Dragonkin: Storms

by Crymsyn Hart

  He shut the auto off and rested his hands on the steering wheel, rubbing them across the leather cover as his knuckles whitened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I hope you feel better.”

  “Thank you. Good luck with your house.” Savanna opened the door to get out, when Blackmore grabbed her hand. A jolt went through her as their skin connected. She tried to brush it off, but instead an image of him hanging onto something filled her mind. He was helpless and ready to fall when someone was reaching for him, or maybe trying to push him further over the edge. It was difficult to make out who it was, but it could have been Drake.

  “Hey, are you sure you don’t need a doctor?”

  Savanna looked at him and yanked her hand away from him. “Y-yes. I’m fine. Sorry. Look, I know this is coming out of left field, but be careful around Drake. Don’t be alone with him in your house.”

  He chuckled. “Is that some kind of portent that I need to heed?”

  “Believe me or not, but watch yourself.”

  She got out of the car this time and went up to her apartment. Savanna didn’t have to look back to know he was still watching her. She made it to the second floor and took a quick glance at the parking lot to confirm her suspicions that he was just leaving.

  “Sav.”

  Cringing from the nickname her roommate gave her, she turned around to deal with Chastity. Her golden ringlets bounced as she walked. The other woman was all smiles and light, a walking porcelain doll, but not as pure as her name. Savanna had lost count as to how many men had paraded through the apartment in the ten months she had lived there. Chastity was the only answer to her affording her apartment because business had been slow. The other woman helped pay the rent, but that didn’t mean she liked sharing her space with anyone, especially someone as bubbly as the woman before her.

  “Yes,” she responded, exhaustion washing over her. All she wanted was a decent bath and her bed.

  “Where have you been? The police came by yesterday saying you had fallen off a boat or something. They thought you had gotten washed away. This detective left a card.”

  Savanna took the business card, adding it to the list of things she had to do. “I’ll call him later. Anything else?”

  “Weren’t you wearing that the other day when you were going to do your little party thingy?”

  “Yes.”

  A large smile sliced her porcelain pale features. “Well, girl. You didn’t fall off a boat. You got lucky. You go, girlfriend.”

  “Actually, I did get lucky. A wave swept me overboard. I hit my head and washed up near the lighthouse. The keeper found me and brought me into his house while I was unconscious and cared for me.”

  Her smile fell. “He...ahh...didn’t rape you, did he?”

  Savanna rolled my eyes. “No. He didn’t rape me. He was very nice and made sure I didn’t drown or die of hypothermia.”

  “How do you know if he didn’t rape you if you were unconscious? How did you get home? You didn’t walk?”

  “Does it matter? I was driven on a chariot of griffons led by the great god Apollo.”

  “You don’t have to be a bitch about it.” Chastity stormed past her.

  Savanna felt a little bit sorry for her attitude, but only a little. She was too tired to put up with her roommate’s antics. She went into her room and locked the door. This was her sanctuary. She stepped into the bathroom, stripped, and drew a bath. Savana looked at herself in the mirror, taking stock of all her bruises. Her entire back was a mishmash of purple and yellow splotches. Damn, I hit the water hard. I could have died. She sighed and had to figure some way to thank Drake for saving her life and caring for her. Baking a Bundt cake didn’t seem appropriate.

  Chapter Five

  Drake trailed his fingers over the spot where Savanna had lain. Her perfume lingered on the sheets, mixed with the salt that had clung to her. It had been a week, but he could still smell her. He tried to banish her from his mind so he could focus on the things he had to do. One of them was to talk to Blackmore about the mansion. He was the last in the family still tied to him now that his father had died. It was time the son knew. It was the reason Drake had returned. He had sensed the elder’s failing health. He would reveal himself to Blackmore and then be on his way. If the line died out, the magic would be broken and he would be free.

