Water Dragon (The Bride Hunt Book 2) Read online

  Chapter 18

  Torrent sat upright and sucked in a breath. It hurt like a bitch. Coming back from the dead was a favorite past time of his… not! He pulled in some more air, being careful this time. His chest burned. Everything ached.

  His nostrils flared as he picked up her scent. Candy. His female. His. It was her lingering scent on the sheets. She wasn’t here anymore. His female was gone.

  No, not his. Not anymore. She never had been. Pain flooded him and he moaned. It was internal pain and it was way worse than anything physical he had ever felt.

  Torrent slumped back into his blankets and pillows.

  “I’m so glad you are awake.” It was Sky. The female hovered around him. She tucked in a sheet and poured a glass of water. “Drink this, my lord.”

  Torrent growled from the pain as he turned over onto his side. “Leave me.” He didn’t want to see her or anyone else for that matter.

  ‘You need to drink and to eat. You also need to be eased, it will help the healing process. Shall I call Ocean? Another female?” She sounded angry. Her voice was hard and devoid of emotion.

  “No,” he choked out. “Put the water on the table and go away. I don’t want to be disturbed.”

  “Oh.” There was a tapping noise and he realized that it was her foot against the floor. Tap, tap, tap. “So you’re just going to lie there and wallow in self pity? Whatever you said, or did, to that female, it had to have been really terrible for her to have left.”

  Torrent grumbled below his breath.

  “She was so afraid to talk to you. I told her that you would accept her and forget her past. I was sure you would… never mind. I was clearly wrong.”

  “Do you know then? Did she tell you?”

  “No! It was between the two of you.” She began to walk away and then changed her mind and turned back. “She was ready to take the next step. That female loved you.”

  “No, she didn’t,” he snarled. “She didn’t want me as a mate. That much was clear. No wonder I became angry. No one would blame me for my actions.”

  “What did you do?” There was a rustling noise and when he turned around she had her arms folded. Tap, tap, tap. That damned foot again.

  “Did you know that Candy sold her body to human males for money?” He immediately felt guilty for divulging something so personal. “If you ever mention this to another soul…”

  Sky lifted a hand. “I’m Candy’s friend. That piece of information doesn’t change anything. I still like her and respect her. What difference does it make? We are highly sexual creatures. As long as she is faithful to you going forward, as long as she loves only you. So what if there are others in her past?”

  “Money. She took money.” He sounded like an idiot.

  Sky narrowed her eyes on him. “I’m sure she had her reasons.”

  She did! He didn’t say anything.

  “So you are angry that she rutted other males?” Sky rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath. “Do you know how stupid that sounds? What about you? How many females have you bedded? Hundreds? Thousands?”

  “Not thousands.” He choked out, looking down at the sheet.

  “You’re jealous. It’s as simple as that. I hope you realize it. You were jealous and did something stupid.”

  “I did not,” he mumbled. There was no conviction behind his words. It didn’t matter what Sky thought. “My reaction was completely justified.”

  “I know you did something idiotic, because that human would never have left otherwise, she was too in love with your sorry ass to just up and leave.”

  “I am your king.” He tried to sit up but everything hurt too much. “You will not address me in that way. I’m done listening to your bullshit.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Candy didn’t love me. She didn’t want me.”

  “Of course she did.” Sky gave him a small smile. “She told me so herself. She didn’t rut you because she loves you.”

  “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “She wanted things to be right between you first. She wanted to come clean about her past and she wanted you to accept her despite it. You couldn’t do that.”

  “I was so angry. So upset. The thought of her with…” he cursed. “Dammit, maybe I was jealous. I’ve never been jealous. I’ve never experienced the emotion before. I…”

  “You love her, my king. You need to make things right with her.”

  He shook his head. He could remember the look in her eyes. He’d broken her heart. Acted like a complete asshole and had ruined everything. “It’s too late.”

  She shook her head. “You will need to grovel long and hard but I’m sure that she will forgive you in the end.”

