by Lia Davis
It felt the same. Seeing Sage in the boat and hearing Huff’s laughter again—it had almost sent Owen over the edge.
Nadia hadn’t said much since the morning chase. They’d searched more houses and areas around the lake with no luck. When Snow and the others had gotten to the lake, they swarmed over the water looking for Liam’s boat. Courtney had told him that Dylan, the water dragon, had been searching the lake all afternoon. He rarely came to the United States, so it was unusual he’d fly in. Like the other DSD teammates, Dylan wanted Liam Huff cuffed, too.
“It’s not your fault.” Nadia didn’t look at him when she spoke.
“I feel like it is.” If she only knew he was a dragon, she might feel differently. It was his damn fault. He should’ve done a better job. There was no excuse for Huff’s escape.
How did he just disappear? Had he used some kind of magic? Owen wouldn’t put it past him.
She put her hand on his arm. “There’s no use beating ourselves up that he escaped. We’ll get him.”
“I know we will. I hate it that we didn’t today.”
“Me, too.” She paused. “But you know what?”
“What?”
“Sage is alive. This morning, I didn’t know that for sure. So we do have some good news.”
He turned to her and she forced a smile. “Yeah, you’re right. But I can’t wait to get that man in my hands. I’ll kill him.”
She looked down. “Don’t talk like that.”
“I’m sorry. He’s caused me so much pain.”
“Yes. Let’s focus on getting him. At least we have the police out looking for Sage now, too.”
“I hope they have better luck than we’ve had.”
A row of ducks paddled by, heading to the bank to sleep. Owen watched them. If only life were that simple.
“I’ve realized one thing in all this.” She scooted her chair next to his. “I’m no longer worried about Sage going to college. I’m going to be okay.”
He put his arm around her. “Yes, you are.”
“It’s time for her to spread her wings and fly.”
A cold streak raced through his stomach. Should he tell her?
“I’m glad you’ve come to terms with it.” He pulled her close and kissed her on the cheek. His mate felt small in his arms. Owen needed to protect her, and his dragon paced, begging to be set free.
He’d get what he wanted and then some.
“Me, too. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“That’s ridiculous. Of course you could’ve.”
“Maybe.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “But you certainly helped me realize it sooner.”
“I have a feeling that we’ll catch him tomorrow. And then we can go on with our lives knowing the psychopath is gone.”
“Do you really think he will go to that party at the Sanderson place? It doesn’t seem like a smart move. He’s bound to know that we’ll be there.”
“I think there’s a good chance he’ll attend. He likes to taunt and torture me. If he can do it in front of an audience, even better.”
“I hope he’s that stupid. I really do.”
9
Owen paced in the driveway. The Sanderson party was today, and his gut assured him that Huff would be there with Sage. The battle would be one for the books, and he needed to prepare his mate.
“I hope you mean that symbolically. You won’t really kill him, will you?”
“I will kill him.”
“I don’t like that talk. Though, if he’s hurting Sage, I will kill him myself.”
He scanned the lake. The farmhouse wasn’t too far away, and his team was already setting things up. Everyone believed Huff would be at the party, and if he was, he’d not realize what hit him. They’d take him out.
The biggest issue would be all the humans in attendance. If they saw a bunch of dragons, how would they react? Courtney had plans to bespell them, but Courtney wasn’t always accurate with her limited magic.
She’d asked if he wanted Nadia bespelled, but Owen had said no. His mate would hopefully be part of his future. She needed to know his true nature, no matter how much she recoiled.
“We have to get going.” He clutched her arm.
“I’m ready.”
“I need to tell you one thing. Please don’t laugh. I need you to believe me.”
“Okay.” Her eyes widened. “What is it now?”
“I’m not under human law.” Framing her face in his hands, he waited until her attention was on him. “I’m a dragon. A shifter.”
There. He’d said it and knew he’d sounded like an idiot doing it.
