Mated by the Dragon (13 page)

“Congratulations, sir. I had no idea.” Harris recovered from his surprise swiftly and gave Chloe a courteous smile followed by a firm handshake. “Can I get you anything, Mrs. Drakenstone? Coffee? Tea?”

“Water for her.”

Chloe nudged him sharply in the ribs with her elbow. Saul’s soft grunt indicated she hit the right spot. “Don’t speak for me.”

Saul held up both hands. “My apologies. Order as you will, my love.”

After a pause, Chloe sighed. He was right about the water and until she knew the upper limits of what his personal assistant could acquire, she didn’t want to ask for something more exotic like a pomegranate and mango smoothie, no matter how great that sounded. “Water will do.” She whirled to face Saul before he opened his mouth. “Don’t start,” she warned.

“I have started nothing,” Saul said in his defense. The smug expression remained. “I plan to tour Chloe around the studio.”

“No troubles. I’ll catch up to you, sir.”

Harris left their company to retrieve her drink then Saul guided her further into the ostentatious building. Friendly employees and clerks uttered respectful greetings in passing that Chloe returned with a shy smile. Of the many people present, none approached Saul directly, and when he exuded such an intimidating aura, Chloe couldn’t blame them.

God, he looks fantastic in a suit. Mahasti really knows how to get him dressed properly.
Despite a hundred years of walking among humans, Saul couldn’t pair colors to save his life. And while he did understand the fine art of self-grooming, his golden hair hung loose around his shoulders, courtesy of Chloe’s fondness for brushing it each morning.

“At the moment, we are filming the indoor scenes for Malignant. Would you like to walk onto the set?”

“Hell yeah!” Chloe exclaimed. A few heads turned her direction. Heat rushed to her cheeks and she dipped her head to avoid meeting any curious stares. While speculative eyes burned holes through her, Chloe clung closer to Saul’s immaculately dressed torso and tried to walk with grace.

The power suit lent him a strong resemblance to an Armani model, but Chloe fretted over the tight buttons around her own midriff. She had tried to suck it in a few times in front of the mirror while Saul laughed and taunted her with Leiv’s homemade bear claws. She wolfed down two of the gooey treats before they left for the office.

“We must be quiet during the filming, but we will stand to the rear near the director,” Saul instructed her.

The director of the film, a petite, pixie-sized young woman with red hair, flashed them both a cheerful thumbs up when they approached to stand beside her. Saul placed his arm around Chloe’s shoulders and watched the action.

Chloe’s favorite actress, a sassy brunette named Mia Patrick, ducked for cover as the ceiling fan groaned in protest and shook. Green screens dominated the back wall with a partial set built on the stage. Mia and her male counterpart hurried through the apartment setting, fleeing an unseen assailant. Carefully timed pyrotechnic blasts destroyed small knickknacks on shelves and a motorized construct flipped over the living room table.

Pissy ghost I’m guessing. Or a demon. I forget what the premise was on this one.

Mia rushed to the apartment door and tugged on the knob to no avail. They were trapped inside.

“Cut!” the director cried. “That was perfect! Take a break, we’ll pick up from there in five.” As people began to disperse for water breaks and snacks, the young woman immediately whirled on her stool to face Chloe and Saul. She hopped down and put out her hand. “Hi. You must be Mrs. Drakenstone.”

“Uh… Yeah. But how did you know?”

“Word came in when you arrived at the studio. A pair of good eyes spotted that.” She pointed to Chloe’s left hand where her fire opal gleamed.

“Oh!” Chloe’s eye-catching engagement ring rarely left her fingers, but she adored their matching bands the most. A single circle of titanium revealed he was off the market. “We heard there were troubles on one of the movie sets, and Saul wanted me to see how it works behind the scenes. I’m excited to be here.”

“Excellent. You picked a friendly one this time, Saul. I like her.”

Saul grinned.
“Chloe, meet Abigail Parker. My favorite director.”

