“Does he have it?”
“I think so, but he didn’t know where it came from or anything else.”
“So?”
“So, he’s checking his records and he’ll let you know. I’m wondering what would be the best way to make it more widely known, namely to the clan. We can’t very well expect them all to know it if I’ve never heard it in nearly three thousand years.”
“Hmm. Perhaps a heritage awareness event? Have people submit all kinds of lore and tales they remember with the plan to put them in a booklet to be given away to participants. Then, even if no one submits it, we put the legend front and center, first thing in the book, so they all see it, even if they don’t read the whole thing.”
Teya pulled her mouth to one side. “How long would it take to put an event like this together?”
“I can do it in a couple days. It’s not like there are ten thousand dragons in Vegas.” Rachel made a few notes on the notepad she carried. “It will also help with awareness of other regional dragon lore and legends.”
“Good.” Teya nodded once. “This is a good way to get word of the legend, prophecy, whatever you want to call it, to spread so I can put the worry of the clan using Jericho as a reason to replace me out of my mind.” She took a deep breath and leaned back against her chair. “Though, I’m not entirely sure losing this position would be as big of a catastrophe as I feared. Yes, I’ve led the clan for the last thirty years, and my father held the position before me, but I have been thinking about what else I could do if I wasn’t so busy here with clan and Fraction business.” Rachel watched her for a moment.
“I’d hate to lose you and have to break in a newbie.”
“You didn’t have to break me in.” Teya laughed. “I was already well broken in before you got here. But thanks for the sentiment.” She glanced down at the desktop and the papers scattered there. “I guess I better get back to what needs to get done...” With a sigh, she began to stack and sort the pages then glanced up to find Rachel still watching her. “I’m considering not waiting for the clan’s approval to make things official with Jericho. If it doesn’t matter to me if they accept him, why should we wait?”
“I can’t argue there, but give it another day or so before you dive headlong into the idea of giving up your position. And if I may, I’d like to make a suggestion.”
“Of course, you can make a suggestion.” Teya looked at her friend with one lifted brow.
“Delegate more. Most of the Fraction leaders in town have more than one assistant. They are not nearly as hands on as you are.” Rachel lifted one hand as Teya started to protest. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to take care of everything personally, but you don’t have to. Consider promoting a couple more people and delegating some of the things that take up so much of your time.” Rachel stood. “I’m going to go get started on this.” She lifted her notepad. “Hopefully, it will make things easier in the long run. But think about what I said.” Without another word, Rachel turned and went back to her desk, leaving Teya alone with her thoughts. Was she serious about giving up her position for Jericho? Rachel did have a good point about letting other people do more. Maybe that was the answer.
BY THE TIME TEYA CALLED it a day and left the office, Rachel had worked miracles, at least in Teya’s opinion. She’s already drawn up the details on the clan lore project, made up fliers, and sent them out to everyone in the clan. She’d set the deadline ten days out. It was enough time that those who were willing to participate would have done so, but not so long out that it would take forever to get them put together and have the book printed. Teya had cleared everything before Rachel sent it out. That’s how she knew all the details.
At the end of the day, Teya got on the elevator and hit the button for her floor without thinking about it. Instead, her mind was running over old stories she’d heard over the years, thinking about what she could submit. If she expected others to submit stories they remembered, she could do no less. The elevator stopped on her floor, and she made her way to her apartment, still on autopilot, even stepping inside and out of her shoes. Shoes had gotten more comfortable in recent decades, but she still preferred to be barefooted when she could.
In her brightly lit living room, Teya picked up her laptop from the coffee table and took it to the small table she sometimes ate at to type up the story she remembered her mother telling her about the beginning of the world they lived in. She’d finished the story and submitted it to the email address on the flier, one Rachel had set up just for the project, when she realized she didn’t know where Jericho was.
If he were in the apartment, he would have come and found her before she had finished typing up the story. Confused, she checked the entire apartment, making sure she hadn’t missed him somehow. Then, without bothering to put her shoes back on, she went down the hallway to her brother’s apartment. Teya knocked and waited for an answer then knocked again, harder. Nothing. Where were they?
18
Teya was still standing in front of Neo’s door, considering where to look next, when the elevator bell drew her attention. Laughter echoed down the hall as her brother and Jericho stepped out. Relief washed through her. As one, they turned toward Neo’s apartment, still laughing and talking. Jericho’s eyes met Teya’s and his smile changed. Heat rushed through her. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how worried and scared she’d been when she realized Jericho was gone.
“Looks like you were right.” Neo slapped him on the back. “I don’t know how you always know exactly where she is and when she’s looking for you.” Jericho turned to face Neo, a disbelieving look on his face.
“It’s not that hard. Her dragon tells me.” Neo blinked twice
“Seriously?”
“Yes, I am under the impression that her dragon speaking to me is normal.” He looked back and forth between Teya and Neo as if he was now unsure.
Neo turned to Teya. “Are you aware of your dragon talking to him?”
