Chapter 4

A DATE WITH DESTINY, A DUEL WITH DESIRE

Grounds, Rogue Rider Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, United States

“Man, that’s not fair,” Sully complained, throwing his arms in the air in frustration.

“What are you, a teenage girl who can’t get tickets to a Taylor Swift concert?” Jack joked, shaking his head at his friend. “Life isn’t fair. Get over it. And if anyone should be complaining about fairness, it is Gen.”

She shrugged, holding Bellumferrum in her hand, preparing to use it for their sparring practice. The Rogue Riders were spread out around the grounds of the estate, performing various training exercises. Their dragons were stationed nearby, some of them also practicing maneuvers, but many of them only lounging lazily. Emperor stood next to Gen and the two men, his head low as he listened to Gen tell them about her new training assignment.

“It’s fine,” Gen said. “I made the most of the moral philosophy assignment and I’m actually really grateful for the education.”

“I told you,” her dragon said, smugly.

She shook her head at him dismissively. “It was still a task meant to keep me busy and try and break my spirit. It’s just that it didn’t work.”

“But now you get to go to MystTech Creations, which is truly the coolest special effects studio in the world,” Sully said with disappointment and envy. “I love movies more than anyone and would kill to see that mind-blowing technology. You haven’t even seen a movie yet, have you?”

She cut her eyes to the side, avoiding looking at him. “It’s on my list of things to do.”

He groaned, shaking his head. “Seriously, the coolness of this experience is completely lost on her.”

Jack grinned at Gen, his cute, little dimple surfacing. “I’ll take you to a movie.”

A squeal popped out of Sully’s mouth, earning him attention from some nearby Rogue Riders. Clipper was one of them and she was doing a poor job of hiding her eavesdropping on their conversation.

“Oh, let’s take her to that new action thriller!” Sully exclaimed loudly, clapping his hands with excitement. “It will serve as training because they do some awesome stunts in it.”

Jack shook his head. “I meant that I’d just take Gen. Like a date.” He looked straight at her, an irresistible heat in his eyes.

Gen had faced down murderers in the streets of medieval London. She’d ridden her dragon through the narrow streets of Los Angeles chasing bad guys. And she’d met aliens. But right then, nothing was more terrifying than the way this man made her feel. It was the burning desire he held for her in his eyes that undid her.

Jack’s affection for Gen had been obvious from the beginning but now, it was becoming irresistible. However, Gen had a lot of things to worry about, namely, not getting Jack in more trouble through association with her. Dwayne would undoubtedly take out his hostility on the other rider if he was involved closely with Gen.

Their training was one thing, but anything more could be dangerous. And not to mention that Gen was new to this world and this job and right then, romance wasn’t really something she was ready for—not that she’d ever been. From the beginning, Elizabeth, her twin sister, swooned for boys and Gen punched them, not having time for their impolite ways and brooding stares.

But Jack was different. He was compelling in a way a man had never been for Gen. Still, she wasn’t ready for him to unlock whatever was seeming to teem inside her right then.

Gen smiled shyly, shaking her head. “Thanks. That would be nice, but right now I just don’t have the time. Now, I’ve got even more training requirements to fulfill if I ever want to actually be a Rogue Rider—which is all that I want.”

Jack nodded, disappointed, but seeming to understand. “Well, hopefully that list of wants grows over time, as you adapt and all.”

He did seem to get her hesitation, but that didn’t make it any easier. And Gen hadn’t turned him down as much as presented the truth. Gen simply didn’t have any free time.

Sully waved his hand, getting both of their attention. “Back to me and my problems?—”

Jack laughed, shaking his head. “You don’t have any problems. You’re just a whiny loaf who needs more hobbies.”

“Or a girlfriend,” Sully said, turning to Emperor. “Can you make a girl go out with me? You know, use mind control on her to give me a chance. I’m certain that if one of these LA chicks actually gave me a chance, they’d have a great time. But they all look at me like I’m an outcast.”