“Thanks for letting me watch,” Chloe said as she offered her hand. Abigail had a firm grip and a friendly smile.

“What did you think of it?”

“It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be,” Chloe confessed. Between the green screens and the animatronics, it was almost lackluster.

“You married Saul. Of course it wasn’t as scary.”

Saul twisted his face into a grimace. “Abigail, you make me out as if I am a monster. My reputation holds no weight compared to your movies. As for the film, special effects will be added later of course, Chloe. But I think the set holds a rather despairing air, don’t you?”

“It’s a little creepy, yeah. Mia’s a good actress, too. Really compelling performance.”

“She is,” Abigail agreed. “We’ll have her new co-star up to snuff soon. This was his first scene on set and I think he’ll rise to the occasion. Jordan’s walk-off was a blessing in disguise, Saul. We’ll only have to reshoot two scenes.”

“Let us hope so. I agreed to accept a video conference call between Jordan and his agent this afternoon. My expectations are minimal at best, and experience has prepared me for excuses that lay blame at the feet of all parties involved but his client. If he believes—”

“Does it take so many words to say he’s a dick?” Chloe asked. She didn’t know what came over her. She blurted it out and stopped Saul mid-rant. “Sorry.”

“No, please. Chastise him again,” Abigail immediately said. “Please keep her around. Pretty please, Saul. I like her.”

He grumbled something under his breath.

“He told me he was a grouch on the job, but I never would have believed it if I didn’t see it.”
It’s like someone shoved the stick right up his ass when we arrived,
Chloe thought, turning her amusement internally to avoid disparaging her husband again.

“Yeah, he’s a real dragon on the set sometimes.” Abigail winked and glanced back at the crew without waiting for Chloe’s reaction. Saul had never mentioned whether or not his business associates knew of his true nature, so Chloe was unsure if Abigail was being literal or not.

“Yeah… he is.”

“Anyway, it was a pleasure to meet you Chloe. I need to get these folk back on set.”

Saul guided her back into the main building. Along the way, he pointed out people and offices of interest, naming titles and confirming familiar faces. From the first floor to the top, he showed her every aspect of the studio, introduced her to the legal department and to his direct subordinates in the business. Along the way, Chloe counted a handful of Hollywood stars and struggled to maintain her decorum.

Harris caught up to them as they stepped off the elevator on the top floor. “You have a video call waiting for you in the conference room, sir.”

“Excellent. Thank you. My office is beyond that door, my love. Make yourself comfortable and I’ll be with you in a moment.” Saul kissed her brow and followed Harris through an adjoining door, so Chloe let herself in to the indicated office.

The huge space housed only the necessities, holding a sprawling desk, executive style leather chair, and a pair of cushioned chairs. An exquisite view of the world below caught her eye. In a way, it was almost comical that LA’s gritty streets attracted her more than his empty barren room.
It feels so cold and impersonal,
she thought.
Intimidating.
Which, she supposed, was the point. He didn’t call people up for tea and crumpets.

With Saul gone, she slid behind the desk into his chair, leaned back, and let both hands rest against the hint of tummy beneath her blouse. Sometimes, when all became silent, Chloe imagined she could feel her little one moving.

But it was far too early for that.

“I wouldn’t get too comfortable if I were you.”

Chloe jerked her head up toward the silken voice to see Saul’s ex framed in the doorway. The door behind Brigid closed with a soft snick as the immaculate female dragon moved toward her. Every red hair was in place, her makeup perfectly applied, and not a single wrinkle or smudge marred her pristine ivory outfit.

“Saul’s in a business meeting,” Chloe said tersely.
I won’t be intimidated by her, dragon or not. She won’t harm me here in a building filled with people while Saul is a few yards away. Only a couple rooms. Don’t be afraid,
she thought, giving herself a pep talk.

“I know.” Brigid’s catty smile unnerved her. “I know everything about his schedule and his business.”

“Good for you. That doesn’t at all make you sound like a stalker.”

