by Siren Allen
“Damn, Kaede, you actually did it. You actually found your mate. You once told me you were cursed to never speak again until you found your mate. Well,” Rhen chuckled. “You didn’t tell me. At the time, you couldn’t speak. You wrote it down on a piece of paper in drunk handwriting.”
“I don’t drink anymore.” As much.
“You should. You’re nicer when you’re drunk. Maybe if you drink more, your mate wouldn’t try to kill you. Just saying... stop roaring. I’m just jealous, that’s all.”
“The fuck you jealous for? You know who your mate is and where she is. Or did you forget that you dished out your life story while you were drunk?”
“Nah, I didn’t forget. I can’t be with my mate...”
“Whose fault is that?”
“Mine. Here’s the thing, I did to my mate exactly what you did to yours. I tried to kidnap her for The Deciders.”
“Your point?”
“My mate won’t even come near me. What makes you think Sinclair is going to easily receive you after what you’ve done?”
“Let me worry about my mate. You worry about yours.”
“I do. All the fucking time.”
“Then why do you constantly hang around what’s mine?” Kaede shouted.
“Two reasons. Her blood helps sustain my crew.”
“That ends now.”
“That’s for her to decide.”
“Rhen...”
“And two, because I’ve been hoping my flirting with Sinclair would make my mate jealous.”
“That ends now also. Voluntarily or with your death. You choose.”
“You’re too violent for her.”
“Apparently, you haven’t met my mate.” Her ass was violent too.
“She’s a sweet girl. This plane has hardened her a little. I’ve watched over her.”
“That ends...”
“Now. Yeah, I heard you the first two times. Thing is, my crew is held in check partly because I’m able to keep them fed. Her blood helps with that.”
“Not my problem.”
“It will become your problem when the horde starts feeling the blood lust and seek her out.”
“I can protect what’s mine.”
“I’ve seen you in action. I know you can. Thing is, there’s this little quaint village outside your compound.”
“Rhen, if you fuck with...”
“I wouldn’t dare fuck with the villagers. But a hungry vampire horde whose hunting down a certain witch, will.”
“There’s other creatures they can feed off of.”
“Other creatures’ blood doesn’t chase away the chill of the night. All it takes is a drop or two to make us feel a warmth that lasts a couple of days.”
Fucking leeches. He’d kill them all before he let them have one more drop of his mate’s blood.
“You broke our truce today,” Rhen told him.
“Fuck that truce.”
“You’re hellbent on completing your tasks for TD. If things end badly here today, I’ll make sure you never complete another pointless task.”
“Just because you gave up, doesn’t make the tasks pointless. Do whatever you want, just get out of my way.”
“You’re taking her to your compound, right? I guess she has to go somewhere since you burned down her house. A house I acquired for her.”
This bastard must have a death wish.
“A house she’s been safe in for two years until she brought you home. I told her not to do it. But she rarely listens to me.”
With his treasure in his arms, Kaede approached Rhen. “Listen to me vampire, mention my mate one more time and I will rip your head from your body. Doubt me? Try it.” He wanted him to try it. He wanted another reason to rip this bastard apart.
Rhen raised his hands. “I won't mention your treasure again, this morning. What I will say is...”
A shriek filled the air. Fuck!
“Shredders are coming.” Rhen sighed. “Those hungry bastards are worse than vampires. You should head back to your compound with her before they get closer. You need a ride?”
He did, that didn’t mean he wanted to ask for one. Kaede inhaled. The shredders were close.
“We have ties,” Rhen told him. “I can tie her to me...”
“You die, today.”
“I’m trying to help.”
“The fuck I look like allowing you to take my mate anywhere. Give me a bike.”
“Not happening. And it’s called a snowmobile.”
Kaede looked back. That rotting flesh scent was closer.
“You know...” Rhen started, tone lazy.
Kaede faced him. “You want to make a deal, don’t you?”
