The Alpha Dragon's Protection (Dragon Shifters 0f Kahului Book 4) Read online

  “Audio only would be great. Maybe we can set a link up to Ella’s and everyone else’s system so we can all communicate quickly?”

  Edvard’s look turned contemplative. “That sounds like a wonderful idea. Let’s hope Sebastian doesn't abuse it.”

  Carrie grabbed one of the soil bags and started to pull it over to the pot where they wanted to put the bell pepper, but Edvard took it from her.

  “Thanks,” she said in relief. She always forgot how heavy those could be. “Of course he will,” Carrie said. “That's what Sebastian is good at.”

  They grinned at each other in solidarity before Carrie ripped open the bag. She motioned for Edvard to toss her a pair of gloves.

  When she put them on, he followed suit.

  “Now, let me show you how to grow some things,” she said.

  They spent the rest of the afternoon toiling in the garden. Edvard was a quick study, and by the time they’d finished planting the plumeria, he no longer needed her help with the hibiscus except to ask how far apart they needed to be.

  Carrie sat down at her patio table and watched the huge man try to handle tiny little seeds. A smile played over her mouth as she realized how much she was enjoying it.

  Perhaps sensing he was being watched, Edvard looked up at grinned at her.

  It stole her breath. She blinked and looked away.

  She was going to have to be careful with him. If she wasn’t careful, he’d steal her heart.

  2

  Edvard

  Carrie was the most interesting woman Edvard had ever known. This was saying something because Edvard had known a lot of women. Not always in the same way, and he had not always laid with them, but he took his time to get to know all the females in his life. Carrie was mercurial. Quick to laugh, quick to embrace life, but also quick to switch her moods depending on the day or the hour or anything really.

  At first, Edvard was concerned about it. He wondered about her stability, if her mind was solid. But as the months passed and he got to know her, he made a realization. When Carrie’s security was threatened, she backed away and tried to run. Carrie was a special case. She had to be handled with kindness and patience. He’d seen this sort of behavior once before, many years ago back in his kingdom.

  She was a serving maid, in service to his king. While his king was an honorable man, he couldn’t keep his eyes on everything that went on in his keep. Her name was Carlotta, and she’d been assaulted by one of the serving boys while everyone slept.

  Edvard only knew because he’d come in late one evening and stumbled into her as she was racing through the hallways, her bodice held up only by her hand. The woman’s face was streaked with tears and her eyes were full of terror.

  He’d tried to hold her in place and ask her questions, but she clawed at him like a tiger to get free. As she ran, she pointed behind her. It was the only answer he’d ever gotten. Women in her position could not afford to lose their household positions and it was her word against whoever had attacked her.

  He prowled down the hallway that night, with only the direction of her finger to guide him, and found a man tucked into an alcove adjusting his breeches.

  When he saw Edvard, he’d paled and stilled like a deer caught in a bright light.

  “Tell me,” Edvard said. “Do you happen to know what happened to Carlotta this night?”

  The man paled and took a single step back.

  “There is nowhere to go,” Edvard said. “It is you and me in the dark of night. The household sleeps. You could scream if you wanted to, but would that be brave?”

  When the man didn't respond, he continued. “So I ask you again. What happened to Carlotta?”

  Perhaps sensing his imminent danger, the man straightened and declared what happened between them was consensual and she was nothing more than a whorish serving maid.

  Edvard always had an even temper. It was what made him an excellent advisor to his prince. But he could not abide lies or the abuse of a woman.

  “Then why did she fly down the hallway with her bodice torn and fear in her heart?” Edvard took a step forward.

  “Perhaps she was accosted by someone else,” the man insisted.

  “Oh?” Edvard inquired. He gestured behind him. “But I do not see anyone but you out so late tonight.”

  The attacker swallowed hard but stood his ground. Brave, but foolhardy on his part. Even though he couldn’t run, Edvard might have had more empathy had the man confessed and shown regret.

  But there was no regret in his heart that night.

