by Lia Davis
Not able to fully trust the dragon, she’d spied on him for years. Something about him didn’t sit right. Of course, Garrick was a charmer and easy on the eyes, but there was a darkness surrounding him. His obsession with his brothers only added to her suspicions.
Ash had decided to get to the bottom of the obsession and see what it was about the other five dragons that had Garrick shaking in his undies.
Her phone rang and she glanced at the screen and groaned when she saw it was Garrick. Fucking great. What now?
“Your Imperials are weak,” she said in greeting.
“Hello to you too, love.”
His arrogant tone rubbed her nerves raw and she took a deep breath to try to calm herself. “You underestimated your brothers.”
That got his attention. Ash smiled as Garrick growled through the phone. “I do not acknowledge them as kin of mine. I didn’t underestimate anyone. You did.”
“Me? I told you to send me your best. I set up a distraction. The females were alone. You’d think your demi-gods in full possession of their powers could capture them.” Ash was fuming. It was so like him to push the blame on her.
“Yes, however, they are five dragons and can communicate telepathically.”
“I know. I’m not stupid.”
“I never said you were.” He fell silent for a moment before asking, “What is your next move, huntress?”
“I’m working on it.”
After shutting off her phone before he could reply to her tart words, she shoved the thing into her back packet. What she needed was more information on the Sons of War and she knew just how to get it.
****
Gwen sat on the sofa and sifted through her father’s notes while Markus and his brothers discussed the attacks. There was more growling going on than talking, although she tried to block out most of their conversation. It was all so surreal—being protected by the same creatures that killed her father.
Well not the same dragon. Just the same species.
Lifting her gaze, she watched Markus pace in front of the others. His larger frame stalked gracefully and powerfully back and forth across the living room floor. His short, black hair stood on ends from the multiple times he’d run his hands through it. It made him look sexier. Like he just rolled out of bed. How would it feel to run her fingers through the dark strands?
As if sensing her attention, Markus stopped. Her cheeks warmed at his steady regard, and she returned her attention to the lockbox. A photo peeking out from under a small leather bound notebook caught her attention. Picking it up, she sucked in a breath and started to tremble.
“What is it?” Markus knelt in front of her in an instant.
Gwen turned the picture around to show him. “This is the man who killed my father.”
Markus worked his jaw as if he were clenching his teeth together and took the photo. Removing the notebook, she found several more photos beneath it. Some of Markus and his brothers, some of her father, and one of that man and her father together, smiling like they were friends.
Her vision blurred. Half-blinded by anger and grief, she passed the photo to Markus. “My father knew him. I don’t understand. Is that you brother?”
Markus studied the picture, brows drawn together. “Yes. That man with your father is Garrick.”
“Why would my father be with him, smiling like they were BFFs?” A tremor passed through her, leaving her cold and confused. Why would her father get involved with someone like Garrick? She wouldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe it.
Markus laid the picture down, gripped her hands, and held them. “Garrick is very convincing. It is possible your father didn’t know who or what he was when this picture was taken.”
None of this made sense to her. “The night my parents were killed, there were three men, Garrick being one of them. They were searching the house for something. Do you know what they were looking for? Why he killed my parents?”
Markus squeezed her hands gently and took a deep breath. “Garrick is building an army of descendants and plans to wage war against the gods.”
Her heart sank. “My father would had never got involved with anything like that.”
Zavier spoke next from the chair next to her. “Tom must have found out and turned on Garrick. It’s could be why Garrick killed him.”
Gwen agreed with Zavier’s logic. There was no way her father would associate with someone like Garrick if he knew his true purpose. Yet, she couldn’t dismiss the evidence inside the box on her lap—the notes about the gods, the descendants, Garrick and the other Sons of War. It pointed to the possibility that her father worked with or under Garrick’s command at one time.
The feel of the box being lifted out of her lap brought her out of the disturbing thoughts. She met Markus’s midnight blue eyes as he closed the lockbox and set it on the sofa next to her. Then he stood, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. “Where are we going?”
“For a walk.”
Images of the hot-as-hell kiss the night before flashed in her mind. Her pulse kicked up and she started to pull away from Markus when he leaned in and whispered in her ear. “I’ll behave.”
Pressing her lips together to keep from smiling, she studied him for a moment, then shook her head. “I’ll hold you to that.”
A low chuckle served as his answer. He led her from the living room, then out the large kitchen to a door that opened to the side yard. The cool, salty, night air hit her. Overhead stars glittered against the sky like diamonds on a black canvas. “It’s a beautiful night.”
“Yes. Are you cold?”
Gwen shook her head. Her heart stilled for a brief moment as they stopped a foot away from the edge. It was too dark for her to see where she was going. Fear at the lack of control sparked a small panic attack. She took deep breaths to try to calm herself, but it was no use. Damn it, she should be past this. In fact, she thought she’d been coping well until those descendants showed up at her house and she saw Markus in dragon form.
The combination had thrust her into the past, left her watching helplessly as her father burned to death. His screams still haunted her.
