Penelope jumped onto the mattress beside her and bumped her arm with her head. “Did you miss me?” She gathered the cat into her arms and rubbed her nose over her soft fur. “I was so scared.” The shaking started in her feet and worked its way up until her entire body was trembling.

  Someone had really tried to kill her.

  The sound of the shower reminded her she needed to get cleaned up. Pushing herself upright took Herculean effort. She gathered some clean clothes, planning on tossing out what she wore, and shut herself into the small ensuite bathroom. It didn’t have a tub, only a shower, but that was just as well. As tired as she was, she’d likely fall asleep and drown.

  Cranking the water on as hot as she could bear, she stepped beneath the spray and let it fall over her. The first tear took her by surprise, but there was no stopping the flood once it started. A big sob shook her entire being. Leaning her hands against the tiled wall, she lowered her head and watched the dirty water swirl down the drain as the tears continued to fall.

  …

  She was crying.

  Lucius stood outside her bedroom door, his acute hearing picking up the sobs beneath the spray of the water. He’d taken a step toward her before he stopped and clenched his hands at his sides.

  He needed to maintain an emotional distance. Yes, Raine had been trapped in the cave with him. That kind of fear couldn’t be faked. Her life had been in danger, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t agreed to the plan beforehand. Hell, maybe she was the mastermind behind it all. After all, she’d been away from the explosion when it happened. Maybe Mack had been following her instructions.

  He ignored the pained howl of his dragon and locked the creature down tight when scales rippled over his arms. While all his senses screamed she was being honest, he couldn’t discount the possibility the Deep Sleep might be affecting them in the same way they were his memories. The sexual attraction was also muddying the waters, making it difficult to be rational. But he wasn’t an idiot. In the past, beautiful women had used subterfuge and lied to get close to him.

  If she was truly innocent, she wouldn’t be safe until he uncovered who was behind this and disposed of them. Those who hunted his kind were relentless.

  It should have been impossible to wake him.

  No human had that kind of power over a drakon, not unless some sort of magic was involved. And, despite what most people believed, magic, real magic existed. Mages were few, but they were dedicated. There were those who pursued knowledge and others who sought power, and they would stop at nothing to get it.

  There’d been rumors of dark magic being used to capture drakons. He was right to be wary. Anyone who could catch and hold one of his kind was a formidable enemy. The key to survival was knowledge. Was Raine linked to a mage or was she nothing more than a tool to be wielded. If so, why her? It always came back to her.

  Mine!

  The possessiveness of his dragon was worrisome. It was time to use his brain rather than allowing only instinct to rule him. What was it about Raine that made her special?

  His gaze fell upon the artwork and gemstones that filled her space. He was drawn toward the fist-size chunk of rose quartz. Picking it up, he closed his eyes and absorbed the comfort it radiated. The entire world was alive, from the very rocks to the rivers and plants. Mankind rarely thought beyond itself, destroying, and taking, and exploiting. As an earth drakon, he was sensitive to the vibration of every rock and mineral.

  He set the rock back and left the room, rubbing his hand over his heart. Even if she was complicit in the plot against him, he couldn’t hurt her. Talk about a sobering thought. She was as effective a weapon against him as had ever been created.

  A low hissing sound greeting him when he entered the kitchen. A slender gray cat arched her back and fluffed her fur. “You must be Penelope.” He crouched and held out his hand. After staring at him for a long minute, she cautiously crept forward and rubbed against his fingers. A low purr vibrated from within when he scratched her head.

  Straightening, he secured the towel covering his lower half. He didn’t mind being naked—after hundreds of years of being cast in stone, his skin was sensitive—but, since it made Raine uncomfortable, he’d adjust.

  This part of her house, along with what had to be her main living space, was more neutral. There was no hint of the woman who lived and breathed in the bedroom. Here, everything was beige and brown with green and orange accent pieces. It was comfortable but lacked the vibrancy of her other space.

  Why did she hide part of herself? What was she hiding from him?

  It might take time, but he’d eventually uncover all her secrets. In the meantime, he’d start preparing food. He’d learned to drive easily enough. How hard could making a meal be using modern conveniences? He could hunt and cook over an open fire with the best of them. He could handle this.

  Ten minutes later, he stared at the mess on the counter. There was as much eggshell as egg in the bowl, and his big fingers were making it difficult to pick out the pieces.

  “What are you doing?”

  He’d heard her coming, even though she’d kept her footsteps light. “Cooking, or trying to.” A whiff of vanilla preceded her. He wanted to bury his face against her shoulder and lick her skin to see if she tasted as good as she smelled.

  “So I see.” Head bent, she peered into the bowl. “Having a little trouble?” It was difficult to concentrate on what she was saying. Her short brown hair wasn’t one uniform color but had deeper and lighter strands mixed within. The pants she wore were light blue and clung to her hips and thighs. The long-sleeved white top looked soft and hugged her breasts like a second skin. His fingers itched to stroke her.

  Her feet were bare, her toenails painted a delicate pink. Why was that so appealing?

  “Lucius?” A shudder ran through him at the sound of his name on her lips. The front of his towel began to tent. He turned aside and stared out the window, hoping she wouldn’t notice.

