Stones of Dracontias

by N. D. Jones

  Armstrong reached for her. With only a second of hesitation, she came, drawing him to her on a sob.

  Or maybe it was he who cried. With joy and renewed hope. Tonight, he’d been prepared to break his heart by giving her up. Now, with Kya’s secret out in the open, he wouldn’t have to.

  “My gorgeous Bloodstone Dragon. You’re human.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  AS MUCH AS Kya despised the scent of Armstrong’s blood, the feel of his arms around her had her stomach roiling for all she’d yearned for his touch and the years of self-denial. She despised that, too, her weakness and need for this human.

  “I can’t believe you’re human.” His arms tightened and, if possible, he held her even closer. “You shouldn’t have come. I’m grateful you did, but you shouldn’t have come.”

  “They would’ve killed you if I hadn’t. Do you think yourself better suited to handle five men than a dragon?”

  His laughter rippled through him and against her human chest.

  “You’re the same, no matter the form. Let me get a good look at you.”

  He released her and stepped back. She thought his eyes would fall to her nude form. Instead, his dark eyes never left hers.

  “You’re bleeding.”

  “You’re beautiful.”

  She had no words. Dragons weren’t beautiful. She’d seen herself in her human form many times, although she rarely made the shift. Kya had no concept of self-beauty. Yet, whenever she looked upon Armstrong, Kya thought him lovely. His beauty came from the soul and heart of the man she knew so well.

  For Armstrong, apparently, her beauty came only in the form of a human female. Did that make him shallow, as she knew most humans to be? Or did it make him all-too-human, capable of appreciating what pleased his eyes as well as his mind?

  Kya had no idea. Being in this body, with Armstrong’s heart in his eyes, she could hardly breathe, no less think.

  “Let me heal you, diata. Then I will take care of the humans.”

  Using the sleeve of his shirt, Armstrong wiped the blood from his mouth and nose with a pained slowness that had Kya shifting back to the unconscious men on the floor. She should kill them. Magic thrummed through her body, red-hot and lethal. Even in this form, it would take little effort to end the threat to Armstrong’s life.

  “Don’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “They aren’t worth it.”

  She disagreed and took two steps toward the humans. A strong arm wrapped around her waist, Armstrong’s body pressed close.

  Too close.

  “I can’t explain five dead men in my living room to the police. Unless you’re an expert at disposing of bodies, you shouldn’t kill them.”

  “We eat our prey. Don’t allow this form to cause you to forget what I truly am.”

  The palm of his hand flattened on her stomach. Caressed.

  Kya wished he wouldn’t do that, wished even more his touch didn’t make her human body feel so good and needy.

  “I could never forget the Bloodstone Dragon that is Kya. But you don’t eat humans. And I don’t want you making an exception for me.” The nose that rose to nuzzle her hair had Kya, quite disgracefully, leaning back into his warm embrace. “You should’ve told me. I understand why you didn’t. But God, Kya, this is one hell of a secret you’ve been keeping.”

  “If Father knew I revealed myself, I would never be allowed to leave Buto. Worse, he would kill you.” The thought had her pulling away from Armstrong. Conjuring clothes, which she should’ve done instead of permitting him to lay hands on her naked body, Kya turned around to face him. “Do be quiet so I can heal your injuries.”

  Thankfully, Armstrong obeyed. It was a brief respite. As soon as she dealt with the damage to his body and the men who harmed him, Armstrong Knight would push. It’s what he did. She’d never liked that aspect of his personality because it brought out the worst in hers. She relented far too easily, a weakness unbefitting a Dracontias.

  “Feel better?”

  “Much. Thank you.” He touched his nose, which had been broken in two places. “It’s back to normal, and I can breathe just fine now. My ribs are good, too.” He moved his arms and legs, testing his body, she supposed.

  “You are as you should be. You’ll find no lingering ailments. I take offense you think you would.”

  “You always take offense. Too much pride isn’t good.”

