Not His Dragon

by Annie Nicholas

  Chapter Thirty

  The streets were quiet this time of the morning as Angie watched Eoin drive away. She yawned so hard her jaw cracked. At the butt crack of dawn, she’d dragged him out of bed and finished working on his scales. She felt better knowing his hide would heal.

  No doubt Eoin would spend the rest of the day trying to make contact with somebody who knew what to do about her curse. While he did, she had to return to work before she lost her mind.

  She entered the shop and smiled at Beth, the last person she wanted to see. She couldn’t mention how the witch had conned her out of all her money. Her best friend already felt guilty about the luck charms. It wasn’t Beth’s fault that Angie was a dupe.

  Her first free moment, she was going to burn those damn charms.

  Beth looked half-asleep with her chin in hand. “No appointments for the next hour.” She yawned so wide her jaw cracked. “Ouch.”

  Bending over the desk, Angie examined her face. “Late night?”

  “I had nightmares. That witch gives me the creeps and her vibe clung to me the rest of the evening.” She shuddered.

  “Then this calls for fresh coffee.” Angie’s card should have just enough credit to purchase the drinks. She didn’t need Beth’s order. She knew her coffee preferences by heart and took off before Beth could offer to pay again. Angie understood Beth’s natural instinct was to please others but she needed to grow a backbone. Luckily, Ryota prevented any assholes from abusing her giving nature, but the alpha didn’t have eyes on the back of his head.

  Their usual coffee hangout was busy. While Angie stood at the counter waiting for the barista to finish the orders, she spotted a poster on the building across the street. Eoin’s face was featured. She eased away from the counter and closer to the window for a better view. Was that the gallery? She’d never really paid attention to the building before. Art wasn’t really her thing, not until she met Eoin.

  The barista shouted her name.

  Angie paid for the two coffees then crossed over to the gallery and checked out the announcement.

  The poster declared that Eoin’s new work was going to be shown in two days. She ran her fingertips over the surface. This had been a major part of his life and he was giving it up because of her. She loved the way his face softened when absorbed in the production. His heart went into whatever he created. If stopped, what would happen to the dragon she was falling in love with?

  She squared her shoulders. They hadn’t canceled his show yet. She knew about sacrifices; she’d made them all her life. Eoin didn’t need to sacrifice his art for her. They would eventually solve her shifting problem. It was flattering he wanted to make her the center of his life, but how long before he started resenting her for it?

  With her hands full, she managed to open the gallery door and paused just past the threshold. Ceilings melted into shadows overhead and small bright lights shone on the paintings hanging on the wall. The floors and walls sparkled white as if freshly painted, nothing like Eoin’s home.

  The first painting caught her attention and she paused under its illumination. Multi-shades of red and orange flamed over the canvas in passionate heat. She read the information written on a slip of paper pinned under the painting. Pepper Spray by Eoin Grant. He had a last name? She hadn’t thought to ask. Trailing her fingertip over the frame, she sighed. He’d done an excellent job of portraying something burning.

  She turned her back on the painting and could picture his recent statues standing on the pedestals in the middle of the room. The visceral figures would drastically contrast with the gallery’s modern decor and exhibit Eoin’s true dragon nature. She edged deeper inside the room and noted that some of the spaces on the wall were blank, with Eoin’s nameplates underneath. In the far corner were pallets and half-packaged paintings. She hadn’t realized how much work he’d put into this.

  “Sorry, the gallery is not open. I must’ve forgotten to lock the door behind me.” A tall thin man with a goatee came out from an office in the far back of the room. He waved his hands, showing her the way out.

  “I saw the poster outside about Eoin’s art show. I was wondering—”

  Before she could continue, he scowled. “Canceled, canceled, canceled. Sorry, you’ll have to see the dragon’s artwork on his next tour.”

  “I was wondering if there was any way I could get you to change your mind about canceling.” Eoin sure had pissed him off.

