Ilias: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (Stratham Dragons Book 2) Read online

It hurt when she moved him, but he cringed and let her have her way. She would get it anyway.

  Aris cleared his throat “He looks okay, love.”

  She turned and glared at him but loosened her hold anyway. “Let me worry about that.” Her ice-cold hands cupped his jaw and tipped his head back. Ilias bit his lip, but the whimper came out anyway. He hated being so weak.

  Sophie ran her fingers lightly along the back of his head and gasped. “You are not all right,” she said.

  Ilias tugged her hand away from his head. It did not want to be touched, not even as gently as she was. “I got hit, but that’s the least of our problems.”

  Sophie stood up and held her hand out to help him up. He took her offering, even though he could sense her frustration. She took on a very nurturing role when she took on the Golden Dragon, and she was more like a mama bear when her cubs got hurt – him being the cub. It was strange since she was only a couple of years older than him; her dragon however, was much older.

  Aris slung his arm around her shoulder and gestured for him to spill what had happened.

  ‘Get on with it so my mate will chill.’

  Ilias ignored the low rumble of Aris’ thoughts in his head. This wasn’t the first time it had happened. It happened every once and a while that he’d pick up thoughts, but now it was more frequent, and it wasn’t something he talked about. In fact, he hoped it would go away. “Well, before I got run down by my mate, that damn Golden Dragon was control—”

  “Your mate? As in the woman who is going to cure you? Wait, she hit you?”

  Ilias rolled his eyes. “Yes, she’s the one who hit me, but she also saved my skin.”

  “How?”

  “That dragon – the one Sophie saw before – well, he hasn’t left, and he is hella powerful. He was able to control me from the forest behind the park. If my mate hitting me with her car hadn’t had messed up the link, I’d probably be toast.”

  Neither of them said anything, and Ilias felt strange sitting there with them watching him as if he was going to fall over at any second. He felt all right, and each moment he relaxed the better he felt.

  Zarin walked into the room and froze, staring at them all doing nothing. “Who died?”

  Aris shot him a glare; since Zarin was the sickest of them all, joking about death didn’t go over well. “Ilias got hit by his mate.”

  “I see,” he said and looked at Ilias. “Let me guess, you let her ditch you before you got to talk to her?”

  “Of course, her car threw me five feet. I wasn’t getting up from that.” He sighed. “She talked to me before she ran off. I’m guessing she’s worried she’s going to jail.”

  Zarin was fully invested in the conversation now, and he laughed. “Then she shouldn’t have run. Runners always have something to hide.” He plopped down on the counter and shook his head. “What does your mate have to hide?”

  His shoulders slumped. He hadn’t thought of it like that. What if she was in trouble, or running, or worse – like Sophie? He loved his new queen, but she had damage, and a lot of it she still hadn’t worked out, and it still affected her. Ilias wasn’t sure if he could handle a damaged mate. He wasn’t strong or patient like Aris.

  CHAPTER 3

  She woke up warm and covered on the couch. The lamp on the end table lit the room in a dim haze. Andrea hadn’t even realized she had fallen asleep. She sat up and froze when she heard voices whispering.

  “Mom, I heard about it. She just ran off like some crazy lady. Something is going on with her.” It was her brother, and apparently, word had gotten around about the accident. Not that she should be surprised. It was a small town, and it figured it was one of those towns.

  “She told me she hit him, but she also said he came out of nowhere.”

  “I don’t know, but the dude disappeared. So, he had to be okay.”

  She threw the blanket off and coughed, letting them know she was awake. She didn’t want to hear anymore. Standing up, Andrea stretched and decided she would try to find the guy she hit. Someone had to know him.

  There was a knock on the door and she froze. For a silent minute, she wondered if she was about to get arrested. She stayed in the living room but leaned around the door frame to see who it was knocking on their door. Her mom opened the door.

