Chapter Five

 

“Dragons!” Kat announced. “Give me everything you’ve got on dragons.”

“Let me guess,” said the bookshop owner, a balding man with half-moon spectacles balanced on the end of his nose. “Game of Thrones fan?”

“Yes and no,” she answered.

She’d done an internet search after her shift last night at Selene’s bar, but other than myths and legends, nothing concrete came up. Clearly, the magic veil had its limitations on what she could look up on a search engine made by humans.

But the unusual bookshop/library might have something. She’d stumbled on the place by chance some months back after her car broke down in a dodgy part of town, but she loved its old-fashioned quaintness and its treasure trove of magical books and grimoires.

Kat had warmed to Jim, the owner, straight away—it turned out he was a gargoyle, and his assistant, Kelsey, a pretty woman with tortoise-shell glasses, was a werewolf. They’d been so helpful from day one, and she’d become a regular visitor, hoping to find clues to her true identity.

“Do you think you might be a dragon then?” Jim asked.

“Not unless dragons get reincarnated, Jim,” she said. “I have a date with a dragon. Well, half-dragon actually, but I want to make sure I don’t get him hot under the collar if you know what I mean? I don’t fancy being burnt to a crisp on our first date.”

Jim chuckled. “I have just the book.” He climbed a ladder to his left and fetched a leather-bound book. “You might find some pointers in here. No one’s seen or heard of the full-blood dragons for centuries, but there’s some interesting stuff on the curse that doomed them. Most people believe the dragons died long ago, alone, never finding their soulmate again.”

Kat took the book, her interest already piqued. “That’s such a sad story. Thanks for the book, though.”

She carried the book to a reading nook tucked away at the back of the shop where she’d whiled away many hours learning of all the magical beings. Kat opened the book, breathing in the dusty scent of age-old parchment and worn leather. She smiled; she never tired of that smell.

After reading through several pages, she stopped on a sketch of a cloaked and hooded sorceress. Above her, two magnificent dragons circled in a sky swirling with greenish-black clouds.

According to legend, the dragons—the last two remaining full-bloods, one of fire and one of ice—were too powerful for the evil sorceress to rid the world of, so she’d cursed them instead. Consumed with jealousy, so the story went, she doomed the fire dragon to live alone for all eternity, remembering his soulmate and everything she meant to him.

The sorceress created a life of reincarnation and emptiness for the ice dragon, never to learn what she truly was or about her life with the fire dragon.

Goosebumps raised the hairs on the back of Kat’s neck as she read on.

The story claimed the only way to break the curse was for the dragons to find each other and fall in love again—before the ice dragon learned her true identity. Only then would they prove their souls were truly bound by destiny.

A lump formed in her throat at the poetic but tragic story. Reincarnation? What if…? She quelled the thought before it took form. It was just a myth, a romantic fantasy.

The story went on to say the sorceress disappeared after she’d cursed them, never to be seen again.

Kat closed the book with a dull thud. She hadn’t found out anything on how to deal with a half-dragon for her date tonight, but she couldn’t shake the feeling she’d stumbled on something important, no matter how ridiculous the notion.

Maybe she was crazy after all.

* * *

“You look hot, and you know it,” said Selene. “Now go.”

Kat checked her appearance in the mirror, ruffling her hair with her fingers. She wore it down, the platinum-blonde blunt ends cut just above her shoulders. She’d given up trying to tame the mane, but the messy beach look suited her fine. Her halter-neck top skimmed her willowy figure, leaving her back bare. If people didn’t like her flashing a bit of flesh, then that was their problem. Could she help it if she had great skin that never wrinkled no matter how many past lives she’d lived?

She went braless too. If this Egan guy was a boob man, he was out of luck, but what she lacked in that department, she made up for with legs that went on forever, clad in skin-tight black jeans, which showed her rounded backside to perfection, and killer heels that made her almost six feet tall.

“The half-dragon better be tall, or I’ll tower over him.” She couldn’t bear short men, always puffing their chests out and tilting their chins upwards to make them appear taller, as if they had something to prove.

Selene laughed.

She’d arranged, through messaging on the Love Bites website, to meet Egan in a pub on the edge of town. Further out than her usual haunts and not far from the woods where she’d seen fantasy Greek god guy. What if, by some stroke of luck, he was at the pub too?

And there she was, thinking of him again. Kat was looking forward to her date with Egan, really she was. And while his dragon side fascinated her, she was more intrigued to know why she’d had the weird feeling she knew him. The same feeling she had for fantasy guy. Surely it couldn’t be a coincidence?

Perhaps she knew both of them in one of her past lives, or perhaps they knew each other. Granted, she was clutching at straws, but it was all she had, a gut feeling that Egan could offer clues about who or what she was. And the naked guy in the woods might, too.

And so her thoughts returned to him again.

