Dragon Legacy (6 page)

Lukas stared at her, uncertain if her innocence was a coquettish act. “You felt how much I wanted you.” He unclenched his hand as he fought his need for completion. “I liked it, but we must stop. I don't want you hurt if I lose control." Fleur's uniquely feminine smile stepped up his arousal. His power barely reined in his fiery passion, all but disintegrating his control. He bit his lip, the pain focusing his rational mind. She was overloaded with feminine power, and Lukas feared her impulsiveness. He couldn't afford regrets when she realized they didn't have a future; his mission's demands squeezed out his personal desires. Fleur didn't know about the soul mate bond. The implications for a human woman with a supernatural soul mate; survival in his world required emotional and physical strength. He must find out if she possessed these qualities before they gave into their passions. His mind made up, Lukas pulled Fleur back against his hard frame. His breath caught as her curves made contact with his needy body. Determined. He ignored his body's demands, breathed in the flower scent of her hair, and calmed his libido. Fleur cuddled up to him.

“Must I get dressed?” The question in her voice said she hoped he would disagree.

Lukas tightened his hold on her, but agreed. “What we have will keep.” He turned Fleur in his arms and took her mouth in a hard possessive kiss at odds with their recent decision. Fleur, an enthusiastic participant, sighed when Lukas withdrew from her eager lips. “Get dressed before I change my mind.”

*

Fleur pressed a light kiss to his cheek and walked on shaky legs to the bed where the rest of her clothes lay. With unsteady hands, she removed the silk robe and picked up the jade silk blouse. Lukas' heated gaze warmed her as she fastened the buttons. She smiled as she reached for the grey Jeggings and stepped into them. She heard his quick indrawn breath as she bent over. Dressed now, apart from her cardigan, Fleur turned. He leaned against the door with his eyes half-closed and his lips parted. He didn’t speak. Fleur's discomfort ceased when she saw his white, clenched fingers. Lukas paid a high physical price for his restraint. “Shall we go?" Silence hung between them, full of unsaid words and deeds, but she didn't feel awkward. Lukas’s desire helped rebuild her shattered self-esteem. He pushed his body away from the door and took her outstretched hand in his.

“Yes."

∞

Xavier stalked across the garden, furious about Fleur's evasion. When she told Lukas about his visit, he would keep her close. An idea formed in his twisted mind. The short climb to Fleur's window presented Xavier with no problems. He kept his body pristine. The empty garden below reduced the chances of discovery. Xavier had never seen Lukas so interested in a human woman. When he saw them together, the significance of their bound aura became obvious. His previous suspicion of a soul mate bond must be correct. He flattened himself against the wall as someone opened a window below him. Fleur held significant power in Lukas' life. He could destroy his greatest enemy and capture the dragon egg if he abducted her. Satisfied, he climbed down and slipped away unseen, his mind set on revenge.

*

Grace and Zane tucked into a hearty Lakeland breakfast. They shared a guilty look as Fleur and Lukas joined their table. Jasmine, in her guise as a waitress, poured coffee for the other two murder mystery devotees in the dining room, the Munroe sisters. Fleur looked across at Lukas. She needed his strength. The others lied to her by omission. They made her uneasy. She couldn't trust them. Jasmine gave her a large breakfast. She smiled her thanks but knew she couldn't eat it.

Grace broke the silence first. "Has Lukas explained why Zane should protect you today at the treasure hunt?"

Fleur turned back to Lukas, her expression confused. "I'd rather be with Lukas.”

“Fleur, you’re with Zane for the treasure hunt.”

“Yes, but couldn't Grace...”

Grace interjected, “I could, but being apart from Lukas will minimise the danger from Xavier for you.”

The others knew why she needed protection from Xavier and why her protector must be Zane. She didn't. More secrets. Her opinion didn't count. Her anger grew, betrayed by a fiery blush on her otherwise pale face. The hot sting of tears threatened. She snatched a breath. She always cried when she was angry. Lukas wrapped his hand round her ice cold one where it rested on her lap. He squeezed it. At last, a gesture of solidarity.

Grace said, "Lukas, you must tell her."

"Yes, Lukas. Tell her. If she remains ignorant, she's a danger to herself and all of us," Zane said.

Grace and Lukas sent Zane looks full of anger and disbelief. Jasmine, more direct, voiced her opinion. "Nice, Zane, very tactful."

Zane gave Jasmine an arctic look. Fleur watched his eyes change from silver grey to silver ice. Jasmine unrepentantly returned his icy gaze with her own defiant message. The look in her beautiful emerald eyes held a threat. Fleur waited. Zane raised his hands in mock surrender and smiled at Jasmine. Her pale skin flushed before she turned away and collected their dirty breakfast plates and cutlery. Jasmine's flustered state surprised Fleur.

