The Dragon Chronicles_City of Sin

by Melissa Stevens

  “I can do that.” Chris picked her up, swung her in-to his arms, and carried her into the bedroom.

  REDEEMED BY DESIRE

  1

  Neo sighed and shuffled his feet as he stood in terminal reserved for private and charter flights at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. There it was, the plane he was waiting for. He watched as it seemed to hang in the air for an eternity before finally touching down and slowing to almost a stop. As it started taxing back to the terminal, Neo went to the gate where he was to meet his new charge and waited for her to appear. Teya, Neo's sister and the clan alpha, had insisted he be the one to pick up their visitor, and Neo wasn't happy about it. Anyone in the Fraction could have handled the errand, he didn't see why it had to be him.

  He waited at the end of the gangplank until a tall slender blonde, with her hair pulled into a messy knot on top of her head, appeared. She wore a loose t-shirt and pants with wide swinging legs, much like the ones his sister wore when she wasn't working. Something about the girl made him want to pull her against him and never let go.

  Neo shook his head slightly and wondered where the thought came from. The woman wasn’t alone, two people disembarked with her, a man and a woman, one on either side. The way they scanned the room and were hyper aware of everything around them, Neo knew they were her security detail.

  “Gwrtheyrn?” Neo cringed. “I'm sorry, I know I can't be pronouncing your name right.”

  “Yes?” She turned to settle her gaze on him, and Neo spotted her clear, pale blue eyes. For a moment he was lost, pulled into them until the rest of the world faded away.

  Someone cleared their throat, drawing Neo back to the present.

  “Welcome to Las Vegas. I'm Neopkwai. Teya, our alpha, sent me. Please, call me Neo.” He extended one hand in her direction. She took it and gave it a firm shake.

  “Nice to meet you. I'm Gwen. These are my security team, Isla and Ellis.”

  Neo looked at the woman, small and unimpressive and dismissed her, it wasn’t that he thought she couldn’t do her job, but she was no threat to him because he was no threat to Gwen. But the man, he was different. Ellis was big, bulky enough to appear well muscled, like you would expect from a body guard. He was the one Neo wanted to keep Gwen away from. Logically, he knew the man was there to keep her safe, but how was he to know there wasn't something between them? Just the thought of Gwen in the large man's arms made Neo want to growl and claw the other man’s skin from his bones.

  Neo frowned, not sure why he was feeling this way over a stranger he’d met only seconds before. He pushed the thoughts from his mind and continued with the pleasantries he knew were expected of him, shaking each one’s hand in turn.

  “I’m happy to meet all of you. Do we need to wait for luggage?” Neo glanced around and each of them had a small bag, but Neo was under the impression this was going to be an extended stay, and he couldn't see how the small bags would last them very long.

  Gwen yawned, covering her mouth with the back of one hand. “Sorry, yes, we each have another bag. They said it would only be a few minutes.”

  “Not a problem.” Neo may not want to be here, but he knew this was important to Teya and that he’d better not screw it up. “Would you like to use the restroom, maybe wash your face and wake up a little while we wait? I know it was a long flight. Once your luggage arrives, we'll head over to the MesoAmerican. I don't know about you, but I hate the tiny bathrooms on planes.”

  “A trip to the loo sounds wonderful,” Gwen spoke with a clipped accent, which spoke of an upper-class English education.

  “This way then.” Neo led them to the facilities and watched as Isla went inside while Gwen stood outside with Ellis.

  “All clear.” Isla said as she reappeared in the doorway. Without a word, Gwen slipped through the door and into the restroom. Isla turned and followed her back in, once they were gone, Ellis turned and disappeared into the men’s room.

  AFTER THEIR LUGGAGE arrived, Neo led the visitors to a hidden elevator. As they descended to the parking area, Isla spoke up.

  “I thought I saw a car park outside. Are we not going there?”

