Dragon with the Girl Tattoo by Julia Mills

Chapter One

“And where exactly are you sneaking off to?”

At the sound of his friend and Brethren’s chuckling voice, Lennox spun on his heels and attempted to act casual.

“Because that’s happened a grand total of zero times in your already long life,” Vulcan, the Dragon King with whom he shared his soul, snickered sarcastically.

“Shut up, Old Man. I don’t need your two cents worth of BS right now.”

“Oh, but you will soon enough.”

Ignoring the Dragon King, Lenn tried to act as if he wasn’t doing exactly what he was being accused of and shrugged, “Nowhere, just out for a quick run.” Forcing a chuckle, he added, “Gotta work off some of this excess energy.”

“Is that right?” Pearce, the most laid back and intuitive of all the Guardsmen in the Blue Thunder Clan, asked with raised eyebrows. “So, you’re gonna burn off that excess energy in jeans and boots?”

Looking down at his clothes, Lenn groaned to himself, “Busted!”

To which Vulcan laughed out loud, “Told you so.”

Continuing to ignore the Ancient Dragon, he took a deep breath and mentally counted to ten before nervously smiling. “Would you believe me if I said yes?”

“Not even if I was blind, deaf and mute.” Folding his arms across his chest, Pearce leaned against the inside of the kitchen door to the house they were sharing and shook his head. “Fess up. It’ll make things go a lot faster.”

Debating a quick getaway but knowing his Brethren could run just as fast and as far as he could, the Guardsman affectionately known as the ‘Mad Bomber’ leaned his hip against the corner of the kitchen counter and sighed, “You’ll just laugh if I tell you.”

“Try me.”

“I’m going to that remodeled and reopened Shifter bar, the one owned by that friend of Kayne’s. I think he said it was called The Sundowner.”

Nodding his head, Pearce grinned, “And didn’t he say it was Ladies’ Night?”

“Yeah,” Lenn slowly nodded. “He might have mentioned it. But it’s not what you think.”

“And how do you know what I’m thinking?” Sporting the look in his eye that said he already knew what was going on, what would happen and how long it was all going to take, Pearce’s eyebrows shot up on his forehead as he tried not to laugh.

“Because this isn’t my first rodeo,” Lenn snorted sarcastically. “Hell, it’s not even my fiftieth where you and that damned ESP of yours are concerned.” Wiggling his fingers in the air and making an eerie whistling sound, he added, “Just tell me what you know, and I’ll go from there. Might as well cut to the chase.”

Holding his hands up in mock surrender, Pearce admitted, “I know nothing…seriously.” Pushing off the door, he took a step closer and patted Lenn on the shoulder. “I was just coming down for a cup of tea when I heard you sneaking around. I’m not quite sure how you do it, my friend, but you really are louder when you’re tryin’ to be quiet than any other time.” Dropping his hand, the light blue dragon shrugged, “Since I wanted a cuppa and knew you were up to no good, I decided it would be fun to bust you at the same time.”

“Yeah, well, I wish I was up to no good.” Spinning back towards the kitchen, Lenn grabbed a chair from the table, pulled it out, and plopped down. Letting out a sigh, he ran his fingers through his hair as he groaned, “I wish I was up to anything but wondering why the hell I suck at love.”

Barking with laughter that almost made Lenn chuckle along, Pearce turned on the faucet, filled the kettle, and placed it on the stove before turning around and grinning, “All the rest of our boys are running for the hills and swearing off women to avoid being Mated and you…” Shaking his head, the laid-back Guardsman added. “You, my brother, are looking for love.”

“Yeah, in all the wrong places,” Lenn exhaled.

Getting out a cup and saucer then looking through the cupboard at his fifty or so brands of tea, Pearce finally sat down at the table with a box of Earl Grey and asked, “So, what really happened with Camille?”

Deciding it was time to fess up, Lenn leaned back in his chair, crossed his feet at his ankles and his arms over his chest, then sighed, “She wasn’t the One. It felt like we were forcing things.” He shook his head. “Like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, ya’ know what I mean?”

