Diamond Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 4) (3 page)

“I can’t get out of here without you,” he said, looking out at the unfamiliar landscape. “I don’t know anything about this world.” He glanced back at the castle, where more lights were turning on.

“What does that have to do with me?” She huffed. “I didn’t kidnap you.” Her face fell. “And yeah, I feel for you. I do. But this person I’m here for, she’s important to me. Could be in danger. Probably is. If I run now, it was all for nothing.”

“You want info from them?” he asked. “Hell, you want them to grovel at your feet, begging forgiveness as they give you anything you want? I can give you that.” Keeping Scrangey against his side, he backed her up against a car.

Shouts from the castle sounded in the distance, eerie and far away.

“Help me get my powers back. Help me get back to my friends. Then I promise to bring you back here and help you finish what you started.”

She looked at him and then at the castle. He could see her pulse pounding at the base of her neck. So human. So brave.

She glanced at him doubtfully. “How do I know I can trust you? How do I know you won’t get your powers back and burn down everything, including me?”

He took her hand, his expression sardonic. “Come now, Bridget. Say you know me a little bit better than that after all our time together.”

“I thought I did, but I saw you play ping pong with that guy.” She shook her head. “You’re dangerous. And I have no guarantee you’ll help me after you have what you want.”

He let out a long breath. “I don’t know what you want from me. But we’re both about to be captured again, and if you’re found with me, you’re in deep shit.”

She looked over his shoulders, alarmed, as the door to the castle opened and closed. Footsteps pounding closer. “Fine,” she said. “But I want your ring.”

He looked down in surprise at his own hand. “Why?”

“I’ve seen you looking at it. Playing with it. I know it’s special. If I’m going to help you, I want it, and when you’ve held up your end of the deal, I’ll give it back.”

He bit back a snarl. Heirloom rings were special to dragons. He didn’t like the idea of giving it to this human. But he could always take it back by force if necessary.

He was taken aback but a little impressed she’d thought of something to ensure he didn’t stab her in the back.

What surprised him even more was he hadn’t once thought of double-crossing her. He’d been genuine when he’d said he would help her.

Despite his usual apathy toward others, he wanted to help this stubborn little human woman that had made such an impact on him.

Slowly, he pulled the ring off his finger. The square diamond in it sparkled even in the low light around them. He dropped it in her open palm, and she slid it on her finger and stared at it in satisfaction.

Then she reached in her pocket and clicked something, and light flashed as a beep sounded. “This way,” she said, pulling him toward the vehicle.

She opened the door and waited for him. He stared down at the shiny, smooth metal thing, not even sure where to touch it.

She sighed and ran around to his side and opened it, shoving Scrangey into his arms and pushing him into a stiff seat covered in some kind of fabric. Then she shut the door on him and got in on her side.

“Hold on,” she said, moving some knobs and working her legs somehow. “I’m going to go fast.”

“Please,” he muttered, setting Scrangey down in the seat behind them. “I’m a dragon, I—”

But then the thing jerked, shooting backward in an arc and then forward, and he gripped the hard surface in front of him as his face nearly slammed into it when she stopped.

He’d almost caught his breath when they shot forward again, flying over a bump and careening into the night, over a thin, hard road.

He stared at the world flying by and the determined woman holding the odd wheel in front of her.

Everything was foreign and strange. He, a powerful dragon, was at the mercy of a human.

But the most important thing, he thought as he leaned back in the seat and the car squealed off into the night, was he was finally
free
.

B
ridget didn’t know
what had gotten into her, making a deal with a
dragon
.

A dragon capable of incredible brutality, though it had all been for her.

And now she was speeding away from the place she’d tried so hard to remain.

But the dragon was probably right. He was most likely her best hope. Even if Galen was out of commission, someone else would notice her. And since she hadn’t found anyone to give her information yet, who said she would have found someone if she stayed?

Now she had at least a little assurance she could go back and find more info on Lana.

