by Jan Dockter
You’re fired.
The words tore a deep hole in her heart. She took shallow breaths to hold on against the pain in her body and soul. Steph wouldn’t give into the spiral of dark despair that Ryan abandoned her. She would hold on and survive.
Improvise, adapt, overcome.
Yeah. And when she caught up with Ryan Kaur again, he’d find out his stupidity in flying off without her.
A woman in light blue scrubs with a stethoscope hanging off her neck pulled the curtain around the bed.
“I’m Doctor Matthews, Ms. Brooks. How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” said Stephanie succinctly.
“I can imagine. Three cracked ribs, multiple bruises. No clear breaks though. Let me check a couple things.” The doctor took out a pencil thin flashlight from her pocket and flashed it in Steph’s eyes. She then asked Steph to hold out her arms and touch her nose. Steph was no stranger to these tests. Any Marine in a combat zone got similar screening by a medic after a bomb blast. And the Marines taught her to self-assess her fitness level. She was sore and had flashes of pain in her side but she was okay.
“What’s the verdict, doc?”
“For what you’ve been through you are in good shape.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you have someone to watch you tonight?”
“Yes,” said a voice from the doorway.
Both the doctor and Steph shot looks in that direction. A blond-haired man dressed in a close-cut Italian suit stood in the doorframe. His neutral expression betrayed no warmth, just cool efficiency.
“I’m Jared Harrison and I work for the same firm as Ms. Brooks. They sent me here to take her home.”
The doctor studied Jared Harrison but apparently decided he was okay. Maybe it was the suit. Or the otherwise nondescript expression on his face. He looked normal.
But working for Mr. Watins, a man who adopted out dragon babies, she had an inkling he wasn’t that.
“She shouldn’t be alone tonight,” said the doctor. “Someone needs to wake her every hour.”
“We’ve booked a private duty nurse for Ms. Brooks. Nothing is too good for our associates.”
“It’s up to you, Ms. Brooks,” said the doctor. “You can stay overnight for observation or go home.”
Steph cast another glance at Jared who impassively waited for her answer. It surprised her that Mr. Watins sent him, especially since she could not reach Mr. Watins or Jared by phone. And now they hired a private duty nurse? This was extraordinary and Steph’s inner warning radar blared. She was a first-year associate, the lowest of the low, and they do that? In any other universe that would make no sense at all.
But in a world where dragons existed and were the clients of a high-end law firm? How could she disbelieve anything now?
Steph decided that she was too rattled by the events of the past two days to make judgments on anything. She had been handed an impossible assignment, involved in not one but two car crashes, met a dragon and then went to bed with him. Sure. It was perfectly normal for her law firm to hire her a private duty nurse.
Jared gave no hint or clue to his thoughts in his expression, and the doctor was waiting for her answer. If she left, Ryan wouldn’t know where she went. But then he did fire her, didn’t he?
“I’ll go home.”
“Fine, I’ll write the orders and send a nurse in to remove the IV’s. Then you can get dressed.
“Thanks,” said Steph.
“I’ll wait in the hall,” said Jared.
It took an hour before she was ready to leave. But she was glad to be wearing her own, or rather, Mrs. Kaurs’ clothes, and exiting the hospital. Jared opened the door for her to a limousine. She glanced uncertainly at Jared.
“A limo? Seriously?”
“You’ve had a difficult couple days. We want to make sure you return home with as little stress as possible.”
“Very considerate,” She said, “but I’m not worth all this attention.”
“I’m following Mr. Watins instructions, Ms. Brooks. He is deeply regretful he sent you into a dangerous situation. That was not his intention.”
“Oh,” said Steph settling into the back of the limo. What did Mr. Watins think when he sent her to babysit a dragon? A petulant man-child dragon at that. Did Mr. Watins think she'd sue the firm? Crazy. Career suicide. No. Stephanie Brooks did not sue employers.
“Would you like something to drink?” asked Jared.
“No. Thanks.”
“Lunch?”
The thought of food made her queasy.
“No. Thanks.”
Jared sat back in the leather seats of the limo.
“Have you’ve been working for Mr. Watins long?” asked Steph.
“Since graduating law school,” he replied.
The answer didn't help Steph place the man's age. Jared had a nondescript face where he could be in twenties or thirties.
“I graduated last year,” she offered.
“Yes,” said Jared stiffly. “I work with Mr. Watins on selecting the new associates.”
“What was the tipping point,” she asked. “I mean, I had a good grade point average, but my school wasn’t on the order of Harvard or Columbia.”
“Not all hires are on the basis of their school affiliations or grades,” said Jared neutrally.
“So what was it?”
“You should talk to Mr. Watins about that.”
Steph pursed her lips. “I see. Well, I hoped to get enough experience so that I could practice trial law. But my supervisor told me that once Mr. Watins selected someone for special assignments, they would be working exclusively for him.”
“Supervisor?”
“Darcy Meara.”
Jared sucked air through his mouth with a look of disapproval. It was the most expression she saw from him so far.
“She shouldn’t have said that,” said Jared.
“So, it’s not true then? And I’ll go back to the pit?”
