by Tijan
Okay, then.
“So, you’re a dragon. How does that work again? Is it true that dragons live in a flipside alternate universe or something? And you’re the only one who merges with one of them?”
I was acting like I knew. I was bullshitting, but those were the rumors I heard. Our kind of ghost stories, or I thought so before I met him.
He grinned. “Let’s keep it a mystery, hmm?” He went back to his phone.
For an old dude, he was with the times being on the phone so much. I was tempted to throw his phone out like he threw out my whiskey. Then I remembered he’s a dragon and there’s no reason for him not to kill me.
Which made me wonder… “Why am I alive?”
“What?”
“You found out I was supposed to be a distraction.” I was now thinking about that, if that had actually happened how Quesadilla wanted. I would’ve been sexed up, and then what? Tossed out as Nikki would’ve been killed? “Quesadilla did all that so she could make a move on the underground? I didn’t know you guys were so ambitious.”
“Everyone wants more power, and you’re talking as if you’re not one of us.”
“Right. So why haven’t you killed me yet?”
“I’m asking myself the same question right now.”
He said that under his breath, and he paused a moment, blinked, then went back to the phone.
“How’d you find all that out about my ex?”
He gave me a look.
“Right. You read her mind. I know you can read mine, so does that mean you can read all minds?”
“Yes.”
“Whoa.” I thought about that. “Is that annoying? Or handy? Or—” I looked over.
He was glaring at me.
“Right.” I grinned and pointed to my head. “I can just think my questions to you, which is probably for the best because I have a lot.”
“I am not telling you about my dragon.”
“I’m noting that you didn’t say ‘me’ when you’re referring to your dragon. So it’s like my creature and me?”
No. It’s not the same—
I felt a full blast of energy at me, which would’ve made me happy. Right now, not so much. He forced me out of his head. Or were we in my head? I was losing track. There was so much new information happening, and to think, when I started my trek tonight, I just thought I could convince Nikki to go back to her apartment with me and get drunk. Maybe we’d dress up as ourselves and go trick-or-treating. Some old people were happy anyone rang their doorbell for treats. They didn’t care how old we were, or if our breaths matched the smell of their mouth wash.
“I should’ve listened to Ralph.”
“Who’s Ralph?”
“My cousin. He told me not to go to Bass tonight.” I side-eyed him. “You wouldn’t have met me. How much better would your night have been?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re right. I would’ve just killed all the vampires myself, then tracked down Quessadiline who would’ve gone on the run.”
“Right.”
He was eyeing me back, with the hint of a faint smile. “I could’ve been at Quessadiline’s in an instant, and I could be back at Bass just as fast. Maybe think on that?”
I did, and…me! It was me.
I was the reason.
What did that mean?
Stop. Just stop.
Stopping.
A break.
Can we stop at Harry Bahls’ again?
Yes, please. I need liquor at this point, too.
See. I loved how I could grow on a dragon.
13
Anti-Climactic
It was almost anti-climactic when we got back to Bass.
I knew what he wanted this time, and we walked inside. I saw that when he said he had ‘people’ holding everything for me, he meant witches. There were four of them in the building and they were chanting their spells.
Witches and I don’t get along either.
They always instantly know who I am, and are paranoid I’m going to take their energy.
I used to think they were crazy, but now I know what I can actually do and note to self, I may do just that to torture them in the future.
Again: witches and I don’t get along.
Three of the four glared at me. The fourth didn’t. She must’ve been the ‘me’ of the group because she gave me a bright smile. She didn’t look altogether, if you get my drift. But back to the business at hand.
Kieran said everything was on hold…and he really meant it. The vampires and demons were frozen in mid-battle. I had to make sure Nikki was safe, so I did a scan, and spotting her on the second floor, I went over. Taking her hand, I dragged her after me. She was still ‘frozen,’ so it was a weird sensation, but I gave Kieran a look.
I’ll be back. You can wait a few more minutes.
Nadeem.
It was the first time he said my last name, and looking back, I thought, Since when did you take the time to learn my name?
He raised an eyebrow back at me. Micaela Nadeem. You were born to Avi and Henrietta Nadeem. You have three sisters and four brothers. You have eighteen cousins in the Twin Cities’ area. Thirty relatives total here. You’re best friends to Nikki Atkinson, who is sleeping with—
Okay, okay. My night’s not too bad. Don’t destroy it completely by saying his name.
I faked a shudder but grabbed for Nikki’s phone and called Ralph.
He pulled up ten minutes later, and I seat-belted her in.
“Wha— Is she going to be like that the whole time? I don’t do personal arrivals, Ca—”
“You will this time, because if you don’t, I’ll tell your mother you smoke pot when you’re working.”
He opened his mouth and glowered at me. “Not cool, Caley Girl. Not freaking cool.”
I gave him a pointed look back, but he pulled away and I felt a weight off my shoulder.
Mission complete. My best friend was safe.
