by Jane Jamison
“Not a chance in hell. I’m through with the both of you. Dalton, I’m taking your car. You two can share a cab to hell.”
Before they could try and keep her there, she whirled around and rushed toward the waiting car. Martin saw her coming, his attention shifting toward Dalton before opening the car door for her.
At least Dalton had the decency to let her take the car. She slid onto the back seat, keeping firmly faced toward the front.
“Where would you like me to take you, miss?”
“Back to my hotel.”
“Yes, miss.” He closed the door then got behind the wheel.
Pulling her phone out, Peyton was determined to keep the tears stinging her eyes at bay. She punched in her friend’s number. “Shirley?”
“Yeah? What’s up? How’s the night going? Do you want me to put a sock on the door?”
“Are you still dressed?”
“Yeah. I’m still doing slots. I found a nice guy to talk to—”
“Do you want to party with him or with me? I’ll understand if you’d rather stick with him.” After all, she’d left Shirley alone often enough.
“What’s wrong? You sound upset.”
“I don’t want to talk about it right now. But if you want to ride around in a fancy car, we can hit the hot spots around town.”
“Hell, yeah. Let’s do it.”
She’d never been more appreciative of Shirley’s friendship. “Great. Meet me at the south entrance of the hotel.”
She ended the call. Before the night was out, she’d get drunk enough to forget both Roman and Dalton.
Is there enough alcohol to make me forget?
She wasn’t certain there was, but she was damn sure going to find out.
Chapter Six
Roman stayed where he was, standing next to Dalton and wondering what the hell had just happened. Peyton had gotten into Dalton’s car and whisked away. “I can’t believe—”
The next moment, Dalton had him by the throat as the tourists around them scattered. He managed to force out a few words. “Damn it. Stop grabbing me by the throat.”
The last thing they needed was to make a scene. No dragon wanted to stand out in the middle of a crowd of humans.
Dalton’s eye blazed with red as he put his face close to Roman’s. “What the fuck did you think you were doing? We agreed. It was my time with her.”
He didn’t really need to explain. In fact, if the situation were reversed, if it had been his time with Peyton, Dalton would’ve shown up just like he had. But they had a bigger issue to worry about.
“I couldn’t—” He locked his hands together and brought them up hard, breaking Dalton’s hold on him. Grasping his throat, he stumbled away. “Will you listen for a fucking minute?”
Dalton was so angry he was close to shifting. His fists were at his side as he slowly approached Roman. “Sure. I’ll listen, all right. I’ll listen while I’m pounding your face into the ground.”
Roman held up his hand. He didn’t like looking like a wimp in front of all those people, but getting Dalton to calm down enough to listen was the priority at that moment. “I couldn’t get the bracelet off her.”
Dalton blinked, the green of his eyes coming back for a moment. Then the red returned, but at least it wasn’t the dark red of anger. He was starting to listen.
“I couldn’t get the bracelet off her wrist.”
The green came back and stayed this time. “What?”
“I tried to twist the bracelet off, but I couldn’t. It didn’t budge.”
“She didn’t want you to get it off.”
Roman grabbed his friend’s arm and pulled him away from the crowd that was only now beginning to stop staring at them. “No. I don’t think she even realized how hard I was trying. She was too upset to notice.” He turned Dalton’s arm loose. “Do you know what I’m getting at?”
“What you’re saying isn’t making any sense. The bracelet went on her wrist, and it’ll come off.”
Was Dalton trying not to understand? Or was he too thickheaded to get it? “No, it won’t. Not if she’s the one.”
Dalton stared at him. Roman could see how hard his friend was thinking, trying to find another explanation.
“It’s just a story. A myth.”
Good. He’s coming around.
“Maybe it’s not. Maybe it’s all real.” Excitement leapt to life inside him. If he was right, if she really was the one, then centuries of tales were true.
