Heart of a Fighter

by Grace Brennan

  An image of Alex, struggling in a massive dragon’s talon before being tossed inside the dragon’s open maw formed in her mind. Letting out a string of curses, she slammed her eyes shut and flopped onto her back in the grass, uncaring of the dew quickly seeping through her shirt and chilling her skin.

  No. That couldn’t be Alex’s destiny, and it was more than likely to be if she claimed him. And as much as she longed to ignore her dragon’s certainty about him being her mate, as much as she wanted to tell herself her dragon was mistaken, she couldn’t. A shifter’s animal was never wrong about who their mate was. If her animal said Alex was hers, then he was.

  But there was no rule saying she had to do anything about it. Resolve filled her as she ignored her dragon’s roar of disapproval. She could do that. She was strong enough. She’d trained herself to be as strong as she could be over the years, mentally and physically. She never imagined she’d need to use it for this scenario, but it would come in handy. More than handy, it would be a lifesaver. Alex’s lifesaver.

  Alex rushed after Cammie, but by the time he got to the barn door, there was no sign of her. Cursing, he turned back and walked to the punching bag, hitting it in frustration, and dodging when it swung back at him. He didn’t know what went wrong. He’d been enjoying the best kiss of his life, and he was sure it had been, even without a memory to back it up. The feelings rushing through him as his lips caressed hers felt too new, too raw and potent, to have happened before.

  He thought she was just as into it as he was. Hell, he knew she’d been. So he didn’t know what changed, what went through her mind to have her pull away and run from him like she had. And it was just a wild guess, but he didn’t think she’d be open to letting him in on what happened any time soon.

  She thought their kiss was a mistake, and something inside him writhed in pain at the thought. He’d become so quickly attached to her. It felt right, down to his soul, so he didn’t question the how’s or why’s of it happening so fast. It just was. And he couldn’t imagine she didn’t feel it, too. Judging by how fast she ran, he was sure she did.

  So there was something else in play here. She was a strong woman, mentally and physically. For something to make her run like she did, it had to be big. Something to do with the past she hid, and the way she freaked out when unknown shifters showed up. Someone was looking for her, and whatever they wanted her for, it couldn’t be good. It was nothing more than a guess, but it resonated within him, ringing true.

  Swearing out a string of curses, he flung himself away from the bag and started pacing. He felt powerless and ineffectual, and he hated it. He wanted to be able to protect her, but he didn’t know where to start, not when he didn’t know what was going on.

  “What the hell happened to make Cammie run out of here like the barn was on fire? I like you, Alex, but I’ll kick your ass if you bothered or hurt her in any way.”

  Hooking his hands on his hips, he stopped pacing and looked at Seth, taking in the muscle ticking in his jaw and the glare in his brown eyes. The other man had a more serious expression on his face than Alex had seen before, and he knew Seth meant it.

  “I don’t even know, man. Everything was fine one minute, and she was running the next.”

  Seth watched him with narrowed eyes for a moment longer, and then the tension eased from his shoulders and the glare faded from his eyes. “She’s a complicated woman. She doesn’t let many get close to her, so don’t take offense if she pushes you away.”

  “I’m not. I knew from the beginning she didn’t let anyone but you guys get close. It’s the push and pull that’s wearing on me, I guess. One minute I think we’re making progress and the next she’s running like she just did.”

  Seth strolled into the room, his usual good-natured expression back in place. “I have no advice for you on that. Just keep trying and eventually, you’ll wear her down. The fact that you’re trying shows superb judgment. They don’t come any better than Cammie.”

  “Yeah, I get that. I don’t know what, or who, was in my past, but I know in my gut she’s one of a kind. Do you think you’d have time to really train me some this week?”

  Seth boomed out a laugh and clapped him hard on the shoulder. “Gonna win her over with fighting, huh? I guess you can’t go wrong with that. Yeah, sure, I’ve got free time this week. You ready to get started now?”

  Alex nodded, turning to grab the hand wraps so Seth could help him with them. He didn’t bother correcting Seth about his reasons for wanting to learn how to fight for real now. Besides, they weren’t completely untrue. If learning to fight made him more attractive in her eyes, he’d take it. He had a feeling he was going to need all the help he could get.

  Chapter Five

  “What was that about?”

  Cammie let out a curse, nearly cutting her fingers off instead of slicing the carrot. “Dammit, give me a little warning when I’m chopping stuff with a knife, would ya?”

  Ian snorted, pushing off the doorframe and wandering into the kitchen. “Your instincts are slipping, Cam. None of us could ever get the drop on you, but you didn’t even hear me come in the house, did you?”

  Frowning, she looked away from him and concentrated on what she was making for dinner. “I’ve had a lot on my mind. You know that.”

  “And I have a sneaking suspicion the lot on your mind is a man named Alex, not the guys from last night,” he replied, coming to a stop beside her and casually resting his hip on the counter.

  “Is there a point to this? I’m trying to get dinner in the oven,” she said, scowling at her hands as they chopped.

