Page 18

“Mr. Gabris?” A pause. “Mr. Gabris, are you awake? Sir?”

I groaned and opened my eyes. Someone had strapped me to a hospital bed, but not the usual sort. This one was sturdier. They had me sitting up, my wrists and ankles fastened to the bed with thick leather buckles of the sort used in psych wards. I saw them and instantly thought I had to play this cool. They thought I was insane. So, I had to act as rationally as possible.

“Yes, I'm awake. And I don't know you. But you seem to know me. Care to introduce yourself?” I cracked my neck and slid a quick look around the room.

It was not a hospital room. The medical instruments laid out on sterile pads were not the kind you'd find lying around your average hospital room. The table they were on was steel, a metal cage covered the overhead light, and the walls were concrete. Not very calming. The guy speaking was blond and wore glasses. He also wore a lab coat, as did his three buddies who stood behind him. But he was the only one with a clipboard. Clipboard equals man in charge.

The blond boss lifted his brows above his glasses. “I'm Dr. Watkins. How are you feeling?”

“Fine, besides being strapped down and unable to scratch my nose. Why is it that as soon as you can't scratch, you need to scratch?”

Dr. Watkins and his friends chuckled.

“Where is your itch?” Watkins asked.

“Right above my left nostril.”

He scratched my nose for me. “That better?”

“Actually, yes. Thank you. So, now can you tell me why I'm strapped down?”

“Well, uh.” Watkins glanced at his friends. “We've done some blood work on you, My Gabris.”

“Why would you do that? I’m not injured. Unless it happened when a bunch of Rambos busted into my house and abducted me and my guest.”

“Yes, that was unfortunately necessary. You see—”

“I'll take over from here, Dr. Watkins,” a woman said as she came into the room. “Why don't you check on our other guest?”

“Ah, Ms. Shin. Thank you.” Watkins stepped back and hurried from the room, his friends following.

Two men with guns strapped to their waists came in behind Ms. Shin. The woman was tiny, dressed in a red suit, and had her dark hair cut to her chin in a pin-straight bob. Very stylish. She scared me instantly.

“I assume your other guest is my friend,” I said. “Is he all right?”

“He's fine, Mr. Gabris.” She stepped up to the bed. “I'm Susan Shin. I won't give you my title because then I'd have to kill you.”

I snorted a laugh.

Ms. Shin did not laugh.

“Oh, you're serious. Right. So, you're some kind of spook. You mind telling me why you're interested in me and my friend?”

“Let's not waste time with silly questions, Mr. Gabris. You know why we took you and your friend, as you call him. Two agents spoke to you about him, and you did an excellent job at convincing one of them that you lost the man near Portland. They spent a lot of time searching Portland for him before Agent Watkins decided they needed to return to Salem and ask you a few more questions. But you weren't there. So, they investigated and discovered that you own two properties.”

Fuck. I had wasted time that I could have used hiding Kaspian somewhere truly safe.

“Ma'am?” Another armed man came in with a chair and set it beside the bed.

“Thank you.” Ms. Shin sat down and crossed her legs. “We brought you in to answer more questions, Mr. Gabris. But then we conducted a physical exam and discovered a few interesting things about you.”

“About me?” I scowled at her. “From a physical exam? Is that the blood work Watkins was talking about?”

“That and other tests.”

“What the fuck could you have possibly found in my blood?” I tried to lift my hands but only got them an inch up before the straps stopped me. “Do I have high cholesterol or something?”

Ms. Shin peered at me.

I stared back at her.

A minute passed.

Two.

I didn't break.

She lifted her chin.

I lowered mine.

At last, she said, “I see. You really don't know.”

“About what?” I snarled, my calm fraying. I didn't need to be calm anymore. This wasn't a psychiatric institution.

“I have a few theories about how this happened, but now, I'm leaning toward the first.”

“What happened? What's wrong with me?”

“I believe your interaction with the alien has changed you. It has changed you on a molecular level.”

“My interaction with the what?” I lifted my brows at her.

“We know what he is, Mr. Gabris. Please, don't make me go into all the details about this being and his arrival on our planet. We know. And now you know that we know. All right? Let's move on.”

“Fine.” I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. What were they doing to Kaspian? Fuck. Was he already dead? Were they dissecting his body? No. I couldn't think like that. Mainly because that thought made me so ill that I wouldn't be able to function. I'd just bend over, throw up, and sob. I had to hold it together. So, I tried to help Kas in the only way I could think of. “But he's not a threat to anyone. He helped us. And yes, technically, he's an alien, but not of the flying saucer variety.”

