Kiernan, page 12
part #4 of Sea Dragon Shifters Series
And heaven knew, his mate was fascinated with hoards. Maybe she had a gene or two of dragon DNA hidden away in that luscious body of hers?
They couldn’t have lost her forever. What made his sea dragon so certain?
No reason to go out there the beast howled.
Wait a minute. We have an excellent reason to go. If Leopold—he couldn’t use the k-word—hurt our Delia, we need to destroy him. And recover her body. Our mate deserves a traditional burial at sea.
Kiernan shoved to his feet and jogged into the water.
Duty first, mighty sea dragon, before grief. After we obliterate our enemy, after our mate is avenged, then we mourn.
Chapter 22
Cordelia
Delia opened her eyes, didn’t recognize the dimly lit room and immediately closed them again. Oh lord, she was dizzy and going to be sick. Her stomach had to be almost empty, but it still revolted, objecting to whatever drug that man had injected in her. To add insult, the nautically decorated room she was in, kept rolling from side to side.
She swallowed the saliva gathering in her mouth. IF she was going to be sick, it presented an opportunity to find out how many people were on this tub.
“I’m going to throw up. All over the furniture,” she shouted, “Right now. Grab a trash can or something. Hurry.”
No sound of movement, no response. Had they actually left her alone? Keeping her eyes closed, she tested her hands. Both wrists were tied together in front. Her ankles seemed to be free. She slid her feet off the navy-blue sofa and onto the floor. Great news. Her feet weren’t tied up and she still had her shoes on.
Delia sat up. Could she escape by simply walking out the door and jumping overboard?
She rested her head on the back of the sofa for a few moments. If she made another sudden move, she really would get sick. And she refused to give Leopold or his goons the satisfaction. After a few deep breaths, she felt better.
Where were Krank and Leopold?
It seemed like she was missing a golden opportunity to get away, yet deep down she knew there was no place to go. The ocean was way too cold for her to survive a swim back to shore. Not without a wetsuit or, better yet, her sea dragon.
Tears burned at the back of her eyes. What a time to realize she was hopelessly in love with Kiernan. The happily ever after kind of love.
She’d spent most of her adult life worrying about her ability to make a future relationship work because her mom had screwed up so often. Come to find out, all it took was falling in love with the right dragon and those insecurities evaporated. The corners of her mouth twitched. She couldn’t wait to—
Delia froze. Strained to listen. There were voices on the deck. Right outside. Scrambling to lay back down, she positioned herself. Her racing heart thundered in her ears. At the last minute, she closed her eyes.
A few agonizingly tense moments later, the voices moved on.
Slowly opening her eyes, Delia found herself weak and shaking from fear. Time to get the hell out of here. As powerful and influential as Kiernan was, he wasn’t sending a SEAL team to rescue her. If she intended to survive, she’d better rescue herself. And fast.
But how?
This time she leaped to her feet. Started pacing the room while recalling details from every escape book she’d ever read. Or movie she’d watched. Weapons. As she paced, Delia took stock. She had on shoes with laces. Socks. Shorts. She patted her pockets. A couple of coins. In the opposite pocket was the magazine for the gun.
She sighed. The perfectly good weapon dropped on the floor of the beach house.
Forget it. In what universe would you and your gun win against Leopold and his paid criminals? Forget the gun. You’re a well-read woman and the sea dragon’s mate. Act like it.
She returned to the inventory. Where was the cameo bracelet, her hoard gift? On the counter in the master bathroom. Her shoulders sagged with relief.
Where was the headset? Missing.
Stretching her arms to one side, she could reach inside the pocket with the gun magazine. Wiggling her fingers and bending her torso, she grasped the butt end, worked it up and finally out. Holding up the magazine, she examined the metal shaft filled with bullets. The part that slid into the gun and dispensed the bullets, was stainless steel. Not exactly sharp. But it was shiny, and rigid, and if held correctly, it looked like a sharp weapon.
