Zarin

by Sarah J. Stone

  “I see that.”

  Bev looked over her shoulder and frowned. Concerned Willow looked over her shoulder and saw none other than the broody man from before. She gasped and turned back to Bev. “Do you know him…and the other guy?”

  Bev pulled her attention away from the man and leaned in real close. “There are more of them. They mean no harm, but they are like magnets to the unsavory types. They draw ‘em in like flies. That Zarin, though, he does all sorts of things for the town, yet he’s so miserable. He’s got to be making up for something horrible he did in his past. I know the type. They try to be good, but they can’t help themselves. Be careful around them.” Then she rolled her shoulders. “Not that they’d hurt you or nothing, but they’re different.”

  Willow looked over her shoulder again, and this time the broody man caught her eye. They lit up in recognition, and she played back Bev’s words. She whispered, “You’re sure they won’t hurt me?”

  “Of course. They aren’t violent. A couple of them, including the one out there, have recently gotten themselves ladies. Both of them are quite protective. That one out there, he don’t come in much. It’s Zarin, the do-gooder that comes in during lunch time when he’s in town. I hear they live back in the woods, taking up 150 acres or more that they own.”

  Bev sure knew a lot about them. “Zarin…what’s he look like? Blond, with green eyes, all big and muscly?”

  “That’s him. He’s a trainer at the gym. He does all sorts of volunteer work, eats like a horse and tips well. He’s usually quiet and alone, but once in a while he was coming in with a young one, till that young one found himself a girlfriend. He hasn’t been in here for about a week now, though.”

  So, his name was Zarin. Such a strange name apparently attached to a very strange man. She’d try to pry more information from Bev later; right now, she had to serve the broody one.

  She straightened her spine, pretending she owned a backbone and strutted out to the counter. Show no weakness. Something told her this guy—no matter how nice they all were—could be mean.

  “What can I do for you?”

  He didn’t say anything at first. He seemed to study her, taking some sort of inventory. It wasn’t the way a man looked at a woman he was interested in either. More like a father trying to figure out her woes. Willow wanted to shrink when his eyes stayed on where her ribs were broken. He couldn’t know that.

  “You’ve been hurt,” he said in a low voice.

  Willow ignored it. “Are you ready to order? I can give you—”

  He shook himself, seeming to get unglued from whatever was in his head. “No, I’m ready.”

  He listed off everyone’s food, and Willow wrote as fast as she could to keep up; he might as well have just told her to cook up the whole menu. They ate a lot; Bev hadn’t been kidding. “All to go?”

  He chuckled. “Yes, it would take me a day or so to eat everything I just ordered.”

  Her eyes widened. It would take her over a week to eat all the food he just ordered, and had he said a day. When she brought her eyes to his, they sparkled. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

  He opened his mouth as if he was going to answer, then shook his head and dug into his pocket. He pulled out a wad of cash. “Keep the change. I’ll come back and pick it up. Say a half hour?”

  Why did he seem like he was trying to get away from her all of a sudden? One minute, he’s studying her, the next he’s joking with her, and now he was running away? He walked away before she could answer him.

  ***

  Zarin lay on his floor, breathing heavy. The sit-ups weren’t happening. Every time he tried, his body felt like a heavy weight was holding it down to the floor. All the good energy he felt was gone. He huffed and sat up, frustrated that this damn sickness interfered with his day-to-day life. It was really getting old. Seeing his mate had given him hope. A glimmer that he’d lost. Everything inside of him screamed to go and get her, complete the bond, and be healthy. He shut his eyes, slowing his heart, finding his Zen. It’s what he needed now more than anything. Zarin knew he wasn’t the most patient man on Earth, and he also knew that’s exactly what he needed to be.

  In his mind, he saw his Red Dragon stand up, its attention focused on a dark image. The closer it got to the red one, the more he realized what it was: his second beast—a Black Dragon. He wasn’t wrong. From what the others said, they only saw their second beast after they’d met their mate. That had to mean the woman he ran into was his, and that Black Dragon needed her. His two dragons circled one another before their tails intertwined as one. She had golden eyes and red scales decorating her body.

