Lucien: Dragofin Mated: Book 2 (Dragonfin Clan Mated)

by Mychal Daniels

  She said, “You’re right, Ajax. I know what this is. It’s about greed, fear and a huge helping of revenge. So tell me, who did the Dragofin Clan piss off?”

  29

  Wren… Undisclosed location, Atlanta, GA

  “What do you hope to accomplish by keeping me here? I told you, they don’t have any money or treasure.” Wren roared, pressing her face through the cold metal of the bars, as she attempted to rattle the cage they’d put her in.

  “Shut her up before I do,” one of the men said to the other one.

  The other man stood to come near her and was about to say something when the door to the room opened. In walked two women, a man she didn’t know… and Craig. It had been Craig who’d lured her to the aisle in the back where they’d been waiting to grab her. When she got out of this, Wren was going to do something bad to him. What? She hadn’t figured that out yet, but it would be horrible, and he’d hurt for it.

  She gave him all her attention throwing daggers of intense loathing at him. His non-verbal response was to give her puppy dog eyes like he was innocent. Like hell he was.

  “When I get out of here your ass is mine Craig Bastian! I knew you were no good—I knew it. Over and over I tried to tell Quinn that, but would she listen to me? No. Now I’ve been kidnapped over some bullshit treasure. All I know is you better run when I get free,” Wren said not caring how much her hatred for the man burst through her words.

  “My, my, you’re an optimistic one, now aren’t you,” the tall, beautiful woman who’d been with Craig yesterday said. “If I didn’t know any better I’d think you’d had a mental snap. But… since I know that you’re still sane, I’ll excuse that pathetic declaration. I understand how you—people—need to believe you’re in control at all times, haha.”

  The woman’s voice dripped with an elegantly constructed facade of sugary compassion. Ii infused with each word with a touch of something dangerously alluring. This power invaded everything she said. It wooing the listener, even the venomous content of her words flowed. Wren looked hard at her again, straining to see the real her. Danger was thick in the air, but what was she? It sure wasn’t all human, if that. The woman had confidence that superseded even the cockiest of egos. Whatever her deal was, this woman acted as if she believed she was above “people.” She’d said things to support that more than once on the transport here.

  A saving grace was that they hadn’t tried to drug her. The hit on her head had rung her bell good, leaving a terrible headache. Her screaming for the last ten or so minutes at these goons hadn’t made it any better. For low-grade pain like this Wren never took any medicine, not even aspirin. She believed this type of pain was one of the body’s wisdom messages. Pain always pointed to a bigger issue. It needed to be received and acted on. The fool was the one who tried to mute pain by medicinal means.

  Since leaving the Lair and not having Matt around, Wren’s sight for seeing beyond the surface had diminished. It was back to its normal snatches here and there. He made her better in so many ways. He encouraged and believed her. This had helped Wren work on heightening her abilities—whatever they might be.

  Wren missed Matt too much to admit even to herself and pushed back the thought of if she’d ever see him again. It was pathetic. In under two days, she’d succumb to the charm of that man. He was so attentive and everything she’d wanted in a relationship goal.

  Wren had hoped they would be able to spend more time together. Time, that’s what she’d wanted with him. With more of it, maybe he would be able to move past seeing her as Quinn’s boring little friend. She wanted him to move past treating her like a porcelain cup to seeing her as someone he might be interested in dating. Shaking the optimistic thought from her head, Wren refocused on looking at the woman. There was something off about her. Even though she looked like a normal woman, everything about her set alarms off in Wren. She got the same feeling of danger, much like yesterday in the Diner parking lot.

  “Why do you care if I need to feel in control or not? From what I can see, looks like the pot calling the kettle black.”

  “You can use all your trite little sayings, but they have no effect on me. If your friend doesn’t get Hildy here with the money and bring me that Dragon’s Eye, you won’t have to worry about control because you’ll be dead.” The woman’s look of disgust was palpable. “I can’t even get anything for you on the flesh market. You’re too fat, too old and plain looking. What a waste, sucking up my air. No missy, you better hope and pray they show up with some money and that treasure. Else, you’ll be another missing black girl that nobody cares enough about to look for.”

