The Dragon King's Shaman

Secrets and Omissions

Avery

The huge full-length mirror was styled to look like golden jungle vines surrounding the frame. I smoothed my hand down the black dress that appeared in the room this morning. Erik wasn’t in bed, but it hung on a hook with a note saying, ‘wear me’. The expensive material hugged my figure perfectly. My top half was petite, but there was nothing dainty about my hips and butt. A classic pear, Alec called me. I thought a Weeble was more accurate, but this dress worked miracles. It was demure without being attention-seeking for a funeral. It stopped just above my knee and had short, capped sleeves and a heart-shaped neckline. Maybe if expensive clothes flattered me this much, I could get on board with shopping more.

It won’t hide the cellulite once you take it off, though.

I sighed. The snide voice in my head was on form today. Internally, I felt like a bus had run me over. Bloody jet lag.

Erik came back into our exotic room, and the breath seized in my lungs. Where he got a suit to fit him, I did not know, but it was a masterpiece. He was a vision in the black tailored suit, narrow black tie, and his short silvery hair tamed on top of his head. A living and breathing Adonis. What he was doing hanging around with me, I didn’t know.

“See something you like?” He grinned, catching me ogling him.

“Maybe.”

“I have a few things for you.” I noticed his hands were full, something I didn’t register while checking him out.

He came forward, holding out what looked like a dark coat. As he held it up, it caught the light, and there was a red shimmer to it, only very subtle. I touched it. The material felt like wool but softer. I couldn’t understand where the red came from. I turned the sleeve over, the red flashed again, and I realised it was a scale pattern. He slipped it over my shoulders. The lining was silky. I felt instantly warm. I turned to the mirror, and the faint red scales rippled over the long coat that stopped below my knees.

“It’s stunning,” I said as I twirled. “Do you think it’s too showy for a funeral?”

“The coat has an enchanted design. Only supernaturals will see the scale.” His eyes glistened overbright as he stared at me in the coat. “There’s this too.”

He pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket and snapped it open. Inside sat a necklace. It was a delicate silvery dragon curved around a red stone the size of a raisin. Surely, that wasn’t a ruby?

“It-it’s stunning!” I said.

He grinned widely and spun me back to the mirror. I’d already styled my hair up in a twist to keep it out of the way, which allowed him to clasp it closed easily. He stood behind me in the mirror, an enthralled look on his face. His eyes shifted to his dragon’s green, then back.

“Thank you. I don’t know what to say.” I touched it.

I felt lightheaded.

“Thank you is enough. I love nothing more than seeing you covered in gemstones.”

His gaze consumed me. He gripped my waist and turned me slowly around, his eyes fixated on my lips. We moved closer like magnets drawn together.

A knock on the door broke the intense moment.

Erik swore under his breath and dropped his arms, walking towards the door. I felt the loss of his heat as the bubble of desire that always sprang up between us popped. He yanked the door open and scowled at Gary.

Gary was tall and thin; he wore thick, black-rimmed glasses that Erik said he didn’t need. Apparently, it helped him to be taken more seriously because of his boyish looks. He had dark hair and wore a light grey suit, clutching his ever-present clipboard. It was clear he wasn’t accompanying us to the funeral.

Ignoring Erik’s scowl, he breezed into the room, halting in front of me and then surprising me by bowing low.

“Avery, what a pleasure it is to meet you.”

“Er, thank you, but there’s no need to bow. I’m not the queen.” I laughed.

The men shared a look, and Erik cleared his throat. “I need to speak to Marco. Do you want breakfast sent up here, or brave the enchanted dining room?”

My stomach felt queasy. “I’m not sure I want any.”

Erik frowned. “I’ll send up something light. Stay here with Gary until I get back.”

I frowned back at him. “I’m not a child, Erik.”

He closed the distance between us in a blink. Air rustled past my face, and I jumped as he cupped my cheek.

“I’m sorry, I know you aren’t, but you are precious to me. I don’t like letting you out of my sight.”

“You were gone when I woke up.”

“The door had two guards.”

I did not know what I thought about that. Part of me loved the safe feeling he evoked in me, but the more independent side of me disliked being ordered around and sheltered like a child. My thoughts scattered as he pressed his warm lips to mine briefly, then stalked away.

“Well, you’ve got the big guy all up in knots,” Gary said as he took a seat in a large, tiger print armchair.

“Have I?” I blinked, trying to clear my hazy mind.

“Yes, for one, he never says sorry. Nor does he explain his actions. You’ve got him wrapped around your finger.” He grinned.

I didn’t really see it like that, but I guess he’d known Erik a long time.

“I spoke with Maurice’s lawyer this morning, finalising details for tomorrow. We are going with the cover that you are his niece. When he created your new identity, he seeded in the distant relationship. Today, people will think you are his niece, so just go with it.”

‘Just go with it.’ I should probably have that put on a t-shirt.

“Did Maurice leave any other information?”

