Hidden Dragon

by Harmony Raines

  “In that case, you and I are going to get on just fine.” Joe put his head down and the two men worked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Doran wished he could get lost in his memories instead. But thoughts of Fleur and their life together was the next best thing.

  Chapter Twelve – Fleur

  “I’ll leave you to have a talk about the houses we’ve viewed.” Fleur stood outside a small two-bedroom house on a quiet street on the edge of Bear Creek with Mr. and Mrs. Goode. The viewings had been very successful, and Fleur was certain they would choose one of the last two properties she’d shown them.

  “I think we’ve made up our mind,” Mr. Goode said. “But we’re going to take twenty-four hours just to make sure we’re not acting on impulse.”

  “That’s a sensible idea,” Fleur agreed. “This is a big step for you both.”

  “Not as big as having this little one.” Mrs. Goode stroked her swollen belly.

  “When are you due?” Fleur asked, remembering she was supposed to pop in and see Ronni, her sister, who was due to give birth any day now. Resisting the urge to look at her watch, Fleur listened to Mr. and Mrs. Goode talk about nurseries and strollers and cribs.

  “We’d like to move in before the baby comes. So we’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Mr. Goode shook her hand and ushered his wife toward the car.

  They’re so in love and so happy, her bear commented.

  And I’m sure we’ll look the same way soon. Maybe not the baby bump, though. Not for a while. Fleur wasn’t sure who she was trying to reassure. Sure, she had feelings for Doran, but it was too soon to call it love.

  Let’s call it lust then, her bear teased.

  A relationship needs more than a physical attraction, Fleur told her bear.

  He’s our mate. Her bear’s statement still didn’t mean Fleur was ready to declare her undying love for a man she’d just met. Well, it should.

  Fleur waved as Mr. and Mrs. Goode drove away and then walked to her car. She would drop in on Ronni at the animal sanctuary on the way home. It was a small detour, but she welcomed the time alone with her thoughts.

  And she had a lot to think over.

  Her relationship with Doran was only the start. Her biggest worry was Mr. Preston and his attitude toward his treatment. It was as if he’d already given up and given in to the disease that threatened his life.

  He has no mate to live for, her bear reminded Fleur.

  Is that what happens if you don’t find your mate? It’s like something inside of him shriveled up and died.

  We’d better make sure Jax and Davy find their mates, her bear stated firmly, as if it were that easy.

  Fate. Whose crazy idea was that?

  The animal shelter parking lot was empty except for Ronni’s truck with the name, Bear Creek Animal Shelter, written across the door. Her sister had devoted her life to the shelter, even after she’d met her mate, married and settled down to her happy ever after with the man she loved. But things would change once the baby came.

  Getting out of her car, Fleur locked the door out of habit and walked across to the reception area. The shelter was between Bear Creek and Bear Bluff, with no traffic or houses too close it was quiet, apart from bird song and the occasional dog barking.

  “Hello.” Ronni met Fleur at the door and gave her an awkward hug. “I’ll be glad when this little one is born. It’s getting harder every day to do the simplest of tasks.”

  “You look amazingly happy.” Fleur stood back and studied her sister. “Being a mother suits you.”

  Ronni’s brow creased as she rubbed her baby bump. “What’s wrong?”

  Fleur held out her arms and said, “I’ve met my mate.”

  Ronni instantly brightened up and a smile spread across her face. “That’s amazing, I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thanks.” She sighed.

  “So why the miserable face?” Ronni waddled into the room behind the office and Fleur followed. “Sit down. I’ll make some tea.”

  “Tea?” Fleur asked as Ronni filled the kettle and put it on a small stove. “Since when did you drink tea?”

  “Since coffee makes the baby go into hyperdrive.” She looked down at her belly. “Two cups a day is my limit.” Fleur wiped a tear from her cheek, which didn’t go unnoticed by her sister. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  “Mr. Preston has cancer and it’s like he’s given up.” Fleur blew out a long breath as she fought the tears that threatened to flow. She’d held it together all day, but the dam was about to break. “I know I’m supposed to be happy I’ve found my mate. And I don’t want him to see me like this and think I’m sad because we’ve met.”

