On the Accidental Wings of Dragons (Dragons of Eternity Book 1) (10 page)

11

“This isn’t working.”

Carissa pinched the bridge of her nose as Michael sat up from the bed, complaining. He had been trying for ten minutes to shift back to dragon form. “It will.” She sat on the edge of the bed and pressed him to lie back down. “Just close your eyes and relax.” She stroked her fingers over the taut muscles of his chest.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Michael closed his eyes and tried again. “I can’t.” He gritted his teeth a few moments later. “No matter how hard I try, I just can’t do it.”

His muscles had tensed even further under Carissa’s fingers.

“I just don’t understand how you can stand it. It hurts too damn much.”

Aha! There lies the problem.

“Sit up,” Carissa urged as she scooted closer to him, tucking her feet under her.

Michael gave her a considering look before sitting up.

Carissa held out her arms. “Come here.”

Michael stared at her, unmoving.

“Just trust me.”

Letting out the breath he was holding, Michael leaned in so she could pull him into her arms.

Carissa sighed as he wrapped his arms around her. Man, he felt good. “Relax.” She tucked his head in so it rested on her shoulder with his face buried in the side of her neck. Rubbing circles into his back, she tried to soothe his rigid posture. Slowly, he drew in a deep breath and started to relax into her arms. Finally!

“Shifting only hurts if you force it.” Carissa rocked slightly as she spoke. She leaned her head over on top of his. “Just relax and let it happen.” She held him for a moment, trying to think of something else she could do to help him understand how to let go.
Of course!
She nearly laughed as it hit her. “Just ask your peanut gallery.”

Michael tensed for a moment before nodding and relaxing against her again.

Magic tingled against Carissa’s skin as Michael’s form shifted, leaving the little dragon clinging to her shoulder. “See, that wasn’t so bad.” Carissa kissed him on top of the head before lifting him off and setting him on the bed next to her. Maybe now he wouldn’t have so much of an issue shifting again.

Michael chattered at her unintelligently.

Smiling, she petted down his back and turned her attention to where Tilly was waiting. “Thank you. Just get us outside.” Carissa stood to give her friend back her voice, but Tilly waved her away.

She mouthed something that made Carissa smile.

“You’re right. I might need it,” she replied, accepting the use of Tilly’s voice. The magic letting Carissa borrow it wouldn’t last much longer, but it might come in handy.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Carissa shifted without bothering to undress. She wiggled out of her clothing and stretched her wings. Oh, it felt good to be back in this form. Ignoring the basket Tilly placed on the bed, Carissa turned her attention to Michael. She had thought he was cute, but he looked so much better with her dragon vision.

All dragons shimmered, but Michael’s translucent scales cut the light in a way she had never seen before. With human eyes, he looked white. With the enhanced vision of dragons, he sparkled with rainbow hues. Once the world figured out who he was, there was no way he would ever be able to hide among dragons. It didn’t help that he had taken the shape of the golden dragons. None of the other colors had the frill, horns, and tufty tail. Other than the lack of color, he could have been her brother’s twin. She was so going to be in trouble when this got out. Or, maybe, if she found a way to glamor him to gold, he would make a decent body double for the king.
Hmm… That’s worth thinking about.

Shaking away future possibilities, Carissa turned her mind to what they had to do now. They needed to get moving. From the way Michael was watching her, she was sure his mind was somewhere else entirely. Time to snap him back to reality. Carissa closed the distance between them and rubbed her shoulder up his side with enough pressure to push him back as she passed.

He staggered sideways before shaking his head and following her to the basket Tilly held.

A quick snap of wings got Carissa to the edge of the basket, and she dropped down into the laundry.

It took Michael a little longer to jump up and in. He circled Carissa before settling down with his tail curled around her protectively.

It was a very dominant move, one Carissa had seen males make with their mates or young. It staked a claim to her that she didn’t feel he had a right to make. Chattering at him, she shoved him away with her front paw, making him unwrap his tail.

Michael chattered back angrily as he righted himself, but he settled with his tail wrapped up his other side.

Carissa looked up as Tilly peeked over the edge of the basket at them. The light in her eyes told Carissa that her friend had some choice comments to make about them. Suddenly, she was glad she had Tilly’s voice. “The roof,” Carissa chattered in dragon.

Tilly nodded her understanding and dropped the wrinkled ball gown on top of them.

Carissa leaned in against Michael’s warmth and closed her eyes to relax. It would take Tilly a little while to sneak them out so they could make their escape. Might as well enjoy the ride.

