Sanctuary, Texas: My Dragon Masters Part 6

I c.o.c.ked an eyebrow and she grinned again.

"Sorry, I meant it attracted your attention," she replied.

"Oh ... then yes. My antenna is up."

"We can't leave until dark. Plus, this is the second check-in for Manda. She popped in at our last stop and Charlie had a short conversation with her dad about you, via Manda's teleportation, before we headed out that night."

"Who is Manda?" I wasn't even going to ask about teleportation.

"A Djinn who works with the Mason pack. She helps keep us one step ahead of Xerxes' and the SECR soldiers. Although after last night, I wonder if they suspect her alliance with us."

"Who is Xerxes? And what is a Djinn?"

"A Djinn is a supernatural that can appear anywhere in world with the snap of their fingers. No walking or running. Just poof and they're there."

"That sounds like a pretty helpful power to have."

Eira nodded. "Xerxes is an evil, supernatural bada.s.s who wants to rule the world. He's slowly and successfully infiltrating the human systems of government with his own lackeys and putting down supernaturals that don't support him."

"I take it that you, Charlie, and the others in this group are against him ruling the world."

"Yeah, big time. He's an a.s.s and has something up his sleeve that we can't quite put a pin on. All of the Djinn work for him, but Manda has gone rogue and helped us out of a huge jam on more than one occasion. Whatever her reasons are for betraying the Djinn king Cyrus and Xerxes, we don't know, but we'll take the help."

"What if she's playing you?"

"Then life will suck donkey b.a.l.l.s when she finally betrays us."

I snorted at the image and shook my head.

"For now, the Masons are semi-careful. There are measures in place in Ada and some of the other larger bases to slow down the Djinn, should they ever show up uninvited. But, you're right. Mostly it would be a s.h.i.+t-storm and a lot of people would get hurt, or worse."

"Are Charlie and Chad together?"

Eira glanced up, catching my gaze. "Stay away from that dog. He and Charlie aren't an item, but he'll sleep with you and then sleep with the girl down the hall the same night. You don't want any of that," she said, waving her hands toward the door. "I don't care how h.o.r.n.y you get. We're gonna find those two hotties you keep dreaming about and you can do them to your heart's content." Her vocabulary still perplexed me, but I knew what she meant this time.

She walked to the door, cracked it open slightly, and peered out. "We should find you something to eat. Can't run all night on an empty stomach. Although, I have to give you props for last night. With your wound and mental state, I didn't think you would keep up."

"My wound is healed. I can barely see the mark where it was. Did you eat yet, Eira?"

Eira shut the door and licked her lips. As she turned back toward me, I could see a narrow ring of red around her blue irises.

"You haven't, have you? How long are you going to starve yourself to protect me?"

"I'm not." She closed the door and turned the deadbolt.

I frowned.

"Ok, fine. I am. You're a dragon. Everyone wants you. Even Charlie's dad, Randall. They want to interrogate you when we get to Ada. I've got to make sure you stay safe. I claimed responsibility for you when we pulled you out of that ditch where you crash-landed. Technically, they can't take you from me without a fight because I claimed you as my ward."

"I'm not a child. I can protect myself."

"I know, but you looked young at first and so beaten down. You were naked and covered in blood. Every mothering instinct I never had shuffled out to stake a claim."

She pretended to be all tough and hard, but I could see through the c.h.i.n.ks in her armor. "Thank you."

Eira shrugged. "I protect people. I always have. You're just my newest stray. I brought in Chad, too. That's why he does what I say and-"

"The real reason you don't want me to sleep with him."

"You know for a gal who can't remember anything, you're quick."

This crazy world I'd been thrust into so violently wasn't all that bad with Eira to guide my way. But I had a feeling life might get ugly if I ever lost her. I moved to the dresser where a clear cup sat with some white paper packets in it. I dumped them out and touched the hilt of the large knife she'd given me to wear strapped to my thigh. Pulling it from the sheath, I pressed the sharp blade to my palm until it cut through.

"D! What the h.e.l.l?" Eira blurred to my side and tried to grab the knife, but surprisingly I held my own. She swore something I didn't understand under her breath, but stopped trying to pull the knife away.

I raised my hand over the empty gla.s.s and let my blood trickle into it, filling it at least halfway, before she started protesting that it was too much. Opening my hand, I held it up and blew ice-cold air across my b.l.o.o.d.y palm. The bleeding stopped almost instantly and the cut began to knit back together.