  He jumped when someone pounded on his door. He scented the air and knew it was Aris. Zarin composed himself, realizing he had neglected his beast for too long. He saw in his mind, how the dragon he was supposed to be nurturing held a guard up to the Black Dragon. He felt when she got close, yet he allowed it even as his body shook. This was his fault. He’d punished the dragon as if everything was his doing, and now he was damaged. Much like the man who carried him. Zarin wondered if all the damage he kept locked away was all his doing, too. Was he the reason behind it all, the desire to have so much control leading him to things he no longer could ignore?

  “Come in,” he muttered. Too many thoughts raced through his mind. He didn’t need this right now. Right now, he needed to track down his mate. She was the key to not only his survival, but maybe—just maybe—she’d be able to help him mend some of his wounds. No one else in his life had been able to. Only her.

  Aris pushed the door open and peeked in with a smile. “I need you to go pick up the food.”

  “Weren’t you just there?”

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “Why didn’t you just wait?”

  Aris shrugged. “Please, just go. Sophie needs me.”

  Zarin rolled his eyes. Of course, she did. She was pregnant and moody. No, scratch that—emotional. That’s what she called it. She couldn’t help it; the baby ‘jacked up her hormones’. “Fine, it’s paid for, though, right?”

  “Yes, just pick it up. I said I’d be back in half hour. It’s been nearly that. Put some clothes on. It’s winter here, and the humans will be suspicious.”

  Again, he rolled his eyes. He never dressed weather appropriate. He always wore shorts. He always told anyone who asked that his body ran warmer than most. No one seemed all that bothered, but he nodded. “Fine, anything I should wear specifically, Your Majesty?”

  Aris growled. “I know this sucks, but don’t take it out on me. I’ve been there, brother. It’s not easy getting our mate to understand, and from the looks of things, I had it easy.”

  He laughed and ran his shaky fingers through his damp hair. He’d worked up a sweat and didn’t even accomplish anything. This was messed up. His body loved exercise, but lately he hadn’t been able to do much. “No kidding. If only I’d be that lucky, then I wouldn’t almost die every other hour.”

  “You’re not going to die.”

  “If she rejects me…” He didn’t need to say the rest. A mate rejecting them wouldn’t be a good thing. Hell, he might as well number his days on one hand if she turned him down.

  Aris was serious now. He stepped into his room and shut the door. “You’ve got to stop thinking that way. She was made for you. I highly doubt fate would give you a mate that wouldn’t want you.”

  “Free will and all. She has her own mind, and she doesn’t have to listen to what her body or her heart tells her. Since she’s human, it might not affect her for life if she keeps her distance. We still don’t know so much.”

  “Just go get the food. We can figure out a game plan for wooing your mate while we eat.” He opened the door and left it open, expecting him to follow.

  Zarin went to his closet and pulled out a pair of jeans and a nice button-down shirt. He didn’t understand why Aris was on him so much about things. He was the one who had made his name known in the town. The one who tried to fit
in, make friends, or at least appear as human as possible by blending in. The people in the town seemed to accept him, even if they thought he was a bit strange. He could always sense they felt safe around him, which was better than he could say for the others—Blane especially, who didn’t go out much, not that Zarin blamed him, but still. Even Ilias got stared at somewhat strangely. No one knew what to make of them. They were all unique, whereas he didn’t have any physical signs of his dragon—the white hair, the black-blue hair, or even the strange growth spurt that seemed to happen overnight. Zarin was just Zarin.

  He buttoned the last button and sighed. He didn’t like wearing constricting clothing, but he had to listen to Aris. Even over the simplest instructions. He had trained his dragon—as well as his human half—to be obedient to the one who saved him. It was the least he could do. Zarin left his room and went downstairs. He heard Sophie’s giggle from the den and peeked his head in. “I’m going now.”

  She looked up from her book, and her eyes brightened. “You look nice.”

