Lock and Key

by Evangeline Anderson

  Only a few months before he had broken free of me and gone flying to where she was—a stunt that had nearly earned me an expulsion. The humans don’t believe in dragons—or witches, or fairies, or vampires for that matter. And they don’t like to have their beliefs challenged by a ten-ton Drake flying over their heads in the middle of the morning.

  In the end, Headmistress Nightworthy who runs Nocturne Academy, had let me off with a warning—that I must keep better control of the beast which lived inside me. I had agreed but what could I do when he was so attuned to her—to Kaitlyn, the little human girl I had somehow become linked to?

  I don’t know how it happened—maybe it was because I spilled blood for her. Not mine—Pedro Sanchez’s. I had punched the pendejo in the face when he had mocked her and made fun of her scars. And unfortunately, many of the Drakes that ran with his crew had joined in.

  I swear I had no feelings for her before then. But seeing Sanchez pick on a helpless female like that enraged me. I had been raised in the Sky Lands, the home world of the Drakes, to protect and champion those weaker and more vulnerable than me. My father was constantly lecturing me about the importance of caring for those that were unable to care for themselves.

  “History will judge you by the way in which you treat the least of your people, Ari,” he would tell me, his voice echoing through the vast and cavernous audience chamber where he sat to hear grievances every month. “You must be certain you can look back later and be proud of your actions.”

  But at the time Kaitlyn was being bullied, I can’t say it was my father’s words that drove me to action. It was my own internal fury at seeing her hurt and abused.

  And something else as well.

  For the minute I punched Sanchez and spilled his blood defending her, the Drake inside me woke up. He usually sleeps here in the human world—he might as well—it isn’t as though I can let him out to go flying. But the scent of blood and the threat of violence brought him out of his somnolent slumber and for the first time since I had come to the human world, he spoke.

  I don’t mean he spoke just to me—I hear him in my head often, though he communicates more in emotions than words. My other half can be a restless partner to share a body with. When I say he spoke, what I mean is that he actually came forward and talked using my mouth and looking through my eyes. For a moment, he was in control and I was only watching in the background.

  What he said to Sanchez changed everything.

  “She is mine,” he growled, his voice deep and sonorous in my ears. “Touch this little female again and I will flame you from the sky.”

  That had caused Sanchez to retreat some—he and his Sire are high in the ranks of the Drakes, but my father is the leader of our kind—what some humans call the Alpha or the king. Also, my Drake is bigger, his flame hotter, and his wings fly higher than the beast Sanchez hosts and he knows it.

  Still, he refused to back down completely. I had seen the murderous glint in his eyes, which let me know that Kaitlyn wasn’t safe—which was why I had started following her to and from class—at a distance of course—to make certain she was all right.

  All right—that’s a lie. I followed her and kept close to her not just to protect her, but because I couldn’t help myself.

  Once my Drake had laid his claim on her, my heart followed his. There was something special about Kaitlyn Fellows. I didn’t know what it was but my Drake sensed it and I did too. It was something that drew us both to her—something impossible to ignore.

  “Dios…” I sighed and ran a hand through my hair as I felt the tension begin to fade on the other end of the strange connection I had to the little human. “See, she must have had another bad dream,” I told my Drake. “She does that sometimes, you know.”

  I knew it was true because every time she had a nightmare, it woke me up. I would have been annoyed with her if I could have been, but there was no room in me for that emotion—I was too filled with the need to protect her and…other things.

  I felt a sense of questioning coming from my other half—he wanted to go down and check to make certain Kaitlyn was okay.

  I had done that in the past—left my bedroom in the West Tower where the Drake dorms were located and gone down to the entrance of the “Norm Dorm” where the human students who attended Nocturne Academy were housed. It was a trap door in the Dining Hall which led down into the dungeons of the old castle.

  Sometimes I went down and listened at the trap door, making certain Kaitlyn was well, before going back to bed. Sometimes my Drake was too restless and I had to pace around, playing sentry for as much as an hour before he would finally let me go back to my own bed and rest.

