Cato: House of Flames (Dragon Guardians Book 4) Read online

“Vampires?”

  “Yes. And this is what I believe happened to your sister Flora. Since you are a Dragon Soul, it is highly likely that your twin is one, too. Somehow the vampires identified her. We believe it is by smell. They haven’t drained her yet, because her blood is probably too valuable to be taken all at once. We have found they keep high-powered Dragon Souls captive and drain their blood slowly. Letting the body regain its strength and then tapping it again. We are trying to find a way to prevent the vampires from feeding on humans and Dragon Souls. We have tried to bargain with them, reason with them, even threats. But nothing has worked. They cannot be trusted. My commander, Kian, had the wisdom to see that this planet needs protection. And we have all vowed to be the Guardians of humanity and Dragon Souls alike. It is our new mission.”

  Penelope sat there silently as Cato finished his story. She never would have believed a word of it if she hadn’t seen him in dragon form with her own eyes. It was ludicrous. Ridiculous. Unbelievable. But there it was, the truth she’d been asking for. She caressed the bottle of mace with her thumb, still considering spraying it in his eyes. But that option has lost its appeal. She had more questions now than she’d had before.

  “Where is my sister being held? How do we find her? Will you help me?”

  “I can’t answer the first part. But to the last part, the answer is a definite yes.”

  Chapter 11

  “Where do we start?” Penelope asked.

  “I would suggest we go back to the House of Flames and use my ship’s computers to search for your sister. I’d started that search when I first found you. But I was sidetracked. I knew you were my mate from the moment I saw you. I had to confirm it with our mating analysis. That’s been confirmed now, and it’s why I’m telling you all of this. As my mate, you have to know. I hope you understand why I kept it from you. We can’t allow humans to know we exist.”

  “Sure. I get it.”

  “If humans knew about us, it could jeopardize our ability to protect them. The dragons and vampires are at war, but it is a stealth war, fought behind closed doors and under the cloak of invisibility. We have striven to keep our secrets since arriving. And we will continue to do so for the sake of humanity. Knowledge of our existence could send society into chaos. We will not allow that to happen.”

  She let out a deep sigh as if considering his words. Then she nodded her head, her posture relaxing.

  “You’re right. Of course you’re right.”

  “I’m glad you understand. You have no idea how difficult it was for me to keep things from you, to make up stories to be close to you. But I knew that you were a Dragon Soul and that the vampires would come after you. I had to protect you.”

  “It’s okay,” she said waving her hand in the air. “All that matters now is you’re going to help me find my sister.”

  “I will. The sooner we get back to the compound, the better. I suggest we fly.”

  “Fly?”

  “My dragon form flies much faster than a car can drive. We live just north of Mount Rainier. It could take hours by car but only about ten minutes by dragon.”

  “How am I going to get there?”

  “You can ride on my back. I hear it’s fairly safe.”

  “Are you kidding me right now?”

  “Do I look like I’m kidding?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t tell with you.”

  “I’m not kidding. There’s nothing to kid about. It’s much faster, that is simply a fact.”

  She groaned. “But riding a dragon? I just found out that dragons and vampires exist, and now you want me to ride on your back while you fly a hundred miles.”

  “It’s the most logical thing to do. I understand that you’re frightened. But there’s no reason to be.”

  “That’s easy for you to say.”

  “It is actually. Just take a deep breath and let it out. Do that a few times and think pleasant thoughts. I hear that’s relaxing for humans. And quite frankly, it works for dragons, too.”

  “Has anyone ever told you, you’re kind of a jerk?”

  “Me? A jerk? It depends.”

  She grumbled, and he chuckled. He loved the way they communicated. It kept him on his toes, it made his heart sing. She was so smart and quick and funny. He could spend the rest of his life just throwing teasing words back and forth between them. But right now, he had to convince her to get on his back and fly with him to the mansion. And that would require some sincerity.

