Chapter Three
“Get in!” Cassandra didn’t have to tell him twice. Edmund slipped around to the side of the car and got in. Cassandra didn’t give him a chance to buckle up, she hit the gas and sped out of the parking garage level with a squall of her tires. Burned rubber singed his nostrils. Edmund grabbed hold of the dash, his knees against his chest in her car. She spiraled them down the levels of the parking garage.
“Up ahead,” he grunted.
Cassandra slammed on the brakes, her knuckles were white against the steering wheel. She waited for the gate to lift and release them from inside the garage. Slowly, she pulled out. Edmund could appreciate her apprehension. He looked up through the sunroof in her small sedan. Several cop cars flashed their lights and entered the parking garage as they proceeded down the street.
“Relax.” He could hear her heart thundering as did his own.
“You relax!” She glanced over him at him several times. “Who the hell are you? And why are you following me?”
“Slow down. Unless you want to be having this conversation with a few of Seattle’s finest.”
His first inclination was to swoop down and carry her off. But then he heard her scream. His blood boiled. As the ice dragon reached for his pants, Edmund leapt over the car and tackled him. His dragon came out, his usually cool, controlled, demeanor had vanished with her panic-filled cry.
“And you don’t think they’re going to come looking for me after they find his body splattered on the street?” She put on the brakes again, this time for a stop light.
“Your friend took flight. He’s headed north east.”
Her eyes grew wide as she looked over at him. They traveled down from his face, to his bare chest, if not for the dark interior he was sure she blushed at his nakedness. Her attention returned to the street ahead. “Who are you?”
Her breast rose and fell with her deep breaths. If he reached out to touch her now, he might send her over the edge. “I told you, I’m Edmund St. George.”
“But who are you really?” She took them out of the downtown area, taking an exit leading them further away from the city.
“I’m staying at the hotel about six blocks from here. If you would kindly take me there, I’ll be happy to explain.”
She drove him in silence. Even though he found himself in a strange town, he was able to direct her to the hotel. “Suite 512. You go inside, I’ll meet you up there.”
Seconds ticked by and she didn’t say a word. She avoided eye contact with him. He placed his hands over his manhood, shielding his growing interest in her. Two spots of pink still stained her cheeks. He found it adorable. “After what has happened, I dare say you are safer in my room than you are going back to your own place.”
She snorted in response.
“The choice is yours. I won’t touch you—not unless you ask.”
She looked him in the eye. Confusion swirled in those pretty blue irises behind wire rimmed lenses. Fear mingled with a hint of vanilla tingling his senses. He reached for the door handle, careful to keep himself covered. “You know where to find me.”
He unfolded the long length of his body from her car and strode away, buck naked in her view. He walked around to the back of the hotel where he’d left his patio door unlocked. Glancing around, sure no one would spot him, he allowed his wings to emerge. He lifted himself up onto the patio, retracted his wings, and let himself into the suite.
Inside, he switched on the lights, found a pair of jeans, and secured the patio door.
His shoulder throbbed worse than a tooth ache, his left wing strained for the simple flight up to the fifth story. He rolled back his shoulder, trying to ease the discomfort. His gaze never leaving the door.
He may not know Cassandra Balkan, but he knew her type.
Edmund leaned against the door. He slid a hand down his face. That hadn’t gone at all as he’d planned. Once again, he’d ran into situation thinking he could handle this alone. He should have flown back to Giresun Manor at the island and informed Blake and the others what he’d found.
Blake had enough troubles of his own, or at least according to Bogdan when he’d called the other day. Sigurd had taken the recruit Jacques to hide out a bit after ratting out Margaret’s whereabouts, and then headed to retrieve Emily’s father in Harghita. With Garth in hibernation, Naomi gone, and Olaus tattling to the ancient ones, he would have to take care of this on his own. Or call Bogdan. He’d rather hold off on inflaming the green dragon’s temper until he’d exhausted all other options.
With Blake and Emily headed for the counsel soon, Bogdan was needed at the manor.
Edmund listened, his heart beating with the tempo of the footsteps coming down the hall. His hand turned the knob as Cassandra stood, her hand poised to knock.
“Nice to see you again.” Of course, he hadn’t been prepared to encounter a beauty like Cassandra, either.
“Touch me and you’re a dead dragon.” She waltzed into his room, kicked off her shoes and made herself at home on his couch.
Opening the mini fridge, he pulled out two bottles of water and offered her one.
“Seriously? After the night I’ve had, and all you’ve got is water?”
“How rude of me. I’ll call room service.” Edmund sat down the waters. He picked up the phone, ordered a bottle of Muscat wine, a plate of fruit, and a couple of steaks-medium rare.
“You’re off your turf, aren’t you?”
“I’m on the hunt.”
“You followed me.”
“I had to ensure our deal would go down.”
“What is it with you dragons and your eggs? You’d think you all would want to protect them and ensure your line continues, but no you’re all out to extinct one another.”
“We’re not all like your partner. Some of us have actually learned to become civilized over the centuries.”
“But you’re still seeking an egg?”
“Yes.” Was all he would say. A half hour later a knock at the door came and their room service arrived.
Three glasses of wine and half a fruit plate later, she watched him finish off the last of his steak. “You have a funny way of trying to make deals. You’re going to have to lie in wait. Who knows what Drake will do now because of your heroics tonight.” She shivered.
Edmund’s fist tightened around his fork as he stabbed a piece of fruit. “Would you have rather I stood by and watched while he forced himself on you?”
Cassandra crossed her legs, tucking them up on the couch. He sat on the other end, finished with his plate, he set it on the end table beside him.
“I can handle Drake. Everything was fine until you marked me. Now thanks to you, Drakes thinks I… He thinks you… I mean that we…” Her face flushed red, more from embarrassment then anger he decided, amused by her sputtering.
“Mated?” He shouldn’t have marked her. He couldn’t stop himself. Being so close to her, she had to feel it, too. She was made for him. A gift from Hera, the goddess of women. His blood still boiled thinking of the ice dragon laying his hands on her.
“I come from a long line of Keepers. I don’t mate with dragons.”
“And I am a dragon. We don’t take kindly when someone tries to steal from us.”
“I haven’t stolen anything from you.” She yawned coming down from her adrenaline high, the last glass of wine he poured for her slipping in her hand. He took it before it fell. “No, but the person you work for has, and you’re going to help me get to her.”
“And why would I do that?” She yawned again.
“Because you’re not safe without me.”