Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
L ogan’s eyes snapped open to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. He had assumed he was dreaming at first when he connected with the tiny consciousness huddled on the roof. The slight burst of power seemed to brush against his mind, and he had assumed it was just a pleasant dream until she infiltrated the building, pulling her lithe body through a small air duct and making her way to the room inside the penthouse that contained the safe.
Even then, he assumed it was a strange dream instigated by watching a movie with Alana and Kell about a famous cat burglar from the seventies. He was new to this age and TV held a certain fascination for him. Still, as the dream progressed, he realized it was more. He felt her heartbeat slow as she turned the dial of the safe, listening for the tiny clicks. He had felt her pain when the bullet pierced her shoulder as she was fleeing. The feeling of bereavement when she had finally made it to the woman who helped heal. When he lost contact with her. It was almost painful, and his dragon had growled in his head before he woke.
He sat up on the bed, rubbing his chest as if he could alleviate the hole that was forming in his core .
Logan sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze drifting out the window to the picturesque scene unfolding before him. Morning had arrived, casting a golden hue across the landscape as a flock of birds danced in unison over the nearby lake. The sun bathed the forest in its warm embrace, the leaves shimmering like jewels as they swayed in the gentle breeze. It was a sight of serene beauty, yet Logan’s thoughts remained ensnared by the strange dream that lingered in his mind.
In his dream, she had spoken to him, but her words had carried the weight of another’s presence. A revelation that unsettled him to the core. In the world of the druids and dragons, where bonds were forged through telepathic connection, such communication confirmed a deeper meaning, one that transcended mere acquaintance. Yet the knowledge that she had conversed with another cast doubt upon the nature of their relationship. Could she truly be his mate if she shared her thoughts with others?
The rules of this new world were murky and ever-changing, leaving Logan struggling to catch up. It was always this way when a dragon woke from an extended slumber, and he had slept for almost eight hundred years. He knew that he needed guidance from his leader to help him navigate the complexities of this unfamiliar realm. Though he had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her face in the mirror when she changed in that small, dingy bathroom, he was certain of one thing—she was a druid, and she needed his help.
Her features danced in his memory, both delicate and ethereal, with eyes that seemed to hold the mysteries of the universe within their depths. He could lose himself in those cerulean orbs, drawn inexorably to the allure of her presence. Whoever she was, whatever trials she faced, Logan felt an undeniable responsibility to find her, to offer his aid .
With determination burning in his soul, Logan rose from the bed, his mind reaching out to the familiar path.
Legion.
Yes, my brother.
I have connected with a druid. I am unsure if the images were real or a dream.
What was she doing? Where was she?
She was stealing something from a safe. I do not know her location. I am not sure if we shared a dream or if she was truly shot after procuring the item.
Shot?
Yes.
It’s hard to imagine a druid as a criminal. Perhaps it was a dream, but either way, we have to find her. Is she your mate?
When we connected, she said she talked to another.
That is unusual. Perhaps her mate is in the process of waking. Kell did not realize Alana was real for some time. I wonder why she connected with you, though?
That is unclear. Perhaps it is my power.
Maybe. Take Siro and look for her. You both need more time in the city. Stop by the store if you have time.
I make the new manager nervous.
You are yet to acclimate, and you seem... unapproachable. Nod and smile more. It eases the humans.
If you say so. He cut communication with his leader and grabbed a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt from the dresser. In truth, he hated modern clothing; he preferred to be naked, but Legion had insisted he learn the human way of doing things. Mara had even made him do his laundry, which ended in the large white appliance that cleaned his clothes, erupting in a mountain of bubbles. Apparently, you were not to add the entire container full of blue liquid to the washer. Magic was much more efficient.
Logan descended the stairs of the cozy cabin, his senses greeted by the familiar scent of freshly baked bread and the tantalizing aroma of sizzling bacon wafting from the kitchen. Though he was a creature of the open sky, there was a certain comfort to be found within these walls, adorned with plaid couches and a stone hearth that radiated warmth and hospitality.
As he entered the kitchen, Logan’s eyes fell upon his fellow purple brethren, his stoic face alight with anticipation as he reached for a handful of crispy bacon from the plates before them. His fellow dragons thought Legion was blessed to have such a powerful and kind mate, but Logan knew that his appreciation extended beyond her divine gifts to encompass her culinary prowess as well.
Mara’s cooking held a special place in Logan’s heart, a testament to her love and devotion to those she held dear.
He took a seat opposite Siro. “Were you planning to eat the entire swine by yourself?” he asked, grabbing a slice of bacon and popping it in his mouth.
Siro shrugged. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure why the druids bothered to cook it, but I admit it has an interesting flavor.
Logan grabbed a slice of fresh bread. “The food is good, but we must go on a hunt after breakfast.”
“A hunt?” Siro’s eyes flickered with interest. As a newly awakened, there were few things that truly excited a dragon, but food, flying, and hunting were essential to a dragon’s well-being.
“I connected with a druid, but the circumstances were vague. It may have been a dream, but we must find her, as I believe she is emerging.”
“Your mate?”
“She speaks to another.”
“Unusual for one emerging,” Siro said.
“So I am told.”
Siro pushed the plate of bacon toward Logan. “Eat your fill. I already ate three platefuls. ”
Logan accepted the plate. “Are you sure you are not a scaled pig?”
Siro cocked his head to the side. “Is that your first joke in eight hundred years?”