  There he was, standing at her door. She gasped, and his eyes shot to her. Then he did the strangest thing. He smiled. Her mother turned toward her and frowned. Not one to beat around the bush, she looked back at the guy.

  “Honey, did you hit your head when she hit you?”

  He never took his gaze from her, yet he gave her mother his full attention. “I’m fine. I figured I would ease her mind. I’m not going to turn her in.”

  Andrea stepped into the room, closing in on the door. It was like she was being pulled toward him, just like before when he’d touched her. “Why?”

  “I walked in front of you.”

  Such a simple answer. She didn’t buy it. He wanted something from her, but she didn’t know what – or, most importantly, why.

  “Come in,” her mother said.

  The guy walked into her home, filling up the space. Heat filled Andrea as he crept closer to her. His voice was that of a man, but it looked as though he was just hitting puberty. He was lanky and awkward, but adorable. He still smiled at her, and a blush stained his cheek as if he knew what she was thinking. When he cocked his head to the side and studied her, she nibbled her lip, wondering what it was about him. There was almost something unhuman-like about him. But that couldn’t be, right?

  “Thank you for not turning me in. I really didn’t mean to hit you.”

  “I know.”

  He stood close now, and everything else disappeared. Her mother and her brother talked in the background. None of it mattered. When he laid his hand on her arm, a heat seared through her body. He gasped and pulled away as if her skin had burned him.

  “Mom, maybe we should leave them alone. It looks like she met her match. He’s just as crazy as her,” her brother said, and laughed when she looked away from the guy long enough to glare at him.

  “Shut up Ryan.”

  He made a kissing face, and when she would have made her own comeback, her mother interrupted.

  “Now boy, what’s your name?”

  He turned to her mother and held out his hand. “My name is Ilias, ma’am.”

  Her mother took his hand gripped it lightly. “You can call be Nada.” She pulled him further into the house, leading him right to the kitchen. “Now come on in. Are you hungry?” She glanced at his thin frame and nodded. “Of course, you are. You’re much too thin.” She pushed him down in the chair. “Here, sit, and I’ll get you somethin’.”

  His name was Ilias. He was the quiet type, she could tell. He watched her mother, waiting patiently for food he probably didn’t even want.

  “Mom, he doesn’t need you to feed him, and be careful; he might be scared you’re going to poison him to keep him from talking.”

  Ryan laughed. “Good one, sis.”

  Ilias smirked. “I can eat.”

  Way to prove her wrong.

  “I can’t be poisoned anyway, so we’re good.” He leaned back in the chair, and a glint lit his features. “Come sit?”

  Andrea nodded and skirted around him, making sure not to touch him. She had a feeling touching him meant something. She sat across from him and studied him. He showed no signs of the accident. “So, you’re not hurt then?”

  “It looked worse than it was. I’m okay really, but I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “Why?”

  “You seemed scared.” He said the words quietly and glanced at his mother and brother who were still busy getting food. “What’s your name?”

  “Andrea.” She ignored his comment about being scared. She didn’t want him to know. Coming home might have been a good thing after all.

  The silence went on, but their eyes stayed locked on one another. She felt as if he c
ould hypnotize her, and she saw something more lurking behind them. His relaxed demeanor wasn’t quite right. He wasn’t as calm and collected as he pretended. He thought he was fooling her. Andrea sat up straighter in her chair. She didn’t worry now. Ilias was good, but she was better. She knew how to play his game. She did it daily at school.

  He let out a breath, and his shoulders slumped in relief.

  “You have no idea,” he said and then closed his mouth.

  Her eyes widened, and just as she was about to freak the hell out, her mother set a plate of fried chicken and potatoes in front of him. And the serving was huge. Her mother didn’t skimp on the goods. “Now eat up. You need to get some meat on those bones, boy.”

  Oh gosh. She could see it now. Her mom would make it her mission to take care of him. It would be her mother’s way of saying sorry for her mistake. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have him around. She didn’t know anyone, and he didn’t seem to mind all the craziness her family would bring.

