Finding the Dragon (Dásreach Council Book 1) (24 page)

Kai sighed and flipped the switch on the hand radio. He had cleaned it off and plugged it in before going out to start the generator. So, adjusting the dials to the correct settings he began calling for Dar.

“Come in Bear. This is Dragon.” Kai said into the mouth piece of the radio. “Bear, Dragon calling.”

“Kai, is that you?” Sounded through the speaker.

“Thank the great spirit that I reached you.” Kai responded. “Alvena and I are safe. How are the others?”

“Safe, at least as far as we can tell, you are the first we have heard from.” Dar responded.

“Shite. I was hoping the others would have contacted you already. What happened?” Kai was worried for his brothers, but needed to know what happened to everyone he had left behind at the plantation house.

“No worries here, Kai. Once you, Charlie, and Malkum left with the women, the attack ended. Several of them followed Charlie, but the rest took off since they couldn’t follow you or Malkum without the ability to swim or fly.” Dar chuckled.

“Did you catch any of them?”

“No. There were too many of them for us to take any down without exposing ourselves further. We did find traces just a bit ago that some of them followed Malkum into the bayou from another location though. So, I’m sure Malkum and Charlie both are working to keep their mates safe against the ones after them."

“Have you sent any one in as backup?” Kai asked.

“No, until we hear from them we have no idea where they are and no one knows this area of the bayou better than Malkum.” Dar responded. “I would be more worried about the men following him in, than I am about Malkum and his mate.”

“True. There is a reason that you and Malkum are enforcers. I trust your decisions and his abilities.” Kai responded.

“Where are you, Kai?”

“At a cabin that I found a while ago. It’s outside Baton Rouge. It’s secluded and only has two ways to reach it unless you can fly. So, I feel protected. Just don’t know what we have in supplies, so I think we’ll have to head out sooner than later.”

“Well, I wouldn’t suggest coming back here. We have a lot of the men from the local Dásreach Dásig out on the streets and they are reporting a lot of activity. I think they have sent in a lot more men to search for the women. I’m not sure why your women are so important to them, and we still don’t have all of the details on how many possible mates they’ve taken out already.” Dar said.

“This troubles me Dar, I don’t know what to do about the information we’ve found. Right now all I can think about is protecting my mate and getting her to accept me. I need you to stay on top of this. Alvena and I are near Grosse Tete, I think we will head that way and find some transportation. Then I’m going to head towards Tiranam Dásig. She will be safest there and hopefully by the time we arrive she’ll agree to be my mate and the Shaman can perform the ceremony.” Kai said with both hope and sadness in his voice.

“I agree. I think that is a good plan. However, I suggest heading for the closet airport and catching a flight to Colorado.” Dar responded.

“I think we can get a flight out of Lafayette. We’ll head there tomorrow.” Kai wasn’t sure if he wanted to arrive in Colorado sooner or later. More time on the road meant more time persuading Alvena. He didn’t want to lose her because he took her in front of the Shaman too soon, but her safety had to come first and he knew that Tiranam Dásig would be the safest place for her until they could find answers to what was going on with these mercenaries. They needed to find out who was pulling their strings.

“I will contact the council and update them on what has happened and your plans.” Dar said over the radio. “I will pray to the Great Spirit for a safe journey and for a happy outcome.”

“Thank you Dar.” The line went quiet and Kai switched off the radio. He stood to go find his mate. He had to let her know that he wasn’t sure of her friends’ safety. He also had to talk to her about his plans for them to go to Tiranam Dásig. He only hoped that Alvena would agree with his plan as easily as Dar had.

Chapter 17

Kai walked into the open area of the cabin to find Alvena sitting on the sofa staring at the cold fireplace. She had a far off look in her eyes and didn’t seem to realize that he was in the room. So, he stopped and leaned against the wall at the end of the hallway and just watched her. So far she had handled everything thrown at her, but would she continue to do so when he had no information on her friends and informed her that they were going to head to Colorado?