  Wren stepped back from the bars. The move was an involuntary reaction to the woman’s words, and she hated herself for showing weakness. She had to think about what to do and stop doing so much talking. Talking was Quinn’s thing, not hers. Yeah, she’d shut up and bide her time. Some opportunity would present itself. Wren had to be calm and look for it.

  “What’s the matter? You scared now?” the woman asked.

  The other younger woman spoke up, “Oriana, don’t be such a bitch. Yeah, she’s scared and should be—you’re a crazy-assed bitch.”

  “Takes one to know one—daughter.”

  The one called Julia ignored the interruption. “Anyway… we need to stop playing around here. I still need to get Ajax away from Hildy. You promised. I did my part with the sign spell. You need to do your part.”

  “Julia for the love of blessed money, stop whining over that weak excuse of a Dragonling. I keep telling you he’s not worthy of your gifts and power. If you want a Dragon so much, you can have Lucien. Once this one’s friend shows up, she’ll be out of the way, and he’ll be free to mate with you.”

  Wren took all this in fighting the best fight of her life to look stoic. Craig had inched closer to the corner, away from the women. If he wasn’t such a jerk, his look might have gotten some compassion from her. Instead, she fumed with his duplicity and the measure of the company he kept. What was evident now was that this Oriana woman was in charge and he was her patsy.

  Wren observed without appearing to watch the social dynamic between the quartet of people. The other man, short and unremarkable, stood closer to the door. He was expressionless but carried an air of that control Oriana had chided her about. He’d been easy to discern. He must be some government drone hoping these crazy women could get that jewel for him or something. He had government agency company man stamped all over him. From his white shirt, dark suit, to the uneventful glasses and overall appearance he was obvious. And… he was most definitely all the way human. There wasn’t a spark to be found. She couldn’t even see much of his life force aura. On top of everything else, the man had the energy of a depressed person.

  As if her thoughts had given him animation, he walked farther into the room and looked at her for a few moments. Turning back to the woman named Oriana, he asked, “And you’re sure she’s a regular human. Not some freak like you two and Hildy, right?”

  “Shut your tiny little mouth, Mr. Scott! You don’t need to give her any more information than needed. Can’t you see and feel her scheming over there, watching us to see if she can find a way to break out of here?” Oriana smiled at how Mr. Scott had jumped and cowered in response. As if remembering her initial interest, the woman looked back over to Wren and smiled a movie-star dazzler. The effect was so perfect that it would make any paparazzi pee his pants for a photo. “Yes dear, you are quite predictable, boring, and obvious. Anything you think of I’ll know. Save your energy. You don’t get to do anything I don’t approve, not even taking a shit.”

  “Oriana! That’s not called for,” Craig said. His voice wasn’t as strong as Wren remembered. It sounded a bit defeated, to tell the truth. That couldn’t bode well for him or her if he were scared of this woman.

  “What did you say to me, Craig? I know you didn’t get some precious cartilage in the posterior region of your body also known as your back? Did you? Did you finally g
row a backbone, huh Craig?” Oriana taunted him more that spoke to him. “You’re not even worth my attention. Another word out of you and I’ll let my daughter here practice her suspended animation spell on you. Would you like that? To become a living doll, moved and played with by a teenage female? You’re so weak and vile. I don’t know why I’ve kept you around until now. You’re useless.”

  Instead of looking at Oriana, Craig looked over to Wren and mouthed the words, “I’m so sorry.”

  His gesture hit Wren in the gut. The man was as much a hostage as she was. To what extent and how long would determine how much she was able to forgive him. For now, she’d save any plan that presented itself for the other three. She slid down the metal bar wall of the back of the cage they kept her in and sunk to the cold concrete floor.

  Unforgiving, cool concrete greeted her bottom as she sat down. It was cold in here. They’d taken her coat and purse. She had on a flimsy workout top, but the hoodie over it provided a little defense from the coolness of the air.

