Diamond Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 4) Read online

  “He’s collared,” Zach said. “That means his powers are in check until he proves himself. Unless a human is in danger, that is. Then he can use his powers to defend himself and the human.”

  “Diamond defend a human?” Dom scoffed. “Unlikely. All diamond cares about is his own comfort.”

  “Ironic he’s been in prison, then,” Red commented.

  Dom frowned. “Yeah. He doesn’t deserve that.” He ran his hand through his hair, shaking it. “Anyway, I’ll keep watching. The visions should be more frequent now that I’ve made contact. Maybe soon I’ll hear his thoughts or voice.”

  “I hope so,” Zach said. “Hell, we have no idea what he knows since being awakened. He could be really confused. Or even dangerous.”

  “Diamond’s only danger is his selfish apathy,” Dom said, a bitter grin twisting his lips. Any pleasure was hard to see on his face because of his constantly stressed expression. “He isn’t the type to go out of his way for anybody, but he also isn’t likely to hurt someone without reason. He just doesn’t really care for anyone but himself.” He shook his head. “So we should be safe from him figuring out the loophole with the collar.” He grinned. “Diamond protecting a human. That would be the day.”

  “Hey, we’ve all learned to protect humans.” Red interrupted. “When it’s your mate and your mate helps you understand the rest, they aren’t so bad.”

  Dom scoffed at that and leaned back in his chair, his impressive chest straining the leather of his jacket. “Right. Since you’ve all become pets. I forgot.”

  “Mates, not pets,” Zach said.

  “Right,” Dom said. “My bad.”

  “My bad?” Zach said, looking at Luc. “Look who’s been hanging out with the cool kids and learning all the new slang.”

  Dom’s eyes narrowed and looked over at the wall, bored. “I’m supposed to be understanding the world, aren’t I?”

  “Does it matter if you’re going back to sleep?” Zach asked.

  “I suppose not,” Dom said. “Still, it keeps me from being bored.”

  “If I were you, I don’t think I’d ever be bored,” Luc said.

  Dom was silent at that, his icy glare moving around the room from face to face. Then he stood. “I’m going back up to my room. See if anything else comes.”

  “You want dinner?” Luc asked.

  “I’ll call down,” Dom replied, shoving his hands in his pockets as he walked out.

  He muttered something Zach couldn’t make out as he walked away, and then his heavy footsteps resounded up the stairs.

  All the dragons looked at one another as they sat there, thinking on what Dom had said.

  “Hopefully he hears more soon,” Red said, giving the others a hesitant smile.

  Luc screwed up his brows, looking up in the direction of the ceiling. “You guys hear that?”

  Red looked uncomfortable, and Zach nodded. “Yeah,” he said, fighting off a shiver.

  “So weird,” Luc said. “You think we should check on him?”

  “No,” Zach said. “For Dom, I think this is just business as usual.”

  “Who do you think he’s talking to?” Red asked, biting his lip and leaning back in his chair, dark-red hair falling over his forehead.

  Zach shrugged. “Himself?”

  Luc let out a long breath. “I know this sounds crazy, but sometimes I could swear there is someone up there… with him.”

  They all shared a glance and then looked away while the strange sounds upstairs abated for a moment.

  “I think I’m going to go find my mate,” Luc said with a grin. “I think that’s our cue to hit the sack.”

  “Me, too.” Red agreed.

  Zach sat back in his chair. “See you both in the morning.”

  They were all staying at his house to help train Dom, or to be ready if any tips came in.

  And with all of the odd things going on, Zach was glad to have them there.

  In their day, they’d been enigmatic loners. Now they were truly becoming a team.

  If they could just get Diamond back, that would really be something.

  Alistair and Bridget were on the road the next morning as soon as they woke up. The faster they moved, the less likely it was that Alistair’s captors could catch up.

  On the way to the next place, they discussed Alistair’s collar but weren’t able to come to any conclusions.

  “All I know was for a moment, when I was so angry, I felt the bonds lifted and just… power going through me,” he said as she drove.

  “But you have no idea why?” she asked.

  “No,” he said. “And neither does the scientist who put it on me. They got it from where I was being held before, so he doesn’t even know the rules of it.”

  “Ah,” she said. “Well, we’re here. I think this is our next stop.”

  “Storm Haven,” he said, looking up at the rusty sign at the turnoff. “Apt name.”

  “Yes,” she said. “I’m not sure what services they’ll have here, but we should be able to get food and some clothing, and it’s such a small place that no one should be looking for us here.”

  “Do you think they are?” he asked. “You’re the one who worked for them.”

  “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “They’re obsessed with secrecy, so it’s fully possible they’re lying in wait or sending others after us. Or they could just leave us alone, but that’s not likely since we know where they are.”

  “That’s my thought as well,” he said. “Even if they aren’t after me for more of my blood, they’ll want to silence us. Or you at least. You’re less threatening than me.”

  “Good thing I have you here to protect me,” she said sardonically.

  He didn’t like how she said it. “You don’t believe I will?”

