5. Kara

My heart beats out of my chest as I lie down on the bed, keeping my gaze on Drago. I do so ever so slowly and carefully. My gaze staying on his. Although my heart races and I can barely breathe, there's a calmness to everything that threatens the truth of what I know.

I'm surprised by how gentle Drago's touch has been. More so by how at peace I seem to be in his presence. I barely tense when he approaches, and it's been a long while since the sight of a man hasn't given me shivers.

This isn't what I expected. I don't understand any of it, not his treatment of me nor my response to him. Except for the fact that I am so very tired of fighting, and he's the opposite of what I've been told of dragons and what I know of shifters and supernaturals.

I've grown up watching those with powers torment humans for fun and take them as slaves or worse. Witches are especially horrid. Truth be told, I never thought I'd live very long. I can't even say I was surprised when I was taken. I was almost relieved that it would end sooner rather than later. Like my time had come and I no longer had to wait around watching over my shoulder and not trusting a soul.

I hadn't anticipated living through it. I never thought I'd be at the mercy of someone who says they want to help me.

That cold shiver travels down my spine and my shoulders shudder at the thought. I don't trust him. I don't trust that he really wants to help me. My forehead pinches, and I rub the line trying to ease the small headache radiating and growing at my temples. If he had wanted to hurt me, he would've done it by now. I bite the inside of my cheek. I just don't know how much to believe.

My reaction to him, the desire that overwhelms me, and the serenity that promises I can rest…it's proof enough he must've drugged me or cast a spell, or he's done something that has clouded my mind and judgment.

He is no hero. No one is ever coming to save me. That's a fact I've known for as long as I can remember. I do not believe a word he says and yet, I have to remind myself of that because my body begs to bow to his.

Drago doesn't give me a knight in shining armor vibe. Instead, he's a dark knight. The thought makes me close my eyes and try to repress a moan. Him ripping my dress off heats my blood in a way I've never experienced.

He's quiet as he heads back to the bathroom, his footsteps foreboding, and I steady my breath as I do what he said and simply lay here, in the comfort of luxury like I've never known. My eyes threaten to close and instantly the vision of his carved muscle in leather pants flashes before me. My eyes whip open and my heart races.

And oddly enough, there's disappointment when he's not here. The sound of him cleaning up in the bathroom tells me all I need to know, and I turn slightly and bury my head into the soft welcoming pillow.

It smells like him and I breathe it in deeply. Once again envisioning him.

It's like they're designed to seduce. Dominance and power exude from his dark, intense features. Yet his touch is soothing, and I find myself craving more.

I swallow thickly, reminding myself that they all lie. I need to be strong and keep my guard up. If he's working with Victor, then I need to get the hell out the first chance I get. Just the thought of Victor turns that heat of desire into ice. Anger simmers once again and that feels normal; it feels right. I'm disgusted that I feel the least bit attracted to someone who's willing to work with that vile prick.

"On your stomach." His low baritone voice rumbles with approval and I peer up to see his sharp silver gaze. It's nearly mesmerizing and the concoction of emotion is a drug that seeps into my blood. As I start to turn, his hand moves toward me but he stops himself and adds "No towel. I need to see you." My gaze shifts to a bottle in his hand and I imagine it's something for the wounds.

I slowly pull back the towel and expose myself to him, embarrassment and fear return but I do as I'm told. My fingers graze my ribs and I instantly feel self-conscious. I haven't eaten in days—maybe two or three? I dare a glance up at him and his silver irises flash, it's enough to make me move as quickly as I can.

My body trembles slightly and I have to force myself to stop.

"It's all right my pet," he murmurs, and I brace myself for what's to come.

The fear and desire, the hope and the exhaustion, all combine as I close my eyes and wait.

