As the dragon appeared before her, Sapphi’s dragon stared, drinking in every scale, every spine along his back. His tail was long, and twitched from side to side as his dragon settled on the ground, his large taloned feet ripping into the grass. He was huge, bigger than any dragon she’d ever seen.
He took a step closer, his snout reaching out to blow his dragon breath over her, and she returned the greeting, huffing at him. Then he turned, and leaped into the air, his wings creating a tremendous downward draft, the pressure pressing her head down toward the ground. Sapphi was not going to be left behind. She might be smaller, but she was fast, and nimble, able to weave in and out of rocky canyons with the agility of an eagle. She knew, because she had raced Neil, an eagle shifter, through here only days ago.
Two beats of her wings for every one of his, Sapphi soon caught up with Alex as he skimmed over the trees, staying so close to the tops that the branches swayed in their wake. Sapphi chased him down, inching ahead, only for him to force the air out from under his wings and surge forward. She’d chased Ruby before, but they were fairly evenly matched in size and speed. This was different, this was the unknown.
Sapphi ducked beneath him, flying through a gap in the trees, wings beating as fast as her heart as she pulled ahead, angling her body so that she burst upwards, grazing his neck as she took the lead. Alex laughed, if a dragon could laugh, it was a metallic sound that emanated from his belly and rasped through his throat. Pure joy.
They slowed as the mountainside grew steeper, the chase was over. Instead, they leisurely wove in and out of valleys, with Sapphi leading the way, showing him her favorite places. When they reached a great lake, hidden from almost everyone because of the high sides of the valley that contained it, they swooped across the water, like dragonflies on a summer’s day. Dipping her head in the water, she caught a fish and threw it up in the air, for Alex to snap his jaws around and gulp down whole.
She flew around him, angling her wings so that she sprayed water on his green dragon scales. Alex swerved, dodging the spray, and so started a game of cat and mouse, as each tried to splash the other. When Alex dove into the water beneath her, disappearing for a few seconds, she slowed, only for him to pierce the surface, and deluge her with water he’d cupped in his large wings.
Her dragon let out a shriek as the cold water covered her scales. Turning her head, she breathed fire, bathing her body in flames, evaporating the water, leaving her scales steaming. Alex flew beside her, making that strange metallic laugh, and her fire danced over his scales, turning his green scales to red.
Fascinated, she forgot about her wet body and breathed her fire along his back, watching as his scales shimmered, two-toned, stunning as the moon shone down on him.
Tired, and wanting to spend some time alone with the human Alex and ask him all the questions that were burning in her head, she flew upward, and then headed north, toward Carter’s cabin. The journey was leisurely, two beings enjoying each other’s company, the silence between them companionable. As if they had known each other for eternity.
Sapphi landed outside of the cabin, her senses telling her it was empty. She shifted quickly and headed for the porch, to give the large dragon room to set himself down. When he was once more human, Alex ran to her side, leaping onto the porch, and gathering her in his arms.
“That was wonderful!” He bent his head and kissed her, his lips warm and inviting on hers.
Breathless, Sapphi clung to him, the kiss unexpected, but not unwelcome. Not unwelcome at all. His tongue probed her mouth, sending shivers of arousal through her body. Sapphi experimented, entwining her tongue around his as their lips locked together. His arms tightened around her and she wondered if he was ever going to let her go, but at the same time, she never wanted this to end. It was perfect, this moment under the stars, this first kiss.
“That was pretty wonderful, too,” Sapphi gasped as he released her.
“Only pretty wonderful?” Alex gave a chuckle. “I’ll have to try harder.”
“Or practice more.” Was she inviting him to kiss her again? Normally she was shy around men, but Alex made her feel right. Free to be whoever she wanted to be.
“I can’t argue with my mate.” He pulled her toward him, back into his arms, where she wanted to live for the rest of her life, in the circle of love and protection he offered. Yet, it wasn’t that easy. There were things they needed to talk about. Questions she needed to know the answers to.
