The Dragon King's Shaman

All The Good Drugs

Avery

Run, run, faster. Twigs crunch behind me. He’s so close, run, get away. Shadows reach out to me, and I feel hot breath on my neck.

“Did you think I wouldn’t find you, Red?” A hand closes over my arm.

“Arrrrrrrr.”

“Shhhh, shhhh, it’s okay, it’s me.”

“No!” I thrashed and twisted. Pain lanced through my collarbone as strong hands gripped me tightly.

“Avery!”

That wasn’t his voice. This voice was deep and worried. My vision cleared, and his face loomed close. I shrank back slightly, gasping for breath. His gorgeous face fell, and he dropped the hold on my arms. A deep throbbing in my collarbone told me I’d done it no good. It was a dream, just another dream. It felt so real. He felt so close. When will this be over? When will I be free?

Tears sprung into my eyes again. I thought I’d run dry after last night, or was it this morning? Who knew? I sagged back into the bed, squeezing my eyes closed. Why is he still here? I gave myself one night to fall apart, but it can’t happen again. I was weak and asked him to stay. Now I must put some distance between us again, as I can’t end up like my mother. My mind feels too fragile already.

But last night, he’d been so sweet and gentle for such a big man. And so much man on display. I might’ve been traumatised out of my mind, but I’d have to be dead not to notice those muscles up close. Argh! He was already invading my every thought.

“I can’t read your mind, but the general impression you are giving me isn’t great.”

I popped an eye open. His bright blue eyes bored into me. His handsome face screwed up like he was trying to solve a puzzle. I was supremely glad I sheltered my mind from him.

I pushed myself up to sitting, wincing with the pain. He leaned over me and puffed my pillows gently, holding me forward. I held my breath, and warmth flooded me. I couldn’t deny I felt inexplicably safe with him. Despite my need to run and hide. I warred against my desire to press closer and sniff his skin. He smelled of cut grass and something muskier. It smelled homely like I could sink into it and let all my troubles go.

Snap out of it, you dope. There’s a sadistic demon ex after you, and you’ve just involved all your friends. Maybe I could stomach that potion and get away?

“I caught that thought, and you aren’t going anywhere.”

I bristled at his tone. “Going to lock me up again?”

His eyebrows pulled together, creating a deep furrow. He knew now what his actions cost me, what they made me relive. I’d seen the raw pain and regret on his face last night. It had made me reach out to him. Maybe today, he thought it was good. Maybe if I pushed him away, it would be better before this mild obsession took hold. Last night he gave the impression he would walk over water. I felt cherished even as I fell apart at the seams. Oh God. Last night, everyone heard that. Heat tingled my face. No wonder I feel like emotional roadkill.

“I think I need some more rest.” I closed my eyes.

“Don’t do that, Avery,” Erik warned.

“Rest?”

He growled lightly. It wasn’t a menacing sound. In fact, I wanted to chuckle. I remembered Alec’s words about taking his brother down a peg or two. I had a feeling I’d dropped him about ten without ever meaning to. Oh God, why couldn’t this be real? If only I had a normal life. But you don’t, so suck it up.

“Don’t push me away,” he said.

“It’s for your own good,” I whispered.

“Bullshit.”

I snapped my eyes up. “Bullshit?”

“You heard me. I know that’s what you do, push people away so you can run, so you can hide.” He grabbed my good hand, and the swift action caused me to jerk. “You are my mate. I’m not going anywhere, no matter how much you push me away.” His eyes held fierce determination I couldn’t continue to look at. “You need to trust us.”

“I don’t trust easily,” I said.

“I get that.”

“She’s awake!” Alec came in with a bowl of fruit. “Has she tried to run off yet?” he asked Erik.

I huffed. I hated being talked about like I wasn’t there about as much as I enjoyed being a patient.

“Repeatedly,” Erik said dryly.

I shot him a glare. Traitor.

Alec pouted.

I leaned back against the pillows and rubbed my arm. It hurt like a bugger.

“You need some painkillers. It must be really sore from all that thrashing about.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve been throwing her about the bed, brother?” Alec asked, waggling his brows.

I sent Alec a glare as I flushed.

“No, Alec,” Erik deadpanned.

Shuffling to get comfortable, I realised everything hurt. Suddenly, I remembered I’d been in a car crash. Yep, that would do it. Maybe I should take that damn potion along with a truckload of analgesia.

