Finding the Dragon (Dásreach Council Book 1) (21 page)

Kai waited until both Charlie and Malkum powered off their phones and Charlie sat his back on the table top and Malkum slipped his into his pocket. No more distractions, no more delays. They really should have discussed how to tell the lasses about the Dásreach, all his friends had done was tell Kai that he should do the talking.
Sigh.

“First I must ask you to listen to everything I have to say, please… just listen and don’t judge until I am done.” Kai said wearily. For being part of the next Council, he and his brothers sure sucked at talking to their mates.

He wasn’t sure how the women would react, but they had to be told. They needed to fully understand the danger they were in, and how important the three of them were to the three men sitting at the table with them. Kai’s gut twisted. How was he to tell them everything? He had not only his mate, his life, on the line, but that of two of his brothers. So, with another resigned sigh, he began to tell the three women the legend of the first Thirteen and the Dásreach.

When Kai finished, all three women were staring at him. Their faces showing a multitude of emotions as they digested the story he had told them about his people. He still has so much to tell them. He had to tell them why the mercenaries were after them, which meant he needed to tell them who they were to him and his brothers.

Alvena looked at her friends and back at Kai, he thought she was going to say something and then she sat back in her seat and just peered across the table at him. Her mouth would open like she was going to speak and then it would immediately snap back shut. This could be good or it could be bad. He took it as a good sign that she wasn’t yelling or running, but it didn't mean she accepted what he told her.

Nat’s hand smacking down on the table drew everyone’s attention.

“So.” She began and then stopped to take a breath. “You’re telling us that you believe that you are part of a group of shapeshifters that have been charged with protecting the earth.” Nat stopped and looked at Kai and then at Charlie sitting across from her.

“Do you believe this?” Nat asked Charlie.

“Yes, this is our life.” Charlie answered.

“You know, I have a friend that you men can speak to. I graduated with him when I went back for my psychology degree.” Nat said as she looked at them with compassion.

“We’re not crazy.” Malkum responded, his eyes never leaving Rogue.

“This is the truth, Love.” Charlie said to Nat while reaching over to stroke her fingers where they lay splayed on the table top. “I know it's a lot to take in, but you have to understand.”

“Understand what?” Rogue asked. “That we’ve been kidnapped by a bunch of crazy men?”

“We’re not crazy.” Malkum reiterated. “We can prove it!" He stated as he stood. His chair slid back with a loud scrape across the wood floor of the kitchen.

“Malkum.” Kai stopped his friend with the one word. Malkum stood completely still with his hands fisted.

Rogue stood up, “No one ever thinks they’re crazy, doesn’t mean they’re not.”

“You sayin’ you don’t believe in things that you can’t explain, cher? I heard about the trip to Miss Cleo.”

“You… how… you know what, I do believe in the supernatural, but that doesn’t mean I have to believe this.” She slammed back in her seat, glaring at the man across from her.

“Kai, we need them to believe.” He looked into Rogue’s eyes. “
Your
safety depends on it.” Malkum grated out through clenched teeth.

Kai knew his friends were struggling, he understood it, because he felt the same way. His animal guide scratched at his insides, demanding that he take charge and take what was his. But, Kai knew that with women like these, that would not be taken well and they might end up losing them. He would not take that chance. The thought of losing Alvena made him shake with fear and longing.

“Why?” Alvena said quietly, drawing every gaze to her. Her worried eyes searching Kai’s face for something that he was afraid she wouldn't find. He prayed to the Great Spirit that she would give him the chance to tell her the rest and to explain and show her so much more.

“Why what, lass?” Kai asked back.

“Why…” Alvena stopped and cleared her throat. “Why do you need us to believe? And, why does our safety depend on it?" She asked with more confidence.

Kai looked over at his friends, his brothers. Malkum still stood. Charlie was sitting back in his chair.

“Malkum, sit.” Kai said. His friend took in a breath, gave him a nod, and then pulled the chair back to the table with his booted foot and sat.

Kai looked across the table from his friends. Rogue sat with her seat pushed away from the table looking across it at Malkum, she appeared to be in her own thoughts after the altercation. Nat was focused on her hand that she had clenched to her chest. Last he looked at Alvena. His sweet, spunky, sexy Alvena. He needed the right words. He couldn’t lose her just when he found her.
Please Great Spirit, guide my words so that she will know them as truth and accept them.

“We don’t have all of the facts yet, but those men or men hired by the same man, blew out your tire and planned to explode the gas tank on the car, when it failed they attacked you…” Kai began.

“Wait, blew out our tire? Explode the gas tank? What are you talking about?” Nat demanded.

“Rogue’s tire was blown out on I-55 with a small explosive device, love.” Charlie replied.

“And, another device had been by the gas tank, but had malfunctioned.” Malkum added.

“And, how do you know that?” Nat asked.

“I was there when the tire blew and we checked it when you arrived in New Orleans. One of our men found the remnants of the first explosive and, as Malkum said, the other malfunctioned and was still attached to the car. The tire did not blow out from wear or something picked up on the road like you thought.” Charlie said while looking directly in Nat’s eyes. Kai watched the emotions play out on Nat’s face before she shut them down.

“Why were you there?” She asked coolly.

“To protect Kai’s mate.” Charlie replied.
Shite.
Charlie immediately realized what he had said and looked at Kai. Kai gave him a nod to let him know it was alright.

“What you don’t know, is that I believe that Alvena is my mate.” Kai said. Keeping his eyes on his hands, he continued, "I followed her from Ohio, because I was drawn to her from my first sight of her. I gave her my card for the tattoo shop, because I was hoping that she would come in and see my tattoo and feel the same connection that I felt. For a Dásreach mate is drawn to her mate’s tattoo. I felt our connection from the very first moment I saw her, but when she asked for my tattoo at the shop I knew she was mine."

