Dragon Knight Of Khoth

by Brenda Trim

  “C’mon, Lorne. Let’s go back to your place,” Trish whined in his ear. She was standing on her tiptoes, kissing his neck and ear.

  With his position as a Máahes knight, he rarely dated, and Trish was no exception. He’d been out with her a couple times and readily went to her bed. He recalled the pleasure she could provide and was dismayed his shaft wasn’t responding to her affection. She’d been wild, and unrestrained and Lorne enjoyed himself immensely, but now his dragon didn’t even stir.

  “Fucking hell,” he muttered under his breath. His mistake regarding Cambree was affecting everything. He struggled to focus on patrols and during meetings. His mind inevitably went back to seeing the pitiful female with her torn shirt and tear-stained face telling him to stay away from her.

  Finn’s towering frame suddenly came into view. The male winked at a group of females as he slowly strolled toward the dance floor. Fucking prole.

  “Forget it, Trish. It’s not happening tonight. Too much going on,” Lorne barked over his shoulder and kicked into gear, heading for Finn before the female could respond.

  He ignored Trish’s pleading words, “What? Please don’t tell me this is about that skank you were talking to.” When he kept walking, Lorne heard her mutter bitterly before a crowd circled him.

  “Is this about the ugly female?” one female spouted.

  “What does she have except being Tuya?” another countered.

  “She’s a nobody if you ask me,” a male interjected.

  What the fuck was wrong with these dragons? Lorne thought. Why were they so judgemental? Cambree was intelligent, sweet, and kind. So what if she wasn’t the best-looking female on Khoth?

  He glanced over his shoulder at Trish and the crowd, and suddenly knew the reason. Hell, he wasn’t much better than them. He asked Trish out because she was beautiful and sexy. How could he throw stones when he was cut from the same cloth?

  Putting the contemplation out of his mind, he roughly grabbed Finn and drug him toward a back hall. “What the fuck are you thinking, scrote?” he snarled at his friend and fellow Máahes.

  Finn pushed his shoulders, forcing Lorne to back up several steps, and spat, “What’s your problem, douche dick? I am doing my job!” the male shouted.

  “No, you’re not. I seem to be the only one here watching out for Cambree. You were off doing Gods-only-know-what. While you are on guard duty, it is not the time to find a female to fuck. Your only thought should be about Cambree, and her safety,” Lorne gritted as his anger intensified.

  “Fuck you, prole. I went to take a piss and was gone for like two minutes. She’s fine and sitting right over there,” Finn countered and looked over Lorne’s shoulder toward the tables.

  “Shows what you know. Cambree was all but attacked on the dance floor only moments ago by her so-called date. You cannot assume she is safe with anyone,” Lorne growled low in his throat and clenched his hands. He was on the verge of decking his long-time friend.

  “What?” Finn asked as his face lost all color. “Where’s Noah? I’ll kill the fucker.”

  No Máahes would tolerate a male treating a female in such a manner. Here was the knight Lorne expected to see. He wrongly assumed Finn was slacking on the job when he was merely using the restroom.

  “I took care of it, but if I ever see you out of her sight again, I will personally slice your balls off and feed them to Red Caps,” Lorne promised.

  “That female attracts trouble like the ocean does sea dragons. How the hell are we supposed to keep her safe if I can’t even go to the bathroom?” Finn asked.

  “Next time you hold it, prole,” Lorne declared.

  “Or, I could bring her with me,” Finn suggested. “We’ve gotten close since I was assigned to her. Hell, I wouldn’t mind taking her out. If she’s dating me, we’ll know she’s safe.”

  Lorne’s vision hazed and fire burned his throat as Finn joked about putting his hat in the ring with Cambree. In fact, he was murderous at the idea and had no clue as to why.

  “That’s not going to happen, jackwagon. Cambree’s not a painting or piece of clothing to be bought and sold. She will date whomever she chooses, and you will not ask her out. You are here to keep her safe from assholes like Noah, nothing more. She must trust you can do that. Am I clear?” Lorne ordered.

