Lilly: Dragon Clan

by Skye Jones

  If someone told her a few weeks ago she’d be in this place in their relationship, she’d never have believed it. Maybe she was finally growing up?

  Getting out of the car, Missy smoothed her long, golden locks. The girl looked like a cover model; she had no need for the new pillowy pout.

  “Hey, guys.” Renee, one of the gang, ran over to them and pulled them both into a hug. “Come and get some drinks. There’s some hot guys here, some friends of Zach’s who have flown in from California. One of them is an agent for the movies!”

  Missy’s eyes lit up, and Lilly bet she’d drop any vague ideas of wifely servitude in a hot minute if she thought fame and fortune beckoned. Hating the bitter way her thoughts kept going, she followed her friends into Zach’s palatial home, waving hellos here and there to people she knew.

  It took half an hour before she saw Zach. The first thing she noted was how small he looked. He stood five foot eleven, so not a shoddy height. But compared to the six foot five or so of Rhyndor, and Callum’s only slightly shorter stature, he looked…insignificant. Add in his lean build and preppy style, and he couldn’t hold a candle to her dragon males.

  She sipped at her drink and leaned against a dresser she knew cost upward of twenty thousand dollars. She knew because Zach told her once when she’d spilled a drop of wine on it. Luckily, the liquid wiped off the lacquered surface easily.

  A flash of anger at the memory of seeing her father with that woman washed over her, making her grit her teeth.

  A petite, curvy blonde sashayed over to Zach, and Lilly bit back a bitter smile at the way his eyes ran all over her ample attributes as they talked. The blonde laughed and tossed her hair over her shoulder, and he licked his lips and ran a finger down her arm. Lilly rolled her eyes. The guy’s flirting came built in to his DNA. As much a part of him as his green eyes and sandy blond hair. He looked good. Relaxed, handsome, oh-so-sure of himself. But the usual kick in the gut, heart-lurching feelings weren’t there as she watched him.

  Deciding they needed to talk, she pushed off the wall and strolled over to the flirt show going on at the other end of the room.

  “Zachary.” She used his full name and liked the confusion that washed over his features at her cool tone.

  “Lilly! I was about to come and find you.”

  She glanced at the blonde. “Looks like it.”

  He narrowed his eyes, and she nearly laughed. He hated it when she made a scene. And suddenly like scales falling from her eyes, she saw his act of generosity, of taking her under his wing all those years ago for what it really was. Control.

  He’d been there for her, but only so long as she’d behaved how he wanted her to. She had to put up with him pushing her away and pulling her back. He never got tired of telling her how stupid the things she loved were. He’d paid for her lessons in horse riding, tennis, and skiing, which she’d thought generous but now viewed as another attempt to mold her into someone he could tolerate being married to.

  “You look amazing.” His eyes dragged down her body.

  “So…do you want to swap details? About the job?” Hot blonde simpered up at him.

  “Use the contact form on the company website.” And just like that, he dismissed her.

  Two months ago, Lilly would have felt a jab of triumph in the moment, but now she only experienced a jolt of contempt for the nasty way he dismissed the other woman.

  He leaned in close, and she smelled vodka on his breath. “You’re the hottest fucking thing here.”

  “You got bored of your conquest, then? Came running back to me, tail between your legs?”

  His face grew pinched, and he pursed his lips. “Don’t be a bitch, Lil. Doesn’t suit you.”

  “I don’t know. I think it’s a long time coming. You can’t keep dumping me to go off with your latest fling.” She sighed and glanced down at the floor, before forcing herself to look back at him.

  “I’m going home. I need to rest. Jet lag’s killing me.” She smiled and kissed his cheek. She knew they needed to talk, that she had to end it once and for all, but now wasn’t the time. There’d be no second, or more like tenth, chance for Zach because she simply didn’t trust him with who and what she was.

  A hand grabbed her elbow, and she spun to see Missy, eyes alight. “Holy shit. I’ve seen the two hottest guys ever. I mean, amazingly hot. One of them desperately needs a haircut and a fashion consult, but damn, you don’t do the nasty with your clothes on.”