Enjoy it, her dragon told her, and she did. Relaxing into his arms, she explored his body with her hands, while her mouth explored his. His chest was hard toned muscle, encased in taut skin, she longed to tear open his shirt and uncover the mystery of the man within. His arms tightened around her, and she pressed her body forward, the hardness of his length telling of his intense arousal.
Sapphi panicked, did Alex expect them to consummate their relationship tonight? Had he brought her here to claim his mate?
Alex pulled away, a low growl emanating from his throat. “We should go inside.”
He unhooked the latch and led her into the small cabin that Sapphi and Ruby had visited only last night. As Alex lit the lamps around the room, the light illuminated the kitchen area, and the jar of applesauce on the counter. “I left in a hurry.”
“Because of us.” Sapphi nodded, and then dared to ask the first of many questions she needed answers to. “What was so scary about two dragons?”
Alex pumped water into a kettle and set it on the stove to warm. “Firstly, I didn’t know you were dragons. My mom brought me up with stories that we were the last of our kind. Secondly…I never expected sensing my mate to feel so…strange. It was as if I couldn’t breathe. As if I were being crushed under the weight of the world.”
“I fell out of the sky,” Sapphi admitted. “My wings stopped working. As if I were being drawn to the Earth.”
He smiled apologetically. “I shouldn’t have run. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
“Where’s Archie’s mom?” Sapphi asked the most burning question that she needed him to answer truthfully.
“I don’t know.” Alex turned away from her, his hands resting on the counter. “I wish I did. We were supposed to meet in Bear Creek, but she isn’t here.”
The anguish in Alex’s voice compelled her to comfort him. “I’m sorry, is there anything I can do to help?” She placed her hand on his arm. “And I totally understand that you already have a relationship. A relationship that’s produced a wonderful child. If you thought you were alone, I can only imagine how important it was for you to produce a baby.”
She let her hand drop, missing the warmth of his skin instantly. She was so innocent, so cocooned from everyday life, from the struggle Alex must have gone through, mating with a woman to ensure his bloodline never died.
“Sapphi.” He turned quickly, nearly knocking her off her feet when he reached for her. “It’s not what you think.”
“It’s okay. I understand. I can step back, let you live with Archie and his mom.”
Alex cocked his head on one side. “Can you?” He gave a humorless laugh. “Because I know damn well I can’t.”
“You have to do what’s right. For Archie.” She frowned, confused. She wanted Alex to love her, to cast aside any other woman he’d ever been with. But the image of sweet baby Archie filled her head.
“Sapphi.” He caught hold of her hand and drew her close, and she didn’t fight, even though she knew she should. “Archie isn’t my child.”
“Oh.” Just like that his words knocked the wind from her lungs.
“His mom was in some kind of trouble. She asked me to look after Archie because she had something she had to do. Then she called to tell me to get Archie far away and she would meet me here in Bear Creek.” He shrugged. “The tone of her voice made me believe she was in danger. I tried to find her before I left.” He dragged a hand through his hair as he let her go. “I would have done whatever it took to keep her safe,
but I couldn’t find her. I figured she had already left the city.”
“So, you left and brought Archie here.” It all made sense. Was it right to feel so relieved? Archie’s mom might be in danger, or worse. The small child might be an orphan, and Sapphi knew exactly how that felt.
“Yes, I figured she would get here, one way or another.” He took the kettle off the boil and poured the hot water into the sink to wash the bowl and spoon he’d used to feed Archie yesterday.
“If anything’s happened to her, Archie will always be welcomed into our family.” Sapphi’s voice cracked with emotion. “But whatever it takes, we can try to find her. Harlan has lots of contacts.”
“Thanks, Sapphi. I’m not sure it’s going to be that easy. I don’t know what she was into. All I know is she wanted to get to Bear Creek and speak to someone here. She said they might be able to help her, but she didn’t give me a name.” Alex dried the bowl, and put it away in a cupboard.
“There has to be something we can do.” Sapphi walked around the room, chewing her bottom lip as she went over what Alex had told her. “How did you know Archie’s mom?”