  Finn choked out a cough, and Lorne realized he’d grabbed the male by the throat and was holding him up against the wall with one hand.

  “Yes. I will keep Cambree safe, I swear,” Finn grunted, and Lorne released his hold.

  “Good. Now, take her home,” Lorne instructed then turned and stalked through the crowd.

  He had to get out of the restaurant before he lost it. His gaze drifted to where Cambree was sitting. She looked so helpless and scared. Part of him wanted to shake some sense into the damn female, and the other part wanted to take her in his arms and promise to keep her safe always. What the hell was wrong with him?

  He stalked from the building then roared toward the night sky. Apparently, he’d lost his fucking mind.

  * * *

  Chapter 2

  Cambree tightened her grip on the coffee mug and scowled. Her lovely coworkers were at it again, whispering not-so-quietly behind her back. As if becoming a freak after the Civapu wasn’t enough, now she was an even bigger target because she didn’t allow Noah to have his way with her.

  According to the latest gossip, Cambree should be grateful anyone wanted to date her. She wished she could blame jealousy for their hurtful words, but she knew better. No one paid an ounce of attention to her until she became a Tuya. Her new status was the only reason the protective knights watched her every move, or that any male wanted to date her. Perhaps the females were right, and she should jump for joy that Noah wanted to bed her.

  “Is it true, Cambree?” Delilah asked, forcing her to turn away from the coffee pot and face them.

  The coffee maker was new to their office. Their realm had tea and other drinks derived from plants, but the potent blend made from beans was recently brought to the members of Khoth, and males and females alike couldn’t get enough of the dark brew.

  At first, the indigenous beans were only sold at Nolan’s Brewhaus, but then the owner realized he could make a small fortune by offering his java to nearby businesses, promising employers their staff would work harder after consuming the caffeinated drink.

  Cambree had to laugh at that. Sure, it gave her a much-needed boost when she crashed in the afternoons, but not everyone was like her. Take this group of females for example. As the office gossips, they spent more time spreading lies about one another than actually working. In fact, going to the break room for a cup of coffee was their latest excuse to keep from doing their work.

  “Is what true? That coffee makes us better employees?” Cambree joked with a laugh.

  Delilah scrunched up her perfect lips and tilted her head. “Hardly. What we want to know is, why did you have your bodyguard scare poor Noah away? How could you be so mean? You’re lucky a male like him is interested at all.”

  Cambree’s skin flushed as her irritation rose and embarrassment made her want to crawl in a hole. She longed to go back to the ignored worker-bee she was before. Sure, she hated that they dumped work on her desk because they couldn’t get much done while they walked around disparaging each other, but she preferred to be ignored and overworked to being the target of the office rumor mill.

  “He never would’ve paid any attention to her if she wasn’t Tuya,” Caroline added with a sneer.

  The female’s hair stood almost a foot off her head and always gave Cambree a chuckle. Caroline reminded her of the razu that roamed the jungles. They were strange-looking animals with extremely long necks. For the most part, they were harmless creatures, but their flesh was poisonous to dragons. Just like Caroline. She was toxic, too.

  “Your pet razu likes me well enough,” Cambree taunted then threw her hand over her mouth in shock. She never made comments to anyone, let alone sarca
stic ones.

  “What?” Caroline asked and looked to her friends then back to Cambree. “I don’t even own a razu. Geez, you’re so weird, Cambree. No wonder you’re such a plague,” she spouted then turned to the other females. “Ooo, speaking of pets, I finally got a kippie,” Caroline squealed, and the small group forgot about Cambree and focused on the discussion about the small, furry animals.

  Cambree rolled her eyes. These females could not form a thought of their own if their lives depended on it. They followed every trend that came down the pipes.

  Cambree didn’t get it. How the heck could dragon shifters have kippies for pets when they often snacked on them? It wasn’t often, but when she took her dragon form, Cambree would eat the small critters. And, why not? They were quite tasty, and a good food source for dragons.

  She wondered how this latest trend was going to shift the balance in their ecosystem. She wasn’t a geologist but recalled enough from college classes to know that everything in their environment worked in harmony to balance the realm. And, it was that balance her kind thrived on.

