“We haven’t spent much time together, but so far they’ve been amazing. It feels—” She hesitated. “—natural to be with them both, as if this should always have been. I’m probably a fool for speaking so early.”
“Don’t say that. I don’t feel foolish about accepting Tyr into my life. It’s the best thing I ever did. Can I tell you something I discovered? It seems we spend our lives chasing our destinies, longing for the perfect fit and something special, but when we catch up to it, it’s never what we were expecting. It’s a little scary, isn’t it, to be handed a big surprise?”
Devon bit down on her lip. “It’s very scary. My two guys definitely come with conditions to deal with. What’s interesting is they seem so sure about me. They’ve already opened up and expressed that they want a commitment.”
“So soon?” Arcona sounded wary. “Why?”
Was she ready to say dragons and hear Arcona scream? No. “They’re from a different culture.”
“I shouldn’t be saying so soon to you. It’s not fair in this situation. I knew after my first night with Tyr that what I felt for him was real. How does it feel with your fellows? Are you ready for more?”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it feels right. Isn’t that funny? All my life I’ve struggled to commit to one partner, and now I can’t wait to commit to two! Am I insane?”
“Damn. Two men.” Arcona whistled into the phone. “I thought I was lucky, but you, you found two men who want to cherish you and fulfill your every desire. So what are the cultural differences?”
“They’re sophisticated, professional types.” Devon braced. How could she put this? “They’re also bisexual dragon shifters from a dying alien world who happen to be only half human.”
“Holy fuck!” Arcona’s breath sputtered. “What have you done!”
For the first time in a long time, Devon laughed. All her fears and trepidations rolled out in laughter, to the point she became hysterical and started hyperventilating.
“Devon, are you okay? Devon, answer me, or I’m going to call 911.”
Devon tried to reassure her friend she was okay but had difficulty. Nerves, exhaustion, and the full outrageousness of her situation poured forth in a loud burst of sobbing, hysterical laughter that rolled on and on. She finally composed herself, tears trickling down her cheeks. “It’s all good. I’m okay.”
“You scared the crap out of me. It sounds so bad over the phone. Like madness. I didn’t know what to do. I know it’s early on, but you wouldn’t be willing to take risks for these men if you didn’t see the possibility of this love lasting, right?”
“I want something that lasts, but this situation is complicated. I just don’t know what to hope for. Do I really want this to work, or do I want to put this in the wow, that was interesting but I’m glad it’s over’ column?”
“Speaking for myself, the wish-stone experience was a blessing. I am qualified to say it is a once-in-many-lifetimes opportunity that won’t be offered again. My advice is don’t waste it. Just accept what’s been offered and make it work for you.”
“What will people think of me for being in love with and committed to two men?”
“I don’t know. Should it matter what strangers think if it’s the right thing for you? I guess you need to get comfortable with the idea and start believing you deserve this. By the way, what are you going to tell your mother?”
“What did you tell yours?” Devon laughed harder.
“I lied. I had to, at least for now. But she’s met Tyr and loves him. She even made him her pineapple upside-down cake.”
“So you think this situation is a good one?” Devon still had a hard time accepting the fact that her best friend found her unusual circumstances workable.
“I say go for it, Devon. You’ll regret it forever if you don’t give it a fair chance. The only thing that matters is what’s in your heart. Do you truly think this could be love?”
“I’m not sure. There’s a heavy side to all this, and a lot of risk. Everything is so new. I’m still getting used to it. I care for both of them in different ways.”
“Why not explore those feelings? What’s the rush? I’m taking it one day at a time with Tyr, and it’s working. He’s such a good man, and he’s so smart. I swear, you will faint the first time you see him without a shirt. I want you to meet him in person.”
Now she felt buoyed. “You do realize you’re bragging shamelessly.”
“I know!” Arcona hesitated. “But I am so glad I followed my heart and took a chance on the unknown. Now as for you, no one said you had to get married and start a family eight o’clock Monday morning. Do it as a trial run. If you like it, you can continue. If you don’t, no harm, no foul.”
“True.”
“It might be a good thing to slow down a little.”
