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The other side of the bed was empty when Ava’s eyes fluttered open. She swept the room for a sign of Zac but she was alone. Where did he go? There was a spark of disappointment at not waking up to find him beside her. It had been a lovely night sleeping in his arms. She couldn’t believe how comfortable she had been with him. Plus the orgasm she’d experienced had knocked her out. The memory made her cheeks color and a stupid grin spread across her face. She spotted a piece of paper on the night stand beside her and reached for it. It was a note from Zac. He’d run out to get breakfast.
Stretching she got out of the king-sized bed and reached for Zac’s shirt that was thrown across the back of a chair. She was too timid to walk around his house in her underwear. As she made her way downstairs she heard a loud crash coming from the kitchen. She hurried to see what was happening. Maybe Zac was already back and had an accident.
“Zac, are you alright?” She came to a halt when her eyes landed on the broken dining table. But it wasn’t Zac standing over the mess. It was Mason.
“Mason.”
Raging pale blue eyes landed on her and widened. “For God’s sake, you’re still here?” He clutched his head and kicked at the pieces of scattered wood. “Go ahead and rub it in my face! Where is he?”
Taking a step back, Ava asked, “What is the matter with you?”
“I’m angry, isn’t it obvious? He took you from me and he fucked you in my house. That asshole!” He moved toward her, his features twisted by fury. “I walk in and smell your scents mixed all over the damn place and here you are wearing only his shirt, with your skin reeking of him.” He grasped her shoulders. “Where is he?”
Ava quivered with fear. Mason appeared to be in a murderous rage. His face was flushed and his nostrils flared with each heavy breath he took. “Mason, please calm down. I don’t know what you’re—”
“Where is, Zac?” he bit out.
“What are you going to do to him?”
She regretted her question the minute the words spilled from her lips. Her concern seemed to send Mason over the edge. His fingers dug into her shoulders and an animal like growl rumbled in his chest. Ava’s breath escaped in a whoosh at the sight of his eyes changing color. Blue eyes darkened to gray and then to a feral green. She gasped, frozen in shock as she stared into animal like eyes.
Mason stepped back. His breathing rapid. “Get out, Ava.”
She took several retreating steps, terrified, yet still concerned for him. “Mason, your eyes. What’s happening to you?”
“Run! I can’t control it any longer.”
As she turned to run, she witnessed something extraordinary. His skin rippled, transforming to blue scales, and then went back to normal. Claws sprouted from his fingers and then retracted as if he was fighting to maintain control. It looked like he was losing the battle because his skin started to change again.
“Oh my God. Oh my God,” Ava chanted as she backed away.
“Ava, get away,” Mason barked.
This time she turned and fled, panic consuming her. There was a crash and she looked over her shoulder to see a huge beast forcing its way through the archway and taking a huge chunk of the wall with it. She let out a scream and headed toward the stairs. She felt heat on her neck and knew she couldn’t outrun the creature. With a gulp she stopped and slowly turned around, forcing herself to face whatever it was. Her breathing was shallow as she faced the monster.
It didn’t attack and rip her to shreds as she expected. Instead, it was completely still, it’s strange green eyes fixed on her. What in the hell was she looking at? Iridescent blue scale, serpentine features, a winged back, huge body. A dragon? She was very close to hysterical laughter. Dragons were myths and people most certainly could not turn into them. Her brain tried to process the fact that she had seen Mason change into one with her own two eyes. Maybe I’m just going crazy.
“Mason?” It was amazing that she had the ability to utter a word. She was shaking so hard.
The beast’s eyes gleamed brighter and then transformed to familiar blue-gray. They were sad, repentant. “Oh God, it is you.” It hung its head and let out a grunt. “How did you...what are you?”
The beast—Mason—continued to stare at her. Surprising herself, she lifted a hand to touch his face. His eyes closed and he leaned into her touch. She now knew he wouldn’t hurt her. “This is incredible. Insane.” Just as she took a step closer, the door burst open.
“Get away from her, Mason.” Zac dropped the paper bags in his hands, fear in his eyes. “Don’t hurt her.”
Mason’s head swung toward him and he let out a keening sound. Ava gasped as the he lunged toward Zac. “Mason, no!”
“Stay back, Ava!” Zac shouted before Mason tackled him to the floor.
She watched in horror as man and beast rolled in a tangle of limbs and claws. The strength that Zac used to restrain the larger beast was incredible. Her eyes widened to saucers when Zac’s eyes flashed a golden yellow as he stared up at Mason. White scales appeared on his face but his beast didn’t take over as Mason’s had.
“Calm down, friend. Control it.” His voice was low, holding a hypnotic quality.
Mason blinked, his body shuddering as skin started to replace scales. Soon he was human again, still holding Zac by the throat. Ava gaped as both men stared at each other. She shrieked when Mason’s fist connected with Zac’s jaw.
“You son of a bitch! You slept with her and then kept her here to rub it in my face.”
Zac remained calm, his assessing eyes on Mason. “Get off me. Now.”
Mason huffed and sprang up, his fists balled at his side. Zac stood up and folded his arms. “Now tell me what the hell you’re going on about.”
“She was supposed to be mine. But you said she was yours and I tried to keep my distance but I can’t anymore. It’s driving me mad.”
Zac gritted his teeth. “There is no doubt that she is mine. You fool, you just exposed us.”
They seemed to have forgotten that Ava was standing at the bottom of the stairs frozen. The thud from her sitting down abruptly on the step brought their attention to her.
“Ava,” Zac called, his eyes wide. “This isn’t how I wanted you to find out.”
While she stared at them in silence, Mason ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Finally, she made a sound. A burst of hysterical laughter erupted. “Scare me? You turned into a fucking monster right in front of me. I nearly pissed on myself. I still might. And then you attacked your friend but it turns out he’s a dragon thing too,” she added in a small voice. She didn’t even have the strength to set Mason straight about her and Zac having sex.
“I lost control but I wouldn’t have hurt you. Never you, Ava.”
She shook her head and forced herself to her feet, praying she didn’t keel over on her shaky legs. “I um...I’m getting the hell out of here.”
Zac stepped forward, his eyes pleading. “Ava, let me explain.”
She stepped back, nearly tripping on the step. “Stay away. I need to go and clear my head. Maybe check myself into a psychiatric institution. This is just way too much adventure for me.”
“Ava,” he began again.
“No. I’m going to call a cab.”
Zac’s jaws clenched. “I’m taking you home.”
She let out a sigh. “Fine.”