Sapphire Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 2) Read online

  Luc felt another wave of attraction toward Hallie. It wasn’t just her cute face or pretty body. It was the spirit emanating from her. Caring and brave. Courageous even.

  Ugh, he was getting involved with humans again. Maybe this had been a bad idea.

  He turned to make a run for it, but something stopped him. Maybe it was the purr of the cat abruptly stopping as he stepped away.

  Maybe it was the thought of not seeing that beautiful, gray-eyed lady again. But he couldn’t just walk away.

  And then he noticed a sign posted on the wall. Volunteers needed.

  Hmm.

  “So can he not be fostered?” Erin asked sadly. “Just to give him some place comfortable?”

  “I don’t know,” Hallie said. “It’s against policy simply because we need to be able to treat him. As much as we can.”

  Luc walked over to the cat, and it started purring again. He raised an eyebrow and lifted his hand to stroke along its head, and its eyes closed in relief.

  Perhaps he still had a little of his power after all. He examined the lump on its leg. Perhaps with time…

  “What does it mean, volunteer?” he asked, pointing at the sign.

  Hallie, who’d been looking at him with an odd expression as he’d been stroking the cat in her arms, snapped back to attention. “Oh, right. It means people to come in and help out around the shelter. Help with the animals.” She bit her lip. “With no pay.”

  “Interesting,” he said. Perhaps that would enable him to stay around the cat a bit longer. See if he could help him. Maybe that would fill something inside him.

  The emptiness was killing him. Being able to heal again would soothe his soul.

  That was if he could do it with his powers restrained.

  He eyed Hallie. He needed to be careful with humans. He couldn’t let himself get involved with them at all. If he started healing again, caring again, it would all go wrong. It was best if he went back to sleep before that could happen.

  But maybe he could help the cat first. Maybe even the human a little, too.

  “What’s his name?” Luc asked.

  “Bastien,” she said, cocking her head.

  “And if I volunteer here, I can see him?”

  She nodded.

  Her scent wafted toward him, violets and vanilla. Soothing and soft.

  Would it really be so bad to get close to just one more human? Just for a little while?

  “I’ll take the job.”

  2

  Hallie blinked in shock. Men like this didn’t come in here every day. In fact, the only one she’d seen this hot was Zach, the dark-haired guy who’d brought his friend in here.

  But aside from their size and relative hottieness, the two were different as night and day.

  This man’s hair was a darker blond shot through with gold and little streaks of white, and his features were classically handsome, hard jaw, defined cheekbones, full lips, and thick, arched brows.

  He kept distracting her with his eyes that were every color of sapphire, from the darkest midnight on the outer edge to a bright Caribbean-blue in the center, contrasting his pupils. And they were always changing, like dye in water.

  But there was something in those eyes that struck her more than the colors. Loneliness. Maybe something even worse.

  He was staring at her, making Bastien purr and relax when he’d never been at ease with anyone but her, and she realized this eccentric man just asked to volunteer.

  “Wait,” she said, even though the thought of working alongside a guy like this for even a few hours a week seemed like a dream come true. “I need to know your experience. I’ll need a background check.”

  He frowned. “I can get them, but as you aren’t paying me, is it really necessary?”

  Zach appeared from behind him and walked forward with Hallie conspiratorially. “Do you think we could just not worry about it? He’s kind of going through a rough time, just been through a big overseas move, and his stuff is everywhere.”

  “Do you have any experience with animals?” she asked.

  He shrugged.

  “You’re going to have to be more helpful than that.” She frowned.

  “I… am a quick learner,” he said quietly. “And I do like animals.”

  She swallowed. It was sort of against their rules, but strangely, she had a good feeling about this guy. And they needed the extra hands. Free help with those kinds of muscles wasn’t exactly knocking on their door every day.

  He’d be so useful for moving crates, heavy food, cages… and as eye candy.

  She turned to put Bastien back in the cage, hiding her blush. She’d long ago stopped thinking about love, let alone with a guy that looked fit to grace a movie screen, not do manual labor around her shelter.

  She could still feel the tingles in her body from when he’d been so close to her, touching Bastien and invading her space without realizing it. With the near constant pain she was in, it took a lot to distract her for even a moment.

  But he had done just that. Was it only because he was so hot her body went haywire? Or had there actually been some kind of soothing presence emanating from him?

  She wasn’t sure. She didn’t have a lot of experience with hot guys. Her days were all work, and at night, she was exhausted and tired of dealing with people and just wanted to be home snuggling her cats.

  But one thing she was sure of was there was something odd about this guy. Something that made her want to see more of him.

  Literally, she thought, blushing again.

  She looked up to see him watching her intently. He didn’t look at her as any other guys did. Often, people made comments about her weight or sneered at her or dismissed her entirely. They had no idea what her life had been like. What she had fought or overcome.

  All they saw was an overweight woman they could judge.

  She liked her body. Was at home in it and grateful for it, and she wouldn’t change herself for anything. All she would change was the critical look in people’s eyes that said there was something wrong with her.