"Sorry, Fleur. The reality is this is war, not a game."

Zane reached across the table and patted her hand. Fleur realized the laid-back facade hid the real Zane. She liked this Zane better, less the playboy, more the activist. A younger version of Lukas.

Lukas ran his fingers along her bare wrist. His smile held a promise of future pleasures. Her legs trembled at his possessive gaze.
You're mine, not his
. She wore his invisible brand. Lukas would fight anyone, even his friend, if he encroached on his territory. Lukas' voice dropped to a whisper.

"He's right. We should have talked earlier but, well, you know what happened."

"What's so important?" Her sharp tone mirrored her mood.

"Grace and Jasmine are witches who can trace their heritage back a thousand years. I met Grace as a dream walker. The demon that pursued her also killed my parents."

"I guess you rescued Grace and destroyed it."

"Yes and no. I saved Grace from the demon, but it survived."

"You can't mean it's here."

"Yes. Xavier's the demon's current host." Fleur nodded. It explained Lukas' earlier anger. "He hates me."

"An entirely mutual emotion I'm sure."

"Yes, but he feeds on fear and hatred. I never let him see mine. I have destroyed his human form in every century since my parents' murder, but the demon essence always survives."

"I presume Xavier wants the dragon egg I overheard you talking about with the others."

"If he has the dragon egg, he can turn the emergent dragon evil when it hatches. He hates humans. He will use the power against humanity, so I must stop him."

Fleur pulled her hand away from his. Her mind was overloaded as if she stepped into a parallel dimension. Survival meant she must accept her current circumstances, despite their surreal nature. Lukas cast a worried glance at her before he looked across the table at Grace and Zane. Fleur straightened her shoulders. She didn't want to be a liability. "I understand, now I know. I'll be fine with Zane. Lukas, don't worry."

Lukas smiled the pride evident in his gaze. She looked across at Grace and Zane. They smiled too. She must have passed an unknown test.

*

When the weather worsened, Fleur changed into jeans and a sweater for the treasure hunt as Lukas suggested. The grandfather clock struck eleven when Fleur reached the garden. Zane waved, and she walked towards him. She ignored Lukas, as they agreed. Jealous, his stomach filled with acid. He wanted her with him. Xavier would pay for his pain.

The murder mystery guests gathered in the garden. The garden buzzed with chatter as people discovered their teammates for the treasure hunt from the list pinned to the old apple tree. Grace handed out the treasure hunt clue envelopes.

“We’ll meet back here in about four hours. Have fun.”

Lukas watched the guests drift away. Grace's gaze beckoned him as the garden emptied. "We’ll give them a few minutes before we search for the dragon egg.”

He looked across the garden. Xavier conversed with the Munroe sisters. “I hope they’ll be safe with him.”

Grace followed his gaze. “They should be. Neither knows what he is.”

Fleur and Zane sat on the loose stone wall, which formed a border between the garden and the hills. They chatted like old friends. Lukas' dragon-fire bubbled. He pushed his jealousy away. He could trust Zane. He understood. Zane's body language told Lukas he liked and respected his human woman. He smiled, pleased his long-time friend approved.

Fleur's strength of character impressed Lukas the more time he spent with her. Her lack of insight about her intrinsic worth still worried him, though. Until she recognized her true value, she didn't have the strength for survival in his paranormal world. Better if he ignored the soul mate bond and be forever alone, than push Fleur into an existence she couldn't tolerate. He saw Jasmine walk towards them, equipped with rucksacks and spades. He must speak to Fleur before they left to ensure she knew he cared. He checked Xavier wasn't around and walked across the garden. "All ready, I see."

"When Jasmine gets here." Zane looked at his watch.

"Here she is," Fleur placated him. She smiled at Lukas.

"I need a quick word, Fleur."

Zane shook his head at Lukas until the sway of Jasmine hips drew his gaze.

He pulled Fleur towards him. He kept his emotions private, yet he claimed Fleur as his woman without any qualms. "How you doing Fleur? No problems."

"You mean with Zane. I'm fine. I like him. He's funny."

Her smile dazzled him, no sign of his shy little mouse. Zane had better behave. He suppressed his possessiveness. He must guard against mental weakness. Zane taunted Jasmine, and she bristled; Zane had Jasmine, not Fleur, in his sights. His worries about Zane's pursuit of Fleur faded. Fleur studied him with a soft gaze and smiled. He bent his head and kissed her. She opened her lips under his and invited his possession. He lost himself in her sweet paradise. He questioned his motives for leaving her.
Maybe because you have a vital mission,
his subconscious reminded him. Boneless, Fleur fell into his hard body while their passion swept them away. Lukas steeled himself and pulled his mouth away. She mewed as if she were a small kitten deprived of its mother's warmth. He placated her with soft kisses on her closed eyelids and cheeks. "Don't leave Zane. He will protect you. Be careful."