  “Thanks.” He dug into eating. He shoveled his food as if he were afraid it would disappear if he didn’t eat it fast.

  They watched him devour the entire plate in less than five minutes.

  “Holy shit, dude,” Ryan said in what sounded like awe.

  ***

  He didn’t realize how hungry he was. The humans stared at him like he was a starving street boy. “That was great. Thanks. But maybe I should get going?”

  “Okay, but you come back anytime now, ya hear?”

  He stood up from the table and pulled her into a hug. “You’ll be seeing me,” he whispered. He liked this woman. She was sweet even if she was just trying to figure out his motive for not calling the police on her daughter.

  She patted his back, and he nodded at Ryan. “See ya.”

  Ilias was on his way outside. He felt content for the first time in ages; besides having Sophie around, he’d never been around people who cared. He shuddered not wanting to go down that path. He’d finally found her. No one was more shocked than him. He hadn’t even been sick like the others. Only that one time, but since then, he’d felt fine. Maybe a little tired, but otherwise normal.

  He stood on the porch, hoping Andrea would follow him. She had secrets. Her mind was like a guarded fortress, not that he wanted to intrude, but he couldn’t help it now. This new power sucked. He didn’t like knowing people’s thoughts. He would have liked to know what she thought of him, though. She was hard to read. Just as he was going down the stairs, he heard the door open.

  “Hey, wait,” she said.

  He turned toward her in awe. She was stunning. Her dark skin looked like melted cocoa, and he wanted to lick her all over. Those thoughts shocked him. He held his composure, but he’d never been aroused. He’d planned to spend his life alone.

  “Why aren’t you really turning me in?”

  He tilted his head just a tiny bit to meet her eyes. She was taller than him by an inch. “Does it matter?”

  Andrea huffed. “I guess not. I just wonder what you’re going to expect from me?”

  He wanted so badly to tell her, ‘anything you’ll give me,’ but instead, he said, “I don’t see a reason to turn you in when I’m fine. Besides, I have a feeling you have enough problems without me giving you more.”

  It wasn’t what she wanted to hear. She frowned and crossed her arms across her chest, pushing up her breasts. He couldn’t help but look. They were plump and perfect from what he could tell. Andrea cleared her throat and he blushed, realizing she knew he was staring at her chest.

  “Sorry,” he muttered, and brought his gaze back where it belonged: her dark brown eyes.

  “I see. Well, thanks.”

  Was that disappointment in her voice? Ilias couldn’t leave things like this. There was too much unknown. When would he see her again? Did she even want to see him again? He decided to take the question out of it. The tension built between them. He could feel it; his dragons preened and then huffed when they didn’t get any attention.

  When she spun to go back inside, he grabbed her arm. “Come over to my place tomorrow?”

  She looked down at his hand gripping her arm. He pulled it away hoping he hadn’t hurt her.

  She didn’t look up from her arm and whispered, “Why?”

  Good. He wasn’t the only one who felt it. He smiled and ran his finger along her smooth skin. “Because I want to see you again.”

  Andrea opened her mouth, closed it, and then she nodded.

  “I’ll come get you?”

  Again, she nodded. Ilias tensed when she leaned toward him. The feel of her breath along his skin made him shiver as she brushed her lips across his cheek. It was a whisper of a touch, but he felt it everywhere. His body shook, and he ached to touch her, but instead, he tightened his hands into fists and kept them at his side.

  “Thank you for not turning me in.” She jogged up the stairs and then looked over her shoulder. “See ya tomorrow.”

  Ilias was frozen even after she went inside and shut the door. He’d saw the blush on her cheek from the light shining in the doorway. On his way home, he couldn’t think of anything other than his mate’s lips on his skin.

  It was pure heaven.

  CHAPTER 4

  Andrea woke up the next morning with a smile, and it was real. It seemed like things were looking up, and even better, she’d finally slept for a full eight hours. She picked up her phone and laughed. Okay, it was more like ten hours of sleep. But she was rested. That was all she needed to quit. She wasn’t addicted.

