Seeking Her Mates Boxed Set: A Shifter Menage Serial (All Five Parts) Page 14

  “Is something funny?”

  The voice was a man’s. She turned to her left to see a tall, thin male leaning against the wall by the men’s bathroom, as though he’d been waiting for her or someone else.

  “Excuse me?” she said.

  “You seem amused.”

  “It’s really none of your business if I am or not.” Lily felt her insides bristle, her dragon on high alert. Something wasn’t right about this guy. Those eyes…

  She began to descend the narrow staircase, moving away from the man as quickly as she could without actually running. But before she’d reached the bottom she heard his footsteps immediately behind her as he dashed down in hot pursuit.

  As she stepped onto the solid wooden floor she felt a tug on her hair, which he’d grabbed in a large handful and yanked backwards.

  “Ouch!” she let out, doing her best to act like an innocent young woman, annoyed at a stranger’s inappropriate advances. She must keep the dragon inside, she reminded herself.

  “Oh, you can take it,” he said, his mouth so close to her ear that she could taste his beer-stained breath. “And a lot more than that, I’ll wager.”

  “Who are you?” she asked. He knew who she was, and she knew it.

  “The man who’s going to take you out,” he growled. “And every last one of your kind.”

  “Let her be.”

  Suddenly Graeme was standing before them in the narrow passageway that led back into the pub, silhouetted by the light pouring in through a multitude of windows which lined the wall behind him. His hands sat at his sides, but Lily could see the tension in his body and knew how hard he must be fighting his dragon at that moment.

  “Or what? You’ll go scaly and breathe fire on me?” the man said. “Unlikely, mate. You’re too frightened to let the world know what you are.”

  “Frightened? No. But there are more ways to hurt you than fire,” said Graeme, whose right hand had risen slowly, methodically, so that it now pointed directly at the man. Lily remained silent, considering her next move. The intruder still had her by the hair and short of shifting, she couldn’t think of a way to break free.

  But in front of her, Graeme seemed to have another plan in mind. In a flash he flung his raised hand towards the wall next next to him and back again, bringing with it a small marble bust which was sitting on a pedestal by the staircase.

  The bust flew past Lily’s face, knocking her would-be assailant backwards as she leapt forward, free of the shackling hand.

  And then Graeme’s arm was moving again, this time flinging framed photographs through the air without seeming to touch them. Antique pewter beer steins and lamps flew by; anything that had the misfortune of not being bolted down. All of a sudden a chair came flying out of the pub, shooting at the man, who was now trapped between its legs and the iron railing as it seemed to pin him of its own volition.

  “Come with me,” Graeme shouted to Lily, his voice bellowing over the clash of heavy wood against metal and glass. “They’ve found us, it seems.”

  24

  Escape, Chapter Six

  As they raced forward, the pub’s furniture seemed to separate before them of its own volition, offering them a well-delineated route to the door which drew Graeme and Lily onward. They ran, his hand on her back, protectively pushing her even as her legs and instincts propelled her forward.

  When they were outside the running didn’t stop, as each shifter debated the merits of remaining in human form. Lachlan had said it: run if there is a threat. Run. It was the only way to keep their secret, and yet the alternative would have been so much more effective. Two dragons could escape so much more quickly than two people on foot.

  Graeme held her hand in his and helped her along as he sprinted, seeming all of a sudden to know his way around London, his déor’s instincts taking hold.

  “We can’t go to your flat,” he told her. “Too dangerous. Is there somewhere else you could take us? Could we leap?”

  “I’m on it,” said Lily, gripping his fingers as hard as she could to ensure that they remain connect during the leap.

  Without missing a step she guided them through a flash of blinding light and utter darkness, and in a moment they were in a safe place, away from any pursuers: the strange museum-house that where Conor had once brought her. Quiet, isolated, secure, or at least she hoped so.

  “All right, I need to know: What the hell was that?”

  “My ability, you mean, the one that you saw in the pub.” Graeme’s face was serious, like that of someone about to deliver difficult news. “Like you, Lilliana, I have a gift. I can move objects without touching them.”

  “Well, bloody hell,” said Lily, breathing heavily. Another man who could do extraordinary things with his mind. “That was kind of amazing. So you weren’t full of it when you said you had the situation with the bear well in hand. You could have done that to him.”

  “Probably, yes. Though I generally don’t use the talent on living creatures. He would have been my first.”

  “Well, don’t I feel silly for dragging you to this century.” Lily laughed. “I suppose I owe you an apology.”

  “Not at all. And my skill is nothing, really, compared to what you can do,” he said. “And not fully developed—not yet. And I’m afraid that we’ve lost some items.” He held up only one of the shopping bags, which had somehow found its way into his hand.

  “It doesn’t matter,” said Lily. “I’m amazed that you grabbed that one, to be honest. But how did you know I was in trouble?”

  “I smelled it on the air,” he said. He was walking around the room now, investigating and sizing up the space. “I only feel sorry that I didn’t prevent him getting to you in the first place, but the truth is that I didn’t see him in the pub. Then all of a sudden, there he was, assaulting you, threatening. A shifter, though I don’t know what kind. It was all I could do to keep my dragon chained in. I saw in his eyes a look of recognition, as though he’d found his prey. I know that look all too well.”