  “No. We're headed down into the tunnels. They’ll get us to the resort far faster and without the frustrations of dealing with the normals on the surface streets.” The elevator doors opened, revealing a large open space that would easily accommodate a dozen or more vehicles. The small SUV he'd brought was the only one present.

  After Neo helped them load their luggage, they climbed into the car. Gwen in the rear seat with Isla while Ellis sat in the front with Neo. The trip to the MesoAmerican, the resort-casino owned and managed by the dragon Fraction, only took twenty minutes.

  “Tell me about this place.” Ellis seemed fascinated by the tunnel, he leaned close to the glass to get a better look above the car.

  “What do you want to know about?” Neo wasn’t sure if he meant the tunnels they were in, or Vegas itself.

  “These tunnels, where do they lead?”

  “Pretty much anywhere in town you would want to go, even a good number of them a little way outside of town, like the dam, it's roughly thirty miles from town.”

  “Why?”

  “Easy access for all the supes. I'm sure you’re aware of how sensitive some supernaturals are to sunlight, this lets them get around without worry.” Neo glanced at the imposing man beside him then back to the tunnel ahead of them. He had the headlights on because while there were lights in the section they were currently in, about a hundred feet ahead, there was only darkness. Lights only came on with movement and he wanted to be able to see farther than the light sensors could detect.

  “You're telling me the tunnels are safe for Gwen?”

  “No. Not at all. The tunnels are probably one of the least safe places, especially alone. Safest would be somewhere inside the MesoAmerican, or any other casino for that matter.”

  Ellis frowned, stared out the windshield for several long seconds, then spoke. “If the tunnels are the least safe place for her, then why did you bring us down here?” He tucked one hand under his arm and Neo had no doubt he'd put his hand on the butt of a pistol. The idea didn’t bother him as much as it probably should have.

  “They're not safe for her alone. But she's not alone and she's not wandering them unprotected. With a group the size of ours, there is nothing to worry about. Besides, the tunnels are an amazing way to get where you need to go, as long as you take prudent precautions.”

  “Define 'prudent precautions.'”

  “Don't go alone, especially not being from here, is the biggest one. Take someone who knows the tunnel system with you, or you will end up lost. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s a maze down here.”

  “I'll keep that in mind.” The bodyguard's tone was proper and reserved.

  Wondering what Gwen was thinking about this, Neo glanced in the rearview mirror to find her slumped against the door, seemingly asleep. Something about her face, rounded and relaxed, made him want to stop the car, climb back there with her, and just hold her. Neo shook his head and wondered where the thought came from. He hadn't had thoughts of a woman sneak into his mind like this in centuries.

  When they reached the MesoAmerican, Neo opened the garage with the remote kept in the SUV and parked the car. He'd wanted to watch Gwen awaken, but he'd been busy. By the time he had maneuvered the car into its place, she was bright eyed with no sign she'd been asleep at all. No sleepy face, no creases in her skin, no groggy look, and he wondered how often she took these little cat naps no one ever noticed. After everyone retrieved their bags, Neo led them to the elevator.

  “This is a secure elevator, it has special codes only supes know, and each code has specific access. I'll take you to your rooms now, and then I’ll contact security to get codes for you.” He punched his code into the keypad and the elevator started moving.

  “How many rooms are on the floor we will be staying on?” Isla asked.

  “Other than the three of you
,” the doors slid open and Neo stepped off, leading the others down the hall, “there are just three people on this floor right now. My sister, Teya, and her mate, Jericho, have the suite on this end, across the hall from you. I’m at the other end of this side. Across from me used to be Rachel, Teya's right hand, but she recently moved.”

  “Is there some reason she moved?” Isla asked.

  “Some reason we should be concerned about, that is.” Ellis put in.

  “Not a security reason. She's recently mated. Rachel moved in with him at the Lunar Obsession. She is still Teya's right hand, she just no longer lives on site.”

