Dragon Kissed Read online

  “You’ll understand once you read his letter.”

  “Show me the letter, then,” Kayden demanded.

  Barbara reached for her backpack and gave it to him.

  Kayden read it with a concerned expression. Putting the paper on the coffee table, he looked at her as she sipped on her coffee.

  “It seems that Jason told you about our family secret.”

  Barbara looked up at him. “Yes.”

  “Well, I guess it’s fair since Jason told me that you are shifters, too.”

  “You are?” Cody and Charlie said at the same time.

  “Yeah,” Barbara confirmed. “A lioness.”

  “Wow, a kitten, no wonder you are so…”

  Kayden raised his hand. “Quiet, Charlie!”

  “What? She’s hot,” Charlie blurted out.

  Barbara smirked. “I’ve never seen a dragon-shifter. I had no idea you existed.”

  “There are a few of us in the world. We need to keep it quiet,” Cody said. He wore a dark sweater and Charlie was wearing a red flannel shirt. She also noticed that Cody had blue eyes and his brother brown. It was somewhat strange, but it would allow her to distinguish them in the future. They were identical and both extremely good-looking, not as striking as their older brother, but quite handsome and well-built.

  “Apparently one of us doesn’t think that way,” Kayden said as his gaze aimed at the paper Jason had written.

  Cody asked with a solemn expression, “What’s going on?”

  “It seems that a talon dagger has been found recently. A clan leader is looking for it. Jason is trying to protect it because he suspects that this leader wants to use it to murder the other dragon leaders and anyone who stands in their way.”

  “Who’s the leader,” Charlie asked. “And what’s a talon dagger?”

  “You are too young to remember,” Kayden mumbled as he slumped his back against the sofa. “The leader of the Water Dragon Clan was always a greedy man. He chose to live among humans and has been gaining power ever since.”

  “What can a talon dagger do?” Cody asked.

  “Kill dragon-shifters in their human form,” Barbara answered.

  Frowning, Cody inquired, “And why would he want to kill his own kind?”

  “He intends to use it to kill anyone who is against his ideas of ruling the world as our ancestors once did,” Kayden explained.

  Charlie arched an eyebrow. “Is he mad?”

  “Probably,” Barbara said as she set her mug down on the coffee table. “The humans have enough powerful weapons to decimate anyone who isn’t…like them or threatens their status quo. What can a few dragons do?”

  “A lot, actually,” Kayden answered. “But, we are facing extinction, and we don’t need another war on our hands. Plus, I thought no one else had those dreams of grandeur anymore. He’s delusional if he believes the others will follow his egomaniacal idea.”

  “Still, the dagger is dangerous in his hands, even if it’s just one dagger against a lot of us. Few weapons can kill us,” Cody said as he rubbed his chin. “If we had our hands on that dagger, we could…”

  “Tell our leaders about it and wait for their decision?” Charlie interrupted his brother. “It’s not up to us.”

  “Agreed,” Kayden spoke. “Do you still have the dagger, Barbara?”

  Barbara stared at his mouth. She wondered what it would be like to kiss him, have his powerful arms around her, and run her hands through his thick hair.

  Cody waved a hand in front of her face. “Earth to Barbara. Barbara? The dagger?”

  Barbara snapped into the present. She couldn’t believe she had been daydreaming about pugnacious Kayden. His bad manners were anything but appealing to her sensitive self.

  Why am I so attracted to him?

  “What?” she asked, focusing on the twins.

  “The dagger…” Kayden said in a gruff voice that annoyed her even more for thinking how sexy he sounded despite the impatience.

  She dipped her hand into the backpack, brought out the unwrapped package, and gave it to Kayden. In turn, he removed the last wrapper and examined the weapon. The dagger was about seven inches long with a beautifully carved handle that made everybody stare at it in awe.

  “How can something so beautiful be so deadly?” Cody whispered. “I would love to get my hands on it to hunt. I’m sure it would be a useful weapon against a bear.”

  Kayden’s eyes were still fixed on the handle as his fingers gently skimmed the blade and the handle. He treated it like a fragile crystal keepsake.

