Smitten (5 page)

Ēostre punched in her vote and watched Maximilian do the same. He’d sat beside her at the beginning of the meeting — startling her, since he usually joined the old doddering fire wyrms who never missed a chance to reminisce about the beloved days of King Arthur. Razing villages. Stealing princesses. Devouring knights… things better left behind them.

She wondered how much of their sordid past would emerge, and whether human rights activists would scream for reparations as they searched their family trees for proof of ancestors who were consumed by dragons. The idea made her chuckle as she returned the tablet to its compartment. Maximilian nudged her leg with his thigh, wanting in on the joke.

“Nothing,” she mouthed to him. His inquisitive, bright amber eyes lingered on her face. She shook her head.

Twenty minutes passed before the last tablet lowered. Some had made their decisions quickly. Others had taken their time, clearly filled with inner turmoil over the decision.

“Have all finished?”

Heads nodded and expressions remained tense.

Maximilian remained on the edge of his seat beside her as she tapped a finger on the computer console. A projection shined from a spot on the ceiling to the far wall in front of them, displaying the results for all to see.

Yes!
The vast number of positive responses left her speechless. The stunned flame dragon at her left stared at the projection screen, then a grin slowly overtook his handsome face.

“It’s done.” Excitement trembled in her voice as Ēostre announced the results, “We have received overwhelming support for worldwide exposure. Within a year of Maximilian entering the Presidential office, the supernatural world will emerge to take our rightful place among humans as equals.”

“Hell yeah!” a young shifter called out.

Despite the scowling faces peppered among the group of ancient wyrms, Ēostre turned to the man beside her and hugged him tight. “We did it, Max.”

Chapter 5

In the subdued lighting of an extravagant hotel suite, a trio of dragons with scowling faces convened to discuss the aftermath of the most historic vote in draconic history.

Mahuika’s dark eyes raked over the men standing by the door. Both were handsome brutes, the one on the left more refined than the brawny ancient beside him. She’d chosen them for being the most outspoken during the debates, for their reactions after the poll, and the very nature of their fierce reputations.

“I am glad you both chose to join me this evening,” she greeted them in the Draconic tongue.

The larger dragon, Tlaloc, wore his features in an impassive mask. “I find my curiosity stimulated. What could you possibly have to discuss with me?” Tendrils of his hair fell in an ebony river around his powerful shoulders, framing a darkly tanned face that could have been carved from stone.

“I am also intrigued,” Loki said.

“On this day, I witnessed your disgust, your disappointment, and your fury. That is why you are called to meet with me in secrecy. Something must be done about Maximilian and Ēostre’s foolish behavior, and it must be done soon before they have the chance to ruin everything we have worked to achieve. But I must ask,
why
did you allow this to happen?” Mahuika asked.

“Why did I allow it to happen? What could I have done to stop it?” Tlaloc demanded. The man rose to his full, awe-inspiring height, a giant among them with an impressive, terrifying aura. His bronze skin was flawless with the exception of a long, white scar slashing across his lip and chin from the days of war.

Mahuika fell back a step, immediately contrite. “Apologies. I merely meant to ask why you had not sought the counsel and aid of your fellow great wyrms. Together, their presence may have intimidated the weak-willed and skewed the vote in our favor. But please, come with me. Let us be seated first.”

She led them deeper into the deluxe suite until the men were treated to a view of downtown Chicago, and their choice in seating arrangement on a plush sofa and nearby armchair. Her fingers glided over the leather of the adjacent seat and patted the cushion. Loki, accepting the invitation, sat to her left while Tlaloc sat opposite them in the high-backed chair.

“Had this been a vote among dragonkind alone, common sense would have prevailed. But it was not. Involving the lesser races in this debate was a wise strategic maneuver,” Loki said.

“It has long surpassed a debate,” Mahuika said hotly. “What they have decided this day shall destroy everything.”

Loki stroked his stubbled chin. “Only if he becomes president. We have not lost yet, my friends.” His gray-green eyes flicked to Mahuika’s idle servant. A short distance away, the girl knelt in the corner on a single pillow, hands resting on her lap and face downturned to avoid eye contact. Her tiny, thin white slip barely covered her thighs. “But does your slave find us unworthy of performing her duties?”

Mahuika snapped her fingers at the female deer shifter. “Wine, girl. Be quick about it. We have thirsty guests.”

“My apologies, Mistress.” The doe flew from her chair to pour wine for three. She served in silence, hopelessly unable to conceal her flushed face and embarrassment. Raising her chin, Mahuika watched her pet’s trembling hands with smug satisfaction.

As glasses exchanged hands, Mahuika twisted to face Tlaloc. “I have seen the results of your great wisdom in the past, Tlaloc. You and Loki are known as two of our greatest schemers, and I refuse to believe you will sit idly by as Ēostre brings ruin to us all. Is there nothing we can do?”

“There is nothing,” Tlaloc said in a contemptuous voice, “short of killing him before he ascends to their human throne. I know little of this time period, but what I have learned from my son and his mother tells me we should annihilate every sniveling human from this planet. We should fly as we once did in the past.”

“No, my friend. You do not understand the might of their weapons. They have missiles,” Mahuika hastily said.

“And what is a missile to me, the great Tlaloc? I will open the earth itself and swallow their cities into the abyss.” The black dragon made a fist and growled. “We will wipe the earth clean of them.”

Loki shook his head. “She is right. You don’t understand the power of the weapons these mortals hold. The strength of a missile is incomprehensible until you have witnessed the resulting devastation. Far worse than any magical tempest or dragon’s fire. They could destroy entire nations within seconds and leave only scorched earth in their wake.”