  Except the handsome man in front of her didn’t have that look in his eyes at all. In fact, if she hadn’t been imagining it, she could swear she saw his eyes sweep over her, checking her out, and a slightly appreciative nod of his head.

  But that was stupid. She was just daydreaming, because a man straight out of a superhero movie, with the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen, happened to be staring at her.

  She took a deep breath and made up her mind. She’d hire him, damn the consequences. She doubted Patty or Jenna would have a problem with their new volunteer once they laid eyes on him.

  An unwelcome pang of possessiveness passed over her at that. A need to protect him from any gaze but hers.

  Which was ridiculous. No man on earth had ever looked less like he needed protecting. Yet there was something vulnerable about him. Wounded almost.

  She bit her lip. “When do you want to start?”

  “And I can hang out with Bastien?” he asked.

  “Sure,” she said, still touched by how much he’d bonded with the little cat that no one else gave a second look.

  “And if he were to get better, could I adopt him?” he asked, blue eyes hopeful.

  A rock formed in her stomach. The last thing she wanted was for this man to grow attached when there was no hope. It wasn’t a matter of “if” for Bastien, just a matter of “when.”

  “He’s not going to get better,” she said quietly. “But I’m sure he could use a friend.”

  The tall man cocked his head thoughtfully but didn’t seem to really let it sink in.

  “Injection site sarcoma is aggressive,” she said. “I’m sorry. I want you to work here, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up for nothing.”

  He sighed as he straightened and stretched. “I’ve had worse hopes before.”

  What did that mean?

  Erin, Zach’s kind, gentle wife, smiled at Hallie. “He’s an odd one, but I
think you can trust him.”

  Hallie laughed. “You think?”

  Erin nodded. “I mean, no one’s a sure bet.”

  Hallie turned to the giant man and tapped his arm. An electric shock zinged between them, and he raised an eyebrow, pursing his perfect lips at the contact.

  She pulled back. “I don’t even know your name,” she said. “And we’ll have to at least fill out an application. Well, you can take it home and bring it back with you.”

  “I’m Luc,” he said flatly.

  She led them back to the front office and grabbed a packet out of a drawer. When she went to hand it to him, she could swear his fingers lingered a little bit long on hers. Just a slight hesitation.

  “You can start tomorrow,” she said, struggling to speak when her throat had gone dry over how hot he was. Over the realization that he was actually coming there again.

  “And you’ll be here?” he asked, tucking the folded application in a pocket.

  Her eyes widened. “Yes.”

  “Good,” he said. And then he walked out with his friends, pausing only to look over his shoulder and give a short wink. So quick she could have missed it.

  Holy hell. Was this walking blond god actually into her?

  Even though Luc told himself he was going back for the little hairless cat, Hallie’s gray eyes were the foremost thing in his mind as he got ready for his first day at the shelter.

  Zach and Erin had been surprised by his impetuous move to apply, but they were all too eager to get him out of the house.

  He touched the collar around his neck, feeling the cold iron there.

  Perhaps it was good his dragon was sealed. If it wasn’t, he’d probably already be getting in trouble. Getting too involved. As it stood now, he could get to know humans and be out in the world without worrying about either side of his powers coming out.

  On the one hand, he could be warm, caring, soothing. Able to heal and bring down rain. But the other side, the one that felt much closer to the surface since he’d awakened, was devastating, with icy blasts. Hard skin. Frozen projectiles. Blizzards.

  Both should probably stay hidden for now. Maybe buried for the rest of time.

  It was ironic that Zach was the one who’d managed to function in the human world and convince them to continue the experiment, waking up Luc.

  Because Zac had never cared for humans in the time he’d been alive. Then again, he’d never killed them either.

  And that was more than Luc could say.

  Shame moved through him as he tied a tie over the dress shirt he’d found in Zach’s closet. He wasn’t sure of the dress code, but he wanted to look nice when seeing Hallie again, so he’d looked for the dressiest clothes.

  “That’s going to be overkill,” Zach said, leaning against the door with a frown.

  “I don’t care,” Luc said. “I’m going for the cat.”

  “Right, the cat,” Zach said, raising an eyebrow with a cocky smile. “Sure.” He straightened and walked to his dresser and pulled out a different set of clothes, still with tags on. “Here, try these. You’ll fit in better.”

  Luc reluctantly changed into the light-blue sweater and dark jeans and sighed at how casual he appeared. He would never get used to modern clothing.

  “Better?” he asked.

  “Yup,” Zach replied, coming into the room to look him over. “The ‘cat’ will be pleased. And anyone else you’re aiming for…” He raised a questioning eyebrow.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Luc said sharply, messing with his hair, which wanted to stick in all directions.

  “It looks fine,” Zach said, shaking his head. “You’re making it worse.”

  Luc stopped abruptly. “Are you here for a reason?”

  “Just to make sure you don’t look or act stupid out in the human world when I’m not there to supervise you.”

  “No one was around to supervise you,” Luc said flatly.

  “Erin sort of was.” Zach grinned. “I got lucky there.”

  “Yes, you did.” Luc agreed. “But I’m fine on my own. I’ve been on my own a long time.”

