Emerald DARE

by Tianna Xander

  Raised for one purpose, Emerald is pulled between two facts. One, she doesn't want to live in a lab forever, and two, her sisters are disappearing into the dimensions they have worked in. When she meets two males of her kind, she has to make a choice and doesn't even hesitate. She picks the one who doesn't make her skin crawl.

  Aegon is a silver dragon with the patience and creative intelligence of his kind. He is delighted that his random sweep yielded one of the dragonettes that he has heard so much about and he will do whatever she needs him to to keep her happy and with him at all times. He has to release her to win her, a conflict he has to wrestle with while she returns to the lab. A life together glows before him, but when will she call him so they can begin it?

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Emerald DARE

  Copyright © 2011 Tianna Xander and Viola Grace

  ISBN: 978-1-55487-869-7

  Cover art by Martine Jardin

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Devine Destinies

  An imprint of eXtasy Books

  Look for us online at:

  www.devinedestinies.com

  Emerald D.A.R.E.

  By

  Tianna Xander and Viola Grace

  In case you missed Ruby DARE…

  In Ruby DARE we met the dragons living on a world not their own, living a life that is only a bare existence in an underground facility.

  The people of earth have set the destruction of their planet in motion, creating a device that has enabled them to use a dimensional gateway to walk between worlds. What they didn't know, couldn't know, was that each person transported punched a hole in the stability of their world, each transport weakening the dimensional fibers that allowed their world to remain intact.

  Thirty years ago a woman who was not human walked through a rift and warned them of the problem that would emerge with their technology. She was arrested, incarcerated and when it was found that she was pregnant, her children were removed and experimented on themselves. This split the four embryos into twenty and the young girls were raised underground with no knowledge of who or what they were.

  These girls grew into women who became part of the DARE project. Dimensional, Arrest, Retrieval and Extraction, these women travel from world to world to bring back the travellers, prisoners, and escapees from earth to hopefully heal the wounds that the humans have made.

  The DARE project women had no knowledge of their origins aside from what their mother gave them, that is. Eiwyn kept her bond with her daughters while her body was in suspended animation in a lower level of the facility.

  Eiwyn is a seer and left her husband to bring her daughters to adulthood without the interference of her kind. Her husband would have used her daughters for political alliances but she foresaw a different destiny and came to earth so that they could have it.

  When Ruby met her male on assignment, Eiwyn breathed a metaphorical sign of relief. Despite her confidence in her abilities, having a foreseen outcome come to pass was reassuring. Now, with one daughter safely away, there were only nineteen more dragons to go and she could leave this boring, backward world to its destiny, for better or worse.

  And in case you missed Topaz DARE…

  Topaz found her mate in the Eastern dragon, Kirai. When it was time to remove the technological leash that the lab had placed under her skin, a horrible twist was discovered that put all of the dragonette's lives in danger.

  Topaz's attachment to her duty gets in the way of Kirai's courtship, but dragons are nothing if not clever and together, they find common ground in a new dimension.

  Chapter One

  Emerald looked up at the three moons and took a deep breath. She wondered at the tidal changes that many moons would create and shrugged. Whatever they were, she wouldn't have time to find out. It was a waste of precious minutes to even wonder about it.

  It had been almost twenty-four hours and the light hadn't changed a bit. It seemed as though this world, or at least this part of the world, was in a perpetual state of twilight.

  She couldn't help but wonder if danger lurked around every corner. Who could blame her? Two of her sisters had gone missing. One on a simple mission just like this one and the other disappeared straight from the facility where they lived. It was easy to see things lurking in the shadows even if there was nothing there to see.

  Tall, untouched grass reached her hips as she waded through it toward her targets. Usually, when she jumped to a world, she got close to her quarry, but not this time. This time she landed nearly fifty kilometers from her objective. Her allocated time might not be long enough.

  Emerald continued to trot toward the encampment on the horizon. At least it was in sight now. Before, she could do nothing else but follow the directional beacon on her scanner.

  A strange shadow passed overhead and she looked up with a frown. Whatever it was, it looked huge. The wingspan looked at least forty feet wide. The strange whining noise that accompanied the shadow grew faint, then silent. The world around her was quiet once again. The only noise she heard was the faint rustle of the wind through the grass and trees.

  Just as the strange whining returned, someone rushed from the nearby brush and tackled her. "Shh… Don't move or it will see you." The voice was female.

  "What--"

  "Hush!" The woman clamped a hand over Emerald's mouth and whispered, "Not so loud. It will hear you. I'm told they have exceptional hearing."

  Emerald pulled the hand from her mouth and replied in a low voice, "What are you talking about?" She could see how such a large bird could be a predator, but she was a dragon swan. She had little to fear from a beast such as a large bird.

