Firefighter Dragon: BBW Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance (7 page)

Dai's face was rigid. "I concede."

"What on earth is going on here?" Virginia tugged at Dai's arm. He felt like an iron statue. "Dai?"

Dai breathed out, looking down at her. Though his expression was still tightly controlled, some sixth sense told Virginia that he was mentally cursing himself. "You know the way that a lot of animals don't usually straight-up fight each other, because there's too much risk of getting seriously hurt? Like, say, sheep."

"Sheep," Bertram said. "
Really?
"

"In mating season, rams show off their horns to each other," Dai said to Virginia, ignoring the interruption. "The ram with the biggest, most impressive horns gains dominance over all the others. Rams are big, strong animals who could seriously hurt each other in a real fight. Comparing horns lets them avoid that." He gestured from himself to Bertram. "Dragons do something similar, except instead of comparing horns, they compare hoards."

"Thankfully," Bertram murmured, idly turning a hand so that the light flashed from his heavy gold signet ring.

"So the dragon with the biggest, most valuable hoard is the boss?" Virginia said, looking from Dai's unhappy expression to Bertram's smug one and back again. "But...you just have dragon blood, because of your ancestor. Surely this doesn't apply to you?"

"Oh?" Bertram looked sharply at Dai, who glowered back. Virginia had an odd impression of some unspoken communication flashing between them. Abruptly, Bertram laughed again. "Indeed. Dragon...ancestry." A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "My. Well, I suppose that
is
true. And you certainly aren't a
proper
dragon."

"Dragons have
very
strong instincts about dominance and submission rituals," Dai said tightly. "They have to, otherwise they'd all have killed each other off long ago. I can't help having those instincts too."

Virginia's heart sank. "Which means?"

"Which means that I am dominant over him, and he is thus bound to obey me," Bertram said. His smile widened. "For example, I could order him to leave the city, right now."

"Go ahead and try it," Dai growled. He took a step closer to Virginia. "You'll find that there are some instincts even stronger."

"Mm." Bertram's gaze flicked from Dai to Virginia and back again. His lips pursed as if he'd bitten into a lemon. "How tiresome. But it is an inconvenience rather than an obstruction." He tapped his forefinger thoughtfully against his chin. "Ah, I have it." He pointed at Dai, his tone turning formal. "Daifydd Drake, by right of dominance I lay this restriction on you—while you are in my territory, you must appear as you do now."

"What? Wearing jeans and a T-shirt?" For a moment, Virginia was perplexed—then she realized that Dai probably didn't usually fight dragons with his bare hands. "Bertram, you can't do that!"

"I can, and indeed, I have." Bertram cocked his head at Dai. "Haven't I?"

Dai's face was expressionless, but his green eyes blazed with fury. "You are dominant over me. Don't think that means I won't punch you in the face."

Bertram raised an eyebrow at him. "A threat, from someone who
isn't
a dragon shifter? I suggest it would be wise to keep silent, little red, and let me talk." He cast a sideways glance at Virginia. "Unless you want me to...talk."

Virginia had the nagging feeling that she was missing about half of the conversation. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Dai folded his arms across his chest, fists clenched as though he was having to physically restrain himself from taking a swing at Bertram. "It means we have to hear him out."

"Good boy. I'm so glad we had this little chat." Bertram dismissed Dai entirely with a flip of his hand, turning instead to Virginia. "It may surprise you to hear that I have come to make you a very gracious and generous offer."

"You can shove it up your English
arse
," Virginia said hotly. "No matter what you've done to Dai, you've lost, Bertram. Soon the whole world will know that I discovered Brithelm's burial mound, and that
you
tried to hide it. Your professional reputation will be ruined."

"That is, of course, assuming that the burial mound is still there," Bertram said.

Virginia sucked in her breath. "You
wouldn't
."

"Oh, believe me, I would." Diamonds glittered as Bertram ostentatiously checked his watch. "It is now...11:23 on Sunday morning, which by my reckoning gives me at least twenty hours before you could possibly hope to report your find to the relevant authorities. Meanwhile, I have an entire construction team who is just
delighted
at the prospect of triple pay for working on a Sunday." He gazed contemplatively at the ceiling. "My. How much concrete could they could lay in twenty hours, I wonder?"

