by Lola Gabriel
Becca gazed at Dax’s naked torso, their bodies intertwined in one another on the velvet sofa. The fish tank cast the same blue glow upon them, only now it seemed more radiant. It was hard for her to understand that Dax was her True Mate, as he had called it, and that she would spend the rest of her life with him. She had spent most of her life alone, on her own, providing for herself.
She wondered whether Dax would grow tired of her one day, that he would set his eyes on another woman, one who was more beautiful than her. Although she had experienced the most amazing and pleasure-filled night of her life with him, she was afraid of what it might mean for her.
She knew well enough that Dax was a playboy who liked fast cars and even faster women. What would stop him from just carrying on with his life? She wouldn’t be able to make him stay if he didn’t want to, could she? Wild dragons could never be tamed.
Someone had told her that, but she could not recall who. Was it her mother? Her father? Frankly, it could be anyone.
“There’s something I didn’t tell you, Becca,” Dax whispered, running his fingers along the bare skin of her back.
“And what’s that?”
“Before I was born, there was a tragedy in my parents’ palace. It was attacked by a coven of witches, and a lot of dragons died that day. A lot of people who served for my father.”
“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry,” she whispered and rested her chin on his chest.
“There was a witch, Rhaena the Wicked, who was a direct descendant of Livia Ambrosios, the most powerful witch in the whole world. She wanted my entire family to die. My mother was too powerful for her, fueled by the love only a mother could feel. She killed Rhaena, but not before she cast a spell over our eggs.”
“Your eggs?”
“My brothers and I, we were born from eggs. This was five thousand years ago. We were the last of our kind who were born that way. I think it had something to do with the whole ‘end of an era’ bullshit that my father was talking about in his sleep. Who knows, right?”
“Right,” Becca mumbled and sat upright. She noticed the clock on the wall, and her eyes widened. It was well after one in the morning. “Is that the time?”
Dax glanced in the same direction as she did and nodded.
Becca stood from the sofa and grabbed her dress, which lay at the foot of the bar. “I have to go. I have so much to do tomorrow—later today. I have to go to the shelters and meet with the kids. I also have to see the realtor about the land in the mountains—”
“Becca, it’s okay. I’ll take you home,” he said. He grabbed his pants and quickly got dressed.
Becca slowly followed Dax out of the private section, through a door which she had not seen before. They were the last ones there, besides the staff. Luckily, they didn’t encounter any of the staff members, because Becca would have died from embarrassment. She had been pretty vocal in the throes of passion, and who knew who had heard her. Most likely, everyone had.
She followed Dax to where he had parked his car and stopped abruptly as the black Lamborghini came into view.
“You have got to be kidding me,” she muttered, placing her hands on her hips.
Dax turned to her as he opened the passenger door for her and frowned. “What?”
“This is your car?”
“Yes.”
“You’re the idiot who speeds like the devil himself is on your heels, and who ran a red light and almost got me killed the other day?”
“What are you talking about?”
“A black Lamborghini ran a red light and almost drove me off the road.”
“When was this?”
“A few nights ago.”
Dax’s senses tingled in all the wrong ways, and he ordered, “Get in the car.”
“What’s going on?”
“Just get in the car. There’s something that I need to tell you.”
Becca noticed the urgency in his voice and slid into the passenger seat of his car. He closed the door, ran to the driver’s side, and slipped in behind the wheel.
The car roared to life, and Dax sped off. The lights flying past in the window made Becca dizzy, and she closed her eyes for a few seconds. She took a deep breath before turning to Dax. “What’s going on?”
“My brothers and I were cursed. For five thousand years, we wouldn’t be able to love romantically or find our True Mates.”
“But it’s been five thousand years already, right?”
“Right, but Rhaena added a sub-clause. Even if we did manage to find our True Mates, keeping them would be difficult. They would either be driven away from us, or hurt by others who share the bloodline of Rhaena, or even...”
His voice trailed off, but by the dread-filled expression on his face, Becca knew exactly what he was going to say.
“Killed?”
Dax nodded and focused on the road before them.
Becca let out a terrified breath, and she sunk back into the leather seat, unsure of what to do next. She knew she was at a crossroads, and she didn’t know which path to take. She didn’t want to be without Dax, especially not after tonight, but she also didn’t want to die at the expense of being with him. It was too dangerous to be close to him, and she had a lot more to live for. She had the kids to think about.
There’s only one thing to do then.
Somehow, in the silence they shared as Dax drove her home, they both knew what the outcome would be.
There was no other choice.
5
The skyline seemed especially dull that morning, and Dax knew exactly why. It had been nearly three weeks since he had last seen Becca.
They both had agreed that it would be better to keep their distance from one another, although they were not quite sure for whom it would be better. So far, it had been grueling for Dax, despite being so used to being by himself. He felt incomplete, and he desperately needed to see her, regardless if it put her life in danger. Of course he was being his usual reckless self in that regard, but his desire to see her clouded his mind, which only made him even more reckless and desperate.
