Page 15

Riley

Brotherly Love

Okay, Riley. He’s a dragon-human-male-changing-thingy. It’s believable that he also heals abnormally fast.

I stared in shock at the long gash in Malachy’s side as the bone retracted and his skin knit itself together. I had a strong stomach, but it still rolled a bit.

Totally believable.

It’d only taken me a minute to find the first aid kit under the bathroom sink, but that was long enough for most of the bleeding on his other gashes to stop and the big one to start this magic healing process.

“As I’ve said, I don’t need your assistance.” Malachy dwarfed the stool he sat on as he leaned over the kitchen counter.

His tattoos on the unmarred side of his body were hidden from view and he was wearing sweatpants he’d gotten from the closet in the hallway. Scars crisscrossed his back, but I pretended I didn’t see them. The man was a beast, just as big and domineering as his brother.

And I thought Kieran was huge.

“Thank you, though, Miss…” His bluish-green eyes searched me, looking for a name. The color was so much like Lucan’s but the difference was subtle.

Where Lucan’s eyes burned bright with intensity, Malachy’s were muted. Older somehow. The color fractured into pieces like broken glass instead of blazing into a beautiful mosaic.

But Lucan didn’t scare me, so I decided Malachy wouldn’t either.

“Riley, just Riley,” I said before he did something silly like call me ‘Miss.’

I went to the fridge and grabbed a beer, offering one to Malachy. He nodded his thanks and I dug around for a bottle opener like this was my kitchen or something.

I was getting too comfortable here.

“Is it your venom that makes you heal so fast?” I slid over the open beer bottle.

Malachy frowned as he stared at me. “Did Lucan tell you about dragon venom?”

His tone sounded too light and breezy for his injuries, like he was used to keeping it at a certain level and could do it on command.

But the pleasant voice didn’t hide the fact that he was fishing for information.

“Nope,” I popped the P as I raised the bottle to my lips.

“I see.” He was still watching me, but there was something amused about his expression. “You’re a nurse, I assume.” Malachy motioned to the sorry excuse for a first aid kit that sat unopened on the counter. It’d probably come with the house.

“I’m a CNA.” I shrugged.

“Not your first choice of career?” He guessed, trying to read me.

Good luck with that, dude. I barely know myself.

“No. My bachelor’s is in business, but I took whatever job was hiring when the economy started to crash.” I sipped my beer. “I went back to night school while I worked in the kitchen at the retirement home until I got certified as a nursing assistant. I’ve been doing that for the past ten years. Or I was until we decided to… leave.”

And that’s all he was getting from me.

“I see.” Malachy’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “No wonder my brother is interested. You’re smart, capable, a hard worker, beautiful, and kind.”

He listed off the qualities like facts—not flirting—but I felt the blush creep onto my face anyway. These brothers sure knew how to make a lady swoon. He had to be lying to butter me up.

My eyes narrowed. Why?

“What?” Malachy asked.

“Nothing.” I shook my head, not sure if I could trust my instincts. Was he just being nice?

Should I be worried?

What I needed to do was change the subject.

I pointed to his healing injuries. “Want to tell me how those happened?”

Malachy took a long sip of his beer, studying me before he spoke again.

“Nope,” he popped his own P.

“Touché.” I raised my beer toward his and grinned when he toasted me. It felt like a victory. My radar still wasn’t fixed. He didn’t seem that bad. And I guessed he did kind of protect the world according to the other dragons. “So, you’re the guardian.”

“You sound disappointed. Did you expect something else?” He drained the rest of his beer.

I hadn’t sounded disappointed. At least that wasn’t what I intended. But something told me this was more about him anyway.

“Someone bigger, maybe,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood again.

“They don’t make them much bigger,” he smirked, sliding his empty bottle across the counter. “Can I get another one?”

Since he didn’t need medical assistance, the least I could do was help with the pain. I cracked him a second beer and got us both a glass of water.

The phone buzzed in my back pocket and I pulled it out, hoping to see Ember or Willow’s name.

I deleted the unknown text without reading it.

“It must be hard, dealing with this whole prophecy-ending thing,” I said, trying to focus on problems that weren’t my own. I couldn’t imagine being pushed out of a job that important, especially when he’d been doing it for the past few hundred years.

Malachy huffed a hollow laugh. “You could say that.”

Kieran had explained that Malachy somehow absorbed the energy of the earth and calmed the seismic activity every time it fired up. But then things started getting out of control and Malachy had grown weaker as his term came to an end.

I wanted more details. Maybe then I’d understand how and why it was so important to Lucan that I was his mate. Then I could decide if I even wanted that role.

“You seem to know a lot about dragons for a human,” Malachy interrupted my thoughts.

“She knows what Kieran’s told her.” Lucan’s booming voice had butterflies swooping in my stomach. The tension eased in my shoulders—tension I didn’t even realize I was holding.

“Is everything all right?” Eww. Why did I sound so breathless? He was the one who’d changed into a dragon and flew off to fight… someone or something.

“It is now that I’ve dealt with the dragon.” Lucan’s smile had my toes curling. “Shawn is dead.”

I nodded as if this was the most natural thing in the world to hear. Took out the trash. Grabbed the mail. Killed the dragon knocking at my wards.

And I was still smiling.

Something was seriously wrong with my head.

