Heart of the Dragon Read online

  Kiana,

  Last night, you made a promise to me. A promise I need you to honor. Run, Kiana. I wish I could be what you need, but I can’t. The truth is, I should turn you over to the people I work for. I should turn you over to our government, but I can’t bring myself to do that.

  When we met as kids, I knew what you were to them and I spent my entire life keeping that from everyone I could, but it’s something I can no longer keep because those who want to kill you now know. If I continued to hide you in plain sight, I’d lose my life and then no one would be there to protect you.

  You are incredibly feisty and I hope you trust me, even if it’s just this last time. I will never cross lines with you again. I can’t and I won’t risk your life any more than I already have.

  Kiana, please know you are loved. You are loved more than I could ever express. Take the map I left and go there. Tell no one. I’ll see you soon to make sure you are safe and comfortable.

  Goodbye,

  Kelvin

  I balled up the letter in my fist and cried. A feeling of dread came over me. This was about Lennon. It had to be. I didn’t know why I felt like that but I did. I wasn’t one to run away from anything and Kelvin knew this, but this was him doing what he felt was right.

  He was keeping secrets. Huge secrets. Secrets that affected my life. I was fucking pissed at him for never just telling me, but at the same time, I was heartbroken. My best friend was pretty much telling me goodbye.

  I swallowed hard and quickly dressed. I needed to trust Kelvin. He had never let me down in the past and I knew, one day, I’d have the answers I needed, even if I no longer had him.

  As I walked out of my apartment for the last time, I wiped the final tear from my face. My breathing was rapidly increasing, but I told myself to put one foot in front of the other. I had to keep moving.

  “Hello again.” My steps faltered and I tripped right into his arms.

  “Lennon,” I said softly before things went blank.

  I was sitting inside a plant just inside Vanlith’s office when he walked in. My heart raced when I saw her in his arms. She hadn’t gotten away in time. The guilt threatened to swallow me whole.

  He set her in a chair, and she began to come around. “Welcome, sleeping beauty,” he slurred.

  “Where am I?” Her voice quivered. I couldn’t sit around and watch this happen. Think, Tank.

  I crawled out of the plant and under the door into a room I knew would be empty. Changing out of my Lizard form, I calmly walked to his door and knocked. I heard his growl from the other side as his footsteps neared the door.

  It swung open and... “What the fuck do you want, Tank?” I glanced over his shoulder and met Kiana’s wild eyes. I hoped she trusted me enough because I was likely about to scare the shit out of her.

  “Jaco assumed you were up to something,” I said, folding my arms.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are, Tank? I outrank your sorry ass,” he hissed.

  “Yes, but Kemoth put Jaco in charge.” I started to slightly step around him and he followed me. My back was now to Kiana. I linked my hands behind my back hoping she took my hint.

  “Jaco is a fucking prick!” he hollered at me.

  “I would agree, but...” I crooked a finger at Kiana, “he’s in charge,” I snapped. And as I felt Kiana grab my hand, I pulled her out of the room as fast as I could.

  I didn’t stop running until I was sure we would be safe. I locked us in another room twenty doors away from Vanlith. “Are you okay?” I asked, cupping her face in my hands.

  She nodded and then shook her head before dropping her head to my chest. She sobbed against me and I wrapped my arms around her and just waited her out. “I’m scared,” she whispered.

  “I promise I’m getting you out of this,” I told her, stroking my hand down her back.

  “You’re taking me to that other guy...ummm... Jaco?” I pulled back, holding her shoulders.

  “Fuck no!” I hissed.

  “Ummm...”

  “I’m not turning you over to be killed.”

  “Killed?” she choked.

  I just nodded and pulled her back to me. “I know this is scary, but I’ve got you.”

  “You’ve always had me.”

  “Always,” I said softly into her ear. We had to get out of here, but that wasn’t going to be easy. My cover was now shot to shit. My father would certainly help hunt me down. I needed Sniper and Maniac.