  “How can you be so sure?” He could hear the anguish in his voice but it couldn’t be helped.

  “Because she loves you.” Sky yelled, sounding frustrated. She smiled. “Don’t make me keep repeating myself, my lord.”

  “You’re right.” A huge load lifted off of him. Even if it took years. He didn’t care. He would win Candy back. He would make it up to her. Torrent moved into a sitting position. His head spun.

  His neck hurt. Coal had snapped it, no doubt. His face blossomed with pain, as did his chest. The fire prince had done a number on him. That was for sure. Little shit! He was lucky Torrent hadn’t fought back.

  Sky touched the side of his arm lightly. Pain blossomed there also. His flesh was still healing from the burns.

  Torrent groaned.

  “Lie back down.” Her voice was soothing.

  “No! I need to fetch my female,” he growled.

  “Coal sends his deepest regrets, he is sorry he did this to you. He publicly acknowledged that you allowed him to win and has already sent a male to fetch Candy. He said that it was the least he could do. He may have mentioned that Candy might feel sorry for you in your current state. It would be wise to allow him to bring her right away.”

  The fire prince was lucky Torrent was a forgiving male. “Fine,” he said. Torrent could feel sweat bead on his brow. “Okay.” He fell back. “I’ll have some of that water now.” He needed to try and heal. After the beating he’d received, he probably looked grotesque. He didn’t want to scare Candy. Especially since she couldn’t handle the sight of blood. He needed to look banged up but not hideous.

  It was important that he start thinking of ways to win her back. Candy had been right to call him an asshole. Sky and Julie were right on the money as well. Torrent would prove himself worthy. She would forgive him. She had to. He drank some of the water and then closed his eyes. The sooner he healed, the better.

  Her hands were bound at the wrists.

  “Your first client is on his way.” Ellis winked at her. “Are you sure you don’t want to change your mind? The good senator was most upset when he heard that you weren’t taking on any new clients after all. He offered more money.” He paused. “More than we’ll get from this pretend rape.”

  “It won’t be pretend. I can’t believe you’re doing this.” Tears caused her throat to clog but she refused to let them fall. A guy like Ellis would get a kick out of seeing her upset.

  “Believe it, baby. Do you really think I’d just let you walk away?” He walked to the other side of the room. “You’re a damned gold mine, Candy.” He snorted out a laugh. “Even your god given name is a hooker name for god sake.”

  “I can’t help it my mom is a hippy.”

  “I can’t help it you’re in such demand. By the way, Charles died.”

  “What?” Her voice was laced with shock. “Don’t lie to me, Ellis.” Charles was her longest client. They had sex on occasion but he mainly just wanted to spend time with her. He’d cried the first time he had been intimate with her. The old guy still loved his wife. He spoke of her all the time. Charles was gone?

  “How? When? You’re lying, Ellis.”

  “I’m not lying. He died in his sleep. Someone called looking for you.” Ellis laughed. He looked more relaxed. Maybe she could negotiate with him. S
he didn’t believe that Ellis would really go through with this whole rape thing. He was just trying to scare her into doing what he wanted. “Looks like the old geyser left you something in his will.”

  Candy bit down on her lip. Charles was a really sweet man. A gentleman. He and his late wife didn’t have any children. His wife, Beatrice, was unable to conceive. It didn’t change the way he felt about her. It did mean that he didn’t have anyone to leave his fortune to. Surely he didn’t leave it to her. That would be crazy. No way!

  “We’re going to go to the lawyer’s office first thing in the morning. I knew you were going to make me a rich man.” He rubbed his hands together.

  “You can’t be serious. I’m sure Charles didn’t leave me much.”

  Ellis looked thoughtful. “I think he left it all to you. His tight piece of ass. If that’s the case, we’re getting hitched, baby.” He winked at her.

  “What?” She looked at him in disbelief. “You’re crazy.”