  “I assume that assessment also applies to you.”

  “If it’ll make you feel better, then yes.” Bold, brown eyes traversed her sheathed form. “You look really good in jeans and that red silk shirt is sexy as hell. You make a man want to eat you up.”

  “You want to eat me?” She didn’t understand. Armstrong wasn’t a cannibal.

  “You have no idea how much.”

  She stepped away from him.

  “Wait.” He laughed. “You misunderstand. I didn’t mean it literally.” A scratch to his head. “Well, I kinda did. But it’s still different from what you’re thinking.”

  “I think I’ve never understood you less. I didn’t detect brain damage when I scanned you for injuries. So I assume you’re brain is functioning properly and you’re just exhibiting your normal strange behavior.”

  “There are so many things I want to say and ask you. But we need to take care of those men.”

  Kya had questions of her own, beginning with why the men were at Armstrong’s home and why he lied about it being a false alarm. She hadn’t believed him, of course. For some reason, he’d wanted Kya to stay away from his home and these men. Yes, she had many questions.

  “We need to take them somewhere.” Going from one man to the next, Armstrong searched them. “I need to know who they are. Their wallets will help with that.” He scanned what he’d taken from the men. “Driver’s licenses. Perfect.” Returning the wallets to the men, Armstrong kept five plastic cards and secured them in a wooden desk in his living room. “Can you help me without turning back into a dragon?”

  “I don’t like the way you said that. As if my dragon form is less than my human one.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I think you’re trying to start an argument to give yourself an excuse to shift and fly away to Buto without us talking about the very big elephant in the room.”

  “There’s no elephant in the room, big or otherwise.”

  “It’s a metaphorical idiom, which you know. I also think you pretend to not understand me as a form of annoyance and avoidance. You’re the smartest person I know.”

  “I’m not a person. I’m a dragon.”

  He threw up his hands. “See. That right there. That’s what I’m talking about. Tell you what, I’m going to run upstairs and take a quick shower. You, Bloodstone Dragon, can take care of removing those assholes from my living room. And Kya, don’t run away.”

  “You have no sway over any of my decisions, Armstrong Knight. As I once told you, I will go where I please, when I please, and in whichever form I please.”

  “You just added the bit about the form.” An index finger tapped his temple. “I may not have your perfect memory, but I recall everything you’ve ever said to me. It was a request, not a command. We really need to talk, and I’d rather not do it in torn clothes and dried blood.”

  “And you’d rather have that conversation while I’m in this form?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  He didn’t have to.

  “Go. Shower. I’ll be here in your preferred form when you return.”

  Armstrong opened his mouth, shut it, and then marched out of the living room. Which left Kya alone with five humans and her thoughts.

  Armstrong stood at the top of the stairs. He had to play this right or Kya would fly out of his life and never return. The shower had done its job, giving him uninterrupted time to plan next steps. Maybe he should’ve let Kya kill those men. It would go a long way to solving his dilemma.

  The fact that they hadn’t taken precautions to conceal their
identity said a lot to Armstrong. Not only had they revealed their faces, but the men also carried government-issued identification. Combined, those two facts could mean only one thing. The men had intended on killing him. The older man said Armstrong was the last person on his list from survivors of the bank robbery. Come tomorrow, he would begin his own investigation. He needed to know the extent of the threat to Kya.

  Were the five men it, or were they the tip of a dangerous dragon hunters’ iceberg?

  Still, Armstrong wasn’t a murderer, and he wouldn’t turn Kya into one by using her natural protective dragon instincts to get what he wanted. What Armstrong wanted, for seven long years, was Kya. That dream was now within reach, and Armstrong was surprised how far he was willing to go to make it his new reality.

  Armstrong had never lied to Kya. That wasn’t the type of relationship they had. Now, as he strolled down the steps, sweatpants and a T-shirt on, Armstrong was prepared to fight for what he wanted.

