Their Runaway Mate (16 page)

"What's that? I don't understand…" Jasmine glanced between the dragons. "You don't mean the drug, do you?" She didn't know much about drugs, but she wasn't completely stupid. According to the news, Dragon's Tears was a drug favored by women because it was supposed to make them feel young and beautiful.

Trixy gasped. "No, it can't be."

"That's exactly what I mean," Kylan said. "Where did you make this? Who had access to it?"

Jasmine's jaw worked up and down twice before the thoughts in her head made coherent sense and could be sent to her tongue. "I used the ingredients in the kitchen. The cake was in there all afternoon, until Gabby brought—"

"Gabby touched this?" Kylan's question was punctuated with a growl. He turned to Dillon and the two men who'd arrived with them. "Guard them while I find her."

"She's in the parlor with Maryk." Jasmine's sentence ended on a squeak when all eyes turned to her.

"She's meeting with one of the Kelvin clan? In our own home?" Dillon's lips curled back, exposing his teeth. "Sonofabitch."

Kylan charged out of the room. His heavy footsteps boomed through the sudden quiet as he rushed down the hall. A moment later, his roar broke through the air.

"Damn it," Dillon said. "They've escaped."

When Kylan returned, he looked at Laughlin. "Empty the food stores. We can't be sure what has been contaminated. They may have tainted our supplies with more than just Dragon's Tears."

Laughlin's eyes flashed golden yellow. Jasmine's heart stuttered in her chest. There was something familiar about that distinctive color… She'd seen it in her nightmares for years.

"It was you…" Her hand shook wildly as she pointed at him. "You hunted me through the forest when I was a little girl."

At her words, Dillon surged toward his former chief. His eyes blazed. A shot of bright green fire curled over his lips.

"Stop!" Jasmine's aunt threw herself in front of Laughlin.

When Dillon grabbed her aunt's plump arms to thrust her aside, Laughlin roared and lunged forward. His own dragon shone through his eyes. Jasmine froze at the shockingly vivid citrus color. Her worst fear had come to life. She clutched her stomach where the bite of the dragon's talon usually sank into her flesh.

"It's not what you think," Trixy shouted. "Listen to me."

Kylan rested a hand on Dillon's back to stay him.

"He doesn't deny it," Dillon said.

"We'll assess the punishment, but not yet." Kylan's steely tone detonated over them. It seemed he was only a breath away from ripping his father apart himself.

Dillon bared his teeth, but stayed in his place.

Laughlin's attention shifted to her. Fear clung to her like bread dough.
Run. Hide.
But she was stuck. Just like she always was.

She wobbled and reached for her forehead. Sweat spilled down her face.

"I—"

Her ears rang and her vision narrowed. A shadow rushed toward her. Dillon. His soothing scent cascaded over her, filling her with hope. He would protect her. She collapsed into his arms.

Everything shifted then. He was carrying her. Not far. Two steps. Maybe three. Then he gently lowered her to a chair.

"Oh, God. What happened?" he asked. "What is the matter with her?"

Jasmine tried to blink. Nothing happened. She had to get control of herself.

Another blurry figure joined Dillon.

"Jasmine? Come on, little one," Kylan whispered as he brushed the hair from her sweat-slick face.

"Move over," Trixy said. Then a sharp biting pain whipped across Jasmine's face. The slap vibrated through her.

Jasmine gasped as her vision cleared.

Kylan yanked her aunt away as Dillon roared.

Jasmine rubbed her cheek. "Ow…"

Dillon's growl deepened.

"You were in shock, my dear. Now call off your dragons so we can chat."

This time Kylan's rumbling snarl joined with Dillon's. Kylan motioned to a guard standing off to the side.

"Take Laughlin and this woman away," Kylan said. "We'll deal with them later."

"No," Jasmine said quickly. She reached for Kylan's hand. "I'll be okay. Honestly…" She turned to her aunt, whose chin was jutting up at a defiant angle. "But I need you to tell me what the hell is going on."

"Speak," Kylan commanded Trixy.

Trixy ignored Kylan and studied Jasmine. "Are you okay, dear? Should we go sit somewhere softer and have a cup of tea?"