Kat finished applying her ruby-red lipstick and headed for the door. “Wish me luck,” she said to her friend, giving Toby’s ears a ruffle as she passed her dog in the hallway. “And no growling at Selene.”

“Looking like that, you won’t need it. Have fun.”

“I intend to. Bye. Don’t wait up.”

* * *

The taxi pulled into the pub car park. The quaint country pub was bathed in evening sunlight and had an abundance of purple petunias cascading from hanging baskets and an old-fashioned cartwheel adorning the white-washed walls. Not the type of place she usually went to, but the car park was almost full, and the chalked A-boards promised a variety of flavoured gins and cocktails, so there was hope for it yet.

Kat paid the taxi driver, entered the crowded pub and searched the bar area where she was supposed to meet Egan.

She gasped, stopping mid-step.

Even before he turned around, she recognised him. But it wasn’t Egan.

No, the guy perched on a barstool had blue-black, wavy hair.

She weaved through the crowds, her gaze focused on his broad shoulders. The last time she got a glimpse of those shoulders, they’d been bare, not covered by a turquoise-blue casual shirt she was sure would bring out the striking colour of his eyes.

As she approached the bar, his back stiffened. He turned around slowly. The same sugary scent of magic wafted around her as it had in the forest.

Yes, it was him all right.

Kat blanked him, reminding herself she was here on a date with Egan. The half-dragon. If she could find him.

She searched the crowd. No sign of this Egan guy. He was late. She hated people who were late.

Hyperaware of fantasy guy’s gaze boring into her, she tried to grab the attention of the barman. Did he recognise her? She’d been wearing a hood yesterday, and his view had been partially obscured by the bush he hid behind.

Naked.

Her cheeks warmed, much to her annoyance.

“Hello,” he said. The mere sound of his voice made her belly flip.

She gave him a fleeting glance, pretending she’d not noticed him until now.

“Hi.” Kat swallowed, then tried to get the barman’s attention again. She needed a drink.

“Do you remember me?”

She went for total ignorance. “No, should I?”

“In the woods yesterday? I rescued your dog, Toby. How is he after his little adventure?”

The barman served someone else. What does a girl have to do to get a drink around here?

Kat turned to face him, deliberately taking her time in appraising him. He wore smart jeans, the navy denim clinging to barrelled thighs, and she’d been right about the blue shirt bringing out the colour of his eyes. Topaz-blue eyes that hinted at wickedness and sin.

“Oh yeah, I do remember now,” she said nonchalantly, arching a brow. “I didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.”

His face broke into a smile, producing the dimple that dented his cheek. “Yeah, sorry about that. Please, let me buy you a drink by way of an apology.”

That was it? He wasn’t going to explain why he was naked? “No, thanks. I’m supposed to be meeting someone, but he’s not here yet.”

“No, he won’t be. Egan can’t make it.”

“Wait, you know Egan?” Sexy, mysterious, fantasy guy suddenly got even more interesting.

“Yes, I know Egan.”

“Couldn’t he have sent me a message?”

“It was a sudden thing. A bug, I think, or something he ate.”

No, what he meant was, she’d been stood up, and the half-dragon had sent his friend to soften the blow. She had no complaints. “Okay, no big deal.”

“Since you’re here, would you like to have a drink with me instead?”

Hell yes. “Won’t Egan mind? Do you two not have a friend's code?”

“I don’t know what that is, but no, Egan won’t mind. In fact, he suggested I come in his place.”

Yep, definitely stood up. “He did? You must be close.”

“We are. Like brothers, you might say.”

Kat regarded him for a moment, trying to think of why she shouldn’t have a drink with him, but she had nothing. Nothing except the same weird feeling of knowing him. “Okay, I suppose one drink won’t hurt.” Famous last words.

“Great!” He grinned. “What will it be?” He raised his hand, and the barman came over instantly.

Typical.

“Surprise me,” she challenged, glancing at the amber liquid in a glass tumbler on the bar in front of him.

His grin widened. “A whiskey for the lady, please, Adam. And another for me.”

She pulled a face. Whiskey? “Whiskey is an old man’s drink.” She preferred vanilla martinis, Jagerbombs, and tequilas. A good night always went well when she had a tequila sunrise or two.

“Mock all you like, but have you tried it?”

“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. Who knew what alcoholic beverages she’d liked in her former lives?

“I have a feeling you’re going to like it.”

The barman handed them the glass tumblers.

Yeah, she had a feeling too, but it was nothing to do with whiskey. She shrugged. “All right, I’ll try anything once.” Kat downed a large mouthful.

“Whoa, steady on.”

She blew out a breath. “Wow, that’s good stuff. I’ll take it back—why should old men have all the fun?”

The guy—she still didn’t know his name—held up his glass, chuckling. “Here’s to trying new things. Cheers.” He clinked his glass with hers.

“Here’s to being stood up.” She downed the rest in one go, savouring the silky burn in her throat.