"Once I've taken care of these, I'll go get you something to eat." He speaks evenly and lowly, just above his breath, as he hovers over my naked body. I moan into the bed just thinking about food and then stiffen as I feel his hands on my back. His palm presses lightly at the small of my back while the other moves my hair off my shoulders. My nipples pebble and my thighs clench slightly, adding to my embarrassment. My throat goes dry, and I can't close my eyes any longer as his heated touch slips down my spine.

He touches me as if he's exploring and my heart races all the while. A dragon. A real-life dragon. He lowers his head to the crook of my neck and whispers at the shell of my ear, "I'm going to take care of you."

I've never been so filled with want. His hot breath and the bite from the flames have a hint of pain as he licks down my back, but more than that it heats a low flame in my core. I bury my head and deny the feeling.

A deep rumble stirs in his chest and it's the sexiest fucking thing I've ever heard. Desire surges deep in my core.

As I contemplate what degrading things he must be planning for me, my body betrays me and arousal pools between my thighs. My cheeks flame with embarrassment, but he makes no acknowledgment of my body's reaction.

His hand travels lower as he takes long languid licks. His fingers move across the curve of my backside and down my inner thigh. The tips of his fingers are so close to my entrance. I almost curve my back, offering myself, and I have no idea who I've become. It takes everything in me to be still. To resist this man. To hell with my treacherous body.

Much to my disappointment, his hand travels farther down my leg as he pulls away from me. I immediately miss the heat. I've never been touched like this and the thought of him using me, I'm ashamed to say, it turns me on.

It's then when he pulls away that I realize these feelings I have at the moment are very much one-sided. His fingers travel down my back and along my spine. I know he's feeling how frail I am. I'm far too thin and weak.

"Who did this to you?"

I swallow thickly. "I did." His hand stills and then leaves me. A chill runs along my back.

"Why?"

It's difficult to speak as the memories come back to me, but I push words out. "It's a long story."

As the mattress dips with his weight, he huffs a humorless laugh. I half expect him to scold me, push for more, or to tell me how disappointed he is that I've ruined myself. Instead, he lays next to me and continues to kiss and lick my back, leaving trails of goosebumps as his heat leaves my sensitized skin. His touch is as if I'm lying in the sun. He is nothing but warmth and sunshine on the most beautiful of days. That's what it's like to be touched by him, and I find myself craving it until I realize it is only the magic that makes it feel so. It's not real.

My eyes open wider as I wish he could heal me without the need to be so physical. I turn my head to look at him, but his large hand comes down on my back and pushes me back down. "Stay. I'm not done." I do as I'm told, facing away from him and closing my mouth. Fine. I don't need to look at him anyway. It's probably better this way. "Now tell me why."

I should have known he would press. He doesn't strike me as a man who will allow privacy, even in the most vulnerable of ways. I swallow and breathe in deeply. "Because they wanted to drain me like they did the others."

His ministrations pause as he states more forcefully, "I don't understand. Start at the beginning."

The memories flash before me, and I hardly flinch this time. "The vampires took me. A few days ago, maybe a week." I lick my lips trying to remember, but the days blended while being locked in that dungeon. "I was with my friend, searching for our neighbors that'd gone missing."

I remember telling her it was a fool's errand, and she told me so was staying and waiting. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. We both knew we were going to die either way. "It was just a matter of finding them. And we did."

"You must know that was a foolish thing to do." If I could laugh at the situation I would, but knowing what happened, any sense of humor evades me.

"Well it was that or wait around to be the next victim." There's a moment of tense silence before he kisses my neck, and I wonder for a moment if that was to heal a mark or simply to heal the unseen pain.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," I whisper and push down the lump growing in my throat. "They killed her and took me." His movements stop and he pulls my back into his hard chest.

"I'm sorry. I really am." He kisses my neck and his compassion nearly has me in tears. But there's no point in crying. I'll survive.

"It's not the first time someone's been taken from me by a vampire." He lays me back down on my belly and his hand runs soothing circles on my upper back where the whip landed only hours ago, yet I don't feel any pain. He leans lower and continues to heal my body. It's then I realize just how at ease my body feels. The pain slips away with his touch, and I'm filled with gratitude. "Thank you."

