I Married a Dragon: Para-Mates, Book 2 Read online

“My kingdom for a flashlight,” I whispered, then cringed. The thing probably had super-sensitive hearing and I’d just done the equivalent of whistling for him. I squinted below, willing the dark to change into light. But even the full moon wasn’t helping to illuminate the area. Was that lump over there the wolf crouching, preparing to attack? With that unnerving thought, I pushed away from the edge and walked as softly as I could backward toward my room. Sweat lined my forehead and I reached behind me, grasping air when I’d hoped to grasp doorframe. Finally, however, my hands found their mark and I whirled to escape, my heart threatening to burst from my chest. I slammed the doors, rattling the etched glass, and breathed a ragged sigh of relief.

  A relief that lasted only seconds. Another howl filled the air. With a girly cry, I twisted the deadbolt and clung to the doorknob. I knew I should’ve yanked the curtains closed but, much like how we always slow down to see a car wreck, I just couldn’t. I had to see what might happen next.

  Fortunately, nothing happened last night after I’d garnered my courage and looked beyond the curtains. Nothing except cranking up my vexation with one sexy and absent hubby. I’d managed to build up a full head of steam despite my lack of sleep—or maybe because of it—and was ready to rage at Kaine. I’d spent the night alone, terrorized by demons of unknown origins and I wanted answers. How dare he stay away! What kind of man left his wife alone on the first night in their new home? I stormed out of my room and barreled down the hallway to my right.

  “Kaine, you’ve got some explaining to do.” Then a horrible thought struck me. Maybe Kaine had run into the monster I’d seen outside. I stopped, barely missing one of the many maids as she exited one of the bedrooms.

  “Ma’am?”

  I shook the image of my husband lying bleeding and torn apart out of my head. “What?”

  The mousy little woman couldn’t meet my eyes. She tucked her chin, letting her fuzzy white hair, brightened by one hot pink stripe, cover her face. When I reached out to comfort her, she gave a little squeal, reminding me of the frightened mice in Fitz’s room. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I thought you said something to me.” She glanced up with a timid look. “Did you need something?”

  “What I need is my husband. Where the hell is he?”

  The maid seemed to fold into herself even more and took a quick step away from me.

  I immediately regretted my gruff tone. “Damn, I’m sorry.” I reached out to take her hand, but she quickly put it behind her back. Why was this poor girl so afraid? “I didn’t mean to sound harsh. Seriously.” I bent my head, trying to make eye contact with her. “I’m really a pussy cat.”

  If the girl hadn’t appeared frightened before, she sure did now. With another squeak, she backed up again. “Please, ma’am. I’m still learning my new job. I’m doing the best I can.”

  What or who was she terrified of? After all, almost all the staff was new, hired by Fitz while we were on honeymoon. Was it Fitz? Was she afraid of the Mouse Muncher? Could the human equivalent of a mouse feel the same way towards Fitz that the actual rodents did? “I’m sure you’re doing a terrific job. What’s your name?”

  She paused, looking like she’d forgotten her own name. “Missy.” The girl visibly relaxed. “And thank you, ma’am.”

  I smiled at her, hoping to put her more at ease. “Nice to meet you. But you know what? I don’t like being called ma’am. Do you think you could call me Chrissy?”

  Horror spread over the young woman’s face. “Oh, no, ma’am. I wouldn’t dare. Ms. Fitzwilder wouldn’t like it.”

  “Screw Fitz.” The retort flew out of my mouth before I could stop it. A brief smile flitted across the girl’s face and her eyes lit up. “I mean…considering Fitz works for my husband and now me, I don’t think I need to consult her.”

  Did Missy think Fitz would fire her? Not if I had any say in the matter. Or did the fearful thing think something worse would happen? I pictured Fitz holding the girl up by the ties of her maid’s apron, opening her mouth, and preparing to drop the squealing mouse-girl, pink stripe and all, inside. “Still, just so we don’t antagonize the b—” This time, I stopped. “How about we compromise and say you can call me Mrs. Delcaluca? But definitely not ma’am.”

  The sparkle in the girl’s big brown eyes was priceless. “Yes, ma’am. I mean, Mrs. Delcaluca. Thank you.”