  Content to let the other woman hold her down in the tall grass as she awaited an explanation, Emerald looked up toward the sky. She strained to see what it was they hid from. Still, she saw nothing.

  "The dragons." The woman paused as though to give her time for the proper level of horror to sink in. "They never used to come more than once in a life cycle. Now there is a new one almost every day. No one knows why." She got to her knees. "Follow me. There's a shelter near where we can talk above a whisper."

  Emerald wasn't sure if she should follow the woman or not. She had no reason to fear her own kind.

  Follow her, dearling. You cannot be certain that the creature this woman calls a dragon is the same as we are. Look at the komodo dragon of Earth. It is nothing more than a large, meat-eating lizard. This, too, can be a large predator that you are not prepared to fight.

  Yes, Mother. Emerald agreed and followed the woman in a crawl.

  "How far is this shelter," she asked as they entered a copse of trees.

  "It's right here." The woman opened a door covered in dead leaves and grass as camouflage.

  "After you," Emerald said, wary. After all, this could be some sort of trap. The other woman seemed happy
to enter first. Once she scurried inside, she turned to usher Emerald in, closing the door behind her.

  Once she had closed and secured the door, light filled the room from a fist-sized stone she removed from a black bag that she had pulled from her pocket.

  "My name is Sabina." She set the stone on a small table in the corner with a trembling hand. "This is one of many shelters carved from the hillside. We use these when the dragons and the others visit."

  "I'm Emerald." She introduced herself, then got back on track. "What do you mean by the others?"

  "You know, the magical creatures…those other than dragons." She shrugged. "We don't usually see so many. They have become restless for some reason." Sabina stood and began to pace. "I should have been home two days ago, but I can't find the courage to leave this shelter. The next one isn't very close. It's at least a two hour walk."

  "It sounds close enough to me."

  "Not with the dragons flying overhead." Sabina shook her head with a shudder. "We would never make it."

  "What do you suppose the dragons want?"

  Sabina's eyes widened. "To feed, of course."

  Eeew! Mother, do dragons actually feed on humans?

  Of course not. Her mother paused. We have been known to perpetuate the myth that we do on certain planets.

  Well, that explains that fried humans are good with ketchup saying on Earth, doesn't it? she asked her mother wryly.

  Well… There was another, longer, pause. That one was my fault. I couldn't let them think that I wanted them to catch me, could I? Her mother replied with a chuckle.

  Emerald sighed, then returned her attention back to her companion. She heard the other woman's stomach growl from over three feet away and she wasn't even trying. "How long has it been since you have eaten?"

  "Two days." Sabina covered her stomach with her hands as though the action would quiet her hunger.

  "Why hasn't someone come looking for you?" Emerald shrugged off her pack and began to rummage through it.

  "I don't think anyone will notice me missing for a while. I live alone. Even if they have sent a search party, they could be stuck in a shelter, too."

  Grabbing two protein bars from the bottom of her pack, she tossed one to Sabina. "Eat that." She tore the wrapper off her own and took a bite. "You're going to need the strength it gives you. We're leaving here in ten minutes."

  She watched as Sabina wolfed down the power bar and took a few sips of water from her canteen. She would drag this woman back to the city if it killed her. Emerald wanted to think of her as spineless, but couldn't. Sabina had risked herself to come to her aid. Emerald could hardly consider that an act of cowardice.

  "W-we can't go!"

  "Well, we certainly can't stay here."

  Sabina stood, shaking her head as she plastered herself against the wall. "But the dragon."

  "We'll just have to take our chances with him. I'm not going to stay here and starve to death and I'm not leaving you behind."

  Good girl, Emerald. Just don't put yourself in needless danger.

  Reaching out, Emerald grabbed the stone that gave them light, marveling at how cool it was in her palm. Light without heat was a huge thing on Earth. The scientists she knew would most likely give precious body parts for it.

  "Put this away. We're leaving now." She tossed the stone to Sabina and strode to the door. Sabina followed, fumbling to put the stone in its pouch while she walked. "Ready?" she asked when the room was dark once again.

  At the other woman's murmured assent, Emerald opened the door and listened for the whining sound that Sabina was certain foretold the approach of a man-eating dragon. "There's nothing out here right now. Move it."

  Sabina hustled through the door and Emerald followed. "Stick to the tree line and the bushes if you can. When you can't, run like hell to the next stand of trees."

  So began a bizarre leapfrogging from tree to tree with the goal becoming tantalizingly closer with every passing moment.

  "I don't believe we did it! We made it back." Sabina beamed at her six hours later. "Please come to my home. I can never repay your kindness, but I can offer you a hot meal and a place to sleep for the night."

  For the night. That was a strange concept here in the land of forever twilight. "Thank you, Sabina." Emerald took the other woman's hand. "I would love to if I could, but first I must locate some old friends who live near here."