Fleur still held onto him as if she needed his support. "I will. You too."

A discreet cough spooked Fleur who sprang away from him. She stumbled. He steadied her before he let her go. "Take care of her, Zane."

"Trust me. I will."

Jasmine joined them. After a few moments’ discussion, they left. They looked like the other treasure hunters. Lukas scanned the empty formal garden. Time they started their search, too. Grace snapped shut her rucksack and pulled it onto her back.

“Right, let’s go. Zane and the girls will search the woods and hills. We’ll cross the lane and search around the old mine."

Lukas retrieved the shovel he’d hidden behind the cherry tree. With a slight smile at Grace, he opened the gate and waved her through before him. “You better lead. I haven’t visited these hills for a long time.”

*

Zane led the way with Jasmine at his shoulder. Fleur followed on behind, lost in her own private dream world where she relived each moment of Lukas' unexpected kiss. Zane stopped abruptly at the wood's edge. Jasmine cannoned into him. His quick reflexes ensured he caught her before she hit the ground. Fleur watched the interplay between them with interest.

“Steady.”

Jasmine shook her head. “You should be fitted with brake lights.” Irritated, she pushed his hand away.

Zane ignored Jasmine's taunts. Satisfied no one followed them, he looked at Fleur as she retied the lace on her walking boot. “You okay, Fleur?”

“Yes, thanks, I’m fine."

"Lukas would never forgive me if you got hurt."

"Don't worry."

"I've never seen him like this."

"I don't understand."

"He's always dependable. He cares but keeps his distance. He rescued me. We're friends, but he keeps part of himself hidden."

Fleur's self-esteem recovered. "I hope Lukas and Grace will be safe."

“Grace teamed Xavier with the Munroe sisters. They should keep him occupied and away from Lukas.”

Fleur laughed. “Serves him right. They’re nice ladies, though. I'm frightened he may hurt them.”

“It's not them you should be worried about,” Jasmine said.

Agitated, Zane ran his fingers through his silver hair. “Jasmine, engage your brain before you speak.”

Fleur remained silent. Dizzy from shock, she knew the pallor of her cheeks betrayed her fear. Jasmine intimated she was Xavier's real target. If only she knew why.

“Sorry, Fleur. We will protect you.”

“It’s Lukas and your mother you should worry about.”

“They'll be fine.” Jasmine linked arms with Fleur as they followed Zane into the wood.

*

“Well, what does this mean, Xavier?” the elder Munroe sister asked for what seemed like the thousandth time.

Xavier reached the end of his short fuse. He should revert to his demonic form. Maybe the shock would end the Munro sisters' incessant chatter. “I’m not sure. Perhaps you should both go and explore upstairs.”

“You come too.”

“Yes. I’ll join you in a moment.” Xavier watched the two elderly ladies climb the stairs. They looked much younger than their seventy plus years. As they disappeared from sight, he left the house. The garden's solitude calmed him. He took a few deep breaths and focused his mind.

The guardian witch, Grace, outsmarted him. He ignored the anger, which lapped at the edges of his control. Determined to find the dragon and his woman, he examined the various psychic energy traces. The dragon's bright vibrant force stood out. Good. The human woman should be with him. He identified human psychic energy. He followed the psychic signal through the open gate and across the road before he realized the psychic energy belonged to a witch, not Fleur. His tentative hold on his rage shattered his thoughts, chaotic as he lost his human form. No, not now. His mind screamed as it fought a battle against his inner demon. Someone at the house would see. He must hide his identity from the human guests. If they saw the demon, it would kill them. Xavier didn’t have a conscience, but a human massacre would distract him from the quest for the dragon egg. Later, when he possessed it, he could destroy them all. Now he must remain in human form. No one stood at the windows. He scanned the house with his mind. He didn't sense panic but excitement and disappointment as the murder mystery guests enjoyed the treasure hunt clues. Content no one saw his near meltdown; he focused his mind and tracked his prey.

*

Xavier watched the wolf, the witch, and the dragon’s woman walk through the woods. His gamble worked. Zane and Jasmine protected her. Even masked, he found their psychic signatures among the humans but until he saw her, he still didn't know if Fleur accompanied them. Her unusual psychic imprint made her untraceable.

He didn't need the dragon's woman. Once they found the dragon egg, he could steal it. He didn’t fear the wolf. He must protect his two humans. He couldn't fight a powerful demon like him and win. The inner demon sensed victory. Xavier's human side wanted more. He wanted his revenge on Lukas. A quick death for Lukas' soul mate wouldn't satisfy him.