“You know me too well, fire man.”
“Spit it out, leech.”
“I’ll loan you a bike if you allow your mate...”
Kaede growled.
“I figured that would be your answer. I have a second proposal. Your blood has the same components as hers. You have the ability to chase away the chill of the night also. Give me one vial of your blood a month for six months and I’ll loan you a snowmobile.”
“One vial of blood a month for six months to borrow your bike once? Fuck that.”
“It’s not a bike. It’s a snowmobile,” Rhen said through clenched teeth. “They’re closer. You can’t outrun them. You can’t fight them all and protect her. Either you’ll need my help for transportation or you’ll need my help in fighting. Either way, I require six vials of blood.” Rhen grinned.
Fuck him. Put her down.
“Why?”
If we shift...
“We haven’t done that in decades.”
I can do it.
“Dragon...”
For her. I can. We used to carry our siblings around for fun when we were younger. We can do the same for our mate.
True. Kaede stared down at his treasure. He would’ve agreed to the six vials of blood to protect her if his dragon hadn’t spoken up.
“I can hear them. Soon, we’ll be able to see them. Crew, mount up. Make a decision vamp. Don’t put her life in danger.”
Kaede laid his mate on the ground. She looked so vulnerable down there, it damn near broke his heart.
“Dragon, what the fuck are you doing?”
Kaede tilted his head left then right, working out the kinks. “Okay dragon, let’s do this.”
“You’re just going to leave her there? She’s not your fucking mate, is she? You’ve been lying this entire time.”
Not wanting to harm his mate, Kaede took a few steps back.
“Fuck... I’ll take her.” Rhen shouted.
Kaede spewed fire as the shift started.
“What is he doing?” One vamp shouted.
Scales erupted from his flesh. That hadn’t happened to him in decades. He didn’t remember it hurting this badly. Pressing his lips together, he ignored the pain and embraced the shift.
“Shit, he’s changing,” someone shouted.
“Let’s go.”
“I can’t leave her.” That was Rhen’s voice.
Kaede’s vision shifted from color to black and white as his beast took control. He spewed flames when he caught sight of Rhen nearing his mate. Rhen leaped back. Kaede’s back bowed.
It felt like every bone in his body was bending, breaking, being reshaped. Gums aching, his teeth sharpened and extended. His jaw jutted out. His neck stretched. Pain radiated over his entire body.
“You’re taking her with you, aren’t you?” Rhen shouted.
His eyes burned as the power of the alpha within illuminated his gaze. Kaede’s limbs elongated. He could feel his red scales with flecks of gold in them, covering his body like armor. His roar filled the air as he began to tower over Rhen.
“I’ll take that as a yes, alpha. I’ll meet you near your compound. Hurry up. I can see the shredders now.”
With one last glance at Kaede’s mate, Rhen raced to his bike, climbed on then shoved his helmet on his head.
His engine roared as he sped off. Senses heightened even more than usual, he could tell from the smell of rotten flesh that the shredders were almost within striking distance.
They would reach him before he could pick up his mate. Fully shifted, Kaede turned around, careful not to strike his mate with his tail. Five shredders were racing toward him. Three more were pulling up the rear.
Kaede didn’t have to ask his dragon to light them up. In this state, he and his beast were of one mind. All he had to do was think it and it happened. Flames erupted from his mouth.
The five shredders tried to dodge his fire. There was no escaping it. He followed their movements until all five were burnt to a crisp and lie sizzling in the snow. He roared at the others who’d slowed down but was still coming toward him.
Their hungry gazes darted from him to his treasure. They didn’t have enough sense to flee. Their hunger drove them forward. With one breath, their burnt bodies dropped to the snow. Silence.
No more shrieking. For now. More would come. The calls of a few would attract many. The commotion and the fire would attract the creatures that lived in and near the mountains.