“You've not finished your assignment with Ryan Ms. Brooks.”
“I don’t see how that’s possible. He left and made his desire known he didn’t want to see me anymore.”
“You should discuss this with Mr. Watins.”
She was tired of hearing this. Steph became determined to get answers. “Then take me to Mr. Watins.”
“Those are not my instructions.”
“Look, Mr. Harrison. I’m a trained soldier and if I wanted to I could go deep to ground. Do you understand?”
“You were in the artillery unit.”
“Which requires camouflage. And I was especially good at that. So you can forget my assignment with Ryan Kaur if you don’t take me to see him right now.” Steph's jaw tightened as she projected resolve she did not feel. She wasn't entirely sure about her ability to evade a large law firm with deep pockets and plenty of connections. However, she grew tired of Watins and crew pushing her into actions she didn’t want to take.
“You are making a mistake, Ms. Brooks,” said Jared.
“It’s mine to make.”
“Quite so,” he replied looking away. He took out his phone and punched at it with his fingers.
But instead of heading into the office, they continued through the countryside. When they pulled into a long gravel lined driveway, she realized with a shock she returned to Ryan’s house.
“What is this?” demanded Steph.
“What you wanted. Meeting Mr. Watins. At this moment, he is conferring with his client, Ivan Kaur.” The limo stopped and Jared got out and pointed to the front door.
“Mr. Kaur is waiting for you,” he said blandly.
With her jaw set and muttering curse words she walked the steps to the front door and pressed the doorbell. A butler greeted her. He led her to the study where Steph had met the elder Mr. Kaur yesterday. Ryan’s father stood behind his desk with an unhappy expression on his face. Mr. Watins sat in a leather chair before the desk. He turned when the study’s doors opened. Both men’s eye
s were on her and she balled her fists as her side.
Two powerful and rich men had more say over her life than she did.
Steph didn’t like it one bit.
“Ah, Ms. Brooks,” said Mr. Watins. “Take a seat.” He patted the leather chair next to his.
“Thank you, I’ll stand.”
“Sit,” he said more firmly. “We have matters to discuss.”
Steph stepped forward though every instinct told her to flee. This was a mistake.
She sat in the chair.
“I was telling Mr. Kaur that you have an unusual relationship with Ryan.”
“Oh,” said Steph.
“Yes. You do not know this but you have abilities that most people do not. You are part of ancient race, the seneschals. These humans can speak telepathically to dragons.”
“Oh, I know,” said Steph coldly. “And is this why you hired me?”
“Yes.”
“So you could pair me with one of your clients’ dragon children?”
"I told you, Ivan, that Steph would be a tremendous asset.”
“What do you mean, pair?” said Mr. Kaur.
“As Steph has undoubtedly found out, the bond between seneschal and dragon is strong. The seneschals act as intermediaries between dragons and humans. In a successful pairing the seneschal has great influence over the dragon, helps him to perceive matters in a more human centric way.”
“And you want me to influence Ryan Kaur how?” Steph spoke these words coldly.
“Well, what his father wants for him, to settle into the role of heir of Kaur Industries, to become the successor that Ivan here always wanted.”
“So you can pull the puppet strings?” asked Steph.
“Come now. It’s not as bad as that. We want to make sure that any weapons that Kaur Industries develops can’t seriously injure dragons. We also want to see the research the government has on dragons.”
“What you are talking about is treason,” said Steph indignantly.
“Come now, Ms. Brooks. Technically, no. You should know this. We are not doing these things as agents of a foreign power."
He was right. But that made no difference to Stephanie. “No. Just against the interests of our country.”
“Please, Ms. Brooks. We live in a multinational world. The concerns of one nation is not more important than the rest.”
“No. The interests of your client is paramount whether or not they mesh with the nation's.”
“Quite so,” her employer said. “And your client as well. You are part of the firm, Ms. Brooks.”
“Am I?” said Stephanie. “Let's fix that. I quit.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ryan
“May I enter?” said a feminine voice.
Ryan turned from his examination to see a woman that looked like a younger carbon copy of the queen of the dragons.
“Hello,” said Ryan.
The woman smiled. “It is nice to meet you, brother.”
“I guess that isn’t a surprise. You look exactly like the queen. What’s your name?”
“Reanne.”
“Reanne. Not Princess Reanne?”
She shook her head and laughed.
“Here among our kind such titles do not exist.”
“I guess I’m disappointed then. I expected the title Prince Ryan. Though I kinda expected it since we have a queen.”
“Queen more designates her role as the progenitor of dragons. Female horses are mares, chickens, hens, and--"
“Female dragons are queens.”
“Yes, the ones that procreate.”
“I see,” said Ryan.
"We give her respect because she is eldest among us and created most of us.”
“In giving her respect, I assume that means she leads you?”
Reanne dipped her head and her smile fell.
“Yes. She is our leader, though we are many throughout the world, though here the dragons are extremely loyal.”
“I imagine. Still, I get that she has influence in many corners of the globe.”
“What do you mean?
“She placed her dragon children with the families of the rich.”
Reanne bit her lip. “You are correct in that you are not alone.”