"And if Virginia gives you the artifact she found?" Dai said. "That's what this is about, isn't it?"

"Of course." Bertram smiled condescendingly at Virginia. "I am prepared to be magnanimous. I shall trade you the artifact for the rest of the site."

"What?" Virginia stared at him. "You mean, you'd give me permission to investigate it properly?"

"I would immediately halt construction work, and as the landowner give you full access to the land." Bertram spread his hands. "I'll even help you secure the site. We'd announce the discovery of the site together. My reputation will give you at least some degree of credibility, enough to make sure that you secure funding for a full dig."

"In other words, you want to steal the credit," Virginia said. "And no doubt any other valuable artifacts too. Dai's told me how greedy you dragons are."

"Has he now," said Bertram. "How amusing. No doubt that's true when one only has a pitiful excuse for a hoard." He cast a withering glance at Dai. "I, on the other hand, possess so many treasures already, I would be hard-pressed to even
notice
the addition of one more paltry pile of golden grave goods. I merely have a personal interest in the particular piece you removed. It belonged to an ancestor of mine, and has great sentimental value to my family."

"Sentimental value." Virginia snorted. "Right. Nothing to do with the fact that it's a big chunk of—"

"Ah!" Bertram raised a finger. "If I may offer some advice. It would be wise not to discuss the piece in detail in front of your little...friend here."

"Why are you so sure I haven't already shown it to him?" Virginia asked.

Bertram smiled. "Because he did not list it in his hoard when we dueled. And believe me, if he'd seen the artifact, it would be in his possession right now. He's dragon enough for
that
." He straightened, turning to the door. "You have two hours to accept my offer," he said over his shoulder as he left. "I shall look forward to hearing from you."

Virginia looked at Dai, expecting him to indignantly deny Bertram's parting accusation, but he avoided meeting her eyes. A tiny worm of doubt squirmed in the pit of her stomach. Bertram was a liar and a thief, and she knew she should ignore every word he said...but Dai
did
seem to have a lot of dragon instincts. She was starting to suspect that he was trying to hide the full extent of his dragon heritage from her.

She knew with bone-deep certainty that she could trust him with her life...but could she trust him with her gold?

––––––––

"I
don't know, Dai. Maybe I should just accept Bertram's deal," Virginia said. Even though Dai was careful to check his pace to match her shorter stride, she still kept dropping behind, as though having second thoughts about following him at all. "One artifact isn't worth the destruction of an entire site. And it shouldn't matter who gets the credit for the discovery, as long as the site is preserved for study."

Dai wished with all his soul that he could smooth the worry from her beautiful face, but he didn't know how to close the distance that had opened up between them since Bertram's visit. She'd been quiet and reserved since the other dragon shifter had left. The new doubt in her eyes when she looked at him tore his heart in half.

"It does matter," he said firmly. With a light touch on her elbow, he guided her down an alleyway so narrow that the eaves of the houses on each side almost met overhead.

They were in the heart of the Brighton Lanes, a warren of ancient, cobbled back streets. The narrow alleys were packed with an eclectic range of tiny shops catering to a range of specialist interests. Everything from antiquarian maps to fetish wear could be found in the Lanes.

And there were a few very private, very discreet businesses for a
very
select group of customers—shifters.

"It's your discovery," he said to Virginia as he guided her through the maze of streets. It was a route so familiar, he could have found his way in pitch darkness. "I'm not going to let Bertram steal either the artifact or your credit."

Virginia shook her head doubtfully, her face shadowed. "But Bertram's made it clear he's top dog. Top dragon." She blew out her breath. "No offense, but your dragon ancestry seems to be more problematic than helpful at the moment."

"Can't disagree with you there," Dai muttered, making his inner dragon lash an indignant tail.

The beast was as agitated as Virginia was subdued. Bertram's command not to shift weighed on the dragon like iron shackles. It writhed against the restraints, but couldn't overcome its own instinctive respect for a more dominant male. The dragon's helpless rage felt like scales scratching the underside of Dai's skin.

