Alexa's Dragon (Dragon mates Book 1) (2 page)

Alexa nodded. “Nadia, I have to go. I promise I will stay and help you clean up another day.”

“Go. I don’t know what you’re looking for Alexa, but I hope you find it.”

“I love you. You’re such a good friend.”

“I keep telling you, I’m your best friend.”

Alexa smiled, it was their running joke since they were in grade school together. Some things never changed and she took comfort in that fact. She walked around and hugged Nadia before high tailing out the door. She couldn’t sit there another minute the feeling of danger was growing.

Nadia watched her flee with a sad smile on her face.

“Did you do it?”

Nadia nodded her head refusing to turn around; she knew what she would see. A large black shadow would be in her doorway threatening death, if she dared to defy it.

She stayed still not daring to breathe; eventually the warmth returned to the room and she knew it, whatever it was, had left. She opened her hand to see the small black device she was supposed to plant on her friend. Dropping it on the floor she crushed it with the heel of her boot.

She was Alexa’s best friend, what part of that was confusing? She stood and started clearing the table wondering if her act of rebellion would mark her for death.

*~*~*~*

Alexa made it two blocks away before she stopped to breathe. The feeling of being hunted wasn’t as keen anymore. She needed to move, to leave, but where would she go? One thing she was certain of, finding a job was no longer a high priority. Staying in front of whatever was tracking her was her main concern now.

Not knowing where to go, she let her feet lead her. She walked even though her car sat at home unused. Being boxed up at the moment wasn’t a good idea. She watched as the sun moved across the sky and still she walked. She left the city some time ago, now she was deeply entrenched in the suburbs. At least she knew where her feet were taking her. She was going to her parents’ house. She hadn’t been there in over a year, but like a beacon it called to her.

She passed through a beautiful niche of suburbia to find herself surrounded by acres of land and neighbors with houses far enough away to be out of view. She kept walking until her feet hit her parents’ soil. A feeling of safety wrapped around her like a warm embrace. Maybe she would be able to get a decent night’s sleep before she was forced to move on.

She rejoiced when she finally stood on the porch. She pulled out a large set of keys and fumbled with them until she found the one to her parents’ house. Opening the door, she fell over the threshold with exhaustion.

Syneca Drew stood on his balcony overlooking the hillside. Something woke him. He could still feel the presence, her. He caught glimpses of her, dreamed of touching her, but he could never find her. Soon it would be too late. He let a deep roar leave his throat.

He jumped onto the thick wide banister and looked around at his domain. The mountain peaks, three of them, four if you included his, were the homes of his brothers. The low valleys were overripe with foliage, the river running through it kept it all alive. Without a thought, he dove off the balcony.

The change ripped through him. His human body fell away as his new body took over. The wings he loved so much beat against the air causing him to rise high into the sky. He soared in the warmth of the sun. Home. One he would soon lose. His dragon snarled at the thought of what was to come, beating at him for not finding their mate. He pushed the thought aside as he glided on the air allowing the current to soothe him.

He looked over to see his brother, Maceo, staring at him. Maceo wouldn’t bother him because he knew flying was the only relief Syn enjoyed now-a-days. He rolled over on his back briefly giving him an incredible view of the sun as it rode the sky as a lover. Turning over he swooped down, scaring the wild animals before ascending once again. He laughed to himself, having fun. Soon all of this would be over because he couldn’t find her. He took one last casual tour of the land and turned towards his balcony.

His dragon fought him. He wanted to go off in search of their mate. Syn fought back knowing it was useless. They searched the world over more than once, never finding her. Why would they suddenly find her at the end of their life? His dragon became more insistent as the days went on and he became more apathetic. He forced his dragon to land.

His dragon form retreated before he touched down on the balcony. His human form dropped several feet not even feeling the jar as he landed. He walked into his massive bedroom. His bed took up the whole wall on the far side of the room. It was custom made for him hundreds if not thousands of years ago. The dressers and even the desk where he liked to work were also all custom made to go with the bed.

