Perhaps they chose whatever empty place they could for “pickups.” Still, since they were shifters, they would probably pull up in a car.

  That’s what she expected anyway.

  But then, as she stood in the lot, staring around at abandoned refrigerators and old car parts and trash littering the ground, a huge shadow covered everything, making the ground dark as she looked up and covered her eyes to block out any lingering sun.

  What she saw made her gasp. A huge, sparkling blue shape was flying over, pausing to hover and beat huge wings. Even shaded, she could make out a beautiful body covered in blue scales of all colors that sparkled like gemstones.

  The dragon eyed her as it dipped lower, and as it swooped by, enormous, leathery wings beating the air, a spiky, huge head turning to stare at her, she made contact with warm blue eyes that sparkled with kindness.

  Then the huge creature landed with a loud thump, sending dust into the air everywhere.

  She only had a moment to study it, the beautiful crystals along the wings, the beautiful scales, its huge size as it towered over her, almost as big as a house.

  It studied her knowingly, and then a sparkling veil descended in front of it, like a rain of diamonds falling from head to toe, obscuring the dragon from vision.

  And then, when the sparkles dissipated, a man appeared, walking toward her in crisp western wear and a black Stetson over his collar-length hair that seemed to glint with hints of blue.

  He walked over to her and extended a hand, and to her relief, she saw that his eyes were as kind and warm as his dragon’s.

  “Troy?” she said nervously, allowing him to take her hand, which he squeezed warmly.

  “Absolutely not,” he said with a laugh. “Jack. Sorry for the confusion. I do the pickups now for the most part.” He gave her a winning smile, and his slight Texas drawl had already immediately won her over. He released her hand. “So you ready to ride a dragon?”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “I’m kidding,” he said as a long black car pulled up to the lot and a man with a stern face and blond hair stepped out, folding his arms and glaring. “I came out first to make sure you were alone and this wasn’t a trap, and Troy followed with the car. Come on.”

  Troy leaned against the car, waiting, exactly like she would have pictured him from the phone. His face was gorgeous, as was Jack’s, but his emerald-green eyes were hard.

  “Mara?” he asked, opening the door as Jack brought her forward.

  Troy and Jack both towered over her, living up to what she’d read about dragons with their huge physiques and model-like looks. Troy was probably about 6’5” and Jack was only a few inches shorter.

  “Yes,” she said, feeling dazed.

  Troy grabbed her hand and took a look at her wrist, not even asking, earning a tsk from Jack, who nudged him and urged him to be gentle.

  “Shit, that’s weird,” Troy said, releasing her more gently than she expected. Perhaps the big grump was a softy after all.

  But then he roughly took her by the waist and ushered her into the back seat of the car, slamming the door behind him.

  Not so soft after all.

  “We gotta get out of here, now, and go have someone look at this. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Troy said.

  Jack got into the passenger side, sighing, as Mara realized the back was situated like a limo with big, elegant seats like the one she was in.

  She relaxed back as the car pulled away, deciding there was no point fighting this.

  She was staring at her wrist as Jack said something quiet to Troy that made her blood instantly go cold.

  The next moment, Jack was making conversation about how much she would like their mansion and their new secretary, who was still learning the ropes but an amazing person.

  But all Mara could think of for the rest of the drive was the words she’d thought she heard Jack say to Troy when they thought she wasn’t listening.

  “Do you think we can even help her?”

  2

  After driving to the outskirts of the city, where wild brush and tall trees were more common, the black car wound up a long green hill and pulled up to a black gate surrounded by a huge, pointed iron wrought fence.

  Beyond it lay a foreboding drive up to a huge mansion.

  Dragons must be loaded, Mara thought.

  Troy spoke to a voice at the gate, and it opened. Mara took a moment to study the lush grounds as they pulled up to a large, austere mansion in red brick, parked in a circular driveway, and Jack got out to open her door and help her out.

