His mate's voice, her touch and her warmth calmed and assured him. Taking a deep breath, he began.
Her name is Vanora. I didn't know she was a sorceress when I first met her. She could disguise her powers, her true self and appear...human.
“Where did you meet her?” Simone asked.
It was in another country, on another continent. I was living near a small town, a town very much like Redrock Valley. And I was attending a community event in that town. I had built a few schools there, and the town invited me to celebrate the graduation of their first batch of students. Vanora was there and she pretended to be a new resident of the town. In truth, she had been watching me, and she moved to the town to be closer to me.
“Closer?”
Breene heard the suspicion in Simone's voice and winced. Yes.
“How close?” Simone snapped.
Breene decided there was no way to sugarcoat this. He just had to bite the bullet. We were lovers.
He heard Simone grind her teeth.
It didn't last long, he added hurriedly.
“Hmmph. How long ago was this?” He could feel her eyes boring into the back of his head.
Twelve years ago.
“Go on,” Simone said tersely.
Vanora knew I was a dragon shifter. That was what she was after. My dragon. It took me some time to shake off the spell she had cast over me and see the truth. She tried to destroy my human mind and will, and imprison the man within the beast. She never wanted the man. It was the dragon she wanted. The blood of a dragon is needed in many powerful enchantments and potions. And a fire-breathing monster would make a fearsome, formidable weapon. She would be invincible.
Simone snarled and spat, “That bitch!”
She was staying in a rather large house near the woods at the edge of town. The people in town didn't know her at all, and that should have alerted me to her true identity and nature. But...she had been slipping small doses of that lethal potion into my food and drink. My mind and will were weakening, and my dragon was in pain.
“How did you break free?” Simone asked, trying to suppress the quaver in her voice.
Lester helped me.
“Lester?”
Yes. He's always insisting that I saved him from the sorceress. But in fact, he was the one who saved me. I was at her house one night and I was quite drunk. Or at least I thought I was drunk but it wasn't the effect of the alcohol I was feeling. It was the potion, working its way through my bloodstream. I...I woke up, naked…
“In her bed no doubt,” Simone scoffed.
No. I wasn't in her bed. I was in a cell, in her basement. I was shackled to the wall, and there was a knife in my chest. The blade was coated with poison. Vanora took care not to pierce all the way through my heart. She wanted me alive. Alive and under her total control. The poison would slowly destroy the man but keep the dragon alive.
“I will fucking kill her!” Simone swore.
Lester was in the cell to hydrate me. He stood on a stool and sloshed water into my mouth. He pretended to make a mess of things and got a rag to clean me up. Using the rag as a shield, he removed the poisoned dagger from my chest and unlocked one of my shackles. Then he pressed the key into my palm and said, You have to leave now, Master. Please, don't be like me.
“Like him? What did she do to him?” Simone whispered as dread and horror settled like a dead weight in her gut.
Lester was a gargoyle but I saw that he didn't have his wings. Vanora cut off his wings and injected him with a serum that stopped him from turning to stone during the day. A gargoyle heals and rejuvenates in stone form. If he had been allowed to turn to stone during the day, his wings would grow back and he would regain his strength. Instead, he was kept in a weakened state and in constant agony.
Simone blinked away tears of rage. “The bitch will pay for this. How can anyone do that?”
Breene took a long breath and went on.
After I unlocked my shackles, I crept out of the basement and saw that the house was empty. Lester said that Vanora had gone into the woods but she would be back soon. I started to leave, but when I turned back, I saw that Lester wasn't coming with me. I tried to make him come with me, but he refused. He said that he would die if he left.
“He was afraid that she would come after him,” Simone said.
That was what I thought as well. But that wasn't what he meant. Every morning, Vanora injected Lester with a serum that was both an antidote and a poison. The poison prevented him from changing to stone form, and the antidote allowed him to live. Without this serum, Lester would die once the sun came up. The poison in his system would prevent him from changing to stone, and he would die when the sun rose.