I was silently hoping the unfreeze would wear off? I hadn’t thought that through.
I went back inside, took my position by Kieran, and dipped my head.
“Ready to unleash the creature, Draco.”
He growled in my head. Do not call me that name.
I grinned, and the witches let chaos reconvene.
14
My Business
Kieran’s driver dropped me off outside Nikki’s place, and it’d been egged.
Nice. Lovely.
The words, ‘No candy! U Sux,’ were spray painted across the front. As I was getting out of the vehicle, the door opened and Nikki came out, a coffee in hand. She pointed to the graffiti over her shoulder as she came down the stairs toward me. “Your cousin sucks too. I was still frozen, and he put me on the front steps facing my place. I enjoyed a full hour of watching the graffiti glow in the dark before daylight hit and I unfroze.” She handed over the coffee. “I was actually sleeping most of the night so I’m rested. My phone’s been blaring since I got unstuck. You, on the other hand, look like you need this.”
Pumpkin spice.
I loved my girl.
She grinned. “Three shots of espresso.”
I groaned. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
I was too exhausted to go anywhere else, so I sat. She sat beside me.
We stared at the street as a couple candy wrappers drifted past us.
“Thank you for coming and trying to save me.”
I needed some pumpkin first. “I did save you. I got you in Ralph’s Uber.”
She grinned. “I know, but I heard the story. Heard what you did.”
What I did.
I had to let that process for a bit because I’d been there and I wasn’t sure I believed it myself.
“I guess there’s a creature inside of me that needs to eat energy.”
“I hear ya. My demon really likes raw steak, but I’m vegan. Talk about a filibuster.”
I frowned. “That’s not what that word means.”
She shrugged. “It should. It sounds accurate.”
“Pretty sure it has to do with politics.”
She snorted. “That’s funny.”
“Did you get to see your master?”
She shook her head. “No. The vamps got there before I was up in line, then the coven came in and it was a long couple hours of just waiting. They don’t tell you that when you’re frozen, your bladder doesn’t freeze.”
“Oh.”
“Let’s not talk about that.”
“Okay.”
She looked over again, her face softening. “I’m sorry about you and Jay.”
Right. The catalyst of the entire night.
I shrugged this time. “The relationship had been done for a while, so I’m not too surprised. But it did turn out that he’d been seduced by a vamp and she used some persuasion magic on sending me to you.”
Another snort. “I don’t buy it. You would’ve left him anyways. It was due time. And I doubt Jay needed much seducing. He’s been getting with other vamps for a while.”
I looked at her, eyebrows raised. “This is something a best friend should’ve relayed to me. What the hell?”
“You really liked him in high school, and the relationship has been done. Everyone knew, but you were still denying it. I’m not going to be the messenger.”
“Nikki!”
“What? I’m a demon. I’m not perfect. Also, it’s not like I didn’t have your back. Every girl that hooked up with him got barred from Bass. Why do you think some of the guys from work don’t like you? When I say everyone’s been waiting for this breakup, literally everyone has been waiting.” She flashed a wide smile. “But chin up, word is that the new boss got his hooks in you. Tell me about him.” She was wiggling her eyebrows up and down.
“You haven’t met him?”
She shook her head, her smile lessening a notch. “He’s just as much of a mystery to us too. We heard he was there last night. I guess the masters wanted to speak to him, but everything happened and you know what happened. There’s a staff meeting later today so maybe he’ll be there.”
He wouldn’t.
I knew this because I felt his absence, and I could feel it because there was a hollow ache smack in the middle of my chest.
After I helped with the vampires, Kieran had been watching me the whole time. I’d been so tuned into him, so aware of him, that it had made my concentration difficult. He knew it too, and then his creature’s spirit joined mine and everything went erotic and violent at the same time. When his creature’s spirit merged with mine, I could feel everything about Kieran. I could taste him. I could touch him. I was him.
I mean, I knew I wasn’t.
It was his dragon’s spirit, but the rush of power was next level. Literally.
The vampires were sucked dry by both of us, and when a fire was started, Kieran ushered me outside right away. I was bundled into his vehicle, and his driver took off. I watched Kieran the whole time, feeling his dragon still with me, but a block away from Nikki’s apartment, I also felt Kieran call his dragon back to him.
He hadn’t wanted to go. He did it, reluctantly and slowly, and it felt like he’d been peeled off me. It hurt, both of us. I could feel his pain, and I was feeling his loss now too.
No, returning to what Nikki just said.
Kieran wouldn’t be there. He was already gone.
I didn’t know why he bought Bass, what he was doing in our hemisphere, and I tried telling myself that it was none of my business.
The only problem after Nikki and I went back inside, after I tried curling up in bed for a nap, and even later into the week was that I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was my business.
I just wasn’t sure why.
15
Rakon
Two weeks later.
“Hey.”
I jerked upright in bed.
It was dark out, and I glanced at the clock. Three in the morning.
