The Lady Prefers Dragons

by Katalina Leon

  Devon froze. This man wasn’t at all what she’d expected. He was young, quite handsome, and his face radiated sincerity. There was something comforting about his presence that almost made her let down her guard and speak with him. She felt no threat from him, and perhaps that made him even more dangerous.

  He held out his hand, proving to her that he wasn’t going to take her picture. “We have something in common. I’m not your enemy. There are more of us in the world than you might think.” He pocketed his camera and stepped into the shadows of a stairwell. “Be careful out there.”

  Devon hurried toward the door, mulling the man’s strange words over in her mind. What did he mean by more of us? She glanced back and saw he was gone.

  She pushed the front door open and got slapped in the face with a chilly burst of drizzly fog blowing off the bay. Even though it was dawn, the streetlights were still on. Wrapping her scarf high around her throat, she thrust her hands deep into her pockets and jogged down the block.

  “There she is. Follow her!” a man shouted from behind.

  Devon glanced around, hoping to locate the source of the commotion. A car pulled up behind her and the driver slowed and began taking pictures.

  She slipped the scarf over her face and turned away.

  The occupant of the car rolled down the window and whined, “Don’t be that way. Come on, lady, gimme one decent photo!”

  “Don’t talk to him!” Another frantic man emerged from a doorway, waving a check in his hand. “I’m from the Tattle Rag Globe, and we’ll pay you fifty thousand dollars for an exclusive interview with photos.” He tried to thrust the check into Devon’s pocket.

  “What the hell?” Devon resisted. “Back off!”

  The man kept pushing the check on her. “Come on, right here, right now. The Tattle Rag Globe is ready to hear your story. It can become a weekly feature. That is if you like earning fifty thousand dollars a week.”

  “Get away from me!” Devon darted past the man.

  The man pursued her. “How about sixty thousand? Come on, that’s great money for a ten-minute interview, and you know it!”

  Devon broke into a run.

  The man shouted from behind. “Oh, I get it now. You’ve already spoken to the World Babbler. How much did they pay? You’re wasting your time with those idiots. I’m warning you. Their check will bounce!”

  Devon’s boot heels clicked against the pavement as she ran with a scarf wrapped around her face like a highwayman.

  A speeding scooter with two riders approached on her left. The scooter almost scraped the curb as a paparazzo riding on the back clicked pictures of her. The scooter struck a puddle and sent ice-cold water splashing onto Devon’s pant leg before zipping away.

  “Goddamn you!” She leaped back. This situation was unbearable; if she weren’t so hungry, she would have turned around and gone back to her apartment. She shook the dirty water down her leg.

  “I can’t live like this!” Devon darted down the street.

  JACE STARED AT THE breakfast burrito with disinterest. The food at the Explorer Café was always delicious, but he couldn’t bring himself to eat.

  Beau glanced at the untouched plate with concern. “Is there something wrong with it? Order something else.”

  “It’s fine,” he grumbled. Eating felt like a monumental task. “I miss—”

  “I know,” Beau interrupted. “Be careful with names.” He winked. “No thinking out loud in public, okay?”

  “You’re right.” Jace rubbed his eye with his palm as if he could grind the deepening sense of frustration away. He wasn’t even allowed to say Devon’s name, and he found that thought extremely depressing.

  “Good morning. You braved the outside world!” Burt, the owner of the Explorer Café, called to a customer. “I’ve been seeing your face all over the news.”

  Jace turned just as Devon strolled into the café with flushed cheeks.

  “Hi, Burt.” Devon walked straight toward Burt without looking around the restaurant. “Can you seat me in a quiet corner? I have a few unwanted companions following me around town.”

  Burt craned his neck and glanced out the window. “I see them. Hopefully they’ll stay out there, and when you’re ready to leave, I’ll lead you out through the kitchen.”

  “Thanks. I’m already sick of being chased by these guys, and I still have a few errands to run.” Devon turned to follow Burt and looked directly at Jace and Beau seated in a corner booth. She froze.

  Jace drew a tense breath. It took every ounce of self-control to stay seated and not leap to his feet and crush Devon against his chest in a bear hug. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, pull her onto his lap, and hold her captive while he covered her in kisses. He stared back at her, his jaw muscles clenched so tightly his temples pounded. “Good morning,” he muttered.