  Ronni sat down awkwardly on the lumpy threadbare sofa that also doubled as a bed when anyone had to stay overnight and look after a sick animal or monitor a pregnant dog or cat. “Listen, he’s your mate, he’ll understand why you are sad.”

  Fleur’s shoulders drooped forward, and Ronni hugged her close. Or as close as her unborn baby would allow. Fleur let the tears flow, knowing Ronni wouldn’t feel uncomfortable with the outpouring of emotion. “I just feel so sad for him,” she finally managed to say.

  “I know.” Ronni stroked Fleur’s hair. “And I also know that you would do anything for him. He gave you a start in a great career, he believed in you. But this is his fight. You can be there to support him every step of the way, but you can’t fight it for him.”

  “I know. But now that I’ve found my mate, I’m sad for him because he’s missed out on so much. I never knew before just how complete finding your mate can make a person.” Fleur sniffed loudly as she sat up and then accepted a tissue from Ronni. “Thanks.”

  “It’s a difficult thing to comprehend until you actually meet your mate, isn’t it?” Ronni got up and went to make the tea. “I never truly understood, not until I met Lucas. He’s everything to me. Aside from this little one, of course.”

  “I never expected you to want children,” Fleur told her sister as she accepted a cup of hot tea. “Thanks.”

  “You mean because I always preferred puppies and kittens?” Ronni sat back down on the sofa, her hand on the armrest as she lowered herself down.

  “Yes. Or any other animal.” She sipped her tea. “If you had a choice when we were younger, you would prefer to play with an animal more than the other kids. Now you are going to have a kid of your own to raise.”

  “I’m going to be back in the schoolyard. But my kid is lucky, I can pass on my experiences and make sure they don’t have a hard time with other kids.” She looked down at her belly. “I suppose that’s what I love about having a baby. I can pass on a part of myself, my experiences, the things I love. I can share the world with them.”

  “You’re going to make a great mom.” Fleur took hold of Ronni’s hand. “And I’m there for whatever you need.”

  “What I need is for you to give yourself some time to process all of this. Having a mate is amazing, but it’s also a shock. Suddenly all the plans you’ve made mean nothing because there’s another person you have to think of.” Ronni brushed Fleur’s hair back from her face affectionately. “Do you remember when we used to dream of what our mate would be like?”

  Fleur rolled her eyes. “I do. And I was way off.”

  “Oh, so what’s he like? Not a strapping bear shifter who lives in a cozy log cabin in the mountains so that when it snows you can get snowed in together?” Ronni asked as she cupped her mug of tea in two hands.

  Fleur shook her head. “I could never have guessed what my mate would be like.”

  “Now I’m intrigued.” Ronni set her mug down on the small table next to the sofa. “What is he?”

  “Something very special.” She teased Ronni by sipping her tea instead of telling her sister what her mate was. Maybe because she had trouble believing it herself. Fleur was shy about telling Ronni, even though Ronni was Emilia’s sister-in-law and knew all about the dragons.

  How exactly did you explain to someone
that your mate was a mythical beast only found in storybooks?

  Or on the lower slopes of the mountains surrounding Bear Creek, her bear added helpfully.

  Ronni tilted her head to one side. “Come on. Tell me.”

  “A dragon shifter.”

  Ronni huffed and got up awkwardly from the sofa. “Fine, if you don’t want to tell me, keep it to yourself. Emilia told me they couldn’t find any more dragons.”

  “No, I mean it. When I went to Woodacre yesterday, he woke up. Doran is a dragon shifter who was put under the same spell as Emilia and Magnus.” She held her hands out shoulder-width apart. “When he sensed me, he went full-on dragon. All scales and talons.”

  “And treasure. Does he have a huge pile of treasure?” Ronni’s eyes were wide as she tried to process her sister’s words.

  “Oh, yes, he was sitting on this huge pile of treasure.” Fleur’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t believe me.”

  Ronni studied her sister for a long moment. “I know when you are lying…and this isn’t a lie.”

  Fleur slumped forward. “No, it’s not a lie. It’s the truth. The whole scary truth.”

