Lost Dragons Box Set Volume Two Read online

  How dare they speak to her that way?

  “Come,” he said quietly to her, trying to keep his voice even. “We will go elsewhere.”

  “Good idea,” Darklis muttered back, her green eyes flashing as she glared at the men.

  “Hey – hey cutie, I was talking to you,” the man called out again as they began to turn away. “You fucking deaf or something?”

  If we were still in Drakos lands, I would teach him some manners, Liev thought furiously. But he was not in Drakos lands. And while he had promised he would never lift a hand against any human, he was, at this moment, sorely tested.

  “Leave her be,” he growled, turning to glare at the man and his cronies. They had clearly stopped where they were in the middle of the sidewalk for the sole purpose of making trouble.

  “Liev, we should just go,” Darklis said, shaking her head.

  He knew she was right. They were humans, after all, and he was a dragon.

  “I’ll leave her alone after she answers my question.” The ringleader swaggered forward, smirking at Liev before turning his attention to Darklis. He reached forward, grabbing Darklis by her upper arm.

  “Don’t touch me,” she said, pulling back, eyes flashing dangerously once more.

  “I’m warning you,” Liev said, feeling anger like a flame burning in his stomach. For a moment, it was almost as if his dragon was back within him again, roaring out its fury. He stepped forward, standing in front of Darklis. “Leave. Now.”

  “Fuck off,” the man said, looking up to sneer into Liev’s face, shoving him in the shoulder. An expression of mild surprise crossed his face as his push didn’t seem to have any effect on Liev at all. But whether because he didn’t want to lose face in front of his friends or because he was simply stupid, he still didn’t back away.

  “You sure are a hottie,” he said, trying to get around Liev to grab at Darklis again. “You should dump this loser and come out with us. I don’t care if you dress like a freak. Nothing can hide what you’ve got going on –”

  “This is your last warning,” Liev cut him off as anger surged through him. He struggled to remember the things his fighting instructor had drilled into him every day for twenty years: A Drakos prince will never attack first, but he will defend himself if necessary. A Drakos prince will never strike in anger.

  He had always been hot-headed and impulsive during his teenaged years, and it had gotten him into trouble more times than he could count. He’d worked hard to curb his temper, to restrain his rashness. But now...

  Now it was as if all of that had flown out of the window. He could barely contain himself.

  Something about the way the man had spoken to Darklis – the disrespect he had shown her, the foul words he had used and the attempt to touch her after she had told him not to – had made his vision mist over with red.

  Something within him had flared up – something that, for a moment, felt an awful lot like his dragon.

  She is ours! No one will harm her! She is under our protection always!

  “Fuck off, loser,” the man growled, turning his attention from Darklis to Liev. For a moment, he seemed to size him up – and then, apparently urged on by the hoots and shouts of his friends, wound back his fist.

  It was a sloppy attack to begin with, and Liev didn’t even have to think about it before he blocked the punch, raising his arm and swatting the man’s hand away as if it was nothing more than an annoying bug.

  Surprise flashed across the man’s face – but then it was replaced by anger.

  “Fuck you –” he started to say, swinging again.

  Liev’s patience was at an end. The man had insulted Darklis, and tried to touch her without her permission. No man worth the ground he walked on would ever put a hand on a lady when she had not told him he could.

  This time as the man’s hand swung up, Liev caught it easily, his hand enveloping the man’s fist and stopping it in mid-air.

  The man blinked almost comically, as if he couldn’t quite understand what had happened. And then Liev, growling, shoved him back, sending him stumbling into his pack of friends, who had all suddenly fallen silent.

  A Drakos prince never uses more force than he needs to, he reminded himself. And no matter how furious he was, he was a dragon, and this so-called man was a human. Using his full strength against him was out of the question.

  “Liev –” Darklis gasped by his side.

  A moment later, he felt her hand come to rest on his arm. It was warm and soft, and it set something stirring in the pit of his stomach...

