by Beverly Rae
2. Kaine’s appearance. I frowned. Damn, I wished I’d paid better attention that night at the lake. Had Kaine’s features really changed or not? Or had I celebrated Thad’s birthday a little too much? That had to be it. After all, how can a man change into a dragon?
A dragon? As in Dragon Dynasty? My stomach did a sickening flop. I told Jenn that I thought I’d seen his face change. Oh shit. This can not be real. My hand poised over the paper, wanting desperately to make a check mark next to number two. But I couldn’t. Move on, girl. Keep going. I took heart and decided to sort Number Two out once the list was complete.
3. Kaine’s skin. I gnawed on the end of the pencil. His skin had felt rough in the shower. Almost like…scales. But scales like on the back of a dragon? People had dry skin, right? Maybe he had psoriasis or some other skin problem. Yet I’d seen his entire body naked many wonderful times and had never noticed anything unusual. Still, a skin condition hardly made anyone a fire-breathing lizard. Damn. There’s that dragon thing again.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing—or ignoring—the answer. I broke the pencil into two pieces and tossed it in the wastebasket next to the desk. When had I started having irrational flights of fancy? Had my business finally started driving me wacko? No. I’d find a logical explanation if I continued. I was sure of it. I took another pencil out of the drawer and persevered with the list.
4. Kaine’s eyes. People’s eyes sometimes changed colors. Like when I wore green, my eyes added flecks of yellow. But I’d never seen anyone whose eyes changed color as much as Kaine’s—or as quickly. His eyes could zap from green to brilliant gold in a flash. Too quickly and too fleeting to be contacts. Comparatively speaking, the color change didn’t seem that big a deal, so I decided to move on and tackle the fourth problem later.
Later. When had I started pushing away problems instead of attacking them head-on? I gritted my teeth, vowed to return to the unchecked items and moved on.
5. The Mouse Muncher. Fitz’s preoccupation with rodents along with my husband’s other strange friends and associates didn’t help matters any. Missy the assistant who claimed she was a mouse and the very strange Tuo Chow were at the top of the list right after Fitz. Sure, everyone has a weird relative, one the family would rather not claim, but no one knew as many oddballs as my husband. Just because Kaine has a wacky assistant who may or may not eat mice—yuck!—doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with him, right? It means the assistant’s got a few bolts loose. And the way she’s always around him only means she takes her job seriously, right? I put a check next to the number. As far as I was concerned, I’d nixed this one in the bud as irrelevant. (Yeah, I know now that my ostrich gene had definitely kicked in.)
6. Sabrina. Had I actually seen her change color in the photograph? I quickly dismissed the idea as a fluke of light. But what about her weird choke-’em-till-they-drop finger trick? I considered what I’d written and quickly scratched out the problem. I’d stick to the relevant facts surrounding Kaine. After all, I didn’t know what had caused the manager to choke. She could’ve swallowed a piece of gum for all I knew.
7. Kaine’s tattoo. I doodled a figure eight next to the words. Was it such a big deal that my husband had a tattoo? Or even that the location of the tattoo was a bit different? More and more people were getting tats these days and in much stranger, not to mention more painful, places. But what about the information Thad found on the Internet? I shook my head, determined not to go down that slippery slope. Nope. It means nothing. Nada. It’s just a silly tat. Nothing more. The fact that it looked like one related to some dragon group was a coincidence. (My denial was taking hold of my spine and turning it into jelly big time.)
8. The tub fire and vision. Even with my pitiful spine and the gnawing in my stomach, I still had to smile. However my hubby had pulled it off, the flames—and, yeah, even the image—had made for one blazing sexual encounter. If ever there was a time to shut up and let things be, that was it.
However, the investigator in me wouldn’t lie down and die entirely. I scanned the list again and tried to come up with reasonable explanations for the unchecked ones and failed miserably. Sometimes a girl can’t ignore her gut. And my gut was telling me things were not as they seemed. The real question was…would I accept my lame explanations and stay blissfully ignorant? Or would I investigate until I found out the truth?
“Damn it. I wish I’d learn how to let things go.”
