Zinc Dragon (Dragon Guard of Drakkaris Book 4) Read online

  He put his hand to his head and lay back down, looking dizzy. “Sorry, I only stay lucid for a certain amount of time. Tell me quickly.”

  She put both hands on his face and made him face her because it seemed to help him keep his focus. “I knocked out Barney with the drug I was supposed to save for you. I… They’ll be coming for you in the morning. If you’re already mated by then—”

  “What?” He stared at her groggily, as if unable to believe what she was saying.

  “If you’re mated, she can’t take you. She might kill me, but I won’t let her take you. And besides, once you’re mated, your poison should withdraw, right? You should get better.”

  “I should, but—”

  “It’s worth it, then,” she said, reaching down and pulling her pants off, leaving only her panties. “Because I’m not going to make it out of here anyway, but this gives you a fighting chance. I don’t know what she wants for you, but she doesn’t want you to die. That’s why she wants to mate you.”

  “Now just wait a second,” Zinc said, pushing against her as she lifted her leg to climb onto his cot. She straddled him, placing both hands on his chest, feeling his warmth.

  He was oddly warm right now for someone who was supposed to be a dragon.

  “I know what I want,” she said. “I want to be dragon hearted just once more.”

  His hands caught her wrists, holding them as she kept them planted on his chest. “You deserve better than this. You aren’t some tool to be used to save me.”

  She looked over him, his muscular form and handsome face lit by faint streams of moonlight, and sighed. “It won’t be a chore. I’ve been locked in a basement for weeks without any human contact. Without any warm touch. And hey, this might be my last chance before I die.”

  “Don’t do this,” he said. “It’s not too late. Drug me like you said you would. Or just make a break for it without me. You’d be able to run, whereas I can’t.”

  “No,” she said. “Besides, I’d never make it past all the guards.” She continued to run her hands over his muscles, soothing herself and hoping it soothed him, too. Because this was really their only option. “Would it be so bad with me?”

  “Of course not, angel,” he said softly, reaching up to touch her face before dropping his hand weakly. “It’s just that you deserve more than this. Than taking a chance on a dragon in a dungeon.”

  “Eh,” she said. “It’s been so much better in this dungeon with a dragon. I guess we’ll just have to see how it works out tomorrow.”

  “Are you absolutely sure?”

  She nodded. “This is what I want. I can’t see you die, and I can’t see her take you. I was already lost before you got here. At least I’ll be able to do something good first.”

  He sighed deeply, closing his eyes. When he opened them, there was fire in their molten silver depths. “I could never say no to you, angel.”

  “Leanne,” she said, dropping forward to pull his shirt over his head, baring his chest. She placed a kiss at the top of his sternum.

  “Leanne.” He ran a hand through her hair then caught it in his fingers and lifted her face slightly. She loved the feel of it, his dominance, holding her.

  Then he let go, his hand slipping down her shoulder and over her arm, grazing her skin and making her tingle as it fell back to the cot.

  He gave her a regretful smile. “I wish I could do more. I would usually do more. I’d bring you to heaven.”

  “I can only imagine,” she said softly. “This time I’ll bring heaven to you, if that’s okay.”

  He nodded, smiling slightly, and felt her fingers skim his waist.

  Chapter 7

  Heaven.

  Zinc was in heaven… or having the best dream of his life.

  Leanne was over him, her soft hips and thighs engulfing him in comforting warmth as he felt the poison inside him receding. Just being near her had that effect, even in his dreams apparently.

  The whole story was so absurd, a tale of poison and lust clearly conjured by his poison-sick mind.

  As Leanne went to work pulling his pants down, letting his member spring free, he thought it odd that he could almost feel every physical sensation. As if she was really touching him with her soft fingers, caressing him with her silky skin.

  As if she was really sitting there, curves revealed in her silky undergarments, moving her wet heat against him tantalizingly.

  She wanted him, as she did in his fantasies as he’d lay here tossing and turning on his cot when the pain was almost too much to bear.

  Her dark skin was a beautiful contrast to his, her dark hair cascading in curls over her shoulders. Her brown eyes sparkling even in the dim light. She was a vision, and if she was the last thing he saw before he died, even in his dreams, then he was still the luckiest dragon in the world.

  He hadn’t had it so bad either. He’d helped his friends, lived long enough to see some of them find mates, seen the return of the mercury dragon to Drakkaris.

  Sure, he wouldn’t get to rule, but maybe that was too much to ask.

  Mercury could be the one to take his place now.

  “Look at me.”

  That was Leanne’s voice, soft and urgent, turning his head to face her once again. With so much beauty in front of him, how had he allowed his thoughts to drift off?

  The dragon in him was weak but practically purring at having Leanne so close by.

  “Mmm.” He rested a hand on her soft thigh and squeezed gently. “Amazing.”

  “What is?”

  “How real it feels.”

  “This is real, Zinc.”

  “Sure, angel.”

  “I said Leanne.”

  “Leanne.” He loved the sound of her name. She continued to stroke over his skin. Then he felt her hand fumbling over his member, sending little shocks of sensation through him.