  I gave her a little hug, then released her. “Would you please tell the rest of the staff to call me Mrs. Delcaluca too?” Even that formality sounded stuffy to me, but I knew I’d have no hope in getting the staff to call me Christina, much less Chrissy.

  “Yes, Mrs. Delcaluca.” Her smile was soft yet radiant.

  “Great. Now, can you tell me where I can find Kaine, uh, Mr. Delcaluca?”

  “I believe he’s in the conference room. Ms. Fitzwilder and he went in there about an hour ago.”

  We had a conference room? Wow. “Fitz, huh?” Had she already shanghaied my hubby? Determined to get to the bottom of his absence during the first night in our new home, I asked Missy to lead me to the conference room. I resolved that if I did nothing else today, I’d make a map of the house.

  When I walked through the swinging doors, however, I found Kaine seated at the head of the huge mahogany table with Fitz, computer at hand, holding court at the other end. Again, however, I was waylaid by unexpected people. Seated around the table were ten very distinctive-looking men and women. (Please note that I’m being very diplomatic with my description.)

  I halted in my march toward Kaine and momentarily lost the power of speech. Could I ever get my hubby alone in this place?

  “Chrissy, I’m so glad you’re awake.” Just like last time, he stood and opened his arms for me. “Come. I want you to meet my brothers and sisters.”

  I must’ve looked like a rabbit caught in a snare, eyes wide and bulging, and my mouth hanging open in a silent scream. You know, kind of like the painting The Scream by Edvard Munch.

  “He never said anything about brothers and sisters? Are you frickin’ kidding me?” The old saying of you don’t just marry the man, you marry the relatives popped into my brain. Time to meet the family? How about a little warning, honey-man?

  Kaine wasn’t racking up any gold stars, that’s for sure. Still, I slammed my mouth shut, paced over to stand next to him, put on my best smile and faced my new homies.

  Something was very wrong. Was my shirt open? I dropped my gaze to make sure I wasn’t exposing my rack to my new kinfolk. Okay, boobies covered. So why was everyone giving me such odd looks?

  The others continued to stare at me with a mixture of disgust, bewilderment and a whole lot of other emotions I couldn’t name. At last, realization of what I’d done hit me. In a flash, my anger was gone, replaced by utter humiliation. I leaned closer to Kaine and whispered, although I was certain they could guess what I was saying. “Did I say that out loud? You know. About the frickin’ kidding me part?”

  “You sure did.” Kaine’s bemused yet sympathetic expression greeted me, giving me the support I desperately needed.

  I cringed, praying with all my heart that I would melt into a sticky pool of nothingness. Anything was better than facing all these people after opening my big yap. “Oh, damn. Sorry, folks.” I raised my head, ready to take whatever they threw at me. “Sometimes I have a difficult time with impulsivity.” Great. Now I sound like a mental health worker. “Uh, or in other words, I talk too much.”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  Kaine might have thought I shouldn’t worry about what I’d said, but I could see by some of the others’ expressions, they sure as hell thought I should. Having no alternative except to shove down the lump in my throat and forge ahead, I slapped on a silly, not-so-brave grin. Kaine started the introductions.

  “Chrissy, these are friends of mine. Friends I consider my extended family.”

  Thank goodness. He isn’t actually related to them. I inhaled. Did I say that out loud too? I held my breath, checked their faces and saw I hadn
’t. Relief threatened to buckle my knees. But I still leaned against Kaine for support.

  “To my right is Miko. She handles the financial records of my business transactions.”

  Miko, a name I might have associated with a diminutive woman of Asian descent, was a large burly Irish-looking woman with arms the size of tree trunks. If the Incredible Hulk had had a sister, she’d have looked like this broad. Curly red hair framed features that could’ve been carved from stone, accented below by rock-hard Schwarzenegger-type bosoms. Her man-hands gripped a black binder and she sat ramrod straight in her chair. Her eyes, the same color as my husband’s, scanned me, giving me a chill. I don’t intimidate easily, but this broad made me want to curl up into a fetal position and whimper for my mamma. I nodded at her, unable to force a smile with her sternness hacking away at my self-confidence.

  “And next to her is my Acquisitions Advisor, Thomas Petrosky.”

