Dragon Song (17 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

All this time, Stone and his family had trusted Noah, and all the time he was the one behind her kidnapping. He was the one who had someone attack Stone in the dark alley the first night she met him. Tielle couldn’t believe he would do something like this to his own family, and for what? She shook her head staring up at the water-stained ceiling in the room where he kept her. Noah had done it all because he believed Stone’s blood could make him like Stone.

Why?
To become a monster?
Some shape-shifting demon or dragon?
All the Hughes must be crazy. They certainly weren’t human although they looked like it. If someone would have told her a couple of months ago that her life would take a turn into fantasyland, she would have cussed them out and told them to keep their crazy ass away from her.
But this.
What was she supposed to think?

While she laid there locked behind a heavy door that must be almost as old as Stone’s castle, she tried to figure out what she felt for him. She knew she was terrified of him still, but that had become secondary to Noah drugging her in the car. She had awakened a couple of hours ago only to be told that she would be Noah’s tool to get Stone. That’s when he’d told her his life goal. It had taken him years to get to this point where they found out that Stone’s blood would give him what he wanted—to be a dragon.

Tielle brushed a tear away. All she wanted to do was go home. No, that wasn’t true. She wanted things to go back to the way they were, in those golden moments when she and Stone had just started seeing each other and it was all about them. Every hour, every second was filled with budding love. She sighed.
“On my part.”

Maybe she could convince Noah to let her go once he had Stone, and they could just duke it out with each other. Noah had said Stone was indestructible, that he had a single weak spot. Even before Noah told her where it was, she knew—the spot where the man in the alley had drawn his blood.
Right where Stone had a dragon tattoo.

“All clues led to that,” she mused. Along with the tattoo, there was the fact that a needle snapped rather than pass through his skin. She closed her eyes and grunted. “This must all be a dream. It cannot be real!”

A key sounded in the lock, pulling her from her thoughts. Tielle sat up and stood at the side of the bed. She scanned the room looking for anything she might use as a weapon. There was nothing. The door opened, and Noah stood there wearing that sickening smile. She hated his guts.

“Let me go, Noah. I have nothing to do with your family issues.”

He chuckled and walked into the room carrying a video camera and pulling along a TV, a stand, and other equipment. Images of Noah forcing her to do unspeakable acts for the Internet flashed through her mind, but she tried not to panic. He’d get his balls handed to him if he even tried.

Tielle backed against the wall in a slight crouch, waiting, which seemed fine with Noah while he set up his equipment. The camera focused on the bed. Tielle’s mouth went dry, and her limbs shook. When he switched on the TV, first the bed came onto the screen, and then with a few buttons pushed, the interior of a warehouse came up. A table and chair had been placed in the middle of the vast space.

Test tubes, alcohol pads, and other blood-drawing items sat at one end of the table. Noah waited, and then Tielle caught her breath when Stone came into view. She suppressed a sob at seeming his mouth set in a straight line and his brows low. From the way he moved, she knew he barely controlled his rage. Noah punched more buttons.
The camera where Stone was zoomed in on him.
Tielle didn’t miss the worry in his eyes. She cried harder.

“Good, you made it,” Noah said, and Stone jerked.

“Noah!” Stone shouted. “You’ve decided to show your true colors? Where is Tielle? If you’ve hurt her—”

“You’ll what?” He laughed. “I hold all the cards, cousin.
Just like I always have.
Oh, I’m sure Einin thought he had his family locked down, every one of you scraping the floor to do his bidding. You had your token acts of rebellion, but like everyone else, you came in line with whatever he wanted—accepted Einin’s decree that the dragon gene couldn’t be awakened.”

“Is that what this is about?” Stone said. “You know there’s no way—”

“There
is
a way! And I’ll awaken my dragon…with your blood.” Noah reached for Tielle and snatched her in front of him. He wound an arm around her waist, forcing her back against his body. She struggled and tried stomping his instep, but he put his other hand up to her throat and squeezed. She gasped for air, her windpipe closing off.

Noah made her look at the TV screen where Stone’s face was centered. Her lover roared like the beast he was, his eyes changing to golden, the pupils narrow vertical slits. “Let her go, Noah. I will rip your flesh from your bones for this.”