“What are you talking about?” Nadia tugged her arm from his grasp. “That’s impossible.”
Here goes nothing. After closing his eyes briefly, he allowed his dragon to peek out and look at Nadia with the dragon’s silver eyes. Lustful eyes.
She gasped and backed up, her hand to her mouth. He tracked her movements. Would she run?
He moved toward her. “Please don’t fear me. I can’t hurt you. You trust me, don’t you?”
He hoped the mating strands affected her and made her feel close to him even though they’d only known each other a short time. He knew the bond now, and his dragon wouldn’t let him forget it. But did humans feel anything?
“This is impossible. I don’t believe it.”
After two steps, he pulled her into his arms. “It’s possible. And it’s true. I’m a dragon.”
Eyes rounded, her mouth hung open. “This is crazy.”
“Listen to me. Humans aren’t to know about our kind. That’s why I didn’t reveal it to you sooner. I wish we had more time for me to explain everything about the dragon world, but you’re going to have to trust me on this. Huff is also a dragon. My team members are, too.”
Nadia shook her head. Owen sensed her disbelief turn into dismissal. "We have to go. We don’t have time for this."
She tugged free from his embrace again and stormed toward the truck. His dragon paced, frustrated that their mate didn’t believe Owen. Once she saw, she would. Owen shushed his dragon. “We have work to do first. Huff is not getting away this time.” His dragon growled in agreement.
Nadia eyed him with impatience as she waited for him to unlock the door.
She wasn't going to listen to him. Not now. She was too focused on Sage to allow her mind to consider dragons were real. Who could really blame her? At least he’d told her the truth, even if she didn’t believe him.
He hoped she wouldn’t run screaming when his own dragon made an appearance.
Nadia jumped out of Owen's truck before it came to a complete stop beside two black SUV's parked several yards from the Sanderson farmhouse. "We searched here yesterday. What makes you think he’d come to the party?"
She knew she sounded out of control. Honestly, she felt out of control.
Her heart pounded and her mind was a mess. Owen claimed to be a dragon shifter. Was that like a werewolf only in dragon form? Why was she entertaining such an idea when her sister was missing? It was so unbelievable, she had to think about it. Dragons were made-up. Like unicorns and mermaids.
Right?
Owen met her at the front of his truck and motioned to the SUVs as the driver-side door of one of them opened. A young, tall man stepped out. His white-blond hair brushed his shoulders, curling slightly at the end. Two perfect dimples formed when he smiled at her.
"That's Snow." Owen motioned to him.
"Nice to meet you." Snow held out a hand.
She didn't take it. Was Snow supposed to be one of the dragons, too? He was part of Owen’s team. Nadia felt like she was the center of attention and everything around her was a circus. Maybe it all was a dream—the kidnapping, Owen, dragons.
No, Owen felt real, and despite his claims of being a mythological beast, she didn’t want him to disappear when she opened her eyes.
Snow lowered his voice and addressed Owen. "Courtney and Anders are checking out the ho
use. Huff is here somewhere. We smell him."
“We’re going to get him this time.” Owen clenched his teeth. Revenge was close.
“Yes, we are. Courtney, Dylan, and Anders are at their posts. The house is full of humans, drinking too much and eating like there’s no tomorrow. We didn’t see Huff. But he’s there.”
“I smell him, too.” Owen growled. “Let’s go now.”
“Hold on,” Snow said. “We can’t make the mistakes we made with JoAnna. My mate is gone because we didn’t take Huff seriously enough. We need to stick to our plan.”
Snow choked up and turned away from them. Nadia’s heart broke for the man. Jo had been his girlfriend. It was odd that he called her his mate, and that Owen had done the same back at the house. Did they truly believe they were dragons?
“We can catch him. Maybe we should call the police.” Nadia put her hand on Snow’s shoulder. The man had been through as much as Owen had, maybe more. Losing your…mate—or whatever they called it—must be extremely difficult.
“No!” Owen and Snow said in unison.
