Alexa's Dragon (Dragon mates Book 1) (5 page)

Dipping into her thoughts of her friend more deeply, he opened his mouth in awe. Had he really found another one? He looked back at Alexa, his respect for her growing even more. He eased his car into the small parking lot of the restaurant.

Stepping out of the car, he looked for any signs of the taint. It had been here and recently, probably looking for Alexa, but it was no longer around. Just the smallest trace of it remained.

Opening the back door, he gently awoke his mate trying not to startle her.

“Hi.” Her eyes flew open, power still coursing through them.

“Hello, how do you feel?”

“Better I think. What happen?”

“Together we brought down the barrier trying to separate us. You fainted from the first powerful use of your magic. I caught you and carried you to my car. Now we are sitting in front of your friend’s restaurant. You need food but I thought it might make you feel better to see your friend and eat at the same time.”

“You’re really a dragon, aren’t you?”

“I’m really a dragon.”

Syn took her hand and helped her rise. She stepped out the car testing her shaky legs. Nodding her head, she indicated she was good, or as good as she was going to be under the circumstances. She lowered her head looking at him through her lashes.

He had been magnificent. Lightening covered him, sparking. His eyes blazed, it was so hot. She wanted to fall into his touch and press her lips to his. A small giddy shock of pleasure had stormed through her body making her wet. The feeling of intense pleasure as his power surrounded her made her legs weak as an orgasm roared through her.

“Let’s get you some food.” She nodded and took the hand he offered her. They entered the restaurant together.

She clung tight to his hand not wanting to fall as her legs were shaky and weak. She had survived being hunted with Syn at her side showing her the way. Then his power had touched her, opening a whole new world of pleasure for her. Now she was as unstable as a new colt and all she wanted to do was rest and try to understand. Instead she would face her best friend and try to convince her everything was all right in her world. When in truth nothing would ever be the same again.

There was a good crowd inside. Alexa smiled, happy because Nadia needed all the business she could get. Linda, a waitress who knew her, seated them and promised to tell Nadia she was here.

Alexa picked up her menu not really needing to see it. She memorized it a long time ago.

“Nadia has some of the best food in town; you’re in for a treat.”

“I’m sure your right.”

Linda came back wearing a friendly smile.

“What can I get the two of you to drink?”

She turned so only Alexa could see her giving her a grin and a thumbs up over Syn.

“I would like a lemonade.” Syn’s voice was a rich deep baritone as he ordered.

How had she never realized just how seductive his voice was? Her nerve endings tingled from the flow of it over her body.

“I’ll take a lemonade, also.” She gave him a secretive smile.

“Alexa, Nadia wants to know if you want the usual.”

“Not today, I feel in need of protein. Give me a minute and then we will be ready to place our orders.” Linda nodded and walked away to get their drinks.

“Why am I craving beef, preferably steak?”

“Your body needs to recharge; the protein in beef combines with your magic, sparking it. You will find that your magic will respond better when it has a power source to draw from.”

“You do know that you should only eat so much beef.”

“You’re right if your body is just using it for fuel to run, walk or any of those other mundane things. You, on the other hand, are using it to fuel your magic. I am willing to bet you have never had a magical occurrence before because you strictly limit your meat intake.”

“I was a vegetarian before I turned sixteen. A few months after my birthday, I ended up in the hospital. I was weak and could barely walk. After exhaustive testing the doctors said my body looked like it needed protein, I laughed. My parents made me eat meat. They said I could have a small intake, whatever it took to get me healthy I would have to eat. The doctors were right. I got stronger, but I always monitored my meat intake.”

“You will have to still monitor your meat intake to make sure you are getting enough on a daily basis, not only to keep yourself strong but power your magic. If you don't have enough fuel in your body, your magic will leech it from your muscles.” Syn shivered. “You won’t find that pleasant at all.”

She nodded her head and looked at the menu again determined to start eating differently.

Linda came back and placed their drinks in front of them. “Have you decided?”