  What—

  Then he felt wet heat slide tightly over him, engulfing him completely in pleasure and warmth, and he jerked in pure surprise.

  He’d never thought that a dream could feel like that. His hands reached up to cup her hips, and he stroked softly, checking that she was all right.

  She was so beautiful that even in his dreams, he felt he was unworthy of her.

  “Leanne.” He trailed off as he looked up to her breasts still caught in her bra. He reached around and found a hook, fumbling with it to get it off. In his dream, he still had some strength.

  She gasped as the bra fell away, but couldn’t do anything but watch it as she squirmed on top of him, trying to adjust to his length.

  It was just as he’d pictured, her beautiful body on top of him, her eyes glazed with pleasure. He loved the way she bit down on her full lip as she began to move, lifting slightly and then settling down.

  But the complete shockwaves that went through his body, tightening and unnerving him from head to toe, were like nothing he’d ever imagined.

  “Oh God, Leanne.”

  She brushed his hair back, smiling slightly. “Feels so good.”

  He shivered at her touch, loving the feel of them moving together. He had the strength to thrust slightly along with her movements, another sign they were sharing a dream because he felt stronger than he had in a long time.

  Being inside her, he felt more like a king than ever before.

  If this was only his brain playing tricks on him before dying, then he was still glad he got to experience this with Leanne.

  She began to move faster, moaning softly as she raised and lowered herself onto him, increasing the tight, wet friction between them.

  Little sparks were running up and down his spine, and he arched slightly at the oncoming sensations.

  “I’m sorry it had to be like this,” she said, riding him harder now as he thrust up to meet her as best he could. Her hands were on his chest, feeling his muscles, as if she enjoyed this as much as he did. “I know it wasn’t what you would have chosen, but I hope it’s still okay.”

  “Mor
e than okay,” he said, resting his hands on her soft, curved hips. “Heaven. Like you said it would be.”

  “Good.” She gave him the smile of an angel as she arched back, body jerking with release as she settled down against him. “Oh God, Zinc. So good. I didn’t mean to—”

  He thrust up against her eagerly, hoping to push her to another orgasm as quickly as possible. He didn’t care that, in his dream, she was doing this to save him. He wanted her to feel amazing as well. He could hold on a little longer, and they could go together.

  At that moment, would he die?

  She gasped in surprise as he moved against her, then settled into a rhythm, biting her lip, her breasts bobbing beautifully, making the tension inside him speed up. He felt encapsulated by her, joined completely with her, as everything around them faded and all he could see was her face. All he could feel was her skin.

  He reached up with all of his strength to cup her neck and pull her down against him, chest to chest, so he could kiss her as release came.

  She wriggled as he pressed upward, and she came with a gasp against his lips, shuddering over him, keeping their mouths locked together to stifle her moans.

  His eyes closed tight as pleasure racked him, the most purely beautiful thing he’d ever felt surging through every cell in his body as they came together, riding the waves of pleasure while still utterly joined.

  He felt her reach down and take the ring off his finger, but couldn’t pay much attention to it with the sensation overwhelming him.

  When it was over, she pushed up to sit over him again, looking down with a dazed expression. Her hair was even more unruly, and his ring was on her hand.

  The dragon inside him didn’t care about anything but the fact that they were mated.

  Mated.

  A rushing sensation overwhelmed his mind, like water rapidly withdrawing from shore as if someone could suck back the tide, leaving everything dry.

  He felt pulling in all parts of his body, an odd sensation that made him shudder and shake.

  No longer did he feel dizzy, dreamy, or faded.

  His body grew stronger each second until he felt a sort of energy he couldn’t remember having in a very long time. His head was so clear without the constant tension of having to push back poison that he didn’t know what to do with the extra clarity.

  It was like walking out of a cloud of fog and marveling at how easy everything was to see in clear weather.

  He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and feeling his body return to normal.

  Whatever normal had been.

  When he opened his eyes, he saw Leanne staring down at him, still partially revealed, expression worried.

  So beautiful.

  His eyes dropped to where they were still joined, and everything hit him at once.

  He hadn’t been dreaming. They were mated. He looked at the prison around them, dark and dank, at the moonlight coming through the small, barred windows.

  Then he looked back at Leanne. Reached up to touch her face. She deserved so much more than this.

  Then he heard noise from upstairs and remembered their situation. The guards. His gaze moved to Barney, still in another cell.

  He stared at Leanne, trying to remember what she’d said when he’d thought he was just making it up in his mind.

  The lady dragon, Hora, had wanted Leanne to drug him. He’d been dying without a mate, and…

  She’d even asked him if a mating could be undone.

  His heart sank. What if she didn’t want this and due to his stupid, fevered rantings had just made a huge mistake? Now that they’d been joined together, he knew she was his. That she’d always been meant to be.

  But how could he tell her that when this wonderful woman had just done something so extraordinary to save his life?

  She barely knew him, and in the time she had known him, he’d only been a burden. Hell, did she even know he was a king from another planet?

  Everything was too hazy.

  He became aware of a slight buzzing and reached up to feel the collar still around his neck. With a growl, he jerked it off and tossed it aside.