  Lilly glanced around the room, her heart rate picking up speed. Surely, it wouldn’t be. Couldn’t be.

  “You don’t get to come in here and act all high and mighty and then simply fuck off home. I came back for you.” Zach’s voice rose. “What about your texts when I first left? ‘Zach, don’t do this,’” he mimicked in a singsong voice. “‘Zach, not again. Don’t I mean more to you than this? Zach, I miss you.’ Blah, blah, blah. And now what? You’re suddenly over it? Over me? Over us?”

  “No, Zach. I’m not suddenly over it, as you put it. It hurts. But I’ve found some things out about myself these past few weeks, and I’m not going to be messed around by you anymore.”

  His eyes flashed, but he reined in his temper. “I won’t mess you around. I’m done with it. I’m a guy, Lil. You can’t expect me to marry my childhood sweetheart without having any other experience. But I swear to you, I’m done.”

  Those words would have soothed her soul a month ago. Before she knew she had her own flesh and blood to love her in the form of two sisters. Before she knew she could create fire with her hands and bring down huge men twice her size. Before she knew she’d have a home in Scotland or Wales, if she wanted it. Before she knew what incendiary sex felt like. Before she had a tentative plan about her future. She’d changed so much in a short span of time, there’d be no going back to the needy girl of a month ago.

  “And what if I’ve popped out three or four kids and my boobs are sagging and my stomach’s no longer taut, and you’re bored. Bored of the same woman every night. You going to stay faithful to me, then?” She didn’t bother to talk about the fact that she couldn’t have kids, which for someone like Zach, who wanted to ensure the family line, would probably be a deal-breaker.

  “Of course.” The words rolled off his tongue, glib, easy. A lie.

  She did something then. She looked into his eyes and held his gaze. And he shifted from one foot to the other. His gaze darted away from her, only to land back on her like an agitated insect.

  “So, if you swear to be faithful to me in the eyes of God, you intend to honor that vow?”

  “Of course.” His tone shifted, irritation there under the smooth words. And his heart rate picked up. His breathing increased too.

  He lied. She damn well nearly tasted it on the air. Oh God, she read him so easily. Like a book! Why hadn’t she discovered this talent years ago?

  “I’ve got to go. We’ll talk tomorrow.” She gave him a gentle smile and turned to leave.

  “What the fuck?” Zach’s angry voice echoed after her and stopped her in her tracks. He never got openly livid with her. Zach liked to use impatience and dismay and other subtler ways of getting her to do what he wanted. He never raised his voice to her in any real sense, but then, she supposed he’d never needed to.

  “I organized this party for you.”

  She turned to him, shrugged, and put her head to one side, regarding him. “No, Zach. You did this party for you. Like everything else in life. I’m tired and jet-lagged, and I’m going home.”

  “Not truly home, though, is it?” he sneered. People were watching them now, mouths agog, and some shithead helpfully turned the music down so they could be heard clearly.

  Not sure what he meant, she pivoted on her heel and walked on through the living room, hating the clack, clack, clack of her shoes echoing off the walls.

  “You’re a cuckoo in their nest. They wanted their own child but couldn’t conceive. Your mom’s fault, of course. Daddy has a real kid of his own hol
ed up in some apartment downtown. Your mom knows all about it. She keeps quiet because it doesn’t suit the family image. When they came home with you, people talked. Called you a gypsy because of how you look. Your weird accent.”

  She snapped then, her face burning, her heart breaking at the news her father had another child. A real child of his own. And she had been a cuckoo in their nest. She’d felt it all along. Only, Zach didn’t understand why. They’d clearly taken her in to shield her from any effects of her heritage catching up with her. Perhaps adopting her had been a favor, or maybe a duty. Who knew? And she determined there and then to find out who the people were who’d taken her and her sisters and parceled them out to strangers, and why they’d done so. But for now, she wanted out of this horrible party with the fake people who didn’t care for her one bit.

  “My accent is British, you utter arsehole, and has nothing to do with gypsies, not that it should matter if it did. And when you stop being a racist dick, you might wish to go and take a look in the mirror. You’ve some food on your lip.”

  Head high, she began to walk again. His voice once more rang out in the room.