“You’re talking about the Dragoness. The one, true Queen of the Dragons.” Dalton shook his head, even now denying what he had to know was the truth. “If only she can take the bracelet off, then she’s destined to be the Dragoness. She’ll be the one to bring the clans together. But she’s not of noble descent. She’s from Ohio, for fuck’s sake.”
“Who said she had to be of noble lineage? The myth doesn’t even say she has to be a dragon. In fact, it makes more sense if she’s not. If she was, she’d be tied to one of the clans. Her rule would be suspect.”
“This is insane. It’s a damn fairy tale.”
“I don’t think so. Sure, I never gave it much thought before, but it all makes sense. The four ruling clans are pitted against one another right now. We’ll never come together unless there’s something, or someone, joining us.”
“Did you try hard enough? Did you really want to get it off her arm?”
“Yeah, I did.”
Dalton was having a difficult time believing, but Roman couldn’t blame him. Even now, as he fought to prove the prophecy was real, a part of him wanted to claim he was crazy.
Yet the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. “If the clans don’t believe in the prophecy, then why are we so determined to hang on to the bracelet? Why do we risk our lives to keep it safe? If not for the prophecy, then it’s just another piece of jewelry.”
Dalton turned, stalked away, and then faced him again. “Because it’s part of our heritage. The prophecy is part of our people’s history. That’s why. Not because we believe the story.”
“Then how do you explain it? I tried hard to get the bracelet off. It wouldn’t budge.”
“If you hadn’t interrupted us, I might have had a chance.”
“Bullshit. Getting the bracelet off wasn’t what you had in mind.” Not that he could blame him. He’d wanted to get her clothes off her as soon as he could. And since Dalton knew he’d already taken her to bed, he probably wanted to get her in his bed even more.
At last, Dalton relaxed, even smiled. “I’ll get her there.”
He wasn’t sure where the fury came from, but it slashed through him like a tornado over the open plains. His shove sent Dalton stumbling backward, almost taking him to his ass. The people scattered again, not sticking by to see what would happen this time.
“Fuck you, Dalton. You’d better not be screwing around. Even if she’s not the Dragoness, she’s better than some shithead’s plaything. She’s special.” He couldn’t think straight. His inner dragon roared its anger, urging him to turn it free. It took everything in his power to keep from letting it go.
“She’s not a plaything to me, either.”
They studied each other, both suddenly realizing what the other meant.
“Shit,” whispered Roman. Could it really have happened? Had she gotten under his skin? Believing he was falling for her was harder than believing in the prophecy.
Dalton narrowed his eyes, obviously seeing all of Roman’s feelings displayed on his face. “You’re hooked on her, aren’t you?”
He started to lie. Hell, he wanted to lie. Yet he couldn’t. “Like I said, she’s special. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever known.” He scoffed, surprised by his own words. “I don’t really know her, and yet, I feel like I’ve known her forever.”
Dalton’s smug attitude dropped away. “You love her.” His voice was low, his tone filled with awe. “It’s part of the prophecy.”
“What?” He tried to think, but his only thoughts were o
f her. How had it happened? When had it happened? He’d always kept a close watch over his emotions, never allowing himself to feel deeply for anyone. Until Peyton, it had been easy to do.
“The Dragoness will choose her mates and will rule the clans. It’s part of the prophecy once she’s wearing the Bracelet of Atlantis. Until she takes her mates, she can’t, and won’t, want to take the bracelet off. And no one else can get it off, either. Short of cutting her hand off.”
Like they’d ever let that happen. “This is crazy. She hasn’t chosen me, and I don’t want to be anyone’s mate.”
Except hers.
“You don’t have a choice. If the prophecy is coming true, then you’ve already been chosen.”
He’d hated the idea of getting mated. Once he did, the journey to the end of his life would start. Dragons could live forever—provided they remained unmated.
Was a short time with Peyton worth giving up immortality?
