6
Kieran
Windows to the Soul
My dragon was amped up and pacing inside me. It’d been a while since my animalistic side had been this active, but I didn’t know why he was so on edge.
The other clan representatives were back in their territories. I was here alone with my hoard, as I liked it. And we’d made our peace with the coming end of the world.
There was nothing for him to stress about.
I’ll tell you when I figure it out. He huffed in frustration.
You do that. I got back to work on reinforcing the window pane on the eastern side of the building.
It was my mistake for hiring out this part of the construction. The latest studies on earthquake resistance had shown promise with this plastic and rubber combination.
It’s what the human contractor used about nine years ago when I was building the compound. Back when there was the slightest hope this was where Earth wanted me .
It was garbage. Much like most of the human inventions of the last century.
They didn’t make things like they used to.
I’d replace it with something more durable.
After I made sure this window would hold, I needed to finish stacking wood. It’d be a hard winter while Earth decided on Her next design. I wasn’t sure many in the Northern Hemisphere would live to see the following spring or a winter beyond.
But I’d do my best to ride out the storm.
I held the nails in my teeth as I hammered the new veneered wood plane in, thinking of the human contractor. Billy or Bob or some other simple human name. He was a nice enough guy, coming over from Bend where he owned his family-run business. I hoped he’d be all right.
Not likely, though.
A feeling of unease pricked the back of my neck. There was a vehicle entering my territory. My dragon stopped pacing, going dead silent as he pushed out his senses.
It wasn’t the first time one of the humans from the neighboring town of Christmas came this way. They were mostly hunters on federal land who gave my stretch of sanctioned property a wide berth.
As the humans’ fragile ecosystem and government collapsed, I figured they’d get more desperate in their hunts for food, coming closer for the resources that made this property so alluring.
It’d only taken a rumor of a monster flying over this area to keep them on their best behavior for now. I had other tricks up my sleeve when that ceased to work. Dealing with humans for centuries had given me a toolbox of ideas to keep them away .
The vehicle continued past my gate and I hesitated. It seemed too early for them to be this bold.
I finished with the nails and tested the window, opening and closing the tempered glass from the outside.
Fredrick wheeled himself into the room, sniffing the breeze I allowed to drift in. “Smells like humans.”
“Seems like it.” I caught the scent of an older vehicle burning gasoline fumes.
Fredrick came closer, resting his meaty arms on the window pane and sticking his full head of gray hair outside. “Agatha is baking bread, but it doesn’t smell as good as that.”
I turned to see what he was looking at, feeling my heart slam into my chest as I did. The hammer fell from my fist and hit the ground.
An older Bronco parked in my large circular driveway and a woman stepped outside. The driver’s side door slammed closed with gale force.
A head of natural red curls cascaded down her freckled shoulders and arms. The thin, strappy tank top and denim shorts hugged her hourglass figure in all the right ways, showing off perfectly wide hips and thick thighs that begged for claws to sink into them.
I had to physically drag my eyes up to see her face. The pert nose. Bow shaped lips. Arresting eyes that screamed murder as she marched toward my home.
Be still my heart.
“I didn’t think they made humans like that anymore.” Fredrick audibly swallowed beside me.
Mine, my dragon roared, sending my uncle scurrying backwards in his wheelchair .
I beat my fist against my chest. What was that about?
You know.
Sweat broke out along my skin as my dragon unfurled his wings, making my chest broader while the shadows gathered to me. The foundation of my world shook with every step the human woman took, drawing me toward her as if with a binding thread.
Fate.
Impossible.
I shook my head.
It was the stress. The summer heat. The fucking end of the world breathing down my neck.
I was too old for thoughts like this.
She was a woman. A beautiful woman. I’d have to be blind not to notice. Her being here played on my primitive nature. It’d been a while since I’d entertained any male urges.
Get ahold of yourself. It’s not what you think.
It’s fate.
It couldn’t be. This was lust. Instant attraction. Appreciation of the arts. She looked like some fallen goddess sent to Earth to raise hell.
I hadn’t known I had a type, but I’d just figured it out.
The woman changed course from the front door, heading over to me instead.
And I stood taller, liking it more than I should that her attention was focused on me. The way her eyes widened in shock and then approval before anger took over again. The quickening of her heart.
“Are you the owner of this?” The woman waved her hand as if the small gesture could encompass the entirety of my home .
For the first time in my adult life, I didn’t feel big enough.
Like I needed to try harder to earn her respect. I should’ve built more to prove I was worthy—should’ve showered before she arrived.
The wind changed direction as she stood waiting for an answer. What had she asked? If I was the owner?
I nodded. My throat was suddenly too dry to speak. That scent of hers. It was vanilla and honey. Rich like oat milk poured into a warm bath.
Mine.
Her hand went to her waistband.
It was only then that I noticed the gun.
“I don’t know who the hell you think you are or what you’re doing on my property, but you have ten minutes to pack your things and leave.” Her voice was a whip, slashing through the heat and haze that surrounded me.
My eyes narrowed.
Yeah, this was fate, all right.
I’d been waiting for this moment for ten years.
“Ember Thurman,” I growled, ignoring the way she flinched at my use of her name as I stared at the thorn in my side for the past decade. “It’s about time you showed up.”