Alvena sighed and looked towards the door.

What could she be thinking? Was she wanting to leave him, did she already decide that she did not want to be his mate?

“Alvena?” Kai whispered. Still unsure about talking to her about everything Dar had told him. She jumped off the sofa and stood looking at him.

“Kai. You startled me; I didn’t hear you come in to the room.” She said.

“Part of being Dásreach I guess. We walk quietly.” He replied. “I was able to reach Dar on the radio.”

“Oh.” She exhaled. “Did he have information on Nat and Rogue?”

“Nothing yet, but they’ve been watching and he is sure they are still safe.” Kai replied as he approached the fireplace. “Would you like a fire?”

“It’s not all that cold, so we probably don’t need one.” She replied.

Kai bent down and began clearing out the fireplace and setting it up to start a fire. It gave him something to do as a distraction from the beautiful woman behind him. He wanted to grab her in his arms and kiss her senseless, but knew that this wasn’t the time.

“Kai, do you think we need a fire? It’s not all that cold.” Alvena insisted.

“Lass, as the sun sets you might get chilled and the fire will take the chill off. Besides, it’s kind of relaxing.” Kai answered as he stacked the wood in the fireplace. “I can wait awhile before lighting it, if you want, but I’ll just get it ready now.”

“I see what you mean and I think it would be best to wait. But, why don’t you sit and tell me what you found out from your friend?” Alvena patted the sofa seat next to her.

Kai stood up from the fireplace. He took a deep breath and went to sit at the far end of the sofa. There was no way he would be able to keep his hands to himself if he sat any closer to Alvena. Her scent was already everywhere in the cabin. As he passed her to take his seat, the flowers and spicy cinnamon scent of her reached out and tried to tug him down beside her. It took everything in him to resist. His hands felt out of place. He didn’t know where to place them, so he moved them from one place to another while attempting to get comfortable. He placed his arms along the back of the sofa and could almost touch her shoulder, so he moved them down at his sides, but that felt odd. He eventually turned sideways and leaned his left arm along the back and he clasped his right hand on his leg to keep it in place.

“Kai, just tell me what they said. You don’t have to soften it for me. Just tell me what is happening. Please?” Alvena said with a soft sigh. She thought he had bad news, when in reality he was trying to keep himself from covering her much smaller body with his own.

“Aye, lass.” Kai took one last breath. “Well, as I said, Malkum and Charlie have not checked in yet. Dar said that some of the men that had attacked us at the house had followed them, so he’s just waiting for the guys to contact him so he can send in some help.”

Alvena sucked in a breath, fear written on her face.

“Don’t worry, lass.” Kai sat forward and grabbed Alvena’s hand. “I promised that my friends would protect yours and I stand by that promise.”

“I believe you Kai. It’s just so hard not knowing what is happening to them. You said these men were targeting women that looked at your tattoos. I feel like it’s my fault that they are involved.” Alvena pulled her hand from his and placed it in her lap. She stared at her lap where she had both hands clenched together.

“Alvena, this is not your fault. If it is anyone’s it would be mine and I don’t believe that. The Great Spirit brought me to you. I know that we were meant to find each other. The person at fault is the traitor targeting women.” Kai practically growled the last part. There was so much he did not know and it was tearing him up that so many women had already died. He only hoped that none of the dead women were actual Dásreach mates. It didn’t make it better, but those men would live their lives searching for something they’d never find if the women were.

“I don’t know, Kai.” She replied.

“I do. These men attacked you before you even came to the tattoo parlor. Obviously, they were following me and saw me talk to you. It’s the only possibility.” Kai continued to mull over the possible scenarios in his mind as he watched Alvena. He had found Alvena in Ohio, followed her to Tennessee. Sure he had told his brothers and the Council about her, but otherwise, no one had known a thing about him finding his mate. The only possibility is that the traitor targeted him and they followed Alvena once he made the connection.