She needed more. Starting a second lap around the room she was energized with planning her escape. Carefully checking tabletops and drawers for pens, lighters, anything weapon-ish. What would MacGyver do?
Sliding a ballpoint pen into her bra, she tucked the small box of wooden matches into her waistband. Bigger weapons. The tall flower vase that had caught her eye turned out to be plastic. Shit.
Delia assumed this was Leopold’s borrowed yacht. Maybe it had a lifeboat? Or a radio. A satellite phone? She should snoop around on deck while she had the chance. She heard voices again, this time above. On the upper deck? The bridge?
Angry words. A falling-out between the bad guys?
How far were they from the beach? Turning off the single lamp and the overhead light made the room completely dark. Opening the heavy drape just a crack, she peered out. Dark ocean as far as she could see. Frightened, she hurried to the opposite side and pulled the drapes open an inch. Thank goodness. In the distance she recognized the lights of the Tybee pier.
Pressing her face to the glass and shielding her eyes, she strained to see the house. Nothing. Then she remembered Ji and Kiernan had gone to some trouble to darken the house. Great when they were hiding from Leopold. Not so great when she had to swim home. She could use a beacon to guide her.
More than a light to follow, she needed a wetsuit. Did people on a boat like this store snorkeling or SCUBA equipment on board? Where? She needed to see more of the vessel.
She returned to the ornate wooden table with the ladder back chair. A nautical version of a writing desk. In the single center drawer, she found a stack of expensive stationary, note cards, a kit to make wax seals, and a calligraphy set. She pulled the drawer out.
And stuck in the back corner was a silver letter opener. Pointy and sharp enough. She replaced the drawer and for a moment considered starting a fire. No, but was there an extinguisher in here?
The voices came closer.
Delia dashed back to her couch, stashed the letter opener behind a throw pillow. Lying down in the same position, this time she didn’t bother to close her eyes.
The double doors at the end of the room opened, Leopold stormed in, followed by Krank, the brut from the parade.
“Sit up,” Leopold growled. “You know why you’re here. Don’t bother to argue or try to stall.”
She swung her legs to the floor and rested her bound hands in her lap. Without answering, she tried to look cooperative. Too soon to start a fight. She’d watch for an opening.
Leopold seemed pleased at her cooperation and said to Krank, “Go get the notary. Make sure he brings his seal but not his drink. He’s had enough of the expensive Brandy.”
It still might be useful to figure out how many people were on the yacht. “Is he,” she nodded in the direction of Krank’s back, “the witness?”
“Yes, and the captain. What do you care?”
There were four men, so far. Leopold was following the plan Barb had overheard. Which meant, the minute she signed, Delia was doomed. She needed to make her move now, before Krank returned and there were three of them in here.
The thought of stabbing Leopold terrified her. Concentrating, she took slow, calming breathes. Then, twisting her torso around, she retrieved the letter opener. Gripping the handle, she hid the blade in her lap.
When Leopold walked to the desk, turning his back to her, she rose silently. Before she could start toward him, Krank burst through the double doors struggling to maneuver a balding drunk man in a brown suit.
As Delia sat back down, Leopold spun around. A sweaty Krank wrestled the man toward her couch.
“Not there,“ Leopold yelled. “Put him in the chair beside the desk.”
A moment later, all three men had their backs to her.
Now. Delia dashed to Krank, elbowed the drunk aside and plunged the letter opener into Krank’s neck where it joined his shoulder. When she pulled the blade out, blood spurted onto the ropes binding her wrists and her hands.
Krank groaned and dropped like a stone to the floor. The drunk also landed on the floor, clutching his notary case and watching her with bleary eyes.
Delia brandished the bloody letter opener at a stunned Leopold.
“Don’t move, stepbrother, or you’re next.”
Chapter 23
Kiernan
Kiernan’s sea dragon sped through the ocean toward the yacht. The dragon registered the faint sounds of the men from the inflatable raft treading water, struggling to keep themselves afloat.
Any sharks in the area? Kiernan asked.
No.
Moving boats? Kiernan asked.
