"Your brother. Here?"
"Yes."
"I was told only you lived here." She hadn't expected this, and her plan was in jeopardy. Her instructions were clear, she only had one vial, and getting the dragon out once he was poisoned might not be so easy if his brother saw what was happening and stopped her. She glanced up at the ceiling once more, seeing the flash of the sword, and the flames engulfing the wielder. That might very well be her fate if she wasn't extremely careful.
"And who told you that, Serena? I have so many questions myself. It is not common knowledge that dragons even exist. There are stories and myths, but no one really believes them."
"I heard it from an old man."
"His name?"
"I forget."
He leaned down towards her, his lips so close to hers she thought he would kiss her, she licked her lips involuntarily, waiting for the first touch, but only his breath caressed her skin. "I have little patience, but I'm going to let this go for now, because when I mate with you there will come a point when you will tell me everything I want to know. You will beg me to let you talk just so it will end."
She looked up into his deep brown eyes, red flecks made them dance, as though he was made of fire, and the flames licked at the windows of his soul. "I am used to enduring pain."
He lifted his nostrils and breathed in her scent. "Who said I was going to hurt you Serena? I have spent centuries discovering the weakness of humans, and I find that the thing that gives a person the most pleasure is the one best used for leverage."
Serena backed away from him, holding her bag close to her. "I'm ready to see my room now," she said dismissively, but inside she trembled, and he knew it.
"Very well, I'm sure you're eager to prepare yourself for tonight. I can assure you it will be a night you will never forget."
He lifted her large suitcase effortlessly, and carried it up the stairs, not bothering to turn around to see if she was following. He knew she was obedient, but she told herself he didn't know why. Maybe he did believe it was for the money. Samuel had told her how much to ask for, but that was the icing on the cake for the man who controlled her.
Perhaps the dragon suspected there was more to this bargain, she didn't know, and tried not to care. Did he guess she was after the child dragon, believing she would try to sell it, or use it for her own gain. She expected he had some plan to keep her here until she gave birth to the aberration. What he didn't know was she had the power to take his will from him, his very soul. The small blue vial in her pocket held the answer to all of her problems.
***
Chapter Four - Connor
Her scent filled his nostrils, it teased him, threatening to control him. Never had he met a woman like this, and he thought back to the myths of the dragons and remembered those that spoke of finding a true mate. He had always thought they were fairy tales, but now he wondered differently.
Trying to remind himself she was trouble, did no good. On showing her the room he had set aside for her, he was tempted right then to throw her on the bed and take her, but the rites were important if he wanted her to carry his child. It was vital that her blood spilled on the altar when the moon was full. To curb his appetite for her he left her alone, finding it easier to control himself when there was a solid wooden door between them.
"She came then. I must say I'm surprised."
Connor looked up to see Zoah’s face. "What, that she would bear being a virgin sacrifice? Or that she would agree to mate with me?"
"She does know all it entails?"
"Not unless someone else has told her." Connor walked away from the door, not wanting her to hear their words.
"You don't know who's behind this?"
"No."
"And it doesn't concern you, because I can tell you it concerns me."
"Are you frightened little brother?"
"No. But we've lived quietly for a generation or two. I would love to know who put her up to this and why."
"You think it's any different now than before. Gold, power, aren't they the usual things humans fight over."
"Yes. But power is a moot point surely. It's not like the days when you fought against swords and spears. These days they would shoot you down with a heat seeking missile. Boom! And your scales are sent to the four corners of this accursed world."
"That is why we keep a low profile. Anyway, I think they want the child she'll conceive. Young, easy to train. My guess is that she will try to kill me, if she actually gets pregnant, of course. I’m sure it hasn’t escaped your notice, but neither of us has ever accomplished thatvital deed, yet."
"So trusting Connor, I'm proud of you, I thought you'd gone soft."
"Not soft, but I plan on getting the truth from her and then dealing with the men who control her. She'll have our child here or in the mountains, depends on whether we have to leave."
"Does that mean this might have a bloody ending?" For once Zoah’s tone lifted.
"What do you think?" Connor went into his own room and before he shut the door told Zoah, "Just be ready to leave in a hurry if things get a little messy."
"Don't worry. there's nothing holding me here. And anyway if there's killing to be done, I will be offended if you don't include me in your plans."
Connor closed the door, shutting Zoah out. His brother always thirsted for blood, and it was often the reason they moved away from the house, sometimes for a generation, until they were forgotten. Then they would return, but they were so seldom seen in public no one could recognise them if they passed them in the street, a thing they both preferred.
If they entertained women, it was always in a town or city hundreds of miles away. A dragon could cover that distance in such a short space of time, it was safer that way.
Until Serena.
It was a risk having a woman here who lived so close, but it was done now, and as he had told Zoah a few nights ago, he was bored, and the risks made his blood run hotter than it had for centuries.
Serena was bringing him back to life after centuries of his body and heart being dormant.