  So there was no regret in Edvard’s as he took two steps forward and snapped the man’s neck.

  That night, Edvard slept the sleep of the dead, and when morning came and the alarm sounded, Edvard made no move to help in the search for the culprit.

  There was no crime there.

  When he saw Carlotta a few nights later, her footsteps stilled as she noticed him, but she hurried back up. The only thanks he’d received was a quick touch of her hand and a bob of her head. It was all he needed. For the rest of the time in the castle, Daegal and the rest of his brothers wondered why Edvard’s breakfast plate was always piled higher than the rest of theirs.

  He never told a soul what transpired that night.

  Someone had harmed Carrie. He wasn’t sure who it was or when it had happened, but a man in her life had done irreparable damage to her psyche. If he could get her to trust him, he could find out who it was.

  Then he would snap that man’s neck as well.

  Edvard couldn’t risk flying during daylight hours, but he didn’t mind walking. He left Carrie in the garden and on his way out, mentally took down the perimeter of her home. He needed it to be able to describe the kind of security system she should have. Carrie said no cameras and he hated it, but he wanted her to trust him. She did trust him, but he wanted a deeper trust. He wanted her to know he would always have her safety in mind.

  He wanted more from her. Not at first. At first, he couldn’t quite get a finger on the pulse of her personality and she disturbed him a little. Only because she could be very intense. As the weeks and months went by, he began to realize what a wonderful person she was. But she was wounded and Edvard knew it, even if she hadn’t told anyone else.

  He walked slowly back to Daegal’s place, studying the surrounding scenery. They couldn’t have surfaced in a more beautiful place. Mountains loomed in the background, gray and ominous, but majestic in their height. Trees swayed in the gentle breeze and the sky glowed a brilliant blue above him. Warm sunlight hit the back of his shoulders and illuminated the way home.

  It wasn’t dark yet, but the day was beginning to fade. Edvard didn’t mind living with Daegal and Sara, but he was biting at the bridle. He wanted to be on his own, but these humans had made purchasing or letting property more difficult than it had to be. He had no social security number, whatever that was, and no identification. Daegal and his other brothers had been fortunate to find mates who had their own dwellings, but he had no such thing.

  He knew they thought he and Carrie belonged together, but there was no sign of a mating bond. Considering the length of time they'd spent together, he thought it might be safe to assume they were not meant for each other. But every single time he had that thought, his heart ached. Carrie touched something inside of him – a joyful place he didn’t know he possessed. He loved to laugh, everyone knew that, but he’d never been one to truly experience life to its fullest. He’d always been too busy being an advisor, a protector, a shield to protect the other dragons. That didn’t mean he didn’t learn. Knowledge was too powerful to not hoard it. He accrued knowledge every single day by practical means or by books. With Carrie it came because she was constantly involved in something and most of the time she brought Edvard with her.

  Today it was gardening. A week ago she’d taught him how to make a delicious chicken pasta dinner with something called Balsamic cream sauce. He thought he might have died and gained entrance to Valhalla.
If he had died with the taste of that on his lips, he would have died a happy man. Daegal and Sara weren’t too pleased when he’d made it for seven days in a row before Daegal had exploded and demanded a “different meal for fuck’s sake with no balsamic or fucking chicken!” Edvard had never heard so many expletives uttered by his prince before.

  Part of him wondered if Carrie liked to teach him and torment her friends in the process. He grinned as he thought about her. She was a beautiful woman, no doubt about it, and he’d thought about taking their relationship further, but every time he tried, she clammed up.

  He knew it was fear. How did he get around it? Edvard rubbed a hand through his hair and let out a breath. She was a wounded animal and would require tenderness to know. He stuck his hands in his pocket and tried to think of happier things on his walk back home.

  There had been no sign of Ludovic for quite a while, but the disaster who called herself Kalika assured them he would be back and bring an army. Edvard wasn’t sure how valid the statement was. Ludovic had never had an army at his disposal. He did have loyalists, but it was never enough for them to worry about a large scale invasion.

