Chapter 22

“I feel weird being out and having fun right now,” Dallas murmured as she linked her fingers through Rhys’s. She also felt pretty weird holding hands with this big dragon when there was so much up in the air between them. She hadn’t been kidding when she said she didn’t do casual. Apparently she was breaking all of her rules tonight. And for the foreseeable future with him.

Until he learned the truth. Because he’d end things with her then, no doubt about it.

“I understand,” he said as they followed behind Lola, Bella, Brielle and Harlow. Axel was in his actual lion form, swishing his tail back and forth as they trotted down the street. It seemed so…on brand for the lion.

Music poured out from multiple places on St. Peter Street as they headed deeper into the heart of the French Quarter. Unlike the many times she’d been here before The Fall, now there were plenty of supernatural creatures in their animal form just walking around. Minding their business, having a good time.

“I take it you haven’t had a lot of fun in the last year since waking up?” she asked as she sidestepped a jaguar running down the street.

“No. Not until I met you.” He kissed the top of her head and warmth spread everywhere as they continued onward.

“We don’t need to wait in line,” Bella tossed over her shoulder. “I called ahead and—”

“Dallas!”

She turned at the sound of a male voice coming up on her left from the street. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw her friend Javier striding down the road.

His dark hair was cropped close to his skull, very likely a throwback to his Marine Corps days. The half-demon hybrid moved with a liquid grace that belied his other nature. His amber eyes glowed slightly as he stepped up on to the sidewalk to greet her.

“Oh my God!” She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight hug.

Laughing, he hugged her back.

“What are you even doing here?” she asked as she stepped back. “I thought you were living in Biloxi under Finn’s rule.”

Rhys wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, the possessive gesture not lost on her. She wanted to laugh because Javier was definitely just a friend.

“How about you introduce me to the big dragon first before he bites my head off? Then I’ll tell you everything.” Javier’s smile was genuine as he held out a hand to Rhys. “My name’s Javier, or you can call me Javi. I am just a friend with Dallas and have only ever been a friend. For the record.”

She elbowed Rhys gently and he held out a hand, returning a semi-polite “Hello.”

“This is my friend Rhys,” she told Javier. “He’s in town for a little bit and we’re helping King out with some gardening stuff.”

“Gardening?” He snickered as they hurried to catch up with the others.

“You know what I mean.” Then she looked up at Rhys. “Javier used to run a farm back in Alabama. Agriculture and livestock. We actually met on an agricultural forum ages ago. Later we discovered that we were both supernaturals and formed a real friendship.”

Rhys frowned slightly.

“Oh, a forum is a computer thing. Like a group where people chat online. Sort of like a group text.”

He nodded slightly and Javier gave him an interested look. “Did you just wake up or something?”

Rhys’s back straightened. “What do you know about dragons?”

“Well, my brother is a dragon hybrid, so I know enough.”

Rhys seemed to ease at that. “I woke up about a year ago. I’m still adjusting to this world and learning many things.”

“You woke up at the wrong time. Or maybe the right time. I don’t know,” Javier said, shaking his head as they reached the corner of the next street. “Where are you guys going, anyway? Because I’m surprised you’re out at all.”

“Oh, we’re actually going to your sister’s club.” Cynara, half vampire, half demon badass warrior.

He laughed lightly. “What a coincidence. That’s exactly where I’m going.”

“How long are you in town?” she asked.

“Few weeks. Maybe a month. King asked Finn if I could help out with tracking down some things. Since this is my night off, I figured I’d better go see my big sister, or risk getting my ass kicked later.”

As they rounded the corner, she saw the line to the club was incredibly long and she was glad they weren’t going to have to wait in it.

“You have a familiar scent,” Rhys said bluntly as he looked at Javier. “Bo is your brother also?”

Javier’s eyes widened slightly. “Yes. And you have really good scent abilities. Are you a tracker too?”

Rhys shrugged. “I’m a warrior.”

“And I can tell you’re talkative too,” he said, laughing.

Rhys’s mouth kicked up slightly.

“Come on you guys!” Lola called out ahead of them. “And bring your sexy friend!”

Javier’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at Lola. “You gonna introduce me to her?” he asked Dallas quietly, eyeing the petite snow leopard with the rainbow-colored hair.

“Of course. I’m pretty sure she’ll eat you alive though.”

“I am so okay with that.”

Rhys actually grunted in what sounded a lot like laughter so she leaned into him as they headed for the VIP door, which was being held open by Cynara—who tackle-hugged Javier.

In that moment Dallas was glad she’d listened to Rhys. Getting out tonight felt good. Weird, but hanging out with people who genuinely liked her, people she hoped that she could be friends with—yeah, she was going to enjoy tonight for all it was worth.

And just maybe it would end with her and Rhys getting sweaty and naked. At that thought, a burst of heat bloomed inside her and Rhys let out a little growl as they stepped into the fairly loud club.

Leaning down, he growled low in her ear. “Keep that up and I’m tossing you over my shoulder and heading back to the mansion.”

Why did that sound like the best idea ever?

She held on to this feeling because she knew it was fleeting. Something told her a fight was coming, that there was something on the horizon she’d need to deal with. And she had to be ready.

Reality would crash back on her head sooner than later.