My pulse was fast, and I was sweating a little.
A breeze came in through the open window. Looking over, a street light was shining right into my bedroom. Well, Nikki’s guest bedroom, but it was mine since it looked like I was her roommate for a bit.
Hey.
I jerked again. That voice was…
Kieran?
No. Well. Yes. Kinda.
It was a deep voice and growling, but not growling at the same time.
My heart started to pound harder, more insistent.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
It was Kieran’s dragon.
Is Kieran okay? Is he hurt?
Why did I care so much?
He’s fine. He’s busy right now.
So busy he wouldn’t know his dragon was reaching out?
What’s he doing?
He’s busy.
Busy?
Busy.
Understanding flooded me.
He was having sex.
I wanted to growl, but damn. My body got heated, and why was I caring about that either?
He was hot, rich, super freaking powerful so of course he could get some. Easy.
Not caring.
Nope.
That wasn’t me.
We were now a few weeks past Halloween, and my creature was getting restless. Hungry. She was missing Kieran. She was. Not me. Nada.
I rolled my eyes at myself. One would think the breakup had been with Kieran and not a guy who I’d been with for four years.
Are you okay?
I am.
He sounded good. Happy.
Why are you reaching out?
I missed you guys.
Guys? Me and—
Her. She’s my mate.
Shock seized me for a second.
Mate.
He said that, right?
She’s your what?
My creature didn’t speak. At least, not that I knew of, but I felt her. She was moving in me, wanting to take over, and I knew what she wanted. She wanted to have creature spirit sex with Kieran’s dragon.
My mate. It’s why Kieran was compelled to help you that night. I’ve been missing you and he won’t listen to me.
She was railing inside of me, wanting, needing to get out. I was struggling to keep her in, especially because I’ve not been eating—
You’ve not been eating?
I froze again. That wasn’t his dragon anymore.
Kieran?
You’ve not been eating?
Funny. He sounded a lot like his dragon with that growl.
I’ve been eating.
I heard him growl from his end. Energy, Micaela. Have you been eating energy?
I wasn’t swooning at hearing him say my name.
I normally hated hearing people say my full name, and I wasn’t swooning when he said it. I wasn’t light-headed. Not one bit.
I sighed, melting back down onto my pillow and I curled up into the blankets.
I was swooning. I needed to energist-up and admit it.
Yes. Got it. Swoon. Get your shit together. You haven’t been eating?
I forgot he could read my thoughts.
Micaela!
It’s CALE, dude!
I could hear his growl in my head. Nope. Correction: I could feel his growl, it was echoing through my body.
I wasn’t so swoony anymore.
Micaela, you need to eat energy.
I’m fine.
Micaela—
I said I’m fine.
You woke her—
No, you woke her. I didn’t do that. You did. She’ll go right back—
No. She won’t. Not with the level that you woke her up. You were with my dragon. She was with my dragon, and you raised her strength level by taking five hundred vampires.
Five hundred?
There were two hundred vampires at Quessadiline’s compound.
If I’d been sitting upright, I would’ve fallen back. I was floored at that.
T
wo hundred?
Yes.
You went from amateur hour to the pros in one night. If you haven’t been eating energy, you are a danger to people you love.
Oh, come on.
I’m not joking with you. You need to eat now.
I rubbed at my forehead. I’d been sleeping just fine—
You’re lying to yourself. You’re lying to me. You’re lying to both our creatures. Stop insulting everyone’s intelligence here.
He said I’m his mate.
Kieran was silent on his end.
Knock, knock.
A growl. Don’t be funny.
I’m not. He said we’re mates.
We’re not mates.
I waited.
He was silent. Again.
Kieran!
I could hear his sigh from his end. Yes, he’s told me the same.
Mates. As in—
I’m aware of what a mate is.
Mates weren’t husband and wife. They were soulmates, as in till the end of time type of stuff. As in there was a situation where if we shared blood during sex, and if the M word was involved, we’d be linked—everything stopped.
Kieran.
Another sigh. What?
Can you speak like this to others?
He was quiet for a bit. Yes.
Relief went through me. My eyes started watering.
But not to the same degree.
That was his dragon.
I could almost feel Kieran shutting up his dragon.
What’s he mean by that?
Nothing.
Kieran.
What?
What’d he mean by that?
There was an exchange of growls happening. And I was now noticing that we all enjoyed growling. Interesting.
A fatigue started rising up in my body.
It’s the response to your adrenaline. Rakon shouldn’t have woken you.
Rakon?
That’s his name.
Whoa. Do I need to name my creature?
No, Micaela. Your energy will blend with you eventually so the two of you are merged as one. It’s not healthy to be as separated as you are. It’s a different situation with Rakon and myself. We’re the same, but we’re also two separate creatures as well.
Cool. That’s all I could think. I knew I should have more of an intelligent response, but the fatigue was rising and rising. A yawn left me. A second one came right on its heel.