  “Honey, I wasn’t the one to cancel the show. So far, I only have a few pieces to exhibit. Without the artwork, there is no show. But since you seem to be a fan of his, I’ll let you see his latest venture in sculpting.” He led her around the corner where one of the metallic statues stood mounted on a pedestal.

  “I haven’t seen this one.” She circled around, noting the sharp edges and deep grooves. They almost seemed like bite marks as if Eoin had used this as a chew toy in dragon form.

  The manager edged closer to her. “What do you mean by this one? You’ve seen others?”

  Turning slowly to face him, she raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t?” Eoin’s workroom was filled with statues. Why hadn’t he sent them here for the show? “What exactly is going on between the two of you?”

  The manager folded his arms, evidence of chasing her out of the gallery gone. “Exactly, who are you? Don’t tell me you’re his agent. I know his agent personally.” That was good, because Angie hadn’t even known Eoin had an agent. She was sticking her nose deep in the dragon’s business. He’d be pissed. She would be, if Eoin tried to take over her shop, but she wasn’t trying to take over his artwork, she was trying to save his career.

  “I’m his girlfriend and I think there’s been a misunderstanding. He’s created other sculptures to exhibit but I think he’s feeling…a little insecure about them.” Eoin was going to kill her. She’d better pack a double handful of pepper spray next time they met.

  “Insecure? Are we speaking of the same dragon?”

  She laughed. “Yeah, don’t tell him I said that. We may both regret it.”

  “I need to see them.” He grimaced. “I can’t make any definitive decisions until I know what I’m working with. I mean, I understand that working with metal is a new medium for him, but the emotion that this statute evokes is exactly what he needs to breathe new life into his art career.”

  She glanced at the coffees in her hand as an idea struck her. “Do you have time right now to take a look?”

  He startled. “Are you talking about going up to Eoin’s Castle? Right now? Uninvited?”

  She nodded. “I have to drop these off at my shop down the street and then we can go together if you have a car.”

  “What about Eoin?” The manager’s voice rose an octave or two.

  “Leave him to me.” Famous last words.

  “My name is Lorenzo. Seems like the person who’s holding my life in her hands should at least know my name.”

  She laughed again. “I’m Angie. I own the back-scratching shop a couple blocks from here. Pick me up there.” She left Lorenzo to lock up the gallery, and hurried back to the shop. Handing over the coffee to Beth, she gave her a huge grin. “What would you say if we took the day off?”

  Beth rose to her feet and felt Angie’s forehead. “You don’t feel feverish.”

  “Call all my appointments today and reschedule them, make any excuse you want, but I have a small emergency I need to take care of.” A grey sedan parked in front of the shop and honked. Angie waved to Beth before the omega could stop her, and left.

  Lorenzo shifted his car into drive and started towards the interstate. “How many pieces has Eoin completed?”

  Angie took a deep swig of her coffee. “How many do you need?” She was way over her head. She hadn’t even considered if any of his work was actually finished. They seemed to be to her.

  He eyed her. “Never mind that question. We can do a combination of statues and paintings that should be enough to fill the show. We’re lucky that Eoin’s nam
e causes a buzz in the art community, because we don’t have much time for any more publicity.”

  She gulped the hot coffee and stared out the window. She’d been on a roll of making mistakes, so she may as well keep tumbling along with it.

  They pulled up to the castle and exited the car.

  Lorenzo followed on her heels like a second shadow as she cracked the door open and peeked inside. No sign of Eoin so far. Thank God.

  The gallery manager cleared his throat behind her and almost sent her into the ceiling rafters. “I assume by your tiptoeing that he’ll be angry to catch us here.”

  “You assume correctly so keep your fucking voice down.”

  His eyebrows shot up but he gave her the thumbs up.

  Quiet as church mice, they crept into the castle and she led him toward Eoin’s workroom. She hadn’t a clue how good the dragon’s hearing was or if he was even home, but from his words last night she didn’t expect him to be working on his sculpting.

  Lorenzo gasped as he spotted the first of Eoin’s statues.

