Dragon's Heat (City Dragons Book 1)

by Lisa Oliver

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jon eyed his mate cautiously as Dirk paced in front of his recently repaired office window. Back in San Jose, in clean clothes after a hot shower and a well-earned meal, Jon was feeling more like himself. Dirk had been quiet in their taxi back to town, but after a quick trip to the hotel to pick up his clothes and phone, he’d done nothing but pace as his phone rang with one call after another. Dirk’s father must have had his whole family on speed dial and word had quickly spread about how Dirk had disrespected his father. Apparently, that was a big no-no in the Hollingsworth family.

  “I never cared about Celine, Byron. I don’t even know her for fuck’s sake…Yes, I realize the merger was important, but don’t you get it? I met my true mate…no it’s not a fucking fallacy. True mates exist. It’s just no one in my freaking family ever bothered to look down their noses long enough to find one…what? She said what? Look Bryon, I don’t care what shit that woman is spilling now but my dragon told me…yes, I do listen to my dragon and maybe it’s about time you did, too. Moron.” Dirk ended the call with a scowl.

  “Why don’t you sit down?” Jon suggested. “I’ll ask Essie to bring you some chamomile tea.” Essie had been overjoyed to see him, hugging the stuffing out of him when he turned up with Dirk in tow. Her introduction to Dirk wasn’t as effusive, but Jon trusted her not to spit in Dirk’s refreshments.

  “It’s like they are all living in the dark ages,” Dirk fumed dropping into a chair with a thud. “They honestly believe the stories about true mates is some kind of ancient folklore or something. And Celine. So much for getting support from her side of the fence. She’s apparently still in town here, sitting in a hotel room crying her eyes out at being rejected. My dragon told me she’s in love with someone else. She should be celebrating.”

  “Well, then maybe we should go and speak to her.” Jon figured they had to start somewhere. Between the thefts, which were getting bigger by the day, and the hostile reaction from Dirk’s family; Jon was starting to think there was a link between them somewhere. The elusive Celine might just be the one prepared to talk to them.

  “You want to see her?” Jon didn’t know why Dirk was so shocked. “I’m meant to be bonding with her in…in…” he glanced at his watch, “ten days.”

  “And you’re not going to be doing it now, no matter how much she weeps and wails over the whole rejection angle. Look, ba…Dirk,” Jon carried on quickly before Dirk caught his slip of the tongue, “From an outside perspective, none of this makes sense. So, you won’t have baby dragons? You have brothers who can. There’s no reason for kicking you out of the family company; having a true mate doesn’t change your ability to do your job. You were meant to merge with Celine’s family – big deal. There are other family members who can go through this ridiculous notion of an arranged marriage, especially if she’s as beautiful as you say.”

  “I never said she was beautiful.”

  “Maybe not to me, but you wouldn’t marry someone who wasn’t.” All dragons, in Jon’s experience, were like from a celestial planet. He had no doubt Celine was the same. “The thing is, don’t you find any of this a bit strange? The thefts, Celine saying she doesn’t want to marry you one minute and then crying because she’s jilted the next. None of your family asked about me – who I was, how we met. Your dad was determined this morning that your brain was addled through sickness or you were being compelled by a spell. Since when could a spell affect a dragon and when did a dragon shifter ever get sick?”

  “You think there’s things my father’s not telling me?” At least Dirk was listening and thinking over what Jon was saying.

  “I want to know why Celine is pushing for a marriage she never wanted. I want to know why dragons never consider looking for their true mates. They all have them. Why go through with bonded marriages when, if one of the party does meet their mate, their marriage will be over? Why is your father fighting his own animal half and why is someone deliberately targeting the hoards under your care? None of this makes sense.” Jon ran his fingers through his hair.

  “Then let’s get some answers, shall we?” Dirk stood. In his new suit, he was a powerful figure and Jon’s mind filled with other ideas on how he’d like to spend the afternoon with his new mate. But he knew they’d never get any peace until at least some of these mysteries were solved. Picking up his jacket, Jon followed his mate from the room. Stopping just long enough to let Essie know he was finished for the day, Jon straightened his spine, relieved when Dirk reached for his hand. It’d be nice to know I do bring him some comfort, even if I can’t do much else.