  “Yeah, and we still have three hours until dinner time. Looks more like busy work to me. I told you last night I was going to come back to why you didn’t want to be near him. And the way you ran from the barn this morning has me even more curious. What’s going on?”

  Blowing out a breath, she stopped chopping and locked her arms against the counter. She was unable to do more than shake her head as she bowed it. She didn’t want to talk to anyone about this. Didn’t want to say the words out loud. They’d make it even more real if she did.

  “Cammie, talk to me,” Ian said in a voice softer than she’d ever heard it before, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  Putting down the knife, she picked up a rag and wiped her hands off as she turned around and leaned against the counter. She didn’t even know where to begin, but she supposed she did need to talk to someone, and she was closest to Ian.

  “I’ve been attracted to Alex from the beginning,” she started softly, twisting the rag in her hands. “I’ve been trying to avoid him, because what could come of it? We still don’t know anything about him. Why he’s here, why he was looking for us. Whether…” she trailed off for a moment, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Whether he has anyone waiting on him at home.”

  “A wife and family, you mean,” he answered in understanding.

  “Yes. And even if there’s no one, it still can’t go anywhere. My life isn’t normal, or stable. So I was trying to stay away from him, because the more time I spend with him, the more drawn to him I am. That’s why I didn’t want to stay close to him last night.”

  “And this morning? What happened then?”

  Pausing, she exhaled heavily. “We… well, we kissed. And then my dragon said… my dragon called him my mate.”

  Silence filled the room, and she nervously twisted the rag around her hand as she waited on his reaction.

  “You found your mate?” he replied as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Congratulations, Cammie.”

  Shrugging his arm off, she turned to face him, placing her hands on her hips. “Did you not hear anything I just said, Ian?”

  He nodded calmly. “I did. I also know how precious a mate is. A true mate. We don’t always find them, you know. Don’t take it so lightly.”

  “Does it look like I’m taking it lightly?” she said, throwing her hands up in frustration.

&nbs
p; “Wrong choice of words, maybe, but the sentiment is the same. Don’t blow this off. We only get one shot at a mate in our lifetime.”

  “I know that. Believe me, I do. But how can I bring an innocent into the mess my life is? And a human at that. Being what I am, I could get him killed.”

  “Or he could be strong enough to handle what your life is, and willing to take the risk. You’re right, we don’t know much about Alex, but he doesn’t strike me as a coward.”

  “Strong on the inside doesn’t equal strong on the outside. He wouldn’t stand a chance if he went up against a dragon, and you and I both know my kind wouldn’t respect the rules about mated pairs when the mate is a human.”

  “I can’t tell you what to do here, Cammie,” he said as he pushed off the counter. “But living your life in what ifs is no way to live. And even if it were, think of the other side of the coin. What if the dragons never find you? What if you and Alex can live out a long and happy life together? Don’t make any rash decisions. Really think about it.”

  She watched in silence as he walked out of the kitchen, still feeling as conflicted as she did when she started talking to him. Even if she wanted to live her life on the happier side of the what if coin, she couldn’t do that to Alex. She could risk herself like that, but not him.

  Shaking her head, feeling sick at the thought of denying Alex, and depriving her dragon of her mate, she turned around to finish chopping vegetables. Such a mundane thing to do when it felt like her life was crashing down around her ears like a house of cards. But nothing had changed. She might be drowning in sorrow at the knowledge that she was losing her mate before she ever really had him, but life went on, and all she could do was go along with it.

  Alex threw himself down on his bed after his shower, his body exhausted, but his mind going around in circles. Cammie was still avoiding him. She’d made herself scarce all day, only showing up for dinner, and leaving the table before anyone else finished eating. He was going to wait for her, but she never came back downstairs, and the guys had quietly cleaned up the dishes and put the leftovers away.

  He didn’t know what to do next. He couldn’t force her to talk to him, and it was clear she wasn’t going to give him the chance to try. If only he knew what was making her hesitate. If he could figure that out, he could start making a plan, take some action. But without knowing what was going on, he was helpless to make any headway with her.

  Maybe not completely helpless. He thought back to the kiss they shared this morning, his dick immediately hardening at the memory. His body felt like it was coming apart as they kissed, desire overwhelming him, and there was no way she hadn’t felt it, too.

  Sitting up, he ran his fingers through his hair, thinking on that for a moment. Maybe that was it. Play up on the attraction she had for him. He wanted to know her, all of her and not just her body, but he’d use that if he had to, to get what he ultimately wanted. He just had to get her alone. No small feat, if the way she avoided him all day was any indication, but he was determined. He wasn’t just giving up on her.

  His body stiffened and his hands started trembling moments before the room around him faded out of view, and a new scene took its place.

  “Hey, baby,” he said, walking up behind Cammie. “What do you think?”

  “It’s beautiful,” she said softly, leaning back against his chest. “I hate to admit Seth is ever good at anything, but the house he built us is perfect. I can’t wait to start our lives in there.”