  Drake banished the thought of Blackmore and tried to push Savanna out as well. Her scent may have remained, but he had to rid himself of it. She was not a priority. Although he did wish to know if she had gotten the medical attention she needed. What happened to her? He growled and shook his head. It doesn’t matter what happened to her. She’s human and a fat one at that. She’d make a good morsel to eat. Drake didn’t understand why she was stuck in his mind unless he had finally grown soft in his old age. In dragon terms, he was ancient and nearly immortal in the human world he found himself in. He had given up hope of ever returning home. There wasn’t enough magic in this realm for him to throw a stone, let alone conjure up a portal. He had tried, and it left him wrenching. During his travels, he found he was a unique soul. No dragons lived in this place. Seeing the mist dragon during the storm the other night had roused his hopes and made him notice Savanna. And she had stirred his dragon, something no human had done.

  In the end that didn’t matter, because he would move once he revealed his history to Blackmore. The sooner he was gone from the town, the sooner he could return to his solitude surrounded by books and the technology that kept his mind occupied. Anything to make him forget the land he had originated from where magic was in the air he breathed. Humans could wield magic, and his kin could all shift into dragons. He would be surrounded by like beings, and not trapped in his human flesh unless the night was dark and he could shed his human skin.

  Every day it felt like someone had him in a vice grip and he was being squeezed to fit into the male form he wore, into a society he would never truly understand, into a life that wasn’t his own. No matter how difficult it was, he endured. Drake felt like he was being smooshed so hard that sometimes it seemed he was cracking.

  Drake shook off the remorse. He had to be strong. He had always been strong. He was a king among the dragons. Drake threw a blanket over the bed and decided to wash the sheets when he got back. His goal was to seek out Blackmore.

  He left the lighthouse and made his way over the walkway and the stairs along the cliff side. It bothered him that Blackmore had noticed they were there when he shouldn’t have, because magic masked them from all the world except him. Savanna had seen them because she was with him. When he got to the house, the sounds of hammering and some God awful caterwauling blared from the radio. The door to the side yard was open. It was late August and hot. He walked into the main living space. Blackmore stood by the fireplace, wiping the marble down, but as Drake entered the other man looked up and their gazes locked. The magical bond they shared vibrated his bones. This was the first time in a long time where the bond quaked so strongly. He ground his teeth together and pushed it away. After so many centuries, instincts had awakened within him that he wasn’t used to. It could have been a coincidence. What did it matter? His magic was petering out, too. Each day when he woke his bones ached more. The scary thing was the dragon seemed less and less a part of him.

  “What do you want, Drake?”

  “I told you I needed to talk to you the other day when I brought the woman by.”

  “Now isn’t a good time. Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something? Come back later.”

  He grunted. “Son of a...look. I have to get out of this town sooner rather than later.”

  “I don’t give a fuck if it inconveniences you or not. I’m busy. How about I call you? Oh, wait, you don’t have a phone in the lighthouse.”

  Drake clenched his fists together to keep from lashing out. He had to be civil, at least, to this man because their lives were so intertwined. “Right. I don’t. Can you take a moment out of your busy schedule so you can grace
me with your precious time?”

  “No need to be condescending, Drake. But no, I can’t. I’m going to be late for a date. Whatever you have can wait until this weekend. Why don’t you meet me Saturday morning around ten? Does that work for you?” Blackmore took off his shirt and wiped the sweat from his face with it.

  “Fine,” he seethed. “You had better be there.” Drake left the house and looked at the sky. It was a sunny day. He needed to unclutter his head. He walked to the corner of the property to a nearly forgotten path that led into town.

  Drake pushed the weeds out of the way and listened for anyone coming. If so, it meant someone knew about this private path. It eventually connected to the ocean walk a few miles down and linked up with the public walkway. No one would know this was here. It blended in with the woods and was nearly invisible to all except him and the wildlife. Drake pushed through the underbrush, enjoying the twittering birds and all the other animals around him. He detected the musk of a fox that had crossed along the overgrown lane. He closed his eyes and inhaled as he walked with his fingers brushing the tops of the plants. Drake sensed the life within them. He prayed that if his magic ever completely left him that he wouldn’t lose this ability. He loved to be in nature. When he vacated this place he would return to his mountaintop retreat. No one would bother him. He functioned better without people. Savanna had been a passing kink.

