Chapter Two

Draco

Another perfect find. How lucky am I?I bent over and dusted off the bronze earring in the shape of a seashell, which had been favored by the Minoans, who lived here over four thousand years ago. While much of the world was still living in mud huts, the early inhabitants of Crete were doing metalwork, building monuments to their king, and inventing indoor plumbing. Some archaeologists even believed they'd traded with people as far away as China due to the discovery of an ivory button buried beneath the temple of Knossos.

But none of that interested me as much as their metalwork. Every piece I'd unearthed here in the small dig site was in perfect condition. Prime museum pieces.

"Draco, my love! You didn't come home for lunch!" my girlfriend, Zarda, called out from down the hill by the dirt road. She looked incredible as always, with her golden blonde curls and pale yellow summer dress. A vision of feminine beauty.

"Hungry, babe?" She held up a picnic basket.

My mouth watered, knowing she'd made her famous feta cheese and olive salad with warm fresh bread. I loved her cooking almost as much as I loved her. It was funny how she always anticipated my cravings and needs, as if we were on the same radio frequency. She was equally amazing in the bedroom, and judging from her enthusiastic moans, she felt the same about me.

"Come see this!" I waved her up the rocky slope.

She smiled wide. "Another earring?"

"Almost as pretty as you!"

She laughed and hiked up toward me with the basket in her petite hand. The sun was high in the sky, the ocean air the perfect temperature today. Not too hot. Not too cold. Just right for working hunched over, dusting off rocks, hoping to find treasures like this.

She came up, and I showed her my prize. "Check this out."

"It's incredible, Draco, but think you'll find a gold ring in there anytime soon?" She batted her eyelashes in that special way, letting me know she liked what she saw. Zarda said my tall, well-built body turned her on but that my eyes really did it for her. They were a pale, pale gray. With my dark hair and olive skin, they stood out.

I chuckled, wiping away a bead of sweat on my brow with a handkerchief from my pocket. "I promise I will find a ring soon."

She had never been shy about wanting a proposal from me, and I'd made it clear she would get one. Soon.

"Good. I can't stay to keep you company, but thought I'd drop this off. Even though you stood me up." She set the basket at my feet.

Today was Thursday. She always went to visit her grandma on the other side of the island. I told her I'd come home for lunch to spend time together before she left, but then I started working, and here we were. Sometimes, I became so focused that an entire day would pass in the blink of an eye.

"I am sorry about forgetting our lunch. And thank you." I stepped over the basket and pulled her close by the waist. "What did I do to deserve you?"

She pushed me away, smiling. "Don't get me all dirty. Yaya will think I brought you dessert, too."

I pinched her chin and pecked her pink lips. "What time will you be home?"

Grinning playfully, she wagged a finger in my face. "I don't live with you, remember? Not until we're married. But I will be at your place, where I happen to stay most nights, before eleven."

She technically lived with her sister but rarely stayed there since I always got home late. The nights were our only time to be together.

God, she was great. So patient and loving. I knew I'd have to propose soon, or else. But knowing Zarda, she'd start planning the wedding immediately, and I kept getting extensions on this dig. Every time I found something new, more funds rolled in. Eventually, this would all dry up, so I had to keep going while I could.

"I look forward to seeing you tonight. In your not-home and not-bed." I winked.

"Don't get cute with me, mister." Her smile melted away. "Your big three-oh birthday party is next week, and your mom—"

"Yes. I know. She keeps hounding you about our wedding." Zarda kept telling my mother that she wasn't ready, thereby taking the pressure off me. Like I said, Zarda was amazing.

"No, no, no… Your mother's upped the stakes. She's begging for grandbabies now."

What? I hadn't even proposed yet. "I'm sorry. I'll talk to her." Though, it wouldn't do any good. My mother was beyond pushy. "Thank you. Thank you for being such a perfect woman."

Suddenly, Zarda had a concerned look in her eyes. "I'm all out of potion. Hopefully you'll stay asleep until we get more."

I frowned. "What was that?"

"Don't worry about it," I heard a man say over my shoulder. "We've got at least a few more days before this last batch wears off."

I turned my head, but there was no one behind me.

"I hope so," Zarda said, staring past me. "He looks…so peaceful lying there. I'd hate to disturb that. Oh, crap. Look at the time. I need to pick up the kids."

"See you tomorrow," the man said.

"What the fuck is happening?" I asked. She was speaking to a man I could hear but not see, and she was talking gibberish.

She turned and started walking down the hill. No goodbye. No acknowledgment of my words.

"Zarda!" I called out.

"All right, Draco," said the man. "I'll be back later to read the next page. The nurse will be here at ten to wash you. I also found an excellent new documentary about the history of the cell phone. I think you'll enjoy it."

Huh?I blinked and was suddenly alone in a dark, dank room with stone walls. There was a big bookshelf in the corner next to a TV. On the screen was some woman talking about cell phones.

I sat up and looked down. I was lying in a hospital bed, tubes sticking from my arms. My chest was bare and pale, and my ribcage was sticking out.

My heart slammed inside my chest, panic taking over. "What the fuck?" What was happening? Had I been in an accident? A coma?

I touched my face, feeling a long bristly beard growing from my chin and jaw. I'd never had a beard. Whose face was this? Where was I?