What the hell? Why not call the police? She took a step back. “But maybe they can help. More people on the case. How can that be bad?”
“Don’t you know who we are? We don’t need the police.” Snow sneered. “I want to handle Liam Huff on my own terms. Not through some human justice channel.”
Snow glanced at her over his shoulder, then at Owen, who shrugged and said, "I tried to tell her the truth, but she doesn't believe me. Not yet. But you can talk in front of her. She’s onboard with all that’s going on."
The dragon thing again. Nadia sighed. She couldn’t explain how Owen somehow changed his eyes to silver dragon eyes, but it had to have been some kind of trick. Ignoring the possibility that any of what he’d told her could be real, she asked, “You say you smell Liam. Do you know if Sage is here? What if she isn’t? What if he dumped her somewhere else?”
“Not likely. I don’t smell her, but that doesn’t mean she’s not here. There are so many humans, it’s difficult to pinpoint her.” Snow ran his hand through his hair.
“We’ve got a party to attend.” Owen held out his hand and Nadia took it.
* * *
The farmhouse had been decorated with colorful paper streamers and plaid tablecloths on the tables. The whole downstairs was filled with people eating and drinking and laughing. Many welcomed them as they headed toward the stairs. The party was open to everyone, but she doubted they meant to invite a serial killer.
The smells of picnic foods filled the air and it seemed everyone was talking at once. Nadia held her head.
She made her way through, scanning each face. She’d only glimpsed Liam Huff in the boat, but his face was seared into her mind.
Owen was at her side and she saw Snow heading into another room. Would Huff be able to escape this time? Her heart sped.
Not if she could help it.
A small country band played on the front porch, and the music echoed through the house. The stairs creaked as they headed up, and Nadia stayed close to Owen. She felt like a rubber band that was about to pop.
They could open the door and find Sage and Huff. It was both exciting and scary.
“In here.” Owen motioned, and she followed him into what must’ve once been a bedroom. The partiers had congregated downstairs, so the upstairs was empty. No furniture or beds or anything to show that the house was ever occupied. The windows were covered in a dirty film, muting the sunlight that tried to break through.
“Where could he be?” she whispered.
Owen paused and sniffed. “He’s here. We need to find the attic access.”
“The stairs are out here,” Snow called.
She scanned the room then followed Owen to the next, looking for Snow. The room had to be the master bedroom, as one whole wall was covered with windows that overlooked the lake. The house must’ve been gorgeous in its glory.
A clamber of footsteps sounded, Snow yelled, and suddenly, Huff burst into the room.
Nadia pulled the gun. Owen spun to grab Huff, but Huff ran full speed toward the windows and crashed through without pausing.
“Oh my God!” Nadia rushed to the window.
No sign of Huff on the lawn. She gasped.
“Where did he go?” She turned to Owen, who’d joined her.
“I told you. He’s a dragon.” He pointed to the sky.
She scanned the air. “I don’t see him. Where’s Sage? Oh my God, he doesn’t have Sage.”
“Let’s see if he left her in the attic.” Owen rushed to the door. “On second thought, you stay here, and I’ll check.”
“Not on your life.” She ran to join him. “She’s my sister.”
Snow met them on the landing. “Where is he? He rushed down the attic stairs and bumped right into me, knocking me down.”
“You okay?” Nadia asked.
Snow nodded. “Let’s get him.”
“Huff went out the window. He didn’t have Sage with him.” Owen pointed to the open door. “We need to see if Sage is in the attic, and then we’ll go after him.”
“Go!” Snow pushed ahead. “We’re not letting him get away with this.”
They climbed the stairs and shoved open the door. The room, as large as the house, lay empty. A few dusty boards in a pile under the eaves, but no Sage.
“She isn’t here.” Owen’s shoulders sagged. “I thought for sure she would be.”
Snow put his hand on Owen’s arm. “We’ll find her.”
“We have to!” Nadia’s heart felt like it would burst from her chest. “What did he do with her?”
