He’d cleaned the dried blood from around her nose and ears. Two of her fingers were swollen and bruised. He’d straightened and taped both of them. The burns on her hands were superficial, and he’d used an ointment he’d found in the first-aid kit on the plane to treat them.
It wasn’t as though he could take Sarah to a hospital. He could just imagine that scenario. “She was hurt while ridding the world of an evil manuscript.” Yeah, that wouldn’t exactly go over well. They’d try to admit him to the psych ward.
Then there was the fact that the Knights of the Dragon were still out there. Just because the book was gone didn’t mean the Knights were.
He rubbed his fingers up and down her arm, willing her to wake.
When he’d left the church, there’d been no sign of their driver, so he’d taken the priest’s car and driven back to the airfield. While he was waiting for the plane to be refueled, he’d contacted Tarrant and told him his plans. Then he’d strapped Sarah into the seat next to him and flown to one of his safe houses in North Dakota. He’d thought about going back to Tarrant’s fortress or even to Ezra in Maine—no way in hell would he take her to Las Vegas, which was where Nic still was—but he wanted her to himself.
It was the drakon part of his nature. She was his treasure. His to guard and to protect.
So he’d brought her to one of his many hideaways. He had them scattered all over the world. Some he hadn’t visited in decades, but they were all there, just waiting until he needed them. He made certain they were all kept in working order. This was one of his favorites. It was small but well-built and blended almost perfectly with the landscape. Unless someone knew it was here, they wouldn’t find it.
Even with the Knights still searching for his plane, he thought they’d be safe enough for a day or two. The private air strip, like the cabin, was remote.
He reluctantly released Sarah’s hand and stared out the window. He had a perfect view of mountains, trees, and rocks, lots of rocks. This place usually relaxed him, but not this time.
He stood and stretched his arms over his head. He was stiff and, if he was being truthful, tired. Yes, he could normally go days without sleep, but fighting the evil in the book and destroying it, coupled with all the travel, plus days without adequate sleep, and he had to admit he was exhausted.
Sarah was tucked under the covers. She wasn’t totally naked, but close enough. He’d removed her shoes and jeans, along with her sweater, leaving her in her underwear and his shirt. The temptation to strip her bare had almost been too much to resist, but he had.
Swearing, he yanked off his T-shirt and sat on the side of the bed. Sarah didn’t move as he unlaced his boots and shucked them. Keeping his jeans in place, he lay down on the bed beside her, staying above the covers.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her into the curve of his body. She fit perfectly, like she’d been made for him.
He was still in awe of what she’d done back in the church. She’d stood tall and resolute, fighting the evil taint of the book, fighting the compulsion to do as the book commanded. Through it all, she hadn’t wavered.
She, who was human, had shown more loyalty, more courage and heart than any paranormal creature or human male he’d ever met. He wouldn’t say the last out loud or she’d accuse him of being chauvinistic. And perhaps he was. He’d grown up in a time when women had been strong. They’d worked alongside their men for survival, but they’d also been protected and cherished as the life-givers they were.
He kissed the top of her head. He knew just how strong she was and was in awe. Now he simply wanted to cherish her.
He also wanted to keep her.
“You’re thinking too hard. I can hear you,” she mumbled. His heart squeezed when she spoke, and he quickly rolled her onto her back.
“You’re awake.” He ran his fingers over her precious face, relieved that the grayish cast was finally gone from her skin. She was still too pale, but it was an improvement. Better yet, the lines of pain that had etched her face had disappeared. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I fought a tornado and lost.” She shifted her head slightly and frowned. “Where are we?”
“North Dakota.”
Her eyes widened. “How did we get here?” She suddenly jolted. “The book. Is it gone? Did we destroy it?”
“You don’t remember?” He placed his palm on her forehead, concerned by her lack of memory. She didn’t have a fever.
She raised her hand and pinched the bridge of her nose. “It’s fuzzy. I remember the darkness. It was so cold.” She shivered, and he pulled her tighter against his body, sharing his warmth with her.
“You were holding the book.”
“That’s right.” She licked her lips, and he groaned. He wanted to lick her lips for her, but she was in no shape for what he wanted to do to her. She needed rest and care. He ignored the incessant throbbing of his cock and focused on comforting Sarah.
“My fingers.” She held up her left hand and stared at the two that were taped. “They’re broken, aren’t they?”
He nodded. “Broken or dislocated, I’m not sure which. I set them before I taped them. I couldn’t risk taking you to a hospital.”
She nodded and the cotton pillowcase scrunched beneath her head. “No, a hospital is definitely out.” She paused for a moment. “I understood the language of the book.”
“What?” He hadn’t realized that.
“It was prodding me to say words that would imprison you. It wanted me to trap you.”
Darius’s blood ran cold. If she’d given in to the compulsion, he might well be a prisoner of the Knights.
“You’re sure it’s gone? The book was destroyed?” Her fear touched his soul.
