by J. S. Wilder
“No one will be dying except the enemy.” Levx tested his dragon form hidden inside his human body, still silent and healing. He just prayed it would be strong enough to battle the Tryns when they found them.
“How do we track kids? Do you guys have a police force or something?” Megan wrapped her arms around herself. “What about Alice…she needs medicine.”
Desmonda winced, kneeling beside the older woman. “She’s been bitten multiple times, the venom will kill her soon. I’m surprised she’s even alive.”
“What can we do?” Megan asked in haste, her voice soft and held a slight waver. “They weren’t after her, it’s my fault she got attacked. Why would they be after me?” Fear painted her worried expression.
“That’s a good question.” Her sister rose, facing him. “Levx? She’s not pregnant is she?”
“No.” His cheeks burned.
“Then why would they know about her?” Desmonda frowned. “Why would they come here after her…a mere human…when there are thousands in the city?”
“Unless they followed us.” Megan moved closer to her friend. “Or do they have any special powers or abilities?”
“Their sense of smell is a thousand times stronger than any animal on Earth.” Desmonda bent down and picked up Alice into her arms. “Levx, you explain it to her, then get her somewhere safe. I’ll drop off her friend with the healers and see what they can do for her. Then you, me, and my husband and whoever I will join us will go hunting.”
His sister raced through the streets in front of their apartment complex with Megan’s friend. Levx shuffled his feet, staring out the ground. What did she think of him now that she knew the truth about what he was? Was she disgusted that he wasn’t human? Hated him for lying to her? He couldn’t blame her but he had to get her somewhere safe for a few days. And her father, he needed to ensure he was taken care of while Megan was out.
“You want me to guess why the demons came here or are you going to tell me?” Megan crossed her arms.
Swallowing against his dry throat, he nodded. “Last night in your apartment. My scent got on you, so maybe that’s why they tracked her.”
“But, how could they smell you on me? I showered and lathered myself in soap.” She paled.
“Doesn’t matter. They’d smell me on you for days…if we had had sex it would take even longer to fade.”
When she didn’t say anything, his stomach tightened.
“Are you okay?” He reached out to touch her arm but she shivered and moved back a step.
She straightened her shoulders. “Doesn’t matter. Alice is injured and you have three missing boys…dragons…whatever they are. And they tried to save me and Alice and now they’re missing. First we find them, heal Alice, then deal with everything else.”
“No way in hell are you coming with us,” he let out a growl to scare her into obeying. He couldn’t handle it if anything happened to her.
“No, I will not sit by and do nothing. Whatever you people are, your children are in danger. I can help. I can lure them to us as bait, right? They found me before and they can find me again.”
“Absolutely not.” He took her hand and was relieved she didn’t pull away.
“Try and stop me.”
He hated lying to her but there was no way he was going to let her out of his sight without protection now. Best she hated him and live than die because she was a stubborn woman. Pulling out his cell, he sent a message to his brothers to prepare the sleeping gas for when they entered the building. Humans would become sluggish then fall asleep but it was harmless to half-breeds and his kind.
“Fine. Come with me to get your scraps sealed. The Tryns’ claws are venomous like their bite but they take longer to take effect. Then you can check on your friend Alice, deal?”
She gave him a short nod.
With his heart in his throat, he led her to his family’s complex. After he fulfilled his promise, he’d lock her in his room until he and the others found the Triplets and destroyed the Tryns. Then he would have to say goodbye to Megan and never see her again.
As long as she was with him, she was in danger not only from the Tryns but he didn’t think he’d be able not to be around her and not touch or kiss her. And until every last Tryn was purged from Earth, it was too dangerous to have his scent linger on her.
Chapter 25
Megan
When she entered the complex, her eyelids grew so heavy that she couldn’t keep them open longer than a second or two.
“You need sleep.” Levx’s voice was hypnotic to her. “Tomorrow, after we’ve rested, we’ll go after the Tryns, okay?”
Why was she so tired all of the sudden? Was it from the stress of everything that had happened making her feel this drained now that she was considered herself safe? Whatever it was, the idea of a bed sounded amazing.
“You can sleep in my room if you like.”
No. She didn’t want to have anything to do with him except to find the missing kids, that’s it. But she found her mouth and tongue slurring the words.
He led her to an apartment, settled her down in a massive bed, then her world went black.
Morning light trickled past the lace curtains. She rolled over and groaned. Her arms bandaged. Odd. When had that happened?
Alice? Was her friend okay? Had they been able to help her too? Megan tiptoed out of Levx’s bedroom. A few small statues of dragons lined his mantel and she resisted the urge to touch them. When she was a kid, she used to collect dragons and had her entire room decorated with them.
And where was Levx? He’d put her in his bed last night but so far she’d seen no sign of him. Her anger at him hadn’t abated any. She pushed past the rest of the apartment despite her curiosity and her stomach grumbling like she hadn’t eaten in days.
Outside his apartment, a woman nodded. Was she one of them like Levx?
“Excuse me, I’m searching for my friend. She came in with me and was hurt as well.”
