The Dragon's Gem (2 page)

H
e guided me from the door to my locker. I counted the steps until he stopped and directed me to turn right, then I counted a few steps more until we reached my locker. Once there, I reached down into my bag to retrieve the key lock my father had brought for me so I wouldn’t have to worry about a combination and placed my hand on the locker, searching for the hole to place it in. Once the key was back in my bag, I pulled out my walking stick and counted my way back the way we had come, reaching out to touch the handle to be sure I had gotten it right before turning back and counting the steps off again to my locker.

“That was amazing,” Ryan said next to me.

I couldn’t help the smile that came to me. It was always nice when someone realized that what came natural to them was truly a feat for me.

“
So is that how you remember where everything is, by counting I mean?” Belynda asked, sounding nervous.

Oh no
! I didn’t want her to feel sorry for me. That would not be a good start with someone I hoped would be my friend. “When I can, yes, but this will be more difficult because everything here will change when the halls are filled during the day. I will probably run into people and make a fool of myself pretty often.” I laughed softly, trying to make light of my situation so they would too.

Ryan rushed to reassure me that would not be the case.
“We will be here to help you, and I am sure no one here would dare to get in your way, they would have to deal with…”

“Ryan,” his sister interrupted
before he could finish his statement.

“Sorry
, I talk too much sometimes,” he said, his hand growing slightly moist against my arm, a sign he was nervous about something. “I would, of course, be glad to escort you everyday if you want.”

I wondered briefly what it was that everyone was trying to hide from, but cautioned myself to stop being silly. I had never met these people
before: What could they possibly be hiding? “I would rather not bother anyone. I have my walking stick and I will learn how to get around. It just takes a little time for me to figure out the layout of places that are new.” A loud screeching noise filled the air outside; the windows rattled and I felt the floor shudder under my feet, making me grasp Ryan’s arm tighter. “What was that?” I asked, my voice shaky and high pitched.

“Must have been a
n airplane overhead flying too low,” Ryan said quickly. A little too quickly, clearly uncomfortable about discussing it.

“Yeah
, we should get moving, the others are on their way and we wouldn’t you to get trampled on your first day,” Belynda said, taking my arm before I could question her brother’s sudden change of demeanor.

“To
o late,” Ryan said next to us as the sound of many voices began to fill the hallway. “Let’s just get her out of the way for now. We can take her to class after the hall empties.”

I followed their lead and soon the hall around us was buzzing
. Being blind heightened my other senses and my listening was vastly better than most people’s were, so I could hear all of the comments and questions about me the other students were asking each other, which was oddly unnerving.

“Who is she?” o
ne female asked.

“You know, she’s the blind girl all of the teachers have been telling us about, the one that Draco was so mad about coming,” a male voice answered.

“Can you blame him, she’s blind, what a bummer.”

“That’s her
? I couldn’t even tell she was blind,” someone else added.

“Man
, she’s gorgeous. Who cares if she’s blind, she can feel her way around me anytime,” another male commented crudely.

“You
had better shut your mouth,” someone warned. “Draco is coming and if he hears you talking about her like that, it’s going to get messy around here.”

“He doesn’t even want her here
, so why should I care?” the male answered arrogantly.

“That’s true
. Remember that fit he threw when he found out she was coming to live here?” the female said, not bothering to lower her voice despite her close proximity to me.

“Yeah, well let
’s just see if you’re so brave once Draco is here,” another male taunted.

“Here he comes
now. Why don’t you tell him what you just said and see how he takes it?” the female asked.

“Uh, I would
, but I, ah…”

Everyone la
ughed at his expense. “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” the male who taunted him said arrogantly.

The hall grew oddly silent for one filled with
teenagers. The overwhelming scent of evergreen and forest filled my nose just before a new voice, very male and very compelling, joined in. I heard a scuffle, the sound of something slamming into a locker, and then the sound of the arrogant male apologizing profusely, begging not to be hit before a voice, male and oddly familiar, spoke. “You guys are such morons. She’s blind, not deaf, and I bet she just heard every word you said.”

I felt all
eyes turn upon me and prayed the blush I felt on my cheeks didn’t show. “It’s fine, I am used to it. Most people don’t understand until they get to know me that I hear exceptionally well,” I answered.

Again,
I heard a strange noise like someone being dragged across the floor. “Apologize,” the new male said sternly.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to hur
t your feelings,” the once over-confident boy managed to say, his voice trembling.

“That was
n’t very sincere,” the other male told him sharply.