  He gestured to Aris. “Boss’ orders.”

  Sophie shrugged. “Still.”

  “Well, thanks.” He wasn’t sure what to make of compliments. “I’m heading out. I need to stop at the gym on the way back, cool?”

  “Food probably won’t be done for a bit anyway, so sure. Just don’t get sucked into anything.”

  “I know, I know. I won’t.” The gym was his happy place. He recently found out the owner was going to sell. He only hoped he’d get offered the place before he decided to leave it. Zarin wanted to keep the gym up and running. He knew he could do it.

  Aris raised a brow. “Stop your thoughts now, man. All you think about is staying fit.”

  “It’s better than thinking about my pending death.” Before anyone could say anything, he bolted. Just because he found his mate once didn’t mean she was going to be easy to find again. He didn’t care what the others said or how it had worked out for Ilias and Aris. He wasn’t going to assume or get his hopes up until the bond was completed. That way, there would be no disappointment.

  Chapter 4

  Willow waited for the big, broody man to come back, but after a half hour, he hadn’t. Not that the order was completed, but she was somehow anxious to see him. There was something about him that drew her in, and much how he studied her, she wanted to study him. He had an aura about him that screamed ‘bad’, but then it was counterbalanced by the feeling of safety and home. Something strange was going on, and she was determined to figure it out.

  Bev stuck her head out from her office. “He come back yet?”

  “Nope, but the order isn’t done yet anyway.”

  The woman with the forever smile even when she wasn’t actually smiling nodded. It was strange. Quite frankly, everyone Willow had met in this town was weird—all except the doctor, maybe. And Bev had talked about her coming to a strange town. Willow had her back to the door, but awareness flickered warmth right up her spine, and then the bell dinged. She took her time turning around and came face to face with the man from earlier. Bev said his name was Zarin.

  He froze when he saw her, and she ignored how the way he tugged his shirt down made her want to smile. She noticed he seemed very uncomfortable, as if he was nervous. She shrugged it off and put on her happy customer-service smile.

  “It’s almost ready.”

  He nodded and moved to the counter. “Thank you.”

  Willow wasn’t sure what to do. Should she make small talk or make herself busy? She looked around, and the few people who still mingled didn’t need anything. The counters didn’t need cleaning.

  “What’s your name?”

  He said it so quiet she almost didn’t hear him. She brought her eyes to his and gasped when something—she couldn’t be sure what—flickered behind them. She could have sworn that for a second they looked almost like fire, but then faded. She licked her lips and yanked her body back when she realized she’d started to lean toward this stranger. Thank goodness for Bev. She cleared her throat, bringing Willow out of the daze she’d fallen under.

  “The order is ready now. Why don’t you get it ready, yes?”

  Still with her eyes glued to his, she nodded before forcing herself away from him. She didn’t want to move. Her body fought her as if she was the other half of a magnet and he was pulling her in.

  “It’s Willow,” she whispered then got control of herself and disappeared behind the door.

  As soon as she was out of sight, she leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. What the hell was wrong with her? She covered her racing heart with her hand as if the sheer pressure of her trembling fingers could slow it down. She panted as if she’d just run a mile in record time. A bead of sweat trickled between her breasts. When her heart returned to normal, Willow shook it off. There was no other way to explain it other than a crazy reaction. And it wouldn’t happen again, or a third time for that matter.

  She wasn’t sure what it was about this man in particular, but whatever it was, it would have to go away. She couldn’t afford any kind of distraction. Not anymore. Plus, she’d sworn off men for all eternity. And that was only twenty-four hours ago.

  ***

  The woman sent Willow, his mate, from the room. His eyes followed her, but the door shut her from view. Not that he couldn’t still feel her presence and smell her scent. His dragon—and Willow’s dragon—were aware that Bev was protective. She had every right to be.

  “She’s been hurt, boy.”

