A Dragon's Heart Read online

  “Are you trying to prolong this for visual effect because it’s not working, and I’m getting irritated,” she snapped.

  “Don’t be afraid, okay? I won’t harm you,” Kalv said and pulled his tank shirt over his head before unzipping his jeans.

  Ginna held up her hands. “Whoa there buddy, I’ve heard a lot of lines but this takes the cake. I don’t have dollars for your G-string, if that’s what you’re hoping.”

  Kalv laughed and it was a rich, deep sound that was very pleasant to hear. “You do make me laugh, a lot of bite in a tiny body. Maybe I should have called you fire ant.”

  “How about just using my name and stop taking your clothes off?” she hid her eyes as he chuckled.

  “Watch, Ginna,” his voice was soft and endearing.

  She peeked through his fingers as he folded his arms across his chest and a golden mist started from his feet and became bigger as it swirled around him. Ginna gasped and moved her hands from her face and clutched the wooden rails in front of her. She couldn’t believe her eyes, but there it was, happening in front of her. The mist grew and encompassed Kalv’s massive frame and as she watched. His body changed, became bigger, taller, and wider until she was craning her head back to see his face.

  Ginna felt as if she should run from this spectacle but he said not to fear him, he wouldn’t hurt her. Maybe I’m dreaming. The thought flashed away as quickly as it came. This was not dream in the least. The mist slowed and faded away in wispy tendrils until none was left and Kalv was no longer there, but a dragon stood in his place. A dragon. Crazed laughter wanted to escape her lips but she held it back. Excitement soon outweighed any apprehension she had, and Ginna scrambled over the fence to stand in front of a mythical creature she had only read about. He had red, almost crimson-colored scales that were so beautiful. The ones on his chest were golden and gleamed even thought it was dark in the back pasture. He looked at her with patient green eyes as she reached out to touch the scales on his stomach. He took a deep breath just as she did, and Ginna pulled her hand back quickly. Kalv in dragon from made a sound like a chuckle that rolled through his body.

  “This might be funny for you, mister, but I think I’m having a coronary here!” she snapped then ran her hands over his scales once more. They were warm to the touch but still hard. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but all she could get out was, “Oh my God, you are so beautiful.”

  He made a low, deep sound almost like a purr in his throat. Ginna laughed and looked up at the large face and asked. “Can you breathe fire?

  The dragon turned his head and released a small stream of fire from his nostrils. Ginna clapped her hand to her mouth and Kalv looked back to her. She saw the mist start to swirl around him again and stepped back as he returned to human form again. Watching the dragon being replaced by its human counterpart was just as miraculous as seeing him change before. When he was again on two legs, he picked up his jeans and put them on. Ginna didn’t stop looking as he pulled them up those thickly muscled thighs. As a dragon he was beautiful, human was even better. Kalv definitely was a fine specimen of a man.

  He faced her as he put on his shirt. “Didn’t scare you too bad did I?”

  She blew a breath out. “The fact that you changed to a dragon makes me want to go check myself into a mental ward, but I’m fine. Did this always happen…I mean the dragon thing? Or did you have a bath in a radioactive bathtub?”

  Kalv chuckled. “How about we go inside and I tell you all about my life. It’s getting chilly out here, and you don’t have a coat on.”

  He helped her over the fence before climbing over himself. He carried his shoes and seemed unconcerned, walking on the gravel driveway barefoot. Well, when you’re a dragon… She let the sentence end in her thoughts there, because she was still trying to come to terms with the fact that the man walking with her had changed into one. He dropped his shoes with a loud thump on the patio and followed her inside. She sat on a pastel green armchair with her hands in her lap, and Kalv sat on the sofa. He looked at her patiently, waiting for her first question while she wrapped her head around what she just saw.

  “I guess is my first question is how did it happen?” Ginna said.

  “I was born this way, as opposed to your bathtub full of plutonium suggestion,” Kalv answered. “There is an alternate world to this one where dragons live and rule. I am from the Paladin court, a warrior for that world.”