  “My fingers are too large and rough for something so delicate.” He held them out, studying them. They were more useful for manual labor than breaking open eggs without causing a mess or touching skin as delicate as Raine’s. They were hands that had killed. Scowling, he flexed his fingers.

  “It’s not a big deal.” She grabbed a large piece of shell and tossed it aside. “It’s easy enough to fix.” Her smile was soft and warm, but her eyes were red with dark circles beneath them, hinting at her exhaustion and earlier tears. “Thanks for helping.”

  He straightened before he realized what he was doing, her small praise making him feel as though he’d accomplished something wonderful instead of making a muck of it.

  Distance, he reminded himself. He needed to leash his softer emotions and not let them blind him to the possible reality. To give himself time to rein in the uncomfortable emotions bombarding him, he walked to her small table. It had four chairs, none of which looked as though they were sturdy enough to hold his weight. Curious to know everything there was about her, he wandered into the living area. A large, thin rectangle stood on a wooden stand. “What is this?”

  “Television. I can watch all sorts of entertainment and news on it.” She left the kitchen and joined him, picking up a slender object from a low table. “This turns it on.” With a click, a picture appeared on the screen.

  “Miraculous.” There’d been nothing like this when he’d gone to sleep.

  “You press this button to change channels.” He took the device when she handed it to him. “This is called a remote control. Or just a remote.” He began to press the button, entranced, as pictures popped up. “I’ll be in the kitchen.” He nodded and kept going, stopping now and again.

  It seemed only seconds had passed when she called out to him. “Come and eat.” He set the remote down and joined her. The table was filled with a large bowl of eggs, a plate of bacon, and a stack of toasted bread.

  “I should have helped.”

  She waved him to the chair across from hers. “It’s hard to tear a man away from television once he gets the remote.”

  “I don’t understand. I had no trouble releasing the device.” He lowered himself gingerly into the chair. It groaned beneath his weight but held.

  “Forget it. Bad joke.” She pushed the bowl toward him. “Help yourself.”

  There was so much he didn’t comprehend and needed to learn. What was on the table was likely a vast amount of food for her. For him, it was a barely a light snack. His stomach growled.

  “You first.” He would not take food before her. It pleased him to watch her fill her plate. The only thing that would make it more satisfying was if he’d provided it for her.

  Fuck, he had to squash those kinds of thoughts before they took a deeper hold. It wasn’t safe for either of them. “Is there a library nearby?” The faster he acclimated, the better off he’d be.

  “Even better, the internet.” She shoveled in a forkful of eggs and chewed. “I’ll get my laptop, my computer, after we eat and get you set up. All the knowledge in the world is available at your fingertips.”

  “Another joke?” What she was saying wasn’t possible, was it?

  “No.” She set her fork down and reached across the table, resting her hand on his. “It’s true. It’s hard to explain. Finish eating and I’ll show you.” He had to resist grabbing her hand when she removed it.

  Gripping his utensil tighter, he made quick work of what remained in the serving dishes. His stomach was still empty when he was done.

  “You were really hungry. Not surprising considering how long it’s been since you ate. I’ll have to go grocery shopping.” She frowned and bit her bottom lip.

  “What’s wrong?” In a short time, he’d come to learn her emotional cues. Something was bothering her.

  “It’s silly.” Pushing back her chair, she stood and began to gather the dishes. He stood and stopped her, taking both her hands in his. Touching her was necessary. Humans were a tactile species. It would encourage her to trust him, to let her guard down around him. It had nothing to do with how much he enjoyed it.

  “If it’s upsetting you, it’s not nothing.” His actions and words weren’t duplicitous, but smart. If she had a part in this, he was protecting himself. If she didn’t, no harm done.

  “I was momentarily nervous about going out alone.”

  Every cell in his body rebelled. “You’re not going out alone.” He couldn’t protect her if he wasn’t with her. On the flipside, she could contact potential enemies if he wasn’t around. Staying together was the only option.

  Her eyebrows raised and her mouth firmed. “You’re not going anywhere until you get clothes.”

  A low growl rumbled up from inside him. He didn’t understand this world, but he would. Then he’d conquer a small part of it for himself.

  “You know, that’s a good way to show you how a computer works.” She pulled on her arms until he released her. “Let me get my laptop.”

  Penelope was perched on a multilevel stand that stood in front of a window, staring at him, radiating distrust. He grabbed the stack of dishes and carried them to the sink.

  “Thanks,” Raine said as she returned with a flat rectangle. The world seemed to consist of a lot of flat rectangles—cell phone, television, remote control, and now this laptop.

  She placed it on the table and opened the lid. When she pressed a button, the screen lit up. He stood behind her and studied the device. “This is like the television, but it’s more interactive. See, you need new clothes.” Her fingers flew over buttons with letters on them. “I typed what I was looking for here in this search bar. Press this button, and here we go.” A listing of places to get men’s clothing appeared. The uniform lettering made it easier for him to read and understand.

  The lesson continued, and by the end she’d ordered him clothing with something called overnight shipping. The package would arrive tomorrow. It was miraculous.

