Zarin

by Sarah J. Stone

  “I believe you. But don’t be surprised when she fights. She’s running from a man.”

  And that was it. She moved to the register and smiled, helping the man that was ready to leave. With that tidbit of news, Zarin wasn’t sure what to do. Willow was running from a man who abused her. Sophie had been abused, and she was alright, but humans were fragile creatures. They were all different, too. No two acted the same.

  He stood to the side and smiled when the swinging door was pushed open. Willow, the tiny woman (oh how he loved how small she was, perfect for holding), balanced the bags in her hands. He moved to help her. When he lifted the bags from her arms, their fingers brushed. A tingle of awareness stoked a fire within him. He heard her tiny gasp, and when her wide eyes met his, he tried to answer her unasked question. He wasn’t even sure if she knew she had a question to begin with.

  “I…I’ve got one more in the kitchen.”

  Before he could respond, she was off. She felt it. The Black Dragon, fully aware of the situation, realized its host had walked away from them. It whined in his mind.

  ‘Home.’

  Zarin knew the feeling; to him, Willow would be his home, too. Everything about her seemed scared, defiant, and bitter. She was the female version of him. He bet the goddess was getting a kick out of this. She was forcing him to deal with someone just like him. It was some sort of twisted joke.

  Willow came back out, carrying the other bag. She kept her eyes anywhere but on him. He wanted to push. Oh how he did, but no matter how much he thought about it, he wasn’t sure how to handle her. She was skittish.

  So when she held the bag away from her body, Zarin did the only thing he could, hoping to ease her. He made sure he didn’t touch her. Even though all he wanted to do was pull her into his body and hold her.

  “Thank you,” he said, and spun around before he could say anything else. He had to get out of the diner before he broke his promise.

  As he walked away, both beasts whined.

  ‘Why?’ both asked.

  ‘She’s not ready yet.’

  ‘She has to be.’

  ‘Give her more time.’ Zarin needed them to relax. Humans were different, and it didn’t matter that they knew she was theirs. The only thing that mattered was that she didn’t know that, and even if he told her, she most likely wouldn’t believe it, and she’d run. He’d give her time while keeping an eye on her at the same time.

  ***

  Zarin couldn’t sit still. All day, since he left her, he couldn’t do enough to stay busy. Then he realized he never went to the gym, and something in the back of his mind told him he needed to. The owner had left him in charge, and Zarin promised to take care of the place. Nothing would happen to it on his watch. He paced the kitchen restlessly and threw his hands in the air.

  “Fuck it,” he grumbled, and strode to the garage, grabbing a set of keys off the hook. It didn’t matter that it was well after ten at night. He needed to blow off steam. Why not check things out while he was at it?

  He slid into the car and started it before opening the garage. There was no way he was going to sleep anyway. He backed out of the garage and drove away from his home. As he drove, the silence filled him. It was peaceful, and he tried to enjoy the moment. The gym was far into town—about twenty minutes away from home. Most people wouldn’t even notice the nondescript, old brick building. The inside had been converted from tiny apartments to a three-story gym. Ollie had put a lot of work into the place. That’s why Zarin wasn’t sure why he wanted to sell it. No matter what, though, Zarin would find a way to buy it. He’d been saving up since he started working there, and even though he was far from his goal, he had hope.

  The drive was smooth as he took each curve carefully. This time of night was really dark, but with his sight, he could see every nuance. He loved living in the country with all the different trees and wildlife. Even though all the other small creatures were terrified of him, he still got joy out of seeing them in their natural habitats.

  He pulled into the parking lot. He felt a wave of unease as he opened the door. His dragon lifted his head and smelled the air. He sensed something. It wasn’t something he’d ever smelled before, but it was coming from the gym. The closer he got to the glass doors, the stronger the scent became. It was like a rainstorm mixed with jasmine. His beast fully woke, and Blackie urged him forward. Something about the scent drew them in. He followed it and put the key in the lock. Carefully, he opened the door, not making a sound. The buzzer gave him his warning to type in the security code. He deftly typed in the four-digit code and closed the door. Darkness surrounded him. The gym had been closed for hours. He walked on the tip of his toes, carrying his weight with ease. He didn’t make a sound, at least not to the human ear. He walked further into the room and froze.