  As I said before, it would have been annoying if I wasn’t so filled with other emotions.

  What my Drake really wanted was for me to open the trap door and go down into the Norm Dorm—where I most certainly did not belong—and take Kaitlyn in my arms. He wanted to feel her held close and secure against my chest, to still her night terrors personally and know that she was safe from having them again.

  But that, I could not do, though I admit I wished for it too. She already feared me—at least, if the frightened looks she sometimes shot in my direction were anything to go by. And breaking into her bedroom at night to hold her would only make her more scared.

  Not to mention getting me expelled.

  Only once had Kaitlyn accepted help from me and that was after Sanchez had hurt and bullied her during the PE class we shared. She had allowed me to take her and her friend Megan Latimer to the Healer and she had even worn my shirt, to cover her scars.

  I had waited for days for the shirt to return to me. Once you put an item of clothing into the laundry chute at Nocturne Academy, it gets laundered and returns magically to its original owner.

  But the shirt never came back.

  I wondered if she still had it—if she’d kept it somewhere to remind her of me. It seemed far-fetched but I liked to imagine her keeping it—maybe hanging it in the back of her wardrobe—maybe even putting it on from time to time to feel its fabric against her skin as though the fabric was my arms encircling her…

  I tried to push such foolish thoughts out of my head and speak reason to my Drake, who was still insisting that we must go check on Kaitlyn.

  “She’s not even here—it’s the weekend,” I reminded him. “She’s across town at the Breedlove’s house, remember? Besides, she’s resting easy now—she’s going back to sleep.”

  Which was exactly what I needed to be doing. I had a History of Magic test the next day that I had barely studied for.

  My Drake sent a though message to me—an image of him flying through the dark night sky and circling over the Breedlove’s large, stately home—maybe putting one eye to Kaitlyn’s bedroom window, just to check on her.

  “Hell, no!” I told him emphatically. “Letting you out again will get me expelled for sure. Besides, do you really think seeing a glowing golden eye the size of a dinner plate looking in through her window would make Kaitlyn feel safer? Mierda! You’d scare her to death!”

  My Drake grumbled and I got the very strong feeling from him that he thought if Kaitlyn was only allowed to meet him, he could win her over. Which of course couldn’t happen here in the human world, as I pointed out to him. Then he wanted to know why we couldn’t take her to the Sky Lands, where he was free to be himself and he could spend as much time with her as was needed for her to get to know him.

  Dios, sometimes the stupid beast inside me had no fucking common sense.

  I shut him down and turned over in bed, determined to get back to sleep. But it wasn’t until I felt Kaitlyn slip back to sleep herself—somewhere across town—that I was finally able to relax.

  As my breathing deepened and my Drake at last was silent, my last conscious thoughts were of her. And my last feelings were those of possession and longing.

  She was mine, at least as far as my Drake was concerned—I just didn’t know how I was ever going to
claim her.

  Want more? Fear not—FANG AND CLAW, the second book in the Nocturne Academy Series is coming soon. To be the first to find out when a new book releases, sign up for my new YA newsletter HERE. Or if you're interested in my sci-fi romance, you can sign up HERE.

  Also by Evangeline Anderson

  Below you'll find a list of available and upcoming titles. But depending on when you read this list, new books will have come out by then that are not listed here. Make sure to check my website for the latest releases and better yet, sign up for my newsletter to never miss a new book again.

  Brides of the Kindred series

  (Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)

  CLAIMED (Also Available in Audio)

  HUNTED (Also Available in Audio)

  SOUGHT (Also Available in Audio)

  FOUND(Also Available in Audio)

  REVEALED (Also Available in Audio)

  PURSUED (Also Available in Audio)

  EXILED (Also Available in Audio)

  SHADOWED(Also Available in Audio)

  CHAINED (Also Available in Audio)

  DIVIDED (Also Available in Audio)

  DEVOURED (Also Available in Audio)

  ENHANCED (Also Available in Audio)

  CURSED (Also Available in Audio)