The most unique feature about his room was that it was big enough for him to change into his dragon form. It was here he would die as a dragon. He chose not to fight the thought or kick against his fate. Somethings in life were simply accepted and he was old enough to say his life had been well lived.

Walking into the bathroom, he could sense her. She was close again. Almost as if she was walking his land, calling to him. He entered the shower and allowed his hands to slip low stroking himself as her incredible scent came to him. She smelled like night blooming jasmine, the exotic flower that covered his land. Its scent was intoxicating, just like the woman he couldn’t see. Knowing it was useless, he placed a dollop of soap on his hands and took hold of his thick cock. He pulled up the muscles in his arm, contracting as the flat planes of his belly pulled in deeply. A hum of pleasure and pain came from him. He squeezed tightly tugging on his thick erection. His breaths came out in pants as he worked himself to no avail. He gave up in frustration. Washing quickly, he dried and dressed tucking his aching cock into his pants.

He needed his mate to touch him. There would be no release, no easing of the pain until she did. Sitting at his desk, he thought back to his search for her. The need to find her drove him without success, something or someone kept her covered.

“So you sit there and die?” An apparition materialized in front of him covered in black. All he could make out was the distinctive female voice and the feminine shape.

“Why do you haunt me, Witch?”

“I can only haunt you if I am dead. I assure you I am alive and well.” She laughed as if that were a joke.

“At least I struggle against my bonds. You, on the other hand, give up when living would serve you well.”

“You come to taunt me, Witch, to tell me my mate is alive and well, but I will never find her. My time is short, leave me in peace.”

“So you’re a coward then?”

“How dare you? Come in your true form and I will show you which of us is the coward!” He huffed at allowing the witch to get under his skin.

“I am happy you’re not my mate, allowing me to die, unprotected and alone.”

“Still your tongue. You know not what you speak of.”

“I know an ancient foe is hunting your mate and when he catches her, he will destroy her in a way that will make death a blessing. All because you are so willing to die refusing to take care of your responsibilities. I know the sight of you sickens me.” The witch faded away.

She was wrong of course. His mate would be free to live her life without him tying her to him forever. Once mated there was no going back. No, she would be fine.

Restless he crossed over to the bed. Resting on his back, he closed his eyes and sent his spirit walking. The ability to leave his body while he searched his land was a gift dragons possessed. He looked for a black shadow, a taint that would repulse him. He found the normal things like avarice, murderous intentions, and adultery. None of this concerned him; turning to leave, he felt it.

His dragon was restless; he wanted their mate even though the male told him it was impossible. The dragon refused to give up and once again, the male gave in to the beast. Casting his spirit out further, it gripped him. It was timeless. It should have been locked up; unable to reach the world or his mate, but it stalked her. As he zoned into its last location, he sat up knowing where he had to go.

He grabbed his cell phone and ran towards his door. Racing down the stairs, he didn’t stop until he was at the base of the mountain where his living room was located. Relieved he now had service, he dialed one number.

“Hello.”

“Get the plane ready.” He hung up; she didn’t have much time left.

He walked out the door regretting the need to take his car; he would have much rather flown.

*~*~*~*

She woke up. The door was half opened and the sun, high in the sky when she fell into a deep sleep, was now nowhere to be seen. Pushing herself up, she tried to remember what happened. She had been so exhausted after walking the twenty-five miles to her parents’ house that she succumbed to sleep immediately after crossing the threshold.

She looked around nervously. Falling asleep like that stunned and worried her. Maybe she would have to see a doctor again. She closed the door thankful that nothing had happened to her as she slept in the doorway of her parents’ home. She put the thoughts of a doctor out of her mind as she assured herself she was fine. The rumbling in her stomach demanded she go to the kitchen, although she knew it was bare. She opened the fridge and then closed it softly. She grabbed a knife out of the drawer closest to her, and silently moved out the kitchen.