  Once inside, Mara saw a flurry of activity. A woman with long black hair and pale skin was carrying stacks of papers while trying to hold a phone to her ear, and several large men were walking here or there, looking at papers and talking to one another.

  The place looked a mess.

  “Come in here,” Troy said, waving for her to follow him down a narrow hallway and into an office, where he sat behind a large mahogany desk and gestured for her to take a seat across from him.

  Jack entered soon after and sat a few seats over from Mara.

  Troy’s deep forehead creases indicated a high level of stress, and Mara wondered how mythical beasts like this could even be stressed.

  Even now, her mind was racing with questions, things to ask a dragon after reading about them for so many years…

  But then she looked down at the odd mark on her hand, and her heart started pounding again.

  “So tell us how you got that thing, and try and make it snappy,” Troy said, glaring.

  Jack gave him a look of consternation. “Be patient. She’s scared.”

  She swallowed. “I have no idea. My friend pointed it out because she knows I haven’t gotten any tattoos. Not that I have anything against them. I just can’t commit.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Sorry, just nervous.”

  Troy’s expression calmed, and something softer lit his eyes. “I’m sorry for being harsh. Please, tell us whatever you can. We’ve never seen something like this.”

  There was a knock on the door, and the black-haired woman from before came in, holding a stack of papers. Her curvy body was encased in a tight pencil skirt and a crisp white blouse, and her hair was pulled up in a neat bun.

  To Mara’s shock, the woman’s eyes were a light, misty purple.

  She set down the papers on Troy’s desk and came immediately over to Mara. “So sorry for the wait. I’m the specialist, Serena.”

  “Mara.”

  Serena smiled as she sat next to Mara and gently reached for her hand. “Can I see it?”

  Mara nodded, offering her hand.

  “It definitely looks like something from my realm,” Serena said, frowning, her misty purple eyes darkening. She rubbed her finger lightly over the mark and winced, pulling back her hand and covering her eyes as she leaned forward, rocking for a moment.

  “What’s wrong?” Jack asked, jumping to his feet as Troy looked ready to jump over the desk, but Serena simply put out a hand.

  “Strong chaos energy,” she said, looking even paler than usual as she sat up, rubbing her eyes and looking drawn. “Whatever has marked you is definitely from my world. I don’t know what exactly makes a mark like that, but it’s something dangerous.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Serena swallowed. “There is a myth in my world of an ancient predator that marks its target days in advance of coming to find it.” She looked at Troy. “But it shouldn’t be possible. Many years ago, these creatures went extinct, along with the things they hunted.”

  “We need more info, Serena,” Troy said, folding his arms.

  “I know,” she said. “But I don’t want to alarm anyone without notice. I need time to look into this. And to talk with a fae emissary.”

  “You are a fae emissary,” Troy said impatiently.

  Serena shook her head. “I’m half human, not pure fae. This is something only the old fae would know about.”

  “What can we do about this?” Troy asked, pointing at the mark.

  “She needs to be assigned protection, just in case,” Serena said. “It must be at least a dragon who can be assigned only to her. If it’s even possibly what I think it could be, then it will be dangerous even for a gemstone dragon.”

  Jack sighed. “Every dragon I know is already trying to pitch in with all the new problems caused by shifters going public.”

  Serena glared at him. “It’s the dragons’ job to protect this world, and it might be a matter of life and death for far more than just her.” Serena looked at Mara apologetically. “I’m not trying to scare you, but this thing hunting you, even if it’s not what it could be, is desperate to take your energy, probably to become more powerful. So you should guard it carefully.”

  Mara nearly stuttered at the beautiful woman’s words. “Energy?” She’d always felt something around her crystals, but she hadn’t thought anyone else would be able to pick up on it.

  Serena cocked her head, looking at Jack and Troy. “In this world, you seek dragon hearts, correct?”

  Jack and Troy nodded eagerly.

  “What’s that?” Mara asked.