  “Uh-huh.” She drew the word out slowly. “Why are you here then?”

  “Twelve of us traveled between the worlds. Other dragons, the not-so-nice kind, threatened humanity and we made sure the secret was kept and your world was not harmed,” he replied. “I showed you because I might need to use my gift to help you.”

  “So this is your area?” Ginna asked.

  “I have no area anymore. There was a war over a hundred years ago your time…” Kalv took a deep breath and went on, “My mate was killed and I left in grief. I have not returned since then.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “So you just ride around looking for damsels in distress?”

  “You’re the first damsel I’ve had to rescue in quite a while.” He leaned back and extended his long legs.

  “So tell me about this place Paladin,” Ginna encouraged.

  His chest heaved with a long sigh, and he closed his eyes and frowned. Ginna tucked her feet beneath her like she was getting ready to hear a marvelous fairytale. She wondered if the memories of his home were too difficult to think of because of the loss of his mate. She was just going to tell him not to bother, not wanting to cause him the pain of rehashing hurtful memories. Kalv began to speak, and she listened silently.

  “Paladin is built into the side of the mountain of Verso, the largest on our world. The towers sit high in the sky, and the two moons cast a silvery glow at night across the rocks,” he said. “Our homes are carved out of the mountain, cool in the summer and warm in the winter, the rooms large enough that we can be either human or dragon.”

  “Are there many dragons there?” Ginna asked. She felt breathless with excitement just listening to him speak of a place outside the one she knew. She was raised to believe all things were possible, the afterlife, UFOs, and aliens, but this was amazing even to her.

  Kalv looked at her. “Thousands of us and in all shapes and sizes and colors. The dragon of your old tales were real, they were once from my home. Those born of the royal court like me carry only two colors with our breastplate of gold, but others can be as many as four colors. Some are magically inclined and can control the elements. I still can to some extent.”

  “Are there humans in your world?” she asked.

  “Yes there are. Some of us marry human women.” He winked.

  “Was your mate human?” She hated to ask the question, but curiosity won. What kind of woman held his heart so long ago?

  A look of grief shadowed his face for an instant before it was masked.

  “She was a dragon, a warrior like me.” He smiled at the memory. “Torvea was meant to be a princess but fought like a man. Her father finally gave in and let her join the warriors in training, and she was fierce. The battle with the Serpent sect was fierce and almost tore or lands in two. But we prevailed and drove them away. She fell in one of the final battles with our child nestled in her womb.”

  She was off the chair and sitting next to him, taking his big hand in hers instantly. Kalv’s story broke her heart; the loss of a love and his child… no wonder he left.

  “I’m sorry. I should have never asked you to tell me,” she whispered, feeling guilty. “You home sounds amazing. I can’t even imagine how beautiful it is. Maybe one day I can see it.”

  Kalv gave a harsh laugh. “Wish I could, Pixie, but the door has been closed to me long ago.”

  “They kicked you out? How could they, after what you gave up for them?”

  “It wasn’t them. After she died, it was I who left,” he explained. “The key to our home is ou
r heart. Wherever we are or go, it leads up to home. Torvea was my heart, and nothing was left. By the time I tried to open the gateway, it was barred. I can no longer go because I have nothing left. My heart died with her.”

  “But you’re honorable, good and kind. How do you get barred from your home because of grief?” Ginna asked.

  “Because of my refusal to love again. I’m not capable of it nor want it!” He pulled his hand away roughly. “I never told anyone. Why I told you, I have no clue. But this thing you’ve got going on with the look of pity and those soft brown eyes with tears ready to fall… It’s making me uncomfortable.”

  “Well fine then, pardon me for having such a thing called feelings,” Ginna snapped. “Oh I forgot, you’re dead inside. I’ll get your sheets and then you can take your big, non-emotional ass to bed.”

  She got up and Kalv caught her hand. “Thanks for the food and the bed.”

  “Don’t thank me, you’re just hired muscle.” She dragged her hand away and stomped up the stairs to the linen closet.

