Jade couldn’t think of a smart comeback, or any comeback at all for that matter. His words painted fantasies she had never partaken in and awakened a side of her she didn’t know she had. Sex had always been a means to an end. When she felt the need to release some pent-up energy, she found a willing partner. Fast couplings behind closed doors, none of her encounters had been etched in her memory. But Dragon’s raw sensuality affected her senses and made her long for a deeper connection.
“I’m hungry,” she said. “I wish to go to the galley and eat something.”
At once, Dragon unfurled and stood. “As you wish, my Lady Jade.” He bowed to her and opened his arm, escorting her out of their quarters. He walked at her side, close enough that she could feel his warmth, but he never brushed her arm.
“We aren’t done yet,” he warned her as they entered the hallway. “You can change the topic as much as you want. We can sleep in separate rooms. You might own the singular skirmishes, but it’s the war I intend to win.” He opened the galley door for her.
Jade made a beeline for the table, where thankfully a server immediately came to take her order.
12
The first day onboard Glory was absolute agony for Dragon, but the night was even worse.
After hours spent in Jade’s proximity, his body was in need of a good, long release. Knowing that no intimacies were to take place in the near future drove him mad, but he would endure anything for her. He would prove to Jade without a doubt that they were soulmates. If he had to bathe in a tub full of ice twice a day, he would do that too, but he hoped that she would relent soon.
“Are you sure you are going to be comfortable there?” Jade pointed at the alcove.
Meant as a temporary solution in case of an emergency, the cubicle was as large as the bed it contained. A lever on the wall released the platform with the mattress, and recessed shelves filled with books occupied the backdrop. One of the servants prepared the bed for him before they went back to their quarters after dinner, and he had found it ready for him to use.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll read something—” He sat on the bed facing the wall and punched the controller set on the small tray jutting from the platform. Soothing music filled the space.
“Interesting read?” Jade’s eyes lowered to the book lying between his legs. Her gaze rose ever so slightly to his pants and lingered a moment before she blinked.
Now that they were alone in their quarters, Dragon didn’t even try to hide the proof of his intense desire for her.
“Breeding Lamoris on Belt Asteroids: The Complete Manual.” She read the title and looked back up.
Pretending that he hadn’t noticed her wandering eyes, he said, “Riveting.” He leafed through the pages and stopped at a random chapter. “I’m either about to become an expert on how to,” he tilted his head to read from the open page, “’quickly assess if a female is in season,’ or I’ll fall asleep before the end of the page and remain ignorant on the subject.”
Jade raised an eyebrow as if to say something but nodded instead.
“Let me know if you want company in that big bed.” His senses were fine-tuned on Jade, and by now, he could recognize her emotions by the way she breathed alone. He refrained from pointing out that her scent was saturated with her desire.
“What I want scares me,” she said.
“Your honesty is a trait I loved in you since the very first moment we met.” He wanted to raise his hand and place it against her stomach. “You never used my weakness for you against me.”
“That’s not the assassin way.”
“That’s not your way. There are plenty of assassin skilled in the art of seduction. But you are not one of them. You wouldn’t deceive your opponent.”
“That wouldn’t be respectful.”
“I remember the way you looked at me before throwing the javelin that would’ve killed me.”
“Everyone deserves to die with honor.” She blinked. “I don’t remember that moment with you, but I wouldn’t have treated you any differently than any other target. I just don’t understand how I could have missed.”
“I kept my eyes on you and caught your javelin with my hand.”
“You did?” Surprise showed on her face. “The javelin is my weapon of choice, my specialty. I must have been impressed,” she added, cocking her hip and regarding him with a studious gaze that heated Dragon’s already warm body.
“I surely hope so.” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he tried to keep his face straight. “It was incredibly manly of me.”
“So it was.” Jade’s lips trembled in a barely suppressed attempt not to smile.
Dragon’s ready comeback was stopped by a quiet hiss that made him turn to his right. The faint whiff of an overly-sweet smell drifted from the bookshelves at his back.
Jade’s brow corrugated, her mouth hanging open as she stared at him.
The mattress moved underneath him or so it seemed to Dragon. His sight blurred, he saw Jade bring her hand to her throat. His mind was slow, but he twisted his torso, his hands reaching for the shallow shelves, sending books flying all over the place. He could barely keep his eyes open by now and felt more than saw the small, black incense holder fitted inside the alcove’s back wall. With one desperate effort, he freed the small dish and threw it away from him and Jade.
As soon as Dragon wasn’t exposed to the toxic fumes any longer, his nostrils cleared from the harmful effects of the incense, and he felt clear-headed again. He grabbed Jade and dragged her through the bedroom and to the bathroom where he turned on the tub’s faucet. He splashed water on her face first and then on his.
“Stay here,” he told Jade after filling a glass with water. He held his breath and reentered the parlor, searching the floor for the incense holder. A small plume of smoke wafted near the door to the living room. Keeping his nose closed, he picked the small burning cone and dumped it into the glass, then dispersed the ashes with his boot.
He ran back to the bathroom to check on Jade and found her slumped by the tub. “Jade, open your eyes and look at me,” he said, tilting her chin up.