“Egan didn’t—”

“Hey, no worries,” she interrupted. “It’s cool. Buy me another drink, and I’ll forget it ever happened. I’m Kat, by the way.”

“You got it. I’m Nicholas. Nick.” He ordered the drinks as more people crammed around the bar. “Would you like to take them somewhere a little less crowded?”

“Sure.”

The barman served the spirits. Kat grabbed her glass and scanned the pub. As luck would have it, a couple vacated a small table in one corner.

“Over there, before someone else gets it.” He cupped her elbow and steered her towards the table. His hand was hot, deliciously so, and his touch gentle, like he was afraid he might break her. Static electricity zapped along her arm.

He was taller than her by at least three inches, even with her killer heels. Those belly flips turned into somersaults. Mr. Fantasy was ticking every box.

She sat down and sipped her whiskey this time, relishing the amber liquid as it breathed fire into her soul. “I’m glad I got stood up.”

He sat opposite. “You are? Why?”

“Because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met you, Nick.”

Now they were out of earshot of the crowd, she had to ask him, “Since you know Egan, I’m assuming you know, err, what he is?” It wouldn’t hurt to be a little cautious. Just because Egan was a half-dragon didn’t mean his friend knew.

He nodded. “For a few centuries, yes.”

Okay, got that sorted. She leaned across the table. “So, are you half-dragon too?”

The thought kind of excited her. What was this sudden interest in dragons?

“No, I’m not a half-dragon.” He didn’t elaborate, but he had to be something supernatural since he’d mentioned he was centuries old.

“What are you then?”

He drew in his breath and looked away. “I can’t tell you. Not yet.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” The guy was getting more intriguing by the second.

He didn’t answer.

“Okay, can you tell me why you were naked in the middle of the woods?”

He met her gaze, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. “Wow, that’s been on your mind a lot, hasn’t it?”

“No, I…” Guilty as charged. “Why were you then?”

“You’re not going to let it go, are you?”

“Nope. Can you blame me? It was kind of weird.” Understatement.

He lowered his voice. “I can only tell you this; I had an accident while flying, and I fell to the ground.”

She pondered for a moment. “So, you’re really old, and you can fly. Are you an angel?”

“No.” Again with the clipped response.

“A vampire?”

“Vampires can’t fly.”

She held up her hands. “Okay, touchy subject, I get it.” Zeus, the Greek god of the sky, came to mind. He can’t be.

No, of course not. Gods didn’t fly either, not that she knew of.

Maybe he was a demon. They had wings, didn’t they? And this Nicholas—if that was even his real name because somehow he didn’t look like a Nicholas—certainly had a hint of wickedness in those blue eyes, along with a sadness she found alluring.

Or maybe he was the fire dragon, cursed to spend an eternity pining for his soulmate.

Maybe I’m the ice dragon…

Kat dismissed the idea. She couldn’t fly.

She put it down to her overactive imagination after reading a romantic fantasy in an ancient book. It was strange how she remembered the book said the sorceress was never to be seen again, but she couldn’t recall what happened to the fated dragons. Didn’t Jim say everyone thought they died without ever being reunited with their soulmate?

That story must have really got to her if she was still thinking about it now.

“It’s not that,” said Nicholas, interrupting her thoughts. “I hoped…” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. What about you? What are you?”

She focused. Her own fantasy guy sat before her—who needed myths and legends and ancient curses?

“I’m not sure. That’s why I’m so curious. I woke up from a car accident two years ago and have no memory. Except I have odd flashbacks of previous lives like I’ve been reincarnated or something.” She paused before adding, “And you might think I’m crazy, but I have this feeling we’ve met before.”

He met her with an intense gaze and didn’t speak for what felt like a whole minute. “No, I don’t think you’re crazy, Katarina.”

She gasped. The way her real name rolled off his tongue brought on another flashback. His striking blue eyes, gazing at her like he was now, but as she stared back, the pupils elongated into black, vertical slits. Holy shit, I am crazy. “I never told you my real name,” she whispered. “Do you know who I am?”

Nick averted his gaze again, glancing around the pub at nothing in particular. A tiny muscle by his temple pulsed. “Egan must have told me. It’s on your profile on the Love Bites website thing.”

Kat’s self-defence mechanism chimed in. Being mysterious and sexy was one thing, but now he was downright evasive—not to mention her vision was still freaking her out because his pupils were round now. What the hell was he, and why wouldn’t he tell her that he knew her? Because he did know her, that much was certain. “No,” she said slowly. “It’s not. I put my name down as Kat.”

“Well, there you go then. Kat is short for Katarina, isn’t it? A lucky guess.”

She took a gulp of her whiskey. She hadn’t had anywhere near enough to drink yet. Since she’d woken from her car crash, she’d longed for answers, and that same gut feeling told her this guy had them but faced with knowing the truth, did she really want it? Could she handle it?

Only one way to find out.

“What aren’t you telling me?” she demanded, feigning bravado.