"No," Dillon said. "Say what you will, here and now."

Trixy sighed and perched her little body on a big oversized chair across the table from Jasmine. She clenched her hands in front of her.

"Sit down, already," Trixy said to the dragons. "This is a long story."

They bristled at the order. None of them complied, but Kylan and Dillon moved to stand at Jasmine's side. Dillon placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a little squeeze.

Jasmine took a deep breath. "You've known about my nightmares for all of these years and you never said anything. It was real, wasn't it?"

"Yes." Trixy's steady gaze locked on Jasmine's. "What do you remember about your mother, honey?"

"You are precious, Jasmine. A true treasure."

"She used to tell me stories about dragons." Jasmine shrugged. "I don't know. I remember a lot of things. What do you want me to remember?"

"Your mother was an addict. She was hooked on Dragon's Tears."

"What? No, she couldn't have been…"

"It's true," Laughlin said. "She showed up with—"

Trixy patted him on the hand. "Just wait. I'm not there yet."

But something in what they were saying triggered a series of images that tumbled through Jasmine's mind. "Oh, God. She brought me here, didn't she?"

"When she heard there was a ski resort called Flight of the Dragon, she believed that was where she would finally meet dragons. You see, back then, no one believed dragons existed. Sure, we heard about Dragon's Tears, but everyone thought they were a chemical concoction." Trixy rubbed her forehead. "But even then, Donna was convinced that the drug came from real dragons. She was obsessed with staying young and she was sure that if she could find a dragon, she would have her own fountain of youth at her fingertips."

"Don't I look pretty today? My skin is almost as soft as yours, isn't it? And soon it'll be even softer." Her mother's laughter bubbled through the air.

Jasmine closed her hands around the armrest. "Why was I in the woods?"

Trixy swallowed and reached her hand across the table toward Jasmine, but Jasmine ignored it. "Oh, honey, we don't have to talk about all of this, do we?"

"She's a treasure. Don't you like treasure?"

"Oh, God…" Her stomach rolled. "She tried to give me away, didn't she? She wanted to give me to dragons in exchange for a steady source of the drug…"

No one moved at Jasmine's realization. Her gaze darted from Trixy to Laughlin. His eyes softened and he nodded slightly.

"It is lucky that she found us and not another clan," Laughlin said.

"Come on, Jasmine, we have to hurry. Fix your hair. Pinch your cheeks. Yes, just like that. You are such a pretty girl. Just like your mama. A treasure."

"But that man said the ski lessons were over there," Jasmine pointed to the steep mountain behind them.

"Something else has come up, honey. You are going to be so excited. We get to meet a real dragon today. You'll like that, won't you?"

Jasmine tilted her head and studied her mother. "Dragons are only in fairy tales. Aunty Trixy says so."

Her mother shook her head. "She is wrong, but it is going to be our secret. Only really special people get to talk to dragons."

"Will I get to ride on one?" Jasmine looked up. Big fat clouds dotted the blue sky.

"If you ask nicely, I'm sure you can."

"Can we go through a cloud?"

"Of course, honey." Her mother smeared on a layer of coral lipstick, then smoothed her eyebrows with her finger.

Their boots squeaked as they walked over the packed snow to an old stone building. At home Jasmine had seen the first tulip coming up in her neighbor's yard, but it didn't seem like spring here. She tucked her nose into her scarf and wished dragons could live some place warmer.

Her mother led her up the steps to a door. Jasmine glanced at the sign over the threshold. The words "George's Hotel" were painted over a picture of a man with a sword fighting a dragon. Jasmine smiled. She knew that story. Although her mother had said it was wrong, that a man could never kill a dragon.

Inside, the place was like a castle. Jasmine stared at a suit of armor while her mother went to talk to a man at the desk. Then they were walking down a long hallway. Her mother tugged her forward every time she slowed to look at a tapestry.

When they went as far as they could along the corridor, the man guiding them knocked on the wall. A moment later, the wall moved, opening like a door.