Hold on, Lana.
She gripped the steering wheel.
I’m never giving up.

She knew the shifters would know they’d escaped. And she had no idea how they were going to hide.

But she also knew they might proceed cautiously, not knowing exactly how much power the dragon had now that he’d escaped, especially after his display with Galen.

She jerked the wheel and twisted onto a road that led in the direction of the freeway. If they could just get on there, they had a chance of hiding at one of the many hotels off the small, abandoned stops in this woodsy region. “You know, I still don’t even know your name.”

“You never asked,” he said, leaning back with closed eyes. For the first time, outside the dungeon, she realized how tired he look. How drawn.

His handsome features were pale, and as she watched him, his eyes closed, oddly dark lashes against his pale cheeks, white hair gleaming under the glow of passing lights. She realized they had another problem.

“We’ll have to disguise you,” she said. “I’ve gotten so used to seeing you that I totally forgot you don’t look like any human I’ve seen.”

“Right, but so used to seeing me you didn’t need to know my name.”

“Can you blame me?” she asked frankly. “Look, I hated you were down there. I tried to do what I could for you, and if and when I did leave, I would have taken you. But they have someone important to me. And that’s what I was there for.”

He hmphed and closed his eyes again. “My name is Alistair.”

“Ali-what?”

He sighed. “Yes, I suppose it’s an odd name compared to the ones I’ve heard. Bill. Neil. You could just give me a name if you think I need it to blend in. But as for my looks, that isn’t a problem.”

“What’s your full name?” she asked.

“Alistair Wilhelm Brighton III,” he said, giving her a grin that was somewhat predatory. His incisors were oddly sharp, his teeth white and gleaming. Perfect like the rest of his body.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I guess I’ll figure something out later.”

“Sure,” he replied. “Whatever you like.” He stretched. “Hell, it’s so good to be out of that cellar.”

“At least you sound pretty normal now.” She gave him an amused look. “And wait, what did you mean about the hair and eye color not mattering? You can’t just go running around our world with white hair and rainbow eyes.”

“I can’t?” he asked, his eyes teasing. Then he sighed again. “As I said, it’s not a problem.”

“How so?” she asked.

He took a deep breath, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw him transform. His hair took on a rich-brown hue.

“Any preference for eye color?”

She swallowed. “No.”

“Brown, then. To match the hair.” Then he looked over at her, eyes twinkling a shade of chocolate brown.

The effect was striking. His handsome, sharp features were the same, but the framing was completely different. It made him look a little more masculine, more serious.

“How did you do that? Can all dragons do that?”

“Of course not.” He scoffed. “I’m the diamond dragon, as my ring attests.” He observed his reflection in the window and nodded. “And as you probably know, diamonds refract every color of light in the rainbow. One of my abilities is I can choose. Luckily, it seems trivial powers like that aren’t constrained by the collar.”

She nodded. “But you never showed that before.”

“Of course not,” he said tersely. “I knew I was going to escape at some point. I didn’t want them to know I could change my appearance.”

“So just hair and eye color?” she asked.

“I’m afraid so.” He confirmed. “There’s another dragon with more shape-shifting abilities—Opal—but she hasn’t been heard from in a long time. For all I know, she could be dead. I don’t know if there’s been an update since my time.”

“So you were cryogenically frozen, right?” she asked, breathing a sigh of relief as they finally reached the freeway.

“Right,” he said. “They were waking us up one by one to see if we could help in the fight between humans and shifters, I believe. But I was stolen, to be used for other purposes.”

“But why did they want your blood?”

“Dragon blood is powerful,” he explained. “Many uses. I’m not sure exactly what they were doing with it. Not sure I want to know.” He shuddered. “That’s behind me now, though.”

“Except when you come back with me to face them.” She corrected.

“Right, of course,” he said absentmindedly. “So what is our plan for now? You’re the expert on this world.”