She leaned in. “Good. Thank you for being honest at last. Go on. What variety is he?”

I stared at her, weighing my words. Would it help or hurt Kaspian if I told the truth? What difference would it make? I knew one thing I wasn't going to tell her—what he could transform into. So, what was I willing to share?

“Mr. Gabris, we don't want to hurt our visitor. We want to learn from him. What he did with that fire . . . imagine if he could teach us how to do it? Your job would be so much easier.”

“Yeah, but he can't teach it. It isn't technology. It's magic.”

“Magic,” she said the word as if she didn't understand it.

“I know. It's hard to wrap your head around. The guy comes from a world where humans are the only race without magic. Everyone else has it. He has Fire Magic.”

“Fire Magic? So, he can burn things?”

I shrugged. “All I've seen him do is put out that forest fire. If he can burn things, he hasn't had the urge. As I said, he's not dangerous. The only time I've seen him attack someone was when we were attacked first. In my home. By your people. Who abducted us. Naked. Us, not them.”

“Yes, they found you in a very intimate position with the alien. I assume you've become lovers.”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.”

“What's interesting?”

“That this man appears on your job site, puts out a fire, and you run off with him, hide him, and become his lover. It has been only five days, Mr. Gabris, and you are already deeply involved with the alien.”

“It's been five days?” I leaned forward. “No, that's not right.” I tried to remember how many breakfasts I had ordered for us. Shit. “Has it really been that long?”

Ms. Shin finally showed some emotion at last—surprise. “You didn't know?”

“We've, uh, been busy.”

“I see.” Her lips twitched. “Yes, he is . . . quite the specimen. I imagine he would be difficult to resist. Or perhaps he used this so-called magic on you?”

“What? No. He wouldn't . . .” I remembered the tingling cum suddenly. How I felt refreshed after every fuck. Kaspian's expression right before those men had shown up. What he called me. It was all spinning through my head. “You said my cells are different?”

“Ah, so now you're starting to understand.” She nodded. “What did he do to you? Do you even know?”

“Um.” I cleared my throat. “I'm not sure.” I wasn't about to tell this bitch that Kaspian had magical cum. She'd be milking him like a cow.

“I can only assume there was something in his fluids.” Ms. Shin narrowed her stare at me.

“I honestly don't know. But that makes sense. Like an STD.”

“Yes, except this STD appears to have increased your immunity and recuperation.”

“What are you saying?” My hands shook. What had Kas done to me?

The memory of Kaspian roaring as they captured us came surging into my mind, “Mate!”

“We're still running tests. So far, your results are like his. You both show incredible regenerative properties. Your levels of growth factors, inflammatory markers, and nutrient levels are off the charts. Your body isn't just functioning at its highest capacity, it's functioning at a level that shouldn't be possible for a human. His level. Whatever he is.”

“You're saying that I'm becoming whatever he is?” I thought of that giant dragon in my front yard. Holy shit. Was I going to shapeshift?

“As I said, we don't know. Your levels are the same as his, but there are distinctly different genetic markers.”

“So, my DNA still proves that I'm human?”

She stared at me.

“I am still human, right?!”

“According to your DNA, Mr. Gabris, you are not human. But you are not whatever he is either. We don't know what you are. I imagine you're a hybrid of some sort.”

“Holy fuck.” I plopped back against the pillows.

“Maybe you'd like to reconsider your answer about what your new friend is?” Ms. Shin lifted a brow at me. “We can help you.”

“I don't know what he is,” I whispered, still reeling from my non-humanity.

“Then we'll have to keep you here for the time being.”

“Like this?” I shook my wrists. “Can't I at least trade this bed for a shackle chained to the floor? My body is going to ache if I lie here all day.”

Ms. Shin grinned. “I like you, Mr. Gabris. And I appreciate how you've remained calm despite the distressing nature of your situation. I will see what we can do to make you more comfortable.”

“It's not like I can do anything.” I nodded at the armed men. “You've got me under guard.”

“Yes, but you see, your tests are showing that you may indeed be able to do something.”

I went still. “Like what? Are you saying he gave me his magic?”

“I don't know, Mr. Gabris. But until I do, until I'm sure of what you can do, you're not going anywhere.” She leaned closer. “But if you tell us everything you know, it may speed up our investigation.”