  ENSLAVED (Also Available in Audio)

  TARGETED (Also Available in Audio)

  FORGOTTEN

  SWITCHED

  UNCHARTED

  UNBOUND

  SURRENDERED

  VANISHED

  IMPRISONED

  TWISTED

  DECEIVED

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME ONE

  Contains Claimed, Hunted, Sought and Found

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME TWO

  Contains Revealed, Pursued and Exiled

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME THREE

  Contains Shadowed, Chained and Divided

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FOUR

  Contains Devoured, Enhanced and Cursed

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FIVE

  Contains Enslaved, Targeted and Forgotten

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SIX

  Contains Switched, Uncharted and Unbound

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SEVEN

  Contains Surrendered, Vanished, and Imprisoned

  All Kindred novels are now available in PRINT.

  * * *

  Also, all Kindred novels are on their way to Audio, join my Audiobook Newsletter to be notified when they come out.

  Kindred Tales

  The Kindred Tales are side stories in the Brides of the Kindred series which stand alone outside the main story arc.

  These can be read as STAND ALONE novels.

  MASTERING THE MISTRESS (Also Available in Audio)

  BONDING WITH THE BEAST (Also Available in Audio)

  SEEING WITH THE HEART (Also Available in Audio)

  FREEING THE PRISONER (Also Available in Audio)

  HEALING THE BROKEN (a Kindred Christmas novel) (Also Available in Audio)

  TAMING THE GIANT (Also Available in Audio)

  BRIDGING THE DISTANCE (Also Available in Audio)

  LOVING A STRANGER (Also Available in Audio)

  FINDING THE JEWEL (Also Available in Audio)

  BONDED BY ACCIDENT (Also Available in Audio)

  RELEASING THE DRAGON (Also Available in Audio)

  SHARING A MATE (Also Available in Audio)

  INSTRUCTING THE NOVICE (Also Available in Audio)

  AWAKENED BY THE GIANT (Also Available in Audio)

  HITTING THE TARGET (Also Available in Audio)

  HANDLING THE HYBRID

  TRAPPED IN TIME

  TIME TO HEAL

  PAIRING WITH THE PROTECTOR

  FALLING FOR KINDRED CLAUS

  GUARDING THE GODDESS

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 1

  Contains Mastering the Mistress, Bonding with the Beast and Seeing with the Heart

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 2

  Contains Freeing the Prisoner, Healing the Broken and Taming the Giant

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 3

  Contains Bridging the Distance, Loving a Stranger and Finding the Jewel

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 4

  Contains Bonded by Accident, Releasing the Dragon, and Sharing a Mate

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 5

  Contains Instructing the Novice, Awakened by the Giant, and Hitting the Target

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 6 (Coming Soon)

  Contains Handling the Hybrid, Trapped in Time, and Time to Heal

  Born to Darkness series

  (Paranormal / Action-Adventure Romance)

  CRIMSON DEBT (Also Available in Audio)

  SCARLET HEAT (Also Available in Audio)

  RUBY SHADOWS (Also Available in Audio)

  CARDINAL SINS (coming soon)

  DESSERT (short novella following Scarlet Heat)

  (Also Available in Audio)

  BORN TO DARKNESS BOX SET

  Contains Crimson Debt, Scarlet Heat, and Ruby Shadows all in one volume

  Alien Mate Index series

  (Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)

  ABDUCTED (Also Available in Audio)

  PROTECTED (Also Available in Audio)

  DESCENDED (Also Available in Audio)

  SEVERED (Also Available in Audio)

  ALIEN MATE INDEX VOLUME ONE

  Contains Abducted, Protected, Descended and Severed all in one volume

  * * *

  All Alien Mate novels are now available in PRINT.

