“You think what?”
Again, he looked around, trying to spot anyone who might be the reason his spine tingled in anticipation. “I think my mate is close.”
“Really?” Aris looked around and scanned the people milling the sidewalk.
“Maybe. The cold left my body as soon as we pulled in here. Do you think she’s here? And if she is, why the hell is she here of all places?”
“Who knows? This place is always busy, and it’s not only an emergency. Remember the floor that has all the specialists?”
Zarin gulped and walked forward. His muscles ached a little, but otherwise he was fine. There was really no other reason for him to stay unless…
A small body slammed into him. She yelped and teetered to the side, but he reached out and gripped her shoulders to steady her. Warmth tingled through his arm, and his nostrils flared. The scent—it was the scent. She was right here in front of him. He brought his eyes to hers and frowned when he saw a fresh black eye marring her beautiful skin. Her hair was fire engine red, and freckles dusted her nose. She was perfect.
She gasped and pulled back from him so fast that he stumbled.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered, and then backed away, only her eyes didn’t leave him. She took two steps back as her body shook. She was a tiny woman.
‘Perfection.’
Zarin agreed with his dragon. ‘Beautiful.’
“Wait,” he replied, and held out his hand. She frowned at him, but she didn’t leave. His heart thumped against his chest. “You’re her.”
She took another step back and ran into another man. The man glared down at her, distracting Zarin enough that he took his attention from her. When he looked back, she was gone.
Damn she was fast.
He could have easily followed her, but he sensed she was spooked and someone had hurt her.
‘Must protect her.’
He knew that already. Since he used his fire magic, his dragon was aware of everything. He had kept him in the backseat and in hibernation for so long that he didn’t realize how much the dragon was a part of him and how much he missed his presence. Now that his dragon was awake, Zarin felt less broken.
The whole time he’d forgotten that Aris was there. When he turned toward his king, he saw a look of pride and of course sympathy in his comforting eyes. “You’ll have to chase her down, it seems.”
Excitement laced through his veins at the thought of the chase. Apparently, his dragon liked that idea very much. “It’s on.”
Since he felt up to par—better than par actually—he no longer needed to go to the emergency room. In fact, what he wanted to do was find his mate, throw her over his shoulder, and take her home. He had a feeling she wasn’t going to accept him easily. Not hard in the way Andrea was with Ilias at the beginning (that damned woman ran too much), but not as easy as Sophie accepted Aris without much question. It was amazing really how different both women were. This girl, though, smelled like trouble, and he couldn’t wait to get a taste.
***
“What the heck was that?” Willow slid among the crowd to get away from the guy. Lucky for her, she was small and able to squeeze out of the way. She felt warm tingles spread through her body when they touched, and a weird recognition tickled the back of her neck. Did she actually know this guy?
She didn’t.
Willow knew she would remember meeting someone like him, but he acted like she was the only person in the world he ever wanted to see again. She shivered, but it wasn’t from the bitter cold. It was more than that. She kept her pace and her head up to pay attention. She didn’t want to run into anyone else.
Her ribs ached, and her eye throbbed. The doctor hadn’t been happy when she refused to let him call the police.
“But ma’am, I have to report any signs of abuse.”
She cringed. “That’s well and dandy, but I’m in no danger. You see, here I am making sure I’m okay. And hey, I left his sorry ass. That’s what matters, right?” She needed him to leave it alone. “Calling the cops will only draw his attention here, and I’d like to stay and not have to worry, please.” She hoped he had a soft spot for tiny women who took control of their lives. Even though it might look to be a little late. In truth, it was. This wasn’t the first time he’d bruised her, but it was the first time the abuse was visible to the public eye.
The doctor sighed and shook his head. “Fine, but I’m going to make a note that it was against my advice, but you were concerned about your safety and drawing your abuser here.” He looked up at her with warm, gentle eyes. “Please, don’t make me regret this. I couldn’t live with it on my conscious that I didn’t call the police and then something horrible happened.”
“I swear, I’m not going back. And as long as no one draws attention to me, then he won’t find me either.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”
Willow let out the breath she was holding, and her body eased into relaxation. He wasn’t going to report it. Now she needed to figure out where she was going to stay and work.
Willow shook her head as if she could erase all the thoughts that consumed her. She had to stop punishing herself.
And she had to find a home.
She slipped around the next corner and let out a breath when she saw her tiny, beat-up car parked up the street. That car was the vision of her with its dents and rust. There were patches where the paint had all but worn off, leaving the metal bare for the world to see. Its purple paint had chipped through the years, even before she had bought it. But its charm is what drew her in, besides the cheap price. It was the perfect first car. It was a little beat up from years of wear and tear, but it had a lot more miles in it. That’s how she felt. A little battered and bruised, yet hopeful that things were about to change—and, hopefully, in a good way. She still had some miles in her.
She was almost home free, and the weird guy hadn’t followed her. She could have sworn he wanted to. The other one seemed broody, though. She picked up her pace and slid into the car and started it.
When she pulled away from the curb, she looked in her mirror and she saw the same guy. He stood with his hands in in the pocket of the hoody he wore, his large, bulky frame straight, and his eyes lasered in on her. Her heart thumped in either fear or excitement—she wasn’t sure.