  /~/~/~/~/

  Dragon’s weren’t prone to getting headaches, but Dirk could feel the stress gathering in his neck as he and Jon took the elevator to the penthouse suite. Celine wasn’t staying in the same hotel as Dirk had been, thank goodness. It was embarrassing enough having to pay for the damage to his room caused by his dragon’s shift. He doubted he’d ever visit there again.

  A prickle of awareness crawled up Dirk’s spine as the elevator reached its destination. Damn it, there’s a good chance my father will be here, too. Dirk tightened his grip on Jon’s hand as they stepped from the elevator and strode the short distance to what he’d been told was Celine’s room.

  The woman who opened the door matched the picture Dirk had been sent when he was informed of the marriage. Blond hair, pale green eyes, and fine features. Her statuesque figure was shrouded in a heavy white toweling robe. At the time, Dirk knew he’d have no problems bedding her as part of their marriage ritual, but now she represented nothing but a threat to his mating.

  “Are you going to let me in?”

  “You’re the last person I expected to see,” Celine sniffed and moved back from the door. As he guided Jon inside, it was then Dirk noticed the red around her eyes and nose. She was clearly distressed and he heard Jon discretely take in her scent. As he’d never met her before, Dirk wondered why he’d do that, but then there was a lot about dog shifters he didn’t know.

  Celine indicated the two seater couch. “You might as well sit. I don’t know why you’ve bothered to come. Your father’s furious with you and this…this….”

  “My true mate, Jon Erskine.” Dirk glared. Upset or not, he wouldn’t let Celine insult his mate. “Jon, this is Celine Ahlberg; their family originates from Sweden.”

  “Ma’am.” Jon inclined his head but said nothing as the two men sat down. Celine huddled in a single chair, tugging her robe around her.

  For a long moment there was silence, although the tension in the room was growing. Never one to evade confrontation Dirk said firmly. “Do you want to explain why you are in such a state? And,” he raised his finger as Celine’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open, “bear in mind, my dragon already told me you only came here to beg me to call our wedding off.”

  Celine straightened, her lips tight. “I don’t know where he got that idea. My father and yours have done nothing but go on about this wedding for months. I am here to take my place by your side as the ruler of the Hollingsworth clan. Once I have your heir, my place will be assured. Pushing this…this…furry shifter in my face isn’t going to change that.”

  “Won’t that be a little difficult?” Jon’s voice was a welcome surprise. “Providing an heir for Dirk, I mean. The baby you’re carrying won’t be a Hollingsworth, whether the wedding goes through or not.”

  “You’re pregnant?” Dirk’s eyes narrowed.

  “How dare you even imply such a thing.” Celine raised her hand as if to strike and Dirk growled.

  “As I understand it, dragons aren’t able to conceive very often, so it could be decades before you provided Dirk with an heir, or were you going to pass your child off as his?” Jon’s hand in his tightened as Celine stood.

  “Are you going to let a furry fucking dog insult me like this? Dirk, I demand he leave immediately.”

  “My mate has got a keen nose, something I will be sure to thank him for later,” Dirk managed
a smile for his mate even as his mind raced over the ramifications of what he’d just learned. “I suggest you sit down and answer his question; unless you want me to call my father in and you can explain it to him.”

  “You’re going to believe these lies?” Celine reached back and fell into her chair. Her face was white.

  “Jon is my true mate.” Dirk leaned his elbows on his knees. “He wears my scale. Can you believe that? My dragon left it on my heart the day I saw him. This morning Jon touched it and it simply fell into his hand. When Jon placed it against his own heart, it absorbed into his skin. I’ve never seen anything like it. We’re made for each other. He’d never lie to me. He can’t.”

  “Bryce mentioned you’d been sick.” Celine tapped her long red nails against her knee. “I think your brain’s been hijacked. He’s got you and your dragon under a spell. Your father’s right. You need to come home and see a healer.”

  “I went into mating heat when I tried to leave.” Dirk was starting to get annoyed at his family’s assumption there was something wrong with him. “When you meet your true mate, you’ll understand what I mean.”