Alexa looked over at Syn. “Are you sure eating a big steak won’t hurt me?”

He nodded and gave her a seductive smile making her insides melt.

“I want the eight-ounce steak medium with fries on the side.” Linda raised her eyebrows but nodded as she took her order.

“For you, sir?”

“I’ll have the same as Alexa.”

“I’ll let Nadia know.” Linda turned to face Alexa, “She says she will be out shortly.”

“Thanks.”

“How did you meet your friend?”

“First grade. I used to always like to stand back and watch people even that young. She came to the class maybe three weeks into the school year. Her parents just moved to the area. I think she was a little scared but she was acting brave. She saw me sitting by myself. She pointed me out to the teacher and said I want to sit with her, she’s my best friend. I guess the rest was history. We’ve been best friends ever since.”

“It’s nice to have a friend.”

“It is and she’s the protective sort.”

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m sure Linda told her all about the guy I’m with and that he’s drop dead gorgeous.”

Syn’s eyes flared to life. “Thank you.”

Alexa blushed; damn her runaway tongue.

The awkward silence was broken by Nadia bringing plates of food out to them.

“Steak and fries. The two of you really know how to live.” She placed the plates on the table and then reached over to hug Alexa before turning her intense gaze to Syn. “Hi, I’m Nadia.”

Syn reached out to shake the hand she offered him. Her grip was tight making sure he knew she was a woman he didn’t want to mess with.

“I’m Syneca.” He looked her over. Strength sat on her like a shroud.

“Nice to meet you, Syneca.”

“You also, and please call me Syn.”

She gave him a smile and pulled up a chair. “I can’t stay long. How did you meet Alexa, Syn?”

“I was driving through her parents’ neighborhood on the way to the city when she caught my attention. Her beauty reached out to stroke me and I had to stop and say hello. Fortunately, she stopped to give me the time of day and we hit it off.”

“Alexa always did know how to attract good looking guys.”

“There you go again giving me more credit than I deserve.”

“Are you all right, Alexa?” Nadia’s eyes darkened with concern.

“I’m fine; you’re worrying for no reason.” Alexa gave her a big smile she wasn’t really feeling.

“Well, I need to get back to the kitchen. It was nice meeting you, Syn.”

“Nadia, I’m going to be going away for a while. I will call and give you more information when I get there. Will watch over my house?”

“As long as I can take a bath in your jetted tub.”

Alexa laughed. “I had a special one put in the bathroom of your room as a surprise. Bathe away.”

“I’ll keep an eye on your house.”

“Nadia,” Syn reached into his back pocket, “if you ever need help, call this number.” He placed a card in her hands and she curled her fingers around it. “No matter what it’s for Nadia, call.”

She nodded her head and walked away.

“Feel better?’

“I will after I tuck into this food.” She popped a fry in her mouth before cutting her steak and groaning around it as her teeth sank into it. “Really I knew you could love food, but this is taking it too far.”

He smiled and ate.

“What’s our plan after this?” She cut into the steak taking another bite.

“I thought we could go to your house pack a bag and be on our way.”

“Exactly where is away?”

“It’s a place with high mountain peaks and lush valleys.”

“I saw it in my dreams.”

“Your dreams?”

She nodded. “I dreamed about a place like that more than once there were four mountain peaks and a river winding through a beautiful valley.”

“That’s where we are going.”

“Why won’t you tell me the name?”

“Because it doesn’t officially exist. You won’t find it on a map. This part of the earth has been shrouded in mystery for thousands of years.”

She looked at him debating if she should call him on it or wait. In the end, she decided to wait. Dragons, demons, and mates…oh my. She decided to trust him enough to go along with this fairy tale and she trusted very few people. It had to do with the way he made her feel. Not just hot and bothered but safe. It was a long time since she had that feeling.

She ate the last of her food as he paid the bill and then they were ready to go. She hadn’t had a man pay the bill in a long time and she liked it.