“Kim, her name is Kim Goren.” He dried his hands and leaned back against the counter. “We met when she moved into the apartment two floors down from mine. The elevator was out of service one day and Kim was trying to get up the stairs with Archie, a stroller, and an armful of groceries.”
“You helped her.” He was a good Samaritan, Sapphi could not complain about that.
“Yes, and we got talking. Then one day she was stuck for a sitter and asked me if I was free. She was desperate. That night when she picked Archie up, she broke down and told me she hadn’t heard from Archie’s dad for over a year. She mentioned the word mate, and I instinctively figured one of them was a shifter. A little more probing and she told me Archie’s dad was a bear shifter, who was working an undercover case.”
“Over a year. He’s never seen the baby?” Sapphi asked, shocked that a shifter would lose contact with his mate.
“No, in fact, Kim never told him about the baby. She’d only just discovered she was pregnant when she lost contact with him. I think it was a typical whirlwind shifter romance.” Alex shrugged. “Whatever happened to make Kim run, I don’t know if it’s to do with Archie’s dad and the case he was working, or not. I don’t want to put you or your family in danger, Sapphi.”
“We’re all in this together now, Alex.” Sapphi was shocked by Alex’s story. If anyone else had told her this, she would have called them out, told them they were making it all up. However, the bond between them was too strong, every word Alex told her was the truth. Or at least the version of events he believed was the truth. “Do you have any other information?”
“No. From what she told me, she’d only known her mate for a couple of weeks before he insisted she left. He was about to crack a case wide open…” Alex’s face revealed his true fears.
“You think he’s dead?” Sapphi asked, horrified.
“What other reason could there be for him not finding a way back to his mate? Even if he didn’t know she was pregnant.” Alex’s expression contorted in anguish as he strode across the room to Sapphi. His hand cradled her head as he looked at her. “I would do whatever it took to get back to you.”
“No matter what the cost?” Sapphi asked.
“That’s what scares me.” With those words, he lowered his head and claimed her lips as his. Sapphi placed her hands on his arms for support. She ached for him, every part of her wanted to be with him, skin to skin, lying naked in bed, while they explored each other intimately.
Alex was right, nothing would keep them apart. Not now that they’d found each other.
And in that moment, her heart ached, not for love, but for loss. The loss of Archie’s father.
Chapter Eight – Alex
As they flew back to Sapphi’s house, relief swept over Alex. Telling Sapphi about Archie and the reason they had wound up in Bear Creek was the right thing to do. However, a bigger question remained. If Kim didn’t arrive in Bear Creek in the next couple of days, should he go back for her?
It would mean leaving Archie here with Sapphi. He swallowed down the sense of despair that threatened to overwhelm him—it would mean leaving Sapphi.
If leaving would rent his soul in two, what would it do to Sapphi? He couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her. Yet he couldn’t allow Archie to lose both his parents. Whoever was out there wanted something. Information, documents. Something.
His dragon flew faster, his anger rising. Alex hated being in the dark, not knowing what he was dealing with, and who he might be up against. He’d lived on the fringes of the human race for most of his life, it was difficult to read their thoughts and feelings. Because he’d traveled so extensively, the only people he’d truly been close to were his parents.
But he sensed a goodness in Kim and wanted to help her. Not to mention his love for Archie, which grew stronger each day. He would protect the young boy as if he were his own. He would also raise him as his own. Dragon or bear.
They reached the house, Sapphi landed first and moved out of his way. Alex landed as softly as he could and tried not to tear up any more of the grassy area. He didn’t want to experience Fiona’s wrath. The older female dragon reminded him of his own mother. They were old-fashioned, hardened from living through the worst of times.
“We’ve been waiting for you to come back,” Harlan’s voice came from the kitchen door, where he stood with baby Archie in his arms.
“Hi there, buddy,” Alex said as he followed Sapphi toward the house.
“Sapphi, Fiona wanted to ask you something.” Harlan handed Archie to Alex, who immediately wrapped his arms around neck, and laid his head on his surrogate father’s chest.