  “Dirk,” Jon’s hand on his knee drained his anger. “Celine’s got her own agenda. Clearly, she’s in trouble. Your anger isn’t helping.”

  “But everyone I speak to seems to think I’ve got something wrong with me, for fuck’s sake.” Dirk pulled Jon over his legs, burying his face in his neck. “Why won’t they understand what you mean to me?”

  “Because they are all hiding things from you and I’d like to know why?” Dirk felt Jon’s hand tilt his head up. “Look at her. Sniff the air. She’s being deceitful. Can’t you smell it?”

  “Dragons don’t have that ability. We can tell what type of paranormal a person is, but that’s about it.”

  “Then use your ears.” Jon didn’t seem bothered by the icy glares Celine was throwing his way, but Dirk was. “I can hear the extra heartbeat. It run’s faster than an adult’s does. Listen.”

  Dirk strained his ears, but the only heartbeat he could hear was Jon’s. Strong and steady; at least his mate wasn’t upset. He closed his eyes.

  Is Celine pregnant?

  You know she is. Jon doesn’t lie.

  Why didn’t you tell me?

  Her dragon thought she wanted to do it herself. She’s not happy with this little charade.

  Great. At this rate, half the dragons in existence would be alienated from their human halves.

  “Celine knows I can’t hear the heartbeat and she also knows I can’t scent any changes in her either,” Dirk kept his focus on Jon. “I imagine my father doesn’t know. He’d be horrified.”

  “You’re still believing this nonsense?” Celine’s voice was shrill. “How can you sit there and accept these lies about me. We’re supposed to be getting married.”

  “Well, we’re not getting married now.” Dirk set Jon aside, but hung onto his hand. “Even before I knew about the baby, I had no plans on going through with this farce. I don’t care if you like it or not, Jon is my mate. My dragon already said he wouldn’t bond with yours by force because your heart belongs to another, so why don’t you just cut the crap and let me know how I can help.”

  Celine burst into tears again and Dirk knew he’d be in for a long afternoon.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Well, that was interesting, although it didn’t bring us any closer to finding out what is going on in your family.” Jon stretched out his back as he and Dirk waited for the elevator. His stomach reminded him they’d missed lunch and he was looking forward to getting something to eat.

  “No.” Dirk stabbed the elevator button again as if it would make it arrive any faster. “I thought she had more sense.”

  “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with her falling for a wolf shifter.” Jon placed his hand on the small of Dirk’s back. “Getting pregnant was a bit irresponsible, but you can’t blame her if she was as in love as she said.”

  “Yeah, but the bastard still ran out on her, didn’t he? It’s the only reason she turned up here. She’s shit scared of what her father will say. Fuck, could you imagine the stink if we had gone through with the marriage and she popped out puppies or furry dragons?”

  “I think they’d be kinda cute.” Truth be told, Jon was jealous. Celine didn’t want her baby and Jon wasn’t sure what would happen after the birth. He looked across at his mate. Does he want children? “It was nice of you to offer her an apartment until she works out what she’s going to do.”

  “I wasn’t going to leave her stranded. She’s still one of our own, even if she did plan to trap me with a kid that wasn’t mine.” Dirk punched the elevator button again. “What the hell is the hold up?”

  “I ordered the elevator stopped on this floor,” a voice behind them said. “Dirk, I see you’ve visited with your fiancée. I trust things have been worked out to a mutually satisfying decision?”

  Dirk’s father. It couldn’t be anyone else. They could have easily passed as twins, although, as Jon took in the details of the imposing man standing in the hallway, he revised his opinion. Mr. Hollingsworth senior was slimmer, had less muscle, and there were shots of gray through his dark hair.

  “Father.” Dirk stepped in front of Jon, his shoulders rippling with tension. “I’ve talked to Celine, yes. We’ve both agreed a marriage won’t work between us and have mutually agreed to call it off.”

  Actually, Celine was still hoping Dirk would marry her and save her from being cast out from her clan, but the apartment and offer of financial help was as far as Dirk was prepared to go. She still didn’t believe he and Dirk were true mated, even after Dirk showed her the scar on his neck. Then she offered a marriage in name only. Jon’s dog had been ready to tear someone’s throat out all afternoon. Now he bristled as Dirk obviously tried to protect him.

