“For food and necessities. There hasn’t been a dragon in rut recently because my eggs need my attendance.”
“Who’s the father?” I asked.
“It could be one of several, but we’ll know once they hatch.”
“And then he’ll be punished, right, Reed?”
“It’s Mei Hua’s decision,” he said.
“He will be executed most painfully,” Mei Hua said. “Along with his predecessors.”
“How many?”
“Over one hundred.”
“Can you remember all of them to bring them to justice?”
“I remember most, but Esmeralda knows them all. She accepted their tribute.”
“Why would she help us?”
“To save herself from punishment,” Reed said.
“She’s not going to get punished?” I was outraged.
“She’s still a Queen. And in childbearing range. Her breeding hiatus will be stopped and things will go back to normal.”
“What’s to stop her from doing this again?”
“Zhang made a deal with the Order of Dragon Slayers. They will have a base in her pyramid in exchange for not killing her.”
“That ought to cramp the Queen Bitch’s style,” I said.
“Indeed.”
“Sorry, I forgot she was your mother.”
“That’s quite all right. She often forgets it herself.”
“Would she really have voted to have you executed?”
“She saw I was getting close to discovering what she was doing, and that’s why she gave me to you. So when I showed no sign of stopping investigations, it probably would be easier to have me taken out of the picture.”
“Seems easier to send assassins after you.”
“She tried that.” He held my gaze. “It failed.”
“Reed, I think we’re being chased down.” I glanced back at the large headlights.
“One way to find out,” he said and killed the lights. He drove the jeep off the road and into the brush; it was a bumpy ride and I feared for Mei Hua’s eggs. He jumped out and shifted as the truck rumbled by and then stopped up ahead.
“Are they Esmeralda’s men or cultists?” I asked.
“I’m not going back there,” Mei Hua warned and shifted also.
“I’m not going to be sacrificed.” I thought really hard, but nothing happened. I figured I had one spew of goo in me from the chalupas and the stress of the evening.
“You are both safe with me,” Reed said and then flew off toward the truck.
“Uh, hello,” I said to Mei Hua. “We’re not with him.” I tracked his progress in the night sky, glad my new vision let me see him as clear as day. If I could see him, then he could see us. I just had to trust that he could get back to us if we ran into trouble. I bit my thumbnail.
“He is very brave,” she said and hunkered her bulk behind the jeep.
Reed landed on the roof of the truck and picked it up in all four claws. It was a colossal effort and I saw him strain until it lifted with him. There were shouts and some men fired pistols at him. When the machine guns started to come out, he let the truck drop. All four tires exploded on impact and soldiers tumbled out in various states of broken bones and contusions. Reed sprayed poison on the lot and took the impetus out of their enthusiasm. Then he flew back to us with a lazy drape of his wings.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist you climb on me again and I can fly you to safety.”
Mei Hua wasted no time returning to human form and grabbing her eggs.
“Have I mentioned that it’s cold and exhausting flying cross country?”
“We’re not going back to Connecticut.”
“Oh good.”
“Tonight, anyway. Get on, Carolyn. It’s just a few miles more to safety.”
A few more miles to a dragon isn’t just down the road. We ended up on his ranch in Texas.
Chapter Fourteen
Fourteenth Rule of Dragons: Eggs belong in the rookery
It must have been the plan all along to arrive in Texas because Joachim was waiting up for us.
“Mei Hua, forgive me,” he begged and went to hug her, but she flinched back and cried.
A large Mexican woman pushed by him and grabbed her hands. “You come with me,” she said in broken English. “I will take you upstairs. There will be talking later.”
Mei Hua, clutching her eggs to her chest, allowed herself to be led away. Joachim blinked back emotion, but I saw the moisture gather in his eyes. He turned to me. “I am glad you are well also. Jane was inconsolable.”
“I should call her,” I said. “Is there a phone?”
Reed escorted me inside, shouldering Joachim out of the way, so he bounced off the wall, and led me up to the master suite. At least, I was assuming it was the master suite. The bed was king-sized and pillows were piled all above it.
“If you think you’re getting lucky after the shit you pulled,” I started to say, but was cut off by the look in Reed’s eyes.
Reed’s jaw clenched. “After your experiences tonight, I assumed that would be the last thing you would want.”
“I saw an ugly side of dragon life. For all your promises that Queens are revered, they can’t choose who to love.”
“Love has nothing to do with this. It’s survival.”
“Nothing will deter them from doing this to another Queen. Does every Queen have a Mei Hua in their basement?”
Reed shook his head. “No.”
“But you don’t know that, do you?”
“I know Mei Hua is a gift. She’s one of a kind.”
That stung. I blinked back tears. “You should go to her, then,” I managed to get out. I was proud my voice was even. “She’s been through a lot.”
“Yes, she has. But I don’t want to be with her right now. I want to be with you.”
I ran into his arms and started to sob. “I was so scared.”
Reed cursed. “Nidhogg, damn Zhang for this idea. I hate that he used you as bait.”
“I don’t mind that part.”
“I mind.” He hugged me.
“You could have told me about it beforehand.” I buried my face in his shirt. He smelled like home.