  “It’s not that,” she said. “It’s just, you keep rubbing in how much stronger you are and how I have to depend on you, when really, you have to depend on me.”

  “I do?” he asked.

  “You have any money? Any way to get around?”

  He scowled. She was right. “No.”

  “So there,” she quipped.

  “Well, that’s nothing to be grumpy about. We can help each other. Isn’t that right, Scrangey?” He turned back to look at the cat, who was napping in the backseat. “That guy sleeps too much.”

  “He’s a cat,” she retorted.

  He went back to watching the road as she drove, taking street after street into a small town with buildings and signs everywhere.

  “We’ll stop here.”

  They got out of the car, cracked the windows for Scrangey, and walked toward the store in front of them.

  Alistair read Bridget’s mind constantly in order to hear what she called the things around her so he could learn modern terms. The last thing he wanted was to stick out any more than he did. And with his knee-length, cut-off pants and odd shirt, plus long hair, that was a lot.

  She walked straight back to the clothing area, and he saw her rifling through men’s clothing. He didn’t know what to pick, so he trusted her.

  When she had an arm full of choices and had looked him up and down enough to feel satisfied they were the right size, they moved to a long rack of clear plastic bags hanging up that held small articles of clothing.

  Her hair was back in a clean ponytail. She’d showered this morning, and he liked the blue jacket she wore. It brought out her nice skin, which was lightly dusted with freckles. With her hair out of the way, he could see more of her face.

  It was a face he was coming to really like.

  She caught him looking at her, and a deep flush moved over her cheeks as she gestured to the racks, stepping back. “I think you should pick out your underwear.”

  He grinned. “What if I don’t wear any?”

  She flushed deeper. “You’re going to.”

  “Hm,” he said, looking at the pictures on the rack. “I don’t know if these are going to fit a dragon’s… endowments.” He enjoy
ed the way she was trying not to react to his teasing. The squirm as she turned away, her eyes still following him. “Then again, should I wear tighter ones that support me or looser ones that aren’t as attractive should I get to show them to someone?”

  “It’s unlikely you’re going to show someone while we’re on the run, isn’t it?”

  He gave her what he hoped was a rakish grin. “Maybe there’s someone I’m hoping to show them to.”

  “Oh, please,” she said. “Stop flirting. I’m aware of what the humans you probably go for look like, and I’m not going to be your fallback in the meantime.”

  He walked in front of her, holding several bags of underwear just to be extra awkward. “Wait a second. Who do I go for?”

  “Gorgeous girls probably,” she said, gesturing at him disdainfully. “Ones like you. Tall, slim. Fit.”

  “You think I’m fit?” he asked.

  “You’re muscled,” she grumbled.

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “It is, because you’re clearly full of yourself. And you can get whatever underwear you want, because it doesn’t matter to me. I’m not seeing it.” She turned to glare at him. “We’re just helping each other. I’m here to help Lana. Not hook up with a dragon.”

  “What if you could do both?” he asked, following her back to a section full of hats. “What if we could be good together?”

  She glared at him and then started grabbing hats off the shelf, plonking them on his head, frowning, and taking them off again. “You and I both know we would never be a pair. Heck, we never would have talked if you hadn’t been in the dungeon where I happened to be working.”

  “Maybe it was fate,” he said, grabbing a hat from the top shelf and pulling it on. “What do you think?”

  She squinted. “It’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

  He caught her by the hand, and she turned back to him in surprise, her cheeks heating cutely again. He pulled her in closer. “And just for your information, I’d like to try it.”

  She jerked away, her breathing rapid, and glared at him. “You weren’t like this in captivity. You weren’t interested in anything but me helping you escape.”

  “Yeah, but maybe I’m seeing a different Bridget. Or maybe I was more interested than you thought. After all, I never asked a scientist to help me escape. And I did get really mad at that wolf.”

  “That’s because he was about to commit an atrocity.”

  “You’d be surprised about how little most dragons care about atrocities when they don’t involve them,” he said. “No, my reaction to the event was abnormal.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t talk about it,” she said. “It’s not something I want to remember.”

  “He didn’t get anywhere, did he?”

  “No,” she said. “But he almost stole my first kiss—” She cut off as she realized what she’d said, and he couldn’t stop a grin spreading over his face.

  “Your what?”

  She turned on her heel and stormed away. “Never mind! Now bring that hat and whatever stupid underwear you want and let’s go. We need to get out of here and head to the next town.”

  He followed her, wondering why the thought that no one else had kissed her pleased him.

  But then the thought of what the wolf might have done to her dawned on him, making him burn with impotent rage.

  More and more, he was beginning to think his reactions to Bridget weren’t simply the actions of an indignant friend, but those of a jealous male.

  And being jealous about a human female who didn’t even like him was a very weird thing for a dragon.

  Amethyst, if you’re out there, you better come soon.

  He’d have to remember to keep sending thoughts out as often as he could. Because the way he was starting to look at Bridget, the rage he felt at anyone else touching her, and the way he kept wanting to be close to her were very much the signs of a shifter toward his mate.

  And for Alistair, that simply wasn’t possible… was it?