  He nearly laughed. He wasn’t a boy, but the age and knowledge radiating off of her made him feel that way. “I’m not going to hurt her,” he whispered. But now, Bev leaned across the counter. Her eyes no longer their normal blue, but they were violet. He scented the witch. They’d gotten used to each other, but for a reason she wouldn’t explain, she didn’t like dragons.

  “Oh, and what’s going to happen to her if she ends up with you?”

  He raised a brow. “You know.”

  Bev huffed. “Of course, I do. I’ve been around way longer than you’ve been alive. I’ve seen what your kind does.”

  “But if you know about us, then you know that we aren’t purebreds. We’re different.”

  She nodded. “That might be your only saving grace. But what of the women you mate with?”

  “You’ve met two of them. Sophie and Andrea. Both are fine. In fact, Sophie’s pregnant.”

  “They were able to open their hearts to true love, to their fate. That makes all the difference.” She nodded back toward the door. “I’m not sure if this one is capable. She’s got so much hurt and anger running through her veins, it might doom you both. Mating is serious business. Being with a human isn’t easy. Take it from someone who knows.”

  Bev looked over his shoulder and sighed. He felt the presence of someone. A man waiting to pay his ticket. “Just don’t try to keep her from me, but I swear I won’t force it,” he said. And he wouldn’t. He’d die before he did anything to hurt his mate. Even if it meant leaving the world and her alone.

  Acknowledgment of the truth lit Bev’s features. He’d been going back and forth with the witch since he started coming to the diner for lunch when he worked at the gym. She always gave him a hard time, and she didn’t trust him or like him, or so he thought. But maybe that was about to change. He knew she wasn’t human from the moment he met her, and she’d nearly thrown him out of her diner that first day.

  He pulled the door open and ignored the bell above him. His stomach rumbled, starving for red meat. His dragon, though mostly in his forced hibernation, did wake up to eat. And what he wanted was meat. Zarin looked around the diner, surprised by how busy it was. There wasn’t a table free. At first, he was going to leave, but then a woman with white hair and the brightest blue eyes he’d ever seen came out from behind the swinging door. She carried a tray of food.

  The moment their eyes met, the tension between them rose. She stumbled and would have fallen, but Zarin, not exactly thinking, used a
bit of his speed and just as she about teetered over, he grabbed her shoulder, steadying her small frame.

  She hissed at him, and her eyes changed to violet. “Don’t touch me, beast.”

  His hand burned, and he yanked it back from her. When he looked at his palm, it was charred black. He looked around to see if anyone had noticed, but no one even flinched. They ate their food as if nothing had happened. He looked down at his hand, blisters covering his palm, and his rage brewed, but he was working on controlling his beast, not letting it control him. Already, he was healing, but it stung and sent fiery pain through his whole body.

  “What are you?” His voice was low and threatening, but really, he feared this little old lady who was more than she appeared to be.

  “Beast, leave this place.”

  He didn’t like her calling him a beast. He already had enough problems of his own accepting his dragon. “What are you?” he asked again, hoping it would get an answer.

  “I’m Beverly Camden Lorelle, fifth daughter of the Rising Sun coven, and you, boy, better leave my property, or you’ll feel a lot more pain than you do now.”

  Now when he looked around the diner, everything was still. Frozen, no one made a peep, and he was surrounded by a gray apparition surrounding Beverley.

  “I’m just here to eat. I don’t mean any harm.” He had a feeling he’d better hurry up and calm this witch down. It was funny—he’d never met another creature like her before, but for that, he was betting he was lucky.

  She studied him and edged closer. Zarin didn’t move. He realized this was her territory, and he had stepped in it without permission. She circled him.

  “You’re a dual beast?”

  Back then Zarin hadn’t known what she met, and she hadn’t explained it. Shortly after she realized he wasn’t going to eat her, she calmed down, and all her witchy stuff disappeared. When the room was unfrozen, no one even knew they’d lost time. It was crazy, and it was the only time she’d ever shown him what she truly was. After that day, he went back every day, and every day she served him, all the while keeping a very close eye on him as if he’d lose control and eat her patrons. By now, he’d hoped he had proven himself to her.