“I think it’s easy to play the blame game, Kai, so why don’t we just leave that go. I assume these men are going to be after me, if I return to New Orleans, right?” Alvena changed the subject, and Kai wasn’t sure he wanted to go where she was leading.

“Aye. Dar has several Dásreach from the Bayou Dásig out on the streets. They are seeing a lot of activity. It appears that more men have been sent in to find you and your friends. We’re not sure why they seem so set on getting to you. It would make more sense for them to back off now that we know about them.” Kai sighed and repositioned himself in his seat.

“Do you think it would be safe to go back home?” Alvena asked.

“I’m sorry, Alvena, I really am, but I think they would follow you anywhere you go.” Kai said.

“Oh. So, will I ever be able to go back home? What will happen to me?” Alvena said sadly as she looked into Kai’s eyes.

“Alvena, I know everything has happened really fast and you have a lot to digest, but for me, the truth is that you are my mate. I want you with me. I need to protect you.” Alvena began to protest Kai’s words, but he placed his finger on her lips. “Just wait. Let me tell you a bit more about being mates. Alright?”

“Okay. Sure.” Alvena said reluctantly.

“As I already told you, Dásreach are born all male, meaning that if you and I mated all of our children would be lads. So, with no women born into our society we must search for them among the human population. When we reach the age of 30, we begin traveling and searching for the one person that is for us – our mate. We are taught from the beginning about the original thirteen warriors and how they found mates. We are told that there is one woman out there that will balance us and that we will recognize her. As an additional test, I guess you can call it, the woman will have a reaction to the Dásreach tattoo. She will be drawn to the tattoo of her mate.” Kai paused and took Alvena’s hand. “Alvena, I knew you the moment I saw you in your friend’s bookstore. When you asked for my tattoo at the shop, it just cemented what I already knew. I am drawn to you, Alvena. You are my mate.”

“Kai…” Alvena stopped. She took a few deep breaths before continuing. “With as many romance novels as I read, you would think that I would believe in this type of thing. Love at first sight and destined mates. But, Kai, I don’t. I won’t deny that I’m attracted to you. I am. Who wouldn’t be. But, I don’t feel… worthy to be your mate.” Kai started to interrupt; he didn’t like her putting herself down. “No, wait, I listened to you, please do the same for me.” Kai shook his head for her to go on and clenched his fists against the anger that built at what she was saying. Alvena took a deep breath and continued. “From what I understand, you will be the leader of your people, right?”

“Aye.” Kai answered.

“So, you will need to have someone strong and brave, someone that can stand at your side and lead with you. I’m not that person, Kai. I’m shy. I usually don’t talk to anyone unless I get to know them through someone else first. It’s exceptionally hard for me and I push myself outside of my box all of the time. Coming on this trip was a big step for me. I’m terrified to travel on my own and the only reason I was able to do it, was because I knew that Nat and Rogue would be with me most of the way.” Alvena stopped, but he could tell she wasn’t finished. “Meeting the women in the Book Worms was an amazing stroke of luck for me. I mentioned to you earlier that other than them, my only friend is Maureen.”

She stood and walked to the fireplace. Her eyes focused on the wood that he had stacked in the grate.

“I would be honored to be your mate, but I know I can’t be.”

“Alvena.” Kai said as he stood to go to her.

“No, Kai.” She turned to him. “I am willing to spend time with you. I am willing to accept your protection, because I have no idea how to protect myself. I understand that I can’t go to the police. I would have no way to explain to them why these men are after me. Besides, could they really protect me from such a large group of trained men?”

Kai looked into her eyes. He saw fear and confusion. Now wasn’t the time to discuss with her about being his mate or about going to Tiranam Dásig.

“Alvena, I don’t know what to say. I know what I feel, but I respect you and I know you have to make up your own mind. As for protection, I will protect you with my life; however, I seem to remember promising you some lessons in self-defense.” Kai said with a smile.