“What does she want?” Sapphi asked with a frown, stroking Archie’s head.
“She doesn’t tell me everything,” Harlan replied with a raised eyebrow.
“I’ll see you inside,” Sapphi told them and headed into the house.
“Thanks for looking after Archie,” Alex said, sensing a tension in Harlan’s posture. “He did behave, didn’t he?”
“He did.” Harlan looked at Archie and then at Alex. “Do you want to explain to me what’s going on?”
Alex tensed. “What do you mean?”
“With Archie. We were concerned you might have fathered a whole legion of dragon children, since you thought you were the last of your kind.” Harlan looked uncomfortable in his accusation.
“That’s not what happened,” Alex stressed, concerned his new-found mate’s family thought he would go out into the world and procreate with any female who would fall into bed with him.
“I know.” Harlan leaned forward and inhaled deeply, taking in Archie’s scent. “He is a bear, if I’m not mistaken. And since the dragon gene is the strongest, he is not yours.”
“No.” Alex sniffed Archie’s head. “He does smell different, doesn’t he?”
“He does. When you live in a household of dragon shifters, surrounded by a town full of bear shifters, you quickly learn to tell them apart.” Harlan’s face hardened. “So where did this young man come from? It’s obvious how deeply you care for him. But as Sapphi’s father, I want to know what my daughter is getting herself mixed up in.”
“That is a little more difficult to explain,” Alex began.
“Try me.” Harlan visibly jumped when Sapphi pulled open the kitchen door and joined them.
“Alex has told me everything.” She came outside and stood next to Alex, facing Harlan. “Archie’s mom is missing. Will you help us find her?”
Harlan opened and closed his mouth, obviously caught off guard by his daughter’s request. “Of course, I’ll do anything I can to help.”
“Good, then let’s go inside, so you can stop interrogating Alex.” Sapphi took hold of Harlan’s arm and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for looking out for me.”
“Like I told Alex, I am your father, and respo
nsible for your happiness.” Harlan looked over his shoulder. “At least until that young man puts a ring on your finger. You do have treasure, don’t you?”
“Dad!” Sapphi admonished.
Alex chuckled. “Yes, although most of it is back in the mountains. When I came to live among humans, I wanted to understand them. So, I started with nothing and built a business. A second fortune.”
“He could almost be your son, Harlan.” Sapphi smiled at her father. “And anyway, if Ruby doesn’t mind, I’d like to wear my mother’s engagement ring.” She blushed furiously. “If…when we get engaged. I wasn’t asking…”
It was Harlan’s turn to chuckle. “If he doesn’t ask you, I’ll get my shotgun and make him.”
“A shotgun, you don’t own a shotgun,” Fiona said as they entered the living room, where Harlan Jr. was dozing in his mom’s arms. They made such a sweet, serene scene and Alex’s heart ached for Kim and the man who was Archie’s father. Kim had never told Alex his name, he understood she wanted to protect him. But if she’d died, would they ever find out?
“A birth certificate. We could find out who Archie’s dad is if it’s on the birth certificate,” Alex said as he sat down on the sofa, next to Sapphi.
“Wait, you need to start at the beginning,” Fiona said quietly so as not to disturb Harlan Jr.
Alex explained everything to Harlan and Fiona, who agreed to use her access to the social services database to find out if Kim had put Archie’s father on the birth certificate. Meanwhile, Harlan and Alex would begin to make inquiries at the place Kim worked. She may have confided in someone there.
By the time Alex was ready to leave, they had a plan. “Thank you.”
“We’re family now,” Harlan said as they said goodbye.
Sapphi walked him out to the car. “We’ll find them.”
“If they are still alive,” Alex said, and kissed her cheek. “I don’t want you to go to bed thinking dark thoughts.”
“Oh, when I go to bed, I’ll be thinking very colorful thoughts, about a certain dragon shifter.” She kissed his lips, and then stepped back while he placed Archie, who was nearly asleep, into the car seat and secured the harness.
Single Daddy Dragon Page 5