She sighed. “I’m going to pull off one of these exits and find a motel, where I hope they won’t look for us. Then we’ll get some rest and talk about how to find your friends.”

He nodded. “Right. Sounds good. Lodgings.”

“Lodgings,” she repeated, repressing a grin at the old-fashioned sound of the word.

“Are you laughing at me?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

“No.”

“Liar,” he said. “You’re grinning.”

“Lodgings,” she said again. “No one calls it that.” She sighed. “And it’s just been a really long night, you know?”

“Yes.” He agreed. “I can imagine, since you were attacked.”

She shivered. “I didn’t think he would go that far. I still can’t—”

“Shh,” Alistair said. “Don’t talk about it. It’ll make me angry all over again.”

“Did it really make you angry?” she asked, sensing an odd flutter.

He looked indignant, brushing his long, brown hair over his shoulder. “Of course it did. Did you see what I did to him?”

“I assumed that was just a lot of pent-up anger from being imprisoned.”

He let out a harsh laugh. “No. No, when that anger comes out, there is going to be flames and death and a hundred corpses. No, this particular outburst was purely for you, my dear. Though I’m not sure why.” He shook his head. “I’ve never particularly cared for humans before. Beyond what they can do for me.”

She frowned. “And what can they do for you?”

He grinned. “Admiration. Giving me nice things. Inviting me to parties. Giving me power and influence.” He let out a long breath. “I can’t wait to get all of that back.”

“So you’re a despot,” she said.

“I’d like to be,” he quipped as she said a quick prayer and pulled off an exit to find a motel. She’d skipped a few available, so they shouldn’t expect them here.

Heck, maybe for now, they would just let them go. She knew the shifters she’d worked for were huge on secrets. Maybe they wouldn’t pursue them just because they risked exposing themselves if they followed.

That didn’t mean they wouldn’t send someone else. But hopefully that would give them at least a day’s lead.

Maybe.

She followed the signs up the side of a mountain to a small cabin with an old sign out front, advertising cabins for rental.

She parked, turned off the car, and looked at Alistair. “The less people who see you, the better,” she said. “I’ll check us in and come back for you.”

Alistair jumped as Scrangey hopped into his lap. Then he stroked the cat thoughtfully. “I don’t like the idea of you going in there alone. This does not appear to be the most upscale of accommodations.”

She snorted. “Yeah, well, with my paychecks, we’re not going to be getting any kind of upscale accommodations, so get used to it, pretty boy.”

He wrinkled his nose. “Pretty boy? Why does that sound derogatory.”

She frowned. “Because it is.” She felt flustered as he stared at her, so big in her car, holding the cat. It really hit her that she was actually out here, alone, with a man she’d only known behind bars until he’d rescued her.

She took a deep breath. “Just wait here.” Then she put child locks on and headed toward the front office, which was dimly lit, with a sign over the door.

Pine needles crunched underfoot as she walked up the steps and pulled open the creaky glass door. “We need a room for the night,” she said as she approached a wooden desk.

The bored-looking woman in her mid twenties looked Bridget up and down and then nodded. “Fifty bucks,” she said, sliding over a single paper for Bridget to sign and putting out a hand.

Bridget scowled and dug out a credit card, handing it over.

“That’s just the deposit,” the woman said, smacking her gum as she ran the card. After scrawling a barely legible signature, Bridget tapped her foot and glanced out at the car, making sure everything was normal.

She would be able to calm down some when they were safe in a room, away from view.

The girl handed the card back. “We’ll charge the rest on checkout. You’re in cabin 201. Have a good stay.”

But she didn’t really look like she cared, and by the time Bridget took the card and was headed out the door, she was already on her phone.

Bridget scanned the cabins situated on the hill and quickly picked out the gold numbers indicating their cottage. She got in the car and drove up the rough dirt road, parking off to the side, hidden in the trees.

Then she handed the key card to Alistair. “You hold this.”

“What is it?” he asked.

