The Dragon King's Shaman

Probate

Avery

I thought the last emotional hangover was bad. This one was worse. Good news was my arm felt a lot better. Not healed but better, and I could turn my neck around easier. Exhaustion had gotten me just after I took Zena’s potion that tasted like mint humbugs. I woke up partially snuggled into a very warm, very hard body. At some point, Erik had joined me on the entirely too-small hospital bed. Like a heat-seeking missile, I curled up half on top of him. He smelled so good. I could get used to this.

During the last twenty-four hours, I conceded defeat. I was out of moves and tired of being alone. I accepted the help my friends offered me. After all, they’d recently faced down an army of dangerous vampire-hybrids. Maybe Irina knew some badass demon hunters.

Despite baring my soul yesterday, I felt lighter. I felt safer than ever before. Maybe it was true - a problem shared was a problem halved. Part of me still recoiled at the idea of sharing this horrible burden, but clearly, I had yesterday thoroughly. I tried to find the level of shame that I usually associated with reliving those memories, but somehow it was a little less. Even after saying certain things aloud, I never thought I’d say outside of the therapy Maurice arranged for me. I’d slept for hours and hours without a nightmare, too. Now I was lying cuddled up to a gorgeous dragon man. A dangerous dragon man, dangerous to my heart.

Must not get used to this. I repeated this mantra to myself at least ten times until even I wanted to roll my eyes at myself. During all the reciting, I hadn’t moved an inch from his huge, solid body. Suddenly his big arm came around me, squeezing me close, and my collarbone jarred. I winced, and immediately he awoke.

“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” His eyes searched my face.

“It’s fine,” I said, breathless.

His face was flawless up close. It really was unfair. How old was he? Oh god, I would look like a cougar next to him! I’d found a grey hair the other day.

He frowned. “Did you just think about cougars?”

I ducked my head. Oh no, he was going to tell me he wasn’t even thirty. He didn’t have a wrinkle in sight. I felt my cheeks heat. You aren’t dating. i***t. That was true. Dear me, I was losing my mind.

“You really never go to the packhouse, do you? You didn’t see all the balloons Alec bought from who knows where?”

“Balloons?” I wasn’t following this conversation. Maybe I was more muggy-headed than I thought.

“It was my birthday just before I left for a few days.”

“Oh.” I tried for nonchalant. “How old are you?”

“How old do you think I am?”

Argh, trick question.

“Thirty?”

He tipped his head back and laughed. I stared at the column of his strong throat. He dropped his head back, and his eyes caught mine and then dropped to my lips. We were so close. I looked at his lips. A few centimetres would close that gap.

“Morning.” Cordelia’s voice made me jump so badly renewed pain shot through my arm.

Erik frowned, looking another moment at my lips before he tore his gaze away and focused on the doctor.

Phew, saved by the bell.

“I can see I’ve gained another patient overnight.” She smirked at Erik hanging off the edge of my bed.

I tried to straighten and put some distance between us, but Erik’s enormous arm snaked around my waist and secured me in place.

“That hunky angel wants you out on the training field,” Cordelia said to Erik.

Erik groaned. “Don’t fall for it, Cordelia.”

“Hey, being pack doctor sucks. Everyone is my patient. Got to get my kicks somewhere.” She grinned at us, and I had the distinct impression she’d had a great night.

“Will you be okay?”

I’d been okay for years. Sort of. I was sure I could cope while he went to training. If I couldn’t, I really was in trouble. I nodded. He placed a kiss on the top of my head, and something fuzzy unfurled inside me. The absence of his furnace-like heat almost made me shiver. I watched him unfold himself and stretch. His top rode up, and I got a hint of those chiselled muscles. He caught me staring before I could look away. He grinned and left the room.

Cordelia watched me from the end of the bed. “Well, didn’t you two look cosy?”

I flushed bright red. Blushing was a hazard of my hair colour and skin tone, but it had been a long time since I’d blushed over anything.

“I, for one, think it’s a great idea. Erik is a good man.”

I nodded; this I knew. But he was still a dragon. Would he reduce me to a shell like my mother? I shook that thought off.

“Don’t you think he’s a bit young-looking for me?”

Cordelia looked at me for a beat, then fell about laughing. “You didn’t see the packhouse the other day? I think Alec bought the whole mall out of celebration banners and balloons. Had to add some zeros to the store-bought ones, though.”

I frowned at her.

She sobered slightly. “Dragons live an incredibly long time. Longest of all the shifters.”

“And?”

“Avery, Erik just celebrated his 200th birthday.”

“His what?” I jerked upright. I must not have heard her right.

“Yes, his hair used to be a dirty blond colour, but now it’s that sexy dark grey.” I frowned at her again.

“Oh, stop there. I’m not mate stealing. I’ve got eyes though.” She winked at me.

Holy cow! Two hundred. Here I was, worried about being a cougar at thirty-four! I couldn’t get my head around it.

We chatted for a bit, and I told her I felt better after Zena’s potion. I took a shower and felt much more human when I returned. I watched from the window, my breath held in my lungs. Erik was topless, sparing with an incredibly shiny long sword. I watched, mesmerized as his sword swung and fell. It crashed against an equally shiny one held by Marco, creating sparks. Sunlight played across his short dark grey hair. They almost looked like they were dancing. I felt heated in ways I hadn’t in a long time. My hand found my throat.

“Good thing I brought the drinks to cool you down.” Alec appeared at my shoulder and made me jump.

“Jesus, Alec!”

“I'm happy to see you with better colour today.” He handed me a drink. “I bet the she-wolves are panting today.”

I scowled at the thought of female pack members panting over my mate. My mate. There I was laying claim to him! Not five minutes after refusing to speak to him. I was losing it. I shook my head and cracked the can open, drinking it straight down.

“Oh wee, someone was thirsty!”

I frowned at Alec and walked back over to the bed, deciding to sit in the chair. I was tired of being a patient.

Cordelia came back with the cordless phone. “It’s for you.”

Apprehension slithered down my spine. No one ever called me here.

“Doctor Avery Jones?” An official-sounding male voice asked.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“This is Daniel Credence, executor of the late Maurice Smith’s will. I wanted to inform you of Mr. Smith’s funeral arrangements and to make an appointment regarding the reading of the will.”

“The will?”

“Yes, you are the sole beneficiary.”

“What?” Blood rushed in my ears.

I saw Alec knock on the window and gesture down to the field.

Alec snagged the phone. “I am Doctor Jones’ assistant. They need her for an emergency. Let me take the details, and we will get back to you with an answer.” Alec listened to the lawyer for a few moments and nodded, ending the call.

A sweaty, topless Erik came sprinting into the room. “What is it? Are you okay?” He gripped my arms and looked me all over.

I was too shocked to reply. He was so close; he smelled more strongly of his scent and of sweat. I watched a bead of perspiration as it slid down his pectoral muscle. Maybe I was hallucinating?

“I think your n*****s are blinding her.” Alec sniggered.

Erik straightened up. “What happened?”

I still felt unable to speak. Alec filled him in.

“It could be a trap.” An equally sweaty, topless Marco came into the room. Cordelia arrived next, took in the sight before her, and began fanning herself with her clipboard.

“Well then, I say we get three steps ahead and spring the trap ourselves.” Erik turned his blue eyes on me, filled with determination. “Fancy a trip to the UK to check out your inheritance?”

I shivered; did I dare go back there? Face what Kai might have in store. Did I want to run all my life instead? No, I was sick of running and cowering.

“Nothing will happen to you while I’m around,” Erik said, not waiting for an answer.

I swallowed, four sets of eyes on me. “Okay, let’s go back to England.”