  Barbara felt her throat dry and her breathing narrow as her mind, once again, fantasized about how his hands would feel touching and handling her like he was doing that weapon.

  “For centuries, we all thought these weapons were extinct, buried, destroyed. We are careful about how we dispose of the bones of our dead. We don’t want anyone to use them against us. Our species was almost decimated the last time we went to war with the humans.”

  The twins nodded, their eyes still marveling at the intricate work of the dagger blade. It was Charlie who spoke first, “It looks small.”

  “Yes, but it can pierce our flesh as a hot sword does butter. It’s also powerful against a lot of other supernaturals,” Kayden informed.

  “And bears,” Cody chimed in.

  Charlie slapped the back of his brother’s head. “Be serious.”

  Rubbing his head, Cody protested. “I’m being serious. Winter is coming, and we haven’t hunted the quota of meat we need to survive it. Catching another bear would help a lot.”

  “We’ll be going for supplies to the city since we have an extra mouth to feed, and I’m pretty sure she would like to eat something other than meat.”

  Barbara arched an eyebrow at the older brother who had just spoken, dwelling on what he just said.

  As if reading her mind, he added, “Yes, you are staying with us. Jason would kill me if I didn’t take care of his sister, even if we don’t like to entertain strangers.”

  “I can stay for the night because of the blizzard, but I have a job to go back to in the morning. I’ll be flying back home as soon as I can. I did what my brother wanted me to do. I brought the dagger…”

  Kayden held up his hand, stopping her mid-sentence. “Are you forgetting about the men who are chasing you? They will do whatever they can to track the location of this dagger. I’d rather not have you being tortured or worse,” Kayden muttered as he carefully wrapped the weapon.

  Barbara let out a deep sigh. She looked at the twins and her surroundings. The idea of spending more time with a hot, grumpy guy didn’t please her. The twins seemed nice, but she wanted a proper place to rest and a good bathtub to soak her tired body so that she could relax from the madness of the last few days. She was sure she wasn’t going to find it here. The house seemed big enough, but they were guys: males, hunters, uncivilized thugs who probably slept on the floor and ate from bowls with their hands. Though, all seemed impeccably clean.

  “You are safe with us, no one will…you know…” Charlie said as he ruffled his hair with an embarrassed expression. “We are perfect gentlemen.”

  “Where are your parents?”

  It was Cody who spoke this time. “Kayden raised us since we were five. Mom and Dad were killed in a war, decades ago.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” She folded her hands in her lap and gave them a sympathetic stare. “It’s Jason and me too. Our parents died in a plane crash twelve years ago. Jason was deployed and had to rush back to take care of me before I was sent to foster care.”

  “That’s all very nice and all, but we need to focus on the end game here,” Kayden interrupted. “You’ll stay with us for now. If the weather clears tomorrow, Cody can drive you to town, and you can buy warmer clothes and…” he looked at her feet, “boots. This isn’t the city.”

  “I’m fully aware of that,” Barbara snapped at him.

  “Good! While you’re shopping, Charlie and I wil
l drive to our clan leader’s settlement and tell them about Sir Baldwin’s plans. He will most certainly ask for a meeting with the other leaders, so they can decide on what action to take.”

  Barbara nodded, agreeing with his plan. “And then?”

  Facing Barbara, he replied, “We will return you to the city and get you on the next available plane.”

  “And Jason?”

  “What about him?”

  “He risked his life for your species. Don’t you think we should be looking for him?”

  “He’s a big boy, and he can handle himself. He should have never dragged you into this situation. He should have shipped the damn dagger directly to us. What the hell was he thinking?”

  Barbara’s eyes widened at the anger that possessed the dragon-shifter. “Maybe he was afraid that you no longer lived here. It’s been how long since you last talked to him?”

  “Years,” Kayden muttered before sighing and rubbing his nose bridge. “Once the clan leaders know about the dagger, Sir Baldwin will have no reason to chase your brother or keep him hostage if he already grabbed him.”

