The Dragon's Gem (19 page)

“
Uh, yeah, just tired. It’s been a rough couple of days,” he murmured quickly.

“Will you be at school tomorrow?”

He looked at me with a sad smile. “I’ll be there.”

“Good, maybe we can revisit our p
ast relationship now that pathetic, blind human is out of the way.”

I could almost see her grinning through the phone and I tightened my fists. Draco lifted each one and pl
aced a kiss on them with a half-a-smile. “Maybe,” he said. “I need to go. I have a lot to see to before returning to school tomorrow.”

“I understand, Draco. Of course
, I always did understand you better than I always did understand anyone, that’s why we were always so good together. Goodnight,” she purred.

“Goodnight,” Draco said before hanging up.

“Bitch,” I muttered under my breath.

Draco pulled me against him,
kissed me tenderly, and then stared deeply into my eyes. “She means nothing to me, but we need to figure out what happened to Soran and there is too much evidence to suggest she is somehow involved.”

I shivered. “You don
’t think she killed him, do you?” I asked.

“Melinda has quite a temper and Hershel would do anything she asked, but I don’t think she is capable of murder.”

“But is Hershel?” I asked.

He hugged me close
, his lips brushing my ear. “Let’s hope not,” he replied, but it wasn’t very reassuring.

***
Draco
***

I walked down the halls of Grayhurst Academy the next morning feeling the weight of everyone’s stares upon me. News had spread quickly that I was no longer a suspect in Soran’s disappearance and everyone was curious to see how I would react to Aurora, who had been very vocal about not believing in me. We had spent a long time the day before hashing over how best to handle things but in the end, we decided to wing our confrontation to make it more believable. I saw her the moment I entered the school building and could tell by the shaking of her hands as she put her books away she was nervous. It killed me not to be able to reassure her, but Melinda was standing across the hall looking expectant and I knew I would have to tear into Aurora to make her believe our little charade.

I stopped just behind Aurora,
the smell of her sweet, feminine scent reaching my nose and teasing me, making me want to pull her into my arms instead of berate her before the entire school. It went against every instinct I had to be cruel to my mate, but I had to do it. I cleared my throat and she turned to face me, her body already trembling. “Aurora,” I said, forcing my hands to my sides instead of reaching out for her, as they so badly wanted to do.

“Draco,” she stuttered looking fearful
, which tore at my heart.

“We are done
,” I announced brusquely.

Her eyes filled with tears and she took a deep breath
, looking hurt and confused. “But you said I was your mate, that you would love me forever.”

It killed me to see her so distraught, but I forced myself to go on. “That was when I thought you would always have my back, but I can see now that you’re not the female I need in my life,” I growled.

“And I suppose Melinda is?” she argued.

“Melinda would never have turned her back on me whether I was guilty or not, that is real love,” I sneered
, my cheek twitching with anger that I had to say such a thing to her, my true mate, my Gem.

“Melinda, Melinda, Melinda! I’m so sick of hearing about
and how great she was for you. If you care for her that much, why don’t you just go back to her,” she screamed.

T
he startled gasps down the end of the hall reverberated off the walls to reach my ears and I flinched. “I will,” I said turning away, finding Melinda already striding towards me wearing a Cheshire Cat-like grin. I reminded myself to keep up the act and when she reached my side, I pulled her into my arms and pressed my lips to hers. The hall grew silent as Melinda deepened the kiss and I heard Aurora sob loudly, and her locker door slammed. Belynda murmured that she would help her to the bathroom and escorted her away.

When Melinda allowed me to come up for air I stared down at her with a phony smile plastered upon my face, playing the part of the apologetic boyfriend.

“Good to have you back,” she said with a grin.

“Nice to be back.
” I looked over her shoulder to where Hershel stood watching with pure hatred in his eyes and smiled, placing my arm around her shoulders. “Why don’t I walk you to class?”

“Sounds like a plan,” she murmured
, snuggling into my side, oblivious to the rage that poured off Hershel as we passed him.

*****

After settling Melinda into her first class I made my excuses, telling her I had to report to the office since I had been gone for a few days. I headed in that direction to make it believable, but at the first opportunity turned and veered back towards the women’s room where, I knew Belynda would be with Aurora.

The door creaked as I opened it and I heard Aurora’
s loud sobs filling the air. My heart constricted and I moved quickly inside, praying no other females were inside. I rounded the corner and there she was, leaning against the wall, her chest heaving as Belynda tried to reassure her it had all been an act. She nodded in agreement, but fresh tears flooded her eyes and her body shook uncontrollably. She must have sensed my presence because she turned in my direction and tried furiously to wipe the tears away.

“Baby,” I said
, pulling her into my arms. “Are you alright?”

“I’ll wait outside,” Belynda said giving us time alone.

“I’m fine,” Aurora, said wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

“No, you’re not,” I
said softly.

“I have to be
, Draco, we need to find Soran,” she sniffled.

Neither of us mentioned the fact he could very well be dead, although
I was sure she was thinking it. I knew I was. “There has to be another way,” I murmured. “I can’t bear for you to hurt like this.”

She shook her head. “No, we have gone too far to turn back now. I’ll be all
right, it just upset me to hear your words and to know she was kissing you.”

It didn’t surprise me she knew
that, she had excellent hearing and could read the people around her well. “It meant nothing,” I told her.

“Just keep reminding me of that,” she whispered as I
bent my head and kissed her.

“Uh, guys, we need to go before someone comes looking for us,” Belynda called out from the doorway.

“Why don’t you go to the nurse’s office, tell them you’re sick, and go home, no one would think anything of it given the circumstances.”

