Page 72 of Claim the Dragon
Chapter Seventeen
Two Days Later
Ravyn lay down in her bed, the same as she had the two nights before.She pulled the sheet and the comforter that still held his scent up to her chin, holding it there tightly as she inhaled and exhaled like a woman with a full-blown addiction.
Every memory, every touch, every kiss came flooding back and she closed her eyes to the warmth that filled her body.She held on to every word he’d ever said to her, whether it was bossy, or mean, or encouraging, they all circled around her heart eating away persistently at the shield she’d placed there long ago.
And in the minutes that ticked by on the clock sitting on her nightstand, her lids grew heavier, staying closed longer each time she blinked.Her chest moved rhythmically with the beat of her heart even though there was a hollowness there that she’d been trying valiantly to push through.It ached so much the pain almost became unbearable but only in the dark of night when she was in this bed alone.Throughout the day she’d had so much to do, supplies to buy between her visits at the hospital.Cree was coming along.The bite at his side hadn’t been too deep and the doctors had stitched it up neatly without asking any questions.They did wonder a bit at the type of poison they’d found in his bloodstream, but had eventually chalked it up to a medical anomaly when neither Ravyn nor Shola offered any explanations.She could hardly tell the human doctor that the touch of a Dhampir carried a special type of poison, but was supremely grateful that the powerful antibiotics they’d pumped into Cree were working.
Now, she just waited for the day they would release Cree to come home.His room had to be cleaned and prepped, maybe new paint and she’d see about getting him a real bedroom set.Nothing was too good for him.
And nothing would replace the thoughts of Steele.Not for long anyway.On a sigh she rolled over onto her side, closing her eyes and vowing to keep them closed until morning when her music would click on to wake her—the same song that had awakened her the morning after Steele had been in her bed.
But that wasn’t meant to be.Regardless of what or who she really was, her place was at Safeside, her purpose in life was to help the people she knew had been wronged by a system she had no faith would ever change.Just as Steele had his purpose as a Drakon Dream Reaper.There were things neither of them could change and first and foremost was the world they lived in.She wasn’t part of his preternatural world, even with her birthright.She had to stay at Safeside to keep it running because Cree wanted to do more, to be more and he deserved that opportunity.
Her thoughts were like a whirlwind in her mind as she slipped into slumber, more than prepared for the rest.
But, what seemed like seconds later, her eyes opened slowly and she looked around into the dark night.Outside.A chilly wind blew as she walked down the street, her boots making a muffled sound on the pavement.She wore black jeans and a turtleneck, a leather jacket and finger gloves on her hands.Where she was going, Ravyn had no idea.
How she’d gotten here was also a bit baffling, until she saw him.
He was leaning against a pole at the end of the street.A street that was very familiar to her now since it was the place where Temptra had taken Cree.The street where she’d pulled off the biggest robbery of her life and changed everything.His body was so buff the navy-blue jacket he wore was almost too tight against the muscled arms and broad chest.Jeans had never looked as good on any guy as they did on Steele, not tight, but fitting every part of his long, toned legs perfectly.Those sunglasses were back, even in the dark of night.The sight of them made her smile and walk a little faster.
It had been two days since she’d seen him.That night in the cemetery was still fresh in her mind.After Steele had carried her and Cree to safety, she’d looked up to see him take his dragon form.Surprise had come soon after when she saw more of the winged beasts soaring through the sky and then the fiery arcs that came from their mouths that killed Temptra.It had all been so overwhelming, taking place as her best friend simultaneously almost bled to death in her arms.
“I was wondering when I’d see you again,” she said the moment she was close enough for Steele to hear her.
He didn’t move.Not to hug her, grab her shoulders and shake her for following him here, nothing.
“You shouldn’t have come,” he said in that tone that said he was both angry and conflicted.
“I didn’t have a choice.”That was true.One minute she’d decided to go to sleep and the next she was here.No choice was presented so she presumed none was to be made.
“And neither does he.”
This was a new voice, a cryptic-sounding one that had her leaning to the side to look past where Steele stood perfectly still.
“I want you to leave,” Steele told her.“Now.”
“It is of no consequence, Dream Drakon.I will get what I came for.”
Steele turned quickly, opening his mouth to spew that vicious fire in the direction of the person or thing standing ten feet behind it.
That person or thing that had arms shaped like guns and wore metal shoulder pads, a dark hood and shitkickers on his feet.
“You know your powers are useless on me,” the man said.
But realization hit Ravyn like a smack to the face.This was no man; it was the Reaper.And she was in Steele’s dream, the dream where the Reaper had to collect the name on his list.
She stepped around Steele then, so the Reaper could see her.
He shook his hooded head.“No, not you this time.He betrayed me by leading me to another soul instead of yours and then he let you take that dagger, which now protects you.For that, I will take him.”
“Go Ravyn!Now!”Steele yelled.
Was he serious?Did he really think she was going to leave him here...to die?
Obviously, that’s what was about to go down, because the Reaper lifted one of his gun-arms and bolts of lightning extended, reaching out like a hook to wrap around Steele’s body and pull him forward.