***

Michael felt a rumble of pleasure issue from his chest as Carissa leaned into his side. That reptilian part of his brain screamed
Mine!
as he leaned his head over onto hers. It was next to impossible to ignore that voice while he was in this form. He had this near-insatiable urge to wrap his tail back around her, but Carissa had made it clear she didn’t want that. Why, he wasn’t exactly sure.

Protect
Mine!
,
the voice pressed at Michael.

I will
, Michael tried to press back. The memory of her missing scale ate at him. He had left her vulnerable. That sat with him about as well as a splinter under a fingernail. His tail thrashed, wanting to make its way back around her. ‘No!’ he told it and chomped down on the ends of his tuft. He mouthed the fringe gently before picking one strand and chewing on it lightly. It was somewhat soothing. A snicker from Carissa drew his attention. Amusement gleamed in her amber eyes.

“Only children suckle on their tails,” she chirped, reaching out to draw the strand from his mouth.

Michael stared at her. He had understood her! He chirped back at her, but it only sounded like high squeaking. He felt her chuckle at him.

“Just relax and let your instincts lead.”

Michael nodded and let the voice he had been fighting tell him what to do. “
Mine!
” he rumbled unintelligently as his tail wrapped itself back around Carissa again. He shuddered at the strength with which his instincts pulled at him. The tufty end of Carissa’s tail whapped into the side of his head, rocking his brain back into focus.

“I said let them lead, not give in to them,” she growled at him.

“Sorry,” he chirped. This time it sounded like a word to him. He pulled his tail back so it wasn’t pressed into her, but that was as far as he could force himself to back off. Something in him had claimed her, and it was damned hard to control that bit.

“It’s okay,” Carissa rumbled. “You’re still brooding.”

Michael opened his mouth to deny it, but a warning shake from Tilly shut them both up. Michael cocked his head and could hear voices outside the basket.

“Oh, Tilly.”

They both froze at the sound of the king’s voice.

“Have you had a chance to talk with Carissa?”

Michael tightened his tail around Carissa as he felt her tense. They waited with baited breath as Tilly made some kind of nonverbal response.

“I see,” Kyle’s voice sounded again. “Please keep an eye on her. I’m afraid this whole kidnapping and betrayal business has upset her more than she’s letting on. I’ve never seen her run off like that before. I promise you this Michael Duncan will spend a long time paying for what he’s done to her.”

Sharp teeth came down on Michael’s tail, startling him out of the angry growl that had started in his chest. He turned shocked eyes to where Carissa was spitting out his tufts. Her eyes held a warning to be quiet. They both turned their attention back as the king finished talking.

“All right, but please let me know if there is anything I can do. I’m worried about her.”

Tilly made some response that made Kyle laugh.

“Thank you. I know she will.”

With that comment, the basket started swaying as Tilly started on her way again. Close call.

Michael sighed to himself as they both relaxed in silence.

A few more minutes of swaying and empty halls saw Tilly setting the basket down and drawing out the dress.

Michael blinked in the bright light of the afternoon sun.

“Come on,” Carissa chirped and jumped out of the basket.

Michael followed her over the side and onto the ledge surrounding the top of the building. Michael was familiar with this building—it was the king’s main residence when he was in the city. It was only a few blocks down from Eternity’s main offices and a few miles from his own townhouse. He looked over the edge of the ten-story building to the streets below. Wow, that was a long way down.

“How are we getting down?” Michael asked as he paced along the edge. There had to be a fire escape somewhere around here that would lead them to the ground. The rustle of wings drew Michael’s attention back as Carissa threw herself off the building and caught the updraft.

“Oh no!” Michael backed up from the edge. He may have wings, but he did not know the first thing about flying. And jumping off a ten-story building was not his idea of a test flight.

“Come on,” Carissa called as she circled around him. “Just spread you wings. It’s easy.” She flapped a few times, showing him how.

Michael jumped down and ran away from the edge. “Maybe for
you
.”

“Wimp!” she cried.

“Better a wimp than a
splat
on the ground,” he growled and raced away from her.

Laughing, she dive-bombed him.

He turned away from her attack. What was that crazy woman trying to do?

She buzzed him a few more times. Her last dive landed her square on his back.

He screamed out as her claws nabbed onto his wings and she hurled him into the air… right over the side of the building.

Flipping several times in the air, his wings finally popped open about halfway down as his instincts kicked in. Michael beat them for all he was worth and was delighted when his flight leveled out.

Carissa wheeled in next to him, laughing.

“What the hell!” he growled at her.

Carissa laughed again. “Dragons are born with the instincts to fly,” she cooed, wheeling around him.

“I wasn’t born a dragon,” Michael snapped.

“Maybe not, but you still have instincts,” she pointed out before closing her wings and dropping out of the sky.

Michael’s heart dropped just as fast, and he closed his wings to chase her. He couldn’t let her hit the ground!