* * *

Rhys glanced around the club as they entered, scanning for exits and potential threats. Technically, this place was full of threats—there were a lot of supernaturals here, including some in their animal forms.

As they ascended a set of stairs, a few familiar scents teased his senses, one in particular making him pause, then smile. He scanned again, looking for an old friend.

“What is it?” Dallas murmured next to him, her hand firmly in his.

He loved the feel of her fingers intertwined with his, loved that she was here with him tonight. That part of him that told him he needed to be out hunting was finally at ease for the moment. “I scent an old friend. And there he is,” he said as they reached the top of the stairs into what was apparently a VIP section.

A big male held back a velvet rope to allow them to enter the private area that overlooked one of the dance floors below. A rope seemed like an ineffective way to keep people out but he dismissed the strangeness.

“Rhys!” Arthur, a huge dragon much older than him shoved up from his seat, clearly having had a few drinks, before he stalked over and pulled him into a bone-crunching hug.

“It’s good to see you, brother.” They weren’t blood related but came from the same region. Arthur had taught him many things as a child. He was surprised the male was here at all. Well, he was surprised until he spotted a tall, deadly female dragon with ice gray eyes and jet-black hair striding across the floor.

“I would ask what you’re doing here, but it’s clear you’re here for this lovely lass,” Arthur boomed out as he turned to greet Dallas with a hug.

Rhys held out an arm, blocking the male from touching Dallas. He genuinely liked Arthur but the male wasn’t touching her. His dragon was too close to the surface as it was.

“Ah.” Arthur held out a polite hand and took Dallas’s much smaller one in his. It didn’t matter that he was in modern-day New Orleans, he had on a kilt and his giant red beard should probably be trimmed. Or hacked off. He looked exactly like the barbarian he was. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“You too.” Dallas stared at Arthur, clearly curious about the dragon in a kilt.

“What have we here? Another stripling has woken up.” Prima greeted him with a smile that reached her eyes. “I just saw your brothers not too long ago and that fascinating new mate of his. She’s quite talented.”

“You know I’m thousands of years old.” Which meant nothing to this female who was one of the only dragon twins in existence—and one of the few dragons to have been hatched.

“Of course you are.” She patted him once on the upper arm before smiling politely at Dallas. Power rolled off Prima in potent waves that even humans would be able to sense. “I’m Prima.”

“Dallas. Nice to meet you.”

In response, Prima sniffed her and then smiled. “You are the female with the pet dragon. I’ve heard about you.”

Rhys shot a look at Arthur, who simply shook his head.

“I am,” Dallas said, slightly laughing. “Can you smell her on me?”

“Yes. It’s a sweet, wonderful scent. Long, long ago,” she said, cutting a sideways glance at Rhys, “before this child was born, there was a group of wild dragons who allowed themselves to be tamed by humans. Those humans were aptly titled dragon riders. Your dragon has the same scent of them. I’ve missed them.”

“Oh…wow. Do you have any idea how big she’ll grow?” It was something that Dallas had been wondering.

A casual shrug. “No bigger than a dragon shifter. Oh and your pet will likely be a child for a couple decades. They age very slowly, like us, so it will take time for her to grow into her wings. So be patient with her as she will be maturing for the next…maybe ten or twenty years. It just depends.”

As if patience was going to be an issue. But Dallas was so grateful for this knowledge. “Thank you so much. I have so many questions.”

“I will happily answer them later. Right now we’re heading out to hunt down some rogue bears who are bothering some wolves out in the bayou. King just called and asked if we could head out for a quick hunt. It’s just Arthur and me going but I don’t think King would care if you two came along. Care to join us?” she asked, looking between the two of them.

“No,” Rhys said before Dallas could respond. “My female has had a long few days. We’re relaxing tonight.” Not that he thought she wanted to go hunting, regardless.

Arthur clapped him once on the shoulder, hard. “Good for you! How long are you in town? We need to share an ale at least before you leave.”

“I’m here for a while. We will definitely share a beverage.”

“And I’ll contact you about your dragon. I’d like to meet her,” Prima said to Dallas, a warm smile on her face.

“That sounds great, thank you.”

Rhys pulled Dallas into his arms the moment they were alone again. Relatively alone, since the VIP room was crowded. Lola waved them over to their table, pointing at a bunch of shots lined up.

“So they seem pretty intense,” Dallas said as they strode around the edges of the dance floor toward the group. “How long have they been mated?”

“They’re not mated.” He’d forgotten that Dallas couldn’t scent a mating link the way he could.

Her eyes widened slightly as they reached the table. “They sure act like it.”

“Eventually Arthur will wear her down.”

“Who, scary Prima?” Javier asked as he slid two shot glasses in front of them.

Dallas held the small glass up and clinked hers with his. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks she’s scary. Her eyes…”

Rhys understood what she meant. When you looked in Prima’s eyes, you saw the beast almost all the time. There were thousands of years’ worth of experiences and savagery looking back at you.

“Uh, terrifying is more like it,” Bella added.

Rhys smothered a smile as he picked up his own and toasted Dallas. Something told him that Prima would love to be called scary or terrifying. She would wear that title as a badge of honor. And as he looked at Dallas, who was relaxed as she tossed back her shot, he knew in that moment he wanted more normal nights with her.

Days, nights and everything in between.