“That’s because you are,” Jack teased, pulling his sword from its sheath and turning to face Gen, preparing to spar. “And maybe if you treated them like ladies instead of calling them chicks, then you’d stand half a chance. A woman deserves to be respected.” He then pointed his sword at Gen and flashed a cunning expression. “Now summon a sword so that I can kick your ass.”

Gen nodded, excitedly. “You’ll get your ass kicked. Have a little patience.” She winked at him, laughing. Then Gen glanced at Sully. “And you’re still okay with Emperor practicing mind control on you? He needs to hone his skill.”

Sully nodded, turning to face the purple dragon with bits of gold on his chest, on the top of his head and in his eyes. Gen had recently learned that as Emperor’s powers increased, the gold would spread, taking over the purple. She looked forward to when the dragon was solidly gold.

“Yeah. Bring it on, big guy.” Sully rubbed his hands together. “But be warned, my mind is a locked fortress that few can enter and none can break.”

Jack chuckled, looking up at Emperor. “Make him bark like a dog.”

Emperor remained stoic, giving Sully a serious expression. “It is helpful that you volunteered for the training exercise since Gen can’t do it. Her mind and mine are connected, and therefore she’s easy for me to control.”

“Don’t remind me,” Gen said, shaking her head, not liking the idea that her dragon could make her do or say anything, but also trusting him implicitly not to abuse the privilege.

She made the intention to Bellumferrum that she needed to spar with Jack using a sword. In the back of her mind, the notion might have also been laced with the idea that she wished she could go out on a date with him. He and Sully were her only friends at the Rogue Rider mansion, but Jack felt like more than that. She liked spending time with the guys, but with Jack, it was more of a craving.

Gen was astounded when Bellumferrum didn’t just transform into a sword to match Jack’s for sparring. Instead, the Weapon of War morphed into a blade so large, it would have looked more normal in the hands of a giant. Her hands were wrapped around the hilt of a sword made of the finest steel with intricate carvings. It fit her fingers like a glove. The sharp blade was double the length of Jack’s and looked to be of the finest quality.

“Whoa!” Sully exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Many of the Rogue Riders on the grounds were staring, their attention hinged on the strange and powerful weapon that had appeared in Gen’s hands.

“She’s definitely going to kick your ass,” Sully remarked, shaking his head at Jack.

“It’s not about the size of the sword,” Jack argued, not appearing intimidated. “It’s about how you use it.”

“Gen doesn’t have to do much with that monster of a sword to best you, mate,” Sully teased, watching the pair, ready for the show.

Jack lifted his sword, giving Gen a wolfish grin. “Go ahead, show me what you can do with that big blade.”

Enjoying their little game, Gen nodded. She then stepped forward, not needing to test the sword, but rather knowing its balance like she’d swung it a hundred times. When she brought the blade around, Jack quickly raised his own sword to block her. His strength was impressive, holding her back like a wall of stone. The two pressed into each other, their blades frozen together like they were one, neither budging.

Gen gritted her teeth. Jack’s eyes locked on her, looking at her intently. Their prowess collided and neither seemed close to breaking this contest of strength.

Gen knew that Jack was stronger than her. But her sword was mightier. And she’d had the advantage of the offensive position. She didn’t think that she could hold him off for long. Figuring that her best move was to pivot and throw another attack, Gen stepped to the side. Then she whirled around and swung the sword again.

Jack’s blade interrupted its progress. However, this time, the blade only paused as it cut through Jack’s sword, sending the top half spiraling through the air. Luckily, Jack ducked from the unexpected breakage as Gen’s blade finished its trajectory. Both of them stood frozen, disbelieving what had just happened.

She stood with the giant sword and Jack held his broken one—stunned. Around them, all the other Rogue Riders had witnessed this show of strength and surprise. They all were as shocked as entertained by the spectacle.

Finally Jack broke the silence, flashing Gen a look of amusement. “I think you owe me a new sword and a date now.”