“I have told you everything I know. Sorry to be crude, but most of the time I've spent with him, we were fucking.”

“I see. At least provide us with his name.”

“He hasn't given it to you?”

“He is not awake yet. We had to give him a significantly higher dose of sedative than you received. I'm told it was enough to take down—”

“An elephant?” I cut her off with a smirk.

“A herd of them.”

My smirk vanished. “What? You could have killed him!”

“No, Mr. Gabris, I don't believe we could have. His regenerative capabilities are vast.”

“You didn't know that then!”

A man in a lab coat leaned in through the doorway. “Ma'am, he's awake.”

“Wonderful,” Ms. Shin said as she held my stare. “I believe there's another way for you to help us, Mr. Gabris.” She lifted her chin at one of the soldiers. “Put him on the chair and bring him to the room.” She walked out.

“Hold on. What chair?” I called after her. “What room?!”

My first question was answered a few minutes later when a wheelchair came rolling into the room. Except this was a wheelchair for Hannibal Lecter. It was fully metal, with a high back and restraints. And yes, the restraints were metal too. All that was missing was that mask with the bars over the mouth.

One of the soldiers pulled his gun and pointed it at my face. “Try anything, and I will put you down.”

“Nice. Real nice.” I rolled my eyes. “I'm a fucking firefighter, asshole. I risk my life to save others. And this is the thanks I get.”

“I risk my life every day,” the man shot back. “And as dangerous as a fire may be, it doesn't shoot back. Now, we're going to do this real slow. They'll unbuckle you, and you're going to stand up and sit in that chair. Make any sudden moves, and—”

“I get it,” I cut him off. “You'll put me down like a rabid dog. Sheesh with the drama. Are you gay, Queen?”

“Already looking for a new fuck?” He lifted his brows. “Sorry, I'm straight. Maybe one of the others will give you a pity fuck later.”

“Wow. That was all kinds of wrong. I don't even know where to begin. But first, you need to understand something very important—I can make fun of gay people because I'm gay. It's like making fun of someone's brother—they can do it as much as they want, but they'll beat up anyone else who talks shit about him. So, for that shit talk of yours, you straight dickhead, I'm gonna have to kick your ass later.”

The soldier snorted. “That's going to be hard to do when they're cutting you open.”

“Wilcox!” one of the others said. To me, he added, “That's not the plan, Mr. Gabris. We don't want to hurt either of you. Now, please, try to be still while we unbuckle you.” He glanced at the gun-guy and added, “I swear to fuck, Wilcox, if you shoot him without reason, I will shoot you.”

Wilcox grimaced. “I know how to deal with lippy prisoners. Just fucking do your job, and I'll do mine.”

I rolled my eyes. “Can we get on with this?”

They unbuckled my restraints and jumped back.

“Wow. You guys are that scared of me? Sheesh. Relax.” I held up my hands and slowly slid to the edge of the bed. “I'm getting down now.” I slid onto my feet.

“Turn around,” Wilcox said.

“Okay, but I'm going to reach behind myself and pull this stupid hospital gown shut first. I don't want to sit on metal with a bare ass.”

“Oh, for fuck's sake.”

“Go ahead,” the other guy said.

“Thanks.” I grabbed the edges of the gown and held them together as I turned around.

One of them pushed the metal chair behind me and held it in place.

“Sit,” Wilcox said.

I sat down and barked at Wilcox like a dog.

He snorted a laugh even as his buddies slapped the hinged, metal restraints over my wrists and ankles. Then they wheeled me backward into the hallway. Wilcox put his gun away and led the way down to another room. He knocked on the door. Yet another soldier opened it, peered out at me, nodded, and stepped back inside.

They wheeled me into a much larger room than the one I'd been in. But there was less in it. At least in the way of furniture. On one side of the room, a crowd of lab coats huddled behind Ms. Shin. Among them was that blond who I thought was in charge. In front of Ms. Shin were several armed soldiers, all of whom had guns aimed at Kaspian. The man who had answered the door went to stand beside Ms. Shin. He didn't pull his gun, but that probably had something to do with all the gold stars on his uniform.

That was all the attention I gave to everyone who wasn't Kaspian. Just one glance and then I was staring at him. Kas occupied the other end of the room, filling the space as he did. He wore a hospital gown, like me, and restrained, but not like me. Thick chains bound Kas to the cement wall by his wrists, neck, ankles, and thighs. I'd never seen anyone bound like that, not even in a movie. On top of that, he was gagged. And it was a serious gag, not just some fabric tied around his head. This thing looked like a dominatrix's wet dream.