“Yes,” he assured her. “I watched it burn, watched the ashes disintegrate in the holy water. Then I carried the remains out to the cemetery and buried it, water, font, and all, in a consecrated grave. And that was after I used drakon fire to burn anything that was left.” He ran his fingers through her short hair, loving the way the brown strands clung to his skin. “Father Simon promised to have a stone erected and to lay sod. He’s probably already done it.”
Her chocolate-brown eyes widened. “How long have I been out?”
“More than a day. You didn’t stir during the flight. Didn’t have to watch me land,” he teased.
“Small consolation,” she muttered. “An entire day.”
“You’ve been through a lot.” He couldn’t stop petting her, running the tips of his fingers over her face, needing to reassure himself she was really awake.
“It’s like the book wanted to suck me into it, or at least my soul.” She shuddered. “I never want to touch anything that tainted and evil again.” Her frown deepened. “Do you think there are more books like that out there in the world?”
“Unfortunately, I do.” It was a worry they all shared. “It doesn’t make sense to have only one, especially since Herman Temple isn’t the leader of the Knights. There have to be more, but not many. Maybe three or four. They wouldn’t want too many people to have access to such powerful knowledge.”
She nodded and sighed. “They’ll still be searching for us, won’t they?”
He couldn’t lie to her. “Yes. But don’t worry, Sarah. I’ll protect you.”
…
His words soothed her but were also a knife to her heart. Was she nothing more than an obligation to him? “I can take care of myself.” She’d meant the words to come out with more force and conviction, but she was still incredibly weak. Her entire body was trembling, probably partly from hunger if she’d been out as long as Darius had said.
His scowl was dark and fierce. “I’ll take care of you.”
“Why?” This probably wasn’t the time to talk about their relationship. No, scratch that. It definitely wasn’t the time. Not when she was feeling so shaky and, yes, fragile.
“Why?” he parroted.
“Yes. Why do you want to take care of me? Yo
u don’t owe me anything. We did what we set out to do. The book is gone. There’s no need for you to be burdened with me any longer.”
His eyes narrowed and began to glow. His entire body tensed before he rolled off the bed. He stood there, hands on his hips, looking impossibly handsome and extremely pissed off.
“Do you want to leave?” Before she could attempt to answer, he swiped his hand in the air in front of him. “Forget it. The Knights are still out there, and they’ll be searching for you. They’ll want to make you pay for what you’ve done. Even more importantly, they know about your talent and will want to use it to help them find other valuable books. It’s safer for you to stay with me.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw and every muscle of his naked torso stood out in chiseled perfection. The color of his tattoo seemed deeper, richer. He looked like some pagan warlord, ready to fight. All he was missing was a sword or axe. In a word, he was magnificent.
“Is that the only reason you want me to stay?” she prodded. “Because I’ll be safer with you?” She pushed upright and rested her back against the headboard.
Darius began to pace at the end of the bed, back and forth, his long strides eating up the small distance. The bedroom wasn’t large, but it was lovely. The floors were hardwood, the furniture rustic. She particularly liked the large picture window off to her left and the fireplace on the far wall. There was no fire crackling there at the moment, but maybe he’d build one later if she asked.
He stopped and crossed his arms over his chest. He certainly wasn’t playing fair. How was she supposed to concentrate on the problem at hand when he was half naked? Two could play that game. She let the covers fall to her waist. His gaze followed. She was still wearing his shirt, and her underwear as well. Hardly an ensemble to entice him.
Which was probably just as well. They needed to settle things between them before they muddied the waters with sex again.
“You’re staying with me.” He said each word slowly, and she heard his underlying anger. More than that, she heard fear. Or maybe she was only hearing what she wanted.
“But why?”
Darius threw back his head and roared. She was surprised flames didn’t shoot out of his mouth. His eyes darkened. “Because you are mine.”
Her heart softened, and she held out her hand to him. He peered suspiciously at it for a long time before he finally took it. She tugged, and he reluctantly sat on the edge of the bed, next to her.
“You’re a drakon and I’m human,” she reminded him. “You’re immortal, while I only have a few decades to live.”
He shook his head. “No. I won’t believe that. There has to be a way.” He looked determined and ferocious. “You will drink my blood. That will keep you young.”
“That’s what the Knights do.” She shook her head, every cell of her body revolting against the idea of doing the same thing they did.
“You would rather die and leave me?” There was such pain and longing in his voice it tore at her heart.
She threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I never want to leave you, but I don’t want to be like them.”
He buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply. “Oh, Sarah, you could never be like them. They are parasites. You…you are my heart.”
She peered up at him and saw the truth in his eyes. “I love you,” she told him. She pressed her fingers against his lips before he could speak. “You don’t need to say anything back. When I thought I was going to die, when I knew I would die to keep you safe, I knew I loved you. I promised myself if I survived, I’d tell you.”
She slid out of his arms and stood on shaky legs. “I need to go to the bathroom and get a shower.” She made her way to what she hoped was the door to the bathroom. She reached out and grabbed the doorjamb for support.
When she looked back, Darius was still sitting on the bed watching her, his eyes no longer haunted but filled with male satisfaction. He came to his feet in a hurry. “You are hungry. I’ll cook something while you get cleaned up.” His gaze narrowed and swept her from head to toe. She knew she must look like a mess, but that didn’t stop her entire body from heating at his perusal. “I’ll get you another one of my shirts to wear.”