“I know she does it—” she shrugged “—but I’m not always aware when it’s happening.”
Neo fell silent, but his gaze went back and forth between the two of them several times.
I’ll tell you again, don’t let this one go. Trust me on this one. Neo’s voice was clear and earnest in her mind.
I don’t plan to, she sent back, turning to look at the man she’d known for centuries but had only recently made an appearance to the rest of the world. I’m sure he feels the same. “What’s the plan for tonight?”
“I’ve got a date, so you two are on your own.” Neo glanced at Jericho then back to Teya. “Have fun.”
Teya rolled her eyes and turned to Jericho as her brother pressed is hand against the panel next to the door and went inside.
“Well, what do you want to do?”
“Hmm...” Jericho stepped close and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. “How about we order something to eat then spend a quiet evening together?”
“That sounds amazing.” Unable to stop the smile that crept across her face, Teya leaned her head against his shoulder as he pulled her closer. “Let’s go order dinner.” She wrapped her arm around his waist, and together, they walked back to what had become their apartment.
After they’d eaten, Teya sat on the sofa, curled against Jericho’s side, while “Clarity with Amie” played on the radio. Jericho’s arm wrapped loosely around her as they sat in silence.
“Have you thought about what you want long term?” Teya asked without moving.
“What do you mean what I want?”
“Do you want to be here with me? Do you want to go out and build a life of your own, away from all the drama of the dragons? Or something else? Anything else. Have you thought about it?” He shifted beneath her. She glanced up to find him frowning down at her, a crease between his eyes.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“I didn’t say that. I simply want to know what you want.” Her heart ached at the idea of him leaving her,
but she wouldn’t ask him to stay if it wasn’t what he wanted.
“I want nothing more than to be with you. I have worked toward being able to hold you in my arms for centuries. I have no desire to give you up. If you want me to go, I will, but it is not something I desire.” His arm stiffened around her and his entire body went tense. She’d managed to upset him, which hadn’t been her intention at all.
“I don’t want you to go anywhere.” She met his gaze so he could see the honesty in her eyes. “I needed to make certain it was what you want, though, not just my wishful thinking.”
“I have no desire to be anywhere but here with you, Teyacapan. For the rest of my days.”
“You really mean forever?”
“I do. There’s nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you, however long that may be.”
“You’re certain?”
“Baby, I spent more than two thousand years trying to get to you. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I understand there’s a way we can make our bond permanent so that we will each live as long as the other, and when one dies, the other will follow.”
Teya blinked, wondering where he’d heard about the spell that would bind them. Then it dawned on her. Her dragon had told him.
“There is. Would it be something you would be interested in doing?” Teya wanted it more than she was willing to admit, but she didn’t want to push him into something he didn’t want.
“I can think of nothing I would like more.” Jericho cupped one side of her face. “You are my everything, and I have no desire to be without you, if it is something you want.” She wondered if her dragon had told him exactly how she felt, and how strongly.
“It is, but I wasn’t sure you would be ready for such a commitment. Once it’s done, there’s no way to undo the spell. We will be bound to each other for eternity.” She covered his hand on her face with one of her own.
“I would not have brought it up if I did not want to do it. I want nothing more than to be bound to you. I have no thought or desire to exist on any plane for even a single day without you.” Relief and contentment washed through her. Somewhere deep inside, she’d been worried he wouldn’t want to be bound to her.
“It’s not hard.” She pulled his hand from her face and folded both her hands with his as she faced him and watched him. “We just have to recite the spell together. We can even do it now, if you would like.”
“I would like.” He shifted on the couch so his entire body faced her the way she faced him. “What do I need to do?”
“Just say the words with me at the same time. Do I need to tell you them first?”
Jericho shook his head. “I already know them.” Teya took a deep breath and together they spoke the words.
“Two hearts become one, two souls forever entwined, coming together, now combine, tied to each other for all time.” Power and energy pushed through them, metaphorically tying them together for eternity.
“Is that all?”
“All? Don’t you feel it?” The energy continued to race through them, creating the bonds that would take them into the next world when one or the other met the end of this life.
Jericho was quiet for a moment before his face changed. His eyes widened with surprise then a shiver ran through him. He closed his eyes and gasped.
“I feel it. It’s like heat and magic rushing through me.”
“Exactly.” She leaned close and waited until Jericho opened his eyes then kissed him.
REVEALED BY DESIRE
1
Rachel couldn't keep her eyes off the stranger in the corner. She tried to ignore him, but something about him drew her attention time and again. In the room with more than two hundred supernormals, Rachel needed to talk to as many of them as she could about Ricky. More than three weeks had passed since he had disappeared, and she was des-perate to find him.
“Hello,” Rachel smiled at Mario. “How are Gina and little Elizabeth?”
“They're good.” He smiled back. “Gina is exhaust-ed. I'm only making a quick appearance before go-ing back to take care of Elizabeth so Gina can rest.”