He tapped his pen on the long list of names and addresses of the Immortal Elite who were invited to his father’s ball, staring at the wood grains of the tabletop. He was awaiting the delivery of the official invitations from the printers, which would arrive later that afternoon. He continued tapping the pen against the paper, creating dull sound, and suddenly stopped. That was quite enough planning for one day. He was ahead of schedule, the venue had been booked and confirmed, the menu had been approved by his father, and the next thing to do was to have the invitations sent out. There was nothing more to be done at this stage.
Dax stood from where he was sitting, grabbed his coat, and headed out the door. He rushed down to his car and sped towards Becca’s offices.
Once there, he ran inside and found the raven-haired woman behind the front desk. He knew she wasn’t the receptionist, but he approached her anyway.
“Excuse me,” he said, and she glanced up from the folder filled with documents, sprawled out in front of her.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Becca. I’m—”
“I know who you are,” she said, lowering her gaze again. “Becca’s not here.”
“Where is she?” he muttered impatiently.
“She’s with the kids.”
“Look, I don’t know what Becca told you, but I really need to see her.” Dax noticed the nametag just below the breast pocket of her white shirt. “Please, Lucinda.”
Lucinda looked at him with a jerked movement of her head and sighed. “She talks about you a lot, you know. Even though she knows she’s not supposed to.”
“Did she tell you why?”
“She tells me everything.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
“She’s been through a lot in her life, and she deserves to be happy and safe. If you can’t provide that for her, then you’re better off staying away from her.”
“I would do anything to keep her safe. She should know that.”
“Would you? Because staying away from her for three weeks doesn’t really seem like it to me.” Lucinda shrugged.
“Look, I know she’s your friend, but this really doesn’t have anything to do with you. Can you just tell me where she is?” Dax asked with an edged tone.
“She’s in the back, in the shelter with the kids.”
“Thanks.” Dax walked past the desk, down the hallway, and opened the back door, following the sign on the wall which showed the way to the shelter. He wasn’t really sure what he was expecting, but as soon as he opened the large wrought iron gate and descended a short stairwell, he stopped abruptly.
The outside looked like a conservatory, with an open ceiling. Plants were growing around the structure, and the stone tiles on the ground were arranged in ornate patterns which he instantly recognized. The town square in Lunca had the same motifs, and Dax was immediately transformed back to his childhood. For a moment, at least.
There were a few teenagers sitting on the wooden benches, talking amongst themselves, and they stopped as soon as they saw him. He nodded at them and continued walking towards the large glass doors in front of him.
“Are you lost, mister?” a young girl called out to him, and he turned to her. She had the distinct scent of a wolf shifter all over her, and Dax momentarily relaxed. He was with his own kind, free from all judgment, fear, and prejudice.
“I’m looking for Becca. Do you know where I can find her?”
“You’re Dax, right? The Dragon Prince?” the young girl asked.
“How do you know that?”
“Everybody knows about you. We don’t live under a rock, you know,” she retorted.
Dax grinned and nodded. “Yeah, that’s me.”
“Becca is in the Great Hall, just through those doors. She’s reading a story to the younger kids. It’s their nap time.”
“Thanks for the help, uh...”
“Serene.”
“Thank you, Serene,” Dax said gratefully and made his way to the doors. He opened them and stepped inside.
The inside looked completely different to the outside, with faded carpets and a school classroom look to it. In the far corner, couches were arranged to face each other, and Becca, surrounded by younger kids, sat comfortably, reading a story. None of the children—or Becca, for that matter—paid him any attention, and he was convinced that they were too enthralled in the story she was telling them to even notice.
A slow smile formed on Dax’s lips as he stood beside a large stone pillar, watching her. She looked happy, surrounded by children, and a warm feeling filled him up inside. He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, but a short while after all the kids fell asleep on the couches, Becca turned her head to him and saw him standing there.
Dax straightened up as she quietly stood from her spot on the couch and made her way towards him.
“Dax, what are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice low.
“I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
“I’m okay. I am just trying to stay busy, you know. How is the planning going?” she asked slowly, articulating her words.
“It’s going well. I’ve got everything done. The invitations are going out this week. I’ll drop the ones off for your colleagues.”
“That’s great. Thank you.”
A short and awkward silence filled the room. Dax sighed. “Is there somewhere else where we can talk?”
Becca nodded wordlessly and walked to a small hallway to the side, Dax following her. She went into a large room filled with beds and closed the door behind them.
“Is this where they all sleep?” Dax inquired.
“The older kids, yeah.”
“You’re really great with them, you know.”
“Thank you.” She nodded and lowered her gaze. “It’s tough for them all, but I try so hard to make their lives better. If I think back to the things I had to endure when I was living on the streets, it’s not something I would want anyone to experience.”
“You lived on the streets?”