"Continue your story, my little treasure." I close my eyes, loving the name. As if I could possibly be something to treasure. I wish I didn't warm to his affection so quickly.

"Our town isn't protected, so I've gotten used to things…happening. People missing, or…" I don't finish the thought. I'm sure he understands. "We were planning to leave, as soon as we heard the protests and debates starting. But the process to be admitted into another town is long. It didn't happen in time."

"Where did they take you?"

"I don't know," I answer, hating the vision that flashes in front of me and wishing I could stop the memories or erase them altogether.

"Do you know why they took you?"

"To drain, like I said. They were taking blood from the humans to sell. Apparently using humans is efficient. We regenerate our blood fast enough to take what they need, then they come back and take again. Reusing us for their profits." I remember the cages, the leather straps that held us down and bit into our skin…the needles. It smelled like shit and blood. The thought has bile rising in my throat, but I push it down.

"They told me I was too thin to reuse so I'd need to eat more." I shrug my shoulders as if it wasn't the most horrific moment of my life, remembering how they tried to force me to eat. "Even when they put a tube down my throat, I was able to throw the food back up. I didn't want to live like that. I'll never let someone use me."

There's a long moment of silence and then he's no longer there; the warmth vanishes. The bed dips and groans as the insecurities run rampant through me and Drago climbs off the bed. I question my decision to tell him everything. It was foolish; what was I thinking? As the silence continues, I wonder if he no longer wants to keep me, to heal me like he said he did. I swallow thickly. It's fine if he doesn't, I tell myself. The thought makes my chest hurt and I'm not sure why. It'd be better if he didn't; I'd have my freedom.

"You're safe now." I turn slightly so I can see him and when he doesn't tell me to remain as I was, I turn fully over, covering myself with my arms as best as I can. He walks in front of me and leans down to move the hair from my face. "I'll take care of you." Maybe I should be ashamed that I'm skeptical that he'll take care of me, maybe I should be ashamed that I feel a slight reprieve from his statement.

I don't know anything anymore, let alone what I should think. All I know is that I'm exhausted and beyond my depths.

The light of the fire lining the walls of the room casts a shadow over his tall frame, making the deep lines of his muscles appear more rippled as he walks to an antique dresser. The sight of his bare back flexing as he opens the drawer makes me turn onto my side and face away from him. I can't take the fire he ignites deep in my core. My cheeks flame as I push the dirty thoughts away. I think of the teachings in school. The letters of the ancient languages. Anything to keep the thoughts of him on top of me, ravaging me, out of my head.

My body jolts as his large hand comes down on my shoulder, bringing me back to reality.

His hand stills and his tone is gentle when he says, "I didn't mean to frighten you. Wear this until I can find something more suitable." He places a large, button-down shirt next to me on the bed. Without hesitation, I grab the fine fabric and hold it tight to my chest, hiding me from his prying eyes. He gives me a tight smile and turns his gaze toward the door. "I'm going to get you something to eat."

I watch every move he makes and do my best to judge his thoughts and reactions, but I'm left with nothing other than insecurities I wish didn't exist.

As he nears the door, he takes a key out from just below the knob. I hadn't realized that he'd locked the door…and left the key in it.

That's odd. Surely he knows that I'd simply be able to unlock the door and leave. He sets the key on a small, dark, antique table and opens the door to leave. Then he looks back at me and back at the key, all the while strumming his fingers on the door frame. He cocks a raised brow in a humorous fashion that I didn't expect.

The humor forces my lips to twitch up, and once again there's a warmth I don't expect to feel and yet can't deny. I smirk at his back as he palms the key and pockets it on his way out. He's smart to take it; I have to admit I would be tempted to lock the door if given a chance.

