the stage and into the crowd. Their athletic strides and swiveled glances around the roof reminded Lucy of hunters on the prowl. They were off to find their mates.
Alec sat beside her and slumped back in the chair. “Try to look a little less terrified.”
Lucy forced a bright smile, as if she was enjoying herself. “The doctor said you would mind-wipe me?”
“Yes.” Alec picked up her hand and kissed the back of her fingers. “It is not painful.”
The warmth of his lips penetrated. She turned her hand and laced her fingers through his so their palms connected. “How can you do that to me?” Her voice cracked.
Alec frowned and gazed at the moon, distracted. “I cannot allow you to expose us to the humans. There are those who would see us destroyed. ”
Lucy swallowed at his words. “Like St. George in the picture in your hallway?”
“You mean the picture that you moved to steal from my vault.” Alec pulled his hand away from hers, and Lucy felt the loss of contact in her empty hand.
“Joey is all I’ve ever had.” Lucy angled her body so that she could see his face as she spoke. “I couldn’t let him steal from you. You would have killed him.”
“Oh yes. I still might.”
“You don’t mean it.” Lucy swallowed. “If you were going to kill us, you would have already.”
Alec turned away. He seemed so distant from her, as if they were strangers, seated randomly together at a mandated awards banquet.
She had to get his attention. “When you told me you wanted me forever, I didn’t believe you.”
Still, Alec didn’t react.
“Nobody has ever wanted me.” Lucy’s voice broke. “I’m too…complicated.”
Alec glanced at her and shook his head. He touched her interlaced fingers before looking away. “None of that matters now.”
“But I don’t want to be without you. I want forever, too. It just took me longer to realize it.” Lucy’s voice broke as the words of her heart poured out. “I want the melding of spirit you spoke of before. I want to stay with you, figure things out.”
“Let’s just try to get through the evening.” Alec stood and pulled her to her feet. His words said he didn’t care, but the hard contraction of his bicep under her palm told her he was not so unaffected.
Lucy gripped his arm. “At least don’t take my memories. I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”
“I can’t trust you.” Alec looked at the sky before leading her to the microphone. The crowd was separated into same-colored groups, with the men on the left and the women on the right. They watched Alec expectantly.
“The ancients instruct us to search outside our fold first for a mate. Remember, there is greater strength in a cross bond. Do not forgo the old ways.” Alec lifted his face to the moon and closed his eyes. The crowd silently followed his actions. “Great One, bless our coming together. Let the ceremony begin!”
Chapter Eighteen
Alec led Lucy to the red and orange clothed females. “You’ll start here.” He left her without any further instructions. Lucy peered at the other women, but they all avoided her eyes and whispered among themselves.
Lil joined her, wearing a male’s white tunic and pants with a blue sash. Her clothes labeled her an ice dragon from the north. The water in the exhibit made sense now. Fire and ice made water.
“You aren’t going to participate?” Lucy asked.
“No.” Lil’s voice was matter of fact. “I’m going to keep an eye on you.”
“Even after what I did?”
“I pledged my life to protect you until after the ceremony. Just because you are unworthy, it does not change my pledge.”
Lucy swallowed against the hurt her words invoked. Lil believed her to be unworthy of her pledge.
“I’m sorry for what I did.” It was good to say the words aloud to someone who, unlike Jane, might hear them. “I thought it would save my brother.” Lucy pointed to the cage behind them. Joey and a sinuous brunette talked as if they leaned against a bar top instead of through iron bars. “But Joey does just fine without me. I don’t have to try and save him anymore.”
Lil nodded, seeming to accept her explanation.
“Do you think Alec will forgive me?”
“He needs the bonding, no matter how he feels about you.” Still, Lil looked doubtful.
Lucy sought Alec over the crowd. He stood with the men on the other side of a thirty-foot space across from the women. She smiled despite feeling more fear then excitement. Alec frowned across the gulf and crossed his arms over his chest.
Alec, Joey, everyone else would do what they would do. All she could control was how
“How does the dance go?” she asked Lil.
“It is like waltzing, or your country-western line dancing,” Lil said. “You’ll catch on.”
Lucy had never done any line dancing, but she had gotten an “A” when she had taken ballroom dancing in college. The orchestra warmed up behind them. Out of the cacophony of string and wind instruments, a single drum banged with a low timbre. The dragons immediately stopped talking and clapped together rhythmically. Unlike the clapping from before, this clapping had emotion, hope, and soul.
“Have fun.” Lil nodded at her and moved to the side.
“Lil,” Lucy called. “Watch for me. I’ll be the human with ‘the kaleidoscope eyes.’”
Lil nodded, acknowledging the Beatles lyrics.
Lucy joined the clapping and moved with the women as they formed five lines facing the men. The beat of the drum thumped in her chest, making every nerve ending turn outward like a leaf before a rain.
Stringed instruments joined the drums, and then intermittent cymbals punctuated the song. The music swelled and the women put their arms around each other’s shoulders. They moved in unison to the right, while the men stepped to the left. Back and forth, the lines danced until the women formed five united circles with the men.
Around and around they spun. Lucy was grateful for the supporting arms of the other women. She threw her head back and laughed, giddy with the beat and movement.
The line of women broke away and swayed down the columns of standing men. Each man Lucy passed grabbed her hands and pulled her close to his chest before releasing her. Each pass brought the men and women closer and closer. Lucy’s senses filled with the scent and feel of so many different men—soap and spice, sweat and virility.
Elation buzzed in Lucy’s chest and she searched the crowd for Alec. He met her gaze and smiled. It was slowly given, but sincere. Lucy’s lower stomach muscles tensed. What would happen when he was across from her, pulling her close to his body? The tightness coiled between her legs. Sharp arousal shook her frame with longing.
…
Alec watched Lucy sway in time with the dancers, her movements graceful and abandoned. She threw her head back and laughed, and her throat reflected pale in the moonlight, in contrast to her dark red hair and the sari. He remembered kissing her on the neck, pulling her smell into his lungs. Need clutched his body. His dragon vibrated inside his chest, all of his single-minded bestial obsession focused on Lucy.
Was it enough? The desire without trust?
The next pass brought Lucy to Alec’s line. Her scent washed over him, and when her hands touched his, electricity shot between them, startling Lucy so that she faltered. Alec reached out for her and held her up, cradling her into him. The surety of the moment washed over him.
“Give me another chance,” Lucy whispered.