“You must be Megan?” The woman tilted her head. “Hi, I’m Dena the resident vet…doctor. How are you feeling? My training bandaged you this morning and took out your IV, you were pretty dehydrated probably because of the dragon smoke inhalation.”
Megan nodded. “Uh…thanks. You’re human?”
“Yes. Taurian and I are mated.”
A mixture of nausea and intrigue-filled her. So humans and these dragons can mate? They have been doing so already? And this woman didn’t look harmed… The idea of having a relationship of her own twirled in her mind, but so did the fear that their company came with danger. The killing kind. “Would you mind showing me the way to my friend? I’d like to check on her.”
“Sure.” Dena smiled. “It’s down the hall, the last door on the right.”
“Thanks.” She followed Dena’s instructions and entered a small room with her friend bandaged like her and hooked up to bandaged machines.
Tension pressed in her chest like a weight as she approached Alice in a small bed with blue daisy flowers printed on it. Her breathing was labored but didn’t sound as raspy.
An elder man pushed forward with a tray of fruits and water. He grunted when he set the food down. “Eat.”
“Are you like the others? Levx and Desmonda?” she asked.
His shoulders hunched like he prepared to argue. “Yes, I’m their father.”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Megan.” She swallowed hard. “I’m so sorry for your grandsons. They came to save me, well and Alice, from devils—Tryns.” Her mind still reeled from the fact dragons were real as were demons and both were from other planets.
“You hate us?” he asked, his hands curling into fists but he didn’t move to leave or come closer.
She paused mulling over his question. “I-I’m not sure. I’m pissed that Levx lied to me and nearly got me pregnant with an alien baby.”
“Half,” Levx’s father corrected. “None of our females can breed anymore, we don’t know why. We have humans…mates…who ar
e doctors trying to help us.”
“Half?” Realization struck her. “Wait, Levx wasn’t ever married was he? The whole thing was a fabrication. So where did you get the human eggs then?”
He raised he white eyebrows pointedly at her.
“Shit. Sorry. You mean the baby I was going to have and give away would’ve been half mine?” Her stomach knotted. “God, you people…aliens are sick. Why would do that to someone? Trick them into having offspring with you and not even telling them that you’re not human and that the baby will be there’s?”
His face turned purple. “By the time the baby is born, the Renjerian has told the woman. Then it is her choice as to stay with the male and raise their hatchlings or not.”
“How is that a choice?” She stood, her arms tight at her sides. “You lie and trick to get your way. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just as bad as the enemy you claim to fight. Worse, cause they show their true colors from the get-go.” Though her mind niggled her that Levx hadn’t hurt her physically or threatened her like the Tryn had and he’d come to save her and Alice. Still, he hadn’t told her the truth and the demon-creature had pretended to be Levx at first.
“I don’t have to defend myself against a mere human,” he snarled, his nose pinching as if her mere presence disgusted him.
“The way I look at it, you need us.”
Something passed over his face for a moment but it was so quick she couldn’t discern what it was. “We don’t need anyone.”
“Yes you do or your species will die out, won’t they?”
“M-Megan?” Alice asked from the bed and she whirled to her friend.
“Oh my god, how are you feeling? Are you okay?” She sat back on the bed beside her.
“Like I got mugged and run over by a freight train.”
Megan held her hand. “You got hurt pretty bad, do you remember anything?”
“Black shapes…furry…biting me.” She looked past Megan to Levx’s dad behind her. “I like this dream though. Who’s the hottie?”
“No one, just Levx’s dad.”
“Get out! Really?” She lowered her voice but Megan was pretty sure he heard her. “Is he single?”
Levx’s dad snorted, then cleared his throat. “Are you feeling well enough to eat?”
“Maybe a bite.” She winked at him.
“Um…Alice…he’s Levx’s father.” How much would her friend freak out learning he was an alien—a dragon?
“So?” She sat up in the bed. The bite marks had faded some like she’d been here for weeks and not hours. Unease clawed up her throat. Sure these people—creatures were aliens and probably had advanced technology but she was pretty sure no one could heal that fast without magic and from what she’d seen these beings were more scientific with their treatments than wizards.
A sinking sensation hit her middle and she blinked rapidly as blackness surrounded the edge of her vision.
“You need to eat something. Both of you,” the elder man’s voice echoed in the room.
She licked her lips which were dry and cracked. “H-How long have we been here?”
“What are you talking about?” Alice asked but she didn’t look back at her friend.
“Neither of us would’ve healed this fast even with your medicine yet,” she unwrapped her arm. A tiny hole where an IV had been was there with a healing bruise. “How long have we been here?”
He straightened. “Eat, then I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
“Tell me now.” She raised her trembling chin. Dad! What had happened to him while she had been trapped in here? Was he okay? She was going to kill Levx when she saw him.
“Four days.”
Her heart sunk and the room spun.
Chapter 26
Megan
Cool liquid touched Megan’s lips and she instinctively licked them. It was sweet like honey but not as thick or sticky. She pried her eyes open. Levx’s bedroom swam around her. His scent like roasted marshmallows and campfires wafted around her.