  She took out sheets and two warm blankets and towels, and put them on the bed of her guest bedroom before stomping past him in the hallway. He raised an eyebrow in her direction, and she flipped him the bird and went to her own bedroom and slammed the door. She was lucky her father had installed a bathroom in the master bedroom. First thing she did was wash the grime and the feeling of Luke and his men manhandling her from her body. All the while, she thought about the night’s events unfolded and what she’d seen Kalv do. Everything he told her seemed so implausible, heartbreaking, and still so very real.

  She climbed into bed and heard the shower in the hallway turn on. Kalv was so big she wondered if he fit in the tub okay. Serves him right if it’s uncomfortable, she thought sourly. If there be dragons, let them sleep at my doorstep. It was an old adage her mother used to whisper after the customary fairytale reading at night. It was the only thing that would make her fall asleep with thoughts of princesses and knights on horses in her head. She learned growing up there were no such things as fairytales in the real world. Who knew she would be proven wrong?

  As she fell asleep, Ginna still had the simmering anger in her from his callous words when he voiced her concern. Yet she felt safer with him in the house and her dreams were filled with dragons soaring in the sky.

  Chapter Three

  Kalv opened his eyes and was instantly awake. There was no snooze button programmed into his subconscious. He got up at soon as the sun peeked over the horizon with the exact knowledge that it was at least six in the morning. At any rate it happened each day and pulled him from darkness that he preferred over the dreams.

  He smelled coffee, knew that Ginna was out of the house already, and yet he stayed in bed for a while longer. Last night instead, of the darkness of dreams of home it was Ginna’s face in his dreams, smiling up at him, begging for his kiss. She stirred something in him. It was a feeling that made his chest too tight and an ache in the place where his heart now sat like a hard stone. He knew Ginna thought he was being metaphorical when he said his heart was hard, but it was more than that. The heart that pumped his blood was also filled with magic and nary a beat anymore. He hadn’t felt it thump in years and unlike humans it didn’t sustain his vital organs. When she held his hand he felt it skip and an actual beat that made it hurt in his chest.

  Kalv ran his hand over his chest and where the still organ sat useless. He didn’t want to feel anything, couldn’t let her in because love only brought pain. Then why was he trying to hold on to the last vestiges of a dream to keep her face in his mind’s eye? Sighing, he got out bed, pulled on his jeans and took out a fresh T-shirt out of his duffel before working on his boots. He might as well head out to make himself useful. Hey you might end up liking working on a farm.

  Kalv expected to see farmhands running the farm even though it was small. He was surprised that it was empty and it was only Ginna trying to take pull huge bales of hay off the back of her truck. Frowning, he went down the steps to where he truck was parked close to the fence, and with ease pulled the bale of hay off the bed of her vehicle.

  “Where’s everybody?” he asked.

  “It’s only me,” she replied casually and struggled with another bale. “Luke pressured everyone I had to stop working for me even thought I pay a fair wage. I’ll do it by myself until it gets better.”

  “Well that’s fucked up.” Kalv took the bale from her and set it down. “How do you manage with everything?”

  “I work from five in the morning till whatever time I get done at night,” she said. They both turned when they heard the sound of wheels on gravel and saw the sheriff’s car coming up the driveway. “And here is some more trouble. Aren’t I lucky?”

  Kalv moved to take her hand and she pulled it away. He took it again firmly and murmured, “Don’t forget our little ruse.”

  This time she left her hand in his and he smiled. They stepped out from hind the truck as the sheriff walked up.

  “Heard you caused some trouble last night Ginna,” the sheriff said.

  “Explain how I did that when I didn’t leave my property, Sheriff Gunderson,” Ginna replied.

  “Who’s this?” Sheriff Gunderson asked.

  “Who’s asking?” Kalv retorted.

  “Listen here, I’m the law in this town so you better show some respect,” the Sheriff snapped.

