and he wasn’t fooling her. He reminded of her clients who avoided admitting what they did by only telling half-truths, which never worked. The truth always came out, one way or another.

  “Do you want to get some appetizers?” Agnes studied a plastic menu. “I’m starved.”

  A waitress walked by with a plate of bubbling nachos stacked with guacamole and sour cream. Kathy inhaled the grease and beans, and her queasy stomach pleaded for mercy. “Food is the last thing I want.”

  Frank flashed his gaze over her. “When was the last time you ate anything?”

  She shrugged. “I had some juice and a piece of toast this morning. Why? You worried about my weight?”

  Frank plucked up her too loose jacket sleeve that hung off her arm. “No. Just the opposite. You look like a starving refugee.”

  “Don’t insult her.” Ysam’s gruff voice warned followed by a low growl.

  Kathy froze. The growl sounded exactly like Anonghos when anyone had threatened or dissed Agnes. No, she had to be wrong. Agnes would never betray her. Not after what happened to Lisa.

  Frank put his hands up. “Don’t get up set. My observation wasn’t an insult. I said it out of concern. She hasn’t been eating and could pass out.”

  He was talking fast as if he were afraid, but Frank Malloy didn’t fear any man. The hair lifted off the back of her neck.

  Before she could think, the lead singer of the band, Casey and the Bandits, yelled. “Happy Friday! Who’s ready to party?”

  The crowd roared. Normally, Lisa and Kathy would be ready to get out on the dance floor, but not tonight. Tonight she was frozen in her seat.

  “For our first song, we’re going to do some Def Leppard.”

  “Come on,” Agnes grabbed Anongos’s hand. “Let’s dance.”

  “Whatever you want.” Anonghos lifted Agnes off the floor and twirled her around on to the dance floor. She’d never seen her friend so happy.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Frank said. “It’s been a long week, and I just saw someone I’d like to meet.” He quickly deserted the table and headed over to a voluptuous blond. Less than a minute later, they were on the dance floor.

  Awkward silence erupted over the table as the band played Def Leppard’s song Pyromania. Kathy drummed her fingers on the table, tapping to the beat.

  Ysam leaned close. “Would you like to dance?”

  Lord, he smelled so good as if he’d been barbecuing with charcoal, which she thought smelled so much better than a gas grill.

  “No, I really shouldn’t.”

  “Is it because of your sister?”

  She thought of Lisa being buried less than a week in the cold ground and put her hand over the bracelet. “I would feel guilty.”

  “I didn’t know your sister, but I don’t think she’d mind if you had one dance. You look like you need to do something to forget for a little while.” He stood and held out his hand.

  Lisa would have told her to go. “I don’t know.” She hesitated before she placed her shaking one in his.

  “I won’t bite. I promise.” He pulled her to her feet and she brushed briefly against his chest that sent more willy-nilly tingles through her. He maneuvered her out onto the crowded dance floor, and she waited for him to do the white-man shuffle.

  But she was wrong.

  Ysam looked at her with such intensity she couldn’t take her eyes off him or breathe. Her heartbeat increased. He wrapped one strong arm securely around her torso and put his hand on the middle of her back. She inhaled his spicy breath, turning her insides into a dewy mess. He pulled her close, their bodies becoming one.

  She couldn’t turn her gaze away. His other hand slowly raised hers. She automatically placed her palm on his muscular shoulder. His hold was strong just how she liked it when she danced.

  Ysam put one foot back, immediately ta
king the lead. He slid his foot to the side, inviting her to come with him, and she couldn’t resist. When he stepped forward, she put her foot back. He pressed her back again, his gaze never breaking. She followed his lead, pivoting her feet, her hips rolling across his, her breath quickening. He was so smooth, so graceful, so masterful.

  “I didn’t know we were going to do the tango.”

  He raised his eyebrow. “You don’t like this dance?”

  “No, I love to tango.”

  His possessive gaze left her dazed. A devious smile spread across his face. “Would you like to quicken the pace? Or are you not up to the task?”

  “Yes, I feel like I can manage.” She’d won more than her fair share of competitions, and his arrogance chipped her ego.

  He stretched out his arm, and she took his firm grip. He immediately pulled her toward him and dipped her. She arched her back, her heart beating wildly. He swung her to the other side and dipped her again.

  When he righted her up, they stared at each other, their faces almost touching. His warm breath excited her, making her feel they were the only two in the bar. He instantly curved his arm around her waist and hers around his. They twirled intimately around then swiveled to the other direction. Kathy’s blood thumped between her ears. All of the dancers disappeared. The only thing that mattered was Ysam.

  Her heartbeat matched the rhythm of the pounding drums and thumping guitars. She whirled around. He firmly took her hand, then quickly released it. In one slick motion, he clasped the other, then spun her around and around and around flawlessly. People, Casey, and lights swished around her. He drew her toward him hard and lifted her with only the tops of her toes touching the dance floor. Both their hearts beat as one and they inhaled each other’s breath.

  A light glisten of sweat flickered off his forehead. She put her palm on his stubbled face and he slowly lowered her to the floor. She bent her head back, and he lowered his head, his hot breath blowing onto her chest.

  Casey went into AC/DC’s I Shook Her All Night Long and suddenly, sinful pleasures popped into her mind of locking her legs around his rocking hips. What was she thinking?