Hidden Rage: Kindred Tales

“This is your wedding jewelry and your Claiming piece,” Dragon explained, smiling a little. “I had to have them all specially made because you’re so much smaller than a Saurian female,” he added.

“Oh, Dragon—they’re beautiful!” Bobbi exclaimed. “But all this must have cost you a fortune!”

“All my savings,” he said without a trace of regret. “And completely worth every bit. Of course, you’re not supposed to get them until our wedding day—especially not the Claiming piece—but I’d like you to start wearing them now.”

“Now? But why?” Bobbi still couldn’t believe it. Her ex-fiancé had grudgingly given her a skinny gold band with a tiny chip of a diamond and had claimed proudly that it had cost him one whole month’s salary. She hadn’t felt a single qualm when she’d broken things off with him and given it back.

In contrast, Dragon had basically emptied his bank account to buy her the very best in Saurian jewelry. She wasn’t a materialistic person or one of those girls who loves getting expensive gifts, but she had to admit his gesture moved her deeply.

But his next words made her blood run cold.

“I want you to wear it to show that you’re mine,” he said seriously. “So that whoever put that hit on you understands that you’re already my wife, even if we haven’t had the ceremony yet. That makes you off limits—out of bounds to anyone who might be looking to hurt you.”

“Oh,” Bobbi said faintly.

The lovely gift took on a sinister air when she remembered that there was, indeed, a hit out on her. Which was something she’d never expected to have to worry about, seeing as how she didn’t have any ties to Organized Crime back home.

“Here—let me help you put them on.”

Dragon started sliding the thin golden bangles onto her wrists—there were twelve for her right hand and twelve for her left, Bobbi saw.

“Is this how many bracelets most wives start with?” she asked him as he fitted the last one on her.

Dragon shook his head.

“Most start with six on each hand—one for each finger is the tradition.”

“Oh, right.” Bobbi nodded, thinking of the odd, six-fingered Saurian hand.

“I wanted to give you twice as many, to show you how I feel for you, feela.” Dragon looked at her earnestly. “And I swear to you now, I’m never taking a single one back from you. We’ll grow old together and you’ll bear my sons and still you’ll have all of these.” He gripped both her wrists, now covered in the thin gold bangles. “These and more, when I can buy them for you.”

Bobbi understood that he was vowing never to cheat on her and she couldn’t help being touched. But she felt she had to say something, no matter how sweet the gesture was.

“Dragon,” she said gently. “You know the other Kindred—the ones from the Mother Ship—are going to come looking for me at some point. And when they do—”

“Let them come,” he interrupted, his eyes blazing. “I’m not giving you up, Bobbi—you’re mine.”

The last word had that deep double echo to it and she was reminded of the other entity that apparently lived inside him. An image rose to her mind’s eye—a dragon curled around a pile of gold with Bobbi herself sitting right in the middle as the beast guarded her jealously, never taking its eyes from her.

So possessive! she thought, mentally shaking her head.

“What if you came with me, then?” she suggested hopefully. “I’m sure you could find something to do on the Mother Ship. There are so many Kindred there and the opportunities are limitless.”

“And leave my Clan?” Dragon sounded shocked, as though he’d never even considered the idea.

“Why not?” Bobbi asked. “I mean, maybe if you’d come for a visit, you might find that you like it.”

“No.” He shook his head stubbornly. “My Sire needs me here. Zerlix is fucking everything up as it is—Komendant Vizlar needs me to help make peace with the other Clans. If I left—even for a visit—I might come back to find that the Crimson Blades had fallen into ruin.”

“But are you really going to stay here forever?” Bobbi protested. “And keep me here too? What about when it gets cold—I mean really cold, Dragon? It’s only summer now and Keelah told me that it’s supposed to be unseasonably hot right now. But I’m barely making it even with the blood you give me and all the warm clothing you’ve bought for me—what’s going to happen to me when winter comes?”

“I’ll keep you warm and protect you, don’t worry about that,” Dragon said, frowning. “Trust me, little one—I won’t let anything happen to you. That’s one reason I bought you this.” He lifted the Claiming piece, with the golden dragon dangling from it and held it out to her. “It can be worn as a necklace but I’d prefer you display it more prominently—so everyone can see.”