  “You’re up early. Is everything okay at the office?” Devon’s voice flattened as her gaze darted between him and Beau.

  “You know each other?” Burt loomed between them.

  “We work on the same floor.” Beau motioned for Devon to join them. “If you’re having trouble with the paparazzi, why don’t you sit with us?” He patted the seat beside him. “We’ll protect you.”

  “I think the lady wants to be seated alone.” Burt placed his hand on Devon’s shoulder and steered her toward a private booth in the opposite corner.

  “I wouldn’t mind some company.” Devon broke from Burt’s hold and returned to the guys’ table. “I actually have a few business matters to discuss.”

  Burt handed Devon a menu. “As long as it’s okay with you”—he shot a look of caution at Jace and Beau—“it’s fine with me. I’ll get you some coffee.” He turned and walked toward the kitchen.

  Devon sat slowly at Beau’s side without saying a word and just stared at them. Her eyes shimmered and became glassy, as if she were about to cry. “I’ve been so worried,” she mumbled.

  Beau reached under the table and squeezed her hand.

  “How are you? Have you gone back to the office?” Jace dared to speak, but he didn’t trust himself to remain calm or in control for long, and Burt was watching them from behind the coffeemaker.

  “Except for one other ill-fated trip outside the apartment, I’ve been living like I’m under house arrest. I’m on extended leave and ready to turn in my resignation. I can’t go to the office and see both of you every day. How long would it take for someone to notice the way the three of us look at each other? I don’t think I could hide my feelings. It’s been hard enough not to call your apartment just to leave a message.” Devon sounded devastated.

  It was killing him to sit across the table and see the anguish on her face. “Have you been harassed by anyone you’d consider a serious threat?”

  “What?” Devon looked away before answering. “Even if I had, I wouldn’t tell you. Isn’t that what they want, to draw you out in the open? I saw the hate in Commander Vorden’s eyes. I know his plan is to prick me and then stab you. I’m not going to help him by delivering the two of you into his hands. I’m prepared to stay away and wait it out.”

  “Don’t.” Jace groaned and tilted his head back. “That’s not right. We started to bond. I need—” He corrected himself. “We need to be with you. You should be sharing our bed.” He hated how desperate and selfish he sounded.

  “That can’t happen.” Devon gazed into his eyes, making his heart pound. “Everyone’s watching me. Being with you would be the most dangerous thing I could possibly do. I must stay away. We have to be patient.” She glanced around. “I probably shouldn’t even be sitting here with you now. It would kill me if someone saw us and put it all together. The general public has no idea what they’re looking at, but men like Commander Vorden would know in an instant.” She stood. “I should go.”

  Jace grabbed Devon’s wrist and pulled her back into the booth beside him. “Wait.”

  Devon landed next to Jace on the bench seat with an abrupt thud. “What’s u
p with you?”

  Easing his grip, Jace turned Devon’s palm over and saw the mark had completely faded. No sign of it remained, and that broke his heart. “Damn.” He wrapped his arms around Devon to prevent her from fleeing, leaned close, and allowed his mouth to hover near her throat as he whispered, “I could give you a dragon bite right now that would not only force you to link with me, but make you beg to come home to my bed.”

  “Why would you do that?” She struggled in his grip and gave his shoulder a firm shove. “Let me go. Are you trying to torment me or drive me mad wanting what I can’t have? I already fall asleep thinking of the two of you, and God knows I wake up thinking of you too. You want to make things worse? Force me to do something stupid?”

  Burt hurried toward them, balancing Devon’s coffee mug on a tray. He seemed alarmed by the obvious tension in the booth. “Is everything okay?” He looked wary. “Devon, would you like that private table now?”

  Devon composed herself. “No, thank you, Burt. I’m fine.”

  Burt set the coffee mug in front of Devon. “Would you like your usual breakfast, or do you have something else in mind?”

  Devon feigned a smile. “I’ll take my usual, Burt.”

  “Coming up.” Burt walked away.

