Dragon Heart

by Susan Arden

  “A-ok. The doorman will take care of parking your car. Enjoy your evening, sir.”

  He drove onto the grounds, recalling the manicured lawns now white with fresh falling snow, and how he’d once been part of the team that set this place up months before Shay had graduated college.

  “My, seems like my brother sure knows how to play both sides of the street. This looks high-end. From the outside. Bet the human community has lots to say, and if he’s all for shifter good, then he should be happy about us.”

  “Everything isn’t always black and white.” He wasn’t about to start bitching just yet and calling anyone a pot or a kettle, not with a plan starting to crystalize on how to breach the great divide of his own family. If he knew anything about Shay, it was that she was intractable if she got an idea into her beautiful head—like justice against that cocksucker Necrodemas—and for her sake, he had to figure a way to reach out to his own family.

  “Yep. I see the duality of do as I say, not as I do, but not from Shawn. He should get that about me. He made a mistake and he needs to man up about it.”

  “Just give him the opportunity without getting on your soapbox,” he murmured.

  “I am … ”

  The club came into view and Shay stopped talking. From what he remembered, the club was perpetually booked and there was a wait list. The fact that they had a room on the spur of the moment was no small feat. Someone had done some down and dirty rescheduling. At the front door, there were several sentinels dressed in all black. The guards at the gate wore khaki, but in the club he’d advised for melting into the background they stick to one color: black.

  Would Quinn be here tonight? If Shawn wasn’t, then his partner was in residence. Another requirement Drake had discussed with them given the off-the-charts testosterone shifter alpha males possessed, and God help them if that male just happened to encounter his primal mate. Things could get dangerous in a hurry. Only Den sentinels were permitted inside with a weapon and he was concerned on that one facet. He had to meet with Shawn or Quinn and get leeway on that rule. No fucking way was he going to be hanging out without some firepower and that included the customary anti-Fae weaponry of mineral infused bullets. It was the only type that had worked in the past. Fae had the ability to spontaneously heal and he didn’t know if they’d crafted any new shields that worked against what the military had perfected. So much for staying outside his U.S. military underground.

  He parked and opened the door. He recognized that he might enjoy the brisk Denver temperatures, but Shay was still part leopardess and human, and she was dressed for weather in New Orleans. He gazed up into the overcast sky—perhaps more snow was on the way. Tomorrow he’d have to secure clothing for her that included snow gear.

  The front door opened to the Den and he met the grinning face he remembered all too well. Quinnlan Rothschild, IV, a midnight Lycan, and Shawn’s partner. “It’s been far too long,” Drake said, opening Shay’s door. He shifted his focus on his mate as he reached inside and drew her up and out. “Kitten, look who’s here.”

  “Hello, Quinn.” She nodded with her golden eyes wide, gazing up at the polished brass light fixtures, adorning the exterior walls and columns. Shay smiled over at the doorman who dipped his cap, scurrying by in a starched crimson uniform. “Pretty swanky,” she said at the general over-the-top atmosphere.

  That had been a primary goal Shawn had sought for this place—no matter how good the restaurant or how renowned the jazz club, he feared it would always get slammed as just a sex club. “Classiest place around,” Drake replied, taking her elbow and guiding her over the spots of frozen water on the ground.

  “As I live and breathe. Where have you been hiding these last months?” Quinn cocked his head.

  “Man, it’s nice to see you again. I owe you a game of pool.”

  “Ah yes. If you’re around later this week, we can settle an old score. There’s a tourney planned, if you’re up for some competition.” Quinn turned to Shay and his expression became serious. “Shay, how are you besides all grown up and more beautiful than any girl has a right to be?”

  She blushed but grinned back. “You don’t have to try so hard on my account. Thanks for giving up a place to stay on short notice.”

  Quinn threw back his head and chuckled. “Still sharp as a tack. Good. Your brother can use some reality. Come inside. Care for a drink or some food?”

  Drake glanced at Shay and she shook her head, saying to him, “I’m fine. Do you?”