***
Chapter Five - Serena
"Hey kitty," Serena crooned as she pulled the scruffy bundle of fluff from her bag. "You were so good to keep quiet, we didn't want that big bad dragon to eat you up."
She stroked the soft fur of her tabby cat, Hope. A ridiculous name considering the predicament she was in, but ever since she found the half dead cat in the gutter she had tried to hang on to the belief that things could change, could get better. That was Serena's problem, despite everything she was a incurable optimist.
"Let's get you some food, and then we'll find a place for you to hide. It'll only be for a few days, I'm sure we can handle this. It's not like he's going to be coming to our room to pay social visits."
Serena opened the closet, and found it empty. She quickly unpacked her suitcase, hanging up her clothes, not that she'd brought many, and then made a bed for Hope at the back of it. Once satisfied she opened a can of food, and fed a purring Hope. The logistics of this were going to be a problem, but she was sure she wouldn't be confined to the house. There had to be a way of getting rid of any trash. Apart from that she would simply keep the bedroom door shut, and hide Hope when she went left the room.
She was certain all her duties with the dragon would be confined to sex. That thought stuck in her mind. In a couple of hours she was going to be at his complete and utter mercy. It's what she had agreed to, what she had to do, but until now she had never seen it as real. For so many years she had been told to save herself for this night, warned of the consequences to her family if she didn't. Now, with the time so close, she felt sick to her stomach.
Wiping away a tear, she stroked Hope again, as always, finding comfort in the purring body of her cat. The times she had cried herself to sleep with Hope in her arms were beyond count. "I'll find a way to make us safe, Hope. You me and Charlotte, I'll get us away from all this."
Hope looked at her
with those eyes that held so much trust. The same expression Charlotte had worn on her face when they came to take her away. It had been unexpected, Serena had always known it would happen one day, but Samuel had given no warning, no time for goodbyes. Charlotte had simply said, "I love you," and gone quietly, knowing too well there was no use in fighting.
Was she safe? Had they hurt her? The thought was too much. While Samuel, had never raped Serena, they had made her do vile things, but her innocence was too precious to them. Charlotte was only fifteen, she prayed they wanted her to remain untouched too.
Looking at her watch, she decided to get herself ready, a bath would soothe her nerves. Samuel had insisted she take no drugs to ease her suffering for the night ahead, the child she might conceive too precious to be put at risk. Serena smiled, perhaps one day she would find a man who thought more of her. Right now, the only men who knew she existed were after one thing, and one thing only, her body to be fertile enough to hold a demon spawn.
"OK, Hope, let's go and get cleaned up." She picked up Hope, and went to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
Placing Hope on the floor she then ran her bath, putting her headphones on and losing herself in music while the minutes ticked away. With her eyes closed she missed Hope fluffing up to twice her size and hissing, missed the way she went to the door and sniffed the air coming under it. By the time Serena got out of the bath, Hope was settled down on a towel cleaning herself, as if everything was as it should be.
"You're going to have to get off there, I need to dry myself." Serena gently pushed Hope off, and rubbed her curvy body with the towel. Her image looked back at her from the steamed up mirror, fuzzy and disjointed. This was the last time she would see herself as a virgin.
Would he mark her? She wiped the steam from one corner, and examined the scar on her shoulder. It wouldn't be the first time.
Wrapping the towel around her she padded quietly back into her room, and dried her hair as best she could. Sitting in front of the mirror she examined her face. Puffy and red from the steam, her large blue eyes looked back at her, the dark shadows from so many sleepless nights making her look far from attractive. So pale, such a contrast to the dark brooding dragon, his skin all tanned and toned. At the thought of him her stomach flipped, she placed her hand there, shocked. This wasn't fear, she knew what that felt like. This was different, a warm sensation that filled her and made her ache with a need she had never felt before.
Perhaps it was a safety reflex, because if he didn't arouse her in some small way this was going to be even more painful.
***
"It's time," she said to Hope, who had fallen asleep in the closet. "I will see you later. I hope." Closing the door she suddenly felt guilty for bringing Hope here. If the dragon killed her tonight, then Hope would die of hunger in the closet. Yet to leave her at the apartment wasn't safe, Samuel might very well let himself in and search the place for any money she might have. What was hers was his in his eyes. If he had found Hope he would have wrung her neck.
A sharp knock on the door made her start, she quickly closed the closet and went to the door, taking a deep breath before opening it.
"You're dressed." It was an accusation.
Serena looked down at the pretty dress she wore. "I ... I wasn't sure what you expected." He stood devouring her with his eyes. "I can go and take it off." She blushed furiously.
"I think I can manage that."
"No. I'll go and change."
"There's no time." He turned on his heel and marched off, Serena closed the door carefully behind her and followed him, having to half run to keep up.
Down corridors and up another flight of stairs, he took her deeper and deeper into his lair. She could easily get lost in this house. Maybe she should just duck down one of these other corridors and disappear. Too much at stake, she reminded herself, and ran a couple of steps to catch him up, breathless now from the exertion. The dragon taking it all in his long stride.