“Gwen.”
Markus’s cool, commanding tone brought her back to the present. He cradled her face in his hands, but she couldn’t make out his eyes in the shadows. Suddenly, specks of blue appeared and seemed to glow as they grew larger until the lighter blue drowned out the darker color before they transformed into the eyes of Markus’s dragon. Unlike the first time she saw the change, she didn’t fear it. Instead, the sight calmed her.
“Gwen,” Markus said again. This time it was huskier, almost a growl.
“I’m here. Do you always growl?”
Another lower, sexier sounding, rumble came from him, making her shiver. “Yes. Why did you have another attack?”
Even though he spoke softly, she heard the undercurrent of a demand in his tone. Needing some space, she stepped away from him only to have him wrap an arm around her waist and jerk her into his hard, too hot body. Surprised, she grabbed his biceps. “Hey.”
“We’re close to the edge.” He whispered in her ear, his lips brushing against her lobe and making her shiver. “Look down.”
She did and gasped. They were about a foot away from where the cliff fell away, but that wasn’t what stole her breath. The village below was lit up. The streetlights mapped out the town’s layout perfectly from this height. The docks were alive with boats coming and going.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I love to sit along the edge of the cliff and just watch. They’re good people.”
Gwen’s heart warmed at his offer of a private thought, and an endearing confession. Trust. “I have the power of persuasion.” It wasn’t the best of confessions, but it was her only secret.
Markus stilled and she could feel his gaze on her. “Who knows of your power?”
“Just Elle and my parents. I haven’t used it since high school.”
“You have con
trol over it, then?”
Fear crept back within her and she stepped back. “Yes. Why do you ask?”
When he reached for her, she jerked away and lost her footing. The earth collapsed under her and she screamed as she began to fall. In the next instant, she was cradled against Markus’s chest.
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she pressed her head to his chest, and allowed the rapid thump, thump of his heart to sooth her own racing pulse.
Markus kissed her temple. “I’m sorry. You mustn’t be afraid of me. I could never harm you, even if I wanted to.”
What? Wait, did he want to hurt her, or was it something else entirely? “What are you saying?”
“You’re my mate.”
The words were spoken so low, she almost missed them. Was he serious? His mate. She shook her head. “I can’t. I mean, I don’t know you.”
“Not yet. But you can’t stop the mating once it’s begun.”
Still shaking her head, unable to grasp what he was saying, she stared at him. She couldn’t mate a dragon. She knew nothing about him.
You could get to know him.
The words sounded like a whisper in the breeze, startling Gwen. Jerking her head up, she searched their dark surroundings. “Is there someone here? A woman?”
Markus shook his head. “No, why?”
“I thought I heard…oh, never mind. I’ve had too much excitement for one day and now I’m hearing things.” Needing to be alone, to think and absorb everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, she tried to step around him. He blocked her path. She searched his face and sighed. “I’m tired.”
Instead of responding, he stared back at her. Even though it was a dark moonless night, her eyes had adjusted enough she could barely make out the hard lines and those full, masculine lips.
In the next instant, his mouth pressed against hers and his tongue demanded entrance. Defeat washed over her and she found it impossible to deny him. Her body responded to him in a way it never had with anyone else, no other lover made her burn like Markus did.
And all with a single touch.
Gwen moaned as she opened to allow his tongue entrance. Markus snaked his arms around her waist and pressed their bodies together. Her skin felt tight and like it was on fire. She shouldn’t encourage him, shouldn’t be allowing him to kiss her, to touch her. He was a dragon, the son of Ares, and dangerous.
Yet, she wanted more of him. No, she craved more. It was crazy. They just met.
Breaking the kiss, he bent down to slide an arm under her legs and picked her up. Not expecting the sudden movement, she squeaked, then covered her mouth. His soft chuckle filled her ears before he spoke. “You are mine, Gwen. I’m not letting you go.”
She swallowed. When he started walking toward the house, she asked, “Where are you taking me?”
“To bed.”
Her belly flipped. “No. I mean…I can’t.”
He laughed. “To sleep. You’re tired and need to sleep.”
“Oh.” Now she felt embarrassed and a little disappointed. Man, she was a mess when it came to Markus. She was also in jeopardy of losing her heart to the man, or having it broken into a billion pieces.
Yep, she was in deep.
Chapter Nine
Gwen woke to the soft sounds of music. Yawning, she sat up in the king size bed and looked around the room. Markus’s bed and room.
The room was huge and beautiful in a masculine kind of way. Dark green drapes with sheer cream-colored curtains hung from ceiling to floor, the furniture elegantly hand carved cherry oak.
Flinging the covers away, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. The house was quiet and she wondered if she was the only one awake as she stood up and walked to the bathroom. Once inside she gasped. The thing was bigger than her bedroom in Nebraska.
A huge garden tub sat next to a walk-in shower big enough for ten people. Turning to the dual sink vanity, she considered herself in the mirror and frowned. Her blond bedhead hair surrounded her face and slightly puffy eyes. “What are you doing, Gwen?”