  The air stirred. It delivered the scents of the town below and all the restaurants cooking their meals. The aromas made his mouth water and his stomach rumble. He did need to get something to eat and...

  Someone slammed into him so he opened his eyes and snarled. “Watch where the hell you’re going.” The fire crept up his throat, and he was ready to let it loose even if it meant revealing his nature. The dragon stretched and scratched along his inner skin, but he had to force it back.

  “Sorry. I didn’t realize you were there.”

  He recognized the voice. “Savanna.” She was dressed in a long, black cloak and a hood that covered her eyes. She looked up, and her gaze enraptured him. Everything in him froze, and the dragon quieted.

  “Drake.” Her lips turned up in a smile. “I didn’t know anyone else knew about this path. I come by here and look at the wildlife. It clears my head, especially after doing a day full of readings.”

  “You said you were a psychic, isn’t that right?” Drake crossed his arms over his chest. With her arrival his rage softened and fell away. This woman was a breath of fresh air, and yet, he couldn’t understand why, because she was nowhere near his style.

  “Yes. I wasn’t sure if you remembered.” She glanced down at her hands and wound them into the hem of her cloak. He couldn’t help but notice how the hair fell across her face and revealed the expanse of her neck and how it curved.

  “You feeling better?” He shifted and leaned against a sapling.

  She glanced up. “Yup. Ahh. Yes. Thanks.” She touched her head absently where she had hurt it. Savanna winced.

  “Does the wound still bother you?”

  “Not much. Just a bit. The lump has gone down. No more being dizzy or nauseous, so that’s a plus. You know, I’d really like to do something to say thanks for saving my life. I mean...if you hadn’t found me on those rocks and brought me in, I’d be dead.”

  His eyebrows raised, but he tried to keep his surprise to a minimum. “There’s no need to thank me or do anything. Really.”

  “There has to be something. Can I at least buy you dinner?”

  “You don’t have to do anything. It was nothing. I would’ve done it for anyone.”

  A small giggle spilled from her lips. It irritated and intrigued him all at the same time. The corner of his mouth turned up in a grin even if he didn’t want it to. “I don’t think that’s true. I think it depends on your mood.”

  “You think so? Does your other sense tell you that?” How true of a sensitive is this woman? Could she read my thoughts? Could she sense the dragon? Does she really possess the power to peer into others’ thoughts and discern the future? Those questions danced on the tip of his tongue, but he did not voice them. Over the years, he had come across other mystics that had some insight into things that were unexplainable. However, they had never been able to tell him a way to go home.

  “My instincts don’t need to tell me that. Your demeanor does. I saw the way you were around Mr. Blackmore the other day. You’re on edge all the time. You don’t like interacting with people. Even talking to me is making you uncomfortable. I take it that’s why you prefer being the lighthouse keeper so you can indulge in solitude, listening to the pounding waves, only having the responsibility of keeping the light burning. The wind whispering to you. I understand the appeal. Sometimes I’d love to lock myself away from the world so I don’t have to deal with idiots.” Savanna paused and her cheeks turned red. “Sorry. I’m babbling.”

  “No. I think it’s interesting you can tell that with only having met me.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t have to be psychic to be good at reading body language. It kinda comes with the job. So, Drake, what do you say? Will you let me buy you dinner, or cook for you, or something at least?”

  Drake saw the expectation in her eyes. What harm is it going to do to humor her? It will get her off my back. “Dinner sounds okay. Don’t go to any trouble.”

  “It wouldn’t be any trouble. It’d be nice to have someone over that isn’t my roommate. What day is good for you?”

  “Any day is fine.”

  “How about Saturday around seven?”