One. Small boat. Other side of the pier.
Listen for revved engines. Coast Guard.
The dragon gave him a listless grunt.
Kiernan tried feeling for his mate. Some shifters, once they were mated, could keep track of each other by sensing their mate’s location. His dragon seemed in tune with Delia’s location and her physical status already.
If she’d been tossed overboard and succumbed to the cold water, she…her..um, she should be somewhere down here, near the yacht. The current wasn’t strong tonight. Knowing that, he realized he didn’t have the heart to remind the dragon to watch for her.
He could hear a soft thumping sound ahead.
What’s that noise?
Something smaller bumping against the big boat.
If it was the speed boat tied to the yacht, could they assume Delia had been alive when she left the house? That if she’d been well enough to sign her name, she’d been worth Leopold bringing all the way out to the yacht.
Kiernan snorted at his pathetic attempt to grasp at straws. What a fool.
Can you tell if Delia was alive in the little boat? he asked the sea dragon.
No answer. Instead they rose to the surface. The dragon did his alligator imitation with only his snout, eyes, and the top of his head above water. A sleek boat built for speed, or water skiing, bobbed near the stern of the yacht, attached by a line.
The sea dragon took one sniff and ducked under the bigger boat. When he reached the yacht’s midpoint he resurfaced and let loose a spine-chilling scream.
What?
Our mate is alive. She’s here. Was dead, no sounds. Now she’s alive. the sea dragon babbled with joy. On the big boat.
What the fuck? Wait a damn minute. She wasn’t making any sounds, so you went straight to ‘she’s dead’?
She rode in the little boat.
Holy Hell. He was dizzy with relief. You just took ten years off our life. Now, thank the heavens, we need a rescue plan.
Destroy the boats. Eat our enemies the dragon insisted.
Whoa. Settle down. How about I make sure she’s able to swim with us before we scuttle all the boats. We might need one.
Our mate can swim with us.
Until a minute ago, you’d declared her dead. Now you want her to swim home. I’m going aboard and hope to hell I don’t screw up the escape plan she has going. Whatever she’s up to, I’ll offer my help and let her know to meet us at the steps. If she’s injured, I’ll probably need to use the speed boat.
When the sea dragon was next the boarding platform, Kiernan shifted and snuck up the ladder. As his head cleared the gunwale, he heard shouting.
“That’s my girl,” he whispered. No need to search for Delia. The yelling from the main saloon pinpointed her location, and that of two men. One was furious. Kiernan snuck along the outside deck until he found the double doors to the saloon. Opening one a crack, he peeked in.
Across the room a big bruiser was sprawled out unconscious on the floor. With what looked like a neck wound dripping blood onto an expensive looking rug.
Delia stood facing a youngish man, Leopold? He had no visible weapon and his hands were extended as if to fend off an attack. The second man, older and drunk struggled to get to his feet. Kiernan didn’t recognize him in profile.
His mate, focused on Leopold, was brandishing and slashing with something bloody and shiny. A letter opener? She jabbed at Leopold. He jumped back. Her wrists were tied together, her hands dripped blood.
“Help me, you idiot,” Leopold screamed.
The older man, finally upright on unsteady feet, made no move forward or back.
Kiernan didn’t want to distract Delia. Still, he could even the odds. Sliding into the room, he stepped closer to the older man and gave him a fisted blow on the side of the neck.
The man’s leather packet hit the floor, followed by his unconscious body. Both Leopold and Delia glanced at him. He looked pissed, she looked happy to see him.
“Pack it in, Leopold,” he said, moving to Delia, “you’ve lost this battle.” Careful not to turn his back on Leopold, he untied her wrists and she switched the letter opener to the other hand.
“I suggest,” Kiernan continued, “you get medical help for the man with the neck wound.” Never taking his eyes off Leopold, he and Delia took a step back, toward the door.
“Ready to go, sweetheart?” he added for good measure.
The yacht’s engines rumbled to life.
Damn it.
