Defy Me Page 6

  Gah. She had places to go, people to see. Family to find. Maybe they could explain what was going on with her and her dragon. She'd probably get to her birthplace sooner on the back of a dragon than hitchhiking. Not that she'd even consider riding on his back. "I wish you would stop doing that. Talking into my head, I mean. Can you hear my thoughts?"

  No. As far as I know only dragons can communicate with each other with mind speak. He scratched at a spot on his chest. Or with their mates.

  That word, mates, stopped Yvaine in her tracks. "Exsqueeze me?"

  Don't worry, babe. I don't get a mate. Ever.

  An intense denial hit her in the stomach like a bad veggie burrito. "What do you mean by mate? Like a BFF? You're making it sound like dragons are from down under, but you don't sound Australian. Wait. Why don't you get to have friends?"

  Mate. As in soul mate. One true love. The one being in the universe who is the match for your true self.

  "Oh." Ohhhhh. Well that plucking sucked. Yvaine may not know anything about soul mates, but she wanted to believe there was someone out there for everyone. Even weirdos like her and Jett deserved love.

  “You don't get one? Sounds like bullshirt to me, beetee dubs. But I hear ya.” Why was she arguing with him? He deserved to have a woman or a dragon woman in his life. But she wasn't it. She didn't want to be his soul mate. Yvaine smacked her tongue inside of her mouth a few times. A sour taste swirled in the back of her throat.

  You must have dragon blood in you.

  "Is that a thing? Like people walking around not knowing they are the descendants of dragons? Um, eww. Like did a dragon god have sex with a human as some point in history? Come to think of it, I do know some nuns who definitely seem like they could breath fire, so maybe."

  As far as I know, there are no other female dragons or even female dragon descendants. But it is the only explanation I can come up with. He looked everywhere but at her.

  Yvaine had no idea who her parents were and by the sound of it she may not even know what they were. She rubbed her forehead. "I'm having a real hard time believing I'm anything other than a slightly weird human."

  You're anything but human. That was obvious to me the second you walked into the pub last night. Where are your people? Why didn't they teach you about your abilities?

  Ouch. Sore point. "Maybe they didn't know either."

  They wouldn't have left her if they had. She wouldn't have grown up thinking she was nothing more than a freak.

  Then let's go to them now and I will force them to teach you how to use your abilities. Where are they?

  Now it was Yvaine's turn to look anywhere but at him and scratch around in the dirt with the toe of her shoe. She shrugged and chewed on the inside of her cheek.

  I see. The snout of the dragon snuffled her in the throat again which was stupidly comforting. The glow from the necklace she was wearing lit up and little sparks floated around in the air between them. Jett'f form shifted again and in place of a snout his lips were against her skin. Cheeze-whiz that felt good.

  "What a pair of lost souls we are, you and I. Maybe that's why I have this debilitating attraction to you." He kissed her collarbone and then scraped his teeth across her skin.

  Yvaine's knees almost gave out when he did that. "Oh, gosh. Do that again."

  "This?" He nibbled on her ear and sucked it into his mouth. His hands wandered south, one settling into the small of her back and the other cupping her butt cheek.

  Normally she didn't let anyone touch her bum. She had always been too self conscious about the size. She leaned into Jett's touch. "No. The other thing. Although that's nice too and you could go back to that later."

  "Ah. You mean this." He squeezed her butt and pulled her closer, grinding his pelvis against hers.

  Whoa. Either there was dragon in his pocket or he was very happy to see her. "Stop teasing me. Do the thing with my neck. Please."

  "Mmm," he growled and Yvaine felt the rumbles all the way to her core and between her legs. "I like hearing you beg me. Do it again and maybe I'll give you what you want."

  That was enough of that. She speared her hands into his hair and pulled him down to the sensitive skin that was really doing the begging for him. No one had ever said that space between her shoulder and her neck was so sensitive. "Do it, Jett."