Stone was more worried about her than she could ever imagine, but what he was scared the crap out of her. From head to toe, she shook in fear. She sobbed, closing her eyes and sagging into Noah.

Noah found both of their reactions amusing. “Do you know why she left you, opened herself up to me, cousin? Because I showed her what you are. I let her see for herself your transformation on the balcony. If you could have seen the disgust in her eyes, man, it was priceless.” Noah laughed with delight. “She begged me to take her home. This day can’t get any better. The great Stone—dragon shifter, despised by the woman he loves because of his genetic makeup. Priceless, I tell you.”

“Y-You’re lying,” Stone whispered.

Tielle still hadn’t opened her eyes. She stood unmoving in Noah’s arms.

“Tielle, talk to me,” Stone begged. “Tell me he’s
lying
, honey.” When she didn’t answer, he began to ramble. “I wanted to tell you the truth. I planned to do it tonight. After my flight, I came to your room to talk to you, but you were already gone. I thought about earlier when my father was hurt and how lucky I’d been that you were out there in the hall to help. But after everything had calmed down, I realized you could have heard my father and me arguing. You might have heard what I said to him about you.
Tielle!”

She lifted her head and dared a glance at the TV screen. Stone’s eyes were normal again.

“Baby, I lied to him. You were never for right now. From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were different from all other women. I didn’t believe in love, but… I love you, Tielle.”

She gasped and pressed closer to Noah. His low chuckle annoyed her, but she couldn’t help it. Her heart reached out to Stone, but the fear choked her as Noah’s hand had done a moment ago. And the fool wanted to be like Stone. Why would anyone want that?

“I love you, Tielle,” Stone said again. “I know this is not the time to say it, but it’s as good a time as any. You need to know what you mean to me. If I could walk away from what I am, I would do it to be with you.”

“Fool,” Noah spat. “The dragon has been the ambition of every person in our family, worshipped almost. Now you know why Einin treats him like he’s a god. Tell me, Tielle, have you ever heard of the dragon song? It’s an ability that only the dragon shifter has. He can force people to do whatever he wants. Stone has that gift, and he uses it to succeed in business. That’s why Einin is the head of the family and the head of the entire Hughes
empire
rather than my father.”

“Lies!”
Stone ground out. “I’ve never used the dragon song on anyone in business.”

“No, just on me,” Tielle said, speaking to Stone for the first time since this nightmare began. “You used it on me when you convinced me to take you to my apartment rather than take you to a hospital that first night.”

Noah twisted her in his arms and stared down at her with wide eyes.
“Really?
That’s interesting because no human who has had it used on them would ever know it.” His gaze raked over her body like he’d find answers written on her. “Maybe I should take your blood as well to see why you would be able to resist. It’s worth looking into.”

“No!” Stone exploded. He grabbed hold of the camera and shook it. “Noah, take my blood. Take all of it if you must, but don’t hurt her. Let her go. I’ll cooperate.”

Tielle broke free of Noah’s hold, ran to the TV, and dropped to her knees. Her fingertips brushed the cool flat screen over Stone’s image. She rested her forehead against it allowing the tears to fall. “No, Stone. I can’t stand the thought of you dying because of me. I…I love you too. I admit that I’m scared of what you are. I ran because I didn’t think I could handle it. I still don’t know if I can, but I do love you. Please…Don’t die.”

“Okay, enough.” Noah dragged her away from the TV and back to the bed.
“Enough of this sentimental BS.
Anymore and I’ll puke.” Noah shoved Tielle into a sitting position on the bed. “Here’s what you’ll do, cousin, if you want her to live….”

Noah explained that his assistant would come in and draw Stone’s blood. He would then be led to another room where he would be held, with blood drawn as often as they needed. Stone could not try anything stupid, or Tielle would be hurt. Noah made Stone watch while he gave Tielle a sedative. Her eyes drooping as she grew sleepy, she stared at Stone. Just before she dropped off, another man entered the room where he was and began drawing Stone’s blood. She thought Stone told her everything would be fine and that he would come for her soon, but his voice became distorted and from a great distance. Her world went dark.