  “Penelope,” he said, taking her hands. “I understand it’s frightening. But the sooner we get back to the mansion, the sooner we can locate your sister.”

  “Okay,” she huffed. “Deep breaths.”

  “That’s right,” he said, backing up and getting ready to shift.

  Cato took a deep breath himself and let his dragon out, transforming in mere seconds on the beach. Penelope shrieked, scrambling away from him in terror. When the transformation was complete, he gazed down at her with his sharp dragon eyes. Slowly, she stood, gaining her courage. She stepped toward him, hand extended, looking up into his eyes. He huffed a breath of air over her hand, taking in her scent. She touched his muzzle, her mouth open in shock and disbelief, her eyes wide. She shook her head as she touched him, running her hand along his jaw.

  “This can’t be real,” she said.

  Cato lowered himself to the ground and extended his knee for her to use to climb up on his back. She shook her head as she walked around his side and climbed up on his back.

  “I’ve read my fair share of fantasy novels, but this is ridiculous,” she muttered, clinging to his neck.

  He craned his neck, turning to look at her and smiled, grinning and showing his long sharp teeth. She grimaced and looked away, tightening her legs over his back.

  “I’m ready,” she huffed. “Don’t kill me, dragon boy.”

  He activated his stealth mode and extended his wings. Launching into the air, as carefully as he possibly could, he pumped his wings, carrying them into the sky. Penelope shrieked as they rose, realizing she’d become invisible. He wished he could tell her everything was okay. But he had no way of communicating in dragon form with a human. As long as she stayed on his back, everything would be fine. He needed to get her back to the mansion as quickly as possible and share with the crew what was happening to her sister. They would all want to help find her.

  He soared through the air with Penelope clinging to his back, making good time as they charged toward the mountain. Every time he rose or fell on air currents too abruptly, Penelope shrieked and clung to him more tightly. He needed to get her home and safe as soon as possible. He knew she would be worn out from this experience.

  He slowly descended under the shields generated by their ship in the basement, landing in the backyard of the compound. He lowered himself to the ground, and Penelope immediately slid from his back frowning and muttering to herself as she paced about the grass beside him. He shifted in the blink of an eye and was there for her, offering his hand.

  “That was freaking unreal,” she said, blinking rapidly as she shook her head.

  “You did well,” he said.

  “I didn’t fall off and die. If that’s what you mean.”

  “That’s precisely what I mean. Well done.”

  She scoffed and rolled her eyes but then smiled at him. He looked up and saw the rest of the crew emerging from the back door of the house. Kian and Everly were the first to come out. Kian held Ember in his arms, and Everly rubbed her rounding stomach as she waddled toward them. Dax and Aria emerged from the pool, wrapping themselves in bathrobes as they approached. Aiden and Winnifred walked out French doors off the living room, Winnifred wearing a paint smudged apron. Aiden held his guitar.

  “Is this your mate?” Everly asked arriving with Kian. She reached out to Penelope, offering her hand. “I’m Everly, Kian’s mate. And this bundle of dragonkin cuteness is our daughter Ember.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Everly,” Penelope said,
shaking her hand.

  “It is good to have you here,” Kian said.

  “Cato said you can help me find my sister. She’s been kidnapped by vampires.”

  “If you are a Dragon Soul, it would stand to reason that your twin sister would be as well,” Kian said.

  “You know about me and my sister?” she asked Kian.

  “Cato has informed us of your situation. We are ready to help.”

  “Is it time to rescue a Dragon Soul?” Dax asked, rubbing his shaggy blonde hair with a fuzzy towel.

  “It is, but we have to find her first,” Cato said.

  “I’m Dax by the way,” the big dragon said, offering Penelope his wet hand. “And this is my mate Aria.”

  “It’s nice to meet you both,” Penelope said.

  “And this is Aiden and his mate Winnifred,” Cato said, introducing the rogue and his artist mate.

  “We