Sasha (Dragon Isles Book 4)

by Shelley Munro

  Sasha died a little inside.

  “We can’t lose Max,” her dragon said. “We like kissing him! We must have more Max kisses.”

  “My brothers will like you.” The truth.

  “But not your parents? Don’t you want to go home? My world is here. Noel is here.”

  “The day we came through the barrier, my mother had informed me that because I’d turned down all offers of marriage to date, my parents had arranged a betrothal for me.”

  “You’re betrothed?”

  Sasha shrugged. “I guess I am. Officially.” She checked on the chicken, the meaty aroma overlaid with herbs making her stomach rumble. “Bruceous is the same age as my parents. He is wealthy, and his previous wife died in an accident several years ago. He’s not a nice dragon. He’s the type who goes around trapping younger women in corners or slyly pinching their bottoms.”

  “That’s sexual harassment.”

  “Yes,” Sasha agreed as she placed the pot of potatoes on the stove to boil. “But somehow he persuaded my parents he’d make an excellent match for me. My gut says that the moment we’re together, he’ll be ready to chase the next shiny object.”

  “That’s what your parents want for you?”

  “They mean well,” Sasha said. “To them, he’s a gentleman with an important position in the community. My dragon and I haven’t tried very hard to return, mainly because we’ve been responsible for Noel’s safety. But if we’d wanted to badly enough, we could’ve crept out at night to investigate the barrier. Once again, we worried that would leave Noel alone if we penetrated the barrier.”

  Max cursed and bounded to his feet. “I’m a selfish oaf only thinking of myself and what this news means to me.” When he reached her, he hugged her hard. “Every step of the way, you’ve given Noel and me your loyalty. He is thriving under your care.”

  “What are you going to do about your grandmother?” Sasha asked.

  “I don’t know,” Max said in a harsh voice. “According to the legal papers, the judge has ordered me to hand over Noel on the first of the month.”

  “That’s in two days.”

  “Yes, and it sounds as if this decision is final, that the judge has made a ruling based on the information Julia provided. The legal papers state I must leave the premises.”

  “That’s not fair. Why is your grandmother doing this?” Sasha asked. “You’re family. You should pull together, not fight each other.”

  “I agree.”

  “Perhaps you should investigate the reasons behind your grandmother’s determination to get custody of Noel.”

  “I thought… I mean, she told me she thought my lifestyle as a bachelor didn’t work with a young child. She worried I’d palm him off on a stranger.”

  “Which is what you did,” Sasha said without heat. “She suspects the validity of our engagement because it happened suddenly. She wonders why she didn’t know of my existence earlier.”

  Max snorted. “It’s not as if we’ve ever been close. My grandparents disapproved of my father. The fact my mother was pregnant with me when my parents married upset them greatly. Julia, my grandmother, wanted Mum to marry a family friend with a title.”

  “Can I read the document?” Sasha asked.

  Max shoved them across the table toward her. “Have at it. I’ll check on dinner.”

  Sasha read the legal document carefully.

  “Does she have money problems?” her dragon asked.

  “Excellent question,” Sasha said aloud. “My dragon wonders if your grandparents are in debt. Noel comes with money and property to enable his upkeep, but whoever becomes his guardian ends up with the use of that wealth.”

  Max turned from his position at the stove, a fork in his hand. “My father’s family have money and live in Surrey. I always thought my mother’s parents were reasonably well off. Comfortable, at least.”

  “Perhaps they were, but could that have changed without your knowledge? Can you ask someone you trust to check for you?”

  “Maybe you’re right,” Max drawled. “I have a friend in Edinburgh. Jerome is a private investigator. I’ll ask him to start digging.”

  “Will there be enough time? The papers give your grandparents the right to take Noel in two days.” She scowled. “Why wouldn’t they consider what Noel wants?”

  “He’s a child. He’s only four, and he has Down syndrome,” Max said with a trace of bitterness.

  “Can you fight this?”