  Her heart raced with fear as she fisted her hands and leaned forward. “Then, he will kill him if he has him prisoner.”

  Kayden clenched his jaw. “I’ll make sure he won’t do anything to Jason. Plus, the secret organization Jason works for won’t be thrilled to know that one of them has been captured.”

  Barbara’s attention peeked. “Do you know how to contact his bosses?”

  Cody spoke, “Kayden used to work for them. What do you think the shifters were doing in Iraq years ago? They were looking for relics.”

  Barbara looked at her hands as her body tensed because of how worried she was about her brother. If there were a chance that he was still alive, she would take it and trust that rude man who seemed to want to get rid of her as soon as possible.

  “I’m feeling dizzy, where can I stay until the blizzard passes?” she asked the twins.

  “We sleep together in a bunk bed… There’s just…” He looked at Kayden as if asking for permission.

  Folding his arms, he breathed out. “She can stay in the spare room. Just give her clean sheets and make sure the water is warm enough for her to bathe.”

  Charlie smiled cheekily and rubbed his hands together. Then, he looked at Barbara. “Can you cook?”

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “Good! I’m tired of eating the same thing over and over again. I’m not saying today, but tomorrow you could cook for us.”

  “She’s our guest, not our maid,” Kayden reproached.

  “I would love to cook for you and Charlie,” Barbara said with a honeyed voice, completely ignoring Kayden. “It’s the least I can do for your hospitality.”

  “I’m going out to check on our animals. Feed her if she’s hungry,” Kayden ordered and headed in rapid strides to the door. Before anyone could say anything, he was gone.

  “What’s up with him?” Charlie asked Cody.

  Cody shrugged. “It’s beyond me.”

  Barbara stood up and grabbed her backpack. “Where can I rest?”

  “Follow me,” Charlie said and led her to a room at the far end of the corridor.

  Opening the door, the twin turned on the light and pointed at the wardrobe next to the window. “You can find clean sheets and fresh towels in there. The bathroom is just here on your right. You can lock it with the key for more privacy. I can’t say if it’s clean, though. Cody tends to leave his clothes scattered around since we don’t have many visitors.”

  “It’s fine. I’ll tidy up a bit if you make sure there’s hot water.”

  “The stove has been on all day. Just hurry up before Kayden goes first. He likes long showers.”

  Barbara nodded. Her cheeks burned when her mind pictured a naked Kayden under the spray of water, washing his fit body.

  “I’ll leave you to it,” Charlie said, stepping outside.

  She entered the room holding her bag as if it was a teddy bear. Her eyes examined the king-size bed, the large wardrobe, the small vanity next to the fireplace, and a rocking chair next to the bed. The quilt had miniature roses of different colors, and it looked ancient despite seeming clean. The whole room smelled fresh.

  “Thank you,” she said to Charlie.

  “Make yourself at home,” the dragon urged and closed the door.

  Later in the night, she awoke to the wind rattling the window and the eaves of the roof. It should have scared her, but she found it soothing. Despite feeling safe, she still felt apprehensive. Laying on the bed while looking at the darkness, her mind conjectured nightmares about her brother and her future.

  Chapter Nine

  LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

  Sir Baldwin was on a London golf course, having just finished playing a match with influential business associates. He was driven in a golf cart to the entrance where his car waited for him. A bodyguard opened the door, and he stepped inside the armored vehicle.

  He found Norton there on the phone.

  “All right, get back to me as soon as you get him.”

  “Who was that?” Sir Baldwin asked.

  “One of my men. They are getting closer to Jason Kent.”

  “Good, the sooner they get him, the better. What about the sister?”

  “We finally ascertained that she went to Barrow, Alaska. We talked with the taxi driver who picked her up. He told us she asked to be taken to a popular bar called Thirst Not.”

  “What do we know about that place?”

  “Not much. It’s just some dump ran by an ex-military guy.”

  “An old friend of Jason’s, perhaps?”

  “We are investigating, but it seems that Mr. Farmer’s file is classified. My men are contacting the right people.”

  “Great. Did you send men to the bar to see where the girl went? Is she still there?”