  He licked that spot and drug his teeth over her skin again. They both moaned and the world around them filled up with black light and red sparks. Or maybe those were just behind her eyelids. She couldn't seem to keep them open for all the intensity of the kisses he was giving to her. He nipped at her skin with his teeth and she wanted nothing more than for him to bite her.

  She'd never wanted anyone to do that to her. She'd wanted plenty of boys to kiss her. Not that very many had. Consequences of living at a convent with nuns. Biting hadn't even been in her fantasies. She definitely wanted Jett to use his teeth on her. She gripped his hair tighter and glued her body to his.

  He breathed her in and moaned her name. "Yvaine. What are you doing to me? Why can't I control anything about myself around you?"

  She didn't get a chance to answer because a huge explosion shook the ground. Together they stared at the burst of flames and dark black smoke spewing into the air no less than a mile away. A wave of heat and percussion smacked into them and Jett's dragon form flickered to the surface before he tackled her to the ground covering her body with his.

  For about the four-thousandth time today adrenaline shot through her. Very much more of this and she was going to run out of the stuff. Although, it was just as rapidly being replaced with whatever hormones had her girly parts excited about being squished under Jett. She took several shuttered breaths which didn't help even a little bit since her nose was all filled up with the smoky sexy as sin scent of him. That must be a new version of Axe body spray. L'eau de Drakon. Mmm. Oh, cripes, she needed to get her head and those excited girl bits to quit it. "Do you think that was the petrol station?"

  Jett stared down at her and his eyes were smiling like he knew everything that had been going through her head. "Yeah. We're not as far from the town as I'd hoped we were. We need to get out of here."

  "Uh-huh." Was that voice that sounded all Marylin Monroe-ish?

  "Probably." He didn't move. His eyes did though. Down to her mouth and back up again.

  Had all the air suddenly gone from this big wide open field? Or maybe she'd forgotten how to breath. She did manage to croak out, "yeah, probably."

  Jett looked disappointed and rolled off of her. Yvaine felt really dumb for missing the heat and weight of him over her. It was for the best because she had totally been ready to get it on with him right here in the middle of a field. That had to be the left over adrenaline talking. That was a thing, she was sure of it. It was in movies anyway.

  He reached down and grabbed her hand, pulling her back up. Without releasing her fingers from his, he led her back toward the car wreckage. "Change me back into my dragon form and I will fly us somewhere safe."

  "Umm." She was starting to believe that maybe she had some other powers besides her Houdinism, but she sure as shirt didn't know how to use them on purpose. Besides. She didn't want to fly anywhere. She preferred two feet on the ground at all times, thank you very much.

  Jett rolled his eyes. "You're going to tell me you're not doing it, aren't you?"

  "Even if I am, I don't know how. Can't we just walk. I like walking. Or how about the train. Europe has great rails." She was just about to expound upon the benefits of a Eurail pass and how they could go pretty much anywhere when a second explosion sounded from the town. This one wasn't as strong as the last, and all they did was duck a little. Like that was going to do anything. At least her heart wasn't beating out of her chest this time.

  "Turn around, I have a theory." He spun her so she was facing the car with him behind her.

  Yvaine brushed the dirt off her jeans and picked the grass out of the unicorn's mouth on her t-shirt where it had gotten mash
ed in. That was going to stain. It had been a long time since she'd had new clothes like these ones. She hated to have them ruined. Maybe they could stop into a shop when they got to the next town. The train station would definitely have something touristy she could buy...with Jett's money in her pocket. "What's your idea?"

  Jett smacked her ass hard and shouted in her ear. "Spider."

  Yvaine jumped at least a foot and almost fell into the wreckage. "Ack. What the H E double hockey-sticks, Jett?"

  Interesting.

  Yvaine grabbed her throat and took a long breath to get her heart to slow back down. "Your theory was if you scared the hiccups out of me you'd shift back into a dragon?"

  Yes, and it worked. Now get back in the car. We need to leave this area before the Black Dragon figures out where we are.

  He was so deadpan that Yvaine had to laugh. "What? No. It's literally a wreck if you hadn't noticed."