I had the feeling the
guy had learned his lesson and wouldn’t be making any more-rude remarks, so I took pity on him. “I accept your apology.” I heard a thud and then the sound of scurrying feet and assumed my fierce defender had dropped his burden and let him go. Curious who he was, I turned towards the sound of his voice and raised my hand for him to shake. “I’m Aurora.”

There was
an awkward silence and my hand hung there for a few moments before I finally felt him take it in his own. My small hand was enveloped in his large warm one and I felt my body shiver in response. His touch was intoxicating, his scent so oddly familiar and comforting that I felt myself immediately drawn to him.

He took a deep breath and I felt his hand tremble.
“Draco,” he said, squeezing my hand much harder than was necessary. At once, I was flooded with his anger and dislike for me. I had never met had such strong hostility towards me and I tried to pull my hand away, but he wouldn’t let go. In fact, he tightened his grip even more. Images of the hallway and the people in it around me formed. Although the scene was blurry at best, it was more than I had ever seen in my life and I was stunned. My eyes shuddered, unused to the bright lights and color. I felt a sudden nausea in the pit of my belly as I gazed around, unsure what was happening. I felt him stiffen and his hand began to tremble against mine.

“
Uh, Draco, we were just showing Aurora around,” Ryan said nervously beside me.

Draco
dropped his hand suddenly and my world turned black again, leaving me shaken and confused, unable to speak.

“It’s kind of early for you
, isn’t it?” Belynda asked nervously.

“So?” Draco sneered
, his tone arrogant and off-putting.

“Y
ou’re usually more the run-into-the-room-by-the-late-bell kind of guy,” Belynda said to Draco, her voice dripping with sarcasm, obviously angered by his tone with her.

“My father wanted to be at
work early today since the new head of research is going to be there and my little accident has left me without a car, so I am at his mercy.”

His voice was laced with an anger I
didn’t understand, but his words rang a bell in my head and I realized whom it was that I was meeting. “You’re Max’s son?” I asked, astonished that the person before me was the offspring of my father’s new boss. I had talked with Max many times on his visits while he tried to convince my father to come and work for him. He always spoke fondly of his son, but from Draco’s domineering personality and the hostility I felt coming towards me, I didn’t feel like I was meeting the same person that his father had bragged about.

“Uh
, guys, we had better get moving or we are going to be late to class.” Ryan said nervously, taking my hand and pulling me along with him.

“
What the hell was that about?” I heard Belynda ask Draco behind us.

“I don’t know,”
he hissed as we turned a corner and entered a loud classroom, which prevented me from hearing the rest of their conversation.

***
Draco
***

I had not been sure what to expect when I met Aurora. I had seen pictures of her but they did not do justice to the chestnut-haired beauty who immediately captured my attention when I entered the building. Unfortunately, I also noticed her wounded expression as she listened to the nasty comments some jerk made about her and I lost it. It had only taken me seconds to move across the hall, grab him by the throat, and slam him into a locker. He was lucky all I did was force him to apologize, when in reality I wanted to beat the hell out of him for hurting her.

I had not planned to
talk to her afterward or acknowledge her in any way; wanting retribution for having her forced on me, but it seemed that my instincts to protect her were stronger than my resolve. She had held her hand out, looked up at me with her wide emerald green eyes and smiled so sweetly I couldn’t bring myself to ignore her. It was instinct, an inner sense as old as time that would not be denied. Once I took her hand in my own, though, I was unprepared for the emotions that flooded me. I easily read her nervousness about being at a new school, the fear that she wouldn’t be accepted, and her desire to make a girlfriend to talk and spend time with. It had been foolish of me to touch her. I knew what she was to me, knew the risk that I had been taking, but I hadn’t been able help myself. I was compelled to know what her skin felt like, what she smelled like, and how it felt to hold her tiny hand in my own. Now I realized how foolish I had been. I had never expected such a connection and it had jarred me to think that some stranger, a girl I had never before met, could so easily enthrall me when I wanted nothing to do with her. It was not good and it angered me to no end that she was now living in our small town, where I would see her constantly and be reminded that I had no control over my own future.

T
hanks to my brother’s unexpected death just few years before, I had been left my father’s sole heir. As such, it had fallen to me to ensure the future of my family line. Through DNA her father had supplied while searching for a cure for her blindness, we had found Aurora. It had only taken seconds once I had seen her picture to realize that she was indeed the one meant for me, as my father and the Dragon Council had informed me. She was my perfect match in all ways except one. She was human, which had greatly complicated things.

I had been content to let her live in California, happy to know where she was, but willing to let her lead her own life, while I led mine.
When and attempt by the Wyverns, the dark, soulless branch of dragon kind, to kidnap her had been thwarted by guards sent to protect her, though, it had made it clear that there was a threat to her life that couldn’t be ignored. Knowing how important she was to our kind the Dragon Council had convened without my knowledge and deliberated long and hard about sending more protection to where she lived or uprooting her completely. In the end it was determined that only in our small town was it possible to keep her safe and protected until she was ready to hear the truth, ready to know what fate had in store for her.

