CHAPTER FIVE
– LILLIANA –
My eyes are fixed on his crotch as he zips himself up. Damn. Two rounds and I’m not quite ready to stop. Regretfully, I take my gaze from his impressive bulge and focus on getting dressed myself.
I feel his gaze on my ass when he says, “If it wasn’t clear enough yet, you’re going to be living with me from now on.”
“Oh, now my pussy feels nice enough to have around, eh?” I snort. “I’ll think about it, and let you know once night falls.”
A deliciously loud growl vibrates through his chest, and I swear I see a puff of smoke billow from his nostrils. He takes a menacing step forward and if I were anyone else I’d be shitting my pants right about now.
Though, he might smack my ass and grab me by the throat to give it a good squeeze and all…but I know for a dead-fact a dragon won’t ever hurt his fated mate.
“The only reason we were kept apart was because I couldn’t guarantee your safety if you were alone in my cabin all the time,” he snarls. “Besides, with the fertility issues we’ve been having, I didn’t want to announce the pregnancy too soon.”
Not liking the tone he’s giving me, I snap, “You’ve been somewhere else for the past few weeks? Shopping for other brides to hook up with? Or is Naryssa still in the game?”
A sly grin slides across his face. “Darlin’? I never play games, and you should know by the load of cum I just put inside you that I haven’t fucked or so much as jacked off since we completed our bond two weeks ago. Just so you know. A dragon who cheats creates his own downfall. I will never be with anyone but you. All I’ve been doing since is fight at the front line, handle clan business, and occasionally throw in a quick nap while working in my office.”
“Are you gonna nap at home from now on since you threw a quick fuck in between work at your office?” I raise one of my eyebrows.
His grin is still in place. “We’re gonna have a lot of quick fucks, hard fucks, long fucks, marathon fucks, shower fucks, nature fucks, along with a truckload of different ones because with you the possibilities are endless, and I feel like the craving will never wear off.”
“That’s a lot of fucking,” I murmur while my pussy clenches at the thought. Then another thought occurs. “Are all dragons horny and make house calls in between work breaks? Because witnessing Cleo’s mate storm into the house and throwing her over his shoulder was definitely awkward and had me rushing out there as fast as my legs could carry me.”
His eyes narrow and his voice is all business when he asks, “He threw her over his shoulder to have sex?”
“Uh huh. His dragon was right there as well with the pupils flashing. The moans started as soon as the bedroom door fell shut. That’s when I grabbed the stash of brownies and got the hell out of there.”
“We’re going to make a stop on our way to Nario,” he grunts, spins around, and walks out of the office.
Once outside he picks up his pace. I follow beside him and strangely enough I feel the tension in his body without looking at him. Normally I block out everything because it can be distracting to feel emotions of others…unless I tap in to gain perspective.
Maybe it’s the blood bond between us. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t have a fucking clue,” he grunts, slight frustration tinging his voice. “I do know one thing. Ivano would never walk out on a task, especially when we’ve caught a member of the Marshgloom clan we can question. A life and death situation with his mate? Yeah. Go home for a fuck? Hell no.”
“Kinda makes it weird he did,” I muse.
Ernestino grunts and keeps walking until we arrive at his sister’s cottage. He raises his fist and is about to pound on the door when it swings open, revealing his sister and her mate a breath away from engaging in a passionate kiss.
I’m not about to interrupt, but Ernestino thinks otherwise. “Why the hell did you–” He cuts off his own sentence to take a deep breath through his nose in Cleo’s direction. “Impossible,” he murmurs.
Ivano is wearing a huge grin. “My thoughts exactly when I could sense the change in my woman and had to go home.”
Ernestino nods and offers his hand to Ivano. “Congratulations.”
Ivano takes Ernestino’s hand and pulls it to let their shoulders bump when he grunts, “Thanks, boss.”
Cleo smiles at her brother when he turns to her, and they briefly hug.
When they pull back, they murmur in sync, “The blood angel.”
I take a step closer. “The what now?”
All heads turn my way, but it’s Ernestino who says, “There’s a legend concerning dragons.”
Cleo steps around her brother to come closer to me. “I mentioned it earlier. I was going to check the old books in Tino’s office, but with what just happened I have no doubt the legend is about you. How else would you explain decades of infertility between mates and one touch from you felt as if you flipped a switch inside me in a good way.”
I frown and take a step back.
“Move,” Ernestino grunts. “You’re freaking her out.”
Cleo moves around him and is standing in front of me before I can so much as blink. “Seriously, it’s cool. Think about it. The legend mentions a protector, a blood angel who has the healing touch and will play a crucial part in fertility, prosperity, and will create a balance for our breed.”
“The legend is about a winged protector,” Ivano states and pins me with a stare. “As far as I know vampires don’t have wings.”
They are crazy. I’m definitely not an angel. Angels have wings with white feathers and shit. Me? Yeah…no fucking way do I fall in the angel category.