I had to stop myself from calling out his name, remembering at the last second that they didn't know it. A name might not give them any power over him—I mean, he wasn't a demon—but I wanted to hold back as much as I could for as long as I could.

As soon as Kaspian saw me, his eyes went wide, and he started struggling. They wheeled me in front of him. As they parked my metal chair, I subtly shook my head at him. Freaking out would not help us.

Kas went still. All but his stare, which slid over me before returning to my eyes.

“Mr. Gabris here says that he doesn't know anything about you.” Ms. Shin's heels clicked as she stepped over to me, her stare locked on Kas. “Remove his gag.” She waved at the soldiers.

Three of them went forward—two kept their guns trained on Kas while the third holstered his and unsnapped the gag. Kaspian spat as a plastic bit was removed from his mouth.

He licked his lips and asked me, “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I'm okay. How 'bout you?”

Kaspian chuckled. “Oh, I'm lovely. Thank you for asking.”

“What the fuck is with these two?” one of the soldiers behind me muttered.

“I told you humans can be dicks,” I said.

“Yes, but this is beyond dickhood.”

“Dickhood?” I laughed. “You made up a word. Look at you. Well done. How very American.”

“Yes, congratulations,” Ms. Shin inserted into the conversation. “Now, why don't we start with your name? What should we call you?”

“You can call me 'Your Majesty,'” Kaspian said.

My lips twitched.

No one else found it funny.

“Are you claiming to be a king?” Ms. Shin asked.

“I am a king, yes.”

“And what race are you?”

“Seraian.”

“Seraian?” She looked at the man with the stars on his shoulders.

He shook his head. “That's not one of the alien races we're familiar with.”

“There are alien races that you're familiar with?!” I gaped at him.

He ignored me, keeping his focus on Kas. “Where is your ship?”

“I don't sail.”

“The spaceship that brought you to Earth.”

“I didn't arrive on any sort of ship.”

“Then how did you arrive?”

I shook my head.

Kaspian lifted his chin.

“Already?” Ms. Shin tsked. “I thought you'd give your lover a little longer before we tortured him.”

“Wait. What?” My stare shot to her.

“Let's see just how fast you heal, Mr. Gabris.” Shin held out her hand and one of the lab guys put a scalpel in it. Like she was a doctor on one of those ER shows.

“Hurt him in any way, even the smallest scratch, and I will tear out your throat.” Kaspian bared his teeth.

The clicks of cocking guns echoed.

“Your weapons will not save you.” Kaspian's snarl turned into a grin—a grin that sent chills down my spine.

Shin positioned the scalpel above my thigh, holding it like a dagger. “All you have to do is answer our questions, Your Majesty . I have no desire to hurt Mr. Gabris. We seek knowledge. That is all.”

“Scholars do not wield blades.” Kaspian's eyes twitched. His arms also tensed, but he did that subtly, straining at the chains. They rustled. “Stick to your books or you'll learn why.”

Shin lifted the scalpel.

They faced off.

Kaspian had a wicked glare. He was no joke. But he'd never encountered the Asian Death Stare. Especially when wielded by a woman, the Asian Death Stare could stop someone in their tracks. It was the ultimate stare on the planet in my opinion. Hardcore to the extreme. It kept many Asian kids in line.

Kaspian buckled.

“Don't,” I said. “She may hurt me a little, but it won't be anything fatal. I'm too valuable.”

“You say that scholars don't wield blades.” Shin flicked the scalpel through her fingers, twisting it like an acrobat. “I am not a scholar, Your Majesty. I am a scientist. And scientists know how to dissect. I will slice your lover apart, bit by bit, keeping him alive, letting him heal after every cut. Perhaps I'll even extricate a few organs to study and see if Mr. Gabris can regrow them.” She narrowed her eyes at Kas. “Just to test my theory.”

“I came through a rift,” Kaspian said.

“Don't tell them anything you don't want to!” I shouted. “She's not going—”

Shin stabbed me with the scalpel.

Taken by surprise, I screamed. Blood gushed from my wound as she jerked the scalpel out. It had gone deep. Those things were sharp, and she wasn't foolin' around.

Kaspian roared and strained at the chains. Metal creaked. Soldiers went tense. Guns shook.