* * * *

Stone suffered through draw after draw of his blood. He’d been moved to a smaller room though still in the warehouse. The door closing off the room was heavy but not a match for his strength. Noah counted on Stone cooperating because of Tielle. As long as he had her somewhere Stone couldn’t get to in time, Stone was powerless to fight.

The camera equipment had also been moved to the room, a constant reminder of Tielle. While the assistant drew his blood, Stone watched the television set. Tielle lay unmoving, barely breathing. His chest constricted at how pale she looked beneath her creamy brown skin. Would Noah keep his word not to hurt her if Stone died?

“You must really love her,” the assistant said.

“Just do what you came to do, and keep your mouth shut,” Stone snapped. “You don’t get to comment on Tielle.” Stone thought about what they were doing. He knew Noah had a background in biology, but something told him the man at his side was the scientific brain behind everything. “Can you do what Noah wants? Can you activate his dragon gene?”

The man shoved glasses up his narrow nose, watching Stone with beady eyes. The heavy bags beneath them were the mark of many sleepless nights. “I can.” He hesitated after glancing toward Tielle. “I think…I haven’t been able to convince Noah, but…”

“Spit it out, damn it, if you have something to say.” Stone had little patience through this ordeal. All he could think about was getting to Tielle. He hated how weak he’d sounded talking to Noah earlier, but if ever he had a second weakness beyond that spot on his back, it was Tielle. Nothing must ever happen to her.

“He may have given her too much of the sedative,” the man admitted.

Stone surged up from the bed, hearing the needle in his arm snap. Blood spilled down his arm and on the bed. The assistant cursed, but Stone ignored him to snatch the bag and tubing away from his arm. He rushed over to the TV. “Tielle!” he shouted.

“Her mic might be off,” the assistant said behind him.

His eyes ached, Stone stared so hard. Still, she didn’t move. He watched her chest, and there was no rise or fall.
D-Dead?

Rage exploded through Stone’s system. The dizziness he’d felt seconds before dissipated, and he felt the heat that had always been apart of him bubble up inside. Without thinking, he whirled and grabbed the assistant by the throat before throwing him against the wall. The snap and crunch of broken bones along with the odd angle of the man’s head did nothing to calm Stone. He raced to the door and ripped it from its hinges.

Transformed and in the air, he flew with a speed he knew no human could track. It was risky to be out in daylight in his dragon form, but he didn’t give a damn. He would hunt the entire Earth for Noah and rip him limb from limb if he had to. And then he would go back and find Tielle’s body. He’d lay her to rest before he found a way to join her in the afterlife.

For hours, Stone flew, lamenting the fact that he didn’t have a bloodhound’s tracking skill. What good were his abilities if they couldn’t help him now? When he didn’t know what else to do, he landed on the roof of his castle and crawled down the wall to his bedroom window. The sounds he made must have alerted James, because the door banged open, and his secretary rushed in before closing the door behind him.

“Sir, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been trying to call you for hours with no answer,” James told him.

“I am not in the mood, James. Tielle is…Noah took her.” His throat was dry. The rage still burned in his gut, and he barely held onto his sanity.

“Aye, sir, that’s what I’m getting at,” James told him.

“Then fecking say what you have to say, James,” Stone thundered.

His secretary shrank back, and Stone knew his eyes must have shifted. James may know his secret, but he had never seen Stone change. Stone tried containing his anger, but found it impossible, so he turned his head so as not to panic the man.

“I followed Mr. Noah earlier today. I think he has some secret place here in the castle.”

Forgetting his resolve not to frighten James, he jerked the man off his feet. “Show me!”

They rushed through twists and turns in the castle to areas that were vaguely familiar to Stone. He’d spent countless hours playing in the back halls and rooms as a child. Remembering now, he figured Noah would also recall, and if he knew of more secrets their home kept, then that might be where he had been keeping Tielle. He could only pray it was true.

When Stone thought they were on the castle lowest floor, James proved him wrong. They came to a rough Stone wall which Stone assumed was a dead end. He tried using his mental mapping but couldn’t get his mind calm enough to do any good. James ran his hands over the wall’s rocky surface like he was looking for something.