Her skin was pale and clammy at the touch, but she slowly responded to his words by giving him a confused stare before her head lolled to the side.
“Dragon…” Her voice was slow.
“I’m here,” he said, passing one arm under her knees and the other around her back to cradle her against his chest as he stood. “I need to clean your airways.” He grabbed a cloth by the tub, dunked it under the still running water, and brought Jade to the bedroom.
“Dragon,” she murmured his name again when he lowered her to the bed.
“Everything’s going to be fine,” he said reassuringly, though he couldn’t help but worry about their child. With a gentle touch, he passed the wet cloth over her nose and mouth. “I’m going to force fresh air into you,” he explained, leaning down.
First, he blew air into her nostrils for a few seconds. When she reacted, he moved lower. His lips touched hers softly before coaxing her mouth open. As he had done not so long ago during their escape from the Academy, he breathed into her, pumping oxygen into her lungs. A moment later, Jade’s hand pushed against his chest, and he leaned away, kneeling on the mattress.
“I’m okay,” she said groggily. “What happened?”
“Poisonous gas, but I smelled the scent before it could do any damage to you or me.” He took a good look at her, wanting to touch her and make sure she was unscathed. Instead, he climbed off the bed and picked the gramophone from the nightstand to call the ship medicus first, and soon after Valerian.
The two men arrived at the same time mere minutes later.
Worried for Jade, Dragon briefly brought them up to speed about the new attack. “Valerian, wait here,” he said to his friend when he was done, then turned to the medicus. “Mr. Cillian, I want you to take a look at Lady Jade. My soulmate is expecting our first child—” Dragon would’ve rather kept Jade’s pregnancy a secret unti
l they reached Solaria because he didn’t know whom he could trust, but he had no choice.
“Lady Jade is with child,” Cillian said, unable to hide the surprise showing on his round face.
Dragon stared hard at the medicus, squashing the questions the man must have had about a conception that should’ve been impossible. “Yes, she is. And I’m concerned about the poison’s effects on the baby,” he said, lowering his voice because he didn’t want Jade to hear him. “This way.” He opened his arm toward the bedroom.
The medicus followed Dragon into the room and bowed at Jade. “I’m Mr. Cillian, and I’ll take care of you today. How do you feel, mistress?” he asked, his eyes cutting to her bump with unabashed curiosity before traveling to her face and her white marks.
Dragon was sure that by now the news about his Master Assassin mate had traveled far and wide on the ship. The man’s behavior was to be expected, and it would’ve amused Dragon any other time. Jade was the most remarkable woman in the entire system, after all. At the moment, though, he felt like questioning anyone who looked at her twice.
Jade looked pale against the white backdrop of the bed linens. “Dizzy but otherwise fine,” she answered, eyeing the medicus warily as her hand rested protectively atop her belly. Her eyes met with Dragon’s, and he silently nodded that it was okay.
He might not know if the man was loyal to him, but Cillian was the only medicus onboard. Dragon wouldn’t risk Jade’s or their unborn child’s health over the fear that the man belonged to The Front Pro Humanity.
The short man took a stethoscope from his large, leather bag and proceeded to check Jade’s vitals as he fired off questions.
“Do you know what kind of gas you ingested?” The medicus checked Jade’s pulse.
“No, I don’t. I didn’t smell anything,” Jade answered, sounding both out of breath and annoyed with herself.
When the medicus turned toward Dragon, he shrugged. “I don’t know either.” He looked over his shoulder at Valerian who hovered by the bedroom’s door. “I left the glass with the incense cone somewhere in the parlor.”
Valerian nodded. “I’ll grab it for you.” He left and came back right away, holding the glass of water now murky with the ashes from the incense. “It looks like one of those incenses that are sold at temples,” Valerian commented, handing the glass to the medicus.
“I’ll examine it and let you know what kind of poison it is,” the medicus said, placing the glass on the nightstand. He fished into his bag, pulling out a slender clockwork device that looked like a large caterpillar with plump legs. “You didn’t breathe too much of the gas, but I’d like to use this scanner to monitor your child’s health.”
Valerian took it as his cue to leave. “I’ll wait outside,” he said to Dragon and turned around, retreating into the parlor.
The medicus lowered the device and pressed on a shallow indentation on its back which set in motion the many legs of the scanner. He angled it toward Jade. “It’s absolutely pain-free and non-invasive.”
Before giving her consent to the medicus, Jade tilted her head toward Dragon, her hand reaching out for his. Dragon felt his heart lurch into his throat. He pressed his hand against his thigh to still the slight tremor before wrapping it around her small palm. Only when he gently squeezed her hand did Jade nod at the medicus.
The man raised her shirt to her chest, uncovering her stomach before placing the scanner against her bump.
It was the first time Dragon saw her pregnant stomach without the many layers of clothing she used. Several emotions assaulted him at once: love, concern, the need to protect what was his, and the most unbearable happiness.
“How far along are you?” the medicus asked, spreading the device’s legs against Jade’s belly.
“About five months,” she answered.
“Are you sure?” the medicus asked again.
“We’re sure,” Dragon said.