He needed to leave before that happened. Careful of his tail, Kaede returned his gaze to his mate. She still hadn’t moved. He leaned down and nudged her side with his nose. She was so small, so fragile.
Yet, she was brave. Brave enough to stand up to him. Though, he couldn’t deny that her siding with Rhen had stung his pride and his heart. How was it possible to fall for someone so fast and so hard?
Damn mating pull. Why couldn’t it affect her also so that they could be experiencing the same emotions? Kaede wanted her. More importantly, he wanted her to want him. He wanted her to care for him. He sighed. Smoke billowed from his nostrils.
How could he be so foolish? If he wanted her to care for him, he had to prove to her he was someone worth caring for. He’d yet to do that. Instead, he’d insisted she give herself to him, mind, body, and heart, without proving to her he was worthy of those treasures.
“I’ll do that mate,” Kaede silently vowed to her. “I’ll show you that your heart, body, and mind is safe with me. I’ll show you that I’ll protect, cherish and love you for eternity. This I swear.”
He closed his eyes and bowed to her. Though she couldn’t see him, he would make sure his actions in the future reflected the vow he’d just made. She was a witch. She’d never feel the mating pull like he did.
That just meant he had to love her harder, so that one day she’d feel the pull of his love. And maybe one day, she’d give him her heart. Another shriek rent the air, reminding him that time was not on his side.
Kaede turned to the side and curled one of his huge wings around her body. It had been so long since he’d been in this form, it took a few tries for him to lift her up. It took a few more tries for him to place her on his back.
He had to wiggle and lean to the side to get her positioned in a location where she wouldn’t fall off while he was in flight. The space below his neck but between his wings was the only place she’d be safe at in his current condition.
Once he had her in position, Kaede flapped his wings and took to the sky. He was a little rusty. After wobbling a bit, his muscle memory kicked in. Wind whipped past him. He wanted to speed up, to feel the wind whipping against his scales.
He slowed down instead. He had a mate to protect. And protect her, he would. Forever. Next stop, the village outside the compound. Once his mate was properly clothed, awake and well-fed, they would have a long talk.
He hoped she didn’t try to kill him again.
Chapter Fifteen
FINALLY, HE WAS HOME.
It took longer than expected to arrive at the village outside his compound. He’d had to stop every few miles to reposition his mate on his back and keep her from sliding off. His arrival in the village caused an uproar.
This was the first time many of them had seen a dragon. None of them had ever seen him in his dragon form. For the first time ever, he was glad to see Rhen. When Kaede landed, the vamp strode over to him and held up a sheet in front of him.
“I told you,” Rhen yelled to the onlookers behind him. “Your boy found his mate and he can shift now.”
That hadn’t been Rhen’s news to spread. Kaede roared, causing the villagers to look even more afraid.
“Down boy. You’re scaring your friends.”
“You’re the one we’re scared of,” Silvia, an elderly snake shifter yelled. “If that’s really Kaede, we know he’d never hurt us, no matter what form he’s in. It’s you we don’t trust. Kaede, if that’s you, reveal yourself.”
Rhen rolled his eyes. “If I wasn’t here with this sheet, you guys would be seeing a naked Kaede in a few minutes. Trust me, none of you want to see that.”
“I do,” Jenna, a succubus from the village, chimed in.
“Calm down,” Rhen told her. “Kaede has a mate now.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Smiling, Jen twirled a strand of her long red hair.
“Shift, Kaede,” Rhen insisted. “I’m tired of holding this damn sheet up.”
He hadn’t wanted to shift in front of the entire village. It seemed he had no choice. Kaede knelt down and curled his wing behind him until he felt his mate.
“Want me to get her...”
Kaede roared.
“It’ll be easier if I get her,” Rhen insisted. “I know she’s yours. I got it.”
Kaede sighed, causing smoke to unfurl from his nostrils. The kids of the village giggled.
“Is that a dragon smile on your face?”
Kaede glared at Rhen.