Eira sucked in a quick gasp beside me and leaned closer to my hand. "How did you know you could do that?"

I really didn't know. It'd felt almost like muscle memory. "Instinct I guess," I replied.

"Thank you for the blood, but you really didn't have to do this. I can go weeks if I need to."

"But you don't need to. And since we don't want to freeze your pretty face off, I figured this was the next best way."

Eira laughed out loud and held up the cup. "I never thought I'd get to taste the blood of a dragon. It's an honor."

"You are welcome. I hope it helps."

She nodded and took a long drag from the cup. I grimaced watching her, not able to imagine the taste of blood being pleasant, but she certainly seemed to be enjoying it. A minute later she was draining the cup of the last drop and licking her lips.

"Well? What does dragon blood taste like?"

"Better than a thousand-dollar bottle of wine. Holy mother of the G.o.ds, you taste like pure heaven and energy."

I smiled and dabbed my forehead with the back of my hand. My heat was getting worse again. And I could smell every single male in this establishment. Chad was two rooms away. But there were ten other males on this floor with us and I wanted all of them. By the G.o.ds indeed, there had to be a way to get this to stop. I eyed the closed door and then let my gaze flick back to Eira.

"Your heart's racing. D, what's wrong?"

"It's the heat cycle, it's building again. It's a pain worse than starving. I know I can't give in, but I keep considering it. I'm afraid the pain will overrule my will."

Eira set the cup on the table by the window. "Just lie down and count the dots on the ceiling. I'll be back shortly with something for you to eat. Do. Not. Leave. This. Room."

I walked back to the iced-over bed and sat down, the blankets crunched under my weight. It was ridiculous. How hard was it to sleep on a bed without freezing it into a block of ice? "b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l."

"It will get better. You will figure out your powers or we will find someone who can help." She said, slipping from the room.

The door closed with an ominous snap. I listened as her footsteps became fainter. I wanted to leave, but I wouldn't. Being shot at again or taken by someone was not on my agenda for the day. Still, it was hard for me not to leave the room and explore.

But, every time I stared at the closed door, I remembered the screaming and yelling of the people in the streets, and the pain and terror I'd felt when the soldiers started firing at me with those metal weapons. Eira told me they were called guns and could fire from a long range.

I'd never seen anything that shot a projectile besides a bow and arrow. I found it strange I could remember tidbits about how life should be, but nothing specific to my life. It was like they'd taken my memories of people and myself and left me with only factual information. But even the facts were foggy.

I pressed my lips together tightly, closed my eyes, and screamed on the inside. When I opened my eyes again, the whole room had another layer of frosty ice covering every surface-the furniture, both beds, and the mirror in the washroom. b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l!

The only thing not covered in ice was me. And because of this horrid mating heat, the blankets beneath me were melting. How could I be so warm and yet be able to cover an entire room in ice with a mere frustrated thought?

CHAPTER TWELVE.

DIANA.

The door to the room squeaked and shuddered on its frozen hinges as Eira pushed it open. She stepped into the room and her feet crunched on the frosted carpet.

"D! Really? Again?" Her voice was filled with more annoyance than usual. She closed the door and yanked one of the chairs free from the floor, shaking it until all the ice broke free. Then she sat at the frost-covered table and set a brown paper bag on it. The smells coming from the bag were greasy, but appetizing. My stomach rumbled hungrily at this point, willing to eat about anything.

I followed her example and cleaned off the other chair next to the small table by the window. After brus.h.i.+ng away as much ice as would come loose, I sat down and sighed.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to do it."

"They will be able to track us because of this. The hotel will report it."

"I can leave. You have all done enough already. I should not be putting you in danger because of my lack of discipline." I started to stand, but she put her hand on mine and then jerked it back.

"d.a.m.n, girl. For all this ice, you're burning up. Kind of an oxymoron, you freezing the room, yet burning up like an overfed furnace."

"I don't know what you meant by half of that, but yes. I am confused by the conflicting elements. On top of that, I feel as though I will go mad if I do not find a man to ... satisfy me soon."

"Don't you dare. You'll end up icing them or the whole hotel."