His answer came swiftly. Yes. If he could have only a year with her, it would be worth a millennium of living without her. But why? He barely knew her. And yet, they’d come together. Was it love at first sight—or the fulfilment of an ancient prophecy? And yet, did it really matter? Still, accepting what his heart knew to be true, was difficult.
“She hasn’t chosen me.”
“She’s given herself to you.”
“Sexually, yes, but I wasn’t her first. She wasn’t a virgin.”
“It doesn’t matter how many men she’s been with before you. Once she put the bracelet on, once she became the Dragoness, she chose you to take into her bed.”
Dalton was pushing hard. “We don’t know anything for certain right now.”
“You were certain a moment ago.”
He had been. But now that the prophecy included him, he wasn’t sure he was ready. He was already a high-ranking member of the Talasium clan, but if he was the mate to the Dragoness, then he’d have even more power.
“She isn’t a Dragoness yet.”
“You’re searching for a way out.” Dalton pushed again.
“Her mate would have to claim her before she can become the Dragoness.”
“You’re wrong.”
He scowled at Dalton. Was the man being argumentative for the hell of it? “No. I’m right.”
“The prophecy says that her mate or mates have to claim her.”
“I don’t know what you’re getting at.” Until it hit him. “Are you thinking you’re one of her mates?”
Dalton shrugged as though he’d been asked if he wanted a pizza. “I could be.”
“You haven’t spent any time with her.” What was Dalton up to? “You don’t even—” He closed his mouth, stopping before he said the words.
“I don’t even know her? You said the same thing.”
“Don’t fuck this up. If she and I are meant to be together, then let it happen.”
“The heart wants what the heart wants.”
“Damn it, old man, don’t fuck with me.”
Dalton pulled out his phone and punched in numbers. “Don’t get your tail in a knot. Let’s let it ride for now. What’s most important is keeping her safe. Until we can figure out if this whole prophecy thing is real, we stick to our original plan. One of us stays with her whenever she leaves her suite.”
“Agreed.”
“That means time alone with her. You’ve butted in enough.”
“We’ll be lucky if she wants to see either one of us again.” He’d win her back over. If the prophecy was real, she wouldn’t be able to resist her mate.
Or would it be mates? Could he share her with Dalton if she decided she wanted him, too? At least Dalton was a friend, even if he was an irritating one at times.
“Fine.” He couldn’t help but take a dig at Dalton. “Your date’s over. It’s my turn next.”
“The hell it is. We barely got started.” He pointed at Roman. “I get more time.”
“Whatever. Just don’t fuck it up.” Roman nodded, agreeing, but not really agreeing. He’d let Dalton take her out again to avoid another argument, but in the meantime, he’d make sure she knew he was thinking about her. For more than just the prophecy. He hadn’t lied before. She pulled at his inner dragon and tugged at his human side as well. No woman had ever called to both sides of him.
* * * *
“Okay. They’re going overboard now.” Peyton turned in a slow circle so she could take everything in. Between Roman and Dalton, the suite’s living area was filled with vases of flowers as well as gifts ranging from the cutest stuff animals to more jewelry.
Shirley tried on a necklace and preened in front of an ornate mirror. “Tell me you’re not complaining. I’d kill to have two men fighting over me.”
“I’m not sure they’re actually fighting. Neither one of them mentioned the other. They both wrote apology letters, asking me to forgive and forget how they acted like little boys yesterday.”
“I sure didn’t mind.” Shirley tried on the matching earrings. “I loved having a driver for the night. It saved us a fortune in cabs rides jumping from one bar to the next. We made it to a lot of places we never would’ve had time for if we hadn’t had a chauffeur sitting around waiting to take us wherever we pleased.”
“Don’t remind me.” Peyton sipped on her water. “My head’s still hurting.”
“Mine, too, but it was worth it.”