  Neo pressed his hand to the panel next to the door and waited for the lock to click open before pushing the door open. “Here are your rooms. There are three bedrooms, so one for each of you.” He motioned to the doors leading off the room. “Each room has its own bathroom. We'll get the door panel programmed to your prints this afternoon, but I thought I'd give you a chance to rest and or freshen up before we go up to the floor where Teya's office and Fraction level security are.” He walked into the small kitchen. “There's a coffee maker and an assortment of coffees and teas here, and the fridge is stocked with water. If you get hungry, you can go up to any of the restaurants on the main floor and eat there, or you can call and have food delivered. There's a book with numbers and menus in the desk drawer. I'm here for anything you need, you can come to my door, remember I’m just down the hall if you need anything, or call my cell; I left the number by your phone.” He looked to all three in turn in case they had questions, then continued, “By the way, cell phones will work down here, we have relays on every floor to ensure service.”

  Gwen frowned. “What floor are we on?”

  “We are currently five floors below the main level of the casino. Only the first level is open to norms, it's for hotel operations, laundry, storage, etcetera. The four floors below that are for supes only. The only thing below us is the tunnel system.”

  “Very well.” Ellis gave one quick nod before turning to Gwen. “Which room would you like?”

  “I'll leave you to get settled. Remember, just call if you need anything.” Neo left the apartment, trying desperately to keep from thinking of Gwen in bed or showering. There was something about her that called to something deep within him, whatever it was hated any other man near her, almost as if she were his mate.

  The idea was ridiculous, he knew. He'd been cursed more than two thousand years before to wander through life alone because of a stupid stunt. On a whim, he'd seduced a virgin priestess. Neo had been paying for it ever since, because on top of the curse of being forever alone, he'd also been banished from the village where his family had lived. He had literally wandered alone for years.

  In front of his own door, he shook his head and pushed thoughts of his nomad years from his mind. Dwelling on it would get no one anywhere.

  2

  Gwen watched as the dark-skinned man who'd picked them up at the airport left the room. Neo, he'd asked to be called. She knew the moment she touched his hand he was her mate, but it didn't explain why she found she was curiously comfortable in his presence, something that had never happened so quickly with a new acquaintance. She still marveled that she'd fallen asleep in the four by four. Yes, she was exhausted from the eighteen-hour flight, but she never fell asleep in front of strangers. Not only was it not appropriate, but she usually wasn't able to relax enough around them, until this Neo. Mate or not, normally she would need to get to know him before she trusted him to such a degree. There was something else bothering her too. He'd given no outward sign he'd felt the same about her, but she'd never heard of a mate whose other half didn't feel the same way. Either he had a good inscrutable face, or he didn't recognize her as his mate.

  Now, she stretched and yawned, wanting nothing more than to go take a nap, but she knew if she did, it would only take her longer to adjust to local time. Glancing around her room, she noticed what appeared to be a window looking out over the lights of the city. That was curious. Their guide had told them they were below ground. Moving closer, she found it was a television screen surrounded by a window frame. Very clever, she thought, then took her time unpacking her clothes, putting things in the dresser and closet before taking her toiletries into the bathroom and getting ready to shower.

  THE HOT WATER REFRESHED Gwen and pushed the sleep from her mind, but real sunlight would do even more to help her body adjust. Clean clothes made her feel mostly human again, and after wearing the same outfit for nearly twenty-four hours, she’d needed something clean. She brushed the tangles from her hair then ran her fingers through it, fluffing it so it would dry faster. A glance confirmed there was a blow dryer attached to the bathroom wall, and ten minutes later her hair wasn't completely dry, but it was getting there. Shaking her head, she left her hair down as she went into the sitting room to look around. She'd been stuck on a luxurious but still confining plane for the last eighteen hours and she needed to move around.

  In the sitting room, she found Isla sitting on the settee, sipping a mug of something hot, coffee Gwen assumed. Gwen didn't know Isla well, they'd only met a couple of days before, but the smaller woman seemed to enjoy the more American drink. Gwen preferred tea.

  “Where'd you get the cup?”