  King Angus had a unique bond to the elements and worked hard to keep them in check, so that ceremonies like the Civapu operated correctly and the native residents remained healthy. Cambree recalled growing up a sickly dragonette. She suffered from allergies, and illness far more than the average child. It was the main reason she preferred being alone. Initially, her parents were heartbroken that she suffered so much, but that was the price of being raised while their king was absent. Cambree never realized how crappy she felt until King Angus returned, and the balance was restored. Now, she rarely suffered from allergies and hadn’t been sick once.

  Aubrey intruded into Cambree’s thoughts when she screeched, “Oh, I hope I get one soon.” She had the highest pitch to her voice, and Cambree shuddered as the female continued talking. “I feel like I’ve been on the waitlist for an eternity.”

  “You shouldn’t have to wait much longer. It took about six months for me,” Delilah assured her friend then turned toward Cambree. “But, back to you. You best start treating those who want to date you a little better, or you’ll die alone, Cambree. You think you deserve so many males fawning over you? I think it’s utterly ridiculous,” the blonde-haired female spat.

  “Yeah,” Aubrey squealed. “You don’t even dress properly.”

  And you seriously need a shot of testosterone, Cambree’s dragon muttered in her head. Cambree agreed with her inner beast.

  “Noah likes his females to show a little skin. Don’t be such a prude. I heard you wouldn’t even let him touch you. Well, guess what? I had no problem letting that fine-ass male touch me after you rejected him. Oh, the things he can do with his fire,” Caroline divulged as she tugged her top back and forth, fanning her chest.

  The other two women screamed and instantly rattled off questions, wanting to hear every dirty detail of Caroline’s evening with Noah.

  Cambree wanted to claw the female’s eyeballs. Not because she was jealous. Caroline could have Noah. The male showed zero interest in Cambree as a person. Life would be awful if she was stuck with someone that didn’t know a thing about her, and didn’t care to learn. Talk about miserable, Cambree thought.

  She clamped her mouth shut. She’d pushed her luck enough for one day. With emotion clogging her throat and burning her eyes, Cambree placed her empty mug on her desk and left the building. She’d go to Nolan’s Brewhaus and grab a cup of the good stuff in peace and quiet.

  Her status was the only thing that changed the night of the Civapu. She was still the awkward nerd in the long, pencil skirts and button-up blouses. She didn’t feel comfortable in the shorter skirts or low-cut tops. She was skinny and had small boobs. She didn’t need tight clothing to emphasize her flaws. Short skirts made her legs look like matchsticks while form-fitting tops made her look like a young dragonette dressing up in mommy’s clothes.

  Female laughter followed her as she hurried down the street, and into the coffee shop. Keeping her head lowered, Cambree nearly fell on her butt when she bumped into a solid brick wall. Heat suffused her face when she glanced up.

  Familiar green eyes met hers, and her knees buckled.

  “Cambree,” Lorne greeted, and his deep timber washed over her like a soft caress. Her body immediately responded. Dammit dragon, she scolded her lustful beast.

  Seriously? Why the heck did she have to run into him right now? This day kept getting better and better.

  Lorne sighed as he looked down at Cambree. He wasn’t officially assigned to her anymore, but fate kept placing her in his path. But why?

  Was it because he had failed her so miserably? Or, was it his intense sense of duty? Regardless, for the second time in less than twelve hours, he ran into an unsupervised Cambree. Where the fuck was Finn this time? Taking a massive dump?

  It was her sweet scent that initially snagged his attention, along with, several nearby males. They immediately turned into mindless, drooling monkeys which meant Lorne had to step in as bodyguard, again. He watched Cambree as she walked with her head down and her arms wrapped around her midsection. Did she think that could ward off unwanted attention if she ignored her surroundings?

  Her submissive demeanor made Lorne angrier than he was the night before. She would get attacked again if she wasn’t alert all the time. Without thought, Lorne growled a warning at the males then rushed to her side. As he got nearer, Lorne noticed she was being followed by another male that was fixated on her right shoulder. A curse left Lorne’s mouth when he saw Cambree’s off-the-shoulder top left her skin exposed just enough to show the dragon marking that signified her unique status.