  Looking down into her lap, Wren concentrated on staying calm. She focused on controlling her breathing and allowing the opportunity to present itself. She might not know anything else, but there was a surety that she’d get out of this and survive the ordeal to speak of it.

  The man named Mr. Scott looked at his watch and said, “It’s almost eleven now. Check on your men to make sure Hildy hasn’t arrived yet. I have to insist you take me seriously about her. She’s our best-trained assassin with stealth and cunning as some of her top weapons. If they found your little childish sign,” that part was directed at the teen named Julia, “I’m certain she’s coming with a plan. It won’t go well for you if you don’t see her before she sees you.”

  Julia spoke, her voice chilled with malice colder than the air in the room. “Don’t worry about that bird bitch. I’ll take care of her myself. She’s in my way.”

  “No!” he said, “She’s the asset. Oriana, keep your little witch, I mean, daughter, on a leash. I’m paying you to deliver Hildy to me unharmed. You’re getting whatever that Dragon’s Eye is and money makes up your part of this deal and bonus. Stick to that, and I’ll take Hildy when she’s delivered to me safely.”

  “Fair enough,” Oriana said. “What about this one and the one Craig conned?”

  The question hurt and stung Wren deeply. This had all been a con and game for them to milk money out of her friend. If only she were a supernatural being too, this situation would go way different. Wren hadn’t even had time to process Quinn’s earlier declaration that she was an alien being called a Sibyl.

  Wren had no idea what it was, but the proof of her words was in the glow, power, and change in her aura. Quinn had always been a star, burning brighter than those around her. With her sharp tongue, wit, and attack on living this life, the signs had always been there. Yes, this new part of her had beamed bright well before Quinn had made it close to her in the main area of the Lair.

  She was happy for Quinn. Lucien was a great man, and as a Dragon, she could tell he was valiant and strong. He matched her friend in perfect harmony. Together they were power personified. That’s what Quinn needed to stay excited and living her best life. Yes, Wren was happy her friend had found the right person for her and not this sniveling con man, Craig.

  This current situation was looking direr by the second. Instead of looking at Oriana, this time she focused her attention on the daughter, Julia. The young woman leaned against the wall looking at her mother like she was bored and Oriana was a clueless fool—a typical teenager look. Although both women were unnaturally beautiful and blond, they didn’t show any resemblance to one another in appearance or aura. It was as if they were in the same tribe but not related.

  Wren found herself squinting at the young woman. The more she did, particles, light, and objects started to take shape and form around Julia’s body. They were fuzzy and incoherent symbols, like nothing she’d ever seen, but it was something. Wren pulled on her willpower and determination to make out what this girl was. The longer she stared at Julia, the more she changed. Instead of morphing into some animal like Wren had expected, the girl looked even more delicate and tiny. Unlike Oriana who was tall, slender and movie-star gorgeous, Julia looked like a delicate being, much like Wren would expect a fairy to look like.

  Hmm, a fairy? That had to be it.

  Looking at Julia again past what was presented in the present, she looked like an other-worldly fairy. Some of the delicate features of the being beneath had been strengthened and enlarged to look more human in the regular world, but the features were undeniable when Julia placed her hair over her ear to reveal a pointed ear. It was there in the other world and only slightly pronounced in this one.

  Next Wren took in the symbols and shapes floating around Julia’s fairy aura. Studying it with intense concentration, the symbols began to look like the letters, C, H, and O in different formations and connections. More letters began to emerge: N, Z, L, M, G, A, P and the list lengthened putting the letters together in pairs and combinations that didn’t form words but were familiar all the same. Wait, Wren knew what this was. She’d taken Organic Chemistry in college during her failed attempt at Pre-Med Chemistry. The symbols represented organic compounds. But why were they dancing around this fairy like this? The longer she looked, the little woman was covered in more formulas and now compounds. What Wren wouldn’t give for a periodic table right about now. This was trippy, but the symbols and compounds must represent something. She just had to pull back and see the larger picture.