“I don’t turn tail and run
, Draco, I am not a coward,” she said bravely.

“I don’t think you’re a coward
, but I don’t want this to upset you anymore than it already has.” I wiped away a stray tear on her cheek and replaced it with a kiss.

“I’ll be fine. I had a good cry and after I fix my face I will go on with my day,” she told me looking resigned.

I didn’t want to argue with her and I knew she wouldn’t listen anyway, so instead I kissed her again and turned her back over to Belynda. With one last look her way, I closed the door behind me and walked down the hall, hoping I wouldn’t have to play my part for too long. I loved Aurora and having to cozy up to Melinda, no matter how hot she was, was not something I enjoyed.

*****

“So, lover, you plan on coming over tonight to keep company while my father is meeting with the Dragon Council?” Melinda asked as we sat outside during our lunch break.

I dragged my gaze away from where Aurora sat across the commons and forced a smile to face. “There is nothing I would like better
, but I have to present at the meeting tonight since I am my father’s heir.”

She leaned in close and placed her hand on my thigh
, squeezing it gently. “I bet I could show you a better time.”

I near
ly choked. Melinda was always flirty and a little aggressive and things had sometimes been heated between us during our relationship, but we had never crossed the line. It wasn’t that I hadn’t been tempted; I mean, she was gorgeous and had a body guys fantasized about, but it always felt wrong. I thought of sex as a commitment between two beings who loved one another and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. I certainly hadn’t wanted that with Melinda. “Maybe another night. With Soran still missing I think it is best for me to make an appearance and hear what is happening now that I am no longer a suspect.” I could see her disappointment and forced myself to lean forward and kiss her despite the fact I so badly wanted it to be Aurora in her place.

The kiss must have pleased her because she smiled when I released her and kept her hand on my thi
gh. I looked to where Aurora had been sitting, surprised to find her and Belynda gone. My gaze swept the room and fell to India, who pointed towards the hall where I saw Aurora, her shoulders drooped, and her body shaking as Belynda led her away. Once again, she was hurting and I could do nothing but sit at Melinda’s side and continue with our charade. It was cruel, unfair, and I hated that being my mate was causing her such distress. I knew I needed to press Melinda and find out what happened the night Soran disappeared as soon as possible so I could once again be free to embrace my mate and show my love for her the way she deserved.

*****

Later that evening as I listened to the Dragon Lords and the council members discuss their progress in finding Soran I noted that Hershel, Lars’s heir, was absent. Never since I had been named my father’s heir had I noticed Hershel miss a council meeting and it gnawed at my stomach that he was absent now. I texted Aurora immediately and waited on pins and needles for her reply. She responded in only moments and I breathed a sigh of relief. Erring on the side of caution I texted Belynda, warning her to keep an eye out for Hershel, but when she failed to respond I sent another and another, which all went unanswered. At once, I stood, earning a startled glance from my father, but I pointed toward the exit and he nodded. Quickly I left the room and began calling Ryan and Nate, who I knew were keeping watch over Aurora’s house.

“Yeah,” Nate said answering on the first ring.

I filled him in and he assured me Aurora was in her room. “Can you see her?” I asked.

“She’s sitting in a chair by the window. She must be reading because she hasn’t moved in a long time,” he answered.

The hair on my neck stood up and I sensed something was not right. “I’ll call you right back.” I hung up and dialed the housekeeper’s number, but she failed to answer and panic began to set in. I raced for my car, dialing Ryan as I went. He answered after the third try and I could tell by his voice that something was very wrong. “What’s going on?” I screamed into the phone as I raced out of the driveway.

“I don’t know. Someone hit me in the head and knocked me out
. I woke when the phone started ringing.”

“Stay there
, I am on my way.” I cursed and dialed Nate again. “Get to Aurora’s room and make sure she is alright.”

“Already on it,” he said
breathlessly, which letting me know he was climbing the tree outside of her room. “Man, I need to go to the gym,” he complained. It felt like hours passed as I waited for him to report back and when he did, I thought I might lose it completely. “Oh crap, that’s not Aurora, it’s Belynda, and she doesn’t look good, man.”

“Where the hell is
Aurora?” I screamed.

“
I’m breaking in now, just give me a minute,” he said just before I heard the loud crash of glass and the house alarm begin to blare. I hit the gas pedal harder urging my car to move faster and turned into the driveway slamming the brakes, and taking off for the house. It took mere moments to disengage the alarm and once done, I raced for Aurora’s room.

I found Nate by Belynda’s side
, trying to revive her, and my anxiety level grew. I scanned the room for Aurora and found nothing but scattered clothes and debris from her dresser littering the floor. A loud thumping noise drew my attention and I turned to the closet my heart racing as I reached for the handle. I unlocked the door and pulled it open unsure what to expect. The housekeeper I had hired fell out, tears stinging her cheeks, her blood-soaked hands falling to the floor leaving an eerie imprint upon the carpet. I muttered a few curses as I laid her upon the floor, seeing clearly the large bloodstain on her chest where something had torn it open. “Jesus, don’t move,” I ordered grabbing a T-shirt and placing it over the wound, trying to stop the flow of blood.

She clasped my hand desperately, her face drained of color. “Save her, Draco. My mistress will be forever in your debt if you find her child.”

I didn’t have time to question her words before the room filled with others, my father in the forefront. “What happened?” he asked looking down on the woman in my arms with sympathy.

“They took her,” the woman mumbled, her eyes closing.

“Stay with me,” I said but it was clear she had held on as long as she could. “She needs medical help,” I told my father.