  Raine yawned. “Here, why don’t you give it a try?” She pushed the laptop over in front of him. She’d pulled up a page that explained how computers worked. “You can press here to watch the video. It will give you a better understanding of how it works.

  “When you’re done, I need to dig into Mack’s life. I did a basic search before I met him—social media and the like—to make sure it was safe to meet him. Obviously, there’s more to him than I uncovered. I need to go deeper. The good news is he probably thinks I’m dead or at least dying. That buys us some time. If he decides to go back to check, he’ll see the hole where you busted us out.”

  “You should rest.” The dark circles beneath her eyes bothered him.

  She shook her head, her mouth taking on a stubborn line. “Someone used me, was willing to sacrifice me. I can’t afford to rest. The clock is ticking.”

  “You said it yourself. You’re safe enough for now.” He held up his hand when her chin went up. “You’re exhausted. You’ll work better after you’ve slept.” He played his ace in the hole. “No one can sneak up on us without me knowing.” While she slept, he’d watch over her and use this computer to catch up with the rest of the world.

  She stifled another yawn and rubbed her eyes. “Maybe you’re right. I’m barely coherent. I’ll catch a few hours. You sure you’ll be okay?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “And you’ll wake me if anyone comes?”

  “I promise.” To expedite matters, he helped her out of her chair and walked her to her bedroom door. In a perfect world, he’d lift her into his arms, carry her off to bed, and make love to her for hours before they finally slept.

  Distance, he reminded himself. It was the smarter option but getting harder to do. Every instinct demanded he take care of her, put her needs before his. To soothe his restless dragon, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, inhaling the vanilla scent of whatever she’d used to cleanse her hair. The beast rumbled with contentment. “Rest.”

  “What about you? You won’t turn to stone or anything, will you?”

  He heard the thread of worry. “No.” At least he didn’t think he would. Was that even possible? He assumed once he was awake, that was it. What if it wasn’t? The food he’d eaten churned in his belly and sweat beaded on his skin. He’d be at the mercy of whoever had set this whole scenario in motion.

  It would also leave Raine vulnerable. Even if she’d been an active participant in his return, mages had a reputation for tying off loose ends. If he slept, she was likely as good as dead.

  “You’ll be here when I wake?” She nibbled on her bottom lip. Seemed she was as unsure about him as he was about her. There were many motives—worry about her own safety, worry she’d lose him before her partners arrived, or possibly because she’d miss him. Best not to assign one particular one just yet.

  “I’ll be here.” Giving her privacy, he returned to the table, pulled the computer in front of him, and got to work.

  Chapter Seven

  It was dark outside when Lucius lowered the lid of the laptop. So much knowledge and now it was his. Unlike humans, he read and learned at a rapid rate, absorbing centuries of innovation and history in a matter of hours.

  He could walk out the door and not only survive but thrive. Drakons were collectors at heart—gold, jewels, art, money, property—whatever took their fancy. As an earth drakon, his affinity was with gemstones and minerals. Before he’d slept, he’d hidden his wealth deep within the bowels of the earth, in places only another drakon could reach. It would take him little time to reestablish himself. Give him another day or two and he’d understand the intricacies of the worldwide financial institutions and how best to manipulate them for his own needs.

  His gaze flicked to the short hallway that led to Raine’s bedroom and back to the computer. Every muscle in his body clenched. Go or stay? He was perched on a razor’s edge. While many of his memories had returned, many remained beyond his grasp. He sensed they were important but trying to force them only made them retreat deeper into the recesses of his mind. No matter, they’d surface in time. He didn’t need to access them to know he wasn’t the type to allow anyone to get too close. It wasn’t in his nature.

  Distrustful. Cautious. Cynical. Those words could easily be applied to him with accuracy. He’d chosen the Deep Sleep because he was done with the world—the greed and fear and never-ending wars. Done with mankind’s need to control or exploit or destroy anything or anyone different.

  Being friends with me just shows what good taste you have. The smooth, cultured voice slid into his head. Lucius searched his memories for a face to put with it. A male with blond hair, brown eyes, olive-toned skin, and fangs popped into his head. Fangs? He was friends with a bloodsucker?

  He shook his head. Not likely. Vampires couldn’t be trusted.

  The room began to close in around him. A vicious tug-of-war was being played with his soul. Pain radiated through his skull. Gripping his head, he gritted his teeth. Go or stay. He had to make a choice.

  If he left now, he could bury himself so deep in the Earth’s core no one, not even a mage, could reach him. But not even a mage should have been able to wake him from the Deep Sleep. And none had. It had been all Raine. Leaving would mean he’d never see her again. His dragon roared. Scales rippled over his skin. His tattoos pulsed. He clamped down on the beast. If he shifted inside, he’d destroy her home and possibly harm her.

  Immediately, the creature inside him retreated. Lucius’s lungs worked like a bellows as he sucked in air. I can’t leave her. The realization struck him with the force of a meteor. Was some spell chaining him to her or was it the will of his dragon, the attraction that grew the longer he was with her? She brought light to the darkness inside him.