Hadn’t she been saying that to Jace all along? “This could be the best thing that ever happened to me, or the worst. I’m offering my heart to two men who seem to be on some fanatical group’s hit list.”
“Why don’t you just lie low for a while and see if you have a change of heart?”
“You’re right. I think I need to pull back and think about this for at least a few days. Why am I pressuring myself to make a commitment? There’s no rush.”
“That’s my girl. Now you’re making the right decision.”
No, I’m making the only decision I can. “Thanks, Arcona. I feel a lot better.”
“You’ll have to give me all the deets later.”
Devon laughed. “I think you owe me some details too! You’re my best friend, and I’m only now hearing that Tyr was a Dacian gladiator? For shame.”
Arcona’s voice dropped to a husky whisper. “The best parts shall remain secret, but I’ll offer enough clues that you can fill in the blanks.”
“I know you. I’m going to hear the dry version of events.” Devon knew Arcona wouldn’t budge. She was loyal and discreet with loved ones. “But I’m still so happy for you.”
“Aye-aye, dragon lady. I should probably wake Tyr and head to work.”
“Love ya, Arcona.”
“Bye!”
Devon pressed the End button and set the phone down. She knew she had a long, tough day ahead of trying not to think of Jace and Beau.
Chapter 15
“Keep going. We’re almost home.” Beau hooked his arm around Jace to support him. It had been one hell of a journey.
Jace stumbled forward in exhaustion, leaning his heavy frame against Beau. “I need to sit and rest.”
He was running on fumes. “Not in the stairwell. We’ll look like a couple of naked drunks sprawled on the steps.”
“Why didn’t we take the elevator?” Jace sounded like a sleepy child.
Marshaling his determination, he said calmly, “Because we landed and shifted in a dark alley behind our building, and you were too tired to get dressed and walk to the front of the complex.”
“I remember now,” Jace muttered. “God, my head hurts. Why did we risk flying home in dragon form?”
“We couldn’t find a cab this time of night—I mean morning—and the public is already screaming they see dragons every time a crow flaps its wings in the treetops, so it was decided one more possible dragon sighting over the city park would hardly be news.”
Shaking his head, Jace frowned. “Beau, that was a stupid idea. We shouldn’t have done it.”
Oh God. Not again. “Jace, it was your idea!” Beau huffed. “I tried to talk you out of it, but you shifted and flew off without me. I had to gather our things and race to catch up. Dude, your short-term memory is shot. You’ve not been yourself.”
Jace rubbed his head. “I’m sorry. I feel so dizzy and out of it. I don’t remember doing any of those things. I just wanted to be home.”
Beau gazed at Jace’s haggard face and felt alarmed. “You don’t look good.”
“I don’t feel good.”
“Come on, you can make it. Just a few more steps and we can sleep in ou
r own bed.”
“Without Devon, what good is it?” Jace sighed in defeat. “I was looking forward to bringing her home with us. By now she should be our mate, and we should be a bonded trio. Our bed should be filled with the three of us. It’s not supposed to be this way.” With aching deliberation, he dragged his feet up each step of the apartment complex, tripped on the edge of a stair and toppled.
With lightning speed, Beau caught Jace’s falling body. “Be careful!”
“Has Devon tried to link with you?” Jace sounded groggy.
“No. I would tell you if she did. Besides, my temporary link has probably long faded.”
“Do you think Devon made it home okay?”
“I don’t know. Hopefully she arrived safely days ago.”
“Why isn’t she trying to link with us?”
“Jace, we’ve gone over this topic constantly for the last five days. You know why. Devon thinks she’s doing the right thing by staying away, and who’s to say she’s wrong? She’s not safe with us. We can’t protect her without making her our captive. I’m certain the Order of the Knights of Saint George strongly suspects she’s a mate. They’ll be watching and waiting for any early signs that Devon’s pregnant. They’re vicious, and you know what they’d do to her. If we stay away, at least the OKSG will be inhibited by all the media attention Devon’s receiving and perhaps not act. They can’t afford to come out in the open either.”
“I feel sick about this.” Jace pounded his fist on the wall. “I just want to call or link with Devon for a moment and know she’s all right!” he snapped. “Is that asking for too much?”
