Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
LORD
T his is not good. Not good at all. There’s an obvious attraction between me and Alrick, and it was only heightened, at least for me, when I learned he hasn’t actually spilled the blood of a dragon. His emotions are a twisted mess, and I imagine mine would be similar if my inner dragon wasn’t largely in control right now.
I blow out a breath, releasing the smoke I’ve forced back, and practically moan as tension drains from my shoulders. Our interactions are both tense and intriguing, and luckily for me I’m aware that Alrick feels the same. The desire to touch him, to comfort him in some way, is intense, but I have bigger issues to deal with than my awakening libido.
With tea in hand, I return to my study to continue the research. I’m certain from my dragon’s poor reaction that I must be getting closer to a solution. He doesn’t want the bond broken, that much is certain, but I have no idea why. Confused? Longing to have what my brothers have found? Who knows? My human side has to drive this endeavor, because if I let the dragon take over, we’ll drag Alrick to my hoard room and spend the next century pleasuring him.
Another surge of heat burns through me, my cock instantly swelling and a ripple of scales breaking out across my chest. Just the thought of touching him that way is more enticing than anything I’ve experienced in decades. The logical side of me knows it’s because of the bond though. There is absolutely no way I could allow myself the pleasure, and certainly Alrick won’t allow it. It’s for the best, really.
I shift my focus from thoughts of sex and mates to the subject that got me into this mess in the first place. I flip through a few more pages, reading the antiquated language easily. My brothers made fun of my studious endeavors as a young dragon, but I knew it would come in handy someday. As the eldest of our clutch, it’s my responsibility to carry on traditions.
My eyes focus and home in on text that causes my dragon to thrash wildly with discontent. Aha. As I read though, my hopes dim. An immortal holds the key—a woman, both dragon and mage, last known to be tucked away in a mountain cave in Scotland.
Scotland.
How the fuck am I going to get Alrick to a mountain in Scotland without revealing myself and confirming his suspicions? Gods of fire, what a mess.
I need a plan. One outside the box. What would Arson do in this situation? He’s the least levelheaded among us, yet he’s managed to survive all these years. He would… I let my thoughts drift, recalling hundreds of chaotic situations Arson has gotten himself into over the millennia.
There was the time he used his fire to set the alarms off at school to get out of a test he didn’t study for. Only Arson was brave enough to figure out how to disable the dragon-proof protections on the device. He was caught and put on cleanup duty for a month, but the distraction worked.
Or there was the time he thought he could steal from the fae folk in Ireland and found himself trapped and forced into servitude. He managed to convince his captor that dragons die if separated from their clutch for too long and it actually worked.
I have to throw out logic and appeal to Alrick’s emotions to get him to trust me and follow me on an adventure that will hopefully end in our mutual release… Unfortunately not the kind of mutual release my dragon is craving though.
My chest tightens as my dragon thrashes again, straining against my human shape, but I’m able to keep him contained after all these years.
“We have to let him go,” I whisper to the dragon. “He’s not ours to keep. He kills our kind. Or at least he wants to.”
The words do little to calm the beast inside me, and when I exhale, a tendril of fire follows. This is going to be just as hard on me as it will be on my dragon. I’ve mated someone forbidden and dangerous. The irony is not lost on me.
Heavy footsteps coming down the stairs get my attention, and within seconds, Alrick is in the doorway, his eyes wide and breathing heavy as he clutches his now bare chest.
“What have you done to me?”
“Nothing. What’s wrong?”
He drags a hand through his hair, it seems to be a habit when he’s searching for words. “Not wrong, just…” He shakes his head. “It’s not normal. I don’t feel right.”
Thinking quickly, I provide an explanation that I hope will calm his concerns. “It’s the medicine. Your wound was in your chest, and it’s actively mending you back together.”
“It’s magic?” He gives me a skeptical look, daring me to confess that it’s more than just the potion I’ve fed him making him feel like his heart wants to leap out of his chest and join with mine.