“I do.”

Uncrossing his ankles and arms, the Mad Bomber sat up and leaned his elbows on the table. “We both knew from the first date, but just kept trying anyway.” Hands in his hair again, he sighed, “Vulcan didn’t so much as crack a joke or give me a hard time for wearing jeans and boots to a restaurant that required reservations.”

“Tell me you didn’t.”

“I did, but I put on a jacket. Camille said it was fine.”

“Well, that’s something.”

“Yeah, thanks, Dad,” Lenn sighed sarcastically before going on. “Anyway, I’m pretty sure the Old Man was asleep the whole damn month Camille and I dated.”

“Why did you go out so many times if you knew she wasn’t the One?”

Jumping to his feet, Lennox began to pace from one corner of the kitchen to the other as his frustration bubbled to the surface. “I have no clue.” Stopping at the sink, he looked out the window. “Somewhere deep inside, I think we both thought we could somehow change Fate.” Turning towards Pearce, Lenn laid his hands in the air between with his palms up and nodded. “I liked her. She liked me. We had fun together. We thought we could make it work…”

The silence became deafening AS thoughts of about Camille Danvers raced through his mind. Not only was she one of the top brain surgeons in the entire world and the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen, but she was also a Werepanther with strength and integrity parallel to his own. ON paper, and in his mind she was perfect.

Sadly, Fate and the Universe had other plans.

At first, all was perfect. Their attraction was immediate. They’d talked for hours about anything and everything. The failure of their Mating was not because they didn’t give it a damn good try.

She simply wasn’t the woman the Universe made for Dragon Guardsman, Lennox O’Lachtnáin. Maybe the Almighty just forgot him. Maybe the Mad Bomber was to be the only Dragon in all of history not to have a Mate.

“Way to throw yourself a pity party, Lad. Maybe you should go blow something up. From the moment you could walk, it always makes you feel better.”

“You’re not helping, Vulcan.”

Getting up when the tea kettle whistled, Pearce was pouring boiling water into his cup when he finally asked, “But it didn’t. Shit happens. But instead of looking for Miss Right, you’re trolling the bars hoping she’s onto watered down margaritas, bad pick-up lines, and soggy quesadillas?”

“I’d settle for Miss Right Now at this point.”

Leveling his gaze, Pearce scolded, “And then I’ll spend another three weeks listening to you walk the floors and sigh under your breath about ‘the One’ you haven’t found. Or groan about the Universe forgetting you exist. Hey, maybe you can switch it up and bitch about the kids you’re not going to have.” Holding up the index finger of her left hand, he pretended to be shocked, “Oh, wait! You’ve already sang that tune so many times I know all the words.”

Sitting back down, shaking his head and rolling his eyes, Pearce added, “Getting laid has never been a problem for you, and you know it. Why not just relax and let nature take its course? You’ll find her when the time is right. You can’t rush Fate or Destiny. It’s like running headfirst into the same brick wall over and over. All you end up with is a headache.”

“If I wait any longer for nature to do the job, you’ll be calling me Father Time.” Starting to pace in circles this time, he ranted on, “I feel like a caged animal. Nothing smells right. Food doesn’t taste right. I’m irritable and jumpy.” Pausing and glaring at his friend, he seethed through gritted teeth, “I think I’m losing my mind.”

“Well, that’s been happening for a long time,” Pearce snorted. “But what you’re feeling are all signs of the Mating Call.” Taking a sip of his tea, he mused, “Which means you’ve been in close contact with your Mate. So, maybe stop and think – if you have been near the one the Universe made for you and you just happen to have been with another woman, there’s really good chance she’ll know it, too. What’s she gonna think. Or more to the point, what’s she gonna do? My guess is, she was right there and chose not to interrupt your date.”

“Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack,” Pearce nodded. “So, have you bumped into anyone interesting in the last week or seen someone paying special attention to you before she turned and walked away?”

Slamming his palms down on the table, Lennox growled, “Would I be gossiping with you if I had?” Inhaling deeply, he coughed and huffed at the scent of Pearce’s tea. Why the hell do you drink that crap? Only old ladies and their sewing circles drink tea anymore. It smells like moth balls and pressed flowers.”