It didn’t tak
e long after that to get her to our town. Our council did their research thoroughly and knew her father’s dream of curing her blindness was his life’s ambition. With my father’s immeasurable negotiating skills, he was able to convince them to move to our town thousands of miles away from their home in California. To the council it had been the best solution, but I admit I had not taken it well. In fact, I had gone on a rampage that had left part of the school on fire and my beloved sports car a mangled wreck after I wrapped it around a tree the day I had found out about their decision. Unfortunately, my little outburst had been the final nail in my coffin for my father. He had issued a warning: either I grow up and accept my responsibilities, or I would be sent into hibernation until the council deemed me fit to return to the human world.

“This is not go
ing to be as easy,” Belynda said, sensing my unease about my first meeting with Aurora as we took seats in the back of the room far away from her so I could get my bearings.

Quickly, I realized that e
ven from across the room it wasn’t far enough away. Her vanilla and coconut perfume wafted my direction, teasing me with its alluring fragrance. It was soft, feminine, and it made me want to bury my nose in her throat and savor it up close and personal. In short, it was temptation I didn’t want or need. I didn’t want a relationship with my mate at this point in my life. I was young and wanted to experience life without having to worry about how my actions affected someone else. On the other hand, she was mine and no matter how hard I fought against my instincts to posses her they would always demand I make her mine. Shaking my head in frustration, I realized just how hard this was going to be, but I had to make it work. If I screwed up, the alternative was unconscionable. Hibernation was for my kind like being sent to Siberia, it was a cold, lonely, and never-ending punishment. I shivered just thinking of it.

“Draco,” Belynda said softly next to me.

Determined to have my own way I met her gaze. “I can deal with it, just make sure Aurora is comfortable and has everything she needs. The council agreed not to push me to claim her, but my father expects me to make sure she is well taken care of.”

Belynda
stared at me in disbelief. “You’re really just going to pretend that she’s just another student, that she means nothing to you?”

“I have arranged for her to have everything she needs
. I have done my job by her. I won’t be forced into doing anything more.” It was harsh and selfish, but I still hadn’t adjusted to the fact that Aurora had been transferred here, amongst us, while I was still trying to enjoy my youth. There were other places they could have sent her where she would have been safe and protected, but they had chose to bring her here to make my life hell instead.

“You are really Mr. Sunshine
, you know that?” she sneered. “I feel bad for Aurora. She is innocent of any wrong-doing here, yet you’re punishing her for everything.”

I saw red immediately. Belynda
was supposed to be on my side, but just like my father and the council, she was worried about Aurora. What about me? Did anyone understand what I was going through? Did anyone care that I was not ready for her to be part of my life? No! They all assumed I should be thankful, that I should just let fate take its course, but I had news for them, I wasn’t that kind of guy. I decided my own course and I would decide when I wanted my mate to be included in my life. “Would you like someone to decide your fate, Belynda? How would you feel if your choices were taken away from you like mine were?” I argued heatedly, earning more than a few speculative glances from those around us, who looked suddenly pensive. It wasn’t a big surprise that they feared me. They all knew about my outburst and were expecting me to blow again at any time, now that Aurora was here.

She sighed and I could see her considering my words.
“I suppose you’re right, but I am worried about both of you. It won’t be easy having her so close and your temper of late has been…err… unpredictable. What if she gets hurt?”

I blanched. The idea of my mate being hurt was
not one I could entertain. I might not want her, but I would never harm her either. “She is safe. I could never harm her. You know that. Now, I have done what the council asked of me. She is here: protected, and getting a great education, so could we please just let it go?” She nodded and I felt some of the tension I had been experiencing dissipate.

The door to the classroom banged open admitting my best friend
, Nate. The teacher eyed him with disapproval and pointed to the desk next to mine and he quickly moved to it and sat down looking excited. “Draco! I heard she is here. Want to point her out to me?” He was late to class as usual and normally I would have been right behind him but today was different. Today my life was changing despite the fact I didn’t want it to and wasn’t ready for it.

“Seriously Nate
? She’s the only new person in the room. One would think you could find her yourself,” Belynda told him with a toss of her long silvery white hair.

She was one of the most irritatin
g, arrogant girls I had ever met and she drove us all nuts, but I also considered her one of the best friends I could ask for. So, I overlooked her flaws as she did mine and we got along just fine.