  She hung back by the workroom door and let him experience them alone. Most of Eoin’s work expressed a lot of anger and violence, all except hers. It was like he poured his desire into the scrap metal, making it and her look dang sexy. Her ass never looked so good.

  “What is Lorenzo doing in my home?” Eoin whispered in her ear. Not the seductive kind of whisper either, more like the kind that serial killers say right before they slaughtered their victims.

  She shouted in surprise and tossed her coffee straight into the air. Spinning around, she witnessed him catch it midair before the cup hit her in the head. “Hey there.”

  “Hey.” His lush lips thinned as his gaze followed the gallery manager’s movement. “No point in hiding, Lorenzo.” He turned his narrowed gaze on her. “Explain. Now.”

  She plucked the coffee cup from his hand and drank the remains. Her thoughts had scattered like a bag of dropped marbles when he’d startled her. “I met Lorenzo this morning. You came up in our conversation. He mentioned that he hadn’t seen any of your latest sculptures so I offered to show them to him. Now you don’t have to cancel your show.” She playfully poked him in the stomach and caught her breath.

  He glanced down at the gesture. But when his gaze returned to hers there was no amusement in his eyes. “You’ve had enough coffee.” He snatched the cup from her hand and drained it.

  “These works are exquisite, Eoin.” Lorenzo still remained on the far side of the room, keeping the statues between him and Eoin.

  “You’re saying that because you’re frightened. Go home, Lorenzo.” He pointed at Angie and her heart jumped into her throat. “You and I have to have a little chat.”

  Angie ground her teeth. The dragon could be so pigheaded. “Well, if you want an honest opinion from him maybe you should be less intimidating.” She bumped her chest against his. Well she tried; he was considerably taller than her. “And terrifying.”

  A small growl rolled in his chest. “Why aren’t you at work?”

  Angie pushed Eoin behind her and ignored his question. “He won’t hurt you, Lorenzo. Not while I’m here and can draw breath.” She elbowed Eoin in the gut. “Right?”

  He grunted. “I won’t harm you.” The yet was silent but present in his tone.

  “Are the statues good enough to exhibit in your gallery?” She wanted to smack some sense into Eoin. Hadn’t anyone taught him it was better to use honey than vinegar when he wanted something? It was like he wanted Lorenzo to reject him.

  Lorenzo ran his hands over the smooth surface of her metallic ass. “These three most definitely.” He gestured at two others in the room as well as the one he was touching. “We’ll add them to the sculpture we already have and showcase some of your paintings.”

  “Take your hands off of her.” Eoin took a step towards the gallery manager but Angie dug her heels into the floor and body-blocked him. “That is not for sale and I don’t want it exhibited.”

  “Why not?” Angie grunted with the effort to keep Eoin from strangling Lorenzo. “I think it’s your best one.”

  “I won’t share you with anyone.”

  She sighed and flopped against him, forcing him to catch her instead of taking violent action. “That’s just the statue of me. You’ve got the real thing.”

  He pulled her tighter within his arms, the place that he eternally seemed to want to keep her. She didn’t have any complaints. “You never said why you’re not at work.”

  “I told Beth to reschedule my appointments for the day. This was more important.”

  Eoin gave her a slow blink. All the anger in his face drained. “You did that for me?” He glanced at Lorenzo. “Make the arrangements to retrieve these sculptures. Keep the show scheduled.” He kissed her forehead tenderly. “Thank you.” He turned his back on her and left the room.

  Lorenzo joined her. “That was awesome, Angie.”

  “No, he’s awesome.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Angie walked Lorenzo out of the castle and watched him leave the grounds. He’d be back later this afternoon with movers to get the three statues for Eoin’s show. She smiled to herself and did a little happy dance. Now she had to face the cranky dragon.

