Soul Of The Dragon (Her Dragon's Bane 1) (6 page)

"I'm more than happy for you to walk around naked." He kissed her shoulder, and she felt him stiffen against her thigh.

"But your brother." She protested. Never confident, or comfortable, in her own skin, she had become used to Connor looking at her, but another man. No way!

"You have a point. Zoah can be somewhat tactless. I'm afraid whether you're wearing clothes or not he will go out of his way to upset you. It's his way. He likes to see how he can manipulate a situation."

"Thanks for the warning," she said, feeling more worried than before. Connor had been kind, on the whole, but she knew it didn't always come naturally to him. Serena guessed that was what happened when you lived on your own for thousands of years. Serena knew all too well that if she didn't have Charlotte, or even little fluffy Hope in her life, she would become more selfish and self centred.

He released her, moving off the bed in one fluid movement. "You could just put these clothes on," he said, holding up her dress.

That didn't solve her problem, she needed to go and check on Hope, the closet was big, but she would need food and her litter tray would need emptying. "I'd prefer to go and fetch something warmer."

"I have clothes you can put on over your dress."

"Please. I won't be long." Why did she feel he was pressing her, trying to gauge how much she needed to go back to her room. Nonsense, she simply had a guilty conscience.

"Very well," he said, sighing. He dragged on his pants, still not bothering with a shirt. Then he led her out of his room and back to hers. It was further than she thought. And she was surprised he hadn't put her closer so he could keep an eye on her. But as he'd told her yesterday, there was no getting out of here without his say so.

"Will you wait here for me?" she asked. "I won't be long and I've no idea where the kitchen is."

"Yes," he answered, and then added as she opened the door, "Serena, if there's something you need to tell me..."

She looked at him, searching his face, and then dropped her eyes from his. "No. Nothing. I'll be quick."

Going inside she shut the door and leaned back against it. The need to trust him was incredible. But what would he do? What could he do against Samuel and his men? They had guns, and would kill him if they couldn't enslave him. Rubbing her eyes to try to blot out that image, she heard a tiny meow from the closet, and went to let Hope out.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, stroking her wriggling purring body, feeling her vibrate under her hand. The sensation always gave her instant comfort. "I'll work this out, Hope. I have to." Then she set about feeding Hope and making her comfortable again. "I'm sure he's not going to want to spend the whole day in my company. I'll come back as soon as I can." She kissed the top of her head while Hope stood on the bed, watching her mistress dress quickly in the first clothes she put her hands on. Then she lifted Hope up and gave her a quick cuddle before putting her back into the safety of the closet. She hated doing it, but it was the only way to keep her safe.

"Sorry," she said, dashing out of the room and closing it quickly behind her.

"Shall we go?" Connor asked, and she felt the subtle shift in his mood.

"Of course," she answered.

This time she tried to remember the route they took. She had to get her bearings in this great house, if ever she needed to leave her room without him, she would get lost. Probably end up in the dungeon. "Do you have a dungeon?" she asked, following that train of thought.

"This isn't a castle," he said sharply.

"I know. But the house is so old. I wondered if you ever had the need for one?"

"Not yet. But there's always time." He looked at her pointedly, but she refused to shrink from him. "There are cellars, mostly filled with wine. We have enough here to drown in."

"Another thing you collect?"

"Yes. It's how we earn a living. Occasionally a really old bottle will be ‘discovered’ and go up for auction."

"Wine?" she said, disbelieving. "Is this a joke at my expense?"

"No. There are plenty of wine investors. It's done discreetly, no one asks questions as long as they are authentic. Which they are. When there is a particularly good year, we invest, keep it for a decade or more, and then sell it."

"That is the craziest thing I've ever heard," she said, falling into step with him. "But then you must have seen some pretty crazy things."

"Nothing like today's world. Before, men have killed themselves for land and religion. Now the world seems to have gone mad. They live their lives at a thousand miles an hour. Never pausing to see what they're doing to the planet. Buildings as tall as mountains, forests destroyed."