  “Beyond brave women worthy to bond with dragons and be granted a power,” Jack said.

  “Oh,” Mara said lightly. There was so much she didn’t know.

  “Well, long ago in our world, before dragons were domesticated and became primarily pets in the fae realm, they used to seek out crystal hearts.”

  “What’s that?” Troy asked.

  Serena sighed. “Those with crystal energy passed down through their blood, making them purehearted and extremely kind.”

  “So is a dragon wanting to mate her, then?”

  Serena pressed her lips together. “I’m not saying more. I didn’t know anyone with crystal energy still existed. They definitely don’t in my world. Perhaps something has crossed the breach between our worlds to find it. But if it’s what it could be, I’m not saying until I know. Because it’s utterly terrifying.”

  “That’s almost worse than not telling us what it is,” Troy said.

  Serena gave him a flat expression. “Trust me, no, it’s not.”

  Troy finally nodded and looked over at Mara. “So what do we do with her in the meantime?”

  “As I said, protect her,” Serena said. “In the myths, if this monster was able to take her energy, it might be able to become so strong no one could stop it.”

  Troy made a tsk. “Why haven’t I heard of this before?”

  “Very rare,” Serena said. “Even back when the myths existed.”

  Jack let out a sigh. “So what do we do?” He looked down at his hands, moving them nervously together. “What do we have free that is stronger than a gemstone dragon?”

  “The basilisks are already busy,” Troy said. “I’m not sure they’d be a good match for this assignment anyway.”

  “Agreed,” Jack said.

  Serena perked up. “I was going to mention this earlier, but did you see that stack of papers Marina sent over from the oracle earlier?”

  Jack looked over solemnly. “No, why?”

  “The oracle’s power is fading,” Serena said. “According to Marina, she’s considering unsealing some of the dragons she imprisoned due to high risk levels or deals with other realms or planets to imprison them before they gain freedom on their own. She said perhaps they could be useful if they were collared or persuaded.”

  Troy cursed. “That’s right. When she weakens, they might be released anyway.”

  “Marina is training to take her place,” Jack said. “I’m sure she can re-suppress them.”

  “Indeed,” Serena said. “But the oracle has been doing this for hundreds of years. There really are some interesting cases. I was looking them over last night in bed.”

  Jack laughed. “Serena, we really do appreciate the help, but you don’t have to work every moment.”

  “When there are people in trouble, yes, I do,” Serena said. Then she grabbed the stack of papers she’d brought in and started rustling through them until she smiled, pulling out a stack. “Look, I was just thinking these guys looked promising. The oracle said she only suppressed them because our fae allies recommended it after these dragons were exiled from the fae realm, where they went first when they left Drakkaris.” She handed the papers to Troy over the desk, and he took them, looking dubious.

  He checked over them. “Some kind of barbarian dragons?”

  “Warlords,” Serena said. “Dragon warlord kings.”

  “Why did we imprison them?” Jack asked.

  “Because they were starting war in the fae realm, so the oracle believed what she’d been told about them.” Serena smiled. “But I’m not so sure. I know they tried to free dragons in the fae realm, but I didn’t read about them doing anything truly bad, like some of the dragons in cryo have. They weren’t attacking innocents.”

  Jack frowned. “Sounds like they shouldn’t have been locked up in the first place.”

  “The fae led the oracle to believe they were brutal warriors who wouldn’t stop until they conquered everything. But I think they should be given a chance. They’ve already been locked up for over a hundred years.” She laughed. “Given the tech differences between here and the fae realm, they’ll probably feel right at home when they wake up.” She pursed her lips. “They do sound like they’d make good bodyguards.”

  “They can’t be collared,” Troy said, frowning as he read the report.

  Mara still felt like she barely understood anything that was going on. Apparently, something was after her, and apparently, she needed a dragon to protect her, and apparently, these barbarians could do it… but she was so distracted by all the beautiful people saying things that sounded like they couldn’t possibly be real. She stared straight forward at nothing in particular, dazed.