“But we shouldn’t do it.” Beau struggled to be patient, but it was challenging. Jace was becoming increasingly temperamental and unreasonable. “Linking with Devon puts her at risk. It strengthens the emotional bond, and she’ll be too tempted to come to us. Besides, it’s a moot point. She’s a grown woman who knows her own mind and she refuses to link. We can’t police her every move. The best we can do is watch for signs the OKSG is near and try to protect her. There’s nothing to be done now. We’ll have to hang on as best we can and wait.”
“Wait for what?” Jace said, far too loudly for a public corridor. “Wait for the OKSG to kidnap and harm her? Wait for Devon to make a decision, or wait for me to die? Which event do you think will happen first?”
“Let’s not go there. We’ve only been apart from Devon for a few days. It’s far too soon for morbid talk.”
A moment of clarity shone on Jace’s face. “In about half an hour we’ll be having this exact conversation all over again, won’t we? I’ll think I’m bringing matters to light for the first time, right?”
It broke his heart to watch Jace deteriorating in front of his eyes. “That’s been the general pattern.”
“I’m sorry, Beau. This must be so hard on you.” Jace sounded crushed. “I think the stress and all the extra worrying about Devon has sent me into decline sooner than normal. I don’t think I’m going to linger around for weeks on end. I think it’s going to happen fast.”
Beau gently urged Jace to keep moving. “Don’t be a drama queen and talk that way. We don’t know what’s going to happen. Maybe some food and rest will help. Tomorrow I might risk a trip to Devon’s apartment on some work-related pretense and just ask a neighbor or friend if she’s okay. Would you feel better if you knew Devon was safe at home?”
“Yes.” Jace’s deep voice was reduced to a husk. “I love Devon. She was my first and only choice of a female mate, and I put her in harm’s way. If I’d left her alone, she’d be fine. The OKSG would never have given her a thought. I did this to us.”
They reached the top of the stairs. Jace hunched forward with a groan. “Oh fuck, I have spots swimming in front of my eyes again.”
Real worry consumed him. What if Jace never recovered from the accelerated death process? “Just a few more feet. We’re already at the fire door. You can make it.” Beau opened a lightweight travel pack he wore around his neck in dragon form and searched for the apartment’s security card. He swiped the card and pushed the door open, peeking from behind to make sure the hallway was empty of neighbors. “It’s clear, but move as fast as you can.”
Beau hurried ahead of Jace and opened their apartment door. “Get inside.” He was shocked to see Jace moving so laboriously. This level of exhaustion went far beyond the normal stresses of shifting and dragon flight. Jace looked spent. Something was terribly wrong. He herded Jace into their apartment, locked the door, and helped Jace toward the sofa. “Sit while I make you something to eat.”
Jace slumped on the leather couch but didn’t remain upright for long. He toppled facedown on the cushions and remained still.
“Hold on, buddy.” Beau rushed into the kitchen and flung the cupboard open, looking for any energy-dense food he could find. He grabbed jars of honey and peanut butter first, then reached for a box of crackers at the back of the shelf.
He partially knew what Jace was going through. As a young Marduko, it had happened to him, though not to this degree. The metabolic requirements of shifting between two very different physical states, to say nothing of the demands of flight, could knock any man down for the count. A major crash was common, especially for an inexperienced shifter who didn’t yet know his limitations, but Jace was a seasoned alpha. He should have sensed trouble coming and pulled back.
Beau opened the jars and smeared generous dollops of peanut butter and honey on a handful of crackers, silently acknowledging the possibility that Jace’s state might be more than high drama or mere exhaustion that could be fixed with rest and a snack. “I have something simple, and I’ll be right there.”
He peered into the living room and saw the heart-wrenching sight of Jace lying facedown on the sofa, trembling. It looked bad. He wanted to wish his worst fears away. “Sit up!” He filled a glass with water and hurried to Jace’s side. “Let’s get some food in you.”
Jace started to rise but slid back onto the cushions.
He pulled Jace upright and held a cracker to his lips. “Nothing will improve until you eat and get your strength back. Let me help you.”