She should leave. But where else could she run to and be safe from Garrick?
All she’d done for the last fourteen years was run from her demons. Rather the dragon that wanted to use her in ploy to wage war on the gods.
No, she was tired of running. It’d gotten her nowhere. Besides, no matter where she went, they always found her.
It was time for her to face her fears and learn how to kick their asses.
Exiting the bathroom, she searched the room for something to throw over her T-shirt and panties. Her gaze stopped on a royal blue robe draped over a chair next the window. That would do. She tugged it on before heading downstairs.
Muffled voices came from a closed door across the foyer. Crossing the space, she knocked on the door, hoping to find Markus. The door jerked opened to reveal Ty. She swallowed, then took a deep breath. “I’m looking for Markus.”
Ty grunted and stepped aside. Markus sat behind a large cherry oak desk. Drake was perched across from him with a tablet in his hand. The men swiveled their gazes to her at the same time.
Without meaning to, she took a step back. Light blue rippled through Markus’s dark irises, making her pulse spike.
Damn it. She needed to get over her fear.
Markus leaned back in his chair. “Leave us.”
Drake let out a low growl, but stood and walked out of the room. Ty nudged her inside and whispered, “Have fun,” before he closed the door, shutting her in with Markus.
“Come here, Gwen.”
With steady steps, she walked over to his desk and claimed the chair Drake abandoned. Taking a deep, calming breath, she met his gaze. “I want you to teach me to fight.”
His eyes did the color shift thing again and she suppressed a shiver. “Why?”
“Because I want to help.”
“Help with what?”
Annoyed, she pursed her lips and studied him. His dark brows raised in challenge. Was he trying to irritate her? “I think you know what I’m talking about.”
“I have my suspicions. Speak your mind. I don’t bite.” He leaned over the desk. “Unless you want me to.”
Gwen’s cheeks heated and she imagined they turned every shade of red. This man knew how to push every one of her sensory buttons without even touching her.
Steeling her back and gathering all the courage she could, she met and held his gaze. “I want to help destroy the man—er, dragon—who killed my parents. I want you to teach me how.”
He sat back, brows drawn together in one harsh line. His forehead creased as if he were angry, but she couldn’t tell if it was her request or the reminder of what his brother had done to her family that made him mad.
“I don’t think so.”
Her own fury rose. “You don’t think what?”
“You’re not fighting in this war. I’m not discussing it any further.” Then he turned to his computer and started typing.
Shock and annoyance froze her place for a second. How dare he dismiss her as if she were weak? Sure, she let her fears control her for far too long, but she was trying to get past that. Buried anger surfaced, fueling her newly formed backbone. Coming to her feet, she slammed her hands down on his desk.
“I am discussing it and you’re going to listen to me. I’m not a helpless woman to be pushed aside while the men take care of the monsters.” The ability to breathe became a little harder, and she shook. Markus turned off the computer, rose and towered over her. It didn’t do anything to calm her mood. “Oh, no. You will not try to intimidate me. I’m serious. I want your brother dead and I want to be there to see it happen.”
Grief and rage consumed her and her eyes started to water.
Markus reached out with a hand, but she slapped it away and turned her back on him. Damn, she would not start crying. Not now.
“Training you to fight will take some time. You’ll have to build up your strength and learn how to use multiple wea
pons, because the only weapon that can kill one of us is in located in the Underworld.”
Seriously, they had a weapon that could kill Garrick? Glancing over her shoulder, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Then go get it.”
A frown formed on his lips and his forehead creased. “Yeah, right. Hades doesn’t allow people to enter the Underworld with an extended stay pass. And he’s even less likely to just hand over the dagger.”
Facing, she crossed her arms. “Then we find out how to kill him or at least get close enough to behead him.”
Walking around his desk, he stopped inches from her. Her heart hammered frantically, but she stood her ground and straightened her spine. “Are you going to teach me to fight or am I going to see if one of your brothers will? I bet Seth would.”
He let out a growl and slid an arm around her waist. Good. She hoped Seth would be the trigger that got his attention. It was unclear how she knew, but she sensed Seth was the more sensual brother. The one who went on the prowl a little too often—maybe her connection to Aphrodite served her more than she’d thought.
“You will not be training with Seth.”
She raised her brows. “Then are you going to do it?”
“On one condition.” His lips twitched, but his eyes still held aggression.
“What?” She swallowed, hard.
“You do exactly what I say to do. No whining or arguing.”
She nodded. “Agreed.”
Smiling, he added, “One more thing. You will meet me for a private dinner every night until I say otherwise.”
She stilled and studied him for a few moments. He was serious. Although the thought of having dinner with him every night both intrigued and frightened the hell out of her. “Okay, but I want my own bedroom.”
With a raised brow, he transformed his smile to wicked grin. “I don’t think so.”
Shit. There was no resisting him when she had to spend the evenings with him. She might as well cut out her heart now and offer it up on a silver platter.