Chapter 3 - Draco

Navigating my way through human territory isn’t exactly fun. Not for someone who’s lived as long as I have.

But being amongst the humans has its perks, I must admit. Like the free bourbon from the woman whose nametag reads “Samantha.”

“Thanks,” I say curtly as I lift the drink from the counter. The woman’s eyes glimmer with stark interest in the blue depths. I shrug off the feeling that she knows I’m different, that my human form is just a farce.

We always seem to gain unnecessary attention from humans whenever we walk amongst them.

Huffing an annoyed breath, I turn on the barstool toward the rest of the tavern. It’s a Saturday night, which calls for humans to party and get wasted. Something I’ll never understand since dragon shifters barely have a concept of time. It’s immortality that invalidates something as linear as the time construct.

Chuckling to myself, I tip the glass to my lips and lubricate my throat with the drink.

After all, it’s not like alcohol has any effect on my bloodstream. It’s just another sham to fit in with the humans.

“So…” the blonde behind the bar clears her throat to reel in my attention. There’s no harm in giving it while I wait for my actual target.

The Dragon Council’s quest for my mate has led me here, to a tavern in Seattle. Where I’m meant to hunt her down. Through the trial using my DNA, they’d chosen a suitable human female to bear my children.

Pfft!

“I haven’t seen you around before,” Samantha makes the obvious observation. She was probably still in diapers on my last visit to Seattle. “Are you new to town?”

“Just passing by,” I indulge in small talk just because we have time. “I’m here to visit a friend.”

“Oh, okay.” She bats her eyelids at me as she wipes hard at the glass in her hand. “Do you perhaps have a name?”

I paste my best cynical smile on my face. Serial-killer style, hoping she’d back off and stop with the questions. “Drake,” I reply flatly.

The woman opens her mouth to speak again, but she’s interrupted. A distraction I’m thankful for is when the crack of shattering glass cuts through the overhead music.

“Shit! It’s Lily again!”

My attention is instantly drawn to the center of the tavern, following Samantha’s gaze.

Lily.

That’s the name I’d been given, along with a picture of the face that matches the one staring up at a suited man apologetically.

Why am I not surprised to see her frantically cleaning up after herself? The mess she’d made because she’s human.

Flawed.

Incapable of carrying prestigious dragonspirit children. A bloodline so powerful, it would probably break her.

The thought alone churns my stomach as I slide off the barstool. Feeling suffocated by the ruling made by the Dragon Council, I go in search of fresh air.

“Pathetic,” I grouch when I’m outside. As the crisp evening air fills my lungs, it does little to douse my fuming disposition.

No amount of technological advances could change my mind. The human virgin woman, Lily Turner, is no match for me. Even with her fuller hips, her plump breasts. Or the womb screened by the Cube of Knowledge as a suitable one to bear my children.

That’s what they’re calling it. The Cube of Knowledge. Proudly at that.

The only source of knowledge I can trust is in my skull. Running a hand through my hair, I feel my cell vibrating in my pocket.

“Mother…” I greet flatly when I answer the call. Even though the island is hidden, we can make calls between our world and theirs. It’s not something I appreciate right now.

“Hello, my son,” she greets warmly.

Begrudgingly grunting under my breath, I’m remorseful about my behavior. Mother does not deserve it. Not when she was the only one who was opposed to the Council’s methods.

“Forgive me, Mother,” I apologize earnestly. “It’s been an… Interesting day.”

Mother giggles on the other end, then asks, “Have you found her yet?”

“Yes,” I sigh reluctantly, glancing back at the joint. The woman, Lily, carries a tray of broken glass shards to the bar.

“Is she as beautiful as the program showed her to be?” Mother’s next question stems from her awe when Lily’s picture showed up on the Cube’s screen. As the suitable candidate, I detected with the help of scientific screening and matched it to my DNA.

Mother described her as beautiful, but I can’t look past that she’s just a measly human. Mother’s only qualm was that this mate wasn’t chosen out of love.

And mine resides in the fact that she’s human.

“The resemblance is uncanny, Mother,” I reply dryly. “Perhaps Felix will be better suited for her good looks.”

I can almost see my mother rolling her eyes in the silence that follows. “Nonsense, Draco. Your brother will have his turn. Right now, it’s yours.”

Grunting under my breath, I notice the woman hanging at the bar. Knowing my mother is right, I decided to go back inside. Like a predator stalking his prey, I take a deep breath for composure.

“You have an example to set, Son,” Mother reminds me sternly. “As Alpha of the Aurora Dragon Clan, you have responsibilities that cannot be overlooked.”

“Of course,” I concede. “I’ll speak to you soon, Mother.”

Cutting the call, I return to the tavern. This time, choosing a table near the window. A perfect spot to remain incognito.

Or so I thought until the woman spots me from the bar.

It’s the first time since my arrival that I see her face. Illuminated by the soft yellow lights overhead, it’s like her skin is kissed by the sun itself. And when our eyes lock, her brown orbs are challenging. As gentle as they are, they’re judgmental.

The eyes that assessed me in my vision on the island. Even now, I’m as startled as I was that night. Breath caught like a lump in my throat, she gives me an escape from my retribution when she turns to her friend.

That’s all the time I need to disappear.

***

Spying on Lily for the better part of three nights has become easier. I’ve learned to stay hidden, keeping to the shadowy parts of her whereabouts.

Its easy to stay invisible when shes always busy picking up after herself.

As the fourth night rolls in, I know it’s time I act. It shouldn’t have taken me this long, anyway. It’s only my uncertainty that keeps me hesitant.

“Hello, Mother,” I answer the call. It’s become routine for her to check up on me every night. Like a clueless child lost in Wonderland, Mother throws out breadcrumbs for me.

“How are things going over there? Have you made any progress?”

“If by progress you mean approaching the girl, then no,” I admit snidely as I slip into the tavern. Taking to my new spot at the back, I sit at the table and scan the joint for Lily.

“That was the plan, wasn’t it?” Mother sighs as she reminds me about “the plan.”

I was meant to walk up to Lily and charm her. Lead her to her demise like a willing candidate. After all, she’ll never survive carrying dragonspirit children.

She can hardly manage a tray of drinks.

As I look around, I notice that she’s nowhere to be seen. Not heard, either, since there hasn’t been a crackle of broken glass since I arrived. A strange feeling of uneasiness settles in my chest. It’s as alarming as it is foreign, knitting my brows in a frown.

“Excuse me, Mother. I have to go,” I cut the call abruptly as I get back to my feet. Crossing the tavern, I arrive at the bar as Samantha pours out a martini.

“Oh, hey!” she greets cheerfully. “Drake, right?”

“Yeah,” I say bluntly as I have a look around. But Lily is nowhere to be seen. “Where’s the other one?”

“The other one?” Samantha frowns.

Groaning irritably, I make myself clear this time. “The other one. Lily.”

Her eyes light up like the bulbs hanging from the ceiling. “L-Lily? Oh…” she pauses as if she’s gauging me. “... She isn’t working tonight. She’s visiting her parents in—”

I walk away without hearing the rest of what Samantha says. It’s only because I’m not interested in her envy of Lily.

It’s written clearly in the disappointment on her face. But the only one I’m interested in has gone off to Redmond.

Of course, I know where her parents reside. I know what college she attends. And that she’s majoring in English.

I know everything there is to know about Lily Turner. Thanks to the Cube of Knowledge.

Except one thing that still troubles me. Even as I make my way to Redmond to execute Mother’s plan.

There’s no way the weak and clumsy Lily Turner can carry my babies.