He went to the rustic wooden dresser, opened a middle drawer, and pulled out a long-sleeved cotton shirt. It was dark brown and looked comfortable and warm. He dug around the top drawer and came up with a pair of socks. They’d be far too big for her feet, but they’d keep them warm.
“I need clothes,” she muttered.
“That’s being taken care of. I’ll have to drive to the nearest town tomorrow to pick up the package.”
“You didn’t order it online did you?” The Knights were everywhere. He gave her an offended look that patently said he wasn’t an idiot.
“Tarrant ordered it. All I have to do is pick it up.”
She nodded, trying not to laugh. He was extremely disgruntled. “I’m sorry.” The least she could do was apologize for offending his male sensibilities.
He grunted and brought the clothes to her. “Do you need me to help you?” His voice deepened, and she began to perspire at the mere suggestion of him wet and naked in the shower with her.
She began to tremble, and she hugged the clothes to her body.
Darius began to back away. “Probably not a good idea.” He swung around and stomped out of the room, leaving her standing there sweaty and turned on.
“Shower,” she reminded herself. She shut the door to the bathroom, set the clean clothes down, and turned on the water in the stall. She longed to get clean. Probably just as well she hadn’t taken Darius up on his offer to help her. It would have been a tight fit with both of them.
She groaned and her entire body clenched with need. Oh yeah, it would have been a tight fit all right. She stripped off her dirty clothes and left them in a pile on the floor. It was awkward with two of her fingers taped, but she managed. The water was nice and hot and exactly what she needed. There was soap and shampoo on a ledge, and she set out to use both.
…
Darius thought he’d lose his mind as he listened to the sound of the shower. Sarah was naked with water running over her skin. He growled and slammed a pan on the stove. He wanted to soap his hands and run them all over her body.
He bowed his head and simply stood in the middle of the tiny kitchen, breathing in and out as the grilled cheese sandwich began to sizzle. Sarah loved him. He’d hoped but hadn’t expected her to say it, not so soon. She’d been willing to die to protect him. She’d fought the evil of the Knight’s secret book to keep him safe.
His breathing increased and smoke billowed from his nostrils as his dragon side sought to take control. His beast didn’t like the idea of Sarah being in danger any more than he did.
His phone rang, and he shook off the compulsion. “Yeah.” He knew it had to be one of his brothers.
“Any change?” Tarrant asked. He’d been calling every few hours to check on Sarah’s condition.
“She’s awake. She’s in the shower, and I’m making her something to eat.”
“That’s good. I’m glad to hear it.” Tarrant paused. “I like her.”
“So do I.” He knew Tarrant didn’t mean anything by it, but his words fanned the flames of jealousy. “I’m keeping her.”
“I thought you might.” His brother’s easy agreement allowed him to settle before he said something totally stupid.
“I’m going to feed her my blood to keep her from aging.” No way was he going to lose Sarah if he could do anything to prevent it.
“Hold off on that a bit. She’s safe for now, and I want to do some more digging into the whole mate thing. Just because we don’t know anything about it, doesn’t mean there aren’t other drakons out there who do. Maybe their sires told them more than ours did.”
“You think that might change things?” It was an intriguing idea, one that appealed to him. The idea that he could keep Sarah forever made his heart sing.
“I have no idea, but it can’t hurt to ask.”
“Your list?” Tarrant and his famous list. For once, Darius was grateful for his brother’s obsessive need to be able to contact as many of their kind as possible.
“I’ve already contacted them all and asked if any of them have information. I also told them about the book we destroyed so they’ll know what to do if they come up against something similar.”
“Good.” And it was good. For far too long, the Knights of the Dragon had hunted them. Maybe it was time the drakons stopped being so solitary and banded together to fight back.
The shower turned off, reminding him that he was supposed to be cooking something for Sarah to eat. He flipped the sandwich. The bread was dark brown but thankfully not burned. “I’ve got to go. Call me if you hear anything.”
“Will do. And don’t forget to head to town tomorrow to pick up your package.” Tarrant paused and then continued. “You know you’ll have to leave soon after. You won’t be safe there once you’ve been into town.”
The sad reality was that they couldn’t trust the humans in town not to pass on information to the Knights. And Darius couldn’t even blame the townsfolk. The Knights would masquerade as police officers and people would talk. Hell, for all they knew, there were Knights in every level of law enforcement and government.
“We’ll leave soon after.”
“Where will you go?”
Darius turned the heat off under the pan and picked up a spoon to stir the chicken noodle soup he had simmering on another burner. “I’m not sure yet. I’ll let you know when I get there.” He ended the call and tucked the phone in his pocket just as Sarah entered the room.
The shirt she was wearing fell to mid-thigh and gaped at the neckline, and the socks were pulled almost to her knees. She hadn’t bothered to put on her jeans. She should have looked ridiculous in his shirt and socks. Darius wanted to sweep her into his arms and carry her back to the bedroom.
Drakon's Promise (Blood of the Drakon) Page 25