Carissa’s wings snapped open just feet from the concrete.

Michael followed suit and glided up behind her. As his fear subsided, joy slowly took over. Beating his wings, he overtook Carissa. He pulled a few fast corners and loops, testing out his new ability. This was fun!

“So, where are we going?” she asked as she pulled up even with him.

His mind came back from the joys of flight to what they had to do. “My place.” Michael turned and angled towards his home.

12

The three-story townhouse was lovely. Carissa considered the quiet home from where they perched across the street. Why Michael hadn’t just flown up to his house had confused her, but watching it now, there was definitely something that bothered her about it, too.

Michael’s head swung back and forth as he scanned his road. “Come on.” He turned away from the house.

Carissa looked at it for a moment longer before following her companion across his neighbor’s roof and down over the backyard.

Flying low over the ground, he dodged between trees and toys until he was several houses down.

Carissa glanced back the way they had come. It would have been so much easier just to cross the street. Holding her tongue, she followed him across the street between two cars. She had to flap hard to make it through before the second one hit her. What the hell was he thinking?

With a loud crunch of breaking branches, Michael crashed into a bush on his side of the street.

Following him in, Carissa pulled up short as he paused, looking around. “What are you
doing
?” she hissed at him.

He just shook his head and tucked his wings in. Scurrying along the fence line, Michael took off towards the back of the yard.

Carissa let out an exasperated sigh and followed. They crawled under bushes and squeezed through fences until they reached the back of the blue house Michael had claimed was his.

Crouching as low as he could, Michael scanned the backyard before shooting across the open grass to a small flap in the back door.

Carissa chased after him.

A couple of good knocks with his shoulder popped the old cat flap open, and he squeezed inside.

Carissa tucked in her wings and followed the end of his tufty tail. The sight that met her stopped her in her tracks. What had once been a well-maintained kitchen was now in shambles. The drawers were pulled out, and junk was dumped everywhere.

Michael slinked his way through the mess and stopped just inside the door, listening.

Carissa followed him carefully. Now she understood why he had been so cautious about approaching his home.

Michael took off down the hall, leaving Carissa standing in the doorway. She stared into his living room, shocked by the sight of it.

The kitchen had been bad, but the living room was worse. Someone had taken a blade to just about everything the man owned. Cushion foam was torn up and tossed everywhere. Books had been massacred. Even the painting above the mantel had been shredded. Either Michael had had a major fit before he left, or someone had been looking for something.

“All’s clear,” Michael said as he came back down the hall, pulling the belt of his bathrobe tight.

Apparently, he wasn’t having an issue shifting between forms any more.

He dropped a second terrycloth robe over Carissa as he turned back down the hallway.

Taking the hint, Carissa shifted and pulled the large robe on before chasing after him. The rest of his house was just as bad as the living room. “What happened?” Carissa asked as she looked over the shredded mattress that had been on his bed.

Michael bent into the closet and started pulling out what had been clean clothing. “Eternity.” He sighed. “They probably came in looking for some clue as to where I was.” He wrinkled his nose at the claw marks rending the front of his shirt before tossing it towards an overturned wastebasket. “Although, I’ve never known them to get this destructive. They must have been really upset.”

Carissa’s eyes finally identified the cause of the destruction. She had assumed the cuts were from a knife, but closer inspection showed multiple jagged lines. Someone had shifted to dragon form and torn through his place.

Michael picked up another shirt—this one was whole—and handed it to her.

“And you’re okay with this?” Carissa asked as she rubbed the shirt between her fingers.

“No. I’m not okay with it,” Michael growled, and then he let out a sigh. “But, I understand it. If they thought I was killing dragons…” He let the subject drop as he went back to searching for clothing.

“How are we going to find your file in this mess?” Carissa pulled off the bathrobe and slipped into Michael’s shirt. It hung low enough that it was almost decent.

“We’re not.” Michael handed her a pair of jeans. There was a tear down the front of the leg, but it looked more artful than damaged.

A belt followed, and she pulled on the oversized pants and secured them in place.

“The file was never here.” Michael found another set of clothing that wasn’t too bad off and quickly changed into them. “I mailed it to a friend of mine.”

Carissa looked around at the mess. “Then what are we doing here?” She was sure his home had been lovely before someone had ransacked it.

“Getting dressed.” Michael found two socks and pulled them on. “I’m not sure what Terrance would do if we showed up at his house as dragons.” He shrugged as he fished a boot out from under what was left of his bed. “He’s a bit of a nutcase.”

Carissa gave him a pointed look. “And you thought to send him a file on dragon disappearances?” she questioned.