  The group seemed to have concluded their hushed meeting with the men who’d been guarding her. It looked like they were about to leave. No, she still needed time to figure this out. There was no way Wren could give up. Wren watched in desperation as Julia turned to follow behind Oriana and that Mr. Scott guy. When she was about to leave out of the door, the chemical formula that had been one of the first Wren had balanced back in class years ago, clung to the air around Julia’s back. It was the formula for plain old salt, NaCl. What? That was so ordinary with nothing special, mystical or magical about it. Wait a minute. Magical—the energy of that word zinged and pinged within Wren. That was it. This girl was dabbling with chemical compounds, but not as a scientist.

  Oriana’s threat to Craig rushed back to the front of her mind. Oriana had said Julia would cast a spell on him. A spell—she had to be a real witch in addition to a fairy, just like Mr. Scott had called it. This Julia chick was a little witch fairy. Wren reorganized what had come to her first. At the Lair around the Dragons, Gryphon, and Hildy, she’d learned that the strongest part of their makeup was the first thing that would come through. When she looked at them in that sight beyond sight that had strengthened since being in the Lair, Wren saw their base nature. When she looked at Julia, she saw power sucking tentacle-like appendages, chemical formulas, and fairy.

  Gotcha!

  The best Wren could surmise was that Julia had stopped paying attention to her and thus had let her guard down. Wren could see what she was now, and it was grim. Julia wasn’t just a witch. With her fairy blood and thirst for power, this girl siphoned energy for her magic like a parasite feeding off the innocent and clueless. If her plan to be with Ajax succeeded, there was no doubt in Wren’s mind he’d be dead soon. Julia’s need for power had a sucking effect, draining the area around her.

  Oriana must be able to control her for them to be so comfortable with each other. Mother or no, that Julia had another agenda that didn’t include Oriana. It was clear as day. Alone in the cold room with only one of those men and Craig remaining now, Wren closed her eyes and concentrated. The way to freedom would become clear. She had to believe that.

  Hope was doused a little when Julia slipped back in. “You didn’t think I was going to let her have all the fun did you?” The witch fairy said, walking over to Craig. “You two are going to help me practice a little something I’ve been working on. Should be exciting for me—you, not so much.”

 
The flicker of hope that had fought to stay lit within Wren turned into a faint ember in the distance. Concentrating more on finding a way out of this, Wren remained quiet, keeping her head down as she watched what Julia did from hooded eyes. The sight was hideous, evaporating her ability to move. Wren forced the sounds of Craig’s strangled, gurgling cries and wails of pleading with Julia out to focus.

  Instead of information on what to do coming to her, Matt’s face flooded her mind’s eye. He smiled with the saddest expression. Then it dissolved. Wren managed to stay with his face the fourth time it came to her. This meant something. Staring at the image of the first man she believed she could fall in real love with, Wren took in the vision. He mouthed what looked like he was saying, “Stay with me.” Then the apparition turned away from her and pointed. What he pointed to was murky and unfocused. When he turned back toward her, Wren wanted to reach out to him and hold on. She wanted him to find her. She wanted… him.

  30

  Lucien… The Lair

  “Where is he?” Miss Connie asked, rushing into the main area of the Lair with her large bag.

  “He’s over here on the mat,” Matt said. He grabbed the little woman’s arms and rushing her over to where an unconscious Greg lay.

  “Everyone step aside so I can get a good look at him.” Miss Connie dropped her bag, ignoring the Clanking of objects within it as she lowered herself down to check Greg out. “Whew! Have you guys considered using some odor neutralizer? I know it’s been a while since I was in here, but this will never do now that you’re taking on mates. Geez, y’all, it stinks like a men’s locker room. No wonder Greg is still out.”

  Lucien frowned, seeing no reason to consider the smell of the area at a time like this. Instead he held his tongue. Miss Connie was one of the oldest healers around. Part Olodian, she descended from a long line of Goddess appointed Healers from Olodia. It was a popular planet located in the distant solar system named after it. Miss Connie had inherited some of the immense healing gifts of the Olodian Healers through that part of her heritage.