I hate lying, and I’m not sure I even can to this stunning man, so I offer something close to the truth. “I’m unaware of its origin or specific contents but I know well the source who provided it to me, and I trust her implicitly. I would trust her with my own life.”
Alrick nods, slumping against the doorframe. His cheeks are ruddy from exertion, but his inquisitive eyes settle on me, and as his breathing calms, he seems to accept my response.
“When is it going to stop?”
Ah, yes. An opening. I can almost hear Arson spurring me on to take it. “It may be stronger than I anticipated.”
Alrick tilts his head slightly.
“I have an idea, if you’re open to it.”
“I’m listening.” He crosses his arms over his broad chest, momentarily distracting me from my mission. “Lord?”
I clear my throat, blinking to ground myself. “Right. Um, there’s a remedy, but it requires a bit of travel.”
“Travel?”
I nod, summoning all the bravado of my reckless brother. I have to convince him. “A short trip to visit a medicine woman. She has the remedy to speed your healing and eliminate the aftereffects in her arsenal.”
“Won’t it just go away on its own?”
“I’m afraid it won’t.” My dragon pushes forward, desperate to shift my eyes for an up-close look at our mate, but I clench my jaw to hold him back. “In my haste to save your life, I may have chosen a treatment that was stronger than required.”
He nods, searching my gaze. “Why do you want to help me?” he asks for the umpteenth time since he awakened. “You don’t even know me.”
His words are sharp, like darts in my chest, but I keep my expression neutral as best I can. “I’m responsible for it. I need to see it through. That’s all.” Here’s where observing Arson all these years comes in handy. “It’s up to you, of course. You can feel the way you do now for the rest of your life or come with me.”
The glimmer of defiance in his eyes stirs my desire once more. Could there be a more beautiful man in existence? I don’t see how.
I watch the myriad of emotions flash across his face, from resistance to concern to acceptance. He blows out a breath.
“I don’t see what other choice I have.” His tone is tense, guarded, but there’s an underlying warmth in it I didn’t expect.
Could it be that he wants to spend more time with me too? I shouldn’t want that, but tell that to my dragon. The beast inside of me desperately wants to rub my face against his chest, inhale his manly scent, taste his skin, and gods , feed him my fire again.
Nothing can come of this. Not even a night of carnal pleasure. He is not a friend. As long as I keep reminding myself of that terrible fact, I should be fine.
“We’ll go right away. No time like the present.”
ALRICK
Some logical part of my brain knows this is a bad idea, but it’s no match for the louder part that wants to resolve this weird situation and get back to my family. By traveling with Lord, I’m hoping we’ll get this antidote for the medicine he gave me, and I can figure out where I am and how to get home. It’s clearly magic he fed me, but I can’t be mad about that. He saved me from certain death. It could’ve been worse. He could’ve turned me into a dragon. Or… wait. They can’t do that, I don’t think. But he could’ve torched me like a kebab. They can definitely do that.
Getting out of his house is the best plan I have since I have zero clue where I even am. He could’ve taken me across the world for all I know.
“Got anything more substantial I can wear?”
Lord quirks an eyebrow as his eyes shift upward. “Actually, I might.” He returns his penetrating gaze to me, roaming up and down my body in obvious appreciation. “I’ll be right back.”
I nod, pressing myself to the door to let him pass. As he does, his body brushes against mine, sending ripples through me that feel a lot like desire. Lord is incredibly attractive, sexy, and alluring. The dragon is hot. So fucking sue me.
He pauses, meeting my gaze face to face. We’re nearly the same height, barely an inch between us, and while my presence is due to my muscles, his is all vibes. Must be a dragon thing. Truth be told, I’ve never met one in human form before. At least not to my knowledge. Obviously they can blend in with the rest of us. Though with a face like that, I doubt Lord blends in anywhere he goes.
