Page 6 of Tempt the Dragon
Chapter Two
“ETA thirty minutes.” Aiken spoke to Bleu on his phone instead of using the communicator, which would’ve allowed Ziva to hear everything that was being said.
“And you’re not alone. Shall I wake the others?” Bleu was a Watcher who’d been around for an exceedingly long time and did his job taking care of his assigned clan well. In addition, he was a rather good cook anda snazzy dresser, which said a lot coming from Aiken, who took pride in his attire as well.
“Just Theo.” Mel didn’t like feeling boxed in and her animosity toward the Drakon race would be on full display if she was put in a room with every member of the Legion clan. The less provocation she had, the better.
“This isn’t going to be good, is it?” Bleu had a keen sense for cutting throughthe bullshit, or in this case, the vagueness that Aiken was dishing out.
“I don’t know yet. It could work to our advantage but it’s...delicate.” For lack of a better word. Mel would hate that he’d used that word in relation to anything about her. But, truth be told, there was a part of her, hidden so deep—on purpose, of course—that he’d always thought needed to be nurtured and protected, cherished.
Bleu’s silence said he didn’t like that answer any more than the others Aiken had provided, but rather than push further, the much older Drakon opted for curtness. “We’ll be waiting in the library. And a guest room will be prepared.”
The last was said with just a hint of sarcasm before Bleu disconnected the call.
“First of all, you suck at being covert. You could’ve just used the communicatorbecause I know you were telling him that you’re bringing a stranger to the Office and you don’t want everybody there to know.” Ziva was driving the truck and driving him just a little bit crazy with all her chatter tonight.
The moment he’d climbed into the truck she’d slammed him with questions about Mel, questions he hadn’t wanted to answer, but he had to an extent because if he were in Ziva’sshoes he’d be asking them as well.
“Focus on the road, Ziva. It’s starting to snow.” As if bringing up the weather was going to make this uncomfortable situation any better.
Her initial response was a cross between a chuckle and mumbled curses. “She’s not a vamp. If she was, she would’ve been trying to rip your throat out instead of giving you those very heated looks back there. And she’snot a human, because I picked up absolutely no fear from her. In fact, there was a little arrogance mixed in with bravado, which I can relate to.”
Aiken didn’t really care what Ziva could relate to at this moment. They’d worked together for just about seventy-five years now and in that time a brother/sister bond had formed. Neither of them would let anyone harm the other, but the majorityof the time they acted like they couldn’t stand each other.
“She’s not a vamp but she does have information we can use. That’s the only reason she’s coming back to the Office with us.” He was glad Ziva didn’t have the soul identifier power that Theo possessed, otherwise she wouldn’t have had to ask what Mel was. Still, it wasn’t his place to tell anyone why Mel did everything in her powerto push any semblance of her Drakon heritage out of her human presence. Planting a fist in the center of his chest, he rubbed, as the beast’s immediate reaction to his words came in a series of dull pinpricks throughout his torso.
Ziva switched on the windshield wipers as the light trickle of snow had quickly picked up with big fat flakes now falling in rapid succession. “And you two usedto be lovers.”
He gripped the door handle and continued to stare ahead. Aiken wasn’t prone to showing annoyance or anger. He’d learned long ago not to waste his energy on such emotions. It was unproductive and he hated the residual effects it produced for his beast. Unsure of whether anyone else had such a temperamental other half, Aiken had learned over the course of his life how to dealwith his. While there were times he pushed the envelope with his other half, for the most part he worked steadily to keep the beast calm and pleased, otherwise all hell might break loose.
“She’s someone from my past.” That seemed like enough of an admission. Ziva should be happy with that.
“A good or bad past?”
“If we’re gonna have this discussion, let’s add Enes into the mix. Youtwo were once lovers and now she’s helping us by providing information on what her species is up to. How ’bout you tell me why that is? Are you blackmailing her? Maybe there’s a sex tape that Enes doesn’t want revealed. The Royal Blood won’t look kindly on a vampire that’s sleeping with a Drakon.”
Ziva took the next curve with speed and agility. She was an excellent driver, but he knew she’dpurposely made the maneuver to get back at him for his prodding questions about her personal life. For a few seconds sweet victory trumped the conflicting emotions he had about the woman trailing behind them.
“She told you all before she doesn’t like the plans Montoy has for the vampires and that’s why she’s working against him.”
That’s the story Ziva and Enes had been giving Theo andthe others about the Chief Lord of the Royal Blood each time Enes showed up at the Legion Security offices in downtown Burgess, but Aiken didn’t buy it. Not that he cared if Ziva and the vampire were sleeping together because that was none of his business. His concern was more with the repercussions of any trickery that might be going on where Enes was concerned.
“Look, our goal is to stopthe Royal Blood from raising a vampire army. Let’s just focus on the business and not the personal.”
Ziva turned onto the winding road that would take them through the heavily forested area which led to the Office—the mountainside fortress that housed the Legion Drakon.
“You know as well as I do that’s easier said than done.” She’d waited a few seconds before saying that and Aiken knewit was because she’d stopped thinking so much about him and Mel and was now focused on her and Enes.
There was definitely something more between the two of them than an old relationship before Enes had been turned into a vampire. Aiken had sensed that from the first time he’d watched Ziva react to questions about her, but he’d decided not to push her into revealing anything she didn’t wantto. Now, he expected her to do the same where he and Mel were concerned. Mainly because there was nothing to reveal.
Eighty years ago he’d fallen in love with Melody Kane, and for a short while he’d thought that love would carry them through to eternity. He’d been a fool. And he’d vowed never to be caught in that position again.
Ziva parked in slots designated for Legion vehicles nearthe Office’s front entrance. He watched through the side window as Mel pulled into the spot right next to them. They got out of the vehicles at the same time, closing the doors before once again facing each other. Snow landed on her hair and her shoulders as she lifted her chin defiantly. Wide eyes assessed him, pert lips stayed pressed together as she grabbed her jacket and pulled it closed overher exposed midriff. There was a knife in her boot and a gun strapped to her back. At first glance no one would think she was hiding weapons beneath the sexy outfit, but Aiken knew.
“Grab your go bag and come inside.” It wasn’t what he wanted to say to her after not seeing her for so long. This wasn’t the reunion he used to dream about. Just as there was no happy ending for him and Mel. She’dbeen quite clear about that fact when she’d walked away from him and the feelings they’d shared, and he’d vowed to honor her wish. On this stormy winter’s night, after they’d fought side by side again, he wasn’t about to go back on his vow. Not now, not ever.
He was on his way to the front door that Ziva had left open for them before Mel spoke again.