  My mind was racing and I didn’t really know what to think. Kelvin’s note or ummm Tank’s note had said he should turn me over, yet he wasn’t. Killed? They wanted to kill me. Why?

  “Kiana, those wheels are turning fast.” I blinked at his words.

  “I’m confused. I’m scared.” My next words were going to be tough for us both, “I’m...I’m terrified to trust you.”

  He exhaled and nodded, “I knew when this all came out, you would be. I didn’t want that, but I knew you would be.”

  “Still, I know nothing. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I can trust you. If I should trust you.” My mind was racing. This was my Kelvin. He was standing right here with me, but as I continued to stare at him, I saw a total stranger.

  “Kiana, I need you to breathe.” I followed his instructions and took a deep breath in, holding it for a second before exhaling. “Very good, baby.” My eyes widened and he laughed. I wasn’t laughing. I couldn’t laugh. He had never used an endearment term before.

  “Baby?” I rasped.

  He quit his chuckling and looked at me tenderly, “I’ve really sent mixed signals lately.”

  I nodded, “You have.”

  “Well, I’ll work on fixing that,” he promised as he took out his phone. He kept one hand locked in mine, our fingers entwined. “Sniper,” he barked into the phone and I waited.

  I wasn’t surprised by her confession. It was something I expected. However, I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt. It stung like hell to see the look in her eyes that I was currently seeing now as Sniper answered my call.

  “Yo, Tank.”

  “I need a distraction. A majorly huge distraction.”

  “How much time do I have to put this majorly huge distraction you need together?” There was a hint of sarcasm I really didn’t have time for.

  I could hear the footsteps. I could hear door knobs turning as Vanlith’s crew closed in on Kiana and I. “Put it this way, Sniper, I needed this distraction ten minutes ago,” I barked.

  “Fuck,” he muttered. “I’m on it Tank.” He hung up and I turned my focus back to Kiana.

  “Trust isn’t something I deserve, but I need your trust more than ever right now.”

  She bit her lip and nodded. I tugged on her hand and pulled her back into my arms. She tensed up and I whispered a curse as I tightened my arms around her. Her body slowly relaxed in my arms.

  The knob jiggled and she shot me an alarmed look. I put my finger to her lips. “In here boss,” came from the other side.

  “Fuck,” I said softly, “Sniper isn’t going to make it.” I pulled her over to the window, knowing we only had seconds to get out this room.

  Opening the window, I looked out it and up toward the roof. Lucky for us, the building was made for climbing. Easy for a Lizard and a Dragon. Not so easy as a human, but not impossible. I focused back on Kiana. “Been rock climbing lately?”

  “Are you fucking crazy?” she said, staring out the window.

  I didn’t answer her, instead, I moved her to the window and helped her out. She stumbled, but her hold didn’t waiver. “Go, Kiana,” I ordered.

  “I can’t,” she whimpered.

  “You can. Now go!” I barked and she started to climb. I followed right behind her as I heard the door crash to the floor.

  We were on the roof and I wasn’t quite sure what the plan was now. Kelvin looked around us and then down the way we had come. “We have to move.”

  “Move where?” I asked. To me, we were trapped
on a roof.

  He looked over the other edge, “Down this way.”

  As I climbed over the wall after him, he steadied me and guided us both down. Kelvin was no stranger to crazy things, but this was downright stupid. How we hadn’t fallen was beyond me. “For the record, you’re fucking crazy,” I grunted out, taking my last step down as his hands went around my waist, placing me on my feet.

  “Come on,” he replied, taking my hand and leading me into a cluster of trees. He was sprinting and even though I worked out, I found myself stumbling just to keep pace.

  “Kelvin, slow down,” I gritted.

  He stopped and I fell against his back. “Get on,” he ordered and I chose not to fight him. I climbed on, wrapping my arms and legs around his body. He adjusted his hands under my thighs and then took off running.

  Finally, we had reached the cave. Well, at least on the outside. “Come on,” I said, helping her slide off my back.