  “Lorne. What are you doing here?” Cambree asked as she glanced at him through strands of hair that had fallen over her face.

  “Getting a smoothie. For some reason, I was craving sherulla,” Lorne admitted and took a sip from his cup. It suddenly dawned on him that Cambree’s scent was similar to his favorite fruit.

  “Nolan does make the best. Maybe I’ll have a smoothie instead,” she muttered and shifted her gaze to the menu board.

  Lorne gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, nearly yelping when he felt an instant zap. It was like a mini-lightning storm rumbling through his bloodstream. It wasn’t entirely unpleasant and did things to his groin that had him squirming.

  Just great. You’re as pervy as every other male Cam encounters. Her marking has turned even you into a lust-filled prole.

  Her wide eyes displayed her innocence. Lorne doubted she’d been touched with such care by a male that wasn’t her father. Her vulnerability made her safety that much more vital.

  “Why are you here alone?” he murmured as he stared into her big brown eyes. Specks of gold caught his attention. Why had he never noticed their unique color before?

  Cambree shook her head and dislodged his hold. “I’m grabbing some coffee away from all the gossipers. I was tired of hearing their opinions.”

  Lorne took a deep drink to soothe his agitated nerves. Suddenly, her words penetrated the fog. “Are you talking about Delilah?”

  Cambree’s eyes narrowed. “Oh yeah. I forgot you two were chummy.” The accusation came across loud and clear in her voice.

  Lorne barked out a laugh. Cambree was a timid, sweet female, and this was the first glimpse of claws he’d seen from her. He liked this new grit as much as her shy smiles. Clearly, there was more to Cambree than he realized. She possessed a depth that was deceptive.

  “I wouldn’t call it chummy,” Lorne replied as he recalled the way Delilah threw herself at him during his brief stint as Cambree’s bodyguard.

  The overly-flirtatious female was the main reason he informed Cambree she was safe enough in her office, and that he would remain in the lobby while she worked. He found nothing attractive in Delilah. She screamed of desperation and shallow emotions.

  Lorne was a full-blooded dragon with a high sex drive and wasn’t searching for a mate. He was mated to his work, and,
if his actions were any indication, ensuring Cambree’s safety.

  “Oh, what would you call it then?” she asked as she moved up in the long line.

  Lorne remained by her side and gave her a wry smile. “She’s the reason I left your floor.” Cambree’s eyes went wide and then she laughed. It was a deep belly laugh, and Lorne acknowledged he missed spending time with her.

  “Miss prima donna drove you away? I wish I could throw that tidbit in her smug face. She’s so high-and-mighty, telling me how ungrateful I am for spurning tentacle-boy,” Cambree divulged, and Lorne choked at hearing her snide comment. He nearly spit smoothie all over the female standing in front of them.

  The customer shot them both a dirty look then grabbed her order and left the store. Cambree requested a sherulla and passionfruit smoothie. The combination sounded delicious, and Lorne made a note to try that flavor next time.

  “That’s an apt name for him,” he agreed as he wiped smoothie from his mouth.

  “Tell me about it. His hands were everywhere. Ugh,” Cambree said on a shudder. “Anyway. I’ll see you around,” she murmured when her plastic cup was placed on the counter.

  “Oh no, you don’t, Cam. I’m not going anywhere until I take you back to your office and find a replacement for Finn.”

  “What? That’s not necessary. I have this scarf to cover…” Cambree trailed off as she looked over her shoulder and noticed a small portion of her mark showing. She immediately glanced to the many eyes staring her way. “Okay, my mistake, but Finn really is doing great. I left without telling him. It wasn’t his fault.”

  The urge to bend her over his knee and paddle her pert backside struck Lorne. Shaking off his thoughts, he placed cash on the counter while she searched her purse for her wallet.

  “That’s not necessary. I can buy my own drink,” Cambree replied, but Lorne grabbed her elbow and led her from the busy line.

  “I know. I did it more for everyone waiting behind you,” Lorne teased.