Chapter 9

NINE

Samantha

We stand in front of the elevator, which should be opening, but isn’t. I wave the card on my lanyard, feeling frustrated, but there’s still no response. Apparently, our security privileges have been revoked or something.

Evander crosses his arms over his chest, glaring at the security camera. His annoyance seems to be building like a storm, and I don’t blame him one bit. It’s been a long few days. We just want to eat, shower, and rest.

“Get this fucking door open,” Evander snaps, his voice dripping with anger.

“Who is he talking to?” Zane asks, leaning over me as if there’s some unseen person behind the building.

I turn to look at Zane and find myself swimming in those pale blue eyes of his. The look of confusion on his face disappears, and his gaze moves to my lips. I know he’s going to kiss me. I want him to kiss me. But I also know that will destroy any chance at the four of us getting along, so I look away.

“He’s talking to the security camera.”

“Security… camera?”

Right , Zane was last awake during the Iron Age. There’s going to be a lot he doesn’t know about the world, and a lot we’ll need to teach him. Not that I mind. He’ll be teaching us too.

“Technology has advanced a great deal since you were awake last. I think you’ll find a lot of surprises. Like the security camera. It’s a device where other people can watch you, even from a distance. In this case, the people inside this building are watching us from beneath the ground. They can see us, and hear us.”

“This is a building? Beneath the ground?” he asks, sounding surprised as he looks at the white, sleek, dome-like building.

“Yes, although it’s not a house or anything like that. It’s the place where they’re researching dragons, although there are floors where we sleep and floors where we eat.”

“Eating on the floor and sleeping on the floor are things I’m familiar with,” he says proudly.

I smile. “I didn’t mean that exactly. I’ll show you when we get inside.”

Evander and Aydan are following our conversation, and they don’t look exactly pleased about it. I understand though. It normally takes a lot for me to connect with a new person, but things are just… easy with Zane. I don’t think I’ve ever met a man I was so instantly attracted to, and who also seems to be so cool and calm. It’s fascinating.

A voice comes out over the speaker. “Who is the unknown man with you?”

Evander’s the one who answers. “He’s the blue dragon.”

His words are met with silence.

Aydan looks at Evander, as irritated as the other man. “Aren’t you in charge? Get them to open the door.”

“I’d rather have them do it willingly than order them to do it,” he says, but there’s anger in his gaze.

Suddenly, the sleek door parts in front of us and Dr. Duncan and Dr. Abigail are standing in the elevator, with two security personnel behind them and Granger crammed in the middle of all of them. We step back as they exit the elevator, and I look at my guys, unsure of why things feel so tense.

Zane, on the other hand, is just staring between the elevator and the people who exited it with complete surprise. I can feel his mind working, but he says nothing. Which might be the smartest move he can make right now.

“This is the blue dragon,” Dr. Abigail says, studying Zane closely.

“His name is Zane,” I say, then decide to explain further. “He’s agreed to help us against the green and brown dragons. He’s also been teaching us a lot about being dragons and how to defend ourselves.”

Granger takes a step closer to the man, his eyes narrowed. “He’s helping you. Just like that? And he doesn’t want anything in return?”

I look away when Granger tries to catch my eye. “He helped us all day with nothing in exchange, and I think he’ll be a great asset to us moving forward.”

Granger reaches for my arm and tugs me closer. “Are you okay? Where have you been? What happened to being careful?”

“I’m okay. I’ll explain more later,” I whisper back.

When I study him, I can tell he doesn’t believe me, because his face is hard as stone, and his gaze is on Zane. It’s like he’s sizing up the other man, which isn’t a good thing. I don’t want Granger seeing Zane as a threat.

“Here’s the thing,” Dr. Abigail draws out slowly. “The staff is a little nervous about letting an unknown Sleeping Dragon into the base.”

“What is a Sleeping Dragon?” Zane asks.

Everyone looks surprised. Did they not think he could talk?

“A Sleeping Dragon is what we call dragons who wake up after sleeping under the ground, and Awakened Dragons are dragons like Evander, Aydan, and I,” I explain.

Zane smiles, seeming to understand right away. “Each time there are different names, but I think I like these the best.”