“Yes, according to his lawyer, they’ll go through it all tomorrow. Erik told me you wanted to set up a visit to see your mother. Blue Bell Hills informs me she is back in the low-secure unit at present. They restrict visiting times, but I’ve organised one for Monday afternoon next week.”

I sat frozen with my mouth open. How did he get that information?

“I hope that was, okay? I went through your file to get the information, and I posed as your fiancé. Not quite legal, I know, but I figured if you were taking Erik, you could introduce him that way. Boyfriend doesn’t hold enough sway, really, plus it hardly applies to the big man!”

He prattled on as blood rushed in my ears.

“Are you okay, Avery?” he asked, pushing his glasses up his nose.

“I never gave Erik the name of Mum’s facility.” My voice came out shaky.

Gary squirmed about. “Well, he’s good at picking up extra information from people’s brains. He does it to me a lot. It drives me bonkers, really. He’s infuriating at the best of times,” he said in a rush.

I stared at him, wondering if he thought I would buy that hogwash. Sweat broke out on his brow.

“I-I, well,” he began. “s**t, he’s going to kill me.” He muttered under his breath. “I just assumed, as he knew about your mum, he’d asked you about the information in your background file. So, I went in and got the information. I was trying to get ahead of the game.”

“My background file?” I said numbly.

‘Ahead of the game.’ What game was being played here? Erik had a whole background file on me. He held me last night and listened while I told him about my family when he already knew?

Gary gaped at me wide-eyed, pulling at his collar. “It’s just… how he operates. He likes to know everything about the people he deals with. It’s one of his things. He doesn’t like surprises.”

Well, I don’t like surprises either. ‘The people he deals with.’ Well, that made me feel special. I was so goddamn stupid. Acting like some damsel in distress falling apart all over the place. Falling for the first powerful man to come along and offer to protect me. Jesus, I was an i***t. I wanted to remove the coat and necklace. I would not be owned by another controlling man. Suddenly it was too hot in the room.

“Avery, I’m sorry if…” Gary extended his hand.

I squared my shoulders. “It’s fine, I understand.” I stood. “Please excuse me, Gary, I need to finish getting ready.”

Gary looked at me in my coat, and his shoulders slumped. “Of course, I’ll be just outside.”

Don’t bother, I wanted to say, but it wasn’t Gary’s fault his employer was a controlling arse.

I didn’t wait for him to leave before grabbing my low heels and bag and then shutting myself into the toilet. My watch told me we had an hour before the funeral. I slumped down on the closed toilet, my head in my hands. What was wrong with me? I took some calming breaths and worked my way through a breathing meditation the counsellor had taught me.

Anger surged through me. He sat and lied to me, pretending he wanted to know about me when he knew already. Argh! I pulled at my hair, realising too late I’d already pinned it up. Great, now I probably looked demented.

Come on, Avery, pull it together. This was why I worked so much at the pack. When my professional mask slid down and I had patients to deal with, the nasty cesspool in my mind had a lid on it.

I had to refit that mask now. I needed to get through this funeral and probate stuff. Maybe Ezekiel would find Kiaus and get rid of him? Once I was free, I could make some decisions about the future. Away from this mate bond and Erik’s gorgeous face to sway me.

I hated lies and omissions, and I hated being controlled. I knew next to nothing about Erik except he was incredibly old, very rich, and he changed into a giant white dragon. And I jumped into bed with him.

What a slut.

Was he faking all that affection? My stomach rolled. Somehow, I doubted it, but what did I really know? Maybe he wanted something from me? The chemistry between us felt real, but Mother said it was part of a dragon’s thrall. She said many crazy things. However, not all of them were the ravings of her broken mind. In a moment of lucidity, she’d told me about Maurice and without that information, who knew where I’d be? Dead, that’s where.

Maybe I should have asked Zena for some dragon repellent potion? A bang on the door made me jump so badly that I nearly fell off the loo.

“Avery? Avery, are you okay?” Erik’s voice sounded panicked.

“Yes.” I squeaked. I cleared my throat. “I’m getting ready.”

“You were already ready.”

“My hair came out.”

“Why did your hair come out? Avery, why is the door locked? Where is Gary?” He rattled the ornate door handle.

“I’m having a wee! Can’t I get some privacy?” I snapped back.

“Avery.” Erik groaned. There was a thump, and I imagined his head resting against the door. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’ll be out shortly. Just wait downstairs for me.” I glared at the door.

“Not a chance,” he replied.

That made me mad. I declined to answer him and sat stewing on the loo. I didn’t want to be trapped in here, nor did I want to say goodbye to Maurice in front of a whole cathedral. My chest felt tight, and my hands were twitchy.

Eventually, I stood up in front of the sink. I pulled my hair back out and redid it. The tiny amount of make-up I owned was in my toiletry bag, so I applied a bit of mascara and some red lip gloss. I needed some concealer for my eyebags. They looked like they could ‘hold the weekly shop,’ as Edith used to say. When I was done, I nodded to myself in the mirror.

I unlocked the door, and a frantic Erik rushed towards me. His cut grass scent invaded my senses.

Stay strong, Avery. Put your big girl pants on.