  “I don’t know. If I let them take Noel, I’ll have a hell of a fight on my hands to get him back. If there’s any chance my grandmother is using Noel to get money instead of acting in this way for the greater benefit…” He trailed off with a shake of his head, his knuckles white around the fork he held.

  “There are a few other options,” Sasha said slowly, her mind busy working on solutions. “We could get married and present a united front. We might be young, but I believe Noel is happy with us.”

  “What about your betrothed?”

  Sasha snorted. “A horrid fate. If I end up with Bruceous, I’ll turn into a bitter old maid.”

  Max sent her a thoughtful look. “And would this marriage be a real one?”

  “If you’re amiable to marriage with a dragon shifter,” Sasha said, seeking her words with care. “My dragon and I both like you. We’re attracted to you.”

  “And we want to experiment with him—try the things from the kissing books,” her dragon said with enthusiasm.

  Sasha flinched, and she watched Max’s gaze narrow. Interest glittered in him, and his features took on a predatory air.

  “Like me?”

  “We miss you when you’re not here,” Sasha said.

  Max laughed. “Noel misses me.”

  “We imagine kissing you and more,” Sasha admitted, deciding to go with the truth rather than acting the blushing maiden.

  “If we got married,” Max said, “I’d expect a real marriage. Would you still want to go home?”

  “I don’t know. I miss my family, and my absence will worry them. The chicken smells as if it’s almost cooked. Let me check it.”

  “You can smell that?”

  Sasha laughed. “Yes.” Her humor faded. “Max, what are we going to do?”

  “No idea.” Max brushed a quick kiss on her lips and moved out of her way. “I’ll check on Noel and ring my private investigator friend. That’s a start, but two days isn’t much time.”

  “It’s not fair that she has used our friendship to force you from your home.”

  Max snorted. “Given that the judge has instructed me to vacate the house, my guess is my grandparents will move in here with Noel.”

  Sasha focused on creating their meal and chopped green herbs to add to the mashed potatoes.

  “I enjoy preparing food,” her dragon said.

  “Me too,” Sasha said. “Do you remember the tales Mother told us of the islands? I mean, before the barrier came into existence?”

  “There were four islands, but those in charge decided we’d occupy three of them because the humans on the fourth island didn’t wish to lose their contact with the mainland.”

  Max returned to the kitchen. “I’ve contacted my friend. Jerome will do some online research tonight and dig around a bit more tomorrow.”

  Sasha shot Max a quick glance. “Would you consider taking Noel and running?”

  “I’d get caught,” Max said without hesitation. “They’d have my car registration and find us easily. Even though I’d love to thumb my nose at my grandmother, running isn’t the answer.”

  “What if I shifted to a dragon and flew you and Noel to Holy Island?” Sasha said, speaking slowly as she and her dragon mentally finessed their plan. “While the cops might object, it would give your private investigator friend time to check out your grandparents and perhaps discover the reasons behind their actions. No one has photos of a dragon—not that I’ve seen—therefore they have no proof of their existence.”

  Max was
silent for a while. “If the barrier sucks you in and throws you back to your world, what happens then?”

  “You and Noel would be safe from your grandparents.”

  “I wouldn’t have any money or a way of earning a living,” Max said.

  “My family would help you. My brothers. You’d be safe.”

  “What about your betrothal?”

  “I thought we’d keep pretending.” Unaccustomed heat speared through her. “We’d have to share a room, and you’d need to take on our scent before my family would believe me. The pretense would be harder in my world because dragons have exceptional hearing and an excellent sense of smell.”

  “And if we’re discovered, or your parents attack me and ask questions later? Or the dragon who wants you takes issue with me?”

  “They’d have to go through us,” her dragon snapped.

  Sasha laughed aloud. “My dragon and I are of one accord. They’d have to injure us to get to you or Noel. You are ours to protect.” She turned away to take the chicken from the oven. Next, she picked up the pot to drain the potatoes.

  “Let me think about it,” Max said finally. “You might not manage to return to your world.”

  “That’s true, but I haven’t tried.”