  “This is a cave,” she said flatly, letting me lead her.

  “Only on the outside.” Once we were about five feet into the cave, there was a door. I entered the code and the door opened.

  She went in ahead of me. As she took everything in, I pondered my next move. In order to protect her, I’d have to buy time. That meant...turning myself in. It meant trusting Sniper to take care of my girl because I’d never have the chance.

  “What are you thinking about?” I looked up at her and found her staring at me.

  “How I’m going to protect you.”

  “You brought me here,” she stated. If only it was that simple.

  “I wish it was that simple.”

  She turned away from me and crossed her arms. “What is it I need protecting from? Why do they want to kill me? No more secrets, Kelvin.”

  I exhaled as I walked toward her and placed my hands on her shoulders. I couldn’t voice anything yet. I kissed her shoulders and then worked my way up her neck to her ear before turning her around. The light was starting to shine in her eyes again.

  “I’ll tell you everything. Just give me us. Just for tonight.” She nodded and I leaned in, kissing her lips. She gave my tongue access and I took it. For the moment, I needed this. I needed her to feel the depth of my love. I needed her to understand how important she was to me because, in the morning, I’d walk away to save her.

  I knew I should demand the answers I needed before we did this, but he was so damn hard to resist. With our tongues tangled together, I let him guide us. I let him have the control I needed for him to have.

  Our kiss broke and in his eyes, I saw love, I saw remorse, I saw everything I needed to see. “You’ve been protecting me since we met, haven’t you?” I stroked his jaw with my hand.

  “Yes,” he sighed, capturing my hand and kissing my palm. “You’re my soulmate.” As I gazed into his eyes, I didn’t doubt he meant those words. His eyes were gray and they were sparkling with the truth.

  “Kelvin...” I sighed as his lips continued to brush against the palm of my hand. “I’m here,” I breathed.

  He didn’t say anything, his fingers entwined with mine and he led me through a hallway. When we reached the final door, he stopped us and opened it. Before me was a huge bedroom. “Kiana.” Kelvin’s voice drew my attention.

  “I love you.” He gave me a smile and fisted his hand in my hair, pulling me to him once again. My breathing increased rapidly.

  “I love you too,” he said against my mouth before kissing me again.

  I wound my hands around his neck and moved with him. He was everything to me and in that moment, I didn’t have one single doubt that I was everything to him.

  She was giving me everything she had and I hoped she could feel me giving her everything back. I moved her toward the bed. Our kiss broke when her legs hit the bed. I stared into her eyes, gently caressing her face.

  “You’re stalling,” she stated with a smile.

  I swallowed. “I can’t help it,” I admitted.

  “Kelvin...” she breathed, leaning into me.

  I closed my eyes. This felt wrong and right. “I love you.”

  “I love you too,” she replied softly.

  I stroked my fingers through her hair, “I don’t deserve that.”

  She frowned at me, “Kelvin I’ve loved you for a long time. A few months ago, I realized just how powerful that love is. Don’t shut me out. Don’t turn away. Just love me.”

  Her words shot straight to my heart. A heart that felt black. Only Kiana could reach it. It only beat for her. “We shouldn’t do this without talking. You should know everything.”

  “Maybe so, but Kelvin, you need this.”

  “Why are you so good to me?” I smiled, cupping her face in my hands.

  “Because you’re my everything, Kelvin.” The smile that lit her face was telling me I should’ve known that answer.

  I kissed her again, letting her fill the void inside of me that only she filled. I wouldn’t be stopping this time. I unbuttoned her blouse, keeping my mouth moving against hers as I slid the blouse off her arms and let it drop to the floor. I quickly undid her bra, tossing it to the floor as well. Only then did I break our kiss and take a step back.

  “Pants,” I said as I fought to catch my breath.

  She laughed and shook her head, “Your clothes first.” I gave myself a look over and quickly stripped.

  “Your turn,” I chuckled in hopes it would calm down my racing heart. No matter how many times we had been together, my heart still raced. My heart still felt like it was going to come right out of my chest.