“No,” Simone gasped.
In the end, I just grabbed him and ran.
“You kidnapped him!”
I was running out of time. And there was no way I was leaving him behind. He saved my life!
“So how…?”
I shifted to dragon form and gripped him in my talons as I flew far away from Vanora. Lester didn't put up much of a fight. He was too weak and scared, and he knew this was a fight he couldn't win. I would never let him go.
Simone swallowed. “But the poison...he would die...”
Yes. So...I forced him to drink my blood.
“What?” Simone gasped.
The reason dragon blood is an essential ingredient in many potent spells and potions is that the blood of a dragon has its own power. It can be used to heal and create, or corrupt and destroy. I used my blood to neutralize the poison in Lester's body so he could turn to stone during the day.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Simone squeezed her eyes shut for a moment as she fought to get her turbulent emotions under control. She was reeling from Breene's revelation about his and Lester's past. She had sensed correctly that Lester had been a victim of abuse, but she could never have imagined just how harrowing and horrific his abuse had been. He had been mutilated, humiliated, tortured and poisoned.
And now he was taken prisoner again by the same evil sorceress who had done all those terrible things to him.
“Lester must be so scared,” Simone whispered, clenching her fists. To see that cruel, scheming, evil bitch again. The face from his worst nightmares…
Vanora had finally tracked them down. The sorceress had been searching for them, hunting Lester and Breene down with a vengeance. It had taken her twelve years, twelve years to find them and exact her revenge. Maybe she had found them earlier, but she had been watching them, biding her time. And it wasn't just Lester she wanted. In her mind, both the gargoyle and the dragon belonged to her.
“It's a trap,” Simone said, her eyes snapping wide open. “She took Lester in order to lure you to her.”
Breene snorted. I am immune to her enchantments now. I have you.
Despite herself, Simone chuckled. “I'm no talisman.”
No. You are my sword and my shield. You are my strength, Simone. My life, Breene said fervently.
Simone's breath caught. Breene didn't say those words lightly. He meant every word.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Breene turned his head and winked at her. I know. 'Cause you dialed my number.
Simone looked up and the grin vanished from her face. She saw a huge, ancient castle looming up, rising from the mist like a phantom. Breene's castle was smaller but much more modern and welcoming in comparison. This castle was rambling and dark, and there were spikes mounted on top of the battlements and towers.
From afar, it looked like a misshapen monster with horns and thorns. Simone shuddered. It looked almost demonic.
“Can you hear Lester?” she whispered.
Yes. He's warning us away, Breene answered grimly. And he's really mad that I brought you along. He said Mistress Simone shouldn't be here!
“Tell him I am not leaving without him,” Simone said fiercely.
Breene glided through the fog towards the castle. The fog swirled
around them, growing denser as they neared the shadowy castle.
This fog isn't natural, is it, Simone thought to Breene.
No. She created it.
Simone detected a movement to her right just as Breene roared a warning. A ball of fire hurtled past her, missing her shoulder by inches.
“What…?” Simone righted herself in a hurry. She had almost toppled off Breene's back. She grabbed the knife from her ankle holster and held it out.
“What was that?” she panted, her eyes rounding in panic.
Dragon fire.
“D-dragon? But...”
Simone gasped as the fog parted. She saw the sorceress and for a moment, she froze, spellbound by Vanora's beauty.
Vanora's dark blue hair rippled in the wind and her violet eyes gleamed as she came towards them. She was tall and willowy, and her red cloak contrasted with her porcelain white skin. Vanora smiled, and her smile chilled Simone to the bone. She had seen that smile somewhere before...
Simone gave a strangled cry when she saw the creature that Vanora was riding. The sorceress was riding a huge, shimmering, fire-spewing dragon.
“What the…!”