  Now that he was mated and his powers were totally under control, there was no one on this planet who could take him on.

  That he knew of, anyway.

  He gently lifted Leanne off of him, looking at her tenderly before setting her on her feet. “We need to get your clothing. We’re getting out of here.” He reached for his own clothing and began pulling it on.

  “How?” She looked at him carefully. “You look different. Are you feeling all right?”

  “Better than ever.” But he wouldn’t if someone came down here and saw any part of her naked. She was his mate now and completely belonged to him.

  It was his job to protect her, and right now, that meant getting her out of this place before anyone figured out she had betrayed them.

  He wasn’t worried about anyone being able to harm him, but he was worried about her getting caught in the crossfire.

  He looked at his ring resting on her finger and thought of the failsafe there they might have to use.

  “Okay,” she said hesitantly, pulling on her pants and looking at her cell uncertainly.

  He got up and walked ahead of her, not wanting to leave her alone for a moment with even an unconscious Barney. He grabbed her tunic and brought it over to her.

  “Is there anything else you need?”

  She shook her head, pulling the tunic on and smoothing out her clothing. She used a band on her wrist to pull her hair back, revealing more of her pretty face.

  His mate was truly perfect.

  “How are we leaving?”

  “Not sure yet. We might have to take down one of these walls or…”

  He stopped and looked up at the sound of footsteps overhead. Footsteps heading for the stairs. Leanne’s hand gripped his arm, and he could feel her shaking slightly—from exertion or fear, he didn’t know.

  But she didn’t need to be afraid. Not of anyone ever again.

  Chapter 8

  “They’re coming.” Leanne stared at the basement door, heart pounding, as she heard the guards and whoever else coming down. “We didn’t make that much noise.”

  “For all we know, they were supposed to get a check-in from Barney,” Zinc said.

  “Maybe.”

  “Are you ready to leave?”

  She nodded. “I don’t have anything. They confiscated anything I had on me at the time, and I’ll just have to get copies.”

  “Fine,” Zinc said, and she could already tell he was in warrior mode. He was standing so tall, so strong, looking like a completely different person than he had when he was brought in.

  He was so gorgeous it was almost hard to look at him. He always had been, even when he was sick. Now he seemed imperious. Almost… regal.

  He stepped in front of her, extending his arm to block her from view. “Do you see the keys?”

  “Yes, they’re in the cell.”

  “If things go bad, grab them and lock yourself in until I’m done.”

  “What about you?”

  He flashed her a grin, a twinkle in his dark-gray eyes she’d never seen before. “I’m a dragon.”

  She still didn’t know exactly what that meant. Would he be about the size of a human but the shape of a dragon?

  She didn’t really have any option but to trust him, so she took a couple steps back as he stood in front of the door, rolling up his sleeves to bare muscular forearms as he readied himself to face their attackers.

  The heavy door leading out of the basement flung open, and several men walked inside, glancing around warily.

  “Barney?” one said out loud, spotting the sleeping jailor on the ground in her cell.

  “The prisoners!” another shouted, pointing ahead at Zinc. Instinctively, Leanne backed up, bumping into the cot where just a few minutes ago she and Zinc had been—

  “Restrain the dragon. Return the human to her cell,” one of t
hem barked out. “You, inform Hora immediately,” he added, looking over his shoulder to someone higher up the stairs where Leanne couldn’t see.

  “But his collar,” one of them remarked, shrinking back slightly.

  By now, Zinc had begun to move toward them, each step intentional, powerful, striding with the feral intensity of a lion.

  “I don’t care. Stop him,” the head of the group said. But before he could move an inch, Zinc’s fist connected with the man’s skull, sending him flying backward into the steps. The basement practically rattled from the impact.

  Leanne’s heart was racing harder than it ever had before. But somehow, just being in Zinc’s presence, seeing his strength return to him, calmed her a little.

  The men at Zinc’s left and right attacked in unison, each trying to grapple with him. But Zinc was completely unmoved by them, as though they were bugs trying to break a concrete wall.

  He threw one backward, slamming him into a row of thick iron bars on the right and bending them dramatically. The other’s face registered sheer horror for a split second before Zinc punched the man in the gut with his free hand, and he slumped onto the ground.

  Leanne emerged from the cell, ready to follow Zinc up the stairs, when several more men came down, snarling like rabid animals as they attacked Zinc. For his part, Zinc seemed completely unfazed by the aggression.

  Perhaps dragons were on a different level than wolves.

  The first one threw a wild punch, and Zinc caught it. Leanne heard cracking as the man fell to his knees, yelping, then a loud punch that silenced his cry of pain.

  Another man leapt bodily at Zinc, flying from the bottom of the stairs toward him, arms outstretched. Zinc caught him by the throat midair, stopping him in his tracks. He hung there for only a second, struggling to free himself from Zinc’s grip before he launched him into the ceiling. He collided with it like a sack of flour, then crashed onto the ground.

  To Leanne’s right, she watched as the wolf who’d been thrown into the iron bars of the cell started to get up. For a second, he just appeared dazed. But then upon noticing Leanne not far from him down the narrow hallway, he rose and started to come after her.