  Kalv stood to his full height and towered over the man, who visibly gulped. “Well then, lawman, where were you when Luke Richfield and his friends were trying to rape and violate my girl here? Where’s the law that is supposed to not let anyone be blackmailed or threatened for working on her farm. I hate any coward that stands behind what they call law and doesn’t defend the weak against bullies.”

  “I could have you arrested,” the ashen-faced sheriff said.

  “I’d like to see that happen, sheriff. Do you think you and your men can take me?” Kalv asked casually. “Well you could call state police and tell them you need help, but then you’d have to explain your underhanded dealing wouldn’t you, Sheriff Gunderson? I’ll be heading into town today and making a complaint and then I’ll call a buddy in the state police to make sure that it gets followed up on.”

  The sheriff gulped again. “There is no need for that, it’s just a misunderstanding.”

  “No it’s not, so you want to keep that badge you better figure out real quick which side of the law you’re on because I intend to Luke Richfield to go down,” Kalv said.

  The sheriff turned on his heels without a word and moved quickly back to his patrol car. It kicked up gravel and dust as he U-turned and then headed down the driveway.

  “Guess he was busy this morning,” Kalv murmured.

  “Maybe so.” Ginna was grinning ear to ear. I think his breakfast isn’t working well with him. I need to go into town and collect my meat from Adam when I finish unloading,”

  “I’ll go with you,” he said. “I think I need to make my presence known and get you your farmhands back.”

  “That won’t be possible. They all hang out with Luke at the local diner, and he pays them to just sit there every day,” Ginna explained.

  He worked to get the truck unloaded before looking at her. “You know what works better than money to get people moving?”

  “What would that be, dragon?” She smiled.

  Kalv dusted his hand against his jeans. “Fear. Pass me the key, I’m driving.”

  “Can dragons operate such big machinery,” Ginna teased.

  Kalv felt his body stir at the innuendo she obviously didn’t notice. “Let’s find out.”

  She pulled the keys from the brown leather pants that hugged tight across her rear. She threw them to him. Kalv caught then easily and slid behind the wheel of the Dodge Ram 350. He gave her a sidelong glance as the truck roared down the highway and made a mental decision. Kalv had no interest in falling in love, but he wanted Ginna and intended to have her.

  Once in town first they pul
led up in front of the police department. When they walked in, all activity ceased and everyone turned to stare, their mouths open. Kalv could practically smell their fear and hand no problem being the object of intimidation.

  “We want to file a report,” Kalv said casually.

  “Our report taking machine seems to be broken,” one of the deputies said cockily.

  Kalv slammed his hand down on the table and everyone jumped, and his voice became deadly. “I want to file the report. Now!”

  The sheriff walked out of the office, and his eyes widened before he said, “Take the report and file it deputy, and that’s an order.”

  “But s-s-sir, Luke’s gonna…” the deputy stammered.

  “I don’t care what Luke Richfield likes or doesn’t like. I said do as you’re told or leave your badge and get out!” the Sheriff roared and looked around. “That goes for all of ya. We are done looking in the other direction, is that understood?”

  A few cheered and Kalv heard others say “well it’s about time,” but then two others, like the deputy who was supposed to take the report, walked out. A woman took the previous deputy’s place and smiled at Ginna. “Let’s get that report taken, shall we?”

  The sheriff walked over and spoke. “I ain’t saying that I didn’t have wrong in this Ginna, but if you have any more trouble out your way, you give us a holler on the phone and we’ll be there.”

  “Nice to see you live by an honorable code,” Kalv said.

  The sheriff nodded. “Took a little jump start for the brain to see, I refuse to spend time in a cell where I vowed to send criminals when I took the oath. I don’t have hard evidence on Luke, or he’d be in jail by now. But like I said, we’re a phone call away. This office is out of the fray. Unless there’s trouble, let Richfield handle his own affairs.”

  “Well get a load of that,” Ginna said in amazement as the sheriff walked away.

  “He’s a good man, just had to deal with a lot of town pressure,” the female deputy said. “Maybe now this can be run like a real police station instead of a good ol’ boys club. I was thinking about moving to another town if it got too bad.”