  “You walk away now, and we’re done. And no one else will want you. You were my pity project. That, and you’re kind of hot when you’re not wearing weird shit. Although you’re boring in the sack, truth be told. But we can work on it.”

  As she neared the large glass doors leading outside, she couldn’t resist turning around and getting the last word in, as childish as it might be. “You’re useless in the sack, and you’ve got a tiny dick. You’re neither a grow-er nor a show-er.” Then she mimicked him and tacked on, “Truth be told,” before waggling her little finger at him and smirking. A few people around the room chuckled.

  Proud of her quip, and one calculated to hit close to the bone because he did have a hang-up about his dick, she walked out and past the glimmering pool. Footsteps sounded behind her, and she turned in time to see Zach running toward her.

  “You fucking bitch.” He shoved her hard, and she went flying forward, feet spinning from under her as she tripped on her stupid heels. Her hands shot out, but she couldn’t stop herself, and she went airborne.

  Ice-cold water hit and she gasped. Disoriented, she coughed and spluttered as she bobbed to the surface of Zach’s decidedly unheated pool.

  Humiliated, soaked, and choking, she treaded water as tears stung her eyes. A loud splash to the side of her, and her head whipped around. Callum!

  He swam to her and treaded water beside her. “Come on, Princess. It’s cold. Let’s get out of here.” She struck out for the edge of the pool, and Callum followed by her side, swimming with her. Once they reached the edge of the pool, Rhyndor reached down and hauled her out.

  Once they’d got her on the side, she spluttered and coughed some more. Nose running, eyes streaming, looking delightful, she was sure. Christ, it was freezing. Her teeth clattered, and Rhyndor immediately pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around her sodden shoulders.

  Zach paced up and down, fuming and raging to people around him. He seemed to be demanding someone come throw them out. Jesus, how much coke had the idiot done? Clearly on something more than just vodka, Zach was acting like a crazy person. He rarely did drugs, and the few times he had, he always swore would be the last.

  “That’s it, take a few deep breaths.” Rhyndor’s gorgeous gruff voice washed over her, and it felt like coming home. Oh God, how could it be so good to hear him when she’d known him mere days?

  Overwrought by it all, she started to cry in earnest, which only made the whole nose and eyes situation a million times worse. Someone handed her a napkin, and she turned bleary eyes up to see Missy smiling at her.

  “You sure know how to make a scene, babe.”

  She sniffed and giggled.

  “Who the fuck are you two rejects from the eighties, and how did you get onto my private property?” Zach stalked over with a few of his friends milling around him.

  Rhyndor pulled himself up to his full height, and Lilly struggled to follow suit. Zach might be off her Christmas card list for good, but she didn’t want to see him die a fiery death.

  “Oh, I’m scared. What are you going to do? Kill me with your hair? Or your bad dress sense?” Zach smirked.

  “I prefer to use my fists, but I can kill you with my hair if you so wish,” Rhyndor deadpanned.

  Callum stood and pulled Lilly to her feet. “You ought to shut your mouth, right now.” He cautioned Zach.

  “Oh, look, the other one speaks. Fuck me. Are you with one of these freaks?” Zach asked her.

  Callum smirked and nodded. “She’s with both of us.”

  Oh Lord. Please let the ground open up and swallow her right now. A collective gasp ran around the area.

  “Excuse me?” Zach’s face turned an unbecoming shade of red.

  “Way to go, girl.” Missy gave her a fist bump on the shoulder.

  “It’s not… We’re not together. They’re…” She ran out of steam. What the hell to say? And she’d kill Callum later. Why were they here?

  “I say go for it. They’re like some sort of extra-hot BOGO offer.” Missy giggled.

  “BOGO?” Her night grew more surreal by the passing second.

  “Buy one, get one free,” Missy snickered and nudged her in the ribs.

  “I want you two idiots to leave my property.” Zach pushed his way past a bemused-looking Rhyndor and grabbed her arm. “We need to talk, darling.” His fingers dug in, and she winced.

  The moment Zach touched her, Rhyndor’s expression changed, and he glowered.

  “Let go of her, right now.”

  “Fuck off.” Zach tossed over his shoulder as he tried to drag her away.