  Chapter 6

  While they were filling up at a gas station, Bridget used her phone to rent a vacation cabin that would be even more isolated than a motel and much harder for someone to track them to. The only problem was it was several hours from the town where they’d bought clothing and food, and it would be evening when they arrived.

  But that was a small price to pay for some privacy.

  Her heart thudded at the thought of it. Privacy with Alistair. She was seeing whole new sides of him since they’d been together. He could be lighthearted or teasing or snobby or seductive.

  Definitely seductive.

  She guessed he was aware of his effect on women. He had to be. He came out of the gas station with another bag of snacks in hand, bought with the money she’d given him, and he looked pleased with himself.

  “Get in,” she said. “I rented a place, and we need to head out.”

  “Sure.” He slid into the seat and buckled up. “Somewhere romantic I hope?”

  “I told you, you aren’t getting any.” She rolled her eyes. “Did you get some good snacks?”

  “I have no idea what is good or not,” he said. “But I do have to admire the sheer variety of things you have in this world. And how easy to acquire they are. Imagine never having to grow anything or buy from someone who has.”

  She swallowed. “I guess that is kind of weird. I mean, farmers just sell to the stores.”

  He held up the bag filled with various candies and chips. “None of this came from a farm.”

  She laughed. “I guess not.”

  He pulled out a bag of beef jerky. “Do you think Scrangey will like this?”

  She eyed it. “I don’t know. We should probably stick with the canned stuff I picked up at the last store.”

  “Right,” he said, putting it away. He reclined his chair slightly and gazed out the window as she began to drive. It was already cloudy, but as they pulled back onto the freeway, it began to rain, making Scrangey meow as drops loudly covered the windshield and windows.

  “It’s okay, buddy,” Alistair said, reaching out and picking up the struggling cat to plant him in his lap. “I’m here.”

  She felt slightly touched by Alistair’s protectiveness as he stroked the little cat. No matter what he said, she couldn’t imagine him abandoning his pet.

  “He’s not my pet,” Alistair said. “And I still haven’t decided what I’ll do with him.”

  “I’m never going to get used to that,” Bridget said. “You being able to read thoughts.”

  “Ah, yeah. Sorry about that,” he said, leaning on his hand with his head against the window. He perked up slightly. “What disguise do you think I should use in the next town?” He shook his head, and he changed. “Blond?” he asked. He looked in the mirror. “No, too femme.” He shook again. “Ebony?” He blinked. “Blue eyes go well with black hair.”

  “I like your original look,” she said absentmindedly, trying to calculate the hours it would take to get there. “But in the meantime, you might as well stick with brown.”

  He was quiet. “You like the original? You don’t think it’s weird?”

  “No,” she said. “Not anymore.”

  “But you’re human.”

  “And you’re a dragon,” she retorted. “Yet here we are together, working as friends.”

  He folded his arms. “Friends. Hm.”

  She ignored his comment as they continued to drive.

  “So this Lana person…” he said. “You two keep in touch after college?”

  “Not as much as I would have liked,” she admitted. “I went into graphic design, and she went into fashion. Both are design but very different worlds. I kept in touch with her online, but I haven’t seen her in some time.”

  “I bet she would be touched by what you’re doing for her.”

  “I don’t know,” Bridget said. “It doesn’t matter to me as long as she’s safe.”

  “We’re going to get her back,”
he said firmly. “I promise you, Brig.”

  Rain was still falling, and he broodingly stroked the cat, but the seriousness in his voice made her pause. “You mean that, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about it. I’ve never had anyone mean that much to me, but if I did, I can’t imagine how excruciating it would be to not know where they were.”

  “I guess your friends don’t know where you are,” she said, feeling that pang of guilt again.

  He sighed. “I don’t think they miss me. We weren’t really friends. Just similar creatures, I guess. While being very different. All of us led separate lives.”

  “What was your life like?” she asked. “Back then I mean.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve already told you the gist of it. Rich. Powerful. Only the best people around me. I didn’t really have to spend much time as a dragon. I did, occasionally, with Dom—that’s the amethyst dragon. Mainly because he was also interacting with humans at times. We would sometimes talk about dragon powers.” He was quiet for a moment. “Other dragons didn’t really see the point of interacting with humans. If they’ve been awakened, I wonder how that has gone for them.”

  “So you were the only one taken?” she asked.

  “I assume so,” he replied. “I guess for my powers.”

  “Why yours?”

  He gave her a grin. “Because I’m strong. Nearly invincible and very dangerous. In fact, it’s probably good for the world that I’ve always been distracted by shallow pursuits, because I could have wreaked havoc if I’d wanted to. But I prefer the finer things, and violence isn’t one of them.”

  “You were violent at the castle,” she said.

  “That’s because they imprisoned me for months and gave me nothing to think about but violence,” he explained. “It’s not my natural way.”

  “Are you really going to kill them when we go back for my friend?”

  He nodded. “I would think so. No one should be allowed to do what they did. They imprisoned me. Took my blood. Chained me. Could have killed me.” Darkness filled his eyes. “I’d be doing the world a favor by ending them.”