  “Do you mean to say that I was the prey?” Lily knew the answer already.

  “I’m afraid so, Lilliana. But more than that, I’m rather worried about the army that he—or they—may intend to bring down upon us. He was foolish to advance alone; he would know deep down inside that he cannot take us on without help. But his déor’s instinct is strong, and told him to go in for the kill, the fool. We’re fortunate to have been dealing with a weak man.”

  Lily slid to the floor, sitting with a thud as though surrendering to her stress. “So they’ve found me—us. They’ve traveled through time, I suppose. The bear who wanted to kill you wasn’t an isolated incident.”

  Graeme approached and crouched before her, extending two gentle fingers to touch her cheek. “It’s all right,” he said. “I swore to protect you and I will give my life for you if I’m called upon to do so. We’re safe for the moment, I think. And you have nothing to fear.”

  Lily’s eyes met his and she smiled gratefully. Never once in her life had she felt like a sort of damsel in distress; not even during the worst moments. But in this one she wanted to give over power to this large man; to let him put massive arms around her, to put a head on his shoulder and to have him continue to reassure her.

  “Thank you, Graeme,” she said. “Really. I’m glad you’re here with me.”

  “As am I. But perhaps you could tell me where ‘here’ is. Once again I find myself disoriented.”

  He was looking around again, taking in the furnishings and general surroundings, which would have been considered odd in any time. The house was filled with mementos from various eras, all mashed together in some strange historical collage.

  “An old London house, owned by one of Conor’s ancestors,” she said. “A museum of sorts. It’s a bit of a secret, tucked away here. And there’s no reason that shifters should know to find us here.”

  “No. Except that, as we’re learning, shifters other than us have more tricks up their slee
ves than meet the eye.”

  “True. You certainly stunned me back there with your magic trick. I suppose that if I’m able to move through time and you can manipulate furniture and fling marble busts at strangers’ heads, who knows what else is out there? It’s a bit scary, really. Even to a dragon.” Lily smiled.

  “I am not frightened,” said Graeme, stretching tall, his chest seeming to broaden as he did so.

  “No, you don’t seem frightened of much,” Lily replied. “And I’m grateful for it. Something tells me that we’ll need your strength in the near future.”

  So this was Graeme at his core: strong, brave, protective. And Lily was pleased to have discovered it in this way, despite the potential dangers involved. It had been a test, and he’d passed with flying colours.

  And flying chairs.

  * * *

  After a time, Lily stood and faced Graeme, who was looking at her with concern still painted on his brow.

  “I’ll show you around a little, though I don’t know the entire house,” she said.

  “Thank you, I’d like that.”

  “I hope Conor’s safe,” she told him as they wandered. “I can only assume that he’ll find us here, that he’ll know where we’ve gone.”

  “You two have a strong bond,” said Graeme. “I’m sure he’ll follow you here. I know I would.”

  “Thank you. I like being reassured.” She put a hand on his forearm in gratitude, and realized that it was one of the few times that she’d reached for him. A moment of inner melting occurred then, initiated by the feel of his muscular flesh under her fingers. His gentleness and protective nature seemed to ease out of his pores under her touch.

  “I will always reassure you when I can, Lilliana,” he said, his fingers stroking hers gently. “It is my pleasure to bring you peace and comfort. Even if it involves another man. No—it’s all right. I’m growing used to the idea. Something tells me that there is enough in you to satisfy an entire army of men, and I would be honoured to be one of them.”

  “Well, aren’t you full of surprises?” she said, laughing. “I’m impressed at your willingness to adapt to this rather strange environment.”

  “I am, after all, a dragon on the inside, and occasionally on the outside. You of all people know how well we can adjust to our surroundings. And how firmly we hold onto any treasure that we find. I would not surrender you out of some silly manly pride. You are a precious gem.”

  Lily blushed to be referred to in such admiring terms. And Graeme’s hand, which had been on hers, was making its way up her arm, taking in her form under his touch. “You are a beautiful thing,” he said. “I hope you know it.”

  “I don’t. Not really. But thank you,” she said quietly, turning away to move forward even as his fingers reached her neck. Not yet, she told herself. Wait just a little longer.

  But it wasn’t an easy message to convey. Her body ached for him. She wanted him on the most visceral level; to sink her teeth into him; to affirm that he was real. Her dragon wanted to take possession of every cell in his body, and the human in her wanted him just as badly.

  * * *

  They came to a room she hadn’t seen before; a small chamber off one of the house’s narrow, dark hallways.

  “Well, this is interesting,” said Graeme as he entered. Lily followed him through the doorway and saw that the room only had one major feature: a large glass case that had to be at least eight feet tall, displaying an enormous suit of armour with a barrel chest and an unusually large helmet.

  “That looks like it was made for a giant,” she said. “I wonder what it’s doing here.”

  “A giant or some other creature,” Graeme replied. “I’ve seen armour like this in battle. It was worn by the déors of shifters.”

  “Déors? Why would they need something like this?”

  “Because they’re not dragons,” he said, smirking. “Because some don’t have our natural armour. And when you’re fighting a dragon, you need all the help you can get.”