  “What did you do with them?” He honestly didn’t care. What he did care about was that Kya was in his home, on his couch, and still in human form. “You don’t look as if you’re about to throw up, so I guess you didn’t eat them.”

  She eyed him with an unreadable expression when he joined her on the sofa. In this form, Kya was no more forthcoming with her feelings, although he felt better able to read her emotions now that she had features he was used to deciphering. As a Secret Service agent, Armstrong had a lot of practice in interpreting verbal and non-verbal cues.

  Right now, back to the cushions, arms crossed over her chest, green jasper eyes stoic, Kya was trying to close herself off. That wouldn’t do.

  He slid one cushion length closer. “Where are they?”

  “Kerguelen Islands.”

  “Ker-what?”

  “Southern Indian Ocean. Remote. The closest population area is over two-thousand miles away. There are no more than a hundred or so residents at a time, depending on the season.”

  “You left them on a deserted island?”

  “The territory is known as Desolation Islands. That’s not the same as deserted. For your peace of mind, I also healed them so they wouldn’t die, although they still may if they don’t make friends with the locals. Based on how they mistreated you, I doubt they know how to treat anyone, even if it means their survival.”

  Oh, but his dragon had a wicked streak.

  “That’s pretty ruthless of you.”

  “I’m a dragon. How many times must I remind you?”

  “You’re a kind and sensitive dragon, Kya. Stop pretending as if you enjoy when you act out in violence or vengeance. I know you don’t, which was why I asked you to not kill them.” He slid even closer, invading her personal space, which he knew she hated. “Are you mad at me?”

  “Tell me why those men were in your home.”

  “Tell me how you look like the Kya of my dreams. I mean, you look exactly the way I envisioned you would if you were human. How is that possible?”

  “It isn’t, and you’re far too close.”

  “Am I?” When Armstrong leaned in, his left arm pressed against her right and his lips were inches from her face. “You’re the woman from my dreams. I had no idea you shifted into anything, no less a human. But I saw you, this human you, years ago. When I dreamed, you came to me, and I thought you were a figment of my imagination. But you weren’t.”

  “Armstrong, I—”

  He kissed her. Short and sweet and on shocked lips. It wasn’t his best move, but he had to taste her. If he’d asked permission, she would’ve said no.

  “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “I know.”

  He did it again. This time, he moved in slow, giving Kya time to push him away if she didn’t want his kiss. Perhaps she was still in shock, but she didn’t move, say no or shove against his chest. So he kissed her again. Nothing fancy. Just a press of lips to lips. She wasn’t ready for more, wouldn’t even know what more was because Armstrong had no doubt Kya had never allowed any human to touch her like this before.

  The knowledge of her complete innocence and trust had him whispering his greatest secret.

  “I love you, Bloodstone Dragon. Kya.” He wanted to know if she loved him in return but stopped himself from asking. Armstrong didn’t want to spook her more than he probably already had. “Stay with me tonight. I’m not asking you to commit to more than sleeping at my side. Of letting me hold you while you sleep and being here when I wake up.”

  “This can never be. We can never be. Even if I let you hold and treat me like a human woman, I can never be her for you. Your love is wasted on a dragon’s heart.”

  Armstrong kissed her again because she was right and painfully wrong. Cradling her face between his hands, he showed Kya, without words, how to kiss. Lips moved against hers, slow, soft and patient. To his delight, Kya was a fast learner. She responded with aching tenderness and desire.

  God, he wanted to deepen the kiss, wanted to slake his pent-up urges and make Kya his in every way possible. He wouldn’t, no matter the temptation. Not only was Kya a virgin, but she also wasn’t ready for that level of physical intimacy. He didn’t even think she understood her human body enough to know what she was feeling and why.

  Lips slid to the long column of her neck. Mouth opened and tongue came out to explore. She gasped, and he did it again. A hand found nape, hair, and scalp. Another moan.

  Damn, Kya was so responsive. And innocent.

  Forcing his hands and lips to obey, Armstrong gave Kya one last peck on her lips and moved to the other side of the couch.