A big grin blooming on his face, Leopold circled around them and then moved quickly to the saloon door. “You aren’t going anywhere, bitch, except where I tell the captain to take us. As you, tough guy, take a seat. I’ll be back after a word with my captain.”
Leopold stormed out, slamming the door behind him. A key turned, locking them in, and he was gone.
Delia threw herself in his arms and their kiss was long and deep.
“I love you,” he said, “And I’m so proud of you. You’re doing a magnificent job escaping from Leopold. I assume you didn’t sign anything?”
“Of course not.”
“What a woman. And you found your weapon here?”
“Yes,” she said. “I stabbed Krank with this letter opener. Is he dead?”
“Still breathing. May I offer you a ride home?”
“Any chance we could we take the speedboat?”
“Stealing,” he said. “Much more romantic to go by sea dragon.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. Then he kicked open the locked door and they went out on the deck. The yacht was moving.
Kiernan hugged his mate. “Go down to the boarding platform. I’ll shift, surface right there, and match the boat’s speed. If you crawl aboard and stretch out in the dragon’s air flow, you’ll hardly get wet at all. And dry quickly. Remember to use footholds as well as hand holds. I love you, my resourceful, brave sea dragon mate.”
* * *
Cordelia
Delia reached the ladder and noticed the speedboat was gone. Had Leopold used it to escape? Or untied it to deprive her and Kiernan with a way home? Didn’t matter, she had her ride. As she descended the ladder, a shadow appeared beneath the water right next to the platform. When the dragon arched his shoulders out of the water she went to her knees and crawled across his scales. Finding her spot beyond the row of spikes, she laid flat in the path of warm air. Stretched out, the dry current enveloped her body. This time she was careful to locate spike-foot-rests within the air flow.
She rested her cheek against the warm scales right below the gills, closed her eyes, and said, “I’m ready to go.”
The sea dragon submerged slowly, moving and turning like she was precious cargo made from spun glass. Soon, she was above the surface, blinking at the stars, as Kiernan slid his huge dragon length along the sandy bottom of the shore and glided to a stop. Delia couldn’t believe they were home.
Ji and Barb stood in the ankle-deep water, each holding a fluffy terrycloth bathrobe. She half tumbled; half slid from the dragon’s back. Barb steadied her and put the robe over her shoulders. Kiernan shifted and hurried to her side.
“Thank you,” she said to Ji while Kiernan stuck his arms into his robe. She gave Barb a big hug along with her thanks. A moment later, Kiernan had her pressed to his side. The man radiated heat and it felt wonderful.
“Shall we all meet for breakfast?” Kiernan asked as he shook Ji’s hand a second time.
“Please,” Delia urged. “And the Paladins. There’s a lot to catch up on.”
“We’ll let everyone know,” Ji assured them.
Arm in arm, she and Kiernan walked into the house, and up to the master bedroom. Delia went straight to the bathroom counter and fastened her cameo bracelet on her wrist. “I missed this.”
She turned and melted into Kiernan. “I was really afraid—”
“I thought I’d lost you,” Kiernan said at the same time.
“I love you,” she moaned. “Make love to me.”
“I love you, Delia. I’ll adore you for the rest of our lives.”
“Will you shower with me?” she asked.
He kissed the tip of her nose. “What’s with you and water?”
She gave him a saucy look. “Ever since I met this sexy shifter, a sea dragon, I just love to get naked and wet.”
“The perfect woman, the ideal mate.”
“Come on.” She led the way back into the master bath, shedding her robe and clothes, leaving a trail. He turned on the rainforest shower, while she set out bath sheets.
They took turns soaping and rinsing each other and Kiernan shampooed and conditioned her long hair. When they were both clean and thoroughly aroused, Kiernan reached for the condom. She touched his wrist, stopping him.
“I’m on birth control. Can we make love without protection?”
“I’d love that.”
She went up on her toes, curled her arms around his neck and kissed him for all she was worth. It was so exciting and at the same time comforting to be back in his arms after facing danger.