My heart leaps inside my chest and I feel cornered with the overload of weirdness. “Can we stop this bullshit and head over to Nario?” Glaring at Ernestino I grumble, “You’ve been ignoring me for two damn weeks to fight battles with Marshgloom, do paperwork until you fall asleep in your office, and now we’re chitchatting over shit that’s written in books that’s been gathering dust for fuck knows how long? Are we gonna torture a prisoner or what?”
Ivano touches Ernestino’s shoulder. “She’s right, we have business to deal with. I shouldn’t have left Nario on his own.”
He turns to face Ivano. “You had important matters to deal with. Cleo, you’re good to stay here by yourself?”
“More than good.” Cleo is wearing a huge grin. “But could we chat about the legend some more once you’re done?”
“No,” I snap. “We’re not going to mention it again. Don’t blame me for your mate finally being able to knock you up. I’m not a blood angel unless you call all vampires that.”
“Your mother is the one with the angelic touch, it would make sense you inherit some part the angel left behind,” Cleo muses.
I turn and start to walk away; I don’t have to listen to this.
I feel Ernestino’s hand on my elbow. “You’re walking the wrong way, darlin’.”
He instantly lets go when I pull my arm away from his grip. The man is smart enough to keep his jaw shut the rest of the way. A dragon shifter is standing guard in front of the door and he moves to the side when we come to a stop.
Ernestino nods and steps inside. I follow him down the stairs with Ivano right behind me. Tiny lamps light our way down and it feels as if we’re going to a large dungeon where they keep their prisoners. Yeah, not just feel because there are cells to my left when we get to a large space and on the right are separated stalls with rings in the ceiling to hang people from. Dark walls, floor, and ceiling. Nice.
A muffled scream is coming from the far back. The scent of blood hangs heavy in the air. Stepping around the wall, I get sight of Nario and it makes me pause. The sadistic smile on his face while slicing up the prisoner’s skin is totally unhealthy.
By the look of all the blood surrounding them I’d say it’s been going on for hours. Supernatural have healing abilities but if you’re tortured long enough it can drain you and open up a weakness you can’t simply recover from…say, if someone slices your throat deep enough. Which means half a decapitation is enough to stop being immortal. Weirdest thing, though? The prisoner’s mouth is sewn shut.
“At what point in time were you going to let him talk?” Ernestino growls.
Ivano’s voice is a mere whisper. “I’m guessing never.”
The hatred in Nario’s gaze when it hits Ernestino makes me take a step in my mate’s direction. I don’t know what’s more uncomfortable, the prisoner trying to breathe through his busted nose that’s not healing correctly or witnessing two brothers mentally trying to go for each other’s throat.
I can feel the anger and frustration coming from Ernestino, it jumps into my veins making it harder for me to keep a clear head. There’s a slight vibration hovering over Nario’s skin indicating he’s close to shifting. If I hadn’t seen Ernestino’s hands partly shifting during sex I wouldn’t have known the first signs.
Stalking to the prisoner, I take a ninja star from the small leather pouch on my belt and cut his mouth open.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Nario snarls.
Nario’s body hits the wall and Ernestino bends over him. “Don’t ever talk to my woman in that tone.”
“Boss,” Ivano grunts.
I feel a small shift in Ernestino’s mood and he steps back. “You’re dismissed. Go home.”
Nario jumps to his feet. “You can’t pull me off, I’m in this, this is my kill.”
“Your kill,” I echo. “I thought the job was to torture the man to get some inside information.” Glancing at Ernestino and Ivano I ask, “Was I wrong to assume such a thing?”
“Ivano, get Nario home.” Ernestino grinds his teeth and pulls his phone from his pocket.
A puff of smoke billows from Nario’s nostrils and the look of hatred he’s giving Ernestino has tripled compared to a moment ago.
Ivano shoves Nario against his shoulder and it seems to jolt the fucker out of a mental plot to kill his brother. At least, that’s what it looks like from my point of view. Damn. I should consider myself lucky with only one brother, and the relationship I have with Fiero. Yes, we disagree at times, and do fight, but the hatred I just witnessed against a sibling? Nah, that shit ain’t right.
There’s more going on than just a brother being pissed at his own blood brother being clan leader because he couldn’t get the title himself. This hatred lies deep, much, much deeper.
“Thank you,” the prisoner murmurs.
I cross my arms in front of my chest. “A little presumptuous, don’t you think? The only reason I cut your mouth open was to get some answers while I’m torturing you.”
The prisoner’s gaze bounces from me to Ernestino.
“Don’t look at him,” I snap and have him by the throat within my next breath. “You look at me. I’ll be the one cutting your throat when I think you’re as useless as you seem to be.”
He inhales and gives me his eyes when he says, “You’re a vampire.”
A grin starts to appear on his face, and I barely restrain myself from rolling my eyes. I mean, come on, does he really think fire is going to kill or harm me? I cover his mouth with my hand just before he inhales and is about to breathe fire. Yes, I’ve read about dragon shifters being able to do that without shifting. I also might have read about toxins building up if they have to swallow it down.
“I’m not opposed to stapling your mouth shut, asshole. Growing back eyebrows takes longer than my skin healing. It’s annoying, not even close to life-threatening.” In one fluid move I’m standing behind him to give him a chance to reply and do better while I press the ninja star against his throat. “You, on the other hand, have suffered enough torture over the past few hours and are very easy to kill if I cut your neck deep enough. Any last words I might accept in exchange for your life?”
