City of Dragons: Of Flesh and Blood

by Wilder, Adrienne

  Maze held up his hand. “Sir, not everything is about rights as we know them. That part we’ll decide in court. As well as your personal liability in this case.” The cop flashed a confused look. “You see, Officer, Kin are considered property to their Queens. I have at least two Queens with a vested interest in Orin. Between them they have enough money to bankrupt this city and each and every one of the officers with this department. Considering how long Kin have the potential to live, that could include your kids and your grandkids.”

  A deep red flush shot up the cop’s neck and his fists curled into mallets. “Are you threatening me?”

  Maze smiled and pushed his glasses up. “Not yet.”

  With one more angry glare, the cop turned and stomped his way up the hall muttering something about lawyers and deep holes.

  At a set of heavy steel doors, the officer came to a halt. Haley went to yank it open but it was locked. She opened her mouth to say something but remembered what Maze said.

  She looked at him, and Christopher said, “Open it.”

  The uniform shook his head. “He’s flipped his top.”

  “He’s in shock, officer. And he needs medical care that you are physiologically incapable of giving.”

  As in, unless you’re going to open a vein, shut up.

  The cop shook his head. “I can’t let you go in there.”

  “I’m not.” Maze nodded at Haley and Deshi. “They are.” When the man opened his mouth to protest, Maze cut him off. “Just give me the key.” He held out his hand. McConnley hesitated for a split second before pulling out a key and giving it to Maze.

  Deshi took off his overcoat, fished out his wallet and cell phone, then handed it to Maze. Haley did the same with her cell and CFKR ID.

  Maze handed Deshi the key and asked, “Anything else?”

  He nodded. “We’ll need milk or red meat, and probably clothes.” He said it like it was no big deal and Maze seemed to accept it. The cop on the other hand looked like someone had just stomped on his toes. Deshi undid the lock, leaving the key in the door.

  Haley looked at Maze. “You might want to lock it once we’re inside.” She went in and the Prince followed.

  Chapter 26

  Orin smelled the flesh and blood of his own. His head jerked up and his teeth punched down, sucking the last of his reserves right out of his marrow.

  Haley took a step toward him and he threw up his hands as if to ward her off.“No…” Yes. “Stay back.” Tremors raced up his arms. He wanted to look at her but he didn’t want her to see his face. He knew it was bad, everything was bad. Thank you God of Man, she stopped.

  Orin struggled to breathe. Part of it was the pain and part of it was the rise of his need. It had never been this bad, never, but then getting the ever-living shit kicked out of him was a rare occurrence.

  “Orin, you need us.”

  Just hearing Haley’s voice lit him on fire. Orin needed her all right, his fangs in the meat of her shoulder, the rest of him between her legs. Growling, he shoved himself deeper into the corner. “Back off, Haley…please. I don’t…I don’t want you to see me like this.” His pride couldn’t take any more bruises.

  No, enough of that had been done with Brian Gilsp’s creative use of a night stick.

  She sighed and Orin could just imagine the look on her face. “Will you let Deshi help you then?”

  Would he? Orin curled in on himself. He hated this kind of helplessness. It took him back to those terrible times in the African Dens. He’d been helpless a lot then too. But Serena liked it that way.

  I will not think of that bitch right now. Not bleeding, broken, and violated. Orin pushed the thoughts of the African Queen out of his mind, just in case she could somehow enjoy his suffering even in death. One good thing had come of his time with her--his control. It kept him from losing it in the park, it kept him from attacking the officers here in the police station. So for all the lives Serena destroyed, in the end her methods made Orin strong enough to control his Rage.

  But now there was a new problem and she was standing twenty feet away, wearing high heels, an almond-colored sweater, and a high cut skirt showing enough of her milky skin to make him ache.

  Just don’t look in her eyes.

  “Orin?”

  Oh yeah, she was still waiting for him to answer. “Yeah, yeah, Deshi can.”

  The Prince appeared beside Orin, tugging on the knees of his baggy pants as he kneeled on the floor.

  “You okay?” Going by the look on the Prince’s face, he’d already made up his mind that he wasn’t.

  Orin said, “I don’t want her in here.”

  Deshi moved closer. The heat rolling off of him made Orin whimper. God of Man, he wanted to feel it all over.

  “She’s not going to leave. You know that.”

  Yeah, Orin did. Haley was too soft. It was a kind of innocence Orin had always treasured in her and sitting in the Athens Tank, his body broken in more ways than he could count, he realized he loathed it as well.

  And here he’d been so ready to pit her against Rehbek’ah. Orin reminded himself it was Medan he wanted to pit against the bitch, but it didn’t change the fact he’d have to use Haley to do it.

  What a joke. He’d brought Haley here to use her in the worst way and now he wouldn’t take what she was willing to give. Guilt and shame made him wonder if he just wasn’t better off riding this all out and ending it. At least if he was dead Rehbek’ah couldn’t get to him.

  Orin looked at Deshi. “Fine, just…” Heat fired up in his cheeks. Great, now he was embarrassed. How stupid was that? “Just help me get my clothes back on.” What was left of his pants were almost to his knees. Deshi maneuvered himself so his body blocked the view as Orin tried to keep the last of his dignity.

  Only it wasn’t easy. Broken bones shifted, sending bolts of pain head-to-toe, and a new sharp ache started in his back. That would be rib number three punching a hole in his lung. As if on cue, Orin coughed and sprayed green on Deshi’s crisp white shirt. “Fuck.”

  Deshi smiled. “It’s only blood.”

  Yeah, just blood.

  In that moment, Orin hated Deshi and his willingness to help. Hated his kind hands. Hated how he kept his face calm and his eyes averted. Orin pushed down all his anger and forced out a thanks.

  And just when he was starting to forgive the jerk, he had to unbutton his shirt. “What are you doing?” Panic made Orin’s voice rough as bad as his broken jaw made him slur.

  “You need to feed.” The Jersey City Prince shrugged out of his dress shirt and Orin’s eyes locked on the smooth expanse of the Male’s shoulder. “If you won’t let Haley take care of you, you’ll have to take from me.”

  “No.”

  “Orin, have you looked at yourself?” Deshi touched the side of his head and Orin found himself hating the Male all over again. If the Prince sensed it he didn’t let it show. “You’re a mess. The fact you’re not raging is a miracle.”

  “I won’t rage.” Deshi’s baby blues flashed. Orin growled. “I’m not weak. I didn’t kill the fucker who did this to me and I won’t rage.”

  “Then why won’t you let Haley help you?”

  “That’s different.” She was Female and feeding from her could draw out Serena’s RHage, which could only lead to very bad things. After everything Orin had endured so far, he wasn’t about to let that happen. These Humans would not have the pleasure of seeing him become the thing they feared. Orin would rather die first.

  A shiver ran over his shoulders. Much longer and he might wind up paying in full on his oath.

  “Here.” Deshi moved closer.

  “I don’t want to.” Orin glared.

  “Quit being a prick and feed from me.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “You’re getting cold.”

  Yeah, like he hadn’t noticed. Another wave of pain crested, making it hard for Orin to get a reign on his biology. He clenched his eyes shut and fought for control. In blatant bet
rayal, his arms jerked. The sudden muscle spasm ripped a scream out of his throat. Orin clamped it off when Haley took a step towards him.

  “Get back!” Blood flecked his lips and speckled Deshi’s skin. “Please, Haley…don’t…” The Prince’s warm hand touched the side of Orin face. The heat offered in the simple contact eased him. Orin slumped against Deshi.

  “You’re not going to last much longer, Orin. Even at eight hundred years old you have limits.” Deshi’s thumb stroked his cheek.

  And here Orin didn’t think he could hate Deshi anymore than he already did. Thing is, the Prince was right.

  Deshi said, “Let me feed you.”

  Orin sighed. “Fine, but you have to promise me something.”

  “Name it.”

  “Only feed me. Don’t touch me. And God of Man, don’t let me get near Haley.”

  The Prince’s hand slid to the back of Orin’s neck. Fingers played along his nape and petted the back of his head. It felt so good. So right. Orin was so caught up in being touched he almost missed what Deshi said.

  “She won’t deny you, Orin.”

  “That’s because she’s naïve. Please, I just don’t want to hurt her. ”

  After a long few seconds Deshi said, “Fine.”

  The breath Orin had been holding eased out. As long as Haley stayed away he could do this. He had to do this. Yeah, one look down on himself confirmed there was no other choice.

  He moved and tried to raise an arm to get closer to the Prince, but between the pain and the exhaustion, he just couldn’t get his body to cooperate. Of course his broken legs, cracked collar bone, and dislocated hip weren’t exactly helping things.

  Orin growled, tried again and failed.

  Deshi leaned forward. The perfect roll of the Prince’s shoulder came right to Orin’s mouth as he braced himself against the wall.

  Orin sank his broken teeth into Deshi’s flesh. His jaw protested but he ate the pain and when the first bit of blood hit his tongue, his body forgave him. Heat seared Orin’s bones and a growl lit up in his chest.

  Deshi’s purr vibrated the air between them.

  Orin didn’t mean too, but he glanced up and caught Haley staring. Her dark eyes burst with little bits of gold and her mouth was open. The sight of her and the taste of blood on his palate made the RHage inside his chest roll.

  Christ, this was exactly what he was afraid of. He should have made her leave. Orin clenched his eyes shut and seized Deshi by the throat. He had to grab something, anything. When he shoved forward the Male went back, head cracking against the concrete with an audible pop.

  A metaphysical fire storm exploded under Orin’s skin. Driven by the need, he worried the flesh of Deshi shoulder, tearing away parts. With the wound open, he latched on, pulling, swallowing.

  More, he needed so much more. It had been too long since Orin ate of his own and his body was ravenous. He knew he was taking too much, too fast and he didn’t care. Deshi’s legs kicked. His arms flailed and a strangled sound gurgled out of his open mouth. But true to his word, the Prince did not touch him.

  “Orin…”

  His name. The one he’d given himself all those centuries ago. Like his eyes, Orin had no idea why he chose it.

  “Orin, look at me.”

  He didn’t want to. What Orin wanted to do was keep going. Keep chewing. Pulling blood and ripping flesh. Maybe he’d even crack open the Prince’s chest and eat out his heart. His need liked that idea way too much.

  “You’re choking him, Orin!”

  Yeah, he was and he didn’t give a fuck. But what Orin did care about was losing control. And if he didn’t stop now he was going to kill the Jersey City Prince, or fuck him, and neither outcome was acceptable. It took everything, but Orin got his mouth to pop loose and his hand to open up. He tumbled backwards.

  Five minutes or maybe five years later, the worst of his need banked. Orin reined in those internal chains he used to restrain his instincts. It took longer than usual, but then he was nowhere near sated. As the tension in his muscles eased, the ache between his legs subsided. When his breathing was normal he decided it was safe enough look up.

  Deshi sat on his knees leaning against Haley’s leg. He looked miserable.

  No, unfinished was a better word. Because that’s exactly how Orin had left him.

  Suck it up. It’ll build character. And as far as Orin was concerned, Deshi needed character.

  “Orin, it’s just us.” Haley sounded so sad when she said it.

  It wasn’t like he expected her to understand. Even if she was capable of it, impressed by a woman, raised in Human society, she couldn’t even begin to understand what it was like to be helpless to her instincts.

  Orin got his legs under him, but when he tried to stand he faltered. Angry, he tried again.

  And again.

  He did a quick look-see to make sure Haley wasn’t heading over to help. Nope, it was worse. She stared at him with pity in her eyes.

  Orin growled. “Stop looking at me like that.”

  “Why won’t you let us help you?”

  “You did.”

  “You know what I mean.” She took a step forward as if to prove a point.

  Orin jerked back and hit the wall. At least it kept him from ass planting it on the floor. “I told you to stay back.” He put his hands on his knees and breathed, feeling more and more himself with every draw into his lungs. “I’ll be okay in a minute. Then…” I can trust myself. “You can touch me.” Orin winced as parts of him argued, why wait?

  A knock on the door was followed up by a muffled voice asking if everything was okay.

  “That’ll be your lawyer, Christopher Maze,” Deshi said as Haley helped him up. He buttoned his shirt, straightened his pants, then went to the door. “We’re good.” Deshi nodded and a white plastic bag was passed through the opening. He said, “Thanks,” as he took it, then, “Give us five minutes.” The door shut but the lock didn’t engage.

  When Orin looked up again Deshi was in front of him, white bag dangling from his hand.

  “Here, put these on. They’re dry and what you’re wearing isn’t. Your lawyer just got you out.”

  Orin looked at Haley, then Deshi. “You’re joking. They tried to kill me…and now they’re going to let me walk out? That’s got to be some lawyer.”

  Haley sighed and said, “You have no idea.”

  Deshi nodded at the door. “Mr. Maze has agreed to let you be questioned, but not tonight. Seems he knows just a little more than the average person when it comes to Kin biology. He’s convinced the police in the interest of their wellbeing, ours, and this town, that you need to rest, eat, and…” Deshi didn’t finish his sentence, and the fill-in-the-blank dragged on way too long.

  Orin cleared his throat and took the bag. On top of the folded sweatpants, white shirt, and box of baby wipes was a black wrist band with a small box. He pulled it out. “What’s this?”

  “Your leash.” His eyes flicked up at the Prince, not liking the tone. “It’s a tracking bracelet, Orin.”

  Orin stripped off his shirt. He used the baby wipes on his face and hands, getting off the worst of the blood. It didn’t do much good. Every inch of him was covered in it. He removed his house keys and his wallet from his coat and handed it all to Deshi. He pulled the sweatpants out of the bag, turned away and peeled off his tattered slacks. The sweat pants were too big, but Deshi was right, they weren’t cold and wet. When he turned around Haley was holding the shirt out to him.

  Orin said, “Lawyer or not, I don’t see how Mr. Maze got them to let me out.” Hell, he didn’t understand why they hadn’t already shot and killed him.

  Deshi said, “They’re trying to do damage control.”

  “Yeah, and what the hell is that supposed to mean?” Orin shoved his head and arms through the cheap t-shirt. It smelled like cigarette smoke and Human sweat. When Deshi didn’t answer him he looked up. “What?”

  The Prince shook his head. “Just put the
bracelet on.”

  “Don’t order me around.”

  Haley stepped between them. “Orin…please.” She almost touched him but pulled her hand back. Orin squeezed out a curse, caught her hand and put it on his chest. The risk of stirring the RHage up was well worth the smile on Haley’s face.

  Orin put the bracelet on. To Deshi he said, “Explain, damage control.”

  Yeah, and making it sound like an order was totally on purpose.

  Only, instead of an answer, the Jersey City Prince looked at the door and said, “Let’s go.”

  When Orin walked over the threshold two of the officers went ashen and crossed themselves. They’d help beat him and now he was back from the dead. Their efforts to exorcise the demon had failed.

  Orin made sure to look at every single one of them right in the eye. Only one cop made an attempt to meet his glare, Brian Gilsp. The others dropped their gaze and made themselves real familiar with the tile floor.

  Cowards.

  An average looking man in a nice suit moved in close. He held out his arm, not touching but using the line of his body to herd Orin forward.

  “This way.” The cops parted and let them by. Orin walked even though his knee was killing him and he could feel bones shift in his left foot. He still had some healing to do. Okay, a lot of healing to do. There would be time for that later. Now all he wanted was out of here and as far away as he could get without Shifting to full form and taking flight.

  At the end of the hall, Maze paused and said, “Local news people have picked up the story and they’ve joined the mob outside. My people are among them, they will clear us a path. Say nothing. I don’t care how innocent a question you think it is, keep your mouth shut.” Maze opened the door and they were instantly surrounded. Flash bulbs exploded in the dark and lenses were thrust into Orin’s face. Maze held out his hand and every direction he moved in, there seemed to be someone who stepped back, taking people with them.

  In a firm voice he announced, “No comment” at least a hundred times before he got them to the Navigator.