My sentiments exactly, Breene snarled.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Breene stared at the other dragon in shock. It was a dragon shifter, but the human seemed to have completely receded, trapped somewhere deep inside the thrashing beast.
Breene had only come across one other dragon shifter in his life, and that was more than a hundred years ago. Jin had been like a mentor to Breene, and he had taught Breene how to invest wisely and build up his wealth. The older dragon had repeatedly stressed to Breene the importance of having enough money. “It can't buy happiness, but it gives you freedom and mobility,” Jin had advised Breene. Sadly, Jin was no longer around.
Breene circled the wild, angry dragon and tried to communicate with the dragon through his mind. Dragons could connect with one another through their minds. This dragon was much younger than Breene, but his mind didn't seem to be in one piece. The dragon's mind was fractured and confused, and his pale blue eyes were crazed with pain and rage.
Breene recognized the symptoms. He's been poisoned. Vanora has imprisoned and corrupted his human mind and will. She has enslaved the young dragon!
“So the evil bitch has found a nice young dragon to enslave and do her bidding,” Simone spat.
I can't communicate with him. His human mind is too weak.
“Forget it. No more talking. Just let me at her,” Simone growled. “Mess with my family, eh?” She cracked her knuckles. “Fucking bitch!”
Breene backed away from the other dragon and glanced back at his feisty, furious mate. Don't underestimate her, Simone.
She glared at him. “Duck!” she yelled suddenly.
Breene was about to retort that ducks couldn't fly so high, when a blast of fire almost singed the tip of his ear.
“I told you to duck!” Simone screamed, beating frantically at her sleeve. She managed to put out the small fire quickly, but when Breene turned to look at her, he couldn't tell if the smoke rising from her was coming from her charred sleeve or from her ears.
Simone looked mad as hell. “That was my favorite sweater,” she fumed, tearing off her sleeve.
She got to her feet and stood up slowly, both knives in her fists.
“This just got a lot more personal. You fight the dragon,” she hissed to Breene. “The bitch is mine.”
Breene saw that she meant business. Her strategy might just work. Simone might not be an ancient, powerful sorceress, but she was fighting for something far bigger than herself. She was fighting to protect her loved ones, and Breene knew that love could empower, embolden and inspire. Love gave ordinary people the courage, strength and resolve to do the impossible.
He had seen mothers and grandmothers perform extraordinary, superhuman feats to save their families. He had witnessed little old ladies lifting cars to free their grandchildren from the wreckage. He had seen men run into burning buildings without any protective gear to carry their loved ones out. There was just no way that anyone could make it out of the dense smoke and raging flames. And yet—those humans did. They survived. Against all odds, they won.
Humans weren't defenseless at all. They were tenacious, persistent and resourceful.
They could win. Against all odds.
Simone was his strength and his shield.
Together, they would defeat the sorceress and the dragon she rode in on.
Breene watched the young dragon warily. The dragon's ice-blue eyes seemed to focus for an instant on Breene, and Breene heard a faint voice in his head.
Free him.
Breene jerked. He'd heard the dragon's voice. He reached out immediately but the connection was gone.
Breene glanced towards the castle. The fog had receded, and he could see a movement in the window of the highest tower. Was the dragon referring to Lester?
Or was there someone else imprisoned in the castle?
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Simone wobbled precariously as she crouched on Breene's back. Don't look down, she reminded herself.
She was standing on the back of a dragon, thousands of feet in the air. Without a safety belt, a harness or a parachute. She should be scared out of her wits. Yet she was facing off against a powerful sorceress and brandishing her knives like some sort of dragon-riding warrior.
Simone took a deep breath.
She had no idea what she was doing.
All she knew was that she had to take the enemy down so that she could bring her family home.
Simone locked her gaze on Vanora. The sorceress possessed a mesmerizing, unearthly beauty. Her features were perfect, with not a single mark or blemish on her skin. Simone had been an acne-prone teenager, and her complexion wasn't perfect. She had moles and birthmarks, scars from old wounds and hurts.