I stomped toward the massive walk-in closet, fussing at myself as I went. Minutes later, I trudged down the hallway headed toward my hubby’s office. This time I wouldn’t let him seduce me out of asking questions. I needed answers and I’d get them—before sex.
Gripping the door frame, I wheeled around and took a step into Kaine’s office. I took a second to watch him, unaware of my presence, his back to me with a phone tucked to his ear.
He is such a hunk. He wore a black silk shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black slacks that hugged his body and no belt. I skimmed my gaze from his wide shoulders—shoulders that had more than once supported my legs—and glided down to his trim waist. His waist was the perfect size. Not too lean and not so wide I couldn’t wrap my legs around it. I bit my lower lip and tilted my head. Um, those slacks hug his squeezable butt nicely. Any woman would appreciate that Armani behind. Rounded and firm, just like I like. Although it was difficult to do so, I broke away from his butt and examined his thighs and legs. The man has thighs like a bodybuilder and legs like a wild stallion. My mouth filled with saliva and I wanted so badly to moisten the part of his anatomy hidden from my view.
I remembered last night and licked my lips. Maybe having sex before the questioning began would be better. Then I’d be able to weaken his defenses and concentrate on my interrogation. I considered my plan’s revision. Plans, however, are made to go awry.
“Calm down, Muras. I know who took the scepter.”
Eerrrrk! Bam!
My meanderings over Kaine’s body and what I wanted to do with it slammed to a stop, along with my scheme for sex before questions. Had I heard what I thought I’d heard? Did he say scepter? I gawked at my hubby. This is so not happening.
“Yes, I’m sure. From the information I’ve gathered, Tuo hired Sabrina to steal the scepter.” He growled, a sound familiar, yet much more menacing than the growls I’d heard in bed. “He didn’t, however, expect her to double-cross him.”
The argument between Tuo and Sabrina came back to hit me in the face. Stunned, I backed out of the office and pressed my spine against the outside wall. Sabrina had swindled Tuo just as Tuo had accused her inside the boutique. She’d stolen the scepter from Kaine and then double-crossed Tuo. I started to step back inside to tell him about Sabrina when Tuo’s words stopped me cold.
“When she didn’t, wouldn’t mother his spawn, he kicked her out. Dumped her.”
Since Tuo had told the truth about Sabrina stealing, did that mean he’d told the truth about why Kaine and she had split? I swallowed to dislodge the lump in my throat. But that didn’t mean he’d do the same to me, did it? No. Kaine loved me. I was certain of it. Wasn’t I? The lump grew bigger and I fought against the weakness in my legs.
Nonetheless, I had an obligation to tell Kaine about Sabrina and Tuo’s altercation. Again, I started to go to him and got knocked in the gut before he saw me.
“Patience, my friend. I’m almost ready to make a move on Sabrina and recover the scepter. This is a delicate matter and I would rather not antagonize Chow’s Eastern Dragons if I don’t have to. Plus, we don’t want Sabrina doing something rash with it before then. You know how those people can get. Then, with the scepter in the dynasty’s possession again and Christina impregnated with my heir, no one will dare question my leadership. Trust me. Things will soon return to normal.”
Normal? As in without me? I knew then that I’d underestimated Kaine’s desire for a child. I could almost hear my confidence in his love cracking into a thousand pieces.
&nbs
p; “Until then, I remain as your leader. Call the families together for a special meeting. I want this traitorous talk of my resignation thwarted before it has a chance to take root.”
I valiantly pushed the word heir from my mind and concentrated on listening to his conversation. Later, somewhere safe, I’d deal with the implications of what I’d overheard.
“Good. Tonight is fine. Tell them to arrive at eight sharp.”
The click of the earpiece striking the phone’s base sent me scurrying down the hall. I passed by several of the household staff, ignoring their words of greeting, and choked back the tears threatening to fall. I knew if I let even one of them free, I wouldn’t be able to stop the rest.