“Levx?” Her voice sounded hoarser than she thought it would.
“Take it easy, have some more tonic,” Dena said.
“What happened?” She took the silver flask from the woman and sipped. Last thing she remembered was finding out she and Alice had been here for longer than a night. “I need to call my father. God, he must be worried sick about me.”
“Easy, you can use my phone after you finish all of that.” Dena lowered her head as if she prepared for an argument.
She took a big gulp. “Talk while I drink. What’s going on? Where’s Levx? Did they find the triplets?”
Dena shook her head. “Levx, Desmonda and a handful of others haven’t returned. They left the same night they brought you and your friend in. No one’s found them or the boys either.”
Megan’s chest constricted like someone wrapped a chain around her torso. “Have you sent out others? A search party?”
“We did. The order was to return at sunrise today but they never returned.” She blinked back tears. “My husband and others are looking for survivors now. The king ordered us to flee so we uncooked you and your friend from the medicine keep you asleep as you were healed enough to go home.”
“Wait, how did I fall asleep the first time? I mean I was coming here with Alice then I couldn’t keep my eyes open.”
Dena nodded. “Levx ordered a sleeping gas when you entered. It doesn’t affect their kind and the dose was concentrated enough that it knocked you and your friend out.”
More trickery.
“You know he only did that too keep you two safe.”
“I don’t care what his motives where, the end result was the same.” Megan held up the flask. “What is this?”
“Just electrolytes, vitamins, protein. It’s my own concoction, do you like it?”
“It’s good. Now let me have a phone, please.” She forced the last of the liquid down despite her stomach cramping from nerves.
Dena handed her a cell phone and she quickly punched the numbers to the hospital in.
“Hello?” her father answered and she let out an excited breath.
“Dad! Thank god you’re okay.”
He chuckled. “Why won’t I be. I mean I’m recovering from surgery but doctor says everything looks good.”
“Surgery? Did you get a donor then?” She squeezed the phone trying to staunch the tears of joy from her voice.
“Yeah. Sorry you missed it, pumpkin,” he said. “Horrible time to catch the flu but Levx told me you were cheering on the sidelines and hated to miss the transplant.”
“Levx?” She glanced at Dena who scowled and shook her head. “Yeah, I had the flu real bad, still feel a bit out of it but wanted to check on you.”
“Well, thank you for calling, I miss your voice. But I can’t be around any sick people so make sure you’ve no fever or anything before you come see me. Then I’m going to expect the biggest hug you can give me.”
She let out a sob. “You got it, Dad.”
“Gosh honey, you sound terrible. Levx treating you all right? He’s a really great guy and I can tell he really cares for you.”
Her throat constricted. “Thanks. Um…my cell is broken but I’ll get another soon and call you back later, okay?”
“Sure thing. Now go get some rest.”
She clicked end call and handed the phone back to Dena.
“Anything I can get you?”
“A ride back to my apartment.” She had to get away from these people. As much as they had helped her and especially Alice, which she’d be forever grateful, she had to leave. Too much of all of this reminded her of Levx. Plus she needed to get cleaned up and change clothes. Her cell and wallet had been destroyed in the fire so she needed them replaced. Then she had to go see her dad. Ensure herself that he was really recovering from a kidney transplant.
Showered and dressed with a new phone in her hand and wallet in her pocket, Megan marched to her father’s room. Half the equipme
nt was gone and his face was full of color and not the ashen-gray she become used to seeing.
“Hey, Dad.” She hugged him. “You look great. What does the doctor say?”
“Got a new doctor now.” He grinned. “Can’t for the life of me pronounce his name.”
“Oh, that’s great. Did they tell you anything about the donor or were they anonymous?” She wanted to thank whoever had given their kidney to save her dad.
Her father looked away. “Glad to know you’re feeling better.”
Something was up but she wouldn’t pry. He’d just had surgery recently and honestly she was too happy to care for much else. “So when do I get to meet this miracle-worker doctor then?”
“He came in for the surgery then sat with me every day.” Her father squirmed on the bed, pulling up the blanket. “Said I can go home this evening.”
“That soon?” She didn’t know how long after kidney transplant surgery someone could go home but a few days seemed way too fast.
“Yes, I’m healing up nicely and don’t even need the immunosuppression drugs.” He smiled.
What was her father not telling her? He could be more stubborn than her and by the lifting of his chin, she could tell he wasn’t going to say anything. She stood and kissed his forehead. “I’m going to see the nurse about your discharge paperwork and then we’re getting you out of here. How does a burger and fries sound?”
“Amazing.”
She winked. “My treat.”
After she left his room, she went to the nurses’ station. “Hi, I need the discharge papers for my dad.”
“Sure thing, hun,” the nurse said. “We’re all going to miss him around here.”
“Is the donor known or—”
“Sorry, that’s classified.” The nurse handed her a folder of paper work. “Bring this back whenever you’re done.”
Megan nodded. “Um…who was the surgeon who performed the transplant? My dad can’t remember his name.”
“Dr. Vomdrilx. Yes, he came especially for the surgery.”