Michael shrugged again and collected the second boot from behind a desk. This one looked slightly chewed. “He might believe in the second shooter on the grassy knoll, but he’s one of the best statisticians I’ve ever met.” Michael struggled into the boots before standing up and scanning the room again. “Anyway, I’ve known him for a long time. If Eternity’s put a price on my head, then he’s the one person I can trust to not turn me in.”

Looking at the mess they’d left, Carissa was sure that Eternity had put a bounty out for Michael.

“Here.” Michael handed her a pair of leather moccasins tied together. They’d been hanging over what was left of the ceiling fan.

Taking them, Carissa worked the leather thongs apart and pulled them on. “How are we going to get there?” she asked as she stood up in the oversized shoes.

Michael held out a ratty-looking, leather jacket. “In style.” He smiled and led the way out.

***

Thank goodness he hadn’t told his boss about the arrangement he had with his neighbor. Michael smiled as he opened up the gate in his side fence and let Carissa into the little shed in Mrs. Giuffria’s backyard. Thin light filtered in through the dirty window, shining over a multitude of gardening supplies. The grandmotherly woman had donated a small section of her storage area in payment for his help tilling her garden in the springtime. Two days of backbreaking work was turning out to be well worth it.

“We’re going on
that?
” Carissa gasped as he pulled back the brown tarp covering a Harley Roadster. He had spent a long time fixing the old bike up.

“Yup.” Pulling a tight-fitting riding jacket out of a locker, he slipped it on over his shirt. “Fastest thing I have.” He handed her a helmet before pulling another out. “Besides, the full-face shields will help hide our identities from the guys watching the house.”

Carissa stared at him stunned. “What?”

“You didn’t see the van sitting just down the street?” Michael set his helmet on the bike and took hers. Carefully, he gathered up her hair. He loved how it tangled around his fingers. She was so warm under his hands. All he had to do was… He pushed away the voice egging him on and tucked the golden curls up on her head so he could put her helmet on her. Now was not the time for what he wanted to do. “They probably had someone watching my back fence, too, but they might not expect us to come out of my neighbor’s yard. It should give us time to get away.” Turning from Carissa, Michael popped his helmet on and opened up the door.

Rolling the bike out onto the concrete pad, Michael shut the shed up before climbing on the bike.

“Wait.” Carissa grabbed his arm before he could start the thing up. “I’ve never been on one of these.”

“And I’ve never flown,” Michael teased through his open face shield. “Now climb on.” He nodded to the seat behind him. “At least I don’t have to toss you off a ten-story building for this.” He smiled at her.

Carissa considered him for a moment before shutting her helmet and climbing up on the seat behind him.

“Just hold on.” Michael tucked Carissa’s arms around his middle. “Everything will be fine.”

Flicking his helmet closed, Michael fired up the old Harley. God, it felt good to be back on his bike. This was a thrill he knew. Kicking it into gear, he took off, making Carissa grab onto him tighter. A rumble of pleasure shivered up from his chest. Even through his protective gear, she felt wonderful.

Michael shook his head slightly and forced his concentration back to the bike and the road ahead of him. A flash in his mirror drew his attention just in time to see a dark SUV pull out to follow them. Reaching down, Michael tightened Carissa’s hold on him before twisting the accelerator and dropping the bike down a gear. The SUV kicked it up, too, and raced after Michael as he shot out into traffic.

So, someone did know about his bike. Well, he knew a few tricks they didn’t.

Slipping in and out of traffic, Michael tried to lose his tail, but the driver stuck to him. Whoever was driving that thing was damn good. Michael cut a hard right, making Carissa squeeze him tighter. Damn, he was going to have to take her riding sometime when he could really enjoy the feel of her pressing into his back. Putting that thought out of his mind, he pulled a hard left into the local park. He could hear Carissa squeal as he hopped the curb and pointed his bike into a gap in the trees. His little Roadster wasn’t really made for trail riding, but that SUV sure wouldn’t be able to follow him.

A few minutes of bumpy, dirt trails spilled them out on the other side of the park, free of Eternity’s radar. For now. Michael could feel Carissa’s angry rumbles against his back. Surely she couldn’t fault his choice of escape routes. Okay, so it hadn’t been the smoothest ride, but it had gotten the job done. He concentrated on keeping the bike between the ditches as the image of her anger-filled eyes floated in the back of his mind. God, she was beautiful when she was angry. With those luscious curls all rumpled up from being under that helmet. That ever-present voice joined in with his imagination, tightening his pants to an uncomfortable point. Man, when he got out of this, he was going to have to find himself a nice girlfriend. His peanut gallery cried out for the woman behind him. That would be great, but he truly doubted she would have him. She was, after all, the king’s sister.