She didn’t know what was going on, but a part of her wondered if she should turn her car around and leave Stratham the way she came. She didn’t leave Jeremy to fall into another man’s arms. In fact, she never planned to be with another man again. She was too much like her mother. She made too many mistakes, didn’t see enough red flags, and didn’t seem to have a proper backbone. But no more. She was done with men. From now on, it was just her—and maybe a dog when she got settled. She wouldn’t be the cat woman because she hated cats, but she could definitely enjoy the thought of finally having a dog. She’d always wanted one but was never allowed. Even Jeremy wouldn’t let her have a puppy.
The fear she felt now was unlike she’d felt with Jeremy. She wasn’t afraid of the stranger per se—more of what he represented. She licked her lips and tightened her hands on the steering wheel. No, she was enticed, and that was her fear. Something about him called to her. Even though there was nothing extraordinary about him. Not that she could see, anyway. She blinked and focused on the road as she drove away. He watched her as she put distance between them, all the way until she turned and lost sight of him. For a second, it felt like he was protecting her. It almost felt like he appointed himself as her guardian angel. But what did Willow have to be protected from in a new town, one she’d never even been to before?
“Well hell, hopefully it’s not dangerous.” She hadn’t even thought of the possible crime rate. Just because it was a small town didn’t mean it fit that picture-perfect image her books portrayed. She giggled. Usually, her books casted characters and species that didn’t even exist. She loved reading about shifters, especially the rarer ones like dragons. There was something so exciting
about the thought that a man could shift into such a large and beautiful beast. Her train of thought distracted her from her worries, and she ended up parking in front of a diner. Her stomach rumbled and was glad to be noticed. She hadn’t eaten a thing since she left. She felt too sick. Now she needed sustenance.
***
At home, Zarin wanted to retreat to his room, but a very emotional and hormonal Sophie had gotten wind of what happened. She rushed to him and pulled him into an embrace, but her large stomach got in the way. She growled and angled her body to the side without letting go of his arm, knowing good and well he wanted to be alone. She always knew too much.
“You’re okay now.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. My mind and body just miscommunicated there for a little bit.”
Aris chuckled and tugged Sophie off of him, giving him what he needed. “He ran into his mate. It seems we’re all getting lucky.”
Sophie smiled, and her eyes filled. “And you thought you weren’t worthy of a mate.”
Zarin’s smile dropped. He didn’t like his own feelings thrown back at him. It always made him feel pathetic. “I’m most likely not.”
“But you found her.”
“She ran into me,” Zarin argued. That was how he handled emotion.
Sophie slapped his chest. “Oh, just let me be happy for you.”
Aris laid his large hand on her stomach and rubbed. Instantly, Sophie’s eyes fluttered shut, and she leaned against Aris. Zarin sighed. This was exactly what he pictured for his life when he thought of what would make it perfect. A mate carrying his child would be the ultimate gift.
“Want to feel?” Sophie asked, and went to reach for his hand even before he responded. She wanted everyone to feel ‘the start of the next generation of their tribe.’
Zarin glanced at Aris and asked permission with his eyes. His king nodded, beaming at him. He let Sophie guide his hand on her stomach and hold it against her the tight fabric of her tank top; even though it was freezing, she was always hot. As soon as his warmth seeped through, the baby kicked…hard. Sophie gasped, and her hand fell from his. He rubbed his fingers over the space where the baby kicked, letting his natural warmth soothe the baby growing inside. He felt another tap, tap, tap, and then the baby lay silent in its mother’s womb.
When Sophie opened her eyes, they were pure white. At first, he thought she was mad, but then she bent over laughing. “Thank the goddess, Zarin. You calmed him.”
“Him?”
“Oh yes, him. He’s got his father’s strength and is emotional like me.”
“So, I calmed him how?”
“It must be your natural warmth. He gets anxious this time of day, every day, and I have trouble relaxing.”
Aris nodded. “It’s true.”
Zarin couldn’t imagine what it would be like, but now that he’d found his mate, maybe he’d be the next to find out. “Well, now that you’ve got a calm baby, can I go?”
Sophie’s eyes slid shut, and Aris nodded. Apparently, they weren’t kidding about her not being able to relax. It felt good to be useful. He eased out of the room and walked down the hall to the stairs. It was his turn to relax.
Just as he turned the corner to the stairs, Andrea was coming down. Her hand gripped the rail, and she froze while watching him. He wasn’t ready to stop being mad, but he couldn’t be mad. It was the way of his mind. He was angry she pushed him—beyond angry actually—yet, he understood why she did it. Did that make it right?
Hell, no.
But could he hold it against her for long?
It was possible.
Would it kill his closeness with not only Ilias but the whole tribe?
Most definitely.
Could he handle that?
Another hell no.
He sighed and clenched his jaw. “Andrea.”
Her eyes lit. “You’re talking to me now?”
He shrugged. “I can’t stay mad forever.”
She took the few steps that separated them and wrapped her arms around his neck. He was going to pull her off him until he felt the wetness on his neck. She was crying. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me,” she sobbed against him.