“Hold!” the star-guy said. “Do not fire!”

Shin slid behind me and aimed the scalpel at my throat. “Calm down, Your Majesty. Or the next cut will be across his throat.”

Kas went still.

Meanwhile, tingling filled my thigh. I looked down to see that the blood had stopped flowing.

Shin followed my glance. Blinked. “Someone clean his wound! Now!”

One of the lab coats hurried forward with a cloth and antiseptic. With gloved hands, he drenched the cloth, then swiped it over my thigh. I didn't feel the sting, only the cold. Then he straightened and gaped at my leg. We all did.

“There's no wound,” he whispered. “He's already healed! Dear God, imagine what we could do with his blood.”

I looked from my healed leg to Kaspian. “We're going to have a long conversation after this.”

“I was trying to have that conversation with you when they showed up.” Kas jerked his head at the others.

“Have your conversation now, gentlemen.” Shin got back to pointing the scalpel at my carotid artery. “Unless you think he can heal a sliced throat as fast as he did his thigh. In which case, I'd like to see that.” She started to move her hand.

“Stop!” Kas shouted.

Shin lifted a brow.

“She's going to cut me up anyway,” I said carefully, so I wouldn't jostle that scalpel. “You heard that guy. They want my blood.”

“I'd be more mindful about what I said, if I were you, Mr. Gabris.” Shin tapped my throat with the blade. “I think I've proved what I'm capable of.”

I slid my stare toward her. “Oh, yeah. You've proved that you're an evil bitch. Well done.”

She only grinned as if I'd complimented her.

Kaspian held my stare as he said, “I will tell you what you want to know.”

“Don't give these motherfuckers anything,” I growled. “I can take the pain.”

“You will not !” Kaspian snarled. Then his stare focused on the slim blade at my throat, and he went twitchy—his whole body shuddering as if something inside him was rattling its cage.

“Go on, Your Highness,” the star soldier said. “Tell us how you got here.”

“It's 'Your Majesty.' Your Highness is a title reserved for princes, you fucking fool.” Kaspian sneered and looked the guy over as if he couldn't believe how disappointing humans could be. “You say you want information and then you disregard what I say. Listen!”

“Give me that!” the guy grabbed a pole from one of the lab coats and shoved it into Kaspian's side.

Kas roared as that asshole electrocuted him.

“No!” I jerked, slicing myself on the scalpel.

As soon as I bled, Kaspian went still. The prod was still in his side, still sparking, but he didn't move except to focus on me. “Remove your silly stick. I will answer as long as you don't hurt my mate.”

“Your mate ?” Shin withdrew the scalpel. She glanced at the star soldier. “Enough, General. He understands.” As the General backed away, she noted, “You take mates like animals?”

“No, not like animals. Like Dragons !” Kaspian narrowed his stare at her.

As the lab coats murmured and the soldiers shifted, Kas went on, “Mating magic is a gift from our goddess. It draws the perfect match to every Dragon. Some of us search for centuries for our mates. But the wait is worth it. Because when we find the person who is chosen for us by divine magic, there is no greater joy. Merely being in their presence is bliss. The bond we forge with our mates is sacred and once completed, it makes marriage laughable—a few vows, easily broken. No one can break a mating bond. It is eternal.”

“Eternal? Centuries?” Shin whispered. “Are you saying that you're immortal?”

“Did you not catch the dragon part?” the General hissed. “I'm more interested in that.”

“Yes. I am immortal. As is my mate, now that we have bonded.” Kaspian met my stare. “Do not fear, Mate. We will be free shortly.”

“What the fuck?” I shook my head. “I'm immortal? Immortal?! Then why are you worried about her cutting me?”

“You can still feel pain. You can bleed. You can be hurt. And I will not allow that! It is my duty as your mate to protect you.”

“How romantic,” Shin drawled. “Now, let's get back to your race, Your Majesty. You say that you're a dragon.”

“That's Dragon with a capital D, bitch,” I said. “I can hear the lowercase in your tone. Show some damn respect for your betters.”

Shin ignored me.

Kas chuckled. “You're finally seeing things from my perspective.” And then he winked at me.

Oh, shit. Here comes dragon!

“Yes, let's talk about my race,” Kaspian's voice lowered as he grinned. “There's something you need to know about Dragons. Mated Dragons, in particular.”

“What's that?” the General demanded.

“Nothing can stop a Dragon from saving his mate!”