  The Cougarville series

  (Paranormal / Action-Adventure Romance)

  (Older Woman / Younger Man

  BUCK NAKED (Also Available in Audio)

  COUGAR BAIT (Also Available in Audio)

  STONE COLD FOX (Also Available in Audio)

  BIG BAD WOLF (coming soon)

  The CyBRG Files with Mina Carter

  (Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)

  UNIT 77: BROKEN (Also Available in Audio)

  UNIT 78: RESCUED (Also Available in Audio)

  The Institute series

  (Daddy-Dom / Age Play Romance)

  THE INSTITUTE: DADDY ISSUES

  (Also Available in Audio)

  THE INSTITUTE: MISHKA’S SPANKING

  The Swann Sister Chronicles

  (Contemporary Fairy / Funny / Fantasy Romance)

  WISHFUL THINKING (Also Available in Audio)

  BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR (Also available in Audio)

  Nocturne Academy

  (Young Adult Paranormal/Action-Adventure/Romance)

  LOCK AND KEY

  FANG AND CLAW (Coming Soon)

  STONE AND SECRET (Coming Soon)

  Detectives Valenti and O’Brian

  (1980s M/M Romance)

  THE ASSIGNMENT

  I’LL BE HOT FOR CHRISTMAS

  FIREWORKS

  THE ASSIGNMENT: HEART AND SOUL

  Compendiums and Box Sets

  ALIEN MATE INDEX VOLUME ONE

  Contains Abducted, Protected, Descended and Severed all in one volume

  BORN TO DARKNESS BOX SET

  Contains Crimson Debt, Scarlet Heat, and Ruby Shadows all in one volume

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME ONE

  Contains Claimed, Hunted, Sought and Found

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME TWO

  Contains Revealed, Pursued and Exiled

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME THREE

  Contains Shadowed, Chained and Divided

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FOUR

  Contains Devoured, Enhanced and Cursed

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FIVE

  Contains Enslaved, Targeted and Forgotten

  BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SIX

  Contains Switched, Uncharted and Unbound

  HAVE YOURSELF A SEXY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

  Contains Kidnapped for Christmas, Cougar Christmas and Season’s Spankings

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 1

  Contains Ma
stering the Mistress, Bonding with the Beast and Seeing with the Heart

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 2

  Contains Freeing the Prisoner, Healing the Broken and Taming the Giant

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 3

  Contains Bridging the Distance, Loving a Stranger and Finding the Jewel

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 4

  Contains Bonded by Accident, Releasing the Dragon, and Sharing a Mate

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 5

  Contains Instructing the Novice, Awakened by the Giant, and Hitting the Target

  KINDRED TALES VOLUME 6 (Coming Soon)

  Contains Handling the Hybrid, Trapped in Time, and Time to Heal

  NAUGHTY TALES: THE COLLECTION— Volume One

  Contains Putting on a Show, Willing Submission, The Institute: Daddy Issues, The Institute: Mishka's Spanking, Confessions of a Lingerie Model, Sin Eater, Speeding Ticket, Stress Relief and When Mr. Black Comes Home.

  ONE HOT HALLOWEEN

  Contains Red and the Wolf, Gypsy Moon and Taming the Beast

  ONE HOT HALLOWEEN Vol.2

  Contains The Covenant, Secret Thirst, and Kristen’s Addiction + BONUS: Madeline’s Mates

  Stand Alone Titles

  (Sci-Fi OR Paranormal Action-Adventure Romance)

  ANYONE U WANT

  BEST KEPT SECRETS (Step-Brother romance)

  BLIND DATE WITH A VAMPIRE

  BLOOD KISS

  CEREMONY OF THREE

  DEAL WITH THE DEVIL (Also Available in Audio)

  DEFILED

  EYES LIKE A WOLF (Foster Brother romance)

  FOREVER BROKEN (M/M romance)

  GYPSY MOON

  HUNGER MOON RISING

  MADELINE’S MATES

  MARKED

  OUTCAST

  PLANET X (Also Available in Audio)

  PLEASURE PLANET

  PLEDGE SLAVE (M/M romance)

  PURITY (Also Available in Audio)

  RED AND THE WOLF

  SECRET THIRST

  SEX WITH STRANGERS

  SHADOW DREAMS