  Those were the things she said to herself as she dressed and got ready for Ilias. He never told her when he was coming, but it would be soon. She felt him, almost as if he were right next to her, crazy as that sounded.

  When she left the room her mother had thoughtfully set up for her, she realized the house was silent. It gave Andrea the time to study it. Inside was much larger than it looked from the outside. She wouldn’t have expected there to be four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The floors were hardwood, and her feet slid along the freshly waxed boards.

  When did her mother have enough time to do that?

  Andrea shrugged and checked the rest of the house to make sure no one was home. Once she knew the house was clear, she went outside to her car. She studied the front where she’d hit Ilias. There was a dent in the hood. Running her fingers over the indentation, she realized something: he should have been hurt. And he certainly shouldn’t have been able to walk away from the accident. Not that she wasn’t thrilled. It was bad enough she’d hit him in the first place. But worse, fate was fucking with her. It was almost as if she was meant to hit him, like there was a reason they were at that place at the same time.

  Andrea wiped the tear from her eye, knowing she was crazy – because that’s what drugs did to a person, right? She reached into her glove box and pulled out the black velvet bag pouch where she stored what was left of her stash. Her mind screamed at her to stop and put it away. There was no need for it anymore. She was home and away from all the pressure. At home, she could be Andrea, not some girl that was perfect in class and able to party hard like all the people she strived to be friends with and whom she tried to fit in with for the first time in her life. The problem was, she couldn’t pull it off without what she had stored in her pouch.

  “After this, no more,” she said with conviction, and pulled out the tiny zip lock baggie filled with her worst enemy. How could something so little take over her so fast? She’d done it a couple of times to study, then boom; every time her ‘friends’ offered, she accepted, and now she couldn’t go without it. This time, she wouldn’t go back. She was at home with the people who loved her, and now she had another purpose: find out Ilias’ story. Find out if she wasn’t crazy after all. Her heart raced at the sight of the white powder. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure she was still alone and opened the baggie. She licked her pinky finger and then stuck it in the bag and pulled out a tiny bit and rubbed it on her gums. Then she ran her
tongue over them and leaned back closing her eyes. Her body came alive, as if it needed it to survive, but Andrea knew better. She wasn’t stupid, but she’d fallen into the darkness, and she could admit, if only to herself, she didn’t know how to get out or how to stop. School wasn’t going as well as she’d like, and that tiny bag is what got her through most days.

  She peeled her eyes open and put what was left back in its pouch and then in her glove box. She had enough to get her by, but only when she was desperate.

  When she got out of the car, she saw Ilias standing by the large oak tree. She kept her face relaxed, but inside she wondered if he had seen her, and then wondered what he’d think of her? Why should it matter though? She shut the door and leaned against it. She didn’t come home to start up some relationship. She didn’t do relationships; it kept her from getting her heart trampled on. This way, she got to have fun and explore without any attachment. Ilias smelled like commitment.

  “Ready to explore my world?”

  Such a strange way to word it, but she nodded anyway.

  ***

  Ilias planned to bring her into his world right away. The sooner she accepted that things like dragons existed, the better for him and everyone else. His body pulsed with a need he never imagined having before, and just watching her made him ache. He needed her. It was that simple.

  When she stood next to him, he scented something strange on her. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he noticed it the night before, only now it was much stronger. Curiously, he studied her face. Her eyes were big and round, pupils dilated. Her pulse picked up, and her heart pounded. It was then that he had an idea of what was going on – or, rather, what she was on.

  ‘We must save her from herself,’ Ilias agreed with his dragon. His mate was hooked on something, and from the looks of things, she thought she was doing a good job at hiding it, and maybe she was to her human family, but he wouldn’t be the only one who noticed. He frowned, wondering how to handle the situation. He didn’t need one of the others saying anything or making her feel bad.