“Drægón, we are honored that you have called us together. We look forward to serving you as our new master.” He gestured to a table. “Let us sit, and if it is agreeable to you, discuss the dissidents in the clan.”
Drægón sat down in silence, pulling Evelyn down beside him as his eyes roamed the hall, taking in the tables neatly placed along its length, the tapestries that lined the walls and the huge chandeliers that hung on chains from the soaring ceiling spanned with blackened rafters. The others took seats across from him.
“Drægón? Is that how you wished to be addressed?” asked a man with dark brown hair that hung straight to his shoulders.
Drægón turned to look at him, his eyes narrowed. “Name?”
“Yes, your name,” he said with a smirk.
“I think what Drægón is asking is, who are you?” Aaron said.
The man looked astonished, but the redheaded man slapped his forehead. “Of course, how thoughtless. I’m Owain, Master. I have served Aaron for many years, and known him for even more. You don’t remember, but you have spent time in our home, Drake Manor, and I am honored to now serve you. Already we have benefited from your blood, and from the sacrifice you made when you saved your wife. Your blood has broken our curse – I felt it as soon as I recovered from your power.” Owain turned to Evelyn. “I was not at your wedding, but I’d like to formally welcome you into our clan.”
“Thank you,” Evelyn replied with a smile.
The man beside him bowed his head. “My name is Uther. I, too, am pleased to serve you, Master.”
Beside Uther sat the man with bronze curls, and he gave an easy smile. “Max. You’ll come to know me well, Master, as you did before.” He glanced at Evelyn. “You may not remember me, but I attended your nuptials. You did me the honor of dancing with me.”
Beside her, Drægón snarled softly, and Max’s gaze moved back to him perceptively. “Unfortunately, my own mate was not able to attend, and you can understand that her absence did not allow me to take as much pleasure in the celebration as I would otherwise have done. However, she will soon be joining me in the city, and she is most eager to meet you both, especially given her familial relationship to you.”
At his words, some of Drægón’s tension eased. Evelyn watched him from the corner of her eye with a slight smile. She had been certain that Drægón would want to mate with her before they returned to the city, but he had not mentioned the subject since that first night when he had taken human form. She had no doubt of his affection for her, but she’d wondered whether he had changed his mind about his willingness to have a human as a mate. His jealous response indicated otherwise, however.
The next man introduced himself as Tristan, leaving only the man with the brown hair, who had spoken first. He crossed his arms and cocked his head as he regarded Drægón with a smirk.
“It is interesting that our master has so little knowledge of the men who serve him,” he said.
“You are well aware of the circumstances, Rolf,” Owain said. “The memories Drægón has sacrificed have resulted in his blood saving us.”
“Drægón? All I see before me in an inexperienced pup.” He cast a disparaging eye over Drægón’s form as Drægón’s hand tightened around Evelyn’s.
“What is this, Rolf?” asked Owain, his eyes narrowed.
“What does he know about leading a clan our size?” Rolf persisted. “His blood may have removed the curse, but does that mean he should lead us? I say not. He should prove himself, as every other master has before him. After all, he’s already shown himself to be led by, er, baser instincts.” He glanced at Evelyn. “Pity your wife wasn’t at the oath ceremony.”
In a moment Drægón was on his feet, his hands flat on the table as he leaned towards Rolf. Flames began to spill from his hands, creeping up his arms and scorching the table beneath his palms. His face was twisted in a snarl and sparks flew from his nose. He looked more vicious than Evelyn had ever seen him. A chaotic jumble of words reached her mind as he growled. Rolf pulled back as the color drained from his face.
“Go,” Drægón spat. “Before kill you.”
Rolf stared at him a moment, then sprang to his feet and stormed to the door, wrenching it open hard enough to splinter the door frame, before slamming it shut behind him. The other elders stared after him in astonishment, then turned to look at Drægón. He sat down, his hand on Evelyn’s knee, and she felt him trembling as he sought a measure of control.
“What was it, Drægón?” Aaron asked.
Drægón took a few deep breaths, and flames shimmered around his form. “No bond,” he finally growled.
“But he was at the ceremony,” Owain said with a frown. “I saw him give his fealty.”
Drægón shook his head. “No.” He rubbed his forehead. “So many dragons. Distracted. Didn’t drink.” He pulled his hand away from Evelyn and pulled a ribbon of flame from his palm.
“I see,” Aaron said. His gaze rested on Evelyn for a moment before moving back to Drægón. “He will go straight to the others.”
“We track him, and find them all. Then we fight,” Drægón said. He rose from the table, and grabbing Evelyn’s hand, stalked toward the closest doorway.
“Need you. Now,” he said.
“Need me?” she whispered.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around, his hips grinding into hers as he wrapped his hand around her neck and kissed her. “Now,” he growled into her hair.