  “We’re tired,” he replied to Quinn for them.

  “Give me a second to find out about your rooms. Warm yourself in front of the fire. There’s wine or cognac, coffee or tea.” Once inside Quinn excused himself and walked over to the front desk.

  “A cup of tea?’ he asked, steering Shay over to the cozy sitting area.

  “Tea please.” The gleaming mahogany paneled walls and polished floors reflected the fire blazing in the glass-fronted fireplace and he felt Shay’s body relax. Blood-red leather sofas and deep-tufted cushioned chairs flanked the reception area.

  He made a cup of tea for her and poured a glass of cognac for himself. “Cheers,” he murmured, handing her the steaming cup.

  She tapped her cup against his glass and sipped, still wide-eyed as she leaned against him. “Everything is so elegant. I never would have imagined. For all my big talk, I owe my brother an apology for what I’d initially thought about the Den. How long has Shawn had this place?”

  “A while. After the Matrix, he got serious when he opened a few restaurants in the city and tapped into the vein of discontent that flows around Denver. Hard to ignore with shifters being arrested left and right.”

  “I guess I was really out of touch. Here I thought my brother owned a graphic design firm and a few small businesses. Now it turns out that Matrix is one of many businesses he’s in charge of plus the Council. I could have helped him. What a fool I was, living the easy life on a college campus, safe and secure in my nice, comfortable ivory tower.”

  “You didn’t know. Why would you? Not many people do. Things are hushed up and the news stations don’t report the injustices confronting shifters. Human news channels are slanted. That’s not news.” He didn’t want to get up on a soapbox and start spewing about what it had been like in the military with their segregation codes and no-tell rules. To this day, shifters were still being forced into platoons comprised of only supernaturals and housed separately from humans.

  She exhaled. “Maybe not to you. I have been way too naïve for far too long.”

  “Well, it’s never too late,” he said.

  “To be part of the problem or the solution?” She arched a brow and he drained his two fingers of brandy.

  “Good evening,” a woman said in a crisp British accent, entering the reception area. She had unusual topaz-colored eyes that flickered to Shay’s waist, and her smile deepened. She extended her hand and clasped Shay’s. “I’m Sherry Delacroix. We’ve been expecting you.”

  “Generally, Sher isn’t here late at night but she stayed to help settle you in and ward the place,” Quinn said. “The entire inside of the Den is protected to some degree, but not outside, so be careful when you leave. Be on the watch for Fae—or any flickering lights. I have to keep an eye on things down here, but you’re both in brilliant hands with Sher.”

  “Thank you,” Shay said and her smile faltered as her gaze flickered to his. She’s the spellcaster. Right?

  Are you conversing with me on our private channel?

  Yes. Am I a jackass? Look, I’ll figure out the where and when we can go this mental route but for now just answer me. ‘K?

  Yes. Sherry’s the person working with your mom and dad. You can trust her.

  “Your rooms are ready.” Sherry motioned for them to follow her. “Do you have any special requests? All services are available at night. We close during the day with the cleaning crews and groundskeeper taking over. The chef is here as well with his prep team in the mo
rning, so you can order pretty much anything you’d like off the menu or even something commonplace. The food from the restaurant is rich and sometimes people just want scrambled eggs and toast. Don’t be afraid to tell Marcel what you’d like. He’s accommodating, especially if the request is for Shawn’s sister.”

  On their way to the elevator, Sherry explained more about what to expect on the second floor. Their rooms were part of a private wing that required a special code to access. He smirked to himself. Again, more of his security measures were still in place. But even with the impact he’d made here at the Den, beyond stroking his ego it did little to disrupt the words Shay had articulated.

  They needed funds.

  Not the type to blow for good times. They needed an absolute fortune to build a fortress in which to safeguard their children.