“Irina says Marco is arriving soon.”

Erik groaned. “It occurred to me last night that was who she would call.”

“Who’s that?” I asked.

“Oh, you’ll meet him soon enough.” Alec set the fruit down and started getting various types of food out of his bag. He looked like he was preparing a breakfast feast.

My mind rebelled. I didn’t want to meet strange men. Was he a demon? I didn’t think I was ready.

“Is he a demon?” My hand trembled.

“No, quite the opposite, in fact,” Alec said, smirking.

What was opposite of a demon?

“You should get some breakfast and some clothes,” Alec said. “I’ll sit with our little runner. As a human with a broken bone post car crash, I doubt she’ll be running off.” He raised his eyebrow at me.

“Will you take some pain relief?” Erik searched my face.

I groaned and closed my eyes. “I want the good stuff. Tell Cordelia.”

Anxiety gnawed at the edges of me about Kai, but Alec was right. I wasn’t going anywhere today. I felt awful. Without Maurice, I didn’t have many options. Maybe I would at least stay to see what they were suggesting.

Erik stared at me for a few beats, then dipped his head and left. Cordelia came in and helped me as I shuffled to the bathroom. On returning to the room, Alec was standing at the window sipping his soda. The familiar image brought a smile to my lips.

“I’ll stand with Alec for a few minutes,” I told Cordelia.

I hadn’t fallen over yet, and maybe the familiar ritual might help me feel more like myself.

“Make sure she gets back to bed in one piece,” Cordelia told Alec before leaving a selection of pills on my side table.

“Doc says you can’t have soda with your painkillers.”

“Bummer.”

Alec looked out across the training field where the warriors were sparring. “Do me a favour. Think about letting him in. I know horrors lie in your past, but don’t let it prevent your bond.”

It felt like he was imploring more than just me to accept Erik. I laid a hand on his arm. He roused at my touch, and a sad smile touched his lips.

“And for the record, lots of people would have missed you, me especially,” he said.

I shook my head briefly before I caught the vulnerable look on Alec’s face.

“Aiden is actively searching for a way to dissolve our bond. So yes, even me, who seems like I’m friends with everyone, values your friendship.” A tear leaked out of his eye, and his sadness floored me.

I held my good arm out and enveloped him in a one-armed hug. His head lolled onto my shoulder, and he hooked an arm around my waist.

Suddenly, my eyes caught something out the window, something even more surprising than seeing Erik’s dragon for the first time out of my office window. A man swooped down from the sky, brilliant white wings attached to his back and beating the air. He hovered then gently set his feet on the ground. He wore a pair of faded jeans with no top, just some leather straps across his chest. He, like most of the wolves here, had a ripped torso. His white-blond hair was floppy and stood out against his tanned skin. His face looked familiar.

“Who is that?”

Alec turned and chuckled. “The opposite of a demon.”

“An angel?”

“Marco. I hope he brought a bag cause there’s no room in those heavenly jeans for the blessed blades Irina told him to bring. No room. At. All.”

I shoved him lightly. He had the dirtiest of minds.

“He’s here to help us?”

“Yep, he’s a guardian angel. His job is to hunt rogue demons. Not that he gets much work. Ezekiel runs a tight ship.”

I couldn’t even begin to unpack that information. I sagged slightly.

“Come on, you ginger menace, let’s get you back to bed and drugged up.” He steered me back to the bed.

I settled against the pillows and took the meds that he passed me. My body was screaming and throbbing in places I didn’t even know existed. She’d given me the good stuff, so I threw them back without hesitation. I couldn’t deal with information about guardian angels right now. I relaxed back as Alec settled himself in the chair Erik presumably slept in. Alec’s features remained down-turned.

“I’m sorry, Alec. Aiden doesn’t deserve you.”

“He deserves me just as much as you deserve my scaly brother, but there’s nothing I can do if he doesn’t believe it.”

It was difficult to decide if he was talking more about me this time or not, but maybe something horrid lay in Aiden’s past, too. I shivered. There seemed no limit to the darkness in the world. We sat in silence for a while until the drugs kicked in. Everything felt floaty and heavy.

“Go to sleep, Avery. There’s an entire pack here to protect you.”

For once, I believed him. Maybe I wasn’t so alone anymore.