And just like that, the anger washed away, and something else took its place: empathy. He hugged her back, allowing himself to open up—if only a little. “Just don’t push me.”
She pulled back, nodding. “I won’t, I promise.” Then she sniffed. “Will you still help me…with everything?”
He wasn’t sure, but he found himself agreeing. “Let me have a couple of days. Using my magic took its toll.” He hoped she took the hint. She smiled and patted his shoulder before squeezing past him with a little bounce in her step.
“Thank you for that,” Ilias said.
Zarin hadn’t even realized he was there. What the hell was wrong with his senses? It was the second time he should have noticed someone was close. He was getting too lax with his guard. “She needs help, just not the way I was doing it. I’m going to have to be softer with her, I think.”
Ilias laughed. “And that’s going to be hard for you, isn’t it, big man?”
“Well, yeah. I thought I would teach her the way I taught myself.”
“No one can handle the stuff you put yourself through.”
Zarin shrugged and climbed the stairs, passing Ilias on the way. It was true; he was harder on himself than he was anyone else. But he had to be. It was the only way to be better.
Chapter 3
A sharp knock woke her. She shivered and sat up, ignoring the shot of pain that laced her ribs. She squinted and rolled down the window. A blast of bitter wind hit her in the face, and she gasped, sucking in a deep breath. A woman about her height with white hair and the brightest blue eyes she’d ever seen stood outside her car. Wrinkles overtook what must have been a beautiful face, and she smiled crookedly at her.
“You can’t be sleeping in that tiny car in the dead of winter, young lady.”
“I didn’t exactly have a choice,” she said, ignoring the bitterness in her tone.
The woman’s smile didn’t lose its luster. “Come on inside, let’s get you something to eat and warmed up, yes?”
“I don’t have money.”
The woman waved her off. “Come now.”
Willow didn’t need to be told again. She couldn’t turn down the woman’s kindness. She held her ribs, hoping to stave off the pain, but sleeping in her car did nothing to help matters. If anything, it was harder to breathe. The stabbing pain shot through her whole torso now. She’d probably damaged them more, but what was she supposed to do?
She followed the woman inside of the tiny diner. It was old school with plastic booths at each table in a sun-warped red. She skirted across the room to the counter.
The woman looked at her, her eyes penetrating. “Look it’s none of my business, and I saw you last night. I shoulda offered then, but you never know what can happen in the dark. Any who, you’re down on your luck, yes?”
“How’d you guess?”
The woman ignored Willow’s sarcasm. “Well you’ve come to a strange small town with a black eye, and I’m guessing some broken ribs the way you’re holdin' them. You’re down on your luck. I’m guessing you left without word or gathering your things, yes?”
Willow nodded. This woman knew her stuff.
“You’re looking for a fresh start, someone to give you a shot so you don’t find yourself running back.”
Another nod.
There, the woman lost her smile. “I know how you feel, young lady, and I’ll tell you what, you can work for me. The pay isn’t that great, but it’s the best you’ll get around here right now. Ain’t no one gonna hire help with a bruised-up face. You can stay upstairs. It’s tiny, but it’s livable.”
It sounded too good to be true. “How much do I have to pay you for the space?
“Nothin’. You can stay there till you get on your feet. I only want one thing from you.”
“What’s that?”
/>
She became serious. “Don’t go back; don’t ever go back, because it you do, next time you won’t get so lucky.”
A shiver ran down Willow’s spine. There was more to her words. It sounded like a warning.
Something sinister lurked around the old woman, grayish shadows wrapped around her slight frame, but only for that moment before they disappeared again. When she was able to breathe again, Willow realized she must be hallucinating, and she wondered how hard she’d hit the wall when Jeremy punched her.
“That’s all?” Willow brushed her fingers over her bruised cheekbone. “No problem.”
“For now, that’s it.” The woman smiled again. “You can call me Bev, by the way. I own this diner.”
“I’m Willow. And thank you. I don’t know what I would have done to be honest.”
“You’ll earn your keep. Plus, payin’ it forward is our way.”
Willow had no idea who she was speaking of, but she nodded, eager to get some food. Her stomach growled, and she laughed. “Sorry.”
The short woman, Bev, glanced at her and nodded. “Let’s put some meat on those bones. You’re much too skinny.”
***
It wasn’t hard for Willow to fall back into waitressing. It’s what she did through high school. It was the only way she managed to survive. If not for her job, she wouldn’t have been able to eat or have everything to suit even her basic needs. Money around her house didn’t last long. Between her dad’s drinking and her mother’s desire to always make her father happy, the cash disappeared at an unsteady pace. Sometimes, they’d do great—other times, not so much. Willow had to take care of herself and hide the rest.
The diner filled up quickly after opening. The loud conversations told her that everyone knew everyone, and this was a major socializing place, especially first thing in the morning.
“This is normal, young lady. If you want the best tips, working mornings is your shift. Normally, places do best at lunch and dinner. Not here, though. The people of this town are morning people, sure are,” Bev said when she brought back more plates to be cleaned.
Zarin Page 2