“And why did she do this?”
“For the same reason she takes any action. To protect us.”
“Because the more dragons in positions of power, the more influence she has to direct the course of events?”
“Yes.”
“And those of us out there, who don’t know who we are, who suffer from a sense of being incomplete all of their lives—this does not concern her?”
“She expects the dragons will return home eventually and learn their heritage.”
“And expects us to embrace it?”
“She sees no other outcome.”
“Rhea could be wrong there.”
Reanne put her hand on Ryan’s arm. “It is not good to challenge our mother. Not only is she powerful, she has the support of many strong dragons.”
“Yes, Calvin warned me I am one of many and that Rhea does not have a human women’s maternal instincts.”
“I don’t understand.”
Ryan studied Reanne’s face and saw she did not. How would it be different to grow up among dragons? To accept attitudes not human as utterly normal?
“That she has no compunction against killing one of her own.”
“She can do worse, Ryan. You do not want her to lock you in a room with iron bracers upon your wrists preventing you from changing your true form.”
Reanne laid a bundle she carried and put it on the bed.
“I brought clothes for you to wear at dinner. Later Calvin will come and show you the palace and introduce you to those that live here. We have many female dragons in residence, especially now during the mating season. You might find one or two of them pleasing. That would make mother happy.”
Reanne gave him one last smile before leaving his room while Ryan stood in shock over the casual mention of mating season. Did the dragon queen expect him to mate with a female dragon?
He was totally out of his depth here. Though he was dragon, as his transformation attested, he did not know what being a dragon meant. What did this dragon queen expect of him?
“You’re not dressed,” said a rough voice from behind him.
Ryan turned lighting fast toward the voice to find Calvin standing inside his doorway.
“Does anyone knock here?
“You are the only one here that does not sense the approach of other dragons.” Calvin spoke simply but to Ryan it sounded like a rebuke.
“You are correct,” said Calvin responding to Ryan’s thought. “But I do not criticize you. But you should dress for dinner, young dragon.”
“This,” he said pulling the robe up by the collar, “is dinner dress?”
“Yes, and for later.”
“And what’s after?”
“You’ll find out,” said Calvin cryptically.
Ryan kept his back to the dragon shifter as he stripped his clothes and threw on the dark floor length robe. He turned and faced Calvin.
“How’s this?”
“It will do,” he said with sarcasm in his voice. “Come along, young dragon. And mind your tongue. The queen isn’t as forgiving as I am.”
Ryan followed Calvin through the intricate hallways of the palace. Each wall had an elaborate mural painted on it depicting dragons and humans. There were scenes of bloody conflicts, dragons with their heads severed from their bodies by enterprising human warriors, and dragons burning villages and towns. Ryan stopped in front of one where a dragon was on top of a woman whose face drawn in terror.
Calvin picked at his arm.
“Come along,” he said.
“Is this,” said Ryan, “how dragons see humans? As creatures to prey upon?”
“The relationship with humans is complex,” said Calvin.
“Look, I get that you are a
man, er, dragon of a few words, Calvin. But my head is ready to explode here.”
“This was how it was before, young dragon. We are the elder race and our kind watched the rise of humans from beast to sentience. And for a long while we lived in harmony with the younger race.”
“How?”
“As their teachers and masters. We taught them to mine the riches of the earth and they repaid us for our help by tithing what they mined. But humans turned greedy and wanted all they mined and this caused conflict for many centuries. We created the seneschals as a bridge between dragon and human and for a while it worked.”
“And why did that change?”
“Another time young dragon. We are here.”
They entered a huge cavern that was lit with hundreds of candles. The walls were white washed and double row of widely spaced and gilded columns ran from one end of the cave to the other. A long table covered in linens dominated the center of the room overshadowed only by another one set perpendicular to one where Rhea Gentrix sat.
Other dragons in human form gathered in groups throughout the cavern.
“Ah, here is he is,” called Rhea. “My citizen, let me introduce my son, Ryan, the first of the resettled children to return home.”
Immediately every eye was on him, but contained few welcoming glances. The women examined him with cool calculation. Men moved protectively to the women they stood next to.
“Tough crowd,” he muttered
“Be careful of what you say,” said Calvin. “All dragons have your hearing or better.”
“Good to know,” said Ryan. He raised his hand. “Nice to meet all of you.”
“Come, Ryan,” said Rhea. “Sit next to me and we shall talk. And everyone, let us eat.”
Servants poured out from doorways on the right-hand side of the cavern bearing plates of food as Ryan settled in the left-hand chair next to the dragon queen. Calvin sat on the right hand of the queen while Reanne came to sit next to Ryan on his left. Reanne gave him a quick glance but her eyes held an unhappy look.
“I’m glad you’ve met Reanne. You should get to know her better seeing you have much in common.”
“Like you are our mother?"
“Ryan, I have told you,” said Rhea with her lips curled in disapproval. “That is a human term. I am your progenitor, yes. But dragons view this matter differently than humans. But I forgive you. Living among humans you naturally have human ideas on many subjects. I hope we can disabuse you of those. We want you to be a full member of our community, don’t we, Reanne?”