From the corner of her eye she could see the elders watching in surprise, and she hid her head in his shoulder in embarrassment. His hands tightened before he stepped back and pulled her into the closest room. He paused, his hand tight around hers, as he took in the occupants of the parlor. For a moment Evelyn thought he would turn and walk away, but with a deep breath, he dropped her hand and continued in. Lydia and Lleland sat on a cushioned bench near the window, while Keira sat beside the fire. She jumped to her feet at his entrance and ran over to him, placing her hands on his cheeks.
“My dear boy,” she said, “you’ve come back to us.”
Evelyn watched as he looked at the woman. She had told him what she knew of his history, including, of course, his parents and grandparents.
“Keira,” he said. She smiled and patted his cheek before taking a step back. Lydia rose from her chair, her face pale as she stared at him, Lleland at her shoulder.
“Mother,” Drægón said softly.
“You remember?” Tears swam in her eyes, and he smiled sadly.
“No.”
“Oh!” She dropped back into the chair and covered her face as Lleland clasped him briefly around the shoulders. “We love you, son. It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember us. We have many years to make new memories.” He cleared his throat. “You’ve seen the elders?”
“Yes,” he said as Aaron and Max entered the room, followed a moment later by Zach, who stood just within the doorway, his gaze fixed on Drægón. Drægón moved closer to Evelyn as they crammed into the room.
“You’re back,” Zach finally said.
Drægón cocked his head as he regarded his uncle. “Back? No.”
“You don’t remember anything?” Zach asked, and Drægón shook his head.
“He will,” Max said. “Just give it time.”
“Are you going to remain in the city?” Keira asked. “Or perhaps you want to return to Storbrook.”
“Give him time, my sweet,” Aaron said gently. “He’s only just arrived.”
Drægón wrapped his arm around Evelyn. “Too many,” he said, and she could hear a slight edge to his tone. “Leave now. Need you.”
Evelyn gave him a quick squeeze and turned to the others. “It’s been a long morning, and I’m quite weary. Perhaps I can show Drægón our chamber.”
“Of course,” Keira said with a smile. “You know the way.”
“Thank you.” She led Drægón from the parlor, and his hand gripped hers as they crossed the hall past the elders still se
ated at the table and headed up the stairs and into the chamber. She had barely closed the door when he stripped off his clothes and pushed her against the wall. Their lips met and his tongue chased hers as she opened her mouth to him. He pulled away and glanced around the room, then looked back at her with an eyebrow raised.
“There,” she said, nodding at the bed, and he lifted her and carried her over. Her gown was off a moment later and he covered her, taking her hard and fast. He slumped down beside her, his arms holding her close.
“Mine,” he whispered as she lay gasping. He looked at her with a smirk, then rose and walked around the room, running his fingers over the surfaces. “Ours?” he asked.
“The chamber was yours while you stayed here, although this isn’t your home.” She pointed at the chest against the wall. “Your clothes are in there. I only came to stay here after … after you left.”
He frowned. “Why?”
She sat up and pushed tendrils of hair from her face. “We stayed at my Uncle’s house. You wanted to learn what he knew about dragons. I understand why you did it, and I forgave you long ago.” She smiled at him and took his hands. “Does this room bring back any memories?” she asked.
“No memories.” He sat down beside her. “Xavier gone. Only Drægón, now.” He cocked his head. “Evie sad?”
“I was, when I thought I had lost you forever. And then, when you first came back, I wasn’t sure you’d ever be, well, more than a beast. But Xavier is part of you, even if you don’t remember your life before, and we are going to make many wonderful new memories.”
“Good,” he said.
“Why do you think Rolf wants you gone as Master?”
He rose and went to stand at the window, watching the people down below. “Was not …” He paused as he considered his words. “Not like a master,” he finally said.
“What do you mean?”
“Like beast.”
“You said you were distracted. Why was that?”
He was silent for a long moment. “You.”
“Me? But I wasn’t there.”
“No. Other …” He waved his hand. “Females,” he finished.
“There were other females? You mean dragons? And what happened?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face, then sat down beside her. “One wanted me.”
“Only one?” she said with a nervous laugh. “And did you want her?”
“Yes. I started …” He made a motion with his hips, and she blushed at the crude gesture, dropping her gaze to her hands.
“I see.”
He watched her for a moment, then lifted her chin with his finger until she was looking into his silvery blue eyes. “You in mind. Couldn’t finish.”
“Did Rolf see what happened?”
He smiled grimly. “Everyone saw.”
“Everyone?” She dropped her face into her hands and groaned. “You can’t do that, Drægón. Some things are private.”
“Private?”
“Not meant to be seen by other people.”
“Why?”
“Because … because humans like to keep some things secret!”
“Oh.” He considered for a moment, then cupped her breast. “Not this?”
She shook her head, and he trailed his hand down her waist, then dropped it between her thighs.
“Not this?”
“No! Definitely not! And no kissing!” His eyebrows flew up. “Not deep kisses anyway. Not in front of people.”
“But … want you.”
“And I want you, but we have to wait until no-one can see us.” He frowned. “When you’re among humans, you have to follow human rules.”
“Not human.”
“No, you’re not, but all the other dragons follow human rules, at least in public. If they didn’t, humans would know they were different and hunt them down.”
