Alec easily deflected the blow and twisted the man’s arm behind his back. A hard tug upward dislocated the young man’s shoulder.
The young man cried out and curled into a ball on the floor.
“Please.” Lin dropped to the floor on his knees. “He is my son.” The words were wretched from his father’s heart, an elderly father that Alec knew would not have more sons. The rest of the room followed Lin to the floor like supplicants at Mass.
Leo and Tyren took positions at Alec’s left and right. Alec really didn’t want to kill the kid.
“Al-l-e-ec,” Lucy called from the chair. Her face was blanched and her teeth chattered.
Alec took a deep breath and blew out his rage “Put him in a cell. Let the doctor set his shoulder, but he will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony.” It was a horrible punishment. But the young man would live to see another ceremony and breeding season.
“Thank you, Jer’ol.” Lin nodded, accepting the sentence. “I am grateful.” He thumped his closed fist over his heart. It was the dragon gesture for family, loyalty, and respect.
“You make sure there is no more trouble with your fold,” Alec said before picking up Lucy and crossing the outdoor patio toward his tower.
The wind blew strong enough to knock humans to their knees. Alec rode another elevator to the top of the south tower. Guards followed him to his suite and took up watch outside his door. Leo would be behind that detail. It was good to have careful friends.
“Alec?” Lucy pulled her head back. “Who’re all these people?”
“They’re shape-shifting dragons, like me. They’re here for the mating ceremony tomorrow night.”
“Another party?” She seemed confused.
“It’s more than just a party.” He laid her on his bed and sat beside her. “It is a time when all the dragons in the world come together to join, and begin the next generation.”
“How can you really be a dragon? I don’t understand.”
“The doctor will be here in a minute.” Alec brushed damp hair from her brow. “How’re you feeling?”
“How do you think?” Lucy’s lips were blue and her teeth chattered. She squeezed her eyes closed, like she could make him go away.
He grabbed her hands. “Lucy, look at me.”
She opened her eyes a sliver.
“I know it is hard for a human to believe. But I am a dragon. And you are my destined mate.” He spoke the words slowly, giving them time to sink in.
Lucy shook her head and pushed her face into the pillow. “This is all a bad dream.”
A knock sounded at the door. The doctor entered the bedroom and stopped at the foot of the bed. Eyes downcast, he waited for Alec to acknowledge him.
“She was bitten in the shoulder by a fire dragon.”
The doctor set aside his black medical bag. “May I examine her?”
“Yes.” Alec went to the windows and gazed out on the patio. This morning, dragon couples had mingled in every corner of the roof patio. Now, not a single soul could be seen. Word had spread he was in a killing mood.
“She’s a human?” The doctor’s words were incredulous.
“Is that a problem?”
“No, Jer’ol,” the man stammered. “I care for humans in my regular practice. I just didn’t expect to see her here.”
“She’s my mate.” Alec crossed his arms.
The doctor put on gloves and pulled back Lucy’s torn brown sweater. Lucy gave a moan but kept her face turned to the pillow and her eyes closed. “These bite marks need cleaning and stitches. She’ll need a round of antibiotics. The risk of infection is very high with humans. She’ll be in some pain.”
“Fix it.”
Suddenly, Lucy sat up and grabbed the doctor’s suit lapels. “You’ve got to help me get out of here. This man is holding me against my will.”
The doctor whipped his head toward Alec and then gently disengaged Lucy’s fingers. “I’m sorry you’re scared, but you’re in good hands here. You are the Jer’ol’s mate,” he said, excitement in his voice.
“I’m his prisoner,” Lucy insisted.
The doctor looked perplexed and busied himself removing his gloves. “I’ll just collect my supplies and return.” The doctor left without meeting Lucy’s eyes.
“
A surge of admiration rushed through Alec. His mate was a fighter. She had seen her first dragons and been mauled, and still she was trying to escape. He sat beside her and lifted her chin. She was pale and shaking but her eyes were alive with anger.
“You were pretending to be sick?”
Lucy yanked her chin away. “No. My shoulder feels like it’s been ripped off. But I’m not staying here with some delusional cult.”
“Every one of the dragons is here by his or her own choice.” Alec wished they had time for her to understand that they weren’t a cult. He wished she were safe on her own, so that she could choose to be with him. But he didn’t know who else Ambrogino may have swayed to his side, and the young Chinese dragon had been too bold by half.
Lucy would have to stay. Whether she liked it or not.
“I’m sorry. I know you don’t understand yet,” Alec said gently. “But you can’t leave. There are people who might want to hurt you.”
“I. Am. Leaving.” Lucy’s face was a pugnacious blend of stubbornness and certainty.
“No. You. Are. Not.”
Chapter Fifteen
Lucy fingered the cell phone she had lifted from the doctor. A maid had taken her torn clothing so that all she wore under the thousand thread count blue sheets was her underwear. The bra strap on her right shoulder was torn where the creature had bitten her.
Fear and indecision clenched her stomach tight. What sins had she committed to wind up mauled, nearly burned to death, and now a “guest” of an apparent dragon cult leader?
She’d heard of vampires and werewolves—zombies were even popular now—but dragons? She glanced at the phone in her right hand. The hand stamp that had been faint in the spa was now vibrant red, blues, and greens circling a black dragon. Where was St. George when she needed him to kill—what did you even call a bunch of dragons?
A flock? A herd?
Lucy shook her head. A
Crazy.
Perhaps the creatures in the exhibit really were theater dragons. Was that possible? Could it all be an elaborate hoax? The fire and water had scorched her and drenched her. Her injury was no joke—her shoulder throbbed with each beat of her pulse. Lucy flipped through the data: the flying, the fighting, the pink death eyes… and forced a number, 60%. She turned the percentage over in her head to see if it stuck. It did.
60%.
It was more likely than not that they were real and she was hangin’ with dragons.
Holy Mary, Joseph, and Peter.
She was in trouble. Big trouble.
She was having a fling with a dragon, and until the mauling, totally enjoying it. And, by taking Alec’s keycard and thumbprint, she had helped her brother and Gino steal from him. Which was worse, stealing from a dragon or