Wordlessly, he continues past me and walks toward the stairs. I settle into an armchair in his office, filled with curiosity about the man. He seems very cultured and educated, not at all like the dumb, lumbering beasts I’ve been told about. But I’m not exactly like the Viking lore commonly spread around Hollywood either. We’ve never pillaged a village for example, and we’re not exceedingly violent or uncouth. Maybe we’re a little rough around the edges, but we’re mostly like everyone else.
Except my family. Hundreds of years spent hunting dragons for sport has made us different. I’ve never fit in entirely, but I’ve done my best to live up to my dad’s expectations. I can only imagine the talk at the dinner table about me. To them, I died after being attacked by a dragon, without ever earning my own kill. I’m a disgrace. I’m not sure whether they’ll be happy to know I lived or not. Is there honor in being a prisoner? Would they ever believe a dragon saved my life simply because he wanted to? Can I believe that?
Lord returns almost silently, startling me from my thoughts.
“Apologies,” he says, offering a soft smile. “I think these might work.”
He hands me a pile of neatly folded clothing. When I shake them out, I find a pair of thick cargo pants in a strange brown-green color and a long-sleeved shirt in the same color. They’re worn with age but in solid shape just the same.
“You keep random outfits around in case you kidnap wounded men in the forest?”
Lord’s eyes flicker with heat and maybe even a tinge of anger. “I didn’t kidnap you.”
“That was my bad attempt at teasing. Sorry.”
He offers a curt nod. “Those clothes belonged to an uncle of mine. I tend to be the nostalgic sort, so I took some of his items when he passed.”
The explanation leaves me a little stunned. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to ruin them.”
“It’s fine. I’d rather they be used than sit in a room on a shelf.”
“Thank you.”
I pull the shirt over my head, aware of Lord’s watchful gaze. Maybe I should show some modesty, but the man undressed me and cared for my broken body. I assume he’s seen all there is to see.
He makes no attempt to look away as I kick off the sweatpants either, tugging the rough pants over my naked ass. I’m not about to ask Lord for underwear, so commando it is.
As I dress, my mind wanders to what Lord looks like naked. Are there signs of his hidden beast? Does he have hair on his body or are dragon shifters smooth? Is his touch soft or rough?
I shake my head slightly to rid my mind of thoughts I shouldn’t have. None of it matters. We need to get to wherever we’re going, get the antidote to this medicine, and part ways. I’ll forget he’s a dragon, and he’ll forget I’m a hunter. It’ll be like none of this happened. As long as he and his never encounter my family, we’ll both be safe.
I cringe at the idea of anyone, even my brothers, harming Lord. Does that make me a traitor to my own kind?
“I’ll pack some food.” Lord interrupts my thoughts.
I nod. “I’ll get my boots.”
I return to the bedroom and locate my boots, pulling them on as I sit on the bench at the foot of the bed. The tugging sensation in my chest returns, wrapping around my heart and lungs like a lasso. Why does that happen whenever there’s distance between us? It’s always better when we’re close. The medicine he gave me must have something in it that connects us, which is all the more reason to get it out of my system.
When I make my way downstairs, Lord is standing in the foyer. I finally notice his clothing—a pair of black slacks and a button-down shirt. He looks ready for dinner or a business meeting instead of wherever it is we’re going.
He pats the bag at his feet. “I have a change of clothes,” he says, as if reading my thoughts.
“Okay.”
“The plane is being refueled now, and I have a car waiting. We’ll go out the back.”
“The plane?”
“My family owns a plane. It makes traveling easier.”
“Uh-huh.” A fucking plane? Why would dragons need a plane when they can sprout wings whenever they want? The question is on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow my curiosity since it would mean admitting I know what he is. “Where are we going that we need a plane to get there?”
Lord shifts his weight to the other foot, his brow creasing as he moves just slightly backward. “Scotland.”
My jaw drops.
He offers an apologetic smile. “We should go.”
As he pushes past me, I squeeze my eyes shut for a second before catching up to him. Scotland. This situation just got a whole lot weirder.