  “Crazy for you.” There was a knock at the door. “It’s show time, babe.” He opened the drawer and rummaged through it, pulling out some tape.

  Shit! Maybe he did mean it or was this another ploy. Him taking it a step further. “Don’t do this, Ellis. If Charles left me anything…” She felt desperation set in. “I’ll give it to you. I don’t care about the money. I have enough.” She was breathing hard, trying not to lose it. “Just let me go, please.”

  “There’s no such thing as enough money.” Ellis nodded, looking thoughtful. “I’ve made up my mind. I think I’m going to enjoy watching you get broken in… for me.” He winked at her. “My soon to be wife.”

  “You’re crazy.” He was. She could see it in his eyes. Ellis was evil and not all there.

  “Just so you know upfront, our marriage won’t be exclusive. I get to fuck other women and you are definitely going to fuck other guys.” By the bulge in his pants, she could see that he was hard. Not only evil and crazy, it turned out he was sick as well.

  He pulled the tape and broke off a piece using his teeth. Then he kneeled beside her. Candy turned her head away, trying to avoid him but Ellis gripped her by the jaw with his good arm and slapped the tape over her mouth. He pushed down hard.

  “Just remember,” he whispered against her ear. “The harder you fight, the more he’ll enjoy it. This guy is a freak.”

  Pure terror gripped her. Her nostrils were wide as she struggled to breathe. She fought against her restraints until her hands felt raw.

  Ellis opened the door. She heard him greet someone. Then footsteps. “She’s ready for you,” he said.

  “Do you have a pair of scissors like I asked?” she heard the guy say.

  “Yeah, but”—Ellis paused—“I’m not so sure…”

  The stranger laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt her… I like to cut off their clothes.”

  Oh god! This wasn’t happening.

  “No hitting or biting.” Of course not. Ellis would hate to see one of his merchandise items broken.

  The guy chuckled as they entered the bedroom. Candy was on the floor. The guy was really short, and skinny. His hair was thinning on the top. His whole look screamed nerd. His eyes widened as he spotted her. She read excitement in their depths.

  “Shit!” He sighed. “Her eyes. Oh man!” He put a hand over his mouth. “Look at that fear. I could almost swear this was real.”

  “You paid good money so you got my best.” Ellis leaned against the door and folded his legs across each other, looking so relaxed. “Oh, I need to give you this.” He threw the guy a bottle and she realized that it was lube. Then he handed the guy a string of condoms.

  Candy felt ill.

  “I know you’re going to be rough and I wouldn’t want you to tear or bruise her. You have to wear a condom. No glove no love.” He laughed at his own joke.

  The guy nodded, looking enthusiastic. “Sure thing. I’ll use the lube and the condom. No problem.”

  “One last thing.” Ellis smiled. “I’m staying… just to be sure.”

  “What?” The guy didn’t look happy.

  “I’m staying,” Ellis repeated. “I’m watching.”

  The guy shook his head. “I don’t know if…”

  “I can’t leave my best girl with you, like this.” He pointed up and down the length of her. “You wanted her tied up and gagged. No problem but I wouldn’t be able to hear her shout for help if you got a little rough. I need to stay and watch.”

  Sick bastard! They were both sick but Ellis took the cake.

  “You can pretend we’re a tag team or something.”

  “I don’t like to share.” The guy sounded whiney.

  There was a tic in Ellis’ jaw and for a second she thought he might throw the guy out. Please, please. Then he smiled. “I don’t want in on the action, I just want to watch. Forget I’m even here. I’ll give you a discount for the inconvenience.”

  The nerdy guy seemed agreeable and they haggled over price. Candy swallowed hard, trying not to puke. Maybe if she peed herself. The guy put his beady eyes on her and she realized that nothing would deter him. In fact, if she fought him or peed herself, it would probably turn him on more.

  “I like to play a bit with them first. I won’t hurt her though.” He picked up the scissors and tested them. The blades flashed as they opened and closed, making slicing noises.