Brigid’s eyes narrowed. “Saul belongs to me, little girl. He will always belong to me until I release him, and I don’t see that happening any time soon. We are Promised to one another. Our fathers struck a blood bond over fire and ash. Draconic Law says he is
mine
.”

“Why do you even want him if you don’t care about him? What’s in it for you?”

Brigid slid her fingernails over the back of a plain leather sofa by the windows. “Saul is a well-sought after dragon, my dear. Didn’t you know? Born of fire and storms… bronze dragons are a rarity among our kind. Prized as mates. Powerful. We’ll have a strong cub once we’re bonded.”

Chloe rose from her seat. “He’s bonded to me,” she spit out. “Saul told me how it works. He can’t have two bonds at once, and I’m not letting him go either.”

“Oh? I think he could be persuaded.”

“He’s my husband, Brigid, whether you like it or not.” Chloe thrust her hand out for Brigid to see the sparkling jewel, a priceless gift from Saul’s treasured hoard.

The redhead’s chuckle turned Chloe’s blood to ice in her veins. “Your mortal laws mean nothing. If you’re lucky, perhaps I’ll let him keep you and your bastard around as pets. Dragon males have large… appetites. Allowing him a toy will be my gift. And should your whelp be a girl-child, well, she’ll serve him nicely as well when you’ve gone all wrinkled and grey. I’ll train her myself in how to properly please him.”

All of Chloe’s hatred and fury boiled to the surface at once. She flew across the floor as the office door exploded open, practically knocked from the hinges. Instead of clawing Brigid’s eyes out, she collided with Saul’s muscular chest. He caught her before she reached her target.

“You fucking bitch! I don’t care if you’re a dragon. I don’t care!”

“Control your pet human, Saul.”

“I’m his
wife!
” Chloe launched herself at Brigid again, unsuccessful for the second time. Saul remained between them but slid back across the sleek tiled floor. He grunted and spun Chloe around into the sofa, where he planted her firmly and held her down by the shoulders.

“Chloe, stop!”

“How charming. No better than a wild animal.”

Brigid’s husky chuckle renewed Chloe’s anger. Saul’s grip tightened against her shoulders, burying his fingers into her skin.

“Leave, Brigid. I will not ask you again,” Saul growled.

“As you wish, my promised one. Never say that I am cold-hearted and completely without remorse.” Brigid stepped toward the door. “Keep your pet on a leash, Saul, lest she get hurt. I am not to be held responsible for what happens if she chooses to behave like an unruly child.” The she-dragon’s laughter lingered in the air like a foul odor long after she was gone.

“I am sorry, Chloe. When Harris told me Brigid arrived to see me, I did not realize he sent her to my office with you. This is my fault.” His hand lowered to Chloe’s shoulder. She jerked from it instinctively and twisted, placing her back to him as she cried. Uncontrollable sobs shook her entire body.

“Why are you protecting
her
?”

“She baited you. She wanted you to strike her, and had I not arrived in time, she would have killed you without batting a lash. Chloe, please. Look at me.”

She swiped at her eyes uselessly. “I wanted to hit her! She should have her tongue ripped out for the things she said.”

“Nothing is worth death—”

“You don’t know the things she said! She told me she would take you away… that she…” Her breaths came rapid, and despite her great effort, Chloe couldn’t force herself to repeat Brigid’s words.

“Brigid can’t have me, and you have my word that I won’t leave you for her. Nothing in this world could convince me to end our bonding.”

“She told me that you’re required to by Draconic Law.” Chloe wiped the tears streaming down her face and sniffled until Saul crouched beside her with a handkerchief in his hand. For every tear that she wiped, two more took its place until Saul’s tender strokes dried her cheeks for good.

“I love you beyond the worth of my own life, Chloe. Brigid will neither harm you nor lay claim to me. I swear this to you.” After taking a seat on the sofa beside her, the dragon pulled Chloe onto his lap and held her close. She lowered her cheek to his shoulder and breathed him in. The subtle scent of his natural musk never failed to soothe her.