"I know you want to help, and I appreciate everything you've already done," Virginia continued. "But I don't see what you can do now. Bertram's got your hands tied."

"I know," Dai stopped in front of a black, iron-banded door, set uninvitingly in an otherwise blank wall. "Which is why I've brought you here."

Virginia looked up at the grimy sign above the door. It was so thick with dust that the full moon painted on it was only barely visible. "To...a pub?"

"Not just any pub," Dai said. He rapped on the door with his knuckles.

"We're closed!" yelled a woman's voice from inside.

"No you're not," Dai called back. It wasn't much of a password, but it sufficed to keep out random passers-by.

The door opened, revealing the round, smiling face of Rose, the pub owner. "Ah, there you are at last," she said, beckoning them in.

In contrast to the plain, forbidding exterior, the interior of the pub was a snug, comfortable haven of polished wood tables and plush velvet chairs.

"All the other lads beat you here. They're waiting upstairs." Rose's kindly gaze fell on Virginia, who was looking around with a startled expression. "And you must be Virginia."

Although Dai hadn't told her anything more than Virginia's name, there was no hiding anything from Rose. She scrutinized both their faces for a mere second, then clasped her plump hands together. "Oh, Dai, I'm so pleased for you."

"Why?" Virginia asked, a perplexed crease appearing in her forehead.

Dai shot Rose a warning look, but she just laughed. "Because our Dai's never brought a lady friend in with him before," she said to Virginia. "And I can already tell you're not one to put up with any of his nonsense."

It was Dai's turn to frown. "What nonsense?"

"Now that would be telling." Rose winked at Virginia. "Which I shall do later, my dear, when you have time. Our Dai is a lovely lad, but he does tie himself up into knots through overthinking things."

"I do not!" Dai protested.

"Ah, you sweet summer child." Rose patted his arm, then gestured at the back of the pub. "The lads are up in the Fire room, of course. Give me a shout if anyone wants another drink." Rose headed off toward the bar, calling back over her shoulder, "
Except Chase!
"

Virginia flashed Dai a wry grin as she followed him through the bar area and up the staircase toward the private rooms. Dai's heart leapt. It was the first time she'd smiled at him since Bertram's visit.

"I take it this isn't an ordinary pub," she said.

"No," said Dai, smiling back at her. He ducked his head to avoid the heavy oak beams. For a shifter pub, The Full Moon had inconveniently low ceilings. "It's for people like me."

"Dragon hunters?" Virginia asked.

"Amongst other things," Dai said. "Dragons aren't the only type of shifter." He opened the door to the Fire room. "And I want you to meet some of them."

––––––––

M
y God
, Virginia thought in bemusement.
It's full of muscles.

The small room was decorated in rich shades of red and gold, creating a warm and snug space that would have been perfect for an intimate private dinner. It was entirely unsuited to the sheer volume of rippling beefcake that currently occupied it. Five men were crammed around a circular table, their broad shoulders hunched over their drinks. The moment Virginia stepped into the room, she was pinned by five sets of interested eyes. She froze under the weight of so much focused attention.

"Dai!" A man with black curly hair sprang from his chair, nearly upsetting his drink into the lap of the blond man sitting next to him. He punched Dai playfully in the shoulder, flashing him the widest grin Virginia had ever seen.

"What took you so long?" the man asked in a strong Irish brogue. His bright, dark glance flitted to Virginia, and his smile widened even further. "Forget it, my question is answered." He made an elaborate bow in her direction. "Lovely lady of mystery, it's a joy to lay eyes on you at last. If you ever need any more midnight supplies, consider me forever at your service. I hope you enjoyed the—"

"
Chase
," Dai rumbled forbiddingly, and the smaller man shut up, still grinning.

Dai turned to Virginia. "This is my fire crew," he explained. There was something oddly shy in his expression, as if he was introducing her to his family. "My fellow fire fighters. Virginia, this is Chase, our driver. He's the one who brought me the clothes last night."