“I'm glad to hear they're doing well. I have a quick favor to ask you.” She pulled a photo from the small pocket she'd worked into her dress.
“What is it?”
“Have you seen Ricky?” Rachel showed him the photo. He looked at it a moment, then glanced up at her.
“Your brother, correct?”
“Yes. I haven’t heard from him, or been able to get a hold of him for more than three weeks. I'm terrified something has happened.”
“I've not seen him. I'm not out all that much, but I'll keep an ear open and let you know if I hear any-thing about him.” Mario handed the photo back. “I hope you find him soon. It's hard when someone you care about is missing.”
“Thank you. I don't plan to give up until I find something.” Rachel tucked the picture back into her pocket. “Tell Gina I'll stop by to see them in a few days when she's not so tired.”
“I will, she'll like that. Good luck on your search.”
Rachel smiled at Mario. “Thanks. Have a good evening.”
She left him to see whoever he needed to before he could call it a night and go back to his wife and new baby while she moved onto the next person. Rachel couldn’t help stealing a glance at the tall, blond man across the room, she just couldn’t seem to ignore him as she went about her business. If he hadn’t been wearing a black domino mask she might have been able to tell who he was, but since this was a Mardi Gras party, everyone, including her, wore masks. If she moved close enough, she might have been able to identify him by scent, but only if she knew him. Rachel couldn't catch him watching her, but she felt his gaze on her skin. Push-ing the man out of her mind, she continued talking to people, showing Ricky's photo and asking if they'd seen or heard from him recently. An hour later, her chest ached. No one remembered seeing Ricky since the last time she had. Or at least, not that they would admit.
“Can I see the photo?” A deep, rich voice sound-ed behind her, startling her. Rachel jumped slightly and turned to find the tall man she'd felt watching her all night. The man she'd been unable to ignore as completely as she had wanted to. Looking up at him, her heart beat a little faster, and she was speechless for several seconds.
“Yes, of course,” she said when she regained her voice, handing the photo to the stranger. “It's my brother.” She explained why she was looking for him for what felt like the millionth time that night. The man looked at the picture for several seconds, as if trying to commit the image to memory.
“I'm sorry.” He handed the photo back. “I haven't seen him.”
“Thanks for taking the time to look.” Rachel's shoulders slumped, and she fought back tears. Ricky was the only blood family she had left, and she was afraid he was dead. She'd heard rumors about su-pernormals disappearing all over town. No bodies were ever found. It seemed like they were just gone. She turned to find someone else to show his picture to.
“Hey.” The stranger's hand on her shoulder stopped her, and she glanced back at him. “I'm looking for someone too; maybe we could team up and search together?”
Her stomach fluttered. “Who are you looking for?”
“One of my pack.” He offered her a photo. It was a pretty girl with long dark hair. She looked about twenty-five, but then, so did Rachel, and she was nearly a hundred. She looked familiar, and Rachel took a second look.
“Her name wouldn't happen to be Emily, would it?” Rachel glanced up at him and found a surprised scowl.
“How did you know?” he narrowed his eyes and watched her carefully.
“I think this is the girl Ricky’s been dating. I only met her once though, and only for a couple minutes, so I'm not certain.” She offered the photo back. “He told me she's a shifter, but not one of us. That, and her name, are all I know about her.”
“Well, I'm not sure what you are off hand, I've never found someone who smells quite like you, so I
can't place your other form.” He still watched her with narrowed eyes.
“I'm a dragon.” She gave him a halfhearted smile. “A Chinese dragon to be exact.”
“Ah, that explains it.” He tucked the photo into his jacket pocket and extended one hand. “I'm Chris. Christopher Walters. I've met a couple of dragons in my time but only locals, what are they called again? It’s a hard to pronounce word that I can’t remember.”
“Quetzalcoatl.”
“Yes, that's it.” Chris tugged at the hem of his jacket. “I've met a couple Quetzalcoatl, but I've never known a Chinese dragon.” He glanced away. “I'm not good at this social stuff yet, as I'm a bit new to my position.” He shrugged. “But I was expected to be here tonight. Besides, I needed to come see if Emily was here. She mentioned a while back that the guy she was dating had some pull in the dragon Fraction.”
“How long has Emily been missing?” Rachel tilted her head to one side, watching the man in front of her as she tried to discern how much of what he was telling her was the truth and how much was story intended to make her feel for him.
“Several weeks, at least as long as your brother, but I'm having a hard time nailing down exactly when she was last seen and with whom.” Chris shook his head. “Her mother came to me last week, but she didn't have a lot of details and for some rea-son, people in the pack aren't being very forthcoming.”
“You keep saying pack; I assume you're a wolf shifter?” Rachel glanced around the room making sure nothing needed her attention. After all, this was a gathering her clan had thrown, and while she wasn't the one in charge of it, she felt like she should keep an eye on things just in case it was more than Erin could handle.
“No, not exactly.” Chris looked away, as if he did-n't want to meet her gaze.
The Dragon Chronicles_City of Sin Page 9