  All Zach’s jock friends were standing around, their stances aggressive, and she sensed a fight in the air.

  “Listen, Zach. I’d let go of my arm if I were you. We can talk tomorrow. I’m exhausted tonight and need to rest.”

  “I’m not letting you go with these guys. Jesus, babe. Look at them. You look old.” He gave Rhyndor a disgusted stare.

  “You have no idea.” Rhyndor grasped Zach by the neck and whispered low and deadly. “Let go of Lilly.”

  Zach scowled, but when Rhyndor applied more pressure, his eyes widened and he dropped her arm.

  “Right choice, kid.”

  “You fuck with him, you fuck with all of us.” Lee, Zach’s buddy and fellow Mr. Popular, flexed his biceps.

  Bigger than Zach, he didn’t seem intimidated. And why should he be? There must be twenty of them and only two of her guys. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the idea of the two men being hers in any way.

  Callum grabbed Lee and threw him into the pool with one arm, as if tossing a napkin aside. Then he dusted his hands off and looked around the group. “Anyone else?”

  Some big lunkhead, she had no idea of his name, charged at Callum with a roar. Callum put his hand out, palm straight up, and hit him dead center in the chest. The guy went down, wheezing.

  People started to step back. And then things went seriously downhill. A tall, skinny guy, one of Lee’s gang, came out of the house carrying a gun.

  “Take your hands off Zach, or I’ll shoot.” His hand shook slightly as he held the gun.

  Rhyndor rolled his eyes. “Kid, you shoot, and you’re more likely to kill Zach than me with the shaking you’ve got going on. I am about to let him go anyway, no need for the dramatics. We’re leaving.”

  “Not with Lilly.” Zach scrabbled at Rhyndor’s arm uselessly, his face turning an unflattering shade of red again.

  “Why do you care so much? You spend most of your time wanting a break so you can have fun with other women.” Her temper snapped, and her voice rose. “What’s wrong, babe? Can’t stand to see me having some fun in return?”

  “You’ve been with both these deadbeats?” Zach’s face went rigid, eyes narrowed. “I thought they were joking, but you’re telling me you’ve slept with two men. You know who
does that, Lilly? Sluts and whores.”

  Those words were his undoing.

  Rhyndor pushed him to the ground, and she gasped because it left him in clear line of sight of the guy holding the gun. Skinny arms shook as he kept the weapon aimed right at Rhyndor. The dragon didn’t glance at the threat. Instead, he stared down at Zach on the pavement.

  “You’re a slut and a whore, then. Because what else do you call a guy who spends two thousand dollars on three hookers for the night in Vegas, while his girl is home waiting for his call?”

  Tears flooded her eyes. She remembered the weekend. Zach said he fell asleep after too much booze and forgot to call, and she’d believed him.

  What if she’d caught something from him? Her skin crawled at the image of him paying for sex and coming back to her the next day.

  “All guys do it.” He looked from Rhyndor to her, and his tone turned pleading. “It’s a guy thing, babe. As if either of you have never done anything like it.”

  “Never,” Callum said with a self-satisfied grin. “Don’t need to pay for it.”

  “Lilly.” Rhyndor turned to her. “I’m sorry if my words hurt you. But you need to realize this boy will never make you happy. This isn’t about whether you choose us or not. It’s about not choosing him. He’s bad news. And I’d hate to see you waste your life on him. Do you want to come with us now? We will drop you home if you’d prefer.”

  She nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’ll come with you.”

  Rhyndor took her arm and led her out of the grounds of Zach’s home. She turned back one last time to look at the place she’d always viewed as her second home, and she wiped again at her cheek as more pesky tears fell.

  Rhyndor opened the door of a…what the fuck? She turned to them. “You guys drive a Maserati?”

  “He does.” Rhyndor jabbed a finger in Callum’s direction. “I’ve got a battered-up old Land Rover.”

  “No understanding of the finer things in life.” Callum rolled his eyes.

  She got into the back of the car, her mind whirring at all that had happened. Wow, but Zach’s mask had well and truly dropped this evening. She shuddered as she thought of being with the idiot long term.