I grimaced. She was right, but it was so hard to hold back. "I can smell them. Chad is only two rooms away and there are ten other males in this establishment right now. I know exactly where they are. Their scent calls to me like-"

"Like nothing, dragon lady. You need to keep your icy breath and fiery skin to yourself until we get to Ada and talk to my friend."

"What will your friend be able to do?"

"Hopefully break whatever spell is messing with your memory. I've never met a supernatural that didn't have control of their powers. Whatever's missing in your brain has to be affecting your abilities." She opened the bag and handed me a warm bit of food wrapped in brown paper.

I unwrapped it and took a bite of the strange conglomeration of meat, cheese, and bread. It was not unpleasant, but it certainly was not great, either. My stomach couldn't care less and I ate it quickly, relis.h.i.+ng every greasy bite.

Licking my fingers, I eyed the strange-looking yellow strips Eira was putting out on a napkin in front of me.

"Guess I don't have to ask if you liked the hamburger," she said, smiling. "Try the French fries. They're the best around here, so I've been told. We're heading out this afternoon to try and get a jump start on the next stopover."

"That thing did not taste like ham." I stated, before biting into one of the soft yellow strips she'd called French fries.

"That's probably because there's no ham in it. It was beef."

"Oh. Why do they not call it a beef-burger then?"

"Good question, D. I don't know." Eira's face contorted into a suspicious smirk.

After finis.h.i.+ng the strange meal, I returned to the now-soggy bed and sat down. The mattress squished beneath me and I wrinkled my nose in disgust. At least the enchanted clothes she had provided would dry almost instantly when I stood again.

"I'm going to go talk to Charlie. Stay in the room."

"Of course," I answered, waving as she disappeared out the door again. I couldn't blame her for wanting to go. The room was cold, wet, and covered with layers of ice and frost. It was terrible and I didn't want to be in it, either. It couldn't possibly hurt to sit outside in the fresh air.

I stood and walked to the door, pulling it open a crack to listen. No one was outside my door, so I stepped outside into the chilly air and took a deep breath. The fresh air was invigorating and I sat down on the lip of the walkway outside our door. The inn was secluded. In the distance I could see a large body of water, possibly the lake Eira had mentioned last night.

Footsteps to my left made me turn my head, but I already knew it was Chad from his scent on the breeze. I stood and moved back to the cracked doorway, not trusting myself with him this close. He stopped and nodded, tipping the strange, wide-brimmed hat he was wearing. He was so handsome. But it was really his scent that made my entire body weak with want. It filled my lungs and I dug my fingers into the wood trim of the doorway to hold myself back. I wanted him. In my room. In me. Wherever I could have him, actually.

"How are you doing traveling with Eira?"

His question caught me off guard. The tone of his voice wasn't unfriendly, but he seemed upset.

"I am well, thank you. Eira is an excellent companion."

"Did you feed her?" His voice was accusatory. "She looked perky this morning. You shouldn't, you know. It's dangerous to let one of them get attached to you."

"I've saved your a.s.s on more than one occasion, so just put a sock in it. As far as Randall and Charlie go, I'm as old as dirt and know a lot more about this world than they do," Eira said, appearing suddenly at the door next to Chad. Her eyes were ringed with red and she looked cross. "I told you to stay away from her. Her powers are unstable. Would you like to be turned into a human Popsicle?"

He glared at her before turning on his heel and walking off, his boots thumping the hard stone-like ground like a fuming bull.

I swallowed and turned my gaze back to Eira. She narrowed her eyes and came toward me. I moved and allowed her into the room.

"I asked you to stay in the room."

"Why would he care if I fed you?"

She slammed the door. Sheets of ice shook loose from the walls and crashed to the floor. "Look ... as a rule, wolves don't like vampires, but they need me. I can jump the Republic fences and they can't without me. Makes crossing the borders much stealthier. They won't let me drink from any of them because they fear that I'll bond to them or some such s.h.i.+t. Which is only true if I drink from the vein."

"What kind of bond?"

"A s.e.xual one."

I raised my eyebrows. "But I cut myself to feed you. You didn't have to bite me. Why would they care about that? You do look much better. Your color and everything is brighter."

Eira sank into the chair by the small table and frowned. "They're just stubborn, superst.i.tious, and most of the pack only tolerates my presence because Charlie and I are friends."

"How did you come to befriend a werewolf, if none of them like vampires?"

"It's an interesting story and one that ends with me saving her mother's life a long time ago."