For the first time in my career, I cancelled appointments. Hunting down a saber-tooth tiger in Underground Atlanta dropped way down on my list of priorities. (Sorry, all you tourists.) Not that I actually thought a prehistoric cat was loose among the restaurants and bars of that unique shopping area. In fact, having gone hunting for gigantic alligators—reported by the same person, mind you—in Underground last year, I was sure I’d find a nasty-tempered, oversized alley cat making a cozy home somewhere in the storage area of one of the shops. The cat problem would have to chill for now.
Then I rescheduled an appointment dealing with fairies inhabiting Mrs. Webber’s rose garden and buzz-bombing her so much she couldn’t tend to her blooms. Considering this time of the year usually brought out the large carpenter bees, I was in no hurry to wage my own War of the Roses. Oh, sure, they were generally harmless—until you pestered them too much.
Instead, I paced my office trying to make sense of everything I’d seen and heard. Missy was glaringly unattainable while Pam and Mini-Pam had suspiciously come down with two terrible cases of a computer virus. Uh-huh. Riiight. Obviously, when push came to tug, they weren’t about to cross Kaine for little ol’ me. By that afternoon, however, I’d decided that this southern girl had no alternative but to listen in on his meeting.
I opted for flat shoes, telling myself that my choice was made out of a nod to style and not because I could run faster in flats than in higher heels. Smoothing my hair into place, I took one final glance in the mirror and left the bedroom. Ready or not, people, here I come.
The guests for the meeting congregated in the same conference room where I’d met Kaine’s associates. I peeked around the edge of the door I was hiding behind, an entrance used mainly for servants to enter the room from the kitchen, and watched everyone enter.
To say they were a striking group of people would be like saying the Empire State Building was a modest structure. A tall woman, her raven hair slicked away from her face, walked over to Kaine standing at the head of the table, stopped and stared at him. They regarded each other for several minutes without speaking. She finally nodded and took her seat. A short round man came after her, his skin the color of a copper penny with frizzy orange hair framing his face. He shook Kaine’s hand, leaned in to whisper in his ear, then roared with laughter. Kaine’s expression, however, never changed.
One by one the visitors came, some shaking his hand while others bowed their heads. One by one they took their seats. A soft murmur filled the room and I waited, wishing I could take a load off too.
All at once, a hush fell over them and they swiveled to the doorway to see Tuo, hands fisted on his hips and a smirk on his face. The others expectantly glanced at Kaine who merely nodded at Tuo and waved him to a chair at the opposite end of the table.
Kaine cleared his throat and talking ceased. A heavy silence filled the air until, at last, he spoke. “Thank you for coming. I see each of the dynasties has sent a representative. May I introduce our newest members? Joining us are Lyeis Switai of the European Dynasty, Mylan D’anrd representing the Northern Dynasty, Zulo Zane of the Fairie Dynasty, Cherry Somers for the Southern Dynasty and, of course, Tuo Chow, an officer of the Eastern Dynasty. Welcome to you all.”
Some tipped their heads while others murmured a greeting.
Dynasties? As in more than just the Dragon Dynasty? Why does this dynasty stuff keep coming up when I want nothing more than to forget I ever heard the word dynasty? My world tilted and I gripped the edge of the door to stay upright. If everything I’d learned was true—and part of me could no longer deny it—then the Dragon Dynasty was real too. I looked at my husband and tried to see him through unemotional eyes.
“Good. Let’s get right to business. As some of you know, the Scepter of Fire is missing.” He shifted slightly to gaze at Tuo.
Gasps showed which of the group hadn’t known about the theft, while the hard stares of the rest highlighted their anger.
“Why didn’t you tell us when it first went missing, Delcaluca?” The man with the copper-colored hair squinted at my husband, a challenge written on his face and heard in his tone. His eyes sparkled with animosity.
Kaine studied him, his lips curved in a tolerant smile. “Am I to tell you everything, Chaus? Since when do I report to you?” He scanned the people at the table. “To any of you?”
An angry grumble erupted from them, many of whom stood to face him. “Since when have we given you complete power with no one able to question your actions?” The striking woman glared at my husband, her finger pointed at his chest. Flashes of Sabrina pointing at the boutique’s manager had my heart skipping a beat.