“I believe it is, but I am not sure I am joking.”
Siro grabbed the glass of orange juice on the table and downed it in one gulp. “You need more practice.”
“You are one to talk.” Logan stuffed a few mouthfuls of bacon in his mouth. Usually, he could have eaten just as many plates of food as Siro, but his dragon was pushing him to leave. “Let’s go.”
Logan rose from his seat at the table, a sense of purpose guiding his movements as he made his way to the door of the cabin. Soon, he would build his own home, a sanctuary amidst the vast expanse of their homeland, but for now, Legion preferred to keep a few members of their clan close at hand, awaiting the awakening of more of their kin from their extended slumber.
With a wave of his hand, Logan summoned his magic, the fabric of his clothing dissolving into nothingness as if it had never existed. Beside him, Siro mirrored his actions, shedding his own garments with practiced ease before assuming his true form as a dragon. The purple scales that adorned their bodies shimmered in the sunlight, a testament to their shared lineage and the strength of their bond as brethren.
As they prepared to take flight, Logan felt a surge of anticipation coursing through his veins, his heart quickening with the thrill of the open sky. Flying alongside his fellow purple was a joy that stirred memories of his youth, a time when the world was vast and boundless, and the possibilities endless. Though those days were distant echoes now, the exhilaration of soaring through the clouds remained a timeless pleasure that never failed to ignite his spirit.
With a powerful beat of their wings, Logan and Siro ascended into the heavens, their forms silhouetted against the azure expanse of the sky. Together, they soared with grace over their Colorado home. In this moment of freedom and exhilaration, Logan found solace in the embrace of the wind, knowing he would always find sanctuary in the skies above.
Where do you wish to begin our search? Siro asked, using their telepathic link.
In the city. I got a brief glimpse of the streets and a sign with a golden dragon on it. Then, a gas station and a shop run by an older woman. If we can find the businesses she passed, we will follow her route till we ascertain the woman who is helping her.
You saw through her eyes?
Glimpses only. Her natural shields were weak, but I am not sure if it was due to pain or because she was dreaming and imagined it.
They both created shields as they neared the populated areas. No human would see a dragon, though they flew in common air space often. They could outrun any plane or simply use magic to redirect and obscure.
His vision was clearer than that of a hawk, and he scanned the downtown core.
Logan surveyed the bustling streets below with his keen dragon vision, the movements of the people reminiscent of rabbits darting across the fields of his Scottish homeland. Despite the nostalgia that tugged at his heartstrings, he couldn’t deny the allure of their new surroundings. This urban landscape held a different kind of beauty, its vibrant energy pulsating through the streets like a living heartbeat.
As he observed the ebb and flow of life below, Logan couldn’t help but marvel at the treasures that lay hidden within this bustling metropolis. Within this new land resided a wealth of hidden druids. Their presence infused the city with a mystical energy that thrummed beneath the surface, a reminder of the ancient powers that had long been forgotten by the world at large .
And at the heart of it all was the temple, a beacon of power and possibility that had become the focal point of their existence. It was hidden within the dragon caves; the source of their strength lay, waiting to be tapped into by those with the lineage to harness its potential.
As Logan continued to survey the streets below, a sense of determination settled within him. Though he missed the unmarred countryside of his youth, he knew that their new home held endless opportunities for growth and discovery. His eyes narrowed on the sign he had seen in the druid’s vision.
She was here. Land in the alley.
Siro and Logan landed beside a blue garbage bin before shifting to their human forms. They clothed themselves and stepped from the shadows of the alley as if they were simply using it to cut through the busy streets.
They walked amongst the humans, and many females stopped to smile at them. But it had been almost fifteen hundred years since he had an interest in sex, and he passed them all by, focused on the trail left for him by his prey.
He passed the dragon sign and saw the gas station she had used in the distance. They made their way to the bathroom around back, and he used his magic to unlock it.
As soon as he stepped into the small room, he smelled her blood. “It wasn’t a dream. She was here.”
Siro frowned, glancing around the tiny space. With the two large men standing side by side, they couldn’t move, and Siro stepped back outside. “A druid was shot? What is she into?”
“I believe she belongs to some kind of crime syndicate.”
“That is no life for a druid.”
Logan nodded. “I heard the word Hapa.”
“Halfling. She has mixed blood, and some cultures are not as accepting of an unclean... lineage.”
Logan stepped from the small, dirty room. “I am aware. ”
Siro glanced at the door, “How did she get in the room if you used magic to enter?”
“She appears skilled at unauthorized entries. She procured an item from a sophisticated safe. Or it appeared so in our shared vision.”
Siro glanced back toward the busy streets. “Where did she go next?”
“To an establishment I am unfamiliar with, there were racks of clothing that move. It is down that way.” He pointed toward the streets as Siro, and he made their way toward the traffic lights.
They continued down the sidewalk, but as they passed the business she had stepped into briefly, she emerged from a door. The one where she had met the tiny older woman.
“That is her.”
Siro focused on the young woman with a back hoodie. She kept her head covered and only glanced at them once. Her eyes scanned the street, but she seemed to be looking for something specific, and it wasn’t them.
The druid they were following walked quickly, though she had short, thin legs covered by tight pink pants and soft back boots.
They reached a massive upscale apartment with glass covering the entire south face before the druid ducked into the revolving door and disappeared.
Siro glanced up at the shimmering monstrosity. “She lives here?”
“Let’s find out.”