  “No, they can’t,” Serena said. “But they can still be suppressed if needed. She cloaked them in darkness and hid their fortresses around the Texas wilderness, but they’re going to wake up soon even if she doesn’t wake them. We might as well try to make a deal.” She shrugged. “If we have to bring fae here to lock them in their castles again, so be it.”

  “How are we supposed to assign her to someone who might not even be on our side?”

  “You’ll have to go talk to them about that,” Serena said. “But what do you have to lose?” She smiled. “I read the file, and based on what could be coming, I think you should use them. I think they deserve a chance.” She grabbed one of the papers and shoved it at Troy. “I would talk to this one, Konar, first.”

  Troy grunted. “I suppose we don’t have a choice but to gather up undesirable dragons at this point.”

  “You don’t know that they’re undesirable just because the oracle locked them up,” Serena said.

  Troy shot her a dark look. “The oracle doesn’t make mistakes.” He stood. “Well, I’m going to go call the oracle and tell her to release the containment. Let’s go meet this dragon and see if he can play babysitter for a few days.” Jack helped Mara up, who felt light-headed and weak.

  She wanted to call her friends and go back to her shop and—

  She looked down at her mark, and panic started rising around her like quicksand again.

  But Serena quickly put a hand over her wrist, touching it warmly, reassuringly. “It’s going to be okay. Troy and Jack are some of the best dragons I’ve ever known. Good men also. Despite Troy’s gruff exterior, I’ve never seen someone so concerned about others. They will make sure to find you someone good while I try to find someone who can help track what put that mark on you.”

  “If these dragons have been gone for a hundred years, they may well know what that mark is,” Jack said, giving Mara a warm smile. “Maybe we can solve some mystery.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “But I promise, sweetheart, you’ll be safe.”

  Mara looked gratefully up into Jack’s face, thinking it was impossible not to be comforted by him for some reason. Just a healing presence.

  “But remember what I said,” Serena urged. “Protect your energy. It’s precious, and dangerous things will seek to take it from you.”

  Mara nodded. “But why didn’t anything happen before?”

  “Power like this grows stronger over time,” Serena said. “Perhaps yours just finally reached the level to draw attention.”

  Mara put a hand to her head. “I just want to go back to my crystal shop. I don’t want to go beg some locked-up dragon to protect me. I think I’ll be fine.” She looked at her wrist. “Probably just some permanent ink stamp.”

  “I know chaos energy when I feel it,” Serena said, staring at Mara’s wrist. “Whatever has marked you is definitely evil. Chaos creatures can sometimes mark from a distance, like setting a point on a map to follow. It’s not something to ignore.”

  Mara sighed in defeat, then perked up, realizing she should just be grateful that there was someone possibly able to help until everyone hopefully realized this was no big deal and they should just send her back to her mundane but happy life in a crystal shop.

  “Come on,” Jack said. “I’m sure Troy has already got things sorted. Let’s go meet your possible future protector and see if you’ll be able to get along. For all we know, he’ll be happy to help.” Jack’s eyes roamed over her. “You’re exactly what dragons like.”

  Mara’s cheeks flamed. “What does that mean?”

  Jack just gave her a wink and disappeared, leaving Mara to follow with Serena.

  “I can’t go with you since I have to stay here and answer the phones, but I promise you’ll be safe with Jack and Troy,” Serena said, taking Mara’s hands when they had to part at the doorway.

  Serena had such warm energy Mara almost didn’t want to leave.

  “Dragons can be pushy,” Serena said, giving Mara’s hand one more squeeze before she reached into her jacket to pull something out. “This is very concentrated dragon tranquilizing serum. In case you ever do end up in danger, no matter how big the shifter is, you can use this.” She handed Mara a purple velvet case about the size of a glasses case, and Mara opened it to find an antiquated silver-and-glass syringe with elaborate engraving on the handle and cover. Blue liquid moved inside.