  Sabina looked disappointed. "Won't you reconsider? It's only one more night and you have to be exhausted."

  Emerald pulled her scanner out, noted that all four of the signals were now less than a kilometer away from her and sighed. "Okay," she agreed with a smile, "but I really must leave first thing in the morning."

  She didn't have to leave first thing, she had more time, but she wanted to get this over with and get back home. Since the tremors on Earth got less severe with every extraction, the doctors had become rather generous with the deadlines. She had a few more days to complete her mission and return home before the leash in her leg brought her discomfort. However, it was difficult to track the time with there being no differential between day and night. The lab may not be much of a home, but it was the only one she had and she wanted to get back there before she disappeared like her sisters, Ruby and Topaz.

  When Emerald awoke the next day, the sky was just as dark as it had been. She'd so been looking forward to seeing the sunshine. Since she couldn't bask in the warmth of the sun, she took the time for a nice cool bath before once again donning her leathers. At least they smelled better. Thankfully, Sabina had found a way to clean them.

  "Thank you for your hospitality and kindness, Sabina. I enjoyed my stay, but it is time for me to go. I must see to my friends and return to my home."

  Sabina took her hand. "You are most welcome, my friend. Again, I thank you for bringing me back. I would have stayed in that shelter and starved as you said if you hadn't forced me to go."

  Reaching out, Sabina hugged her for a moment, then released her. "Go now and find your friends."

  Emerald pulled the scanner from her pack and frowned. The four signals were no longer together and only one remained in the spot less than a kilometer away. Stuffing the scanner back into her pack, Emerald began to trot to her first target. She had enough time to search them out. She would send them back one at a time if she had to.

  Chapter Two

  Emerald stood just outside the structure that housed the lone signal. She'd just raised her hand to knock on the door when someone grabbed her arm.

  "Are you looking for someone, lady?"

  Looking down at the hand on her forearm, Emerald followed the long, flowing sleeve past the shoulder and up to the face of its owner. The markings on his face gave her pause. She almost wanted to rip the sleeve from his arm to see if he had markings there as well. Perhaps he would know what they meant.

  Still, no matter how much the man startled her, there was something about his manner she didn't like. His very presence practically made her skin crawl. "Not that it's any of your business, sir." She forcibly jerked her arm from his grasp. "But yes, I'm looking for some friends of mine. If you'll excuse me." She made to turn her back on him, but he grabbed her again. The man must have some sort of death wish.

  "I'm afraid I can't let you go, lady."

  Nausea peaked and she gagged as her system rejected the contact.

  The man you face is a dragon, dearling, and if he makes you feel that way, he is not the one for you. If he will not release you, you may have to fight him. Draw your stunner, if you must, but only when you are certain he cannot take it from you.

  Emerald heard that strange whining sound again, just before a beautiful silver dragon landed before her. It took less than a blink for him to shift into a tall, dark and gorgeous man.

  "I found her first, Aegon. Leave."

  "You know it doesn't work like that, Leirt. She must choose. I saw her refuse you."

  The new man was so beautiful it nearly hurt her eyes to look
upon him, but look she did. Dark hair hung down to his shoulders. His eyes were swirling silver surrounded by black, the contrast was so great, it was startling. His clean-shaven face bore only one scar over his smooth black brow. It only enhanced his appeal. Broad shoulders and a wide, smooth chest tapered down to a narrow, sculpted waist. The wide silver-adorned belt he wore to secure his dark slacks matched his vest and was held by a large, silver buckle.

  After all the new races she had seen, nothing had come close to this impact on her senses. She didn't know what to think about finding such a perfect male. She could do nothing more than stand and stare at him with appreciation.

  The silver dragon turned a brilliant smile on her. The markings on his face and arm seemed to swirl as he held her gaze. I am pleased that you like what you see, lady.

  "How…" How can he know what I think, Mother?

  There was a short silence before her mother answered, If your connection is that strong already, daughter, it means he can be the one for you. However, only you can decide that.

  The one for me?

  Your mate, sweetling.

  I don't want a mate. Emerald frowned. I want to live free. Free of the lab and free to do whatever I please whenever I please. A male will only attempt to rule me. She rubbed her arm where the other grabbed her. It was a reminder of why she wanted no male in her life. Besides, she'd seen what love could do to a person. Her handler, Becky, was constantly falling in and out of love. She'd seen her fall for men at least a dozen times over the years and every time the relationship ended, it took another little piece of her soul. She wanted no part of something as unhealthy as that.

  He will not do so if he is your true mate, sweetling. The one you pair yourself with will respect your need of freedom. He will not hamper it. Give Aegon a chance. He is a much better choice than the other and you've already heard him say it is your choice. The other is not so generous.