“What do you mean that Al’s your mate?” Rogue asked.

“Hell with that, what does he mean that he followed her from Ohio?” Nat demanded.

Kai continued to watch his hands. He was usually so confident, but at this moment he felt like a child, a child who had done wrong and been caught by his parents. He was terrified of what he would see in Alvena’s eyes now that she knew. Would she accept him? Would she give him a chance? For the first time, Kai felt a bone deep fear, he did not know if he was strong enough to live through her rejection.

“Kai?” Alvena said quietly.

He looked up into her eyes and saw, something… hope, maybe?

“Alvena, there is so much to explain, I don’t even know where to start, but yes, I saw you in Delmar and I knew, I just knew. I overheard that you were coming to New Orleans, so I booked a seat on the same flight and luckily got a seat next to you."

Alvena wore a look of shock. Almost like a deer in headlights. Kai was expecting her to start running any minute. He searched his mind, but it felt so empty. No light bulbs going off and letting him see where he needed to go or what he needed to say. So, he stood and dragged his chair around the table. He sat facing her and grabbed her hands. The electricity that he felt each time he touched her arched between them. He had to stay connected to her; the feeling of that electricity racing through his body was the best feeling he had ever had. Kai sat and began to rub circles on her palms while he continued to speak.

“Alvena, before you run… I need you to understand… to know who I am and what you already mean to me.” Alvena nodded her head that she was willing to listen.

“I told you about our people and how we are ruled by a council of thirteen warriors, well, I am the leader of the Thirteen to become the next Council of the Dásreach. Charlie is my Beta and Malkum is one of two Enforcers. We have been preparing to take over the council for 19 years and looking for our mates for the last nine. Without mates, our laws don't allow us to take over leadership. We have until two summer solstices from now to find our mates. I guess you could say we’re getting a bit desperate and I… uh… “

“He threw a dart.” Charlie said with a laugh. Kai gave him a hard look, before returning his eyes to Alvena.

“Go on.” She said.

“Well, yeah, I threw a dart. I asked the Great Spirit to show me where to look for you. It took me to Delmar. The plan was to open a tattoo shop. I was walking the downtown area when I entered the bookstore to get a cup of coffee. That’s where I first saw you. You were talking to your friend Maureen about coming to New Orleans. As I said, I did some checking and got on the same flight. I then watched for you to arrive at the airport. Luckily I was there to help keep you from falling.” He grinned at her and she gave him a shy smile back.

“I wanted you to get to know me, so I sat with you on the plane. When you mentioned wanting a tattoo, it gave me the perfect opening to get you to the tattoo shop. Across the world the Dásreach have communities where we live and work to balance the damage being done to the earth. In the large cities, some of us run tattoo shops, so we can show women the Dásreach tattoos hoping to help some of our men to find their mates.” Kai looked deep into Alvena’s eyes before he asked the question that had been burning in his heart since she saw his tattoo. “Alvena, how did you feel when you saw my tattoo in the book, when you looked at it on my arm?”

“I… I… well, I think all of us felt something after we saw all of your tattoos.” Alvena stuttered.

“Damn it, Al.” Nat swore as she stood and stormed out of the kitchen. Kai turned and watched her walk up the stairs. Charlie looked at Kai and then stood and went after her. Kai turned to see Rogue look between each person before she stood to leave as well.

“Al, I’m goin’ to go sit on the front porch, I need some air.” As she walked out Malkum started to follow, but Al stopped him.

“You might want to let her have her time. She has to process what you have told us.” Alvena suggested. Malkum nodded to her and then went to the front sitting room. Kai figured Malkum watched his mate through the front window.

Now alone with Alvena, Kai wasn’t sure where to go from here.

“Kai, this is a lot to take in.” Alvena said as she shifted in her seat. She appeared as unsure of things as Kai felt.

“Alvena, would you like to take a walk outside? Maybe we could also use some air and you can ask me anything you want while we walk.”

“Sure. That… would be nice.” She replied. Kai stood and held out his hand to help her up. Once Alvena was on her feet he gripped her hand a bit tighter and led her out the back door to walk down by the water.

Chapter 15

They continued to walk in silence, neither of them seeming to know where to start. Alvena stopped at the dock where a small motor boat was anchored. She stared off into the bayou. A small shed stood a few feet away and blocked them from sight of the house. Kai looked at Alvena’s profile. She was a classic beauty. Her nose, not too small or large, high cheek bones, and a pointy chin. He could see her chewing on her full lips as her mind worked on what he had told her.

“Kai, why did those men attack us? You never did tell us that.” She finally asked.

Kai was busy watching her mouth and thinking about all of the things he could do to it, when her question sunk into his lust swamped brain. He sighed. This was one part of the conversation that he didn’t really want to tell her. To tell her that she was in danger, because of him.

“Yes. Well. As I said, we don’t have all of the answers yet. From what we’ve been able to gather, those men are working for someone who is targeting Dásreach mates. Well, at least those that
might
be Dásreach mates. The men have been staking out the Dásreach tattoo shops and going after women who show interest in the Dásreach tattoos.” Alvena sucked in a sharp breath. She stayed quiet for a minute and then asked.

“But, you said that they were responsible for the tire. And, then, the first attack in the cemetery was before we even went to the tattoo shop. How would they know to come after us? Nat, Rogue, and I had never seen you or your friends’ tattoos until that day in the shop.”

“That is one question that I can’t answer. The man we questioned just said that they were told to take you at all costs.” Kai sighed. "Alvena, I’m sorry. I wish I could go back and never have found you. But… then I’m not."

Kai turned to Alvena and pulled her to him, he held her face between his large hands.

“I look at you and I see my world, Alvena.”

“You don’t even know me Kai.” Alvena breathed.