He circled his finger, indicating the house. “Only dragons here.”
“Not Keira. And not the servants.”
He thought about that for a moment, then gave a sly smile. “Be dragon with you?”
She laughed. “Yes, you can be a dragon with me.”
“Good.” He pushed her down on the bed and crawled towards her, his eyes burning brighter the closer he got. With a smile, Evelyn surrendered herself to the beast, knowing that even if she wanted to, it was useless to fight such a powerful dragon.
Chapter 42
Drægón and Evelyn ventured from their room later that day to find Robin had arrived at Drake House.
“How’s Suzanna?” Evelyn asked as Robin rose to greet her.
“She accepted that position I told you about.”
“Does she know about Drægón?”
“No,” he said. “My uncle and I thought it best to remain silent on that matter. It would be difficult to explain why he’s so different.” He glanced back at Drægón. “They mourn you terribly, but for myself, I am very glad you’re not dead, even if you don’t remember me beating you.”
“Beating you?”
Robin fisted his hands and brought them close to his body as he danced on his feet. “We went a few rounds, and I taught you a few things. But I don’t think I could beat you now.”
Drægón lifted his eyebrows. “No beat before.”
“I thought you hadn’t regained your memories.”
Drægón ran his eye over Robin’s form speculatively. “Don’t need memory. Just eyes.”
Zach, walking past, overheard Drægón and laughed. “I think he has you there, Robin.”
“I suppose he can just force me to surrender to him, can’t he?” He looked at Drægón. “Are you going to demand that I bow at your feet again?”
“Bow at his feet?” Evelyn said. “What do you mean?”
“The first time I saw him in the cave, after renewing the bond, he told me to bow at his feet.”
“He did?” She turned to Drægón. “Why?”
He tapped his chest. “Master.”
“But you can’t make him do something he doesn’t want to do, can you?”
“Yes.”
“You can force a person to do something against their will? How?”
“Blood bond.”
“Not just humans,” Zach said. “Dragons, too.”
“But he wouldn’t!”
“He already has. When I left you at the cave, it wasn’t because I wanted to.”
“He made you do that? You could have still denied him, though, correct?”
“No.”
“But …” She turned to Drægón. “You made Zach leave me behind?”
“Yes.”
“But you wouldn’t do that now, would you?” His raised eyebrows gave her the answer. “But … how could you?”
“I Master.” He nodded towards Zach and Robin. “Serve me.”
She ran a finger over her forehead as she looked at him. “They gave you their blood, and now they serve you?”
“Yes.”
“I see.” She glanced around the room, her eyes lingering on the elders gathered in a corner. “And them?”
“Everyone.”
“Oh.” She took a deep breath. “I think I need some air. Please excuse me.”
“Evie, stop.” She shook her head and headed towards the door. “Now!” Evelyn turned to him in disbelief.
“I am not one of your minions to order around as you please, Drægón! And if that’s what you really want from me, then know that I will never, ever drink your blood!”
Her hands were shaking as she spun on her heel and headed through the kitchen, startling the staff, and into the courtyard beyond. She had been so focused on finding Xavier in Drægón, she had missed seeing him for what he truly was – a creature of dominance who commanded hundreds of dragons and demanded their obedience. By taking his blood, she would be giving him her free will and allowing him to command her as he pleased.
The late afternoon air was cool, and she breathed it in deeply. The smell of roasting food spilled through the door an
d mingled with the scent of pressed earth and the more distant odor of the stables down the road. She walked to a tree that stood beside a wall, then glanced over her shoulder when she heard footsteps behind her. It was Zach, and she turned away again with a sigh.
“Where’s Drægón?”
“He left a few moments ago.”
“I’ve been blind, Zach. I was so happy when he began to act more human, I overlooked everything else.”
“He was always a dragon, Evelyn. Even when he was Xavier.”
“But now he’s the Master,” she said bitterly. “The most powerful dragon on earth. A monster who can bend the will of others.”
“Aaron can do that too,” Zach said. “Whenever a stronger dragon bonds with one who’s weaker, they always have control over that dragon, which is why dragons only share blood with another who is master.”
“And what about humans?”
“Humans are always subservient to dragons, but a human with a strong mind will not bend easily. When Drægón ordered Robin to bow to him, Robin refused.”
“Robin refused, or Drægón stopped forcing?”
Zach glanced away and Evelyn nodded. “He doesn’t even see how it is wrong,” she said.
“Drægón would never use his power for evil. And you will be there to help him.”
She gave a harsh laugh. “I will be there to help him? I can’t do that, Zach. I can’t give him that kind of power over me.”
“It’s not like –”
“You’ve just told me that humans are always subservient to dragons.”
“Yes, but –”
“Please, Zach, just leave me alone.”
He nodded. “Very well. But if you won’t listen to me, at least listen to Keira. Her dragon mate has been dragon Master for more than a hundred years, and she hasn’t suffered for it.” He stared at her for another moment, but when she didn’t respond, he walked away. She was still there when Robin came looking for her.
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