  “Except you won’t really be alone at all, will you?” Zach asked, a knowing gaze in his eyes.

  Luc’s stomach twisted slightly. “What are you talking about?”

  “You know what I’m talking about. The little receptionist you were making eyes at.”

  “Making eyes?” he asked.

  Zach sighed. “Ogling. Eye fucking.”

  “I beg your pardon,” Luc said, disturbed.

  “You found a human you like,” Zach said, nudging him with a shoulder. “Good for you.”

  “It doesn’t matter if I like her,” Luc said. “Humans are not for mating.”

  Zach frowned. “What about me?”

  Luc straightened his cuffs. “You seem to be making the impossible work. Which is the epitome of irony, considering the fact that you hated humans as a species not long ago.”

  “The world is different now,” Zach said. “Give it a chance.”

  Luc’s eyes darted to the TV, which was covering another shooting. Always another shooting or fire or fight or war. “Doesn’t seem so different to me.”

  “And you’re different, too,” Zach commented. “Maybe not in a good way, but you’re definitely different.”

  He gave Luc a swat on the butt, and the tall man jumped back and glared at him. “What was that for?”

  “To loosen you up,” Zach said, striding out the door with his hands behind his head. “Now go get your mate.”

  Luc shook the thought from his head. He was going to stay uninvolved with humans. Sure, he could admire Hallie, enjoy her company, but that was it.

  Anything further spelled disaster.

  Still, a little uneasy part of him wondered, if she wasn’t going to be his mate, why did he feel so obsessed with seeing her again?

  He’d never felt that way about any creature. And looking at Zach, perhaps the expectation in this world was that dragons would take human mates.

  Something that never would have been considered in his day.

  He did know if he could pick one, someone like Hallie would be just his type. Hallie herself if possible.

  But aside from her outward kindness, he’d seen no sign that she returned any of the attraction he felt. She’d only given him a smile and averted her eyes.

  Too bad he wanted her to look right into him.

  3

  Hallie glanced at the clock on the wall above her desk. It had little cat paws on it that moved with each tick of the second hand.

  Two minutes to nine. Would he be late? Would he even show up? Would his good-looking friends convince him he really didn’t need to volunteer at a shelter when he could walk into any agency and land a modeling contract?

  She sighed and absentmindedly flipped her phone in her hand.

  “When is the new volunteer coming again?” Patty asked hurriedly. “I still can’t believe you hired him without asking any of us. We’re all supposed to sign off.” Patty was a pretty black woman with dark curls and eyes. She was heavier set, like Hallie, and had a sparkling personality when she wasn’t stressed about work.

  Which was most of the time.

  Jenna, who’d been there the longest, was off today, which was probably fine. She didn’t really like guys much—though Hallie wasn’t sure if she liked girls either—and she would only make Lucien’s day more awkward.

  Which it already would be. He had this ethereal look to him, almost like he wasn’t from this world and needed to be protected, despite his height and the sense of power radiating off of him.

  Still, Hallie knew better than most that there were more strengths than just the physical.

  The door to the shelter dinged as a man’s tall shadow blocked the bright morning light streaming through the doorway.

  “That must be him,” Patty said.

  Hallie put up a hand. The three seconds it took Luc to walk through the second s
et of doors and into the florescent light where she could see him were the longest of her life.

  “Holy Moses,” Patty breathed out, putting a hand through her hair and leaning back in her chair, making it creak. “What the heck is he doing here?”

  Hallie bit her lip, fighting her own reaction as a wave of attraction rippled through her. “He really likes one of the cats.”

  “Smoking hot and loves animals? My-lanta.” Patty fanned herself, and Hallie stood to walk around the counter to greet him.

  Once again, she was impressed by how impossibly tall he was. Intimidating, though the expression on his stunningly handsome face was mostly neutral. The angles of his cheekbones and jaw and nose appeared plotted by someone who was trying to draw the most beautiful male visage possible.

  His eyes looked astounding with the blue sweater he wore. A sweater that skimmed the bulging muscles of his tall body, making her mouth water.

  She liked a hot guy as much as the next one, but she’d never had a reaction like this.

  She wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt before holding out a hand for him to shake. When he took her hand, he simply held it for a moment, gazing down at her with an unreadable expression as he looked her over.

  And then that expression was readable, the blue eyes mercurial. Heat. Want.

  Was that even possible?

  She pulled back, and he let her go, cocking his head as if he weren’t sure what he’d done wrong.

  “You pulled back,” he said. “Was I hurting you?”

  “No,” she said. In fact, it had felt good touching him, like something warm and soothing was flowing through her. But it had been too intense, and she’d felt as if her legs were going to melt right out from underneath her if he stared at her with those blue flame eyes any longer.

  She stepped back, adjusting her clothes. As her eyes skimmed up him, she couldn’t believe how long his legs were and how the wide, strong muscles there filled in his jeans.

  She looked up and saw a slight smile quirking the side of his full lips, and she caught her breath. It was like seeing just the slightest hint of sunlight peeking out from behind a cloud, and she could just imagine how beautiful all the rays would be if it could just come out farther.