  “I give you fair warning,” Liev said, as the man staggered to his feet, face a mask of rage. “Do not come at me or the lady again, or the consequences will be dire.”

  The man scowled, his eyes moving from Liev to Darklis and back again, before he snarled to his friend, “This shithead just attacked me – call the cops.”

  “Liev, we need to go. Now.” Darklis’s voice was urgent, and her hand tugged at him, trying to draw him away. “The last thing we need is to get caught up with the police.”

  “I will not run from any fight,” Liev began to say, but Darklis only shook her head.

  “That’s not important right now. Now, the only thing we need to focus on is trying to work out what’s happened to us – and trying to get home.”

  As reluctant as Liev was to admit it, she was completely correct. Getting waylaid by law enforcement wouldn’t help them get back to Drakos Castle – or assist them in trying to recover their dragons.

  “You’re right,” he said. “It wouldn’t serve us well. Let’s go.”

  Darklis flashed him a smile. At the sight of it, something rose up within him again, something that in the past, he would have said was his dragon... but which was also strange, and subtly different.

  It was as if a burst of brilliant golden light had suddenly risen from his heart, spreading throughout his body, warming him from the inside out.

  As Darklis’s fingers slid into his and they began running down the street, his mind suddenly caught up with his body, and realization dawned within him.

  Your mate, he thought, as if in a daze. She’s your mate.

  Oh, was the only thing he could think, as, at a run, he followed Darklis down a side street, as sirens wailed behind them.

  Chapter Six

  Darklis

  “I think we lost them,” Darklis said as she peered around a corner.

  Behind her, Liev – Prince Liev, she had to keep reminding herself – leaned forward, leaning over her to inspect the street beyond. Darklis swallowed, hoping the hitch in her breath wasn’t as obvious to him as it was to her. They weren’t even touching, but the warmth of his body so close to hers was almost unbearable.

  But does he know? Does he remember?

  Darklis felt a stab of pain deep in her heart. Liev had said nothing to show he had detected their mated bond – nothing at all. Was it possible that the portal had wiped it away, along with their dragons?

  Can anything wipe away a dragon’s mated bond? Is that even possible?

  Her dragon was gone. The place within her chest where her dragon had always been was now empty.

  Will I ever get her back?

  Gritting her teeth, Darklis forced the thought from her head, forcing herself to think rationally.

  Even if Liev didn’t know they were mates, she did. That had to prove that the mated bond wasn’t entirely gone, didn’t it?

  It wasn’t much, but it was enough for her to hold on to for now. And she was used to holding on to hope, even when everything seemed utterly hopeless.

  “I think you’re right,” Liev said after a moment, before he drew back. Darklis missed his heat almost immediately. He shook his head, his blue eyes blazing. “Those men should never have spoken to you in that way. I am sorry I didn’t stay to defend your honor, as I should have.”

  Despite the situation, Darklis couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “It’s fine, I promise you,” she said. “And anyway
, I can’t say I’m used to men defending my honor. I usually just defend it myself.”

  “I didn’t mean to imply I doubt your capabilities,” Liev said at once.

  This time, Darklis laughed.

  Where’ve you been all my life, tall, hot and chivalrous?

  The mated bond was, of course, pulling at her heart every time Liev spoke or moved. But Darklis was fairly certain she would have been in deep trouble over him even without it. His dark hair and bright blue eyes were a striking combination, and the Drakos clan ceremonial robes he wore did absolutely nothing to conceal the breadth of his shoulders and the musculature of his arms. She wasn’t exactly short, but Liev towered over her.

  And aside from that, he gave off a sense of such strength that it immediately made Darklis feel safer just being around him.

  Given how she had grown up – in constant danger, never knowing when Erik Lukich might decide she was no longer useful and could be disposed of – safe was a feeling she was still getting used to.

  “It’s fine, you didn’t,” she said, smiling. “And I appreciate it. You can clearly handle yourself.”

  Was it just her imagination, or was Liev... blushing?