But Vanora was picture perfect. Her crimson lips were painted the same shade of red as her cloak and her blush accentuated her high cheekbones. Long, curling lashes framed those hypnotic violent eyes. And not a strand of her glossy dark blue hair was out of place. The wind was gleefully whipping Simone's hair into a tangled mess, but it seemed to caress Vanora's wavy tresses with infinite gentleness. Simone narrowed her eyes and scowled. Even the wind was playing favorites.
Simone took a long, hard look at Vanora, trying to find her weakness. The sorceress stood straight and tall, with supreme poise and confidence. She stretched a slender hand out and on a whispered word, her dragon stilled and quietened down.
How could someone who possessed such outward beauty and grace be so ugly on the inside?
Simone gripped her knives tighter and shouted, “Where is Lester?”
Vanora laughed softly. “You came all this way. I'm sure you know very well where he is.”
Simone bristled at the sorceress's mocking tone. “You've locked him in your castle. Let him go!”
“I didn't lock him up,” Vanora cooed. “See for yourself. The window is wide open. There are no bars. The gargoyle is free to go.”
Simone glanced towards the castle and gasped. Vanora wasn't lying this time.
There was a silhouette at the window of the highest tower of the castle. Breene jerked when he saw Lester at the window.
It's Lester! He's right there!
The gargoyle was perched at the open window, his red eyes glowing with terror. There were no iron bars over the open window. There was nothing to prevent Lester from jumping out the window and flying away.
Nothing but fear.
He was a prisoner of his own fear.
Vanora smirked. “You thought you freed Lester, by stealing him away from me. But the truth is, Lester will never be free. He belongs to me.” Her voice dropped to a sultry purr. “Just like you belong to me, Breene.”
Simone growled. “Keep your filthy hands off my dragon! You...you already have your own,” she sputtered, pointing at the emerald dragon.
“Oh, this
little thing?” Vanora purred. “Kieron is young. His mind and body aren't as strong, sturdy and solid as Breene's. He doesn't have Breene's...skill and stamina.”
Simone tamped down her anger and refused to be baited. Vanora was trying to allude to her sexual history with Breene and make her jealous. But Simone wasn't here to dig up the past.
The fight was happening in the here and now. The present and future were all that mattered.
“I know,” Simone answered with a smirk. “My Breene is magnificent. And I get to enjoy his strong, solid mind and body any time I want.”
Vanora's eyes flashed with fury. Simone gave a thin smile and slowly lowered herself to a crouch.
Fly nearer, she urged Breene.
Breene hesitated. She's dangerous. I don't want you to…
I know what I'm doing. Trust me. Simone turned and hollered to Lester, “Lester! Use your wings and fly! Just fly home! You are free, Lester!”
“He will never use his wings,” Vanora sneered. “Fear is a far better prison and leash than iron bars and chains.” She looked Breene in the eye and said, “We can be so great together, Breene. Come to me, be with me, my love. If you agree to be mine, I will let this little human go.”
“Or...” The smile disappeared from Vanora's face and her eyes became hard and cold. “You can watch her die. The choice is yours, Breene.”
“Just shut up!” Simone yelled. “If you want to kill me, then come and get me!”
Vanora didn't even glance at her. The sorceress kept her eyes on Breene and said with a slow smile, “I won't kill your little human immediately. No, she will be kept alive for as long as possible. I will carve out her living flesh and organs piece by piece for my potions.”
Breene's huge body shook, and Simone placed a steadying hand on his back. “Don't listen to her. She can't do that,” Simone whispered. “She's bluffing.”
No she's not. Breene's voice was very quiet.
“What?”
When I told you that I woke up in her basement with a knife in my chest, I...I didn't tell you that she had already taken something from me. She had cut out a piece of my heart and used her magic to close the wound.
The Dragon Tycoon's Bride: Billionaire Shifter Paranormal Romance Page 10