  “We don’t know, sir. I don’t have my men there, yet.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “There is a mighty blizzard over there, and the phone lines are down. A lot of planes have been grounded. But we will get her,” Norton promised and left him to his thoughts.

  Alaska. That was where the Fire Clan Leader lived. Could it be that Jason’s sister was with the dagger and was taking it to the other clan? Maybe Jason was heading there, too, and sent instructions to his sister to meet him there.

  Now, the other clan leaders were not the only people standing in the way of Baldwin’s greatness. Jason Kent and his sister were, too. Who could they have gone to see in Alaska?

  He was the leader of the Water Dragon Clan. He had been made that because he was rich and powerful. Of his clan, there were five of them. Of the five, three were old and weak. There was also the Air Clan. They were ten in number, and their leader was a weak, old man who was made leader because he was the eldest of the members. The Earth Clan had six members. Their leader was a wealthy man who lived in Italy. Then, there was the Fire Clan. They were the most prominent clan. They had twenty strong males who lived together with their mates. There were also a few other members scattered around. From the Fire Clan, he was well acquainted with the leader and his next successor, Kayden. Altogether, the dragon shape-shifters were less than one hundred, if he counted the few children that had survived and were growing up. Amidst billions of humans and animal species, the dragons were indeed outnumbered.

  But I can make us numerous again. I can wipe out most of the Earth’s population and make the dragons roam freely in the skies. Then we can make the humans our slaves and hand them their comeuppance for hunting us down to near extinction. Anyone who stands in my way will be annihilated.

  Dragons could dodge bullets; they were immune to swords and blades, but daggers made of dragon bone and dragon fire would kill them in their human shape. That dagger was also unique, a lot more than those fools believed. It had been made at the time of the great gods. It had special powers that allowed anyone who possessed it to steal the powers of the people who
were killed by it. Only he, Norton, and, his contact in the Keepers Organization, where Jason Kent worked and should have returned the weapon, possessed that knowledge. He couldn’t use his connections in the Mobius Society. His associates would covet the dagger for themselves. It was crucial to track down Jason and his sister and get his hands on that weapon.

  Chapter Ten

  BARROW, ALASKA

  Ten in the morning and the blizzard was still going strong. It seemed it would never end. Barbara stood beside the window, staring at the trees being violently blown in all directions as the snow swirled in blinding formations. Being cooped up in the room wasn’t her idea of spending quality free time. She decided to get something to eat and face the other occupants of the house.

  As she entered the living room, she saw the Carter twins playing an RPG game on a smaller screen and bumping their shoulders while competing against one another. They seemed entertained, and she wondered how old they were. They acted like teenagers and not full-grown men with hunting and killing skills. Looks can deceive, though. She knew that from experience.

  Probing further into the space, she found Kayden. His hair was still wet from a shower, and he wore a black sweatshirt and a pair of blue jeans that clung to his muscled legs and torso.

  He was beyond gorgeous, standing there with a cup of coffee, watching the TV screen from the kitchen. Her eyes snapped to the floor with the unpleasant feeling that she was checking him out, and she shouldn’t because he wasn’t the nicest of the hosts.

  She breathed a greeting. “Morning.”

  “Morning!” the twins recited in unison as if they had practiced for that moment.

  “Fresh coffee. Stove,” one of them said.

  She had no idea which one was Charlie and which was Cody because they had their back to her. Yet they wore different clothes, so once she checked the color of their eyes, she would know who was who.

  She glanced at Kayden. He merely sipped on his mug and didn’t bother to talk. It rattled her, but she wasn’t going to beg for his attention.

  Walking to the TV, she listened to the woman reporting the news. Most of it concerned the events in the Middle East, Asia, the weather, and a shootout that occurred in Moscow. She aimed her enhanced hearing to that piece of news as her gut told her that it had something to do with her brother. Stepping closer to the TV, she folded her arms and listened to the report. She soon found out that the identity of the man who had dived out of the car before the explosion was still a mystery. She couldn’t help but wonder if it had been her brother and if he was safe.