  The sound of the shower drew him to the left where the men’s locker room was. His agile body made it easy to sneak, and he didn’t need a weapon. Someone had broken into his gym. He wondered why his dragons no longer seemed concerned. In fact, they appeared drowsy. A red flag raised, but he ignored it. He needed to know who—or what—was in the gym. He leaned against the wall and peeked around the corner.

  Nothing, but the water still ran.

  As he made his way further into the room, the scent of rain and jasmine grew. It was so overpowering that he knew whatever was behind that curtain wasn’t human. He shifted his claws on one hand. With his other hand, he gripped the curtain and pulled it back.

  The boy screamed, and screamed some more.

  Zarin stood in shock as a boy, no older than ten, wrapped his thin, pale arms around his nude body. He looked off to the side and saw the towel. Without letting his guard down, he picked it up and tossed it to the boy. “Get out and get dressed.” It was an order, and the boy seemed to know it.

  He couldn’t think with the scent. It was so strong, and his body ached to lie down and sleep. Zarin realized he was falling into the trap, but he didn’t know what would happen. He was just a little boy.

  Chapter 5

  It wasn’t until the sun beamed through the window that Zarin’s eyes shot open. He groaned and looked around the room. He slept against the wall. Then he remembered the boy. It was his magic; it knocked him out. He was about to jump up and search for that boy to rip him a new one when he felt a heavy weight on his thigh. He looked down, and the boy lay next to him. His head was on his lap, and his wet hair soaked through Zarin’s jeans. He wore a pair of sweats and a t-shirt that was too thin for this kind of weather. His eyes were red and puffy as if he’d been crying.

  Who was this boy, and why was he here? A better question—why would he use his powers on Zarin and then stay instead of run away?

  He shook the boy’s shoulder. “Wake up, kid.”

  The boy shot up and stared at him with wide, yellow eyes. Zarin held back his gasp. He stared at the boy, trying to figure out what he was. His skin was pale with a blue tint, and his hair—he hadn’t noticed last night—was light blue. Everything about this boy screamed at him.

  “A Half-Nymph…partly.”

  “What the fu…what‘s a Half-Nymph?”

  The boy shrugged. “I only know what my birth mother told me.”

  “And where is your mom?”

  He frowned. “Dead probably. She told me to run before they got her. She told me to find the man from her vision. He would save me.” His frown fell just as quickly as it appeared, and a grin replaced it. “I followed her vision, just like she told me, and I found you. You’re the beast.”

  What was with other supernatural beings calling him a beast? “Why do you need saving?”

  He leaned in, and whispered, “The others will kill me. I’m not pure.”

  It was the way he said it. There was no sorrow or sadness, just truth. The fact that this Half-Nymph, accepted that he would be hunted because he wasn’t pure saddened him.

  “So your kind wants to kill you?”

  The boy rolled his eyes. “They aren’t
my kind; they are my mom’s kind. She’s a water nymph, and it’s against the rules to bed a human, and it’s even worse to procreate with a human. Any babe born of the union must be destroyed.”

  Zarin realized it was as if he were repeating the words. “So, because you are part human, the nymphs will kill you.”

  “Yes, and before Mom left, she said you would help save me. You’d find a way.”

  Oh boy.

  Zarin wasn’t sure he was ready for that kind of responsibility. Plus, he might not be the one the boy’s mom was talking about. “I don’t think you have the right beast.”

  “Oh yes, I do. She said you’d be reluctant. But she said, ‘Find the one with eyes like fire. He’ll light your path and protect you, the way your dad and I couldn’t. Go to him, and show him the letter, let him see he can’t say no. The goddess deemed it be, and he’ll know that to be true. It’s his path to the forgiveness he seeks.’” He pulled out the letter and handed it to Zarin.