  Dragons—infant dragons—were extremely rare and in a heartbeat he understood that the Fae more than likely had known or now knew that Shay was pregnant. And black market gossip flowed like water. Prior to Shay’s abduction, only he, Shay, and their friends in Harmony were aware that she carried twins. How many questionable folks had put two and two together and were tracking the statistics of what type of children a dragon and a leopardess would produce? The thought that someone would use the information of their forthcoming family in a way to harm either Shay or their children knifed him and his gut clenched.

  He walked beside Shay, half-paying attention to the girls’ conversation as he sunk deep into his thoughts. When the door opened to a private suite and they were shown around, he stopped back at the entrance and held out his hand to Sherry before she exited. “This is excellent. Thank you.”

  “Shawn will be here bright and early. Before he goes over to Matrix.” Sherry reached over and patted Shay on the shoulder. “I’ll stop by tomorrow and check on you. We can go shopping later in the week and have a girls’ day.”

  “Sounds wonderful,” Shay murmured, smiling and threading her fingers between Drake’s.

  “Good evening then.” Sherry stepped to the door and he opened it for her.

  “Goodnight,” both he and Shay said in unison.

  Closing the door, he pulled her against him and inhaled. “So you’re pleased.”

  “More than you know … except. What’s up?” She searched his face with her eyes glowing golden in the shadows.

  He wrapped his arms around Shay’s soft body and savored feeling her growing belly rub up against him. For hours and hours of searching, finding, driving he’d harnessed his hunger for Shay. Inside this room, his consummate need for her that he’d kept under wraps began to unravel. He felt his blood enflame and in minutes, he’d be in a frenzy to assuage his hunger to join with her. “Time for some truth.”

  “Oh Jesus. You’re not going to tell me you’re a VIP card carrying member of this place?”

  “Damn, what an imagination.” He snorted and shook his head, rolling his eyes. “I’m going to contact my family.”

  CHAPTER 14

  For the first few seconds, her mind spun. Then she spluttered, “Do you mean that draconian rage of fire-breathing dragons who expects you to marry your cousin? Oh wait. Correction. Cousins. Those people?”

  He shook head as he frowned. His emerald eyes went from being seductively alluring to cold. Gone was the heat swirling in his eyes and in its place she met fierce, concentrated power.

  “The very same,” he growled, still holding her up against him.

  She noticed Drake’s eyes were bloodshot and then she felt the pit of her stomach give way. “Talk to me,” she said softly.

  “You are right. Our children will need protection. Fuck a fortress. We’re going to need a small army. And if you’re willing to fight for your trust fund, I’m not going to stand around when I basically walked away from more than enough to keep you and our children safe. My ego isn’t that monstrous that I can’t go and get what’s mine. My family will be pleased with the news.”

  “We’re unmarried. Your family will want to control—will take away my children. No. You can’t mean you’d do that.” She planted her palms on his chest and tried like a fool to push off of Drake. Like that was going to work. She swallowed down the urge to fight him fang and nail.

  “Woman,” he scoffed and picked her up like she was nothing more than an article of clothing and carried her into the bedroom of the ginormous suite. It had been months since she’d been in rooms like these and she felt the confusion of what Drake announced and where they were right at this moment. Coming back home should be a joyous event, but instead the doors had been blown clear off her comfort zone.

  She’d walked away from her family and felt guilty … then what about Drake? She was back amongst hers. Didn’t he deserve that same chance to make things right with his family? He’d been out of touch from his parents and siblings, like her, and maybe this might be a moment where they both could heal the wounds of the past. But to build a bridge—what did that entail when a rage of dragons was on the other side?

  He snarled, looking down at her, and responded, “I’d like the chance. Same as you.”

  Instead of speaking out loud, she channeled her thoughts, linking to his mind. Are you listening in on my personal conversation? My you’re a very nosy dragon!

  Don’t forget domineering, possessive, and very, very horny.

  She snickered and he laid her gently onto the bed, coming down right next to her on the mattress. Tracing the edges of his lips, she sighed, “See? I’m not spoiled. I do try and consider both sides. But a rage of dragons? Who stops them if they decide to take away my babies?”