There was food in the fridge. The one she personally cleaned out, and it was fresh. She wanted to tear into it but she knew better. If she was being followed maybe the food was poisoned.

Knife in hand, she slowly crept into the living room. She hadn’t even looked into it when she woke up. All she could think about was filling her hungry belly.

She hadn’t had the heart to get rid of any of the furniture. It was dusty but otherwise exactly as her parents left it. The huge flat screen hung over the fireplace. The heavy couch had a side table at each end with a cluster of chairs to the right and a big picture window to the left. More importantly, there was a large male sitting on the couch.

“You should have eaten before you came looking for me.”

She jumped, a warrior she was not. Now, whether she jumped from fright at the sound of his voice, or desire at the look of his body was up for review.

His voice was erotic; it was smoother than sin caressing her ears. His body was hard, long, and lithe. She wanted him to stand so she could see those coiled muscles in action. He wasn’t wearing a shirt and her eyes were already tracing the muscles in his abs. She could look at him forever. His eyes were a vibrant green ringed with blue. They were so intense she could see them perfectly from where she stood. His hair was black, long with a slight curl at the ends where it met his shoulders. He had an even tan guaranteed to make any beach goer jealous. In other words, he was perfection and suddenly what she was hungry for wasn’t food.

“Snap out of it.” She ordered herself.

“I’m Syneca, but you can call me Syn.” He still couldn’t believe he found her after all these years. It was like a veil had been torn away allowing him to see her.

He was definitely sin and she wanted a large dose of it.

“Ok, Syn, why are you in my parents’ house?”

“I’ve been looking for you.”

“That doesn’t answer why you’re here.”

“I’m here because I’ve been looking for you. Smart move to come to your parents’ home. It’s been spelled to keep out anything looking to hurt you.”

“Yet you got in.”

“Then I obviously don’t want to hurt you.”

“Forgive me if I don’t just take you at your word. If you really don’t want to hurt me, leave.”

“Why don’t we talk about it while you’re eating? I know you’re hungry.”

He eased to his feet causing her to take several steps back. His presence seemed to fill the living room.

He approached eyeing the knife in her hand. With a smooth move, he passed by her never touching. She didn’t need him to touch her, for the heat from his body reached out and wrapped itself around her. The same heat from her dreams.

It took every thought of safety to keep her from entwining herself around him and siphoning off his heat into her cold body.

He turned his back on her, unconcerned and walked into the kitchen.

“I wasn’t sure what to buy you but I am guessing you need red meat. From the emancipated look to your body I’m going to guess you’ve been denying yourself.”

“Meat’s expensive, steak even more. I’ve been budgeting my money.”

“Good thing I am here.”

He took out two huge steaks, both of them thick.

“Who is going to eat that?”

“Well, I am going to contain myself and stick with one steak and you’re going to eat the other one.”

“I can’t eat all that red meat.”

“Believe me you are going to surprise yourself.”

“I’m even going to make you vegetables, although I am betting you won’t eat them.”

He set about her parents’ kitchen washing the meat and preparing it. He turned the oven on. She never cut the utilities because she didn’t want her mom and dad to come home to a dark house.

She sat down on the chair, placing her knife on the table. She wasn’t going to use it and obviously he knew it.

“Why don’t you explain how you found me?”

“I’ve been looking for you since the first shackle to your childhood fell away.”

She raised an eyebrow. He was obviously crazy.

“I’m pretty sure I was never shackled to my childhood, but I’d go back if I could, my adult life isn’t turning out all that well.”

He finished cutting the vegetables in order to sautee them before washing his hands and coming over to her. Carefully he lifted her white hair.

“I’ve been looking for you ever since your hair turned white.”

“My sixteenth birthday.”

“That was the day the first shackle of childhood fell from you. You still were not old enough, but you were revealed to me as the one I waited for.”

He went back to cooking. He slid the steaks under the broiler and placed the vegetables in the large frying pan.