  Saturday. The day he wanted to leave and talk to Blackmore. One more day of hanging around wouldn’t hurt him. He could leave on Sunday. Her face lit up when she smiled, and he wondered if there was more to her that he wasn’t seeing. Drake threw away the feeling. The human wasn’t his type. He didn’t want to get involved with anyone else more than he had to. And yet the dragon in him wanted to be around her. The two opposing sides of his personalities pulled on his decisions, and gave him a slight headache. He did have to eat.

  “Great. I’ll see you then.”

  * * * *

  Savanna walked back to her shop after her encounter with Drake. She hadn’t thought anyone knew about the path except Mr. Blackmore, considering she was on his land. She was heading to talk to him about the night that he had brought her home. And she wanted an excuse to find Drake. He was the real reason she had taken the trail. When she left her apartment that morning her feet had led her in a completely different direction as she got lost in the recollections of her dream. Ever since she had fallen from the boat, her dreams had been filled with a strange, otherworldly setting. They didn’t make much sense. Regular people were in them, but many of them could wield magic, true magic. Great beasts soared through the air, but she had never been able to make out exactly what they were. Other times she was surrounded by books and looking at a map or a family tree. Once she caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror and she had the features of a woman with dark hair and eyes. For that split second, she was a stranger.

  Then she had slammed into Drake.

  All thoughts of her dreams vanished because he had been there, all gruff. He had almost taken a swing at her, but at least she found him. Their conversation had been strained and it appeared he was humoring her. And yet he intrigued her, and something was so damn sexy about the man that she couldn’t help but blush at the thought of him and what might happen if they ever got into bed. Nevertheless, what man wanted a curvy woman who had a few more pounds on her than normal? She hated being called fat, but it was true. Adding that to her being a psychic, she was nearly a pariah. If he came over for dinner, then she could repay him. Once that was done, she would have her daydreams, because he was the kind of guy that curled her toes. One grade-A walking hunk of man muscle. Blackmore wasn’t half bad either, but he wasn’t on the menu.

  Savanna stood over the stove and readjusted her apron. Chastity was singing off-key to the music that blasted from her room down the hall.
She tried to drown out the heavy metal and prepare dinner. A chicken roasted in the oven. Potatoes and broccoli cooked on the stovetop. The past few days she had worried what to make, because she had no idea what Drake ate. Most everyone liked mashed potatoes and chicken. He didn’t seem like he was a vegetarian.

  “Sav, have you seen my earrings?” her roommate asked.

  She wiped the sweat from her forehead. “No. I haven’t seen them. Did you check the counter in the bathroom where you normally leave them? Do you really need them for your date tonight?”

  “You’re so funny. And to think that we both have dates on the same night. How often does that happen?”

  “It’s not a date, Chas. I’m just having him over to repay him for saving my life. That’s it.”

  Chastity snorted. “Yeah. Sure. Whatever you say. I bet he’s going to be just the right man for you. I’m surprised you weren’t making a little bit more for the two of you.”

  She was about to throw down her spoon when someone knocked on the door. Chastity went to open the door. Savanna set down her spoon and grabbed a towel from the counter to clean her hands quickly. Drake stood outside. Savanna was amused to see the other woman’s mouth drop when he entered. Her mouth almost did as well, but she kept hers closed when Drake stepped in. His coal black hair hung loose around his shoulders. He was dressed in a form fitting black T-shirt and, from what she could see in the mirror, a nice pair of slacks. Her heart hammered against her breast before she said anything.

  “Hello, I’m here to see Savanna. Is she home?” Drake’s husky tone set her all aflutter.

  Chastity slammed her mouth shut and shot Savanna a murderous look. “She’s...ahh...she’s in the kitchen. Are you sure you’re here for her?”

  Drake brushed past her roommate as if she were a nonentity and stepped into the kitchen. “It smells wonderful in here.” He held out a bottle of wine. “I wasn’t exactly sure what to bring over, so I hope you don’t mind.”

  “No. Thank you. It’s great.” She took the bottle and glanced at the label. It was a red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon.