He chuckled. “Keanu was leverage,” he admitted. “Ella was...opportunity. Plus, she’s beautiful and all dragons like to collect beautiful things. It’s in our nature.” Ludovic shrugged. “I want Dragonkind to be able to rule beside humans. We are relegated to the shadows, spoken of in secret.” He studied his nails. “Though I have heard Sebastian might have contributed somewhat to the humans inching closer to the knowledge of us.”
He had gotten into a few bar fights before settling down with Jillian. That definitely wasn’t good for keeping dragons off the radar. “He’s settled down,” Carrie said.
“I’ve heard. Do you think perhaps I will have that chance? One day?”
Carrie’s brow crinkled. “Ludovic...you do realize how strange this is? You speaking to me like we’re...friends?” Her words were hesitant.
“I’ve been bested a couple of times now,” he admitted. “Perhaps it’s time to change tactics.”
“Or get smarter?” Carrie ventured.
He snorted with amusement. “Or that.” Ludovic stilled and tossed a glance to the right side of the forest before he settled his attention on her once again. “You have someone here who wishes you ill. Go back inside and do not tarry. I will wake your dragon once I'm in flight.”
Fear made Carrie’s feet freeze to the spot.
“Go!” he hissed.
Carrie flung the balcony doors open and rushed inside. She clicked the lock and whispered a prayer because the window locks wouldn’t keep out someone intent on getting to her.
She shivered against the glass.
“Carrie?” Edvard asked. He wore only a sheet.
She turned wild eyes to him. “Ludovic was here,” she whispered.
Edvard straightened. “Tell me everything.”
She gave a condensed version of events, leaving out what he said about the person prowling around. Carrie didn’t want Edvard involved with it. She knew he could protect her, but after what they’d just done...she’d die if he hurt Edvard. It was irrational, but if Caleb got lucky and managed to hurt him, she’d never forgive herself.
Edvard frowned as he scanned the wooded area. “Ludovic is not altruistic. He only thinks of himself.”
“He warned me when he came,” Carrie said. The mug of tea in her hand had cooled so much she grimaced when she took another sip. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
Tension filled every line of Edvard’s body. He crossed his powerful arms and shook his head. “There must be something we’re missing here. A plan or some design he doesn’t want us to know about.” He shook his head. “Perhaps it’s a diversion from something else he’s trying to do. With Kalika in the mix, it could be anything. We took out his other dragons so he’s down in numbers.” He tapped his fingers against his bicep. “I don’t like it.”
Edvard closed his eyes and Carrie watched a trickle of watery magic appear from his body. It shot into the forest and disappeared. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes. “Whoever was there is now gone. I need to report this to Daegal in person. Stay inside. Keep your doors locked and think about me if you need me.”
Carrie narrowed her eyes at him. “Think about you? Have you always been able to do that?”
His answer was too long coming. “Yes.” He opened the balcony doors, snapped his wings out and launched himself into the air.
She went inside and double checked all the locks once more, Edvard’s strange reticence at the forefront of her mind.
10
Edvard
He wasted no time flying back to Daegal's home, only stopping to try and follow Ludovic’s trail. It stopped right at the edge of Carrie’s property and disappeared. He was either flying or cloaking himself, maybe both.
With a frustrated sigh, Edvard soared high in the clouds, the night still dark around him. Although Ludovic had surfaced again tonight, it wasn’t all bad.
The mating bond he’d been hoping for so long had appeared. He hadn’t told Carrie yet. He didn’t know why. She knew about the bonds of her friends and wouldn’t be shocked. But maybe she would be shocked it happened with him. He felt shy almost in telling her. Carrie was hiding something from him. Something important. As long as she kept hiding it, he wasn’t sure if he’d tell her about the bond. What they had came with complete honesty. If he tried hard enough to use the magic through the bond, he would be able to find out what happened. It felt like a betrayal, though. Edvard would wait for her to come clean on her own. Whatever it was didn’t feel like she’d done something. It felt like something had been done to her. With the man he sensed and Ludovic’s warning, Edvard suspected it had to do with someone in her past.
He landed with a slight thud on Sara and Daegal’s front porch. Before he even raised his hand to knock, a bleary-eyed Daegal opened the front door. In spite of everything, he grinned.
“The young prince is keeping you up, I presume?” Edvard asked as he stepped through the door.
Daegal growled in response and walked over to the coffee pot. Sara sat on the couch, her robe pulled tight around her and her hair in wild disarray. Keanu sped through the room like a hurricane, laughing and spinning around.
A quick glance at the clock above the cabinet informed Edvard it was close to three in the morning. He suppressed a grin at their plight. Children were wonderful additions to one’s life, but they were not without challenges. Dragon children were three times as hard as a mortal child. Sympathy for them panged in his chest, but he wasn’t here to take Keanu off their hands. He was here on business.
Daegal thrust a mug of coffee at Edvard and he took it, pausing to take a long sip before he spoke. “I’ve just come from Carrie’s. Ludovic showed up at her house.”
Sara sat straight up, the tiredness wiped from her eyes and replaced with concern. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” Edvard said as he took a seat on one of their stools. “It’s strange.”
“Strange how?” Daegal asked. He leaned over and put both elbows on the counter then plopped his head in them. It seemed strangely undragonlike, but Edvard didn't rib him about it. His future king looked exhausted.
“Ludovic claimed he only wanted to talk.” Edvard shrugged and took another sip of his coffee. “It’s all he did.”
Daegal sighed. “It’s a ruse to make us relax. That dragon has never been kind or thought of anyone else besides himself.” He downed his coffee in one long swallow making Edvard wince. “Let me change and we will walk down to the beach.”
Sara came up beside him, Keanu still full of energy in the background. She put a hand on his arm. “Swear to me Carrie is okay.” Tears filled her exhausted eyes.
“She’s fine. I swear it. I’ve only been gone a few minutes. As soon as Daegal is ready, we will all head over there.” Edvard watched his future queen walk over to the coffee pot and slowly pour herself a cup of coffee. “He needs the water, you know,” he said quietly.
She stiffened. “Daegal says we can’t risk letting Keanu out on the beach.”
“Then go at night. He’s a water dragon, Sara. I know it’s scary, but watching him now... I think it’s time. If you keep him cooped up here much longer, he might bring the place down around your ears.”
She pulled the mug up to her mouth with a shaky hand. “I’ll talk to Daegal. Anything to tone down some of this energy.” She walked over and laid her head on his shoulder for a brief moment. “You've been a wonderful friend to us, Edvard. And to Carrie.”
“It has been my greatest honor, Sara.”
She squeezed his bicep and zombie walked back over to the couch where she sat, holding her mug of coffee like a lifeline.
Daegal came out just then, dressed in leathers and strapped with weapons. His lip curled as he realized Edvard was only in a t-shirt and jeans. “You’ll need to get your weapons.”
He shook his head. “As soon as we finish with the beach, I need to get back to Carrie’s.”
Daegal grunted and they headed out. During the short walk to the beach, Daegal didn’t say a word. As soon
as their feet hit the still cool sand, Edvard growled. The last time they’d scented Kalika, the smell of her was a few days old. This was new and so was Ludovic’s scent. They tried in vain to track it, but came up empty. The two dragons had laid their scent on purpose to tantalize them, then left without a trace.
“Shit,” Daegal cursed.
“Aye,” Edvard agreed. “We need to finish this if we want any hope of living in peace.”
Daegal stood still, his hands on his hips and watching the water. “Do you ever dream of going home?”
Edvard took a moment to ponder the question. “When I first arrived. But I think you know better than me that our home is with these women.”
His king gave him a sharp glance. “The mating bond? Did it appear?”
A wide grin stretched over Edvard’s face. The wind was cool on his skin, the dim light of the moon sparkled on the sea water, and he’d never felt happier. “Aye,” he said. “At last.”
Daegal slapped him on the shoulder. “Finally,” he said.
“I am complete,” added Edvard and the two men stood for another moment, watching the tide roll in and out.
11
Carrie
The sun barely crested over the trees, but Carrie was already awake and making a pot of coffee. It was too damn early to wake up, but the night had been too eventful for sleep. She tried to go back to bed after Edvard left, but his scent was all over her room and she found she missed him. She drifted in and out of sleep but finally got up to start the day. A foreboding feeling sat on her shoulders, making her breath come in shorter pants. Carrie’s hand crept to her stomach, mysterious pains appearing all morning. A headache bloomed between her eyes. She’d never believed in the paranormal before until the dragons showed up at their door. The way she felt this morning told her something was on the horizon.
Something life changing.
She’d just poured herself a cup of coffee and was heading to sit at the dining table when a loud crack sounded through the room.
Carrie spun, the coffee in her hand spilling down the front of her. She cried out in pain and pulled her tank top away from her skin to get the liquid off.
Glass shattered all around her. Carrie stumbled back, her heart racing. Adrenaline pumped through her system as she tried to make sense of what was happening.
A man stepped through the shattered remnants of her back door. Her heart stuttered and stopped in that moment.
“Hello, Carrie,” said her ex-husband.
She didn’t even stop to think. She just ran.
But Carrie had never been fast enough for Caleb. He lunged for her and wrenched her arm back. Carrie cried out in pain and horror.
Caleb ripped the mug out of her hand and threw it against the wall. Her mind drifted in a fog of disbelief.
It was her favorite mug. How dare he break her favorite mug? She struggled against him in vain.
“You thought you could leave me?” Caleb hissed. He stank of anger and cigarette smoke, but it did not detract from his physical beauty. His hair was dark and a little too long. His eyes were dark green, even darker now that they were filled with rage. His jaw was strong and his lips full.
Carrie always thought someone that pretty would never be able to hurt her.
She was wrong.
“If you don’t leave,” she said, her voice tight with tears, “you’re going to regret it.”
“Oh yeah?” he sneered. “It looks like you’re all alone, Carrie. There’s no one here to save you.” He raised his arms and backhanded her.
Stars swam in her field of vision and she sank to her knees. Caleb still held her by the arm and she fuzzily wondered if her shoulder was dislocated. Pain sank through every muscle in her body. Blood poured from her mouth and she choked on it.
The sound of footsteps came even through her hazy thoughts. She looked up, eyes blurry. Caleb’s hand was raising to strike her again.
The snapping sound made her jerk. She fell to her knees as she was abruptly released. Strong arms came around her waist and pulled her away. “Try not to move, Carrie. I think your arm is broken.” The voice was warm and kind.
Gregor.
A sob broke from her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. “Do not look.”
The sound of a wounded animal screamed inside of her living room. Carrie jerked and Gregor tightened his arms around her. He scooped her up in his arms and walked her down the hall, careful to keep her eyes averted from the chaos behind her.
The sound of rushing water soothed her ears and calmed the screams from the living room. She didn’t know if Gregor was using his magic on her or if the other dragons were using their magic on Caleb. It didn’t matter, she supposed.
She still heard the final snapping and crunching sounds even as Gregor laid her inside of her bed, pulled the cover over her and left her there in the quiet.
Silence fell as she closed her eyes and drifted into unconsciousness.
Edvard
When you were a young dragon, regular training was required to manage one’s emotions. Dragons never took a life in anger.
Edvard, Sebastian and Daegal had broken that oath today.
Not one of them regretted it.
They looked down at the broken body of the stranger. His neck was broken, though that had come last. All of them saw the man raise his hand and strike Edvard’s mate. The only punishment for that was to inflict maximum damage before the mercy kill. All of them knew there was no mercy in what they had done, for if Edvard had not broken his neck, he would have died of internal injuries, eventually.
The sightless green eyes stared up at nothing.
“Who is he?” asked the king.
Edvard shook his head. “I do not know. Someone in Carrie’s past. I sensed him around her property before. He probably waited for me to leave.” He stared down at the man and there was so much fury in his gaze that even Gregor shuddered. “I would kill him all over again if I could,” Edvard said.
“And we would help,” Sebastian offered. His gaze found Gregor’s. “Is she okay?”
Gregor shook his head. “She requires medical assistance. I believe she might be in shock.”
Edvard’s fists clenched. His jaw tightened and he took a few deep breaths. “Is there a healer who can come to the house?” He didn't want to move her if he didn’t have to.
Daegal shook his head. “Humans do not have that practice anymore. She must be moved to a hospital.”
“Gather her,” Edvard said. “I’ll pack a bag and bring it later.”
“You trust us to carry your mate?” Daegal asked gently.
His eyes met his king’s. “With my life,” he said. “I fear I cannot right now. I would take her somewhere where neither of us could be found.”
Daegal nodded and motioned for the other dragons to follow him. Edvard walked over to the back door. It lay shattered in pieces around the living room. He should have encouraged her to build something sturdier. Shudders racked his powerful frame as he realized how close he’d come to losing her. How another human had almost taken her from him.
His eyes trailed over the broken body in the living room. They would need to dispose of him, but giving him to the water felt like a sin. Only heroes deserved water burials.
With his mind made up, Edvard walked outside of the house and began to gather brush. He dug a hole in the ground and filled it with twigs, dried grass and leaves.
When he saw his brothers outside, Carrie’s limp form in Gregor's arms, he held a hand up. “I’ll be there as soon as I finish.”
Gregor nodded and jumped off the balcony, his wings snapping out in a mere second. Sebastian followed, but Daegal walked back down to help him.
Burial by fire was the only way they could properly conceal this. When his body was only bones, they would gather those up and dispose of them in one of the volcanoes around the area. Edvard could clean the house with water magic when they were finished.
Not a single soul woul
d be able to tell what happened here today.
Carrie
She woke up in a haze of pain meds. Sara and Ella loomed over her. “Oh my God,” Sara whispered. “You're awake.”
Carrie blinked. “Edvard?”
Ella’s expression went a little cagey. “He’ll be here in just a little while. He sent Gregor with you to the hospital.”
She turned her head slightly and saw the stoic dragon standing in the corner with his arms crossed. No one would get in here without his permission.
Carrie licked her lips. “It's over?”
Sara’s breath shuddered and tears spilled over her lashes. “Oh honey. We wish you would have told us. It’s over.”
Ella brushed her hair away from her face. “We promise you. It’s over.”
A smile, a real one, broke over Carrie’s face as she slipped back into unconsciousness.
It's finally over.
12
Edvard
4 Weeks Later
Edvard sensed the life burning within his mate. He itched to claim her again, but they were in public. Humans frowned on public displays of affection which involved nudity, though he was free to touch her as much as he wanted to. And touch her he had.
Carrie still wore the cast on her arm. Every time he looked at it, fury burned within him. They’d incinerated Caleb’s remains and tossed the bones in a place no one would ever look for him.
He still hadn’t told her they were mates, though he suspected Carrie was smart enough to figure it out. Tonight was the first real time they’d been out in weeks. None of them felt safe enough to until they finally got stir crazy enough that they had to get out or risk getting into a brawl.
The children were with a trusted sitter and all the dragons and their wives were gathered around a table, drinking red wine and listening to live music.
Edvard didn’t like it like the rest of them, though he wondered if Gregor disliked it more. The quiet dragon wore a thunderous frown on his face except for when Ella’s fingers brushed his arm.
The Alpha Dragon's Protection (Dragon Shifters 0f Kahului Book 4) Page 8