  I tilted to the side to see past Mighty Miko. When I did, I let out a tiny squeak as the round bald head popped out from behind the hulkette. Almost toppling over, I bent even farther to see the rest of him and clamped my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. I quickly faked a yawn.

  Petrosky reminded me of a garden gnome. His round little body—a perfect match to his round little head—was nearly hidden behind the giant woman. His head was only a couple of inches higher than the table, giving him the appearance of peeking over the edge. He’d make one of the Little People seem statuesque. I offered him a smile. He returned the smile, albeit with his gaze fixed on a part of me much lower than my face. Little People, my ass. This tiny turd is a Little Lech.

  “Next to him is a longtime business associate of mine, Grayson Carnacian.”

  My gaze slid from the puny pervert to the man on Petrosky’s left and my smile vanished. The man bent his head to study the papers in front of him, and his dark brown hair, thick and raggedly cut, hung around his shoulders like the crowning glory of a lion. The jeans and wrinkled denim shirt he wore couldn’t hide his strong body. Although he was totally relaxed, he also seemed ready to leap from his seat at a moment’s notice. Then he looked up at me.

  Searing red eyes fastened onto me. I’ve seen those eyes. I swallowed and felt the flush of blood flow from my hairline down to my neck. My legs suddenly wobbled and not in the way Kaine made them weak at the knees. Struggling with the fear crushing through me, I clutched my man’s arm with both hands and held on.

  Those eyes belong to the animal from last night. But how could that be? Werewolves do not, I repeat, do not exist. Yet didn’t I see one under my balcony? A war raged between Logical Chrissy sitting on my right shoulder and Scared-Enough-To-Wet-My-Panties Chrissy on my left shoulder. Frankly, if I’d taken bets on which Chrissy would win out, I’d have chosen the panty-wetter.

  I stared, unable to break free of his hold on me. Meanwhile Kaine, apparently unaware of my discomfort—now there’s an understatement—kept the introductions flowing from the next person to the next. Yet the wolf man’s hold on me was relentless.

  What do you want?

  His eyebrows rose as though he’d actually heard my unspoken question. Then, with a bemused expression, he gave a slight shake of his head.

  I swear I nearly fainted. Did he actually answer me? Or did I imagine it? Good grief, first I think I hear Fitz and now the wolf man can read my mind. Am I losing my grip on reality? I could almost hear the crack as my belief in logic and practicality bowed under the continuing weight of supernatural events. What the hell was going on?

  “Chrissy, are you all right?”

  Kaine’s voice broke through the spell the man had on me. Although I fought to retain eye contact with Carnacian, Kaine dragged my attention away. Placing his palm on my cheek, he forced my face toward him. “I asked if you’re all right.”

  “Uh, I, uh…”

  Kaine’s friends tittered at my stutter until he scowled at them. “I see Carnacian’s had the same effect on you that he has on everyone.”

  “He does?” Does he hear their thoughts too? I started to look his way again, but decided keeping my face toward my hubby was much safer.

  “Yes, he does.” Kaine pressed his lips to mine in a short, reassuring kiss. “Don’t pay any attention to him. I promise you, he won’t bother you again.”

  Again? Again as in how he’s bothering me right this moment? Or as in how he scared the bejesus out of me last night? Do you know about the werewolf?

  Kaine released me to confront Carnacian. “Stop. I don’t care what time of the month it is, cease what you’re doing.”

  Time of the month? Was he talking about the full moon or a menstrual cycle? But Carnacian was male, wasn’t he? I gave his rugged appearance another quick look. After all, ya just never knew any more. But my glance confirmed it. This guy was all testosterone. The only question I had was if he was all man—or part animal.

  “I think we’ve finished for the day. Remember what I’ve asked of you. Talk to your people and give me your findings by tomorrow night.” Kaine slipped his arm around me and murmured parting words to his departing guests. Carnacian shot me one last steely glance, mumbled something I couldn’t hear, and left.

  At last! I resisted the urge to blow out a breath of relief. I could finally have some time alone with my man. I waited for the last person to leave before doing what I’d come here to do. “Kaine, damn it, where the hell were you last night?”