  Something about her statement rang true to Edvard, though. The humans always liked to say there was usually some truth in a rumor, but what part of her cackling ramblings would end up being true?

  Edvard snorted. Even when he tried to think about something happy, he couldn’t. Such was his lot in life. They had many, many years of peace and now, even though there was happiness, they were at war.

  He didn’t think for a second Ludovic was dead. Edvard never gambled or played cards or anything of the sort, but they’d never been that lucky.

  Ludovic being dead would solve all of their problems and allow them to finally live without an evil shadow hanging over them. Edvard couldn’t allow himself to hope. When he had in the past, it always backfired on him. For now, he’d be cautiously optimistic that Ludovic was dead and Kalika was just crazy.

  He rounded the corner and the sight of Sara’s house greeted him. He once had a home in his kingdom, a place to lay his head and eat his meals, but he never thought of it as his home. It was someone else’s home and the services he provided to the crown were payment for his room and board.

  Sara’s home was the closest he’d ever felt to a real home, but he knew it couldn’t last. He was the last one left, and he could tell that even though Sara cared about him, she was ready to boot him from the nest.

  He knew she wouldn’t and would allow him to stay for as long as he needed, but she still wanted her privacy. With a new baby, the need had only grown.

  He was in a weird place. The only one left unmated. He wondered about fate, that sometimes fickle bitch, and if she would really put four women in their paths and only allow three of them to mate. What the hell was the purpose?

  Edvard couldn’t shake the feeling he was missing something. He just couldn’t put his finger on what it was. He shook his head and stomped the dirt off of his boots before he knocked once and entered the house.

  Sara, pretty with hair like fire, stood at the stove, stirring something that smelled good, but not nearly as good as his balsamic sauce.

  “Hey, Edvard,” she greeted. Keanu, their son, let out a screech worthy of a mighty dragon, and launched himself at Edvard’s knees. Before he could crash into him, Edvard scooped him up and tossed him into the air.

  Keanu screamed with laughter so Edvard tossed him up a few more times. Sara looked on with fondness. “He’s missed you today.” She rolled her eyes. “Daegal wasn’t around to run him down, so he’s full of energy.” She placed her palm lightly over the bump on her stomach.

  All the dragons knew she was pregnant. Gregor had been adamant when he told Daegal to pretend he was surprised. Women liked to surprise their menfolk with news of new babes. Daegal chafed at that, but when he saw how serious his friend was, he acquiesced. But Edvard could tell how much it bothered Daegal to pretend that everything was normal.

  Dragons were protective and territorial, and Edvard had been careful to stay a respectful distance from Sara while she gestated the newest in line to the throne. When he ventured too close to her in the kitchen a few days ago, his prince had bared his teeth at him and steam rose from his nostrils. Edvard beat a hasty retreat that night and didn’t return for a full twenty-four hours.

  It was yet another reason for him to leave and yet, where would he go?

  He put Keanu down on the ground and ruffled his hair. Leaning down, he peered into the boy’s bright green eyes. “Have you done your tai chi today?”

  Keanu looked guilty. His eyes slid away from Edvard’s. “Yes,” he said.

  Edvard got down on one knee. “When dragons are young, they are in control of one thing. Do you know what that is?”

  Keanu shook his head. “No, Uncle.”

  “Their honor. They can’t control their body chemistry or their clumsy magic. Young dragons do not yet know what powers they will wield. They are uncoordinated and sometimes do great damage. But they can always control what they say and make the effort to make themselves worthy to their fathers.” He tilted the boy’s chin up. “Do you understand what I mean?”

  “You mean no lying.” The child dragon looked down at his feet.

  “Aye,” Edvard said, not unkindly. “You see, most dragons can smell a lie. The tai chi isn't just for your benefit, young dragon. It’s for everyone's. It keeps you calm and focused. Does everything seem overwhelming right now? Are you itching with power?”

