The Dragon's Gem (16 page)

“I’m not tying myself to anyone, but I really like Draco and I want to spend time with him.” I saw the worried look upon his face but
didn’t react, fearing he would realize I could see him. “I’m going to bed, I’m exhausted and I have school tomorrow.”

He kissed my cheek and hugged m
e before handing me off to the nurse. “Get some rest, darling,” he murmured.

“I love you, D
ad,” I said as the nurse led me up the staircase.

“I love you too,” he said sadly before turning away and walking back to his office.

By the time we reached the bedroom my vision clouded and my world became dark once again. I wasn’t concerned, though, to me there was a security in the darkness that had shrouded me for most of my life and I easily slipped back into my normal routine and got ready for bed.

“Miss, that Draco is a nice young man but your father’s right. It is never good to get attached to anyone until you know their true nature,” the housekeeper cautioned.

“I appreciate your concern, but I know all I need to about Draco.”

“He told you!” s
he gasped and grabbed my hand tightly in her own. “You must be very sure about this. Males like Draco don’t take relationships like the one he has with you casually. For him you are the ultimate treasure and his kind never let go of what is theirs once they have gained it.”

“Yeah he pretty much told me that,” I assured her. “Are you one of them too?”

“No, my mother and father were human, but they worked for a female dragon most of their lives and I have always been privy to what she was.”

“That must have bee
n fascinating to grow up knowing dragon’s existed,” I said.

“When I was young it was exciting. As I grew up
, though, it became such a normal thing for me that I didn’t even really, think anything of it. In fact, now that my parents are gone from this world she is all I have left. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.” It almost sounded like a warning, but then she chuckled, tucked me under the blanket, and rose from my bedside. “Now you get some sleep.”

“Rosalinda.” S
he reached out and took my hand. “Thank you.”

“No pr
oblem, miss, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you either,” she said softly, then let go of my hand.

The sound of the door squeaking as it closed let me know I was alone and although I was tired
, I found myself unable to sleep as the clock on the wall ticked away the minutes and hours of the passing night.

***
Draco
***

“So, I suppose you will be taking Aurora to school from here on out?” My father asked as I quickly devoured my breakfast the next morning, anticipating seeing Aurora again.

“
We will share the limo together if that’s what you mean,” I answered taking the last bite of my breakfast and rising from the table.

“Why don’t you just take this
instead?” He tossed me a set of keys and smiled. “I think you’ll find it offers you more privacy than having Henry listening in to all of your conversations with your future mate.”

“You told me I couldn’t
drive again until I paid off all of the repairs to the school and for my last car,” I reminded him.

“
The school bill has been paid and the insurance company finally came through on your car,” he explained.

“Still,” I said
, unsure I deserved anything after all I had put him through lately.

“
Have you learned anything from your little outburst before Aurora’s move here?” he asked.

“
A lot, but I didn’t expect you to get me another car just because I now realize what a jerk I was,” I told him ashamedly.

“And that’s why I got you one,” he acknowledged
, coming to my side and placing his hand on my shoulder. “I like what she has done for you. You’re happy and more focused now that she is here, and I believe ready for the relationship you have fought so hard against.”

“Dad
, I’m not pushing her for more right now, but you’re right. There is something about her that makes me want to be a better person and a mate worthy of her.”

“I’m glad
, son. Now let’s go and see your new ride.”

I rolled my eyes. “Only if you promise never to say that again.”

“Promise,” he said as we walked out of the front door to where my new vehicle waited.

*****

I drove up to the guesthouse still unable to believe my father had bought me a completely restored black Impala complete with all of the security features that would ensure Aurora’s safety when she was with me. From the bulletproof glass to the metal body backed with lightweight Kevlar the car was simply, badass and I couldn’t wait to take Aurora on its inaugural drive.

Before I
could even get up the steps to the house, the door opened and the housekeeper stepped outside with Aurora on her arm. The minute I saw my mate my heart began to beat wildly in my chest. She was dressed in a pair of jeans that were molded against her curvy figure and a tank top of the bright pink that did the same for her torso. Her long chestnut hair was swept up in the back with ringlets falling down around her face, her makeup was light, adding just a touch of color to her cheeks and her luscious mouth was stained with pink gloss.

“Draco,” she said when I didn’t move to take her arm.

I blushed as the housekeeper looked upon me with a frown. “Sorry, you’re just so beautiful I wanted to stare a little longer.” The housekeeper let out a “humph” and handed Aurora off to me before going back inside of the house, leaving us alone. “I don’t think she likes me,” I said as escorted Aurora to the car.

“She is just worried that I am falling to
o fast for you,” Aurora explained.

I pulled her into my arms and kissed her lightly. “And are her fears grounded?”

“I think so,” she whispered just before I kissed her again.

*****

“I can’t believe your father brought you another car,” Belynda said as we got out of the Impala in the school parking lot.

“M
e either,” I said, running my hand over the hood. “Of course, if I revert back to my old ways he vowed to take away and send me into hibernation.”

“Hibernation?” Aurora asked
uncertainly next to me.

“It’s the worst form of punishment for our kind,” Belynda explained with a shiver.

Aurora looked horrified and I placed my around her. “He was joking,” I assured her, but I knew he wasn’t. If I didn’t stay on my present course he would personally see to it I was placed in hibernation until a time he deemed me ready to come out.

“Nice car
, man,” Ryan said coming to join us.

