Page 6

6

Jinn

A s the dragon shifted, I stepped back, my ankle threatening to go out from under me.

The alpha who stood naked before me had pale, almost white hair, and golden-green eyes. The muscles on his arms, chest and abs stood out like an athlete’s.

“My name is Lyric.” He held out his hand.

That was when I put two and two together, my brain sluggish. An athlete. Lyric.

“Is your dragon Lyrican?”

“The racer.” He nodded.

“I—I’ve seen you. I mean your dragon. On TV.” My knees went weak, and I let myself fall.

The alpha caught me under the arms to let me down slowly. I bent over, trying to catch my breath. Clear my thoughts.

“What’s your name?” Lyric asked.

“Jinn.”

“Jinn. I like that name. First things first. Are you hurt?”

I felt pain all over. Exhaustion took all my strength. “I’ve been running. A long time. My ankle… I can’t go on. He’ll come back. He’ll kill me.”

“Where did you come from?”

“The road. He kidnapped me. I woke and jumped out. But I couldn’t out-fly him. My dragon’s too small.”

“You were kidnapped? I need to get you to the authorities. But first, we need to get you to the point where you can even move. You’re in no shape to fly or even be carried on my dragon’s back the far distance we’d need to go to get back to the city.”

Lyric opened the lid of a box. I saw there were several bins embedded in the nest. Storage bins. He must have spent a lot of time here.

He brought out a blanket and quickly wrapped it around my dirty body. Then he brought out some fluffy pillows. He helped me lie back on a soft, mossy section of the nest. Everything in my body sagged at the sudden comfort and safety. When the adrenaline stopped running through my system, my vision started to go dark.

“Rest,” Lyric said. “I’ll make you something to drink. I know it’s warm out, but you need something strong. Do you like coffee?”

“Yes.” My eyes were already closing. “I love coffee.”

That was the last thing I remembered as I drifted off.

The aroma of fresh coffee entered my dreams. Suddenly, Colt was there, trying to get me up, roaring at me, his dragon shifting, his claws extending.

I cried out.

“Shh. You’re safe,” said a voice. “You’re just dreaming.”

The tone wasn’t Colt’s. It was low and soft. A human hand came up to my forehead and brushed the tangles of hair away.

“Are you going to kill me?” My voice sounded like someone else’s. Someone frightened and desperate. Someone who’d lost everything because the wrong alpha had met him in a bar.

I didn’t even go to bars that often. We’d been celebrating a co-worker’s birthday. I’d gotten tipsy and the alpha who bought me more drinks flattered me until I said yes to his every demand.

“My name is Lyric, remember?”

I nodded, opening my eyes.

He was the most handsome alpha I’d ever seen. I remembered thinking that whenever I saw his dragon race. He was famous. The fastest dragon on the planet.

“Ready for some coffee? It will help.”

Lyric helped me sit up, plumping the pillows behind me. I took the tin cup and inhaled. It was like going from misery to pleasure in a split second. Coffee was a miracle.

Coffee with cream and sugar.

I took a quick sip. It had both.

I took another sip, swallowing in joy as hot tears slipped from my eyes. The steam warmed my cold insides. The afternoon air blew cooler now, currents rustling the tops of the trees around us.

I looked up to be sure it wasn’t Colt coming back for me.

“It’s all right,” Lyric said, petting my shoulder. “There’s no sign of him. Lyrican will protect you if he comes back.”

“I have a job. Friends. I’m not the kind of person who gets in trouble. I barely know Colt. But he’s a bad man.”

“I believe you. Now I’m sorry I never bring my cell phone out here,” Lyric said.

I looked around, seeing better now that I’d had a quickie nap and coffee. The roost was immense. There was shelter from the treetops, but also a little wooden patio. That was near where the bins had been attached. We sat under the edge of the shelter. The moss beneath me was cool, soothing to my cuts.

“I like your roost.”

“Thanks. Lyrican and I like peace and quiet, especially after a big race. We spent a long time building it and add to it every year.”

“It shows a lot of care.”

“We’ve never had anyone up here.”

“I’m intruding. I’m sorry.” I handed him my empty cup.

“I didn’t mean you weren’t welcome. We’re happy to help anyone. We simply never see people way out this far.”

I lowered my head. “I’m just afraid I’ve brought you into danger, too.”

“Lyrican and I can take care of ourselves. We’ll be fine.” He pulled out a bag and started shuffling through it. “Now, let’s see if we can take care of the worst cuts, at least.”

I flushed all over. I wasn’t used to being naked with others. I always shifted alone. Plus, Lyric was quite distracting, all famous and handsome. With those intense topaz eyes.

He took out a bottle of water, a washcloth, a pack of wet wipes, a tube of antiseptic and some bandages.

“I noticed some bad cuts on your back. Let’s start there,” he said.

I leaned forward, clutching the fleecy blanket to my crotch. I tried not to hiss as the wet cloth touched my skin. My entire body started flaring with stings and aches as I realized how torn up I was. If I’d been able to keep my dragon form, I would have had scales to protect me. Also, Colt would have caught me much sooner and I’d for sure be dead by now.

I couldn’t help the hiss that escaped my lips.

“Sorry,” Lyric said. “I’ll try to be gentle.”

“It’s okay. Do what you have to do. I’ll be out of your hair as soon as I can.”

The hands on my back stopped moving. “You’re not in my hair. I told you you’re welcome here.”

“Thank you.” I shut my eyes as the cloth started moving again.

It all hurt at first. But the antiseptic must have had a numbing agent in it, as well, because after a while the cuts stopped smarting. The bandages over the worst ones tugged a little as I moved, but I got used to them fast.

When Lyric got to my chest, the up-close heat of him stirred something deep inside me. I stared at his smooth muscles with envy. And attraction.

Though his gestures were careful as he cleaned my wounds, much to my embarrassment, my nipples hardened.

A stirring came like a deep call from the unknown. Jinnan hopped awake inside me.

Mate. Alpha mate. Not Colt.

The words shocked me. I’d never heard my dragon talk like this. Not even during our heats.

I couldn’t even imagine this alpha would want someone like me. Sure, I was a rare omega, but he was famous and important. I was no one. He’d rescued me, which if I was in another time and place I might see as seriously romantic, but right now I was a hot mess. Not to mention I’d brought danger to him and his dragon.

Just as I had that thought, I heard a swooping sound overhead. It was coming closer at a fast speed.