  “God, I was so lucky when you walked into my life,” he said. “Most of the kids around here of your age wouldn’t have given a second thought if they’d found Noel alone. They wouldn’t have noticed his distress.”

  “I’m not a kid. But the humans here might’ve surprised you and acted on Noel’s behalf.”

  Max snorted. “They might have contacted the police, which would’ve meant trouble for me.”

  Max’s phone buzzed. “It’s Jerome,” he said to Sasha before answering the call. “That was quick. Have you discovered something for me already?”

  Sasha added butter and milk to the potatoes and mashed them while listening to the conversation. Max’s friend had a low, gravelly voice.

  “Your grandmother has gambling debts,” he said.

  “How big?”

  “Big enough that she can’t pay them. They’ve mortgaged their house to the hilt, and they’ve failed to make the last two payments. I suspect the bank was putting pressure on them, so she resorted to a loan shark. They want their money back.”

  “How did you learn this so fast?” Max asked. “I didn’t have a clue.”

  “Contacts.”

  “He’s secretive,” her dragon said.

  “It’s his job to trade in information,” Sasha countered. “It makes sense for him to keep secrets.”

  “Also, the judge who signed the documents is a family friend of your grandparents.”

  “Crap,” Max said. “They’re saying Sasha and I are not in a relationship, and my grandparents insist I’m using her as a childminder instead of spending quality time with Noel.”

  “In my opinion, your grandparents want to exploit Noel to get their hands on the extra money that should go to your brother’s upkeep,” the friend said.

  “Can you give me the info so I can prove this?” Max asked.

  “I thought you’d want the truth. Information. I doubt my contact will stand up to bat for you. Sorry.”

  “I understand,” Max said. “Send me your bill, and I’ll pay it straight away.”

  “Next time,” Jerome said. “This one is gratis. I hate that your family is doing this to you and Noel. I know you love the little tyke.”

  “Thanks,” Max said, his voice catching. “Appreciate it.”

  “Catch ya later,” Jerome said and hung up without another word.

  “I heard,” Sasha said before Max could speak. “What are you going to do?”

  “Not sure, although I’m not inclined to let my grandmother win. She doesn’t care about Noel. If Jerome is correct, all she wants is the money.”

  “Dinner is ready,” Sasha said. “Call Noel for me while I dish up.”

  Max wandered off, and she heard him and Noel discussing the washing of hands.

  “Max and Noel should come with us,” her dragon said.

  “He has to consider Noel’s safety, his well-being. We don’t even know if we can get back through the barrier. If that’s the case, leaving and remaining trapped here would be a problem.”

  “I don’t want to leave Max,” her dragon said.

  Sasha sighed as she served the chicken and added potatoes and peas to each plate. “We forgot the gravy. Let me heat it in the microwave.”

  In no time at all, the three of them were sitting down to dinner.

  “Yum,” Noel said. “Thank you, Shasha.”

  She grinned. “You’re welcome.”

  They didn’t discuss dragons or grandparents during dinner or afterward. Max put Noel to bed, read him a dragon story, and came downstairs to help her with the dishes.

  “I peeked outside,” she said. “I saw one car, and it looked as if the men inside were asleep.”

  When they finished the dishes, Max said, “Let’s turn off this light and turn on the one in the family room. We’ll pretend we’re relaxing for the evening but creep outside. I want to check the garden for lurking reporters.”

  “Why?” Sasha asked.

  “Because the more I think about this situation, the angrier I become. I’m considering asking my friend to uncover proof of my grandmother’s debts so I can refute their charges. I have two days before I have to hand over Noel and move from this house. There is nothing to stop us from visiting Holy Island and returning.”

  “Won’t the reporters follow you?”

  “Not if we take the mode of transport you suggested,” Max said. “I’ll need more cash and an idea of a place to book for accommodation. I can get one of my friends to book it for us. Jerome would do it.”

  “And if I can find a way through the barrier?” Sasha asked. “I’m not sure I’m ready to go home. I like it here with you.” She caught Max’s gaze and held it. “You and Noel feel like home.”