  A horrible wave of jealousy over Burt’s protective and sensible actions, left him helpless to prevent himself from saying something petty. “A fucking stranger knows what you like for breakfast and I don’t. That’s not how it should be. Come home with us.”

  “Burt’s not a fucking stranger.” Devon got defensive. “He’s a nice guy, and I eat breakfast here three or four mornings a week, so what about it? I don’t like your tone. If you think for a moment that acting possessive and demanding is going to make me forget my common sense and do something reckless like go home with you, you’re mistaken. I know what’s at stake, and I’m not so selfish or stupid that I would do what you just asked. So don’t insult me.”

  Beau shrugged. “She’s right, Jace.”

  “Shut up, Beau,” Jace snapped.

  Devon rose. “I think I will take a corner table on the opposite side of the restaurant. I’ll eat my breakfast burrito with paparazzi leering beyond the window. I’m sure it will be a lot more pleasant than this.”

  “Don’t go.” Jace was instantly sorry he’d snapped. “The last few days, I’ve been so worried and irritable. I can’t sleep or eat. I haven’t been myself. I apologize.” He glanced at Beau. “To both of you.”

  “I haven’t been myself either.” Devon sat down beside Jace. “Apology accepted.” She brushed her hand across his. “But you have to stop pressuring me to do things that can only get us all hurt. It’s dragon mania out there, and the wrong people are looking.”

  “I know you’re right.” Jace leaned closer to Devon and noticed the fresh fragrance in her hair. It was a crisp, grassy scent that reminded him of the African veld. “I’ll dream of you tonight.”

  “You know what I want, but it’s not the right thing to do.” Devon looked into Jace’s eyes. Her face was filled with conflicting emotions. “Do I even need to say it?”

  Jace knew Burt would see his actions and wonder what was going on, but he dared to graze his fingertips across Devon’s hair and touch her face. The tender gesture was undeniably that of a lover. “As soon as you’re satisfied enough time has passed, come back to us. Beau and I want to share everything with you. We need you, and we will fully commit.” He reached for her hand and kissed her fingertips. “Just don’t wait too long, my love. Being apart will kill me.”

  DEVON SAT AT HER COMPUTER, looking over the dismal job prospects and feeling defeated. There was nothing in the Bay area that even remotely matched the sort of work she’d done at the magazine. She hadn’t been to the offices of International Explorer since before the trip to Africa, over a month ago, and s he dared not go back.

  She wondered if Jace and Beau had returned to their regular jobs and routines. Every day she fought the temptation to call them or wander past their apartment building just to gaze up at their window. She’d even avoided the Explorer Café for fear of another self-exposing run-in. Her world had become small and dull, with only infrequent trips outside the apartment to buy groceries. Her favorite time was the heart of night when she at least had the hope of meeting Jace and Beau in a lust-fueled dream.

  Life was getting a little easier. A few of the most aggressive paparazzi had given up on her. The recent spectacular meltdown of a beloved celebrity marriage had lured their attention away. There had been no more verified dragon sightings, and general interest seemed to be waning in a story that refused to materialize in a substantial way.

  Except for her future employment prospects, things were improving. But there was one important matter that couldn’t wait. She stood, walked into the bathroom, and peed on the second pregnancy test of the morning. The first test stick was just too bizarre to interpret. The stick was designed to clearly indicate a plus or minus sign and a distinct color, but the first test had been between both symbols, and the middle shade of color was vague enough to cause concern.

  Another possibility was all the Marduko pheromones she’d received from multiple dragon bites were messing with her system, and there was nothing to worry about. Perhaps this was normal. She didn’t know what to think or who to ask. Being the female lover to two Marduko obviously came with a few surprises. She’d been changed both in body and heart, and now wandered alone in unknown territory.

  She almost picked up the phone and pressed Jace’s number before remembering that was the single stupidest thing she could do. Maybe she should have sent a friend to buy the test, but who? Arcona was the only one who knew the whole story, and she was a plane flight away. Perhaps it would have been safer to order online and have it mailed to her, but she couldn’t be certain her phone and mail weren’t being monitored.

  Damn, it was crappy, always wondering who was watching her and escaping notice. Commander Vorden wasn’t some easily distracted paparazzo with other targets to chase. He looked like the kind of man who was committed to a lifetime of zealous dragon hunting.