“Thanks,” I said
, hugging Aurora to my side.

“
You didn’t tell me your dad was buying you a new car when you were at my house yesterday, Draco,” Melinda purred as she walked past.

“Bitch,” Belynda said under her breath.

“Belynda,” Ryan growled, knowing his sister wanted nothing more than to tear into the feisty, covetous Red dragon.

“Is there something you wanted to say,” Melinda asked
, glaring at Belynda.

“I said
, did you have an itch? You know, one that Draco won’t be scratching for you anymore?” Belynda sneered.

“Draco is given to wandering and as soon as the novelty of sweet little Aurora wears off I know he will come back to me,” she purred. “After all he’s far too much male for a helpless blind girl to satisfy.
How will she ever find all those parts he needs itched?”

Before I knew what happened Aurora
had pulled away from me and had her arm wrapped around Melinda’s throat pulling her back towards her. “I’m not helpless and if you persist in chasing Draco, I will be only too happy to prove it.” She tightened her grip. “Do you understand?” Melinda nodded as best she could and Aurora released her.

I tugged her back to my side before Melinda had a chance to react and she offered no resistance as I wrapped her in my arms. “I think it would be best if you leave,” I told Melinda
, who was gasping for air. She glared at Aurora then stomped off, cursing loudly as she went. “What was that all about?” I asked.

“You are apparently not the only one with a temper,” Aurora said
, looking as shocked by her behavior as the rest of us were.

“Oh…
my…
God
, that was so good. She’s probably still trying to catch her breath,” Belynda chuckled.

“I’m sorry
, she just got me so angry,” Aurora said, her eyes welling with tears.

“It’s alright,” I assured her, hating to see
her so upset.

“I’m not a violent person. I don’t know what came over me,” she
cried out.

Belynda rushed to reassure
her. “Hey, Draco is yours and she was being a bitch, so you put her in her place. Don’t let that upset you.”

“It’s alright,” Ryan said. “Our
kind are a little possessive where our mates are concerned.”

“It’s not alright!” Aurora cried out. “I can’t go around beating people up because they want my…”
she looked up at me uncertainly and I held my breath. “Because they want my boyfriend.”

It wasn’t exactly what I wanted her to say. I couldn’t really expect her to claim me as her mate so soon, but my heart was filled disappointment anyway.
“Don’t worry about Melinda, she doesn’t mean anything to me,” I told her, trying to hide my disappointment.

“We should get inside before the bell rings,” Ryan said
.

“Yeah, don’t want to be late to class,” Belynda added noting my unease.

*****

We didn’t talk about the incident with Melinda again until we were on our way to the junkyard to once again look at Soran’s car. Aurora had been oddly quiet throughout the day and I was worried that the incident with Melinda had been too much for her. She didn’t understand the jealousy that was instinctive in all of our mates when they found us was natural and seemed to be appalled by her own behavior. I knew I had to broach the subject, to try to ease her upset and make her understand she hadn’t done anything wrong. “So, you were great this morning, I have never seen anyone shut Melinda up like that.”

“I’m
sorry; I don’t know what came over me. I don’t usually go around using my martial art skills to get my own way. She just pushed the wrong button, I guess.”

“You said that right,” I chuckled.

“It’s not funny, I could have hurt her.”

Tears welled
in her eyes and I reached out, taking her hand in mine and rubbing her fingers. “Hey, you didn’t hurt her, and even though you don’t understand it right now what you did is quite common. You are the one created for me and when someone threatens that bond, you will stand up and fight to protect it. I would do the same if the circumstances were reversed and some male was trying to take you from me.”

“Don’t say that,”
she cried out. “If anyone heard you they would believe that you were the one responsible for Soran’s disappearance and I couldn’t bear that.”

“You know I had nothing to do with him
going missing; I was with you and that’s all that matters to me,” I explained, squeezing her hand.

“Draco, I’m serious.”

“Aurora, everyone here already knows a jealous mate can be unpredictable and a lot of them already suspect I am involved, but I know that’s not true and I will stop at nothing to prove it.”

“You’re a more in-your—
face kind of guy,” she said. “You might have beaten the hell out of him when angered, but you would have done so publicly.”

I smiled
, liking that she already understood me so well. “You’re right and we’re here, so let’s find out who it was that was in Soran’s car and maybe then we can get some answers.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she agreed.

*****

“Are you sure?” I asked Aurora for the millionth time since leaving the junkyard.

“There were a lot of smells in Soran’s car but Melinda’s was the most present in the passenger seat. “I am almost a hundred percent positive she was with him that night since I didn’t smell it when he drove me to the restaurant,” she said.

“I can’t believe it.
I know she’s vindictive, but framing me for his disappearance is way beyond anything I thought she was capable of.”

“We don’t know that she had anything to do with Soran’s disappearance,” Aurora cautioned.

“We do know she never mentioned being with him that night, and that is more than a little suspicious,” I told her.

“I know
, but I just can’t see Melinda overpowering Soran easily.”

“You couldn’t see the car clearly
, but it was a mangled mess. There was obviously some kind of a struggle,” I explained.

“I just don’t buy it. Melinda wants you for herself. What would she have to gain by you being blamed for all of this? Surel
y she knows that if the Dragon Council decides to punish you it would mean hibernation and she couldn’t have you then anyway.” She shook her head. “No, I don’t think it was her, but I would like to know why she hasn’t said anything about being with Soran that night.”