“Well
, some of us have things to worry about, other than our hair and the latest gossip at school.” He looked to me and frowned. “Speaking of which, your ex was walking down the hall behind me and I would say she has heard of Aurora’s arrival by the trail of smoke in her wake.”

We all
turned to look at the tall, lithe femme fatale who had entered the room. The blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty whom I had been dating until the council ruled to bring Aurora to our town was smoldering as she worked her way through the desks towards mine. I sighed inwardly, knowing the upcoming confrontation was not going to be pretty. Melinda had not taken it well when I had broken up with her and now it seemed she was hell-bent on making trouble.

“Melinda,” Nate said
as she reached us, his tone warning that she was crossing a line better left alone.

Her eyes narrowed as she pinned him with her gaze
, the reptile inside of her shining in her eyes. “Back off, Nate, you’re just his lackey, not his conscience,” she told him with a snarl. “Besides, I just came to see my replacement.” She scanned the room, her eyes falling upon Aurora and narrowing with a look of disdain. “So, she’s here.” Her fingernails gouged the surface of my desk, tearing four long lines across the wood surface, a show of her true feelings. “I suppose I must introduce myself. After all she’s new and we have all been warned to play nice with your human.” She reached out and caressed my cheek. “You know how I love to play with new things.”

The beast inside of me roared
to life. Her words were a threat and the need to protect what was mine overcame any feelings I might have once had for the female before me. “Keep away from her, Melinda. Aurora is off-limits to you, and I mean it.”

She lowered her face to mi
ne, both hands flat on the desk, smiling like a Cheshire cat. “Worried, my love?” she sneered.

M
y hands snaked out and grabbed her by the arms, pulling her face to face with me. “You touch one hair on her head, and you will suffer my wrath.” My hands moved up her elegant neck and wrapped loosely around her throat. “I think you know I can be very uncompromising when crossed.” I squeezed hard enough to make my threat clear, but not enough to really hurt her. For brief moment I saw panic, but she managed to cover it up quickly.

“Just keep her away from
me and mine and she will be safe enough,” she answered, pulling my hands from her neck and walking to a seat well across the room from me, but close enough to Aurora that I was unhappy.

“Man
, she was the worst mistake you have ever made,” Nate said next to me.

“Clearly
, I wasn’t thinking when I took her on.” To be honest it never occurred to me that she was taking our relationship more seriously than I was, but I shouldn’t have been surprised by her anger towards Aurora. Melinda was a Red dragon and they were known to be greedy and covetous with things that were theirs, and she definitely thought of me as hers despite the fact she had always known my mate was out there somewhere.

Nate looked her over slowly, his gaze slowly devouring every inch of her perfect body
and grinned. “No one blames you, she’s hot and many guys have made the same mistake.”

“Her kind have the tendency to be beautiful, but I should have considered her heritage before taking up with her,” I told him dryly.
As usual, I had acted rashly where Melinda was concerned and now it looked like Aurora might pay the price for my foolishness, because one thing Melinda did well was revenge.

The teacher
, having enough of our antics, cleared her throat, looking us all over with her sharp, intelligent eyes and the room became quiet. Mrs. Blackburn, a Grey dragon, was very wise, extremely alert and when she was ready to start a lesson, not one person dared to whisper or pass notes in her room, knowing she would hear or see them and then punish them for their indiscretion.

I
tried very hard to focus on the topic she was discussing, but with Aurora in the room, I found myself easily distracted. I became entranced watching her methodical movements. The way she set her recorder on the desk to tape the teacher’s lecture instead of taking notes, how she used her fingers to read the textbook that had been special ordered in Braille for her, and how she instinctively knew where everything was on her desk when she needed it. Her blindness seemed in no way to slow her down and I was now mortified that I had not taken it well when I had learned she was blind. I had been selfish thinking only of what it meant to me, never considering how difficult her life might be, but now I felt an odd sense of pride that she had overcome so much adversity and prevailed.

“She’s beautiful
, man, you could have done a lot worse,” Nate said next to me, following my gaze to where Aurora sat. “Such a shame she is blind.”

“I don’t think any less of her for being blind,” I muttered
, earning a look of disbelief. Nate had been a front row witness to my reaction when I had found out she was blind. It had not been pretty, in fact, I had ranted about the fates being cruel and what liability she was going to be when I was ready to claim her. I cringed just thinking about what a jerk I had been. “Okay, I did at first, but I don’t feel that way anymore, she seems very competent and at ease with her blindness. I’m still not claiming her, though. I am not willing to be the council’s pawn; I will decide when I am ready to be with my mate, not them.” I didn’t like the doubtful look that came across his face, but he concealed it quickly when I glared at him.