  “You are so sweet,” Max said, standing and going to her. He grasped her hand and tugged her to the couch, where he sat her on his knee. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but the thought of you leaving makes me want to howl.”

  “We go together,” Sasha whispered.

  “It’s not as if I have anything to tie me here. Only Noel.” Max wrapped his arms around her, and peace seemed to settle over him. “An adventure it is.”

  11 – The Cool Flight

  Max rang his PI friend to arrange accommodation and the ongoing investigation. Between him and Sasha, they discovered they had enough cash to cover any expenses for the weekend. Jerome answered the phone, and Max told him some of what he intended to do.

  “Are you making a run for it?” his friend asked.

  Max didn’t hesitate to give Jerome honesty. “Not sure at this stage. I’m thinking about it, but I don’t know for certain what I’m going to do. I love Noel, and I doubt my grandmother wants him because she loves him. She sees an opportunity.”

  “What about the house and contents?” his friend asked.

  “If Sasha and I decide not to return, I’ll send a key to your post office box.”

  “Make sure you disable your phone GPS and try not to use it unless it’s an emergency.” He rattled off an email address. “Remember that address, and if you need to contact me, do it via email. Other than that, don’t use your credit card. Use cash. Try to change your appearance and ditch your car if you can. Borrow a friend’s car. You can take mine if you want.”

  “No, I don’t need a vehicle where we’re going. If we decide to come back, no one would be any the wiser.” Unless they spotted a dragon wheeling through the sky.

  “Contact me if you need me,” Jerome said. “I don’t like what your grandmother is doing to you. I’m here to help as much as I can.”

  “Thanks. What is the best way to pay you?”

  “Send a retainer direct to my bank account. If anyone questions me, I’ll tell them the truth. That you contacted me
to investigate your grandmother because you were suspicious about her motives with Noel.”

  Max hesitated then gave his friend as much truth as he could. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to contact you. I mean, if I run, but I give you my oath I’ll somehow pay everything I owe you.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Jerome said, his voice gruff with emotion. “I know you won’t leave me hanging. We’re friends, and if I know anything about you, it’s that you’re loyal and have integrity.” He barked out a laugh. “I’ve no idea how you lasted at the tabloid press in Edinburgh.”

  “I walked out when I discovered my grandmother had a hand in me getting that job,” Max confessed. “She used my boss to make sure I spent time away from Noel, so she could tell the judge I left him with strangers.”

  “There’s a rumor going around you’re engaged.”

  “Where did you—? Never mind. Yeah. Sasha is amazing.”

  “But you didn’t become engaged months ago,” his friend commented.

  “Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean what I feel for Sasha isn’t genuine.”

  “You’re going to marry her?”

  “We’re taking things slow, but both Noel and I adore her. She’s amazing.” Max laughed. “Glad I met her before you did.”

  “All right. Send me a message if you can, and I’ll keep digging until I have enough to detonate your grandmother’s plan. The trouble will be finding someone willing to talk.”

  “I understand. Do your best,” Max said. “Thanks.”

  Max hung up, and a noise had him jerking up his head. “Sasha.” God, she was beautiful with her blue eyes and copper-brown hair. Seconds later, his hands rested on her shoulders, and she grinned up at him.

  “What?”

  “Noel and I are lucky to have you in our lives.”

  Her smile faded. “What about my dragon?”

  “Admittedly, that part is more difficult to get my head around, but Noel understood what you were all this time. He kept telling me you were a dragon. I didn’t grasp he meant it literally, but he’s not frightened of you in the slightest. I’d say he has a case of hero-worship.”

  “Wait until he meets my big brothers,” Sasha said. “I’ve packed a bag for Noel and pulled out warm clothes for him to wear. Flying will be cold, so you and Noel need to dress in as many layers as you can manage. Pack what you can in a light bag you can wear on your back. You’ll need to hold Noel and sit behind him. I can carry luggage in my talons.”