“Our keys,” she said. “You go ahead and unlock it. I have to get a few things out of the car if we’re going to be comfortable.”

He nodded and walked with Scrangey up the rickety wood steps in front of the triangle-shaped cabin.

She’d just have to hope he could figure out how the card reader worked, since she needed to grab the emergency blankets and the first aid kit and her emergency food supply. Luckily, before she’d set out on her cross-country trip to rescue her former roommate, she’d stocked up on things she might need.

She set things outside the car, grabbed what she could carry, and headed up to the cabin, which was already unlocked, the door partially open.

She walked in, deposited her load, and went out for another. She heard Alistair come down behind her, and he took the boxes from her arms, loaded the others up, and carried them all easily inside.

She locked the door behind them and let out a huge sigh of relief.

For now, for a few moments, they were safe.

She hadn’t seen anyone following on the freeway, and even if they did look for them now, they’d have to check a lot of places, which would buy them time.

“Where are we?” Alistair asked, skimming around the cabin, wrinkling his perfect nose at the humble furnishings.

“Can’t remember the name on the exit,” she said. “These tiny mountain towns are all the same as far as I’m concerned.”

He sat on the only couch in the small living room and then sank back on it, eyes closed in rapture.

“I thought you said the accommodations were lame,” she said, gazing down at him.

“It’s all a matter of perspective,” he replied, stretching his arms along the back of the couch. “I’ve been on a concrete floor for weeks.”

Guilt ran through her. She really did hate how he’d been treated, but for all she’d known, he’d been dangerous and needed to be restrained.

Now that she was starting to know a little better, she realized it was truly unfair.

Alistair snorted and waved a hand. “Don’t go feeling guilty now, princess. I’m fine.” He gave her a wicked grin. “And soon, I’ll be more than fine. I’ll be myself again.”

She felt a little shiver at that and opened one of the boxes to pull out extra clothes. She tugged on a sweater that was warm and cozy and sat on a small chair near a window with closed drapes. She clicked on the lamp and turned off the main overhead light. “We should keep the light as minimal as possible.”

“You don’t need to look so afraid,” he said. “Even if they do send someone to catch up, I’m well capable of defending us.” He let out a deep breath. “I can’t fly or slice things with diamond fire, but I’m still stronger and harder than anything those idiots can throw at us.” He grinned. “Diamond, remember?”

She did. “But I’m not diamond.”

“No,” he said, eyeing the ring. “But you have diamond to protect you.”

“The ring?” she asked, surprised.

“No,” he said, frowning. “Me. At least for now.”

Scrangey meowed, sniffing around, and then curled into a ball on the carpet.

“What are we going to do with him?” Alistair asked, narrowing his eyes at the cat.

“He’s probably hungry,” she said, opening another box. “I have canned meat in here. I’ll give him that.” She went to the kitchen to find a can opener as she heard Alistair let out a dour laugh.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said as she came back in with food for Scrangey in the now open can. “I meant I’m going to have my powers back and have no use for a cat. I couldn’t leave him there, but what are we going to do with him?”

She frowned. “There are shelters,” she said. “If neither of us can keep him.”

“You don’t want to?” he asked.

She gave Scrangey a sad look. She did want to. At least, she wanted him to have a good home. But she didn’t know how much it was going to take to get Lana back, and until she did that, she couldn’t really take care of anyone but herself. “I can’t for now. You don’t want to? I thought he was your friend.”

Alistair’s look was apathetic. “Friend is a strong word. He was company. I don’t want anything bad to happen to him, but when I get my dragon powers back, I intend to go back to the world I knew. Luxury. Power. Friends in high places.”

She frowned. “Selfish.”

He grinned. “Absolutely.”

She couldn’t keep herself from letting out an exasperated sigh. “You put on this show like you’re some kind of bad guy, but you actually aren’t. You feed stray cats. You rescued me—”

“I do what I feel like,” he interjected. “Stop making a big deal of it.”