  Keanu nodded his head, tears welling in his eyes.

  “The exercises I gave you will help with it, but you have to do them. I know you are young, but we do not age like humans do. You understand what I want you to do. But you’ve chosen not to do it.” His gaze flickered to Sara. “And in doing so, you've driven your mother mad today.”

  Keanu nodded. “I know. I'm sorry, Uncle.”

  Edvard stood and held out his hand. “Then let us retire to the balcony and go through your forms once again.”

  Keanu placed his hand in Edvard’s and let him lead him outside. Keanu’s skin shifted from tanned human skin to dragon scales several times during the short walk. This was one of the main reasons he could not go outside when anyone else was around. They’d managed to take him to a secluded part of the forest earlier in the month when it was safe, but for the most part, the poor kid had been forced to remain indoors. If they were back home, he would have free rein of the castle and the grounds. Dragon children were a rarity and therefore cherished.

  On this new earth, Keanu would be taken and studied, so his protection was paramount.

  As soon as Edvard slid the door closed, he put out his foot and tried to trip Keanu. The child dragon leapt up and snapped his wings out. He hovered with pristine control three feet above the ground.

  “Perfect,” Edvard said with a smile. “You missed your tai chi, but you’ve been practicing your defense.”

  “My offense, too,” Keanu chirped. His wings were bright and iridescent and fluttered slowly in the evening air. After they’d rescued him from Ludovic and things had settled down, Gregor insisted they put up a barrier on the patio preventing people from seeing inside. He’d been right, as he usually was. Within the first few months, Keanu flooded the place, discovered he could fly, and freeze things.

  Daegal was a proud papa. Sara was beside herself about it. She’d gotten used to them being dragons, but the total destruction of property was beginning to be her undoing.

  Edvard couldn’t stop laughing, which pissed Sara off, which in turn pissed Daegal off.

  When Daegal was pissed off, everyone was miserable, so Edvard had to make himself scarce for a while. In his defense, he hadn’t been around a child in so very long, and never a dragon child. It was as awesome for him as it was for everyone else and he delighted in seeing everything Keanu could do.

  “Gregor is teaching you well,” Edvard said. His friend was Daegal’s enforcer and was most equipped to teach you
ng Keanu to fend for himself.

  The child fluttered to the ground and looked up at him. “Where's Auntie Carrie?”

  Edvard blinked. “She's at home.”

  “But she lives here.” His lower lip jutted out and tears filled his eyes. “I miss her.”

  “She is in her own place now, but she will be back to visit all the time.” Edvard put a hand on the boy’s shoulder and lightly squeezed.

  “She has a glow around her sometimes. It’s pretty,” Keanu remarked.

  The dragon stilled as Keanu’s words hit home. “A glow?”

  The boy nodded and snapped out his wings again. “Let's play, Uncle,” Keanu demanded.

  “What kind of glow?” Edvard pressed.

  In response, Keanu sent an icicle right at his uncle's eye. Edvard dodged and growled. “That wasn't very nice,” he snapped.

  “Uncle Gregor said nice people don’t win fights. He said there are only two times to get dirty. When you’re in the mud and when you’re in a fight.” Keanu sent another spear of ice at him.

  Edvard slapped it away and pondered how he should handle it. On one hand, Gregor was right. On the other...maybe Keanu was a bit too young to be learning how to fight like a street brawler. Maybe he could show him the right techniques. In addition to Gregor's teachings, maybe it would teach the boy there were two paths.

  Edvard formed a bubble of water in his hand and threw it at the boy’s face – gently, but hard it enough it would splash into his face like a water balloon. Keanu reared back and did the unexpected.

  He laughed.

  “Show me!”

  Edvard snorted. “Not right now. Show me what Uncle Gregor taught you first, and then we'll tackle your tai chi lesson.”

  Keanu, the second in line to the Dragon throne, disappeared.

  Edvard's mouth dropped open. “The hell?” he whispered. “Keanu?”

  There was no response. “Keanu!”