Mine.
“I didn’t find out until Jack was in the air. I came as fast as I could.”
He came for me.
“I don’t think I’m cut out for the commando life.” I blinked back tears.
“Oh, I don’t know.” He kissed my forehead. “You attacked one of my best agents and earlier this week, the director of the dragon embassy.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t have the balls for it, Reed. I don’t have the strength.” I sighed. “So where does that leave me? Whoring for daddy-wannabe dragons? I can see why Joachim’s cure is tempting.”
Reed’s gripped tightened further. “It’s too late for you now, you know. Your eyes, your breath.”
“That sounds like a bad love poem.” I gave a half laugh. “Yeah, I got that. I still feel I’m in over my head. You all have centuries on me and, as you’ve said, I’m too naive to fish through all the bullshit. I’ve only gotten this far because I have Arianna in me somehow.”
She roused a bit in the back of my mind, but fell still shortly after. I wasn’t sure if her power was weakening, or if she was worn out by our ordeal.
“It will all work out. I know it’s overwhelming for you.” He released me. “I’m going to secure the perimeter. Sleep. You are safe here. Once you are well rested, we can decide on what to do next.”
I missed his arms around me. “I’m sick of being kidnapped.”
“You have my word it will not happen again.”
“Please don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I never do.” He gave me a smoldering look and then strode out.
A kiss would have been nice. Was that too much to ask for?
I fell into the big bed. When I woke up, it felt like I hadn’t slept for days, even though it w
as a full eighteen hours. I searched for Reed in the room, but it was empty.
So this ranch could be mine, I thought assessing the ornate ceiling fan. Nah, too remote and too darn close to those cultists.
My gaze caught on a pile of clothes on the chair. It was a pair of Levi’s and a sturdy plaid work shirt.
Finally, some gear that could stand up to the elements. I wasn’t riding on any more dragons, not unless it was Reed in human form and all hot and sweaty. In the shower, I used up all the hot water before reluctantly stepping out and getting dressed. After braiding my hair, I pinned it up so I didn’t have to waste the time to blow it dry.
I went downstairs and stopped at the railing when I saw Mei Hua kissing Reed. It was only my few futile accounts of assaulting dragons that kept me from attacking. His back was to me with his hands firmly on her hips, while her long fingernails snaked through his hair and rested on his shoulders. He wasn’t holding her close, yet he wasn’t pushing her away.
Apparently, she was feeling better than expected.
“Thank you,” she murmured and ended their kiss with another light caress of her lips. “If you ever need anything, you know where to find me.” She patted his cheek and then blinked when she saw me sitting on the stairs.
“Carolyn,” Mei Hua said. “I didn’t see you there.”
Reed didn’t turn around, but the muscles in his shoulders bunched.
“I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“You’re so sweet,” she said.
“Has Jack arrived back yet?” I asked.
“No,” Reed said, still not turning around. “Jack has returned to Connecticut.”
“I don’t suppose anyone knows where my passport is?” I asked. I needed some form of identification to book a flight out of here.
Mei Hua shrugged and moved along. Reed appeared as if he was going to follow her but sighed and turned around instead.
“Where do you think you left it?” he asked, politely—as if he hadn’t just been sucking face with another woman.
“Actually, this is where you say, ‘This isn’t what it looks like.’”
“But it was,” he said. “Did you leave it in your purse?”
“Yeah, can you call Jack and have him FedEx the purse down here?”
Reed handed me his cell phone. “I am not your errand boy. Call him yourself.” And he left the room.
Hold the phone—which I was. I caught him smooching another woman and he was giving me attitude? What was wrong with this picture? I scrolled through his phone out of spite, but the anal retentive snake had deleted anything later than the past twenty-four hours. There wasn’t anything good or juicy. I found Jack’s number and dialed it.
“I said I was on it,” Jack snarled in the phone.
“On what?”
“Carolyn.” Jack’s voice was guarded. “Why do you have Reed’s phone?”
“He gave it to me. I imagine it’s as LoJacked as his ereader was. I need you to do me a favor, since you’re so fond of doing Queens’ favors.”
“I’m still on the shit list? Even after Reed explained to you…”
“That I was bait? Yeah a little bit, but if you send me my purse next-day air, I’ll forgive you—and jump your bones the next time I see you.”
Arianna, I groaned.
“Sounds like a plan,” Jack said. “Are you coming back soon?”
“The quicker I get my ID, the quicker I can get on a flight.”
“I’m sure Reed can book you something on a”—he cleared his throat and lowered his voice seductively—“private airline.”
“No thanks. Never again. I’ve flown the friendly skies with both you and him now. I’m done. The next time I fly, it will be one with a wide reclining seat and free bar service.”
“Never say never.”
“Smart ass,” I said, but he’d already hung up.
I found Reed’s rotund housekeeper in the kitchen where she wouldn’t talk to me until I had eaten a full plate of huevos rancheros and nearly a pot of coffee. I was strangely okay with this plan, especially since Joachim came in to join me.
“What’s the word on Esmeralda?” I asked through a mouthful of eggs. I smiled apologetically and used my napkin to hide my chewing.