“You know I can’t keep all this.” The bracelet had been hard enough to keep—for now—but more jewelry, candy, and flowers? No way. “This is making me uncomfortable. All they should’ve done was to apologize. I may have overreacted, anyway. It was just that…”
What? That she’d felt drawn to both of them? That she’d felt as though they wanted her to choose between them, even though she didn’t want to? She knew Roman better, but there was something special about Dalton, too. Both men made her feel desirable, needed, even yearned for. Not only was she physically attracted to them—after all, what woman wouldn’t be?—she wanted to know them better, to ask them everything about their lives.
Shirley knew her better than anyone else. “You want them, don’t you?”
She turned her back on her friend, unable to face her. “Maybe.”
“But you’ve already slept with Roman, right?”
“You know I have.”
“And you want to sleep with Dalton. That’s the problem, isn’t it?”
She had to look at Shirley and see the truth. “Yes. Does that make me a slut?”
Thankfully, Shirley didn’t laugh and, instead, gave her question serious consideration. “Truthfully?”
“No. I want you to lie to me.” She picked up a pillow embroidered with her name and tossed it at her friend. “Of course I want the truth.”
“Seriously, I think you’re the luckiest girl alive.”
“Really?” Relieved, she added, “I was kind of thinking along the same lines, but I didn’t want to say anything.”
“If I were you, I’d be happy dancing all over the place.” Shirley pulled off the earrings then hopped to her feet. “Come on. The best cure for a hangover is to get back out there. We’ve spent most of the day cooped up in this place. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful, but we only have a few more days left. Let’s make the most out of them.”
Sometimes Peyton wished she had Shirley’s enthusiasm for life. “You’re right. Let’s hit the town again. We can moan and groan when we get back home.”
They snatched up their room keys and slipped them into the back pocket of their jeans along with their phones. In no time at all—one of the perks of staying in a suite with an elevator designated for only that floor—they were weaving through the crowds in the casino and heading toward the front door of the hotel. The night was young and, even if they still had hangovers, they were ready to party again.
“Peyton.”
She sucked in a breath and turned toward Dalton. He leaned against his car. Martin sat in the driver’s seat, once again ready to take the
wheel. “Dalton, what are you doing here?”
Shirley took her arm, squeezed it, and whispered, “Damn, he looks good. Stop asking questions and start taking advantage of him. If you’re into sharing, let’s take him with us, get him drunk, and fuck him until his cock is sore.”
She wouldn’t argue Shirley’s logic. Her body heated up, her energy level going even higher than before. The man turned her on with his emerald eyes and confident attitude. If Roman had been by his side, the power of their combined sex appeal would’ve burned her pussy through her panties.
“You look amazing.” His appreciative gaze slid over her body. “Better than ever.”
“Thanks. Oh, and thanks for all the gifts. But I can’t keep them. I know you can’t return the flowers and candy, but you’ve got to take the presents back. It’s too much.”
Suddenly, she was all too aware of the golden bracelet adorning her wrist. Why hadn’t she given it back to Roman yet? And yet the idea of not having the bracelet made her stomach queasy.
“You’re wrong.” He strode over and took her hand. Lifting her arm, he studied the ringlet encircling her wrist. “If I could give you all the jewelry in the world, it wouldn’t be enough.”
What could she say? Instead, she averted her gaze long enough for Shirley to give her a “go on” look.
“I guess you’ve forgiven me since you’re talking to me again?”
“Yes, but not because of all the gifts. I overreacted and shouldn’t have stormed off. Not to mention taking your car and driver for the rest of the night.”
“Don’t worry about it. You can make it up to me tonight.”
He pulled her along so fast and hard she didn’t have time to think. Opening the car door, he waited for her to get inside.
“And Shirley?” She waved her friend over. “She’s coming with us.”
“As a chaperone?” His green eyes took hold of her, melting her with their glittering power.
“Do I need one?” She could play coy, too, even if all she wanted to do was shove him into the back seat and fuck his brains out.
“Yeah?” Shirley stuck out her hand. “Hi. You must be Dalton. I’m Peyton’s best friend and secret ninja warrior. You hurt her, and I will dig your heart out with a dull knife.”