  Zarin unfolded the frail piece of paper.

  I know you think you are not worthy to survive, but the goddess came to me with both hope and warning. My life is over, but yours is not. Please take care of my dear boy. He needs you as much as you need him. Don’t send him away. If you do, he will surely die, and so will you. I’ve seen the visions. The goddess picked me to send you the message you’ve so desired. They want you to save my son, for he holds a great destiny, and you are the only one who can find a way to make sure he survives to make it to his quest. He needs someone strong like you. Someone who will live or die for him; that will fight for him and beside him.

  Thank you, beast of fire, for taking care of my boy, for I will never see him again.

  “Well, hell.”

  The boy nodded. “I’m Cai.”

  Zarin looked up from the letter and raised a brow. He wasn’t sure he could raise this boy. He didn’t know anything about him or his kind. What did he need, and how would he protect him if he didn’t even know what he was fighting against? Would the nymphs be able to find him? There were so many questions.

  “They can track me through my mother’s blood. So if they have caught her, then I’ll be dead within the week.”

  “Great.” Just great. It looked like the boy could read his mind. That would only lead to trouble, but Blackie was up. She surged forth, trying to break free, only his body wasn’t hers. She couldn’t escape. She couldn’t get to the boy.

  His eyes widened, and he leaned up into Zarin’s face to peer into his eyes. “They are different now. They are gold. How is that possible?”

  “I have two dragons; one is mine and the other—”

  “Is your mate’s?” He smiled. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

  “Yes, the Black Dragon is waiting for my mate to accept us so she can go home.”

  “So you’re not pure either.”

  “No. No, I’m not.” The boy asked a lot of questions and he had a feeling his whole world just changed, and there was nothing that he could do to stop it. His heart thumped. Did he want this, really? “I’m Zarin.”

  “You’re my dad. You’re going to raise me, right? Like Mom promised?”

  For the first time, Zarin saw how vulnerable the boy was. He had to listen to the woman who he knew was going to die. He had to stay with a man he didn’t know. “What about your real dad?”

  “I never knew him. Mom was weak and had relations with a human male. That’s against the laws. We’ve been running my whole life. Dad never could have raised me. I’m too different. Mom spent years protecting me and searching for someone to help, then the goddess sent her the vision of you.”

  Oh. Well, the boy had spent his whole life searching for him. “So, I’m what? Your guardian?”

  Cai shook his head. “No, you’re my dad.”

  Oh boy. “I see.”

  “You can’t turn me away. Please don’t.”

  “Calm down. I’m not going to send you away. But I need you to tell me everything you know about who I have to protect you from, and why. Everything your mom told you, do you hear me? Leave nothing out. Knowledge is power.”

  “Knowledge is power,” he repeated. “Okay, Mom told me everything from early on. I know I’m no match against them. My powers won’t even fully grow until I reach my fifteenth year, and even then, I won’t be as strong as a full-blooded Nymph. I’m weak.”

  Zarin couldn’t let him grow up thinking he was weak just because he wasn’t full-blooded. He had a purpose now, and even more, he had to get Willow on board because without her, he wouldn’t be able to help save the boy or fulfill his destiny. He couldn’t—no, he wouldn’t fail.

  “You are not weak. I will not let you be weak. There is more to being strong than having a lot of power.”

  Cai smiled. “So I stay?”

  Zarin closed his eyes and prayed to the goddess that he was doing the right thing. “You stay.”

  Cai moved like lightning and wrapped his thin arms around Zarin. “You’ll find a way to save me. I don’t want to die.”

  He felt a crack in his armor. His heart pounded, and ice slid from its surface. The boy found his way into Zarin’s life, and now he would do anything to make sure the boy lived. First, he needed to figure out how. And to do that, he needed the help of his tribe.

  Speaking of tribe, his phone buzzed in his pocket, and he realized he’d never gone home. He cringed when he saw Aris’ name across the screen. Goddess knew that if Sophie was worried, Zarin would pay hell for not checking in.