  No, that couldn’t be right.

  Liev was the most ridiculously perfect specimen of a man she’d ever seen, and a prince besides. He obviously didn’t blush.

  “Thank you,” he said, his voice soft. In the next moment, however, he seemed to shake himself, his Adam’s apple dipping as he swallowed. “But it seems you know a lot more about this... place than I do. What do you suggest we do next? Getting home – or at least contacting our families – seems to be the most important thing right now. After that...”

  Liev trailed off. Darklis knew what he was thinking.

  After that, they could only hope that somehow, their dragons would come back to them. After that, perhaps they could begin to find out how that manticore had managed to get into Drakos Castle, and what it had done with the treasure it had stolen.

  Darklis gave herself a shake. Already, she could feel her practical side beginning to take over. Their situation was... was...

  Quickly, she deleted the word terrifying from her thoughts. She’d been in terrifying situations before, and this one didn’t qualify. No one was actively threatening her life at this moment. Erik Lukich wasn’t here. She was free, and she was with Prince Liev of Clan Drakos, who was strong, handsome, hot as hell...

  And my fated mate.

  Again, she quickly pushed the thought away.

  He didn’t seem to remember. It was something else they would just have to deal with later.

  “First of all, I think we’ll need to get some money,” she said. She eyed his robes, hoping it wasn’t too obvious when her gaze lingered on his chest and arms. “I don’t suppose you carry any around with you?”

  Liev shook his head. “No. We don’t have any need of it, usually. And I certainly didn’t imagine I’d be venturing outside the castle today.”

  Darklis grimaced, not that she had really been expecting any other answer. “Me neither. I left all my stuff in my purse, which is in my room at the castle.”

  Cocking his head slightly, Liev raised a surprised eyebrow. “So you often mingle with humans?”

  Darklis nodded. “Of course. My brother Stefan’s mate is human, and my cousin Isaak has a human mate as well. I spend time with their families. I kind of like human society.” She grinned, gesturing to the busy street beyond. “Besides, don’t you think it’s exciting? All this hustle and bustle?”

  Liev frowned slightly. “I... haven’t decided yet,” he said after a moment or two. “It certainly does smell different.”

  Darklis laughed. “I suppose that’s true. But I still like it.”

  After so many years shut up in darkness, the busyness of the streets of human cities was almost soothing.

  “How do you suggest we get some money?”

  Darklis frowned. “Well, we could try panhandling. But that seems dishonest. Neither of us really needs the money. And I’m not sure we’d get a lot, looking like this anyway. Or with this jewelry on.”

  She raised her hand to show Liev the dark green emerald that glittered on her right hand. It was her personal piece of the Novak hoard – the treasure she carried with her always, to make sure she’d never be so far from the source of her clan’s powers that she wouldn’t be able to shift.

  It was a beautiful stone, but relatively small as far as personal hoard items went. Dragons could sometimes be extremely ostentatious about these things: Darklis had seen diamonds as big as eggs, gold chains that wrapped six times around the wearer’s neck, and hair clips encrusted in sapphires and opals. But that just wasn’t her style. The small emerald ring was all she needed.

  All I need...

  Looking down at the ring, Darklis bit her lip.

  “I suppose, since we really do need the money, I could...” She swallowed. She really didn’t want to do this, but their options were limited. “I could always pawn my ring. It’s not worth a lot, but we could get something for it, I’m sure.”

  “Pawn it?”

  Darklis looked up, surprised. Liev sounded absolutely horrified.

  “You mean, trade your personal hoard item in exchange for money? No. No, that’s not possible. I won’t allow it.”

  Darklis shook her head. “It’s okay – I can come back for it later. Hopefully. I mean, it depends on the terms of the loan, but I’m sure it won’t take us more than a week to –”

  “Please, don’t do that. I couldn’t allow you to make such a sacrifice. Not for any reason.” He drew in a deep breath. “If it’s jewelry they want, then I can offer this.”