  He put me at arms’ length to study me. “Are you all right, Chrissy-doll?” To his credit, he appeared genuinely concerned.

  Now it was my turn to examine him. “Am I all right? Are you seriously asking me that?”

  This time he dropped his hold on me—along with the concerned expression—and took a step away. “Yes, I am seriously asking you that. However, I’m already rethinking my question.” Deep furrows broke into his tanned forehead. “I realize we didn’t have a very romantic start to our life in our new home, but it couldn’t be helped.”

  I snorted. Yep, I executed the totally unattractive, never-make-such-an-awful-sound-in-front-of-your-lover derisive snort. And what was worse? I didn’t care. “You can say that again. Which necessitates my asking the question again. Where the hell were you last night?” The Mouse Muncher and Wolfie were forgotten. I had my priorities straight.

  Kaine shook his head and tidied up the papers on the table. “I can’t help it if you don’t believe me, but I’m sorry about last night. However, a very troublesome situation demanded my attention and I had to deal with it. I…lost…a valuable acquisition. I was up all night and now I’m exceedingly tired.” He left the stack on the table and confronted me. “You have to understand that when a man runs a large enterprise such as mine, there will be times when I have to put business before pleasure.”

  “So you spent the night, down here, all by yourself, because of some business problem?”

  “A very important business problem. And yes, I spent much of the night, down here, mostly all by myself as you put it. However, Fitz and a few of my other associates were in and out.”

  Did you share a late-night snack with whiskers? But I couldn’t get the words out. My practical side simply wouldn’t let me go down that path.

  “But did you have to work all night?” I knew I’d gone from demanding harpy to whiny wussy, but I couldn’t help it. “Couldn’t you have at least let me know?” I stepped forward to close the distance between us. “Then I wouldn’t have stayed up all night waiting.” I’d managed a few hours sleep toward dawn, but I wasn’t going to let him know that. Doing so would take away from my pitiful plight.

  He tilted his head in that cute way that reminded me of a puppy. “I don’t understand. I did send word to you.”

  “You did? How?” Kaine abhorred using cell phones inside a house, claiming they were supposed to be used for communication only while out and about. Being a cell phone lover, I decided I’d challenge his little pet peeve later. Right now wasn’t the time.

  “I asked Fitz
to tell you.”

  I couldn’t stop the immediate and visceral reaction to the name. Not only did the woman want my hubby all to herself—for whatever reason—she wasn’t beneath using subterfuge to make that happen. “She never gave me the message. And by the way, did you know your assistant has a disgusting diet?” Okay, I’d found the path and was skipping down it now.

  “What do you mean?”

  Why did I get the impression he knew what I meant but didn’t want to let on? Still, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. “Kaine, I saw her eat a mouse.” He didn’t even flinch. I swear. I could’ve told him she collected Hummel figurines and gotten a bigger reaction. How could the man not even flinch at such an outlandish declaration? “Did you hear me? A mouse. She ate a real, still-alive, twitchin’ and wigglin’ rodent.”

  “I’m sure you must be mistaken. Who eats mice except cats and the like?”

  Is he saying he doesn’t believe me? Or that I’m imagining things? I cringed since I’d had the same thought. “That’s kind of my point. No one eats mice except cats and the like.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t you believe me?”

  He came to me again, his eyes twinkling in mirth. “Are you sure you weren’t daydreaming?”

  Hey, once you go down the Path of the Ridiculous, you kind of want someone to believe you. No matter how silly you sound. I tried to pull away from him, irritation not letting me snuggle into his embrace, yet he held on. “I know what I saw. And besides that, I saw a werewolf last night. In the garden, right outside our bedroom window.”

  I know he didn’t mean to hurt me with his laugh, but he did. Especially when he let me go, still laughing at me. “Wow, you really did have an off night. Not only does Fitz supposedly—”

  Supposedly?

  “—not give you my message, then you see weird and supernatural things. All this from the owner of Debunkers, Inc.”

  I was stunned into silence almost as though he’d landed a one-two punch to my ability to speak. He doesn’t believe a word I’ve said.

  “Think about it, honey. Isn’t it more probable that you were asleep when Fitz arrived at your door? And you simply didn’t hear her knock?”