  I did. If I touch you, that also triggers your magic and I'll turn back into a human. I can't fly us out of here if I do. He pushed the car away from the tree and then dipped his head indicating she should get in the freed car.

  Huh. She wasn't convinced. "But nothing happened when I kissed you last night. Or when you were dragging me through the batstriches back there in the town. So how do you figure?"

  You weren't wearing that magic necklace last night.

  Yvaine put her hand over the charm hanging from her neck. It sat so comfortably in the center of her chest, she could hardly remember a time when it hadn't been there. It was so much a part of her she could feel it in her soul. So why couldn't she remember where or even when she'd gotten it? But Jett was right. She must have taken it off. Strange.

  Dark clouds rolled through the smoke from the petrol station explosion and the sky darkened. Uh-oh. That did not look good. She inched slightly closer to the car with all its jagged metal edges. Crapballs, she did not want to get in there nor did she want Jett to pick her up with it and fly away. What if she fainted? What if he dropped her. What if an airplane collided with them and everyone died but the aviation disaster inspectors couldn't figure out why there was a Porsche, a dinosaur, and an extra weird girl in the wreckage along with the passengers and the black box.

  Gulp. That building they'd been on top of was the highest she'd ever been off the ground. They should have started walking instead of half making out in that field. Maybe she should start running.

  We need to go, now. Get in. Jett spit a tiny burst of flames near her feet, not close enough to actually burn her, but she moved away to avoid it anyway.

  "Hey. Keep your fire to yourself there, mister. I'm going already. But what if we--"

  Get in the god-damned car. We've got about seven seconds before demon dragons start showing up in those shadows. We escaped once, but the Black Dragon is not stupid and he will not let us evade him again.

  "Jett comes now."

  Yvaine heard the beast pop up behind her. His hot breath curled the hair on the back of her neck, and the claw that speared through her back that came out through the front of her chest smelled like a combination of rotting hamburger and cotton candy.

  Mmm. Cotton candy.

  That was the last thing that went through her mind before the world went all rainbows and sparkles.

  In Which Jett Becomes a Douchepotato

  Even though he was in dragon form with his tough armored scales, and nothing had touched him, a pain so intense and overwhelming hit him directly in the heart. He pitched to the side and fell onto the shattered hood of the car.

  Yvaine.

  His vision blurred and he had to fight for consciousness. He could not let his cursed brother take him to hell and leave Yvaine all alone here to die. Her head lolled to the side but he couldn't see any blood. A slimy silvery substance like pure mercury coated the claw of the demon dragon who'd speared her through the heart.

  The demon dragon was trembling, not from fear, but almost like a seizure. Jett doubted now that she was any sort of a dragon. He hoped whatever Yvaine was, her blood was lethal. None of the cursed would die by his hand, but he wished death upon this particular brother of his. Which appeared imminent if the way his eyes were rolling back in his head and the silvery froth foamed at his mouth.

  Jett struggled to his feet and kicked the demon dragon away. It's claw made a horrifying slurpy sucking sound as it pulled back out of Yvaine's chest. The silver continued to flow out of the wound and pooled on the ground. He didn't dare touch it or Yvaine. If he were to shift into his weaker human form now there would be no saving either of them. If she was even still alive.

  The tiniest moan passed through her lips, so quiet he wasn't even sure he'd heard it or imagined it. But his vision cleared and some of his strength seeped back into his muscles. The necklace at her chest flickered and the black light it emitted swirled around the wound, it's red sparks crawling inside of her. Jett shook his head to make sure what he was seeing was real.

  Son, get your ass up. This is no time to be lazing around. The voice of another dragon sounded in his head. It wasn't his father, this male was older, kinder in his demands. I can't risk showing myself with Jara so near. It would spoil the element of surprise. So this is all you're going to get of me.

  Who are you? Jett pushed up and tested his wings to see if he could spread them, use them to get out of there.

  We'll save that discussion for another day. For the time being you only need to know that we're on your side. Now hurry up. The disembodied voice put some sort of power behind his words and Jett found himself fully upright and filled with renewed strength.