  “Knock yourself out.” Ellis took a seat. “Touch a hair on her head though and you will regret it.”

  “I would never hurt her.”

  The nerdy guy turned towards her. “It’s time to play.” He smiled. His eyes looked dead. She couldn’t help but notice that he wasn’t in the least bit turned on. This guy was sick with a capital S. He took a step towards her and she couldn’t help herself. She screamed. The sound was held back by the tape.

  Then she wriggled and tried to get up onto her feet, which were tied with a cable tie. The sicko’s eyes gleamed and his smiled widened. To her horror, the start of a hard-on lined his pants.

  Chapter 19

  It felt like the walls were closing in. That everything was spinning. “What?” Torrent roared.

  “Lie down, my lord.” Sky tried to push him back down. “You are in no condition.”

  “I have to agree with Sky,” his brother boomed. “I will take a team of males. I will find her.”

  “No.” Torrent lurched to his feet. He felt like a day old lamb. “I will find her myself. She is mine.” The world spun harder, he gripped his brother’s shoulder to stay on his feet.

  “You won’t be able to shift. You were dead a couple of hours ago.” Tide looked at him with concern. “Even if you do make the shift, you might not be able to stay in dragon form for the flight. If you shifted at thirty thousand feet, the fall just might kill you for real.”

  “It won’t happen.” His head cleared somewhat. “Not with this amount of adrenaline in my veins.” He pulled his shoulders back and locked eyes with Tide.

  His brother shook his head. “It’s a bad idea.”

  Torrent grit his teeth. “I have to go. She is my female. Mine.”

  “I understand your—”

  “No you don’t. You have no clue. We’re wasting time arguing. Bring the fire dragon to me. I want the details first hand.” When no one moved, he shouted. “Now!” Smoke wafted from his nose and mouth. If he had been a fire dragon, there would have been flames.

  “Maybe you’re not as weak as I thought.” Tide turned and left.

  Torrent was still royally fucked up. His bones were only half knitted and his skin was still pink and even still raw in places. The biggest problem was the lack of energy. It was a pity Coal had killed him. It always sapped a male and made the healing process that much slower. He would deal. His female needed him.

  Within minutes, his brother returned with the fire Dragon. “Good day.” The male nodded. “I am Heat. I was the male tasked with fetching your female. I was given her address, a description and was told to bring her back here to
the water lair.”

  Torrent grit his teeth, having to work hard at remaining patient. He wanted to grip the male by the throat and demand answers. Since he knew that this wouldn’t help, he kept silent, at least for the time being.

  “When I arrived at Candy’s house, the human protectors were there. There was a vehicle parked out front, lights flashing. There were two protectors inside of her house. One of them held a suitcase and was talking with an older human female.”

  “Go on.” Torrent growled, patience waning by the second.

  “The older female lived across the road. The human protector was busy questioning her. The suitcase belonged to your female. She was walking on foot, with the suitcase when a male pulled up in a vehicle next to her. He was driving one of those roofless cars, I can’t recall the name of such a vehicle…” He lifted his eyes in thought.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Torrent snarled. “My female is in danger. Give us the facts and do so now.”

  The fire dragon nodded. His throat worked and there was a sheen of sweat on his brow. It was the only outward indication of fear. “It seems that the human female that lives across the road from your female is very interested in what goes on in the area. She heard Candy’s house door slam and watched her leave her home. The human male chased Candy soon afterwards. She dropped the suitcase in her attempt to get away. He broke into her house and physically removed her. At this stage, her hands were tied and it looked like he was threatening her as he pushed her into his car and sped off. The window to her house was smashed. She did not seem to be injured in any way. The human was too afraid to intervene but she called the protectors immediately. She—”

  Torrent could not withhold his rage any longer. He roared. His fists were clenched so tight that his nails dug into his skin. Adrenaline coursed through him. It felt like his scales were rubbing him raw and his teeth erupted.

  The fire dragon took a step back. “I would be happy to assist with any rescue operation.”