  This wasn’t the time to get lazy, scared, or to let down her guard and run to Jace and Beau for comfort. She didn’t believe for a moment Vorden had given up. After the bungled incident at the Nairobi airport, he most likely was being cautious and sending only his seasoned officers into the field as scouts.

  Glancing at the damp pregnancy test sitting on the edge of the sink provided no answers. The color indicator wasn’t blue or white. It was lavender. What the hell did that mean?

  JACE WATCHED FROM THE comfort of the love seat he’d purchased for Devon as Beau placed the last sparkling ornament on a skinny Christmas tree.

  Beau turned to look at Jace. “This isn’t cheering you up, is it?”

  “I appreciate that you tried.” He felt a stab of guilt knowing he’d been an absolute beast to live with. In the past weeks, severe mood swings and physical impairments had increased at a depressing rate. There was a constant tremor in his hands. Yesterday he’d fainted in the shower and smacked his head hard. This morning he’d picked up a plastic jug, lost his grip, and splashed milk all over the kitchen floor. Poor Beau had had to clean it up because the simple act of leaning down had left him too dizzy to stand. The other problems were too numerous to name, but all pointed toward the same inevitable conclusion: his decline had kicked into high gear. “This was supposed to be our first Christmas together as a mated trio,” he grumbled. “And it’s not going to happen, is it?”

  “Devon’s very persistent. Once she gets it in her head that she’s doing the right thing, she doesn’t quit. Do you want me to try to contact her?”

  “No.” Jace shook his head, feeling irritated by the ever-growing swarm of spots swimming in his peripheral vision. “What good would that do? I’ve already put her in too much danger. Devon has to come to us when she’s ready, if ever. This could be one of those things. Maybe fate really doesn’t want the Marduko on
Earth. Our time here might have passed.”

  Beau set a delicate ornament on a high branch. “I hope that’s not true.”

  Jace squinted at Beau standing beside the tree; his silhouette softened and blurred. A moment later his vision further darkened and clouded. He waited, not wanting to make the next admission. “In case I forget, I hid a boxful of wrapped gifts for you and Devon in the back of my closet. I bought them a while ago. I think most of them are marked with your names, but I can’t remember for sure. Everything is a fog these days. I’m certain you can figure out who gets what.”

  Beau stepped closer. He knelt and put his arms around Jace. “Why are you telling me this now? Just give me my gifts on Christmas.”

  Jace stroked the top of Beau’s head, taking a moment to savor the silky texture of his hair. “Because I may not be here on Christmas. My body is shutting down. I can feel it. It’s all happening so fast.”

  “Don’t do this again,” Beau pleaded. “You’re scaring yourself and me. I don’t want to hear this.”

  “You have to.” He struggled to sound calm. “I’m not being dramatic. I swear it. It’s time for me to go to our cave on Old Grade Road while I’m still strong enough to make a final shift. I don’t want to pass away in our apartment in a city. That wouldn’t feel right. It’s not the Marduko way. I want to be on a mountaintop, and I need you to drive us there.” His voice faltered. “Because I can’t see a damn thing.”

  “You’ve gone blind? Already? But I thought we had a few more weeks.“ Beau tensed. “You’re certain this is it?”

  A sense of failure settled over him as he said, “This time I’m certain. It feels different.”

  A violent sob rattled out of Beau. “I prepared for this just in case, but there’s something we must do before we leave town.”

  DEVON FOLDED HER LEGS beneath her as she leaned over the thick armrest of the couch, indulging in her favorite secret activity. When she felt insecure, she got out her camera and the memory card from the Africa trip, and scrolled past the hundreds of images one by one. She had not dared to post or transfer the photos to her laptop, or anywhere else for that matter. There were too many incriminating pictures to risk that sort of exposure, so she viewed them in private on her camera almost every day before carefully removing the card and hiding it inside the cracked sole of an old pair of running shoes. She knew she should probably destroy the card, but it was all she had of Jace and Beau, and some defiant part of her heart refused to deliver the photos into oblivion, reasoning that if she couldn’t be with Jace and Beau, at least she could look at them.