Although it is just a door, and I am not na?ve. The state of my predicament leaves me with a chill as I'm left alone in his bed. If I locked him out, I'm sure nothing would stop him from busting through the door. I take a moment to admire the intricate carvings that seem to shimmer with the low light from the flames.

A small shiver runs through my body, so I quickly put the shirt on. It's far too big, but at least it's something. I don't know what to think. A week ago, I was just me. A shit life in a shit town knowing more awful things were bound to happen. And then they did, and I fought it tooth and nail like I'd prepared to do. But now…

I just don't know how to react so I can survive this too. My stomach rumbles in pain and I curl into a ball on the bed. I was so stupid not to eat, but at least the vampires decided I wasn't worth the trouble and gave me away.

The sight of Drago on his throne flashes in my memory. I close my eyes and sigh as warmth flows through me. After a moment the chill returns and I cautiously pull back the covers. I sit cross-legged and stare at the door.

As if on cue, there's a knock. Every muscle tightens as I stare wide-eyed at the unlocked door. As a fear slips in that it could be someone else, the door opens and Drago enters. Only something feels off. I pull the covers closer to my body and up to my chest. He gives me a questioning look and tilts his head in an odd way. My eyes travel along his body. I don't feel the same lust for him as I did only minutes ago. My back stiffens as he slowly walks toward the bed. His gait is different; something is wrong, and I don't feel anything I felt a moment ago. His lips part and then his eyes close as he inhales deeply. His hands land down hard on the post of the bed and his knuckles turn white as his fists clamp the carved wood frame. His grip is so strong I can only imagine he's going to destroy it.

My heart hammers and I struggle to speak. Something's happened and I don't know what.

I don't feel threatened by his actions, it's not threatening in the least. Although I can't imagine why he seems to be holding himself back from me. Maybe he's going to shift. The thought is as exhilarating as it is frightening. I've never seen a dragon, but I would love to. After a moment he seems to catch his breath and relax his grip, but he doesn't move. I don't understand. My brows furrow, and I swear he was wearing darker leather pants. I search his face again and notice a small scar I hadn't seen earlier. My breath freezes in my lungs.

This is not Drago.

The three brothers are nearly identical, but I know that whoever this is, it's not Drago. As if to prove me right, his eyes open and flash reptilian. But instead of the frightening red color I expect, his irises turn a bright green.

A fear like no other runs through me.

I kick against the mattress and push my body backward until my shoulders slam into the headboard. Fuck, my head bashes against the hard frame. My heart races and all I can hear is his ragged breath and my blood rushing in my ears. My breath comes in pants as I stare back at him with wide, frightened eyes.

His eyes return to normal and his breathing calms. He slowly raises his hands in the air, palms toward me, and takes a step away. My muscles remain coiled though. I don't trust him whatsoever and I'm not ready to die.

"I apologize," his voice is calm and slow, but he speaks clearly. "I was not anticipating that."

My lips part but the words don't come. Swallowing thickly, I remind myself I cannot afford to appear weak. I will not be intimidated by him. I barely manage the question "Who are you?"

He swallows loud and harsh, the muscles in his throat tighten as he does. "Cyrus. I didn't mean to frighten you."

I nod in understanding and then I remember what he said. "Anticipate what?" Although my words are shaky, I'm proud I asked.

His mouth falls open, but he quickly slams it shut and shakes his head.

"I only came to speak to Drago. I didn't expect to find you here." He's lying. He saw me and didn't react like that at first. As I attempt to confront him, he blurts out, "I have to go." I watch with confusion as he turns on his heels and quickly opens the door. He looks back at me with a pained expression. "Don't tell Drago I came." I have no idea what the hell is going on, but the idea of withholding from Drago makes my heart clench for some reason. He must sense my hesitation, so he adds, "Please?"

I'm flabbergasted by his request and his demeanor entirely, but I nod yet again, agreeing to keep this from Drago. He gives me a tight smile and leaves me perplexed, alone in Drago's bed.