“She’s holed up in her sanctuary.”
“Are you going to break down the doors?”
“It’s not worth the effort. She’ll need to resupply sooner rather than later. Besides, the diplomats will handle the details. The important thing is we’ve rescued Mei Hua and we will keep her with us.”
“In what territory?”
“Wherever we please,” he said. “No dragon really wants to go against the Order of the Dragon Slayers. I’ll be sure to let you know our whereabouts. You are also free to join up with us.”
“What would I do all day?”
“What you do now. No one also would willingly go up against Niall without a lot of backup. Amassing backup tends to make tongues wag, so we’d have warning of the attack. We feel confident we could match any force sent against you. Or you can travel with us. We don’t stay in one place for long. We go where the need takes us.”
“The need to kill dragons,” Reed said, coming into the room.
“Yes, and I’m very eager to start on the list Mei Hua has provided.”
“I’m sure you are.”
“Don’t sound so self-righteous. How many drakes and wyrms died by your embassy’s hands last night?” Joachim rounded on him.
“Dying in battle is a way of dragon life.” Reed folded his arms in front of his chest.
“So is being hunted down and killed like a rabid dog.”
“Gentlemen, don’t make me get the rolled-up newspaper,” I said, steadying the coffee carafe.
“I think it’s time you took your leave,” Reed said to Joachim.
“I don’t think Mei Hua wants to leave just yet. She’s still in a fragile state. You said yourself the ranch is imminently defensible. And there’s enough room for more guards. Mei Hua doesn’t want any male dragons near her, except for you.”
“Convenient,” I said into my coffee and ignored the death glare Reed shot me.
“So I’ll be moving in ten of my best men,” Joachim said. “I expect you will also pick up any slack we have in safeguarding the eggs.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little ironic that the Order of the Dragon Slayers is now protecting two Queens and three eggs?”
“Those Queens were humans once. Mei Hua’s eggs will be raised with human values.”
Reed’s lip curled. A sickening lump in my stomach formed. “Really, Reed, after what I’ve just seen of Esmeralda’s schemes, you don’t have the moral-superiority soapbox to stand on anymore.”
“The eggs belong in a rookery where they can be safe. Not being dragged around the country with a barely shifted Queen and a group of ruffians.”
“Safe like Arianna was?”
Reed glared at me.
“Esmeralda will try to have her revenge. Even if it means killing two Queens,” Joachim said.
“She wouldn’t dare.”
“They’re not safe here in the long run,” Joachim said.
“No one save Jack, Niall, and the beings in this house know where Carolyn and Mei Hua are. If there is a leak, it will be from your organization.”
Joachim snorted. “Everyone knows you have Carolyn with you. All it would take is a systematic run down of all the properties you own to find them.”
“This isn’t my ranch. I use it occasionally, but it’s rented through the embassy.”
“Damn,” I said. “I was beginning to like it here.”
“All right then. That should be sufficient reason to hide them here until we can get them into a fortress.”
“I’m not going to be locked away like Rapunzel,” I said.
“Your hair isn’t long enough,” Reed said absently.
I decided to ignore that, even if he was being cute. “Where’s your computer?”
I glanced up at him expectantly.
“I’m using it.”
“No, at the moment you’re in a pissing contest with Joachim. I want to check my email.”
“Why?” he frowned.
“All right you caught me, I want to surf porn. Unclench and just tell me where the office is.”
“It’s off the living room,” he pointed.
“See you later, Joachim,” I said and just because I was feeling perverse, planted a kiss on his check. “Thanks for everything.” I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at Reed.
“Anytime you wish to come with me, Carolyn, you only have to ask.”
“Not going to happen,” Reed gritted out.
“And here is where I came in. No spitting.” I shook a warning finger at Reed and went to find the office.
Reed’s space was every bit as anal-retentive as he was. For Christmas I was going to get him one of those silver balls on the chain thingies that clicked and clacked when you pushed it. I sat in his chair and squinted at the screen. There were a lot of numbers in a spreadsheet that I could care less about. So I opened up a web browser to check my email. The fax machine turned on and a report from the dragon embassy came through. It was a list of all the hoard items that had been stolen. Interesting.
While I waited for that to complete, I surfed around a bit. Fertilized Jane’s plants in Farmville and sent her a quick FML email. Niall had sent me some zipped mp4s to transcribe and I sighed. No rest for the weary, but as I checked my bank account and realized I had been paid for this week, I figured I could do some transcribing for him.
When Jack’s fax was completed, I grabbed it, moved off the computer, and went to lie down on the mahogany leather couch. I’m not a complete heathen. I kicked off my shoes first. I was so engrossed in the details of the missing hoard pieces I didn’t realize Reed had come in until he shut and locked the door behind him.
“Don’t lock it.” I frowned.
“I don’t wish to be disturbed.”
“After Mexico, I’m not very fond of being locked in.”
He unlocked it and stalked over to the couch.
I pretended to be more interested in the inventory than in him, but when he sank to the ground in front of me I stared.
“It’s an interesting position we find ourselves in,” he said.
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