Grinning like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland, his Brethren explained, “I like it. It calms me down, relaxes me, and clears my head. Even allows me to get a good night’s sleep.” Lifting his cup and giving Lenn a nod, he added, “You should really try a cup.” Stopping and tilting his head to the side, he quickly added, “Or a gallon or two..”

Back to pacing to keep his temper from getting the best of him, Lenn grumbled, “Ha. Ha. Ha. You’re real funny. I don’t do tea unless it’s iced with lemon and sugar.” Doing an abrupt about-face when he was a step from the door, the Guardsman stalked back across the tile floor. “Besides, if you were any more relaxed or calm, you’d be a cast member of the Walking Dead.”

“Jest all you want. I like it.” Taking another sip, Pearce gave a single nod. “Besides, I’m originally from the United Kingdom. Drinking tea is my Queen-given right.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, but then again, we’re pretty much from everywhere, aren’t we? It’s the price of being three weeks younger than dirt.”

“Speak for yourself.” Pearce made a show out of sniffing and pretending to be hurt.

Laughing out loud for the first time in a long while, Lenn chuckled, “Thank you for that. I actually feel better.” Snapping his fingers, he quickly teased, “And well, you are older than I am.”

Setting his cup down on the saucer, his Brethren rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Oh, please, by what? Like a whole year. Doesn’t count when we’re ‘three weeks younger than dirt’.”

“No fair throwing my own words back at me. Laughing so hard his cheeks actually hurt, Lenn barked in loud guffaws as Pearce tried to pretend to be hurt as his shoulders bounced with barely contained amusement.

Finally, losing the battle, his Brethren began chuckling so hard he was having a hard time breathing. So caught up in their revelry, both Guardsmen missed the appearance of Kayne, a golden Dragon, one of the Enforcers, and the son of Lugh, Celtic God of the Sun.

“What the hell is so funny?” The Demi-God grinned from ear-to-ear. “The fact that you left me waiting by the car for almost thirty minutes or that you have thirty seconds before I leave without your scaly ass?”

“Oh shit!” Lenn and Pearce laughed even harder at the put-out expression on Kayne’s face.

Patting the Demi-God on the shoulder, Lennox apologized, “I’m really sorry, man. Pearce came down and caught me sneaking out. “Motioning towards his friend with a short, sharp tip if his chin, he kept going, “Then we got to talking.” Stopping to breathe as he continued to try to hold back his laughter, he finally wheezed out, “I -I just lost all track of time.”

“Yeah, I know how y’all are,” Kayne snickered. “I should’ve figured you were talking. My fault for sittin’ out there like a stooge and not coming to get you.” A quick glance at the clock on the wall and he added, you still want to go? The bar’s open for another couple of hours.” Looking at Pearce, he asked, “What about you, Grandma Moses, you wanna come along? I mean, you’ll have to leave the tea cup at home, but I’m sure Janice will brew up whatever you want.”

“As I told Lenn, jest all you like. I enjoy a good cuppa tea at the end of a hard day. Don’t knock it, till you’ve tried it.”

“No Thanks, P,” Kayne snickered. “I’ll leave the tea drinking to you, my friend. But if you start knittin’ me a sweater, I’mma have you committed to the Old Dragon’s Home.”

“Mock me all you like,” Pearce scoffed. “I’ll live longer than all of you adrenaline junkies combined.”

“If that’s not the damn truth,” the Demi-God chuckled. “I’ll kiss your ass in Macy’s window.” Turning away, he swatted Lennox on the arm and nodded towards the door. “If we’re going, let’s go. Janice and her Honey Badgers are a cantankerous lot. We don’t want to piss them off by coming in at the last minute and keepin’ ‘em after closin’ time. They pour a mean drink, and the Sundowner’s got a great atmosphere, but I’m not in the mood for a fight right now.”