  “Why is it scary?” Ronni asked. “All the dragons we’ve met are good people.”

  “I’m scared because he’s a dragon who was put to sleep for a reason. A reason he can’t remember because he can’t remember anything.” Fleur sighed in exasperation and dragged a hand through her hair. “I guess that’s the thing. Why couldn’t I have a straightforward mate instead of a dragon with a mystery to solve? A mystery hidden away hundreds of years in the past.”

  “Hundreds of years?” Ronni wrinkled her nose. “Is he old and wrinkly?”

  Fleur laughed as she stood up and gathered their cups. Crossing over to the sink, she ran the water until it was hot and then washed up the cups. “He is very handsome. And although he could do with putting a little weight on and regaining his muscle tone, he looks surprisingly good.”

  “Surprisingly good?” Ronni asked as she sat back on the sofa. “So he’s hot then?”

  Color crossed Fleur’s cheeks. “You might call him hot.”

  “Oh, might you,” Ronni teased.

  “Well, he is a fire-breathing dragon, so he’s bound to be hot.” Fleur washed up the coffee cups plus a small plate with cake crumbs on it. Ronni had developed a sweet tooth while she was carrying her bear cub. Her particular favorite treat was honey cake. Homemade honey cake. One of their mom’s specialties. But with a brood of bears to raise, it was no wonder. Honey and bears went together like…

  Dragons and treasure, her bear added.

  Like dragons and treasure, Fleur agreed.

  “I’m having a hard time believing it,” Fleur admitted. “I feel as if my whole life has been turned upside down.”

  “Oh, Fleur, honey. I can see why this is all so hard for you. You have a boss who is physically ill and a mate who is mentally impaired.” Ronni held up her hand. “I don’t mean that he’s crazy. Just that he isn’t himself.”

  “I’m just scared he won’t ever get his memories back. How do I know what kind of a man he really is if he doesn’t know himself?” Fleur folded her arms across her body as a sense of betrayal crept through her. She knew Doran wasn’t crazy and she also knew that wasn’t what Ronni was implying, and yet her sister was right. Until Doran got his memories back, he wasn’t going to be complete. He needed to know who he was and where he came from.

  And why he agreed to have the Ancient Slumber spell cast on him, her bear added helpfully.

  “Listen, he is your mate. Fate picked him out especially for you. He is a good man.” Ronni grinned. “You must have been meant to be since Doran had to hang around for centuries until you were born and grew up.”

  “I suppose there is that to consider.” Fleur sighed. “I should go. I left Doran with Mom and Dad. But Dad will be leaving for work soon.”

  “If there is anything I can do for you and your mate, you let me know. That goes for Lucas, too. He’ll be willing to help in any way he can.” Ronni got up awkwardly from the sofa and held out her arms. “I might be pregnant but I’m still here for you.”

  “And I might have a shiny new mate, but I’m still here for you.” Fleur hugged Ronni for a long while. “Thank you.”

  “What are sisters for?” Ronni let Fleur go and then turned away, wiping her eyes. “These baby hormones are leaving me a wreck.”

  “Oh, come on, don’t blame your hormones, you always cried at everything. Your soft heart is the reason you opened the animal shelter.” Fleur went back through the reception area and Ronni followed.

  “You speak the truth.” Ronni held out her hands and shrugged. “Would you want me any other way?”

  Fleur tilted her head to one side and looked at her sister critically before grinning. “No. There is not one thing I would change.”

  “Back at you, sis. And you tell that mate of yours that if he doesn’t appreciate you, I’ll be coming for him. This momma bear is not afraid of a big, bad dragon.” Ronni stuck her two thumbs out and jabbed them at herself.

  “I think I’m okay. But if he gives me any trouble, I’ll send him your way.” Fleur lifted her hand and waved goodbye as she got into her car and drove home to her mate.

  Chapter Thirteen – Doran

  She’s close. His dragon’s voice crept into his daydream as he sipped Joe’s homemade beer and watched the sun crest the mountain.