  “It’s a good place to start our new family,” he agreed, wrapping his arms around her and resting his hands on her growing belly as he looked at their new home over her shoulder.

  “It’s still hard to believe,” she said softly, resting her hands over his. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel real. Like I’m dreaming. I get to keep you, forever, and now we have a little fire breather on the way. I never thought I’d get so lucky.”

  He reached down and placed a soft kiss on her neck, smiling when she shivered in reaction. “Believe it, sweetheart. This is real, and we get to keep this forever. I love you, Camilla.”

  She turned around, pressing as close to him as her pregnant belly would allow. “And I love you, mate.”

  Alex heaved for breath as the scene faded and the room was abruptly back in focus. Fuck, he was losing his mind. He stood up from the bed, stumbling as vertigo slammed into him for a moment. Steadying himself, he paced around the room, mind racing.

  Maybe he was having intense daydreams. Because that’s all that could be. Nothing else made sense. But that still didn’t explain the one before this, because why the hell he’d daydream about that, he’d never know. He didn’t know what else it could be, though.

  His racing heart slowly calmed down as he worked on taking steadying breaths. He thought back over the daydream and felt his lips curl up. It was basically wish fulfillment to a T, but it was a beautiful dream. Him and Cammie, moving into their own home, in love with a baby on the way. Nothing would make him happier than what his mind had dreamed up.

  The smile slowly faded from his face and a frown took its place as he replayed the dream over. Some parts of it made no sense. He called her Camilla, and he didn’t think anyone had ever called her that in front of him. He didn’t even know if it was her real name or not. And the bits about her calling their baby a fire breather, and calling him mate. He had no idea where to begin figuring those out, or why his mind would place stuff like that in his dream.

  If it even was a dream. But it had to be, right?

  Exhaling heavily, he sat on the edge of the bed, slumped over with his elbows planted on his knees. Nothing was making sense, and he rubbed his temples with his fingers as he thought through it all again. It was useless, though. Both times this happened were out of the blue and filled with unrecognizable nonsense.

  Except the part about him getting to be with Cammie forever. That wasn’t nonsense. That was everything he could ever dream and hope for come true.

  Chapter Six

  “No, no, no! What are you doing, you stupid thing?” Cammie asked in frustration as she banged her fingers futilely on the keyboard.

  She glared at the blank computer screen. She’d been halfway through an exam for one of her online courses when the screen suddenly flickered and went black. She tried everything she knew to do, but nothing fixed whatever was happening. She was screwed, because she was the only one in the house who knew anything about computers, so if she couldn’t fix it, no one here could. She’d have to take it to a repair shop, and she couldn’t afford the lost time.

  “Need some help?”

  Closing her eyes, she suppressed her groan. She’d successfully avoided Alex for two days now, but it looked like her reprieve was at an end.

  Standing up from the desk, she gestured him forward. “I’ve tried everything and it didn’t work, but if you think you can do better, please, be my guest.”

  Lips quirking at her sarcasm, he took her empty seat. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. It was working fine, and then the screen flickered and went black.”

  She watched as he put his fingers to the keys and started typing out commands. She moved closer, staring in fascination as the codes he was inputting raced across the screen, his fingers moving faster than she could keep up. Within moments, the webpage her test was on popped up, and Alex was sitting back in the chair in satisfaction.

  “How the hell did you do that? More importantly, how did you know to do that?”

  He frowned, cocking his head. “I don’t know. I didn’t think about what I was doing when I sat down, I just seemed to know instinctively what to do. Maybe that’s what I do for a living, or something.”

  Stepping back so he could stand up, she searched his face, but the truth was there in his voice. He really didn’t know how he did that, it just came naturally to him. Whatever the reason, she was grateful he was able to fix her computer.

  “Thanks. I was panicking there for a minute. I have a deadlin
e I have to meet.”

  He glanced over at the screen. “Are you taking online classes?”

  “Yeah, and I was in the middle of an exam when it acted up. I didn’t want to turn the test in late.”

  “What degree are you going for?”

  “I’m going to be a CPA.”

  He blinked at her in surprise before laughing. “An accountant, huh? Just try to stay out of prison while you’re at it.”

  “I’ll do my best,” she replied, laughing with him.

  He looked at her closely her as his smile slowly faded. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

  Freezing at the change in subject, she looked at him in silence for a moment while she tried to decide on what to say. “I just want to avoid a repeat of what happened last time we were together.”

  Moving closer to her, he studied her face intently. “Do you really, though? You seemed to enjoy it in the moment.”

  She swallowed hard as he stopped in front of her, close enough for her to feel the heat of his body. “It doesn’t matter if I enjoyed it. What matters is that it was a bad idea.”

  He reached a hand up and brushed his fingers down her cheek. She couldn’t help closing her eyes at the warmth spreading through her body, she and her dragon both reveling in the touch. Her animal had been in turns unmanageable and sulky since Cammie last left Alex, but now she was content, basking in the warmth he always brought them when he touched her.

  “I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Something that feels so good, so right, can’t be bad,” he said huskily, bringing her attention back to the moment.