Looking back at his best friend and roommate, the Mad Bomber asked again, “You sure you don’t want to go, P?” Waggling his eyebrows, trying to get another rise out of his Brethren, Lenn added, “Might be fun, ya’ old fuddy-duddy.”

“You two go ahead. I’m fine right here.” Setting his cup on the saucer, Pearce went on, “Besides, I have some research to do, and now that the sound of pacing and swearing won’t be distracting me, I might actually get it done.”

“Does it happen to involve a certain female Bear we all know?” Kayne knocked elbows with Lenn while continuing to pester Pearce. “I hear there might have been some sparks between you and the lovely Tabitha.”

For the first time in all the years he’d known the Guardsman they all teased about being the Zen Master of their Clan, Lenn saw Pearce blush. And of course, he couldn’t let it go. “Holy crap on a cracker! You and Tabitha? Does she feel the same way? What the hell are you doing here? Go to her, ya big dope. She might be the One. You need to…”

“I need to do my research.” Holding up his hands and clearing his throat, Pearce explained, “I have no idea how she feels, nor will I be running to her.” Spearing Lenn with a look that said, ‘shut the hell up or I’ll do it for you’, he added with a growl, “And you, Mr. I-Want-A-Mate-Yesterday, will do well to keep what you’ve learned here tonight to yourself.” With that, the not-so-Zen-Master-at-the-moment got up, put his cup and saucer in the sink, and without another world left the kitchen in what most would call a snit.

“Well, I’ll be,” Kayne whistled in surprise. “I think we have finally seen what ruffles old Pearcey boy’s scales.”

Looking at the empty doorway his Brethren had just exited, the Mad Bomber quietly agreed, “Yes sir, we did. I never thought I’d see the day. A woman has Pearce all tied up in his underwear.”

“I am not tied up in my underwear!” Came the Zen Master’s growled reply from the other room. “That is the worst visual imagery I have ever heard. I want no part of it. Now, get the hell out of here before I have to show you how not tied up in my underwear I am.”

“Okay, okay, we’re outta here,” Kayne snickered, grabbing Lenn by the arm and tugging him towards the back door. Once outside and heading towards his SUV, the Demi-God asked, “You seriously didn’t know about Pearce and Tabitha?”

“No, I didn’t. He didn’t say a word.” Wondering why he’d been left out of the loop, one thing came to mind that immediately came out of his mouth. “Then again, I’ve been pissy since all that crap with Camille. Pearce was probably being nice not mentioning that he’d found his Mate. Still…” Looking at the still shining light through the kitchen window, the Mad Bomber added, “I mean, she has to be his Mate, right? All the signs were there. He got cranky the minute you brought it up, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, he sure as hell did.” Starting his bright red Expedition as soon as Lenn shut his door, Kayne went on, “I thought he was gonna be overjoyed. It sure looked like she was into him when I saw them together. I just figured they were meeting in secret, waiting for the right time to spring the good news on all of us.”

“I’ll have to see what I can find out.”

Backing out of the driveway and pulling onto the street, the Demi-God chuckled, “I think you better focus on your own love life, Pal.” Tapping his temple and smirking, he snickered, “I have a feeling that things are about to get really fun, really fast for you and a special someone.”

Narrowing his eyes and staring at the side of Kayne’s face, Lenn grumbled, “What do you know that you’re not saying? Have you been talking to your dad? Looked into some crystal ball only you gods have access to? What is it, K? Just tell me and I’ll shut up.”

Holding up both hands then slamming them back onto the steering wheel, Kayne grinned, “A) You will never shut up. B) There are no crystal balls that only gods can see into, ‘cause if there was, I’d have been using that little bastard for years. And C) I swear, it is nothing more than a feeling I have in the back of mind. A little inkling that things are about to get all lovey-dovey in your vicinity.”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

Glancing to the side before looking back at the road, Kayne’s grin grew into a goofy smile as he chuckled, “I have no clue.” Going from chuckles to full-on laughter, he teased, “Because you know me better than the average Dragon?”

“Yeah, I know you,” Lenn grumbled. “And that’s how I can say with all honesty, I really hate Demi-Gods.”