I had to admit it. I was pretty darn proud of my man. He stood straight and tall, unruffled by all the discontent swirling around him.
“Of course you may ask questions, Mylan. However, I can not and will not seek your advice for every matter that arises. Now sit.” He narrowed his eyes at them. “Please.”
Although he’d added the please, they heard the command and did as they were told. Chaus, however, wasn’t ready to give up. “Losing the scepter is not an ordinary matter. Instead of threatening us, tell us you’ve located it.”
“I’m hardly threatening you, my dear friend.” My husband’s features changed. “Trust me. If I were, you would have no doubt.”
I blinked, thinking my eyes must have played tricks on me. But I would’ve sworn I saw his face shift, extend and—can this be real?—a pointed tongue flick out from between his lips. I closed my eyes, picturing in my head what I had to admit I’d seen with my eyes. For a split second, my husband looked like a dragon.
Omigod. My husband is a dragon. My breath hitched in my throat and all the unchecked items on my list came back to haunt me. I had to think it again. My husband is a dragon.
“What are you doing here? Are you spying?”
The furious whisper in my ear startled me and I yelped. Slapping a hand over my mouth, I turned to try and run away through the kitchen, but Fitz blocked my way.
“What do you think Kaine would think if he knew you spied on him? Do you think his love for you would be enough? You’ve changed him, made him weak, but he is still a powerful dragon.”
“Fitz, I, uh…”
“Let’s show him what a sneak you are, shall we?”
With a wicked grin, she pushed me against the door. The door flew open and I fell into the conference room face first, landing with a thud on the hardwood floor. With my hair in my face and lying flat on my stomach, I cringed at the commotion going on around me. I hurriedly ran through my options. I could either 1) stay on the floor and pretend I’d passed out, 2) run like hell and never come home again or 3) stand up and demand what the hell was going on. I was still trying to choose which option when someone grabbed me by the collar and literally hurled me to my feet.
Gasping, I stared into Tuo’s bemused face. I struggled against his hold, but I couldn’t shake free.
“Well, well, who do we have here? Mrs. Delcaluca, were you sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong?”
Fitz, the traitorous bitch, had apparently exited after tossing me to the dogs, er, dragons. I glanced around, hoping to find the others more curious than furious at my abrupt entry. However, judging from their expressions, I was shit out of fortun
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“Oh, hello, everyone. I’m sorry to, uh, barge in on you. I, er, kind of tripped.” Yeah, tripped as in pushed. Gathering my courage, I placed my hands on Tuo’s wrists and tugged. “Thank you for helping me up, but I’m okay. If you’ll just let go, everyone can get back to the meeting.”
“Christina.”
Christina? Since when had my husband ever called me by my proper name? Suddenly, I felt like a school kid standing before the principal. Tuo released me and I shuffled to face Kaine. “Hi, honey.” I tried to keep one eye on him and one on the guests. Not an easy task, mind you. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your meeting. I wanted to ask you what you wanted for dinner.” Lie like a dog, girl.
Fitz pushed through the door, an oh-so-fake look of surprise on her face. “Mrs. Delcaluca, what are you doing here?” Syrup would’ve seemed bitter compared to the sickly sweet of her tone. She sidled to the other side of my hubby, a smirk on her face.
When Kaine wrapped his hand around my arm, I wasn’t sure if he meant to help me or hurt me. Yet, ever the gentleman, he pulled me against him. “Everyone, I’d like to introduce my wife, Christina Delcaluca.” He didn’t, however, wait for pleasantries, and instead, herded me back the way I’d come.
Unfortunately, Tuo had a different idea. “Stop!”
Kaine and I exchanged a look, then faced him and the rest of the group. “What do you want, Tuo?” His tone was low and menacing.
Fitz growled, dipping her head to narrow her beady eyes at Tuo.
Tuo’s face hardened, yet he kept his smile. “We can’t have her simply walking away. We must know what she heard.”
Agreement swept through the others, some nodding their heads while others simply waited. A chill like none I’d ever experienced while working a DeBunkers case swept through me. “Me? I didn’t hear a thing. I tripped over the carpet or something on my mad dash in from the kitchen.”