“For a long time. After my parents died, I didn’t have any family who could take care of me. It was a tough life. It almost broke me.”
“But it didn’t. You’re strong; I can feel it.”
Becca turned to him and smiled weakly.
“The past three weeks have been nothing short of torturous for me, Becca. I tried so hard to give you space, like you wanted—”
“We agreed to stay away from each other, Dax.”
“I know, but I can’t deny myself the chance to be with you. We are supposed to be together, and no curse is going to stop me from doing that,” Dax replied confidently.
“Not even the chance that I might get killed?”
“I will never hurt you, Becca, and I will always keep you safe.”
Becca frowned for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Do you know the specifics of the curse? What if you’re the one who kills me?”
“I would never hurt you,” Dax answered matter-of-factly. “I will do everything in my power to keep you safe,” he said softly, taking her hand in his. Her skin was soft and warm against his, and she gazed into his eyes.
“Dax...”
Dax pulled her close to him. Their lips met in a long-overdue kiss, filled with urgency and need, as if they had been apart for decades. His fingers raked through her hair, setting his senses alight, and he couldn’t get enough of her.
Becca pulled out of his embrace much too soon and glanced up at him. He brushed a lock of hair off her face and whispered, “I will never let anything happen to you, Becca.”
“I really want to believe you, Dax, but what if—”
“What if what?”
“I don’t know. I guess I am just too used to being on my own and looking after myself that the thought of being with you just scares me. It’s so overwhelming, these feelings inside me, and I am just scared that I might lose myself in them,” she admitted.
“I won’t let that happen.”
Becca placed her hand on his cheek and smiled weakly. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”
“Neither have I. We’ll figure this out together, okay?” Dax murmured, feeling his heart pounding in unison with hers.
“There’s just a few things I want to know. I’ve been thinking about it ever since the night you told me about the curse.”
“Of course.”
“Is there any way to break it?”
“Only a witch who is a direct descendant of Rhaena can do it, but her bloodline is scarce. No one even knows where her descendants are,” Dax explained.
“And that is the only way?”
“According to the legends, yes. I could always ask my mother. She knows more about this than anyone.”
“That would be helpful. I could also talk to her, if you want me to,” Becca suggested.
“She’s in London, visiting one of my brothers, but as soon as she comes back, I’ll talk to her.”
“Okay. I have one more question.”
“Okay.”
“Why did Rhaena’s coven want you and your family dead?”
“Dragons and witches have never been able to get along. Rhaena had a long history with my family and she wanted vengeance. My father killed her lover, and the feud simply grew worse from there.”
“Why did he kill him?”
“To protect my mother.”
Becca thought whether or not she would kill to protect her mate, and she realized she would.
Dax continued. “He wasn’t the only one my father killed though. Witches were constantly threatening the lives of my family and other dragons. My father was responsible for thousands of deaths to protect his kingdom.” He paused to gauge her reaction. “I know what you must be thinking. It’s awfully cruel, but…”
“No, that’s not what I was thinking,” she protested and turned away.
She was actually thinki
ng that his father sounded more like a blood-hungry, powerful dragon king who slaughtered entire covens. No wonder the witches hadn’t like them very much.
“It’s not like that, Becca,” Dax insisted.
Becca whirled around with a gasp. “What did you say?”
“That my father is not a blood-hungry, powerful dragon king—”
“I didn’t say that out loud. How did you hear that?”
“I didn’t. Not how normal people hear, in any case.”
Becca glared at him. “You can hear my thoughts?”
“Yes, but—”
“The whole time, you could hear my thoughts?”
“No! Not the whole time, I swear!” Dax answered and slowly approached her. “Just from the night at the cocktail lounge.”
“What? While we were—”
“A little while into it,” he admitted, cringing.
“Oh, my gods!” Becca exclaimed. She hid her face behind her hands. “I am so embarrassed.”
“Please, don’t be. Your filthy thoughts only made the whole thing so much sexier. Especially the part where you wanted me to—”
“Dax! Stop it!” she cried. “How dare you invade my thoughts like that!”
“I really didn’t mean to. I swear,” he said. “I’m sorry, okay? I wanted to tell you, but I was just so into the moment, you know? You were, too, and…”
Becca bit her bottom lip and turned to him, her hands on her hips. “What?”
“It was just so perfect,” he said. “I didn’t want to ruin it.”
Becca’s arms dropped to her sides. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have freaked out like I did. I’m just feeling a little on edge today.”
“Why is that? Did something happen?” Dax took a few steps towards her.
Becca sighed, and it seemed to Dax that it wasn’t something she wanted to talk about, but it felt wrong not to tell him.
“Being an orphan and not knowing my parents and my family, I wanted to know them, even if it was just through subjective opinions. I have the file at home that contains all of that. The names of my parents, possible siblings, and family members, but I’m too scared to open it,” she replied and looked at him. “That probably sounds so stupid, right?”