Jace ate the sticky cracker, reached for the glass of water and drank it dry in a single swallow. “I love you, Beau. You’re so good to me.” He ate a second cracker.
Beau returned to the kitchen to refill the glass. “You’re my mate.”
“And Devon too,” Jace grumbled. “She should be our mate. I wish she were here with us. Could we risk a phone call? What do you think?”
“No.” Beau finished filling the glass, turned off the faucet, and returned to Jace’s side. “It’s 4:00 a.m. If the OKSG are listening to Devon’s phone—and they probably are—a call from us this time of day for a nonwork-related reason would send a big red flag. A call might be the last clue the OKSG needs to put it all together about who’s who. There’s still a strong possibility Vorden doesn’t know our human identities, so let’s keep it that way.”
“Bastards.” Jace crunched down on a third cracker. He reached for Beau’s hand. “Would you try to link with Devon one more time, please, for my sake?”
The stubbornness was unbelievable; Jace just wouldn’t let an idea go. “Devon doesn’t want to link. Besides, I’m sure the temporary link has faded. We’re not going to get anywhere.”
“Just try it.” Jace kept eating until the plate was empty. “Do we have any more of this stuff?”
Hunger was a positive sign, right? “Yeah.”
“I already feel a lot better.” Jace stood and walked into the kitchen to make himself some more snacks. “I apologize, Beau. I know I put you through a shitstorm on the trip home. It got bad on me fast, and I couldn’t get back in control. I can’t even remember big chunks of the journey, and when I was lucid, I honestly thought this was the beginning of the end.”
“It’s all right.” Seeing Jace behaving like himself again and not like some confused, fading being lifted his heart. “I want to forget it.”
<
br /> “Me too.” Jace scraped the rest of the peanut butter onto the last of the crackers and drizzled the entire mess with honey. He wolfed down the dripping crackers over the sink. “Aren’t you going to eat anything?”
“Right now, I just need to sit.”
Jace finished the crackers, washed his hands, and took a long drink directly from the sink. He walked back into the living room, stood in front of Beau and extended his hand. “Come to bed with me. Keep me warm.”
Beau gazed into Jace’s commanding eyes and felt the familiar little flutter that never got old when Jace made it clear he wanted him at his side as a lover. He grasped Jace’s hand and followed him into the bedroom.
Jace tossed the bedcovers aside and stretched across the indigo sheets. He patted the mattress. “Get close.”
Beau lay down and snuggled into the crook of Jace’s solid arms, allowing Jace to spoon him. “I’m salty and I need a shower.”
“I don’t care.” Jace kissed the back of Beau’s neck. He pressed his nose to Beau’s hair and nuzzled against him. “You smell good to me. You still have a hint of dragon on your skin.” He locked his arms tight around Beau.
Beau stroked the silky, dark hairs on Jace’s thick forearm. It felt so good to be home in their bed, he could almost drink in the wonderful sensation. A clear image of Devon shimmered in the back of his thoughts that grew steadily stronger. “Jace!” He glanced at the clock on the nightstand and saw it was 4:22 a.m. “Devon’s linking with me.” It was a strong link, considering so many days had passed with nothing.
“For God’s sake, stay with it! Is she okay?”
“I can’t tell.” Beau struggled to hold the link. “The images are a little chaotic.” This was something new to him. “Wait a minute. Devon’s not consciously linking with me. She’s asleep, dreaming. I don’t think she meant to do it. I feel like I’m invading her privacy. Maybe I should break the connection?”
“No!” Jace clutched Beau’s shoulder. “What’s she dreaming?”
Beau concentrated. “She’s dreaming of us.” He paused. “We look so beautiful to her.” He saw and felt everything from Devon’s perspective. “The three of us are making love in the cave pool. It feels incredible.” He tensed and arched back. “Oh my God, that’s what a dragon bite feels like to a female?” His skin tingled with fire. “If this gets any better, I’m going to have a screaming meltdown.” He waited. “The link is getting stronger. The sensations are so intense I can almost touch Devon.”
The Lady Prefers Dragons Page 25