  Doran stood up and watched as Fleur’s car turned off the main road and approached the house. He was slowly getting used to this new world around him. After a day with Tansy and Joe, he had learned about wonderful things like washing machines, that washed clothes by spinning them around and around in a tin box, along with lawn mowers and electric cookers. Although nothing compared with the amazing indoor plumbing which made showers and indoor flushing toilets a reality.

  I hope you think our mate is more amazing than indoor plumbing, his dragon teased.

  Oh, she is. The car stopped in front of the house and Fleur got out. I have decided to take her to our treasure and pick out the most exquisite ring to place on her finger.

  I think I know just the ring, his dragon puffed smoke out of his nostrils. We should visit our treasure, I miss the feel of it under my feet.

  “Hi.” Fleur got out of the car and shielded her eyes from the sun as she walked toward him. “Ahh, you’ve had a busy day sampling my dad’s homebrew.”

  “We have toiled in the garden, weeding and planting for hours.” He held up his glass of amber liquid. “This is my reward.”

  She opened the gate leading from the front of the house into the vegetable garden and then closed it securely behind her. “Wow, this looks great. You and my dad make a great team.”

  “I have enjoyed my day with him. But now he has gone to work.” Doran frowned as he tried to recall exactly what Fleur’s dad did for a job. “He works in a where house.” His frown deepened. “But if he doesn’t know where it is, how does he work there?”

  Fleur giggled and held her hand out for the half-full glass in Doran’s hand. “How many glasses of beer have you drank?”

  Doran passed the glass to her. “Not enough to make sense of this crazy world of yours.”

  She sat down on the bench next to him and took a sip of beer from the glass. “It’s your world, too, now.” Fleur stretched out her long legs encased in black pants and sighed. “I wish we could go back in time so you could share your world with me.”

  “Alas, that is impossible. However, I would like to show you my treasure.” He got up from the seat and stretched. The nearness of his mate threatened to overpower his senses. Perhaps he was intoxicated by the beer, after all, it had been hundreds of years since a drop of liquor had passed his lips.

  “I’d love to see your treasure. I also want to visit the rest of the ruins we flew over last night.” She looked at her wristwatch. “We have a few hours of daylight left. I’ll grab some food to take and we can have a picnic.”

&n
bsp; “A picnic.” The word wasn’t familiar to him.

  “We eat outside.” She took a gulp of his beer and handed it back to him. “If you feel strong enough. It’s too light for you to shift into your dragon, we’ll have to hike to the ruins.”

  “I’ve regained much of my strength.” He flexed his muscles as if to reassure himself.

  “That’s okay, if we run into trouble, my bear will protect us.” She cast a sideways glance at him and laughed. “We’re equal in this.”

  “I know.” He raised his glass and drank the last of the beer. “But a man needs to believe he can protect his mate. Or what use is he?” Doran kept his face deadpan until Fleur erupted in a fit of giggles.

  “You have a sense of humor, dragon shifter. Maybe you are a keeper after all.” She went to walk away from him, but he caught hold of her hand and drew her toward him.

  “Was there any doubt that I am a keeper?” Doran asked in all seriousness.

  She slipped her free hand around the nape of his neck and stroked the sensitive skin. The hairs along the back of his neck stood on end and his eyes dilated as he fixated on her lips. “I don’t know. It depends on how good this kiss is.”

  He moistened his lips. “You think I’m going to kiss you.”

  “Oh, I know you’re going to kiss me.” She eased her body forward until she was pressed against him. The warmth of her soft curves molded to his toned muscles inflamed his desire. Fleur was right, he was going to kiss her.

  Letting go of her hand, he slid his palm over her back and down further to cup the curve of her full bottom. With the right amount of pressure, he held her close, so she could not escape him. Not that she intended to escape him. When their gaze met, her mesmerizing green eyes, cracked with veins of rich copper, held a challenge he could not deny.

  Doran’s lips twitched as he fought the urge to smile at her. A big goofy smile like a lovelorn fool. But he could not be that fool. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Until he knew the reason for the Ancient Slumber spell, he could not afford to let his guard down. The danger might still be out there and now that he’d found his mate, she might be in danger, too.