“I’m ready.” He helped her stand causing her to smile. What a gentleman.

“You’ll have to give me directions to you house.”

She rattled them off as she got into the car. He drove as if he knew the city. It didn’t take long for him to find her house and park in her driveway.

“Would you like to come in?” She thought about leaving him waiting in the car, but that would be rude. Besides he’d already been in her parents’ house.

Stopping at the door, she looked at him. What if he was like a vampire and if she invited him in, he would always have access to her house. Opening the door, she motioned for him to go in first. He crossed her threshold allowing her to blow out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. Not a vampire, her blood should be safe. Laughing internally, she walked in and froze.

Her house had been trashed. “Someone was here. Could it have been Mutufa?”

“No but it may have been whoever is helping him.”

A chilling cold wrapped itself around her body making her want to leave.

“I don’t think I want anything from here, let’s go.”

“We can’t leave. You asked your friend to watch your abode. If she walks into an unprotected house, she will be at risk.”

Alexa placed her hands on her arms rubbing them as her body started to shake. The cold from the house was beginning to penetrate her skin. Syn drew closer to her taking her in his arms. His body heat wrapped around her in delicious layers, fighting off the chill and warming her. She could get used to this.

“Tell me what we have to do.”

“We have to clean the house with magic and leave a protective barrier, one that your friend can penetrate but no else will be able to.”

“Sounds like something beyond my ability, but I won’t have Nadia exposed to danger. Show me what to do.”

He closed the door and walked deeper into her house.

“We need to find where the center of the disturbance is and begin the cleansing process there. If we were to start anywhere else the root of the disturbance would continue to send out power replacing what we already eradicated.”

She followed him from room to room until he entered her bedroom. She felt it, a cold sensation moving between her shoulder blades. It felt like a room size tidal wave crashing here and there.

“Is it in here?”

“We’re close but this isn’t the center. You’ll know it when it feels like a coldness has reached out to grab your heart. You’ll want to pass out from lack of oxygen but a part of you will demand that you resist, fight.”

He began opening doors in her room. First the closet. He stepped in then closed it back, next the bathroom. A rush of power greeted them.

“We found the center.”

Small prickles hit her skin reminding her of insects. She jumped around hitting at her skin trying to get them off of her. Her heart felt like a cold hand wrapped itself around her while she fought to breath. It was killing her demanding her life.

Syn grabbed her. “Alexa stop. There’s nothing here; it’s a side effect of the demon’s power. It triggers your fears and plays on them. You obviously don’t like insects.”

“I fell into a field of ants once and couldn’t get up. It was back when I had no energy because I wasn’t eating meat. They crawled over me. I was wearing shorts.” She shook at the memory

“This is not really happening. You have to fight it.”

She would take the insects any day over the feeling of slowly dying. He was right, it was more than she could take but his hand on her helped. It made her remember she wasn’t in this alone. Now the desire to fight, to resist was kicking in. She could do this.

Squaring her shoulders, she gave him a shaky smile. “What do we do next?”

“Our power against his. He’s not working at full capacity, that’s in our favor. I need you to focus on the same power you felt earlier today. You’re going to channel the power of your eyes at the center of the tub. I will merge with your stream of magic. Together we should be able to disturb him long enough that he will falter and dwindle.”

“If we fail?”

“Then we won’t be around long enough to have any regrets.”

“Let’s do this.”

She looked within herself looking for that small kernel of power that she spent years denying. It sat in one dusty corner of her mind, with all of the other ideas and vague promises she discarded over the years. Walking over to it was like taking her life in her hands. If she had the courage to open the dirty brown box her power hid in, her life would never be the same.

Indecision plagued her. She could always buy another house. She could warn Nadia to stay away. Then they would be safe. Syn’s green eyes swam before her. The blue rings around his eyes lit with a fire from inside calling to her. If she bailed, he would be the one to pay the price.

She flipped the box open needing, wanting to embrace who she was meant to be. No longer would she run from her destiny no matter where it led her.