  “Where the fuck are you?”

  His shoulders slumped, but he looked at Cai, his new responsibility. “I have a good reason. I’ll be home soon.” Normally, hanging up would be a bad idea, but he didn’t want to get into it over the phone. Not when the gym was about to open and he was the one who was supposed to be doing the opening. “Shit.”

  He dialed his boss and left a message. There was no way he’d be able to work, not after he took Cai home. He looked at the boy with noticeable blue skin and hair. Sneaking him out was going to be tricky.

  Cai laughed. “You see me as I am because you are other; mortals will see me as a frail boy. I don’t need to be snuck anywhere.”

  He shook his head. A mind reader—handy power, but inconvenient. “Don’t listen in to people’s thoughts. It’s rude.”

  “I don’t know how to control it. I didn’t have any powers before Mom left me.”

  How long had he been on his own? “You’ll have to learn. So, let’s get out of here. I’m about to get an ass chewing because your little stunt knocked me out before checking in, and my queen is a worrywart.”

  Cai deflated. His grin fell from his face, and his eyes filled with tears. Zarin realized he might have been a little harsh. He wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulder and pulled him to his side. His head leaned against his chest. “It’s not your fault. I’m just in shock. I wasn’t expecting this when I came to check on the gym.”

  “I’m sorry I made you mad.”

  He pulled Cai from under his arms and gripped his shoulders. He was a slight boy, thin and bony. “I’m not mad—just surprised. It’s going to take some time to get used to one another. Plus, I’m trying to get my mate to accept me, or rather, get her to at least speak to me.”

  “I can help with that.”

  “Oh, no. Let’s just get you home and settled. Sophie is going to be thrilled to meet you.”

  “Your worrywart queen.”

  “Yes, but don’t call her that.”

  Zarin led Cai out to the SUV and made sure he was situated. He took a deep breath before he got into the car. He wasn’t sure what the goddess was thinking, but he hoped he didn’t fuck this up. That would be a sure way of having no future. This boy’s life was literally in his hands. He slid into the car and looked in the rearview mirror. Cai’s yellow eyes were wide staring back at him.

  “It’ll be okay. The tribe will love you. Just try not to knock them out with that power of yours.”

  “If I get
scared or nervous, it just happens. I don’t know how to stop it.” His voice wobbled, and Zarin gripped the wheel.

  “Just don’t be scared. I’ll protect you, and you’ll have a whole family of dragons to keep you safe.”

  He drove home in silence. Cai seemed to be in his own world. Zarin could feel his nerves, and it riled his beast; Blackie wanted to protect him. It seemed she was keen on the boy and was restless as if she wanted to reach out to him, but had no control.

  ‘Our kin.’

  Apparently, Zarin just became a father to a ten-year-old Half-Nymph with no control over what powers he did have, and as of now, he wasn’t even sure what they were besides the mind reading and the scent thing. When he drove by the diner, he looked through the glass. Willow was wiping down tables. He braked and turned into the lot. He wasn’t going to let her make it difficult, not now, when their destiny now involved a child. He parked the car and turned in his seat.

  “Stay in the car, okay? I need to go inside.”

  “Your mate is in there? My new mom?”

  Zarin thought it was strange how easily the boy accepted the fact that he was getting new parents without a say.

  “I’ve known my whole life this would happen. Mom saw it all. She knew you and your mate would keep me safe and treat me as your own. That’s why it’s so easy for me.”

  He didn’t say anything about the fact that Cai had just verified that Willow would eventually accept him. That was a relief, but now he just had to figure out how to make Cai’s vision of the future come true. He was wise beyond his years. At ten, he shouldn’t have been so knowledgeable, so calm, but Zarin studied him sitting in the seat with his small hands in his lap. He didn’t fidget like he saw kids do, or whine, or make any noises. In fact, if it weren’t for his scent, Zarin wouldn’t even notice him in the car. “Okay, for now, please sit tight. I won’t be long. I haven’t had much luck with her so far.”