Page 44 of Mikhail
The man gave an almost feline grin. “It’s charming that you think you can fool me. But I can smell lies. It’s like a stale scent of fear. Barinov will come foryou.”
“He won’t. I left him a note telling him it was over between us. He has no reason to come after me. Ibetrayedhim.” She emphasized the word, hoping that this dragon would believe her, and she also hoped more than ever that it was true. She could only pray that Mikhail had read her note and was so angered by it that he would not come after her. At least then he’d be safe and have the jewels, and whoever this asshole was could go tohell.
“Interesting. Nowthatyou do believe, but I know something you do not, it seems.” The man’s curved smile was cold andserpentine.
“And what’sthat?”
“Barinov has mated with you. It doesn’t matter what you do or say to him—he chose you and cemented the bond. It’s unbreakable except bydeath.”
Piper’s lips parted.Mated?How could she be mated to a man and not knowit?
Then she remembered when she’d felt what it had been like to behim, to fly, to fall, to be imprisoned…to both suffer and know the exquisite joy of being one with him. It had been so much more intense than the other times they had kissed. It had felt…permanent, but she hadn’t wanted to face that, not when she’d been planning to leave while heslept.
“He would never let anything happen to you now,” the man said. “But if I killed you, it would make him dangerous. Too dangerous. A dragon can be a terrible force after his mate’s death, especially to those who caused it. I don’t wish to fight him and am far too impatient to wait him out. A trade of the jewels for his mate will suffice, unless, of course, I have to killhim.”
“Kill him?” shegasped.
“It doesn’t have to come to that…ifyou help me in getting him to cooperate. As I said, I have no interest in facing a mateless male dragon. You love him, don’t you? You want to save his life, don’tyou?”
Piper nodded, her heart racing wildly. She would do anything to save Mikhail, because it was true. She did love him. She’d been so blind, telling herself that what she felt was lust when it had always been something more. She could only pray her love wasenough.
“Good.” The man came toward her with an evil glint in his eyes. “I’m afraid you won’t enjoy this next part, my dear, but it’s all part of the show.” He lunged for her, and she had only a moment toscream.
15
They say dragons never truly die. No matter how many times you killthem.
?Suzanne G. Rogers,Jon Hansen and the Dragon Clan ofYden
Randolph Belishaw stumbleddown the alleyway, falling against a trash bin. His cold body shook. He couldn’t think. Couldn’t speak. Blood trailed down his cheeks as he clawed the sides of the metal dumpster and tried tostand.
Must get to Jodie. Must warnMikhail.
The thoughts were a shining glow in the darkness that consumed him. Conrad Sinclair’s poison still filled his veins like black sludge, preventing the dragon from coming to his aid. He was just a mortal man—no,weakerthan a mortal man—and for the first time in his life, he felt truefear.
Fear was something a dragon almost never experienced in its life. Being mortal had never been a possibility until tonight. And now it hung over his head like the sword ofDamocles.
“Bloody…fucking…hell.” He stumbled like a piss-poor drunk down the alley until he finally reached thestreet.
He squinted at the street signs. It was evening now, the sun a soft pale glow behind the townhouses. The streets were deserted, and a fine layer of fresh snow covered the road and the cars parked along the street. How long had he been withConrad?
He squinted at the light glowing from the streetlamps. He’d lost too much time. He cradled a wrist against his chest. Blood dripped down his fingertips. He’d ripped himself out of the iron cuffs. It hadn’t been easy. One of his thumbs was still dislocated, judging by the way it ached. Whatever was in the drug Conrad had given him had numbed him to most of thepain.
Luckyme…
Belishaw took several faltering steps into the street as he got his bearings. The clouds were pale, the growing moonlight behind them making them glow like luminescentpearls.
Pearls.He sighed at the thought. He did so love pearls. If he survived this, he was going to retrieve a cask of freshwater pearls from his private vault and cover Jodie’s naked body with them. The thought warmed him, and he kept walking. As he reached the next street, he realized that he was only half a kilometer away from where Jodie wasstaying.
“Sir? Are you all right?” A woman ahead of him had paused by her parked car. She was bundled for the cold weather, her breath coming out in gray clouds as she stared at him, keys in hand. He moved closer, and the light of the streetlamp behind her illuminated him. She gasped and stepped back in horror. He knew how he must look, bloody, beaten, and cutup.
The woman took another step back. “Oh myGod.”
“I’m…fine…” The words were slow to come out, but he couldn’t get his tongue to cooperate to say anythingmore.
“You’re bleeding. I should call an ambulance.” The woman reached into her purse, but he got to her first, clasping his good hand around herwrist.
“I need a ride, please. It’s not far fromhere.”