  He glanced around to see what he could use to lift Yvaine into the car without touching her. The convertible top that had been stowed into the back of the car had sprung free and was partially unfurled. Jett grabbed it in his talons and ripped the metal and material from its housing. He stomped on it being careful not to shred the fabric and it spread nicely into a hammock shape. Screw the car. He'd carry her out of here in this contraption. As soon as he figured out how to get her onto it.

  A woman's voice, beautiful and sensual, but scared popped into his head. She was most definitely not talking to him. Kur, he's coming. I can't see him. I just can't. We must go now.

  Yes, my love. I know. Give the girl a little boost and we'll be gone.

  An uncomfortably long silence had Jett worried she wasn't going to help Yvaine. It was on the tip of his tongue to either promise her retribution if she didn't or anything she wanted if she would. Not like he could repay either. Hard to meet or justice or rewards when you had no idea who you were talking too.

  Fine. She was so not happy to be here. But you talk to that boy about what he needs to do so this doesn't happen again. I will not have a douchepotato in my family. Do you hear me?

  Douchepotato? Family? Who was she talking about? Not Jett. Except, there was no one else around that the woman could be calling him a feminine hygiene vegetable.

  Yes, dear. I'll take care of it.

  Jett didn't care who or what these being were, or their agenda in helping him. He couldn't care that they implied that he was family. He only wanted to get Yvaine and get away. The black and red light from the necklace shimmered and became an almost blinding white light. It lifted Yvaine up and her unconscious body gently floated into the center of the make-shift stretcher. Jett didn't waste any time gathering the ends of the contraption and lifting up into the air. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he needed to get as far away from that field and into the sunlight where the Black Dragon could not see him.

  Take her to the Green Dragon Wyvern, son. He will be able to heal her.

  Jett didn't think twice about whether that instruction would mean his own certain demise. Okay, maybe he did. The Green Dragon Wyvern and his mate owed him. But dragon warriors were just as likely to betray him as repay any favors. He was only one step removed from their greatest enemy and they didn't trust him.

  That was okay, because he didn't trust anyone. He
had spent his recent freedom building up a hoard of favors from the Wyverns. They all owed him something except for the Red one. That guy hated his guts even though they'd never even crossed paths. At least Ciara, the Green Wyvern's mate was an ally. Sort of. He'd use that in to get the dragon to heal Yvaine. Maybe she could help explain Yvaine's powers and get them unlinked too.

  Jett immediately banked left and pushed his wings hard to gain altitude. The sooner he could get to the outskirts of Prague and the Green Wyvern's villa there. The better. Only then and when Yvaine was out of danger would he take the time to think about who it was that was helping them.

  She will heal. When she does quit screwing around. The voice faded as if by flying in this direction he was leaving the speaker behind. Mark her, claim her. His final words came to him more of a thought than whispered mindspeak. Make her your mate.

  Jett's wings faltered and he sank about a hundred meters in altitude before he recovered. No. He must have heard that wrong. He couldn't. He didn't have a soul. Without that he couldn't have a mate either.

  Mark her.

  He hadn't been raised in the dragon warrior culture to know if that term had a particular significance or if it was simply literal. He'd seen the dragon tattoo-like marks on the mates he'd encountered. Ciara had a sparkling green dragon etched into the skin at her neck. Exactly in the same spot where he'd wanted to bite Yvaine. That need was pure instinct. He obviously couldn't even do that correctly. Ciara's mark was beautiful and had probably been lovingly applied by her dragon mate. Jett's mouth ached to chomp down on the female he was attracted to. God, he was such a... douchepotato.

  Why he was even thinking about this, he didn't know. He could probably mark Yvaine, clumsily. He could lay claim to her too. Which would all pretty much ruin her chances of ever finding a real mate. He'd already screwed up another woman's life thinking he could trick the universe. Portia would never forgive him. He'd like to blame his father, the Black Witch, and the Succubus Queen for putting the idea in his head in the first place.