“Okay. It’s not a dragon smile. Use your wing to push her my way. And don’t hit me with it.”
Tempting as it was, Kaede didn’t hit him. He was actually thankful for Rhen’s presence. Not only had the vampire had enough sense to request a sheet from the villagers, he was also offering to help him lower down his treasure.
It was a good thing he hadn’t burned the bastard alive. Whether he did so in the future or not was yet to be seen. Once Rhen had Kaede’s mate safely in his arms, Kaede jerked his head toward the villagers.
“You want me to go? Over there?” Rhen asked. After Kaede jerked his head again, Rhen told him, “I don’t speak dragon sign language. I didn’t even know that was a thing.”
Idiot! Kaede roared.
Silvia spoke up for him. “He probably wants you to bring her to us. Hand her here.”
“You should’ve just said so.” Rhen winked at him.
Bastard. Kaede didn’t start to shift back until his mate was safely in Silvia’s arms. The old woman may be up in age, but she was strong. Though she was immortal, her kind never stopped aging.
The good thing about them was they literally shed their skin like a snake. They did so every eighty years. In about a year or so, Silvia would leave them for three months and go deep within the Frozen Forest, where she would shed her skin and return as a younger version of herself.
“I’ve got her,” Silvia told him. “Go on and shift.”
Kaede nodded. With Rhen holding the sheet in front of him, Kaede shifted. He kept his roars to himself. He didn’t want the kids to know how much shifting pained him. It would get better in time, once his body got back used to changing. The kids shouted his name as he morphed from dragon to man.
“Kaede, Kaede, Kaede, Kaede,” they chanted excitedly.
“Looks like you’re a hero to those brats,” Rhen drawled.
Not a hero. A protector. He and his crew kept them safe. He wished those in the village could all come through the gate and enter the compound. Because of past transgressions, they were forced to reside in the village outside the compound.
Silvia was there because she once tried to murder the mate of his friend and team member. Jenna, the bothersome succubus, was there because she’d kept attempting to seduce males and females who were already mated.
That made them uncomfortable. There had been plenty of
others who weren’t mated who she could’ve slept with. Yet, she targeted those who were taken. For that, she’d been banished to the village.
The children growing up there were free to play in the compound during the day. However, the sins of their parents prevented them from living within the safety of the gate. Those were the leader of the compound’s rules.
Kaede may not agree with all the rules. But he wasn’t the leader of the compound. He was, however, the leader of the patrol. And he made sure there was someone standing guard and watching over the villagers at all times. Mainly, for the sake of the children.
“That shit looks like it hurts,” Rhen said, once Kaede was eye level with him again.
“Drop the sheet,” Jenna yelled.
“Shush, hussy,” Silvia chastised her. Kaede gave her the usual glare before snatching the sheet from Rhen and wrapping it around himself.
“Kids go inside now,” Silvia shouted. “There’s nothing to see here. I need to talk to Kaede. Run along now.”
The children looked like they wanted to protest, but they knew better than to disobey Aunt Silvie, as they all referred to her. Sheet tied around his waist, Kaede approached Silvia. Jenna just couldn’t keep silent.
“That sheet is covering you up, but it can’t hide that bulge.” Jenna bit her bottom lip.
What bulge? He wasn’t hard. That was just his size. She couldn’t see his dick and that was all that mattered. It seemed he would have to do something about her now that he’d found his treasure. Kaede walked over to Silvia and stretched his arms out.
“You really did it Kaede. You really found your mate.” Silvia smiled at him as she placed his treasure in his arms. “That vamp said you could talk.”
“Name’s Rhen. I told you this many times over the years.”
Silvia rolled her eyes at Rhen before returning her gray eyes to him. “Why haven’t you said anything?”
With his mate finally in his arms, he could now speak. “I can only speak when I’m touching her.”
“Not true,” Rhen shouted. “Tell her the one word you can say when you’re not touching her.”
Why was he still there?