Dr. Duncan and Dr. Abigail exchange a look. I think just standing out here seeing that Zane is relatively normal and non-threatening, as far as dragons are concerned, is helping. Hopefully, soon they’ll open the damn door and let us eat. I hope there’s steak this evening. Steak sounds amazing.

“So, what is it that you want here?” Dr. Abigail asks, holding her clipboard to her chest a little more tightly.

Zane seems to consider that for a moment. “I want what I want each lifetime. To be close to Samantha. To protect her and love her. To spend time with my harem and bond. To enjoy a good life.”

“So, he wants you ?” Granger asks curtly.

“Not like the other dragons want me,” I rush out.

Granger lifts a brow. “He doesn’t want to sleep with you then?”

And, damn Zane to hell, he smiles broadly, his dick noticeably hardening in the thin pair of boxers he’s wearing, and says, “Of course I want to bed my mate.”

Granger looks at Aydan like he’s lost his mind. “You allowed this?” And it’s like an accusation.

Aydan sighs. “It’s more complicated than that. We’re not letting him anywhere near her.”

Granger crosses his arms over his chest. “No. No, we’re not allowing this.”

Zane smiles. “Are you her human lover? She does not usually take a human lover.”

Granger’s cheeks heat. “I’m just a friend.”

Zane cocks his head. “You court her like a lover.”

Aydan steps in, pulling Granger back a bit from Zane and I. “Trust me, Evander and I won’t let Zane cross any lines. But, for now, we need Zane. He’s going to help us stand against the brown and green dragons.”

His words get under my skin a bit. The only person who can decide what I do with my body is me, but I don’t need to start arguing with him right now. I can save that discussion for later.

But we would be having that discussion.

Zane nods. “Balor and Thane always try to take Samantha. We never allow it. Our harem is too strong.”

“ Always ?” Granger asks, lifting a brow.

It’s Evander’s turn to answer. “Apparently, we all find each other every lifetime and come together to keep Sam safe.”

Granger doesn’t look impressed. “And what if he’s just making all of this up? What if our enemy dragons are using him to get behind our defenses and take Sam a different way?”

“You’re the one who suggested we make peace with the blue dragon,” I say, feeling annoyed. “You can’t start talking about them creating plots against us now.”

“I thought we needed to be careful how much we trusted the blue dragon even before I met him!” Granger says, pointing a finger at the other man.

I seriously don’t know what’s gotten under his skin. Moving closer to Zane, I rest a hand on his arm. “Granger, I trust him. I feel like what he’s saying about past lives is true.”

Granger’s eyes widen. “Do you like his scent?”

My cheeks heat. “His scent?”

“Yeah, like you like our– their scents? Do you like his scent?”

All eyes are on me. Reluctantly, I admit, “I do. A lot.”

Granger huffs out a breath and seems to dismiss all of us.

Aydan draws himself up and moves closer to Granger. “I know you’re worried about our girl, but I promise, I wouldn’t do anything to endanger her. If Zane tries something, we’ll take him down. And if he’s working with the other dragons, we’ll figure it out. But, for now, we have someone willing to teach us how to be dragons and to stand with us if our enemies come. We can’t just pass that up.”

It seems to take Granger a minute, but he slowly nods. “If he’s going to actually help keep Sam safe, without any expectations from her, I guess this can be okay.”

Finally, it’s Zane’s turn to speak. “I am not here to cause problems. I am here to fix problems. Aydan and Evander cannot protect our mate against Balor and Thane without my help, but they do not need to. I am here now. I will not let anything bad happen to her.”

There’s a quiet moment, and then Dr. Abigail says, “So, you’ve really lived with them during their past lives?”

Zane nods, a smile on his face.

“Will you tell us about it?” she asks.

“I will,” he says, giving a little bow. Zane takes another step toward me, his eyes finding mine. “We have another lifetime in which I’ll tell you anything and everything you want to know. I am your mate. I am here to serve you in all ways.”

I shiver under the heat of his gaze.

Aydan and Evander move to my sides, and I feel strange, almost tingly. I understand why my men are so protective, but some deep part of me knows the truth. Soon, Zane and I will be together.