“We’ll have to show him, Loki.”

They presented Tlaloc with a brightly lit pad, angling the screen for him to have a full view. Loki swiped his fingers across the device and pulled up several images for the older dragon to observe.

“This is the aftermath of Hiroshima,” Loki said. “The weapon was deployed in the 40s, while most of us hibernated in our lairs. The destructive power is far beyond anything I can do with my breath weapon. They even, unknowingly, killed an ancient slumbering in her lair. I fear this being used against me.”

“As should we all,” Mahuika said.

“I…” Tlaloc’s stunned features told Mahuika everything she needed to know.

Loki pressed a button on the pad. “Now
this
is the power of modern-day technology.”

Tlaloc didn’t utter a word as the video footage rolled, displaying a war-torn village in the Middle East. Homes smoldered in the aftermath of a drone strike.

“A few decades ago, we on the grand council decided to become involved, discreetly, in the manufacturing of these items. They contain fail safes, programmed back doors able to render them completely dysfunctional,” Loki said. “But it won’t take long for them to realize they can’t use these against us.”

“Mark my words, should Ēostre’s half-baked plans come to fruition, everything will change,” Mahuika hissed. “These demanding humans would see us living by their laws and traditions.”

Loki chuckled dryly. “Your slave girl will be freed. As I understand, slavery has been abolished across the world in all civilized countries. They won’t stand for it.”

“As will yours, Trickster. There is much for all of us to lose.”

“Maximilian’s arrogance will cost him. We will not weep and lament this decision. We will combat it in the only way we know how.”

Tlaloc set his jaw and stared beyond the window. For the second time since their meeting began, emotion broke through the stony facade. “You are right about the changes to this world, but I am not fated for this task. It is a duty for the young dragons of this era.”

“Tlaloc, you must—”

He shook his head again. “It has taken this to realize I am a creature stuck behind, far in the past. I do not understand the things you speak of. This technology. These flying disasters of the skies are unknown magic to me.”

“But we need—”

Tlaloc cut her off a second time. “May the Ancestors guide you. As for me, I hope to awaken in a new and better age.”

With sorrow in his eyes, the ancient rose from his seat and turned to the door. He reminded Mahuika of Teotihuacan in so many ways, from his proud stance to the powerful body beneath his cream-colored khakis and button-down shirt.

Teo must have loaned his father a change of clothes.

“Must you leave so soon?” Mahuika asked. Gliding her fingers over one shoulder strap, she slid the dress lower. The soft upper swell of her plump bosom, and little else, became exposed.

Loki watched her with ravenous eyes, his attention fastened to the hint of areola peeking from the top of her neckline. She’d taken him in without a struggle.

“I am mated, as you well know,” Tlaloc said.

“And yet Xochiquetzal is not here.” Her voice softened when the stoic man’s expression transitioned to disapproval. She eased from the couch and approached, slowing her walk to a sensual stroll. “I saw her among the voters. Did she take the side of the heretics who would place us all in danger?”

Tlaloc remained silent, but his green eyes fixed on the exaggerated sway in her hips.

“She
has
sided with your son, hasn’t she? It is a shame. Teotihuacan is such a fine dragon. I would have considered claiming him as a mate, but he has dishonored himself by choosing a lowly human. Why would he shame his parents in such a way?”

“It is his human pet who pollutes his view of the world. This is not what I taught him.”

With one of the male dragons already under her sway, she pressed her palm against Tlaloc’s abdomen, felt the muscles tense beneath her fingers, and slid her hand downward over the taut definition. With only his button-down shirt separating them, she imagined how easy it would be to part him from his clothes. Dragons were no stranger to hedonistic pleasures, and having the two handsome men at once was the perfect way to consummate a partnership.

She realized her mistake too late. Tlaloc’s hand gripped like a vice around her arm, threatening to crush the bone. He leaned over until she was forced to bow backwards and yield to his remarkable strength.

“My apologies!” she cried out. “I meant no insult, Tlaloc.” His hold cut off the blood flow to her hand, making her fingertips tingle and pulse mercilessly to the rhythm of her heartbeat.

“Try a trick like this again, Mahuika, and not only will I take your wings, I will then allow my
mate
to finish the job.”

“I meant nothing by it!”

The agony was exquisite. While his human nails weren’t as sharp as talons, he possessed the same magic in either form. Acid burned through her veins, and beneath his touch, the skin blistered. No matter how she pulled and twisted, Tlaloc had her anchored securely in place to receive the full brunt of his fury.

“I apologize!” she shrieked again until the older dragon released her. Another growl rumbled through his chest and he shoved her back, before stepping through the door without another word.

Loki waited until the door had shut behind the other ancient before he spoke up, “I could have warned you that would happen.”

Mahuika shot him a dirty look, and for the sake of not risking her chances with another elder dragon, she kept her thoughts to herself.

Chapter 6

Ēostre paused in the shade of a palm and fanned herself with a handout from the primate house.

An unforgiving sun shone from above, and more than ever, the storm dragoness wished she and Fafnir had chosen a home with more temperate, enjoyable weather like Seattle, where peaceful rains and cloudy skies beckoned. But no, her mate wanted scorching heat and perpetual sun.

The tail end of September had brought in grueling ninety-degree days and cloudless skies. Ēostre would have given her weight in treasure for a break.

Astrid skipped ahead, calling behind her, “C’mon, you two! We’re going to miss the feeding!”

Where does she find the energy to move in this abysmal heat?
Ēostre wondered. As if sensing her grandmother’s plight, the girl stopped to crouch beside the upraised walls surrounding the lion exhibit.