  She searched the kitchen and found it cold. The bedroom and bathroom were just as empty. She scratched her head and returned the workroom. Well, fuck, had he shifted and flown away? Could he be that upset? The castle was so big. She didn’t want to lose her way. It might take days for Eoin to find her. She bit her bottom lip. Was there a basement in his castle? He’d never shown her, but he had taken her to the uppermost part of the tower on the first night she came to work on his scales. She returned to the stairs and climbed two at a time until she reached the top. Leaning against the wall, she tried to catch her breath. She shouldn’t have bothered.

  Eoin stood on the edge of the railingless balcony staring at the bright blue sky. He spun around, crossed the space with a few long strides, captured her face between his hands and stole her breath once more.

  He claimed her mouth with a smash of lips and clash of teeth.

  Sandwiched between him and the wall, she clung to his shoulders, absorbing his passionate assault. She preferred Eoin heated with desire over anger any day.

  His kiss possessed her, marking every part of her as his. He pulled away with a more chaste peck before leaning his forehead against hers.

  Between gasps, she asked. “What was that for?” She’d thought for sure he’d be furious.

  Nose to nose, his gaze never left hers as he stroked her cheeks. “I love you.”

  She threw back her head and slid to her knees as a searing white-hot pain sliced into her back muscles and gripped her spine. Her lungs forgot how to work. She reached out to Eoin with shaky hands.

  In the distance, she could hear Eoin shouting. Asking what was wrong and why she was screaming. She was screaming? She squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her teeth, fighting the pain. Suddenly she could sense a large shadow coating her, shielding her from the agony. Her dragon? She focused on the presence, seeking out support and help. Angie sensed her body coiling around her just before all the pain eased away.

  She panted on her stomach with her face pressed to the cool stone of the floor. She cracked open her eyelids.

  Eoin stood in front of her, eyes wide and jaw slack.

  “Eoin?” She sounded hoarse.

  He sank to his knees and crawled towards her. “Oh my God, Angie. You’re the most beautiful she-dragon I’ve ever seen.” He ran his hands over her… Muzzle?

  She moved her hands and sensed claws digging into the stone. Her heart pounded, but the beat was louder, heavier. Trying to stand, she wobbled towards the edge of the roof on four unfamiliar legs.

  “Wait, stop. Don’t move!” Eoin shifted to his dragon form, tearing through his clothes in an explosion of rags, as he moved to block her fall. He gripped her body with dragon strength and scooted her from plummeting over the edge.
That could have been a flight lesson she wouldn’t have recovered from.

  She spread her wings and gazed at them over her shoulders. “Are th—those feathers?” Narrowing her eyes, she quickly examined her body. Covered in pearly white scales edged in delicate white feathers, Angie appeared…part bird? The membranes of her wings ended with long narrow feathers. She’d recalled seeing pictures in the Natural Science Museum portraying fossils found in China. They had similar feathers. “Why do I have feathers?” She’d never heard of a dragon with them.

  Eoin ran his hands tenderly over the arch of her wing. It sent a shiver down her spine. “I don’t know, but I love it.” He was still much bigger than her and was capable of cradling her against his body. He ran his muzzle along her sleek neck. “Just like I love you.” He let out a tremendous roar that rattled some of the loose stones from the castle, sending them tumbling to the ground far below.

  She nestled even closer. “I want to see myself. Do you have a mirror big enough?” She could hear the birds singing in the distant forest and see them flying above the clouds. She could smell the sizzling musk of Eoin as his scent wrapped her in a possessive blanket. Power surged in her veins as she finally connected to magic. It rushed through her limbs and she wanted to burst into song.

  Now, that would put a tragic spin to the day since she couldn’t sing a note without breaking eardrums.

  “I don’t have a mirror here in the castle but I know of a place where you’d have a great view. Are you ready for your first flying lesson?”

  She jumped to her feet and knocked his chin with the top of her head. “Ow, am I ever.” She shook the stars clear of her vision then licked the spot where she had knocked him good. “Sorry.”

  Even in dragon form, Eoin managed to give her a wary look. He rubbed his chin. “I still have my teeth.” He gestured for her to follow. “Stand on your hind legs and face the edge of the roof, but not too close.”