Two large ornate doors stood on the other side of the last room they entered. He stopped and turned to her. "This is the only chance I will give you to leave."
"I thought you already told me once I crossed the threshold it was too late."
"I'm feeling generous."
She stood looking past him at the doors. What was on the other side she had no idea. The only thing she knew was what lay outside of this house, was much worse. Samuel would carve her flesh from her bones if she didn't go through with this. Her hand wandered up to the scar on her shoulder, her fingers tracing the familiar line.
"I'm ready."
He gave her a wicked grin. “I’m sure you think you’re ready.”
Her face paled, but she stood her ground, chin tilted defiantly. “You don’t scare me dragon.”
He laughed, his voice filling the room, resonating around it. Then he turned and flung open the huge doors, revealing a cavernous room with a high vaulted ceiling. In the centre a domed glass window let in the light from the moon which was not quite full. Yet already the rays were illuminating the room, casting their ethereal light down onto a large slab of stone.
The altar.
OK, perhaps she had lied to him. Seeing it in it’s cold hard glory made her knees go weak. She didn’t know how she was going to have the strength and courage to walk the dozen or so steps she needed to, to get to the place where he would take her.
Her eyes darted to his, pleading, imploring. Something flickered there, but it disappeared so fast she couldn’t read it, and instead he placed his arrogance there, his lip curling in derision.
“Now do you wish you had taken my offer and changed your mind?”
She shook her head before summoning up all the will she had left to say, “No.” Then she took a step forward, and walked past him to stand by the stone altar.
He watched her, she could feel his eyes devouring her every step. However, her courage threatened to fail her when she saw the dark stains on the stone slab. Blood.
Swallowing her panic she placed her hand on the cold stone and wondered how she was going to get up there. It was higher than she thought. Nothing for it she would have to scramble on, it didn’t matter what she looked like, making a fool of herself now was the least of her concerns.
Lifting her foot to gain a foothold she started when his hand gripped her arm and he said firmly, “Stop.”
She turned to him, was this a reprieve? Her stomach flipped, with him so close that was the last thing her body wanted. Deep inside her something stirred, she took in his full lips, the hidden depths of his dark eyes and she yearned to mean something more to the beast than a body to be used. “Yes.”
“You’ve forgotten something.”
She looked around. “I ... I have.” Her insecurity and fear returning.
“Yes.” He tucked a finger into the strap of her dress. “This.”
Before he could rip it from her she stepped away. “I’ll take it off.”
“I could have torn it from your body, it would save time.”
“No. It’s my best dress.”
“Really?” He raised an eyebrow and the arrogance returned to his face.
“Yes. We aren’t all fortunate to live in big houses and wear expensive clothes.”
He smiled. “But when this is over, when you have borne my child, you will have money for pretty dresses. Is that why you're doing this? Selling your body for shoes and clothes.”
She opened her mouth to protest at his insinuation, but then chose the easiest route, what did it matter what he thought of her. “Yes. Pretty clothes and shoes. What else would I need?”
She turned from him, closing her eyes tightly to force the tears back, this was no time for emotions to take control. She had to stay focused. Slipping her dress off, the cool air enveloped her, goosebumps forming along her arms.
“Everything.”
He didn’t have to spell it out for her, she knew she was expected to be naked. How else would he... Don’t think about w
hat was to come next, she told herself, while she unclasped her bra, and removed her panties. He’d seen her like this before, so she tried not to feel so embarrassed, but having him watch her so closely still made her blush, and this time she covered her breasts with her hands and hung her head so she no longer had to be aware of his penetrating stare.
Unfortunately with her head down she could not escape the sight of him in his full naked glory. A sharp intake of breath gave her away, he was huge, and she couldn’t see how he was going to take her and not damage her internally. If he was rough with her, and she had no doubt he would be, he would surely split her in two.
Unable to stop herself, her teeth chattered together as her body shook. He would know exactly how scared she was, maybe that was part of his fun, the thing that aroused him more. Trying to keep her hand steady she stepped back to the altar. Once more she tried to climb on, but she slipped backwards, straight into his arms.
Her body went slack, the heat emanating from him comforting her, warming her skin. She wanted to stay there, cradled in his arms while he chased her pain away. If he loved her, she would be protected and safe, but who could possibly love a creature like her. Not a mighty man such as this.
Pulling away from him, she asked, “Will you help me?”
He didn’t speak, only placing his hand under her arm and boosting her up so she landed on the slab on all fours. Effortlessly he moved into place behind her, the moon’s rays beginning to cast down on to the stone. The time had come, and she couldn’t move, her body frozen in place. Is this how he wished to mate with her, like an animal? She closed her eyes and waited for him to make his move.
***
Chapter Six - Connor
She was shaking. Her voluptuous body trembling in fear of him. Was he so terrifying? He looked down at her, her pale skin, so soft and smooth. He touched his fingertips to it and she jumped away from him. He tried again, this time she was prepared, and she stayed put, her hands curled up into tight fists as she fought for control.
Howl & Growl: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set Page 42