"And you sit in your house and watch it happening. Do you ever feel like being part of the world?"

"No. If the general population found out about us we'd be locked away in a zoo. Which is why I would like you to tell me who told you about dragons. Someone sent you here, didn't they?"

She stopped abruptly. "Connor. I..." What could she say, it was the truth, but a truth she couldn't share with him.

"I'm hoping in time you'll tell me of your own free will, Serena."

Her face paled, it was a veiled threat. "Connor, please believe me if I..."

"So here she is. The little whore."

"Zoah," Connor growled, "Be polite."

"That was polite," he sneered.

Serena shrank away from the two men standing in front of her, she sensed danger. Connor, all tensed muscles, ready for a fight, and the man she now knew was his brother with a spiteful look on his face. If she had thought Connor had shown arrogance, it was nothing compared to Zoah.

"If you are looking for a fight, you're going the right way about it, Zoah."

"I wasn't. I was looking to get laid. I don't usually like your cast offs Connor, but perhaps when you've stuck a child in her belly I could have a little fun with her."

The insinuation had not been lost on Serena. All her thoughts of trusting Connor disappeared, along with her appetite. "I'm not hungry any more, if you don't mind I'm going to my room."

She didn't wait for him to answer, instead she turned and walked quickly away, holding herself together. Desperately she tried to remember the way back to her room, only once taking a wrong turn. In the distance she could hear raised voices, she covered her ears and ran, wanting to grab Hope and get out of there as fast as she could. But she couldn't do it, couldn't abandon Charlotte.

When she got to her room, she opened the closet and sobbed into Hope's fur. The little cat purring furiously, rubbing her body against Serena in a bid to comfort her. "Oh, Hope, what have I got myself into?"

Her mind whirled, is that what they intended? When Connor had finished with her she would be given over to his brother to do as he wished. While the child grew inside her she would simply be used for entertainment. It sealed her fate, and Connor's. She would give him the potion, she was lucky Zoah had come along when he did, she had been so tempted to tell Connor the truth. If she had done so, she would have been finished.

So rapt in her anguish, she didn't hear the first light knock on the door. The second knock was louder. "Serena, Serena can I come in?

She picked up Hope, bundling her into the closet, just as Connor walked into the room, he looked dishevelled, and angry. Backing way she placed herself instinctively between him and Hope. "Connor."

"I wanted to apologise to you. I told you Zoah makes trouble."

Serena wiped the tears away from her eyes. "No. He's right. I am a whore. You're paying me for ... sex. That's what a whore is."

"Serena, don’t say it like that."

"It's the truth, we all know it." She took a long shuddering breath. "I'd like some time alone please."

Behind her, a muffled meow came from the closet, Hope always wanting to comfort her mistress when she was upset. Serena didn't flinch, she tried to ignore it until it came again, and Connor stepped forward.

Desperately Serena planted herself in the way of his big bulking body. He grabbed her wrist and held her against him while he reached to open the door. "What do you have in there?"

"Nothing. Please Connor, it's nothing."

He yanked the door open, and out spilled Hope. "A cat. You brought a cat with you?"

"Please, Connor," she said struggling against him. "Leave her alone, please." He reached down and scooped Hope up as if she were no more than a piece of fluff. Hope purred loudly, and pushed her head against his bare chest. "Connor, please."

He looked at Serena, and then at the small cat in his hand. "She's been in the room the whole time?"

"Yes. I couldn't leave her at my apartment."

"Why? Because whoever put you up to this would hurt her?"

"Connor, please. Whatever you want, I'll do. You want your brother to fuck me when you've finished, fine."

He flinched at her words. "What do you think I'm going to do?"

She shook her head, big tears rolling down her cheeks. "I don't know," she whispered.

"Do you think I'm going to wring her neck? Or drown her, is that the kind of beast you think I am?"

"I don't know who you are. But I'll do anything, just don't hurt her. Please. You want me to beg, I'll beg."