  She stripped off her shorts and panties in one move and stood naked before me. “You’re handsome,” she whispered shyly.

  “You’re gorgeous,” I countered.

  She launched herself at me and I caught her in my arms. As her legs fitted around me tightly, I moved us against the wall. “Hard and fast,” she said firmly.

  “Hard and fast,” I echoed as I entered her.

  I gave her all I had, pushing her back against the wall as I pounded my cock inside of her. She was panting against my neck and her warm breath had me coming undone. She bit my shoulder as she came hard. I continued to pound into her and her mouth stayed fitted against my skin as she slowly came down from her high and I found mine.

  We were lying on the bed. Kelvin was on his back staring at the ceiling. I was on my side watching him carefully. “So...” I began.

  “So...” he echoed.

  I assumed the echo meant he wanted me to lead with my questions, so I did just that. “Why do they want to kill me?”

  He exhaled, “Going right for the big question.” He chuckled but it was flat.

  “Kelvin, please,” I pleaded with him.

  “You’ve heard the Kindra Legend?”

  “Everyone has heard that story. Meant to freak kids out. Teach them that life wasn’t always easy,” I singsonged. His point was?

  “But it’s not just a story.” My eyes snapped to him and his head was turned so he was staring at me.

  “Not a story,” I repeated.

  He shook his head. “Nope. It’s all true. Every single bit of it, including the Dragons and Bearded Dragons part.”

  I laughed, “Okay, now tell me the truth.”

  “I am.” His tone alerted me. He wasn’t lying to me. Oh, holy shit.

  He shifted so he was kneeling on the bed staring at me. I could see he was warring with himself, trying to make sure he made the right moves at the right time.

  “Kelvin, don’t be afraid to share it all with me.” I tried to sound reassuring, but I was terrified.

  He closed his eyes, “Okay, I need to show you something.” I nodded but kept silent, hoping he’d find some comfort in that.

  I watched him carefully and slowly things began to change. His hands started to change and orange scales began to pop up all over his body as he shifted into a Lizard. A Lizard. No, a Bearded Dragon.

  I picked him up and rested him in my palms. “Oh, wow,” I bre
athed.

  He crawled out of my hands and back to his original spot on the bed. I watched him again as my Kelvin came back to me.

  I sat quietly after changing back, needing her to say something. She crawled over to me, pushing her knees against mine. “That was amazing,” she whispered.

  “It has its moments,” I retorted.

  “Kelvin, this is what has you terrified.” Her words more of a statement than a question.

  I shrugged and shook my head, “It is, but it isn’t.”

  “Then why?”

  “My dad is a spy. I’m a spy.” I waited as the realization hit her.

  “That’s why you were there today?” I only nodded. “Oh my fucking goodness. You were...were spying on me,” she cried, jumping off the bed.

  I ran to her and pulled her back to my chest. “No. I was spying on Lennon.”

  “For Jaco?”

  I nodded against her shoulder, “Yes and no.”

  “What’s the no for?” she asked, stepping away from me and facing me again.

  “He knew something was up and called my dad.”

  “Your dad?”

  I bit my bottom lip and nodded, “The top Bearded Dragon spy. My unit chief.”

  “How long?”

  I gave her a look I knew would give her the answer she was searching for before saying, “My grandfather gave me this place when I was sixteen. Said one day I might need to go underground to save what matters most to me.”

  She nodded and looked down, “And what’s that?”

  I cupped her chin with my hand, guiding her eyes back to me, “You.”

  The tears rolled down her cheeks and I held her, knowing there was still a ton of questions I had to answer, but as she clung to me, I knew this was what we needed. She needed me to be her strength and I needed her to know I wasn’t ever going to betray her.

  I didn’t understand any of this. I wish I could understand, but I was sure even if he continued to fill in the blanks that I wouldn’t understand. “Kiana, you have to understand something,” he finally whispered, so I looked up at him again. I had to keep my arms locked around his waist to remain standing.