  Darklis’s eyes widened as Liev pulled back the sleeve of his robe to reveal a glimmering gold circlet around his wrist, studded with rubies and diamonds. It was a beautiful piece, and it looked absolutely priceless.

  Liev held his arm up. “I could offer this, could I not?”

  Darklis nodded, feeling as if someone had knocked the breath from her lungs. “Yes, you could,” she said. “But Liev, I can’t ask you to give up your personal treasure either – especially not when it looks as rare and precious as that. This ring... it means a lot to me, and of course it’s quite valuable. But nothing like your circlet.”

  “But isn’t the more money we can get the better? There’s more at stake right now than my personal piece of the hoard.”

  “Perhaps,” Darklis said. “But if it’s too valuable the pawn shop won’t take it. They may worry they won’t be able to sell it for what it’s worth if we don’t come back. And rings are easier to sell than men’s jewelry. Human men don’t often wear it.”

  Liev frowned a little, but he didn’t argue. “If a ring would be more suitable, I have one of those as well.” He held up his hand. A simple golden band encircled his left ring finger. The flat outward facing side was embedded with a small diamond, and was engraved with a design that Darklis recognized as the crest of the Drakos Clan.

  “It is the ring that designates me the heir to the Drakos throne,” Liev said quietly. “It’s an ancient ring – I believe it was passed down from the very first Drakos prince. One day, my own heir will wear it.”

  His voice was soft as he spoke, looking down at the ring. It was understated and classy – everything that dragon hoard items usually were not. It was just the kind of thing a human man would wear as a wedding ring.

  “It’s a beautiful ring,” Darklis admitted reluctantly. “But Liev, I can’t ask you to do that. That ring has been in your family for hundreds of years.”

  “You are not asking me to do anything,” Liev said, as he began to twist the ring from his finger. “I’m offering. We need to get out of this situation, and as I will not allow you to exchange your personal hoard item, this is our only choice.”

  “But –”

  “You said we could get it back, didn’t you?” Liev smiled as he held the ring out to her. “I trust your bargaining skills. And you know
more about this place than I do.”

  Darklis swallowed heavily as she reached out to take the ring from him. Sure, she’d spent more time around humans than he had – but she was still far from an expert. She’d grown up around dragons. She had a lot of human friends, but she was still getting used to them in many ways.

  “I’ll do my best,” she said, as she closed her fist around the ring.

  It didn’t take long to find a place to pawn the ring. It seemed they had arrived in one of the seedier parts of the city, and small shops offering payday loans and pawnbrokers weren’t exactly thin on the ground. Darklis didn’t feel she could entrust Liev’s ring to any place that looked too suspicious – but on the other hand, it was hard to ignore the stares they were getting as they walked. They needed to get into some normal clothing, fast: if the guys who had attacked them had given the police a description, they certainly wouldn’t be too hard to find dressed as they were.

  “This place seems okay,” Darklis said, peering into the window of a pawnbroker’s. “And they definitely take jewelry. Let’s see what they’ll offer us.”

  Pushing the door open, Darklis and Liev found themselves in a shop that seemed somehow much dingier and run-down than its façade had suggested.

  Blinking in the darkness, Darklis looked around. Misgivings rose up within her.

  Stop being so silly, she told herself. We’re here now, and really, we need to get out of these clothes...

  “Can I help you?”

  She looked up at the sound of a voice from the back of the shop. A large man stood behind a wire cage, regarding them suspiciously.

  “Yes,” Darklis said, pushing aside the last of her nervousness. “I – I have something I’d like to pawn.”

  She hoped she sounded like she knew what she was doing, though the man’s hard gaze, his eyes running up and down her figure and clearly taking in her outlandish clothes, wasn’t helping.

  “Oh, yeah? What would that be?”

  Darklis licked her lips, glancing at Liev. But he only nodded to her, encouraging.

  “This ring,” she said, placing it on the counter. The man raised an eyebrow and snatched it up with his thick fingers, holding it up to the light.