  “They’re not a bunch of kidnapping shitkickers.”

  “No. They’re not. They’re a group of eternal beings who can’t reproduce very readily and now we’re about to give the world two dragons. I might be wrong, but with my business degree and what I’ve learned, it’s a fair assumption that our children are a very valuable commodity to lots of beings for a variety of reasons. Aren’t they?”

  “Without question. And it’s those folks who aren’t related to me that should worry us.” He picked up her hand and kissed her palm. “Baby, we can go to my castle in Navarre, but we’ll need to retrofit the place and get it outfitted with modern standards of security.”

  “That’s my choice?” she asked, her voice careening in disbelief. “Your castle in the mountains. Does it even have Wi-Fi?”

  “I’d be lying if I said I was sure. I don’t know. We could start from scratch but we couldn’t tell anyone where we are. Not until the children are older. But I know you only just arrived and are trying to reestablish yourself with your family.”

  “Nothing comes easy to us. Why?”

  “Because we’re complicated. I have no complaints in that department.” He lifted her arms above her head.

  Enough talk. I want to make love to you.

  She laughed. Oh you do?

  Or I could just fuck you for old time’s sake.

  Give me what I need, Drake. Don’t hold back.

  “Never, baby,” he growled and crushed his mouth down upon hers. He thrust his tongue across her lips, stealing her breath. She felt herself melting and falling and unraveling. Dear God … Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony, he stuck a feather in his—

  Abruptly, he stopped kissing her. “What on Earth are you doing?”

  “Kissing you?”

  “You’re singing. While I’m kissing you.” He stared at her. “You’re hiding something. Something you’re afraid I’ll hear. What is it, kitten?”

  Her heartbeat clattered and her thoughts tumbled, leaving her confused. Christ on a cracker, she wasn’t about to give one over-bearing dragon a VIP pass into her mind. Rubber baby buggy bumpers. Sally sells sea shells by the seashore.

  He waved his hands. “Okay. Okay. Stop. I can’t take it. I promise, I won’t listen to your thoughts. Seriously. I’m tuning you out.”

  “How can you?”

  “Aren’t you doing that to me?”


  She blinked. “Oh yeah. I am.” Then she laughed and clapped a hand over her mouth. “I didn’t realize.”

  “Baby, I promise. I won’t listen in on your thoughts unless you ask me to. You do the same with me. Do we have deal?”

  She held out her pinky. “Swear.”

  “All right. I guess this makes it a binding and official agreement.” He linked his pinky with hers.

  She sat up and slipped off the bed. Drake’s gaze followed her as she brought her hand to her waistband and lowered the zipper. Not an inch of space remained and very soon she wouldn’t fit in these jeans. She glanced down. “Oh my goodness,” she exclaimed.

  “You’re growing,” he remarked. “Good. You’re far too thin.”

  “But how?” She pushed off her jeans and stared down at her now very rounded belly. She rubbed her palms over the curved dome and felt her babies swim and move under her caress. The feeling was magical. “A week ago, I could still hide I was pregnant. Not now.”

  Drake’s eyes gleamed green swirling flames, unmistakable pride, and he moved so swiftly, stealthily next to her, that she gasped in surprise. He spanned his hands over hers and arduously traced the rounded curve as intense pleasure rippled in her core. Her whole being sang in an ethereal joy—near to rapture. She quivered and her nipples tightened into diamond points, tingling and needing to relief his mouth could provide.

  He pushed her panties down her hips and knelt in front of her, lifting her ankle. “Dragons grow at different rates than leopards. I don’t know if what Trish said was correct about April.”

  “How soon?” She moaned as he slid his finger in between her legs, teasing her mercilessly. “Please, Drake.”

  He skimmed his face over her, and flicked his tongue in the cleft at the top of her lips, then splayed her open and speared his tongue in between her labia, targeting her clit. Oh God. So good. Holding onto his head, she dug her fingertips into his hair and pressed up to his wicked tongue and mouth. He licked her, making her body burn.