Hope now had her paws on Connor’s chest, kneading his skin, her claws leaving red marks as they dug in. She was in ecstasy, the poor creature had no idea the danger she was in. Serena had been foolish thinking he cared for her. This gave him power over her, but she couldn't bear to lose Hope. Damn, why did she let herself care for anyone, they only got hurt.

"I don't want you to beg. I want you to trust me." He held her wrist tightly, and still carrying Hope, he left the bedroom, Serena trailing behind him.

She didn't speak, a lesson hard learned from Samuel. Keep your mouth shut, don't make things worse. However, that did not stop the tears running down her cheeks, or the sobs she tried to stifle. He was so strong, there was no way she could fight him. If only she had given him the stuff in the vial already, but she had been told to wait until after the five days. Now Hope's life was going to be lost too.

Connor took her back towards the kitchen, and then down a long dark corridor, before opening a heavy wooden door. The light hit her eyes, blinding her. It took a moment for Serena to get her bearings, and see they were in a completely enclosed courtyard. Connor bent down and put Hope carefully onto the ground. Hope looked stunned.

Serena bent down, and Connor released her too. "It's OK, Hope." She looked up at Connor, finding his expression unreadable. "What are you going to do?"

"Make breakfast." He turned around and went back inside, pulling the door to behind him, leaving a confused Hope and Serena in the bright sunlight.

She stroked Hope. "Well at least we're not going to be his breakfast today." Hope simply looked at her with her knowing eyes, and then hopped off after a butterfly.

Connor needed time to calm down, he wanted Serena to trust him, needed her too. And he had been so close, but Zoah had put his damn foot in it. Connor glanced down at his fist, the knuckle bruised form where it had made contact with Zoah's face. Serves him right if he had a black eye for a few days, he should mind his manners. He behaved like a spoiled child, too used to getting his own way. Perhaps it was time they both found women to settle down with for a while.

The idea both excited and frightened him. To have a companion, one that was not his brother, was so enticing. However, he knew what made Zoah act in the way he did towards women. They both were aware of the sadness that would inevitably come. It may have been millennia ago, but the sadness of watching their mother die, and the heartache their father felt had put both of them off relationships.

To live forever was a gift, and a curse. And they had both silently sworn never to let love interfere in their lives, which is why they had stuck to casual relationships. Connor’s idea of bringing a child into this world was twisted. The plan had been for Serena to have the child, and then leave so that their son would never know his mother. So would never be able to miss her.

He had planned to pay the Serena the money, and then raise the child himself. Yet now he knew her, and in only such a short space of time he had been reminded of the love and compassion a woman had to give. So much more than he could ever lavish on a child.

Why was it so complicated? If only there was a way she could live a long life too. But their father had searched for a way of prolonging their mother's life, and it had evaded him. The memory of the broken man crying over the grave of the woman he loved still haunted him, and he knew it was the reason Zoah pushed everyone away. It was the reason for his outburst this morning. In his own stupid way he was trying to protect Connor. From love.

"How's the nose?" Connor asked, hearing Zoah enter the kitchen behind him.

"Not broken. Although my eye is a lovely shade of violet. Thanks for asking."

"You deserved it."

"You're getting too close. She's trouble. And for what? So she can spawn you a child that will grow up lonely and unloved."

"I will love it, Zoah."

"We're a dying species. Neither of us have been able to make a child, we're supposed to be the last of our kind."

"Maybe it only happens with the right human."

"Now you're talking romantic gibberish."

"So what do you suggest, we fuck around until we die?"

"Sounds good to me. Hey, the ladies might find me even more attractive with this black eye. Especially if I spin a good tale."

"Zoah. At some point you have to grow up. We are not the only dragons left."

"Really, and where are the rest hiding?"

"I've heard there are more over in Spellholm."

"You've been asking around,” he accused. “No wonder she suddenly turns up and wants to bear your child. You led them to us with your questions."

"I'm fed up of hiding. Of being afraid of who we are."

"I'm not afraid of who I am. But I'm sure as hell scared of who you're becoming." Before Connor could answer, Zoah stalked out.