“We will,” Owen said.
“What if she’s dead? What if that bastard killed her?” Nadia fisted her hands, the urge to punch something overtaking her. Whatever this man/dragon was, he needed to be stopped.
Now.
Both men’s phones chimed. They glanced at them. Relief washed over Owen’s hard features.
“Sage is okay.” Owen shouted. “She’s alive!”
Nadia’s heart pounded. “Where is she? Is she away from that monster?”
“She’s fine,” Snow said.
Owen nodded. “Courtney has her. She was able to free her. Huff had her tied up in the basement, but Courtney and Dylan found her. We got lucky.”
“He thought we’d follow him outside and not think to look in the basement. He tried to trick us.” Snow spit the words. “But he has no idea what’s coming his way.”
“I want to see my sister.”
Owen headed down the stairs toward the front door. “Let’s go.”
* * *
“Nadia.” Sage’s voice, weak but clear, sounded over the lawn.
Courtney and Sage had come from behind the farmhouse, Sage leaning on Courtney. She looked unharmed, but tired.
Tears flowed from Nadia’s eyes at the sound of Sage’s voice. She broke into a run, meeting her sister and Courtney. Drawing Sage into a tight hug, Nadia cried. All her stress and anxiety poured out of her.
After what seemed like minutes, Nadia pulled back to look at Sage. “Are you okay?”
Sage’s eyes appeared glassed over, and her face, pale. She had smudges of dirt on her cheeks. She nodded and then stumbled.
Nadia looped an arm around her waist and helped her toward the SUVs. “What’s wrong with her?”
Courtney motioned to the SUV Snow had gotten out of. “Let’s get her where she can lie down.”
“Is she okay?” Nadia held tightly to Sage.
“I think dickhead drugged her. Other than fatigue, dehydration, and the drugs, she seems to be unharmed. We have to leave, get her to a hospital. I want a full check on her.”
Nadia nodded and followed the other woman to the SUV. She helped Sage into the back, then glanced at Owen just as a dark green dragon touched down in front of him and Snow. A gasp stuck in her throat.
A real dragon—with wings and talons and other dragon-y things. Only thing missing was the—
A burst of fire shot across the lawn.
—fire.
Nadia screamed. The band on the porch stopped playing, the members running inside the house.
Sage leaned out of the vehicle beside Nadia and pointed. “Liam is a dragon.” She laughed. “He said your boyfriend is one, too. But he was calling me Owen’s sister, Jo. He kept talking about Owen and Jo. He wouldn’t listen to me at all.”
Nadia wrestled her sister back into the SUV and got in beside her. Owen met her stare through the window and frowned. He must have seen how confused and scared out of her mind she was. He hadn’t been lying. He was a dragon.
“I’ve got to go take care of this,” he growled. “You and Courtney tend to Sage. I’ll meet up with you later.”
Courtney hopped into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and threw the SUV in reverse. The car sent up a layer of dust as she took off over the gravel.
“I can’t believe this,” Nadia said.
“Believe it.” Courtney turned to her. “Your boyfriend is a dragon, like your sister said. Now let’s get her to the hospital.”
Nadia hugged Sage against her. Her sister had already fallen back asleep, surely the result of the drug Huff had given her. Thank goodness he hadn’t done anything worse.
She watched the dragon soar into the air. Another one swooped in, barreling into the first one. They wrestled, biting and clawing at each other. Then Owen shifted into a black dragon larger than the other two.
People streamed outside the farmhouse, pointing to the sky. They’d have quite the story to tell.
Owen’s dragon lifted into the air, and Nadia leaned her cheek on Sage’s head. She’d never been happier to have her sister in her arms.
10
Rage was an understatement for what Owen felt. He was about to explode, anger ripping through him and tearing him up from the inside out. The sight of Nadia’s face when she’d seen Huff only fueled the hatred he had for the psycho killer.
Liam Huff will die today.