  Dazed, she stared at him as if she didn’t know what to say or do. They sat there while Kya made out whatever was on her mind. Armstrong, too afraid to tip the balance in the wrong direction, chose to keep his mouth shut.

  “You’re going to break my dragon’s heart, Armstrong Knight.”

  “I promise, I won’t.”

  “You will because I want what isn’t mine to have. I cannot live the life of a human.”

  “I didn’t ask you to.”

  “The question was in your gentle kisses, your reverent hands, and the eyes that gaze upon me with conflicted hope.”

  “One day at a time. Tonight, we share the same bed. Not as new lovers but as old friends.”

  “Tell me why those men were here.”

  He should’ve known his dragon would return to that topic.

  “I think it had something to do with the terrorist threat against the president.”

  “Why did you ask me to stay away?”

  “We aren’t supposed to be connected, remember? I didn’t want you swooping in here and lopping off heads.”

  Armstrong wondered if, since she wasn’t in her dragon form, Kya could smell his lies. If she could, he would lose her for sure. When she nodded, he smiled at his success. Then frowned on the inside. He hated lying to her almost as much as he loathed the thought of losing her. What did it matter anyway? Those men, after getting a taste of Kya’s magic, wouldn’t come back for more. Only fools would challenge a dragon.

  Or lie to one, he thought, guilt robbing him of the pleasure of potentially having Kya stay the night.

  “What if they return?”

  “They won’t. I think it’s safe to say you scared the crap out of them. They won’t come back.”

  “Will you call to me if they do?”

  “Yeah.”

  He wouldn’t. Armstrong had a good idea why the men wanted his Kya. He’d be damned if he let anyone lock her in a cage, use her as a weapon of war, or experiment on her for their sadistic pleasure of taming a dragon.

  The next time they came for Armstrong, thinking to use him to get to Kya, he’d be ready for them.

  Taking Kya by the hand, Armstrong led her up the stairs and to his bedroom. She watched him as he undressed her to her underwear and said nothing when he removed her bra and replaced it with one of his T-shirts.

  Gorgeous dragon eyes on him, Armstrong yanked of
f his T-shirt, socks, and pants. In his boxers, he climbed into bed and raised his hand to Kya.

  She didn’t move. “This is a mistake. I’m not a human.”

  “I fell in love with you as a dragon. This isn’t about being human or dragon but our feelings for each other.”

  He lowered his hand and snuggled under the covers. Kya knew her mind. As she’d told him many times, she did as she wished.

  “Do not think I don’t know when I’m being emotionally manipulated.”

  “As I said, you’re the smartest person I know, as well as the stubbornest. You make me work for every inch you give.”

  “That’s because you want too much.”

  “I only want you.”

  “As I said, you want too much.”

  With a dip of the mattress, Kya joined him. A statue would’ve been softer for all that she didn’t relax.

  “Come here, my Bloodstone Dragon.”

  She didn’t, so Armstrong moved to her. With a bit of effort, he managed to convince Kya to lay on her side. Spooning behind her, he held her the way he’d dreamed of for years. For once, they were the same size and Armstrong felt like her equal.

  “I love you, Kya. I don’t care if you’re dragon or human. My feelings for you will never change.”

  “I won’t say it back. I cannot.”

  “I know, sweetheart. I know.”

  She twisted in his arms until she faced him. Then kissed Armstrong, inexperienced and a little shy. Whatever the dragon felt for him, that went unvoiced, was expressed in her single kiss.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “IT WAS A mistake.”

  “Yes, so you’ve said.”

  Kya and her mother, the Bluestone Dragon, hovered far above their island home. Four different shades of green comprised her mother’s scales, beginning with light-green at her tail and increasing in richness as the scales moved up her body and closer to her head and face. Her eyes, blue mottled with white, shone brightly with the color of her healing stone, Lapis Lazuli, as well as a mother’s disappointment in her youngest offspring.