He snorts and leans forward, letting the ninja star dig deeper against his neck. “You don’t have any authority to make decisions.”
Ernestino takes a step forward. “My brother might have fucked up by opening his big mouth, thinking he can make decisions for me, but this woman right here is doing the questioning right now. I’m right here with her. Talk and we’ll decide.”
“Promise me free passage to my aunt and I’ll give you all the information I have.” The prisoner keeps his gaze locked on Ernestino.
“Clan name,” he only grunts in response.
“Lanroussos.”
Ernestino gives a slight nod, and I remove the ninja star from the prisoner’s neck.
“We’ve been targeting the mine to keep the focus on the main entrance. Meanwhile, on the other side, we’ve been digging a tunnel. Last night we finally managed to reach the vein.”
Ernestino’s fingers curl into fists. “It explains the sudden explosion of violence this morning. Tell me, how long has Marshgloom been digging those tunnels?”
The prisoner seems truthful and yet everyone lies, if it’s a small, harmless loophole or about crucial things.
The prisoner hangs his head. “Seven months.”
I empty my lungs and focus when I breathe in while Ernestino replies, “They reached the vein last night and haven’t managed to–”
The prisoner cuts Ernestino off by saying, “Tony wanted to wait until your focus was with the loss of the fallen men. I presume they will start later tonight and place bombs on the other side for distraction. This way they can transport the gemstones without suspicion once they blast them free.”
This fucker’s lies leave a sour taste on my tongue.
“Lies,” I snarl and my ninja star is pressing right beneath his ear. “Tell me, are there even tunnels?”
“Yes,” he grits. “I’m telling the truth. Why would I lie? Ernestino promised me a free passage if I gave him useful information.”
Dammit. He’s telling the truth about the tunnels. So, why did I taste a lie? Oh. Fuck. “Then enlighten me about the useful part when I’m pretty sure the reason you’re telling Ernestino about the tunnels isn’t about saving the gemstones in the mines but all about trapping most of their men in those mines. Hell, maybe even hope Ernestino takes lead because he’s been fighting right alongside his men.”
Ernestino curses.
The prisoner spits at Ernestino and snarls, “We will have our day of reckoning and you won’t see us coming because we are already here.”
“Well, listen to you, sounding all ominous.” I press the tip of the ninja star deeper into his skin. “I guess you’ll never find out ’cause you’re dying today.”
His laughter is dark. “Death is not the end. Victory will live on in the blood oath of vengeance. The past has a promise that needs to be rectified.”
The need to squeeze more information from this idiot is agonizing, especially if he keeps talking in riddles.
I grab a fistful of the idiot’s hair and yank his head back. “Okay, buddy. Time for you to talk normal instead of dancing around the shit you just rattled about.”
“Lilliana.” Ernestino says my name in a harsh voice, instantly locking my gaze with his. “I need you to step back and come with me right fucking now.”
Normally, I would say “Fuck off,” to anyone interrupting me. I’m sure if I use my abilities, I can persuade the fucker to tell the truth. Though, the urgency vibrating off Ernestino has me rushing toward him. Ernestino links our fingers together and rushes me out of the dungeon and up the stairs. The door almost falls shut when I hear the blast.
With wide eyes I ask, “What the hell was that about?”
He releases a deep breath. “Self-destruct.”
“Excuse me?” I ask, completely baffled.
Ernestino shoves his fingers through his hair in frustration and starts to pace. “This will stay between us.”
He stops to give me a penetrating look. I return it with a look that might come off as “of course” and yet I’m trying hard not to let it border on a “duh” look because this might be the craziest thing that has happened in the past two weeks.
“If a dragon is brought to the brink of death we have an option to self-destruct. It’s a defense mechanism to save others.” He says this shit as if it makes sense.
Pointing at him I can’t help but say, “That right there is the most insane shit I’ve ever heard. Not to mention, it’s unbelievably stupid and unreal with dragons being immortal. You’re saying you can kill yourself with one thought? Because that prisoner down there wasn’t doing shit.”
“He was, I could see it in his eyes when his dragon made the decision. The fire we breathe is caused by a chemical reaction our body creates. A fire triangle consists of oxygen, which we get from the air around us, the heat through our blood, and the fuel is supplied by our dragon. If our dragon doesn’t see a way out, is threatened and needs to protect the clan, a chain reaction starts within us. Something similar to a nuclear bomb, taking out everything in its surrounding area.”
I throw a glance over my shoulder. “Is that why the door is still in one piece? You guys do all the torturing in a bomb shelter?”
He’s slowly shaking his head. “For a dragon to detonate it would mean only one thing…he was protecting the clan. He might have given you more information if his dragon hadn’t interfered.”
“Or Nario tortured him to the max,” I mutter, stunned about this little fact.
To have a dragon shifter as a mate is one thing, knowing there’s basically a beast living inside him. To know that beast is capable of self-destruction? Mind blown is a bad choice of words here…but seriously…holy fuck.