This was the coolest place ever. Aunty was going to be so impressed when Jasmine told her about the hidden room. They entered and the man who brought them there left them alone with two other men. One was seated on the far side of a desk that was bigger than Jasmine's bed at home. He had dark hair and a mean-looking face. The closer man was standing beside a chair. He smiled. He was taller than her gym teacher, Mr. Evert, but she wasn't sure if Mr. Evert was a good indication of what a man should look like since he was also shorter than her art teacher, Mrs. Chester.

"My name is Donna, and this is my daughter," her mother had said. "We know you are dragons."

Jasmine blinked up at her mother. These people were not dragons. Anybody could see they were just men. What was wrong with Mama?

The smiling man raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about, ma'am?"

"See here? This is my daughter. She's a treasure fit for a dragon." She yanked off Jasmine's knitted cap, causing her bright orange hair to fly up with static.

"Ma'am?" The mean man leaned forward. There was a hint of warning in his voice.

"Mama? I want to go…" Jasmine tugged on her mother's hand.

"She's a treasure. Don't you like treasure?"
Her mother pushed her closer to the strange men. "She's very precious. Just like Dragon's Tears."

The men scowled. They didn't seem to like her mother and her. She wasn't going to get to ride through the clouds today.

"I want to go skiing," Jasmine said to her mother.

The nicer man stepped forward, and Jasmine shrank back. "What's your name?"

She wasn't supposed to talk to strangers. Jasmine glanced up at her mother, who gave her an encouraging smile.

"Jasmine."

"Well, Jasmine, why don't we go and get some hot cocoa while your mom talks to August?"

Her mother's smile broadened and she nodded vigorously. "Yes, go with the man, honey."

The man extended his hand to Jasmine. She stepped closer to her mother, leaning in to her leg.

"Don't be scared, Jasmine. This man is a dragon, remember?"

She said that like it would make everything okay, but it wasn't okay. Jasmine didn't want to go with the man, but she didn't want her mother angry with her either. When her mother lost her temper, scary things happened.

The man smiled at her again. She agreed only because of the look on her mother's face. They stepped into the hallway. As soon as the hidden door was shut, Jasmine could hear the others speaking but couldn't make out the words.

"Do you want to come to the kitchen for a cocoa?"

Jasmine shook her head. If she left here, she might not be able to figure out where the door to the room was again. She wasn't leaving without her mama. "I want to stay here."

"Okay. You stay put, and I'll go get a treat for us."

After Jasmine sat on the carpeted floor beside the door, the man left her. The hallway was quiet, but she still couldn't make out what they were saying. She leaned in closer to the door. Oh, there was a little hole, like for a key. Jasmine pressed her ear to the hole.

"I know dragons need human blood from a female. I'm offering myself."

"Your blood is worthless. You are an addict," the man said.

"Then what about my daughter? She's never taken Dragon's Tears. I told you she's a treasure. You could raise her as you like and she could become part of your clan."

"She's a child. What would we want with a child?"

"Her blood is pure. I told you—"

"No, there is no deal. We don't barter children for drugs."

"I could still—" Her mother sounded desperate.

"The only reason I'm talking with you right now is so that my primary can figure out a way to deliver the child to a responsible family member."

"But I want us to stay with you…"

"Didn't you hear me? You are worthless to us."

"But my daughter isn't. She—"

"You would give your daughter to strange men, dragon shifters even, just to secure your supply of Dragon's Tears. What kind of mother are you?"

"If you don't want her, there are other ways we can be of use…"

Jasmine's heart pounded so hard it hurt her chest. Her mother wanted to give her away. She was begging these men to take her blood. No, Jasmine wouldn't do it. She was going home. Aunty Trixy had told her she could live with her. That's where she was going.

She ran down the long hallway and plunged into the outdoors. Snow had started to fall. Her mother still had her cap, but that was okay. It wasn't this cold where Aunty Trixy lived.

Jasmine ran and ran and ran…

Jasmine gasped. "Oh, God. I remember…"

Laughlin grimaced. "When I went to get your drink, I was interrupted by an emergency, so it was hours before I realized you were missing."

What else had she forgotten? Had she seen her mother again before her death? If she recalled that much from just once glimpse of his dragon eyes… "Where is it? Where is the hotel?"