  “So you think this belonged to someone who was at war with one of our kind?”

  “Yes, quite possibly. It’s uncanny, you know, the similarity. I wonder…” Graeme’s eyes searched around the display case until they found a small brass label which read,

  Body Armour for a Bear, c. 1400

  Probably created as a Novelty Item

  “I suppose they can’t reveal its true use,” said Lily. “Best to pretend that it once belonged in a circus or something.”

  “Yes—there’s nothing here to give away that the bear was a shifter. But you can bet that it was.”

  Lily was beginning to realize how little she knew of her own world, of her own species: here was a man who’d fought in clan wars while she had enjoyed a relatively quiet life in a secluded castle.

  They moved to the sitting room, where each sat down on the one modern piece of furniture in the place: a light blue couch covered in soft cushions.

  “And so, Graeme, what do you think of this era?” asked Lily.

  “It’s puzzling and, I’ll admit, a little overwhelming,” he said. “Not surprisingly. And I haven’t seen the half of it, I’m sure. But it’s also fascinating, and more so for the fact that you’re in it at this moment.”

  Lily felt her skin heat up once again, a flush coming to her pale cheeks. The dragon within her burning from the inside out, revealing weakness for his words.

  “You do flatter me,” she said. “Not that I don’t enjoy it, mind you.”

  “You deserve compliments. As many as I can throw your way. But perhaps the greatest compliment that I can give you is that I desire you, Lilliana.” Graeme leaned towards her, placing a hand on her warm cheek as if to feel its heat; to see what he’d done to her. “I want you.”

  “I…” Could she say it? The words that she’d offered Conor so recently? “My body reacts so strangely around you. It’s as though you draw me towards you, or our dragons are pulled together. But the truth is that I hardly know you, Graeme. We’ve spent a day together, and that’s not enough…is it?”

  His face was close to hers now and when he spoke she felt his hot breath on her skin.

  “It is enough for me,” he said. “I would take you here and now. I would offer all of myself to you, flesh and bone. I am yours.”

  His lips were nearly touching hers, and Lily felt certain that he awaited her next move; he was leaving the power in her hands. And in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to kiss him—perhaps that would be enough to tell her if he was the man to complement Conor. If he was the one she sought.

  She inched forward, her lips touching his as a feather would caress the air…when suddenly a hard thud erupted from downstairs.

  Lily’s déor was on high alert once again, and she sniffed the air to detect whether the house’s infiltrator was friend or foe.

  “Someone is here,” said Graeme. “More than one. Shifters.”

  “I know. I can smell them.” Lily’s voice was apprehensive; Conor wasn’t among the unseen visitors.

  Where was he? He should know by now that something was wrong, and she could only hope that he hadn’t gone back to her flat. Or that if he had, he hadn’t been caught by whoever it was who’d apparently just broken into the house.

  She knew, rationally, that she and Graeme were well-equipped to defend themselves. Were they both to transform they would form a nearly impenetrable wall of hard scale, and could burn anyone who stood in their way. Her concern was more for this house; this historical relic which was not her own. It wouldn’t do to ruin it in a sea of flame.

  The two dragon shifters stood back to back, their breath shallow as they attempted to remain quiet. The scent in the air was a familiar one, though not entirely like any that Lily had known. And so the intruders would know that they’d found their dragon prey—they would catch that scent as well.

  “Who’s there?” bellowed Graeme at last in his deep voice, detaching himself from Lily in order to assume a protective st
ance in front of her. He advanced towards the stairwell, where footsteps could be heard making their way up slowly, in soft blows to the hardwood. “Show yourself, speak, or be burned alive.”

  A moment later they came: a sleek, black panther. A smallish brown bear. And in the rear, a beautiful tiger, which uncharacteristically transported a bag in its mouth, almost giving the majestic creature the air of a house cat with a toy.

  The three stood in a row when they reached the top of the stairs, looking at the two dragons they’d sought. But none shifted immediately.

  “I need to know who you are, who have invaded this place,” said Graeme. “My threat still stands.”

  The tiger was the first to slide into its human form: that of a tall, thin man who appeared to be of Asian decent. He extracted a dark robe of thin silk from his bag and pulled it on, seeming to coat himself from head to toe.

  “We have come looking for you,” he said. “And are glad to have found you.”

  “That doesn’t answer the question,” said Lily, stepping forward. “Looking for us why? Who are you? You do realize that this place has more security cameras than the Houses of Parliament, don’t you?”

  “The security cameras have had a small malfunction,” the man said, his voice difficult to read. Was he threatening them? “As has all of the electricity in this house. Only temporarily, mind you.”

  Lily braced herself, prepared for the worst. These three could probably not take her and Graeme on. But they could do some damage to the house, and obviously they already had.

  “I understand your concern,” the man continued. “We must appear to you to have broken in, which, let’s face it, we did—and now I suppose we seem to be threatening you in some way.”

  “Threatening?” said Graeme. “Nothing is threatening to a dragon.” Lily disagreed: she knew only too well that dragons could be killed. She’d heard the stories of the fight that had ended her grandfather’s life.