“Is there something wrong with my baby?” Jade’s question was loaded with fear and affected Dragon as well.
“I haven’t seen you before but it looks like you haven’t gained much weight, and your belly is small.” He waved one hand dismissively. “Some women barely show at full term, while others look like hydrosauruses from the second month,” the medicus said. “I just wanted to be sure because this kind of scanner is rather finicky and needs to be calibrated.”
Dragon inwardly sighed, hoping Jade wouldn’t feel his nervousness. He sat on the edge of the bed and brought her hand to his lips for a kiss before pressing her palm against his heart and smiling at her.
“Relax,” the medicus said as the scanner wriggled against Jade’s belly.
At Dragon’s silent question, she answered, “It tickles me.”
Soon, the button on top of the device lit, and it emitted a purring sound.
“Excellent,” the medicus commented when the noise became louder and the lights started turning on and off in a pattern. “The baby is fine, and the reading is consistent with a five-month-old pregnancy.”
Both Dragon and Jade sighed in relief.
“That’s good,” Dragon said, smiling at Jade who surprised him with the most dazzling smile in return.
“Would you like to hear your baby’s heart?” the man asked, looking first at Jade and then at Dragon.
“Yes,” Jade said, squeezing Dragon’s hand.
The medicus tinkered with the scanner’s commands, pressing buttons and moving levers until the purring noise abated. In its stead, a rhythmic sound filled the silence. It resembled the thunderous beat of a drum, and it was fast.
“Is this—?” Dragon couldn’t finish the sentence because his voice broke.
“Yes, this is your baby’s heart. Strong heartbeat and excellent vitals.” The medicus let the thumping beat play for a few more seconds before turning off the scanner. “I declare mother and child out of danger.” He lowered Jade’s shirt and patted her free hand. Then he straightened and told Dragon, “Let’s make sure you are fine as well.”
Dragon would have refused, but one pleading look from Jade made him nod. After a few minutes of light poking and prodding, the medicus gave Dragon a clean bill of health.
“Your shifter physiology and her nanites took care of the poison before it could do any damage,” Cillian said. “I’ll send you the toxicology results as soon as I have them.” He picked up the glass with the incense from the nightstand. “Just rest and drink plenty of water,” he said to Jade as he walked outside.
“Our child is fine.” Freeing her hand from his hold, Jade scooted on the bed and sat with her back against the headboard.
“Of course, our little monster is fine,” Dragon said, even though a moment earlier he had been quivering inside with fear.
The sooner they found the traitor the sooner he could finally cradle Jade in his arms and relax. He called Valerian back in for a conversation that couldn’t be postponed.
13
As Jade watched Dragon and Valerian talk a few steps from the bed, her only thought was that her baby hadn’t suffered from the poison attack.
She was grateful that Dragon had called his lieutenant into the bedroom instead of going somewhere else to discuss the night’s events. It wasn’t fear of being left alone. Loneliness was a condition that had accompanied Jade all her life. The difference now was that for the first time since she had been abandoned by her family, she was responsible for someone else other than herself.
When she realized that the sweet scent was poisonous, her biggest fear had been about losing her child. During the medicus’ visit, Jade was barely able to talk and automatically sought Dragon’s comfort. Her reaction had been spontaneous.
“Interrogate all the servants who tend to our quarters,” Dragon was saying to Valerian.
The broody Solarian nodded. “Right away.”
“And I want this place turned upside down.” Dragon’s eyes cut toward Jade, and his expression softened. “Do you have any suggestions?” he asked her.
<
br /> Jade pushed herself up against the headboard. “Whoever handled the incense might show traces of it on his or her hands.” She pointed at Dragon’s blackened thumb and index fingers.
He looked at his hand with a frown, then raised his gaze back to her once again. “I didn’t even notice.” He waved his hand at Valerian, showing him his stained digits. He rubbed his fingers against each other, spreading the dark soot. “It’s greasy.”
“They used oil to bind the poison,” Valerian said.
Jade nodded at his assessment. “In a pinch, it works.”
“Anything else I should look for?” The lieutenant looked directly at Jade.
She saw the respect in the man’s look, and it pleased her. They had been at odds for the longest time. Being on the same side felt good.
“They might have used gloves to handle the incense,” she said. “And possibly a mask.”
Valerian’s face lit in recognition. “I’ll stop the trash incinerator at once,” he said, hurrying toward the door. “Anything else?”
Jade shook her head. “That’s all for now.”
When Valerian gave Dragon a subtle look, Dragon shook his head and said, “I’m staying here. There’s an enemy loose on the ship, and I can’t leave Jade’s side.”
“Of course,” Valerian said, bringing his fist to his chest.
As the lieutenant left, Dragon dropped himself to the mattress, stretching his arms over his head. He tilted his face toward her. “I won’t go back to the other room. There’s only so much I can bear where you are concerned, and I’ve already reached my quota for this century.” He closed his eyes for a moment before looking at her with a raw gaze. “I need to have you close.”
Jade’s hand moved of its own volition, reaching his blond mane. Her fingers curled around his silky hair before lowering to his scalp for a soft caress.
The Fifth Moon's Legacy Page 6