  “In the kitchen,” Isla tilted her head toward a kitchenette Gwen hadn't noticed until now. In the small room, Gwen found a single serving drink machine and a good selection of coffee and tea pods beside it. Choosing her favorite, she set a mug under the spout and started the machine.

  “Where's Ellis?”

  “Napping. I’ll take the first shift, he'll take over later.”

  Gwen nodded absently as she opened the fridge. There were a dozen or so bottles of water, a bottle of creamer, a jug milk, and a few other things. The date on the milk was still more than a week in the future, so she assumed housekeeping had stocked it for their stay. The machine let out a final puff of steam. Gwen closed the ice box and took the cup, sweetening it with sugar from a dish next to the pot before carrying it into the sitting room.

  “Have we heard anything from our contact yet? This Neo?” Thinking of the man she'd met only a couple hours earlier made her wonder again about him. Gwen hadn't given much thought to finding her mate. At only 128, she had assumed it would be years, possibly even centuries before she found the one she was destined to love.

  “Not yet,” Isla shook her head.

  “Do you think it's too soon to call? I would like to get the codes for the elevator so I can leave. I need to get some sunshine and exercise or I'm going to be worthless for the next few days from the jet lag.” Gwen strolled into the sitting area and wandered from one cheap painting to another, only giving each a cursory look before moving on. She wasn't paying any attention to what she was looking at but she'd spent too much time sitting recently and needed to be on her feet for a while or she was going to fall asleep. Maybe a hot shower would do the trick?

  3

  Neo sat on the sofa in his living room, arguing with himself. This woman, Gwen, something about her made him hate being even a single suite away from her. The last thing he needed was to screw up yet again by following his dick. He’d spent the last twenty-five hundred years doing penance for the last time.

  He stared up at the two-foot-tall hammered copper two-dimensional sculpture hanging on his living room wall. Teya hated it and regularly asked why he kept it around. Neo refused to tell her. She'd made it exceedingly clear she thought he kept it out of pride. His sister knew this symbol had been used to represent the person he once was. The icon was still not just centuries, but millennia, she thought that was why he kept it around. As a bit of vanity that he had been so well known that people remembered him for hundreds of years, but that wasn’t why. He kept it around as a reminder. A reminder of what his misplaced pride and foolish audacity had cost him. A reminder of having been banished and spending several hundred years wandering the vast countryside. Walking from village to vi
llage but never welcome anywhere for long. Still, all these centuries later, the curse he'd brought upon himself haunted him.

  No, Neo renewed his resolve. Staying away from Gwen as much as he could manage would be his best bet. The question was, how exactly to manage it without failing at his hosting duties.

  Remembering those duties, he picked up the in-house phone next to where he sat and dialed the extension for the security office. The guard picked up the phone, identified himself, and Neo did the same before asking for the access code for the visiting dragons.

  “How many of them are there?” Eduardo, the head of security for the MesoAmerican as well as the dragon clan, asked.

  “Three, but do they all need separate codes?” Neo frowned even though the other man couldn't see him.

  “Will any of them ever be alone?”

  “I'm sure they will be, at least now and again.” The idea of always having someone else with him, except for possibly Gwen, made his head hurt. “It's hard for three people to do everything together twenty-four seven.”

  “Then three codes it is.” Eduardo collected the names and gave Neo the access codes for each.

  Neo wrote the codes on separate index cards he pulled from the drawer with a pen. He kept both there for quick notes. These codes would give them access to the elevator, rooms and anywhere else they needed to go in the resort.

  After hanging up with Eduardo, Neo sat for a moment and wondered if he should deliver the codes now or let them rest. If it were him traveling, he would want to check out the place and get something to eat. His decision made, Neo sighed, pushed himself to his feet, and went to the door.

  As he knocked on her door, Neo told himself he was going to give them the codes and go, but when Isla opened the door and Neo spotted Gwen standing inside, he found words he hadn't planned to say coming out of his mouth.