  “The contract has been signed. You two will be married in ten days.” Fuck. These dragons were stubborn. Mr. Hollingsworth wasn’t backing down and Dirk’s anger filled the air.

  “You do not have the right to tell me who I should marry.” Dirk stepped forward. “I have told you until I am blue in the face that I have claimed my true mate. You told me I was banished. Fine. I don’t care. But nothing on this earth will force me to give up Jon.”

  “I don’t think he will be a problem anymore.” Dirk’s father waved his hand. “Take him.”

  Strong hands gripped Jon around the neck and he ducked and rolled. Two goons. Dragons, but that’s all he registered before his hands came up and flames poured from his fingers. FLAMES! The scale on his heart burned and Jon shuddered as he shifted. Suddenly he was looking down at Dirk who was still standing but looking up in amazement. What the fuck?

  “What sorcery is this?” Dirk’s father backed up the hallway. Jon did a quick mental check. He was in fur. He was fucking big, but he was still in his dog form and that was all he needed. Curling back his lips, he snarled as he padded forward.

  /~/~/~/~/

  Ooh, I knew he’d look beautiful like this. Dirk’s dragon was chortling in his head.

  This is your doing? Dirk watched as Jon advanced on his father. His rumbling snarl, the length of his teeth. Beautiful wasn’t a word Dirk would use. More like lethal.

  Of course. He wears our scale. Nothing will hurt him now.

  The flames might have been a bit much. Jon could’ve burned himself.

  He’s immune to dragon fire in both forms. Yep. Dirk’s dragon was having a great old time, but Dirk wasn’t sure he was prepared to let his mate kill his father. Jon had his father backed up in a corner, his head low as if prepared to strike.

  “Jon.” Dirk ran over and reached up to put his hand on his mate’s shoulder. “My father didn’t mean it. Don’t kill him.”

  “He was trying to separate us.” The growled words sounded so foreign coming from furry lips – yet another present from his dragon.

  “I know, babe. I know, but I’m sure he’s got an explanation?” Dirk glared at his father. />
  “A merger with the Ahlbergs would have meant millions for us. Celine’s dowry alone would have doubled my hoard.”

  Dirk could see his father was trying to call on his dragon. But just as his had left him when Bryce was beating him, his father’s dragon wouldn’t raise a claw to help. “You have a huge hoard, Father. You gloated about it when I asked you to invest in the company. That money wouldn’t have been yours anyway. It was for Celine and I.”

  “Mr. Ahlberg promised that money to me. It was mine for arranging this marriage. You marry the girl and I get the money.”

  Jon snarled and swiped out his paw, knocking Dirk’s father to the ground. “No one threatens our mating.”

  “This is why dragons don’t take their true mates.” Dirk’s father pointed at Dirk accusingly. “Look what your dragon has done. Shared his power with a lesser being and created this monstrosity. None of us will be safe.”

  Dirk laughed. Totally inappropriate, but he couldn’t do anything else. His father was still hiding something; he could tell that much without Jon’s enhanced hearing or sense of smell, but right then it just didn’t matter. Stroking Jon’s fur, he shook his head at his father. “Jon isn’t a danger to me or anyone else who carries a dragon spirit. He is my true mate, father, and with him by my side, there is nothing I can’t accomplish. I suggest you get on your fancy jet and fly home and let Mother know she won’t need that new dress after all.”

  “What do you mean? Where are you going?”

  “Back to New York, of course. To run my company. Like you, I read my contracts and there’s no way you can fire me. There’s no condition in the contract for me losing my position unless one of my brothers challenge me. This arranged marriage of yours was a suggestion, not in my contract. Now that I know Jon can take care of himself, I don’t see any reason why I can’t do the job I get paid for.” Dirk had only held off because he’d been worried about his mate’s safety. Seeing his magnificent mate in his current form, all those worries slipped away. “Come on, mate of mine. You’ve wrecked another set of clothes. Is there any chance you can squish yourself back into your original form so we can fit in the elevator?”