I took a step back, trying to get myself together. “I’m sorry, did you say, ‘dead?’”

“He was infected with dark magic.” Lucan tore his gaze away and looked to his brother. “But you already knew that.”

“I smelled it on him right before they attacked.” Malachy was still staring at me. “Why is Kieran talking to you about the prophecy?”

Lucan stepped closer to my side. “If you’d come down from your ivory tower for either of our calls, then you’d know what our cousin found.”

“Do we need to call the cops?” I swallowed, still thinking about the dead dragon guy.

“What? No.” Lucan rested his hand on the small of my back. Such a simple gesture, like he just had to touch me. And I was glad that he did because it was instantly soothing.

I leaned against his side, feeling my worries ease. “That’s good.”

Wait…

“And what does Kieran say about the prophecy now?” An ancient exhaustion colored Malachy’s sigh.

Lucan glanced away. “He’s still figuring that part out.”

“Of course he is.” Malachy laughed bitterly as he took another sip of his beer. “Forgive me for not knowing this latest, undiscovered development.”

“It’s more than that,” Lucan snapped. “He’s found his mate.”

The anger brewing in Lucan didn’t scare me. Adrenaline from his earlier fight still pulsed through him, making him look hungry and tense. I rested my hand on his arm, instinctually knowing it’d help him relax. And it did.

The gentle giant blew out a hot breath, looking down at me with a warmth in his eyes that made the rest of the world fade around us.

“Mate?” Malachy interrupted.

It was a good thing he did because I was moments from pulling Lucan down to my level and tasting his lips for a second time.

Those sweaty endorphins and pheromones pulsing from him were no joke.

“We’re still working it out,” I said, breathless all over again.

Malachy’s eyes darted between the two of us, widening in realization. “What is this?”

“Go ask Kieran,” Lucan’s voice was a possessive growl as if he could frighten his brother away.

“I can’t,” Malachy said.

“You won’t.” Lucan clenched his jaw.

The air was thick with manly testosterone.

I forced myself to stand steady. “Should I give you two a minute alone?”

“No,” Lucan said just as Malachy said, “Yes.”

“She stays,” Lucan ground out his words. “You’re free to leave, though.”

My heart swelled ten sizes right then. Drew never would’ve stood up for me this way. If his friends said anything bad about me, he was the first to laugh and the first to tell me to find somewhere else to be.

“My apologies, Riley.” Malachy hung his head. “I’m not feeling myself as of late. I’m sure you’re confused. Kieran and I have a strained history.”

I gathered that, but I didn’t rub it in. “That must suck,” I said.

“Strained history,” Lucan huffed. “And it’s your fault that it is. If you hadn’t disappeared—”

“She called,” Malachy growled.

“Yeah, well, you could’ve come back. He had an entire coven waiting for you the last meeting and you never showed,” Lucan said.

“They weren’t even real witches. It was a group of practicing humans who thought they were in touch with Earth.” Malachy’s gaze darted my way. “No offense.”

“None taken?” I glanced around. “Though I’m sure there’s a religious group somewhere out there that might think you’re being a dick.”

Lucan pinched the bridge of his nose, but I saw him hiding his smile. “Whatever the case, they wanted to help. And so does Kieran. He’s been trying everything for the past two hundred years and you couldn’t be bothered to come when called.”

“You’re right, brother.” Malachy suddenly stood and finished chugging the rest of his beer before he wiped his mouth. “You would’ve been the better guardian. Mind if I sleep on your couch?”

“Of course I fucking mind…” Lucan’s voice followed Malachy as he stomped out of the kitchen.

I held Lucan back from chasing after him, still trying to process the whirlwind of male ego that just swept through the room.

“I think he needs a few days to crash,” I said. “He’s hurt.”

“He’ll be fine,” Lucan grumbled, but I felt him softening again under my touch. “How are you?”

“I should be asking you that. Did you really…” I lowered my voice, “Kill someone?”

He flinched as if I’d stabbed him.

I hurried to soothe his fear, “It’s okay. I’m sure laws work differently for dragons. I just want to make sure you aren’t hurt too.”

Something wondrous lit up his eyes as he leaned forward, caging me on either side against the counter with his arms. It wasn’t a cage, though.

It felt more like a nest of yummy male scent and warmth.

“You’re amazing. Did you know that?” he asked.

Now I was really blushing. “Do you have to fight like that often?”

Lucan shook his head. This close, his smell surrounded me making me hungry for some reason.

“I’m my brother’s keeper,” he explained. “It’s my duty to keep him safe. There are those who don’t believe he’s still Earth’s guardian or think they can do a better job. And before they knew the prophecy was ending, there were many jealous of his fame. He’s always had enemies. He deserves someone in his corner. If he needs me, I’ll be there.”

I nodded. This I understood, admired even.

“Is there anything you need?” Lucan asked.

His eyes dropped to my lips as I licked them.

The breath caught in my chest.

What did I need?

I thought about it, but really, there was no reason to. The answer came instantly and I wrapped my arms around Lucan’s back, hoping he wouldn’t deny this request. I wasn’t sure how long his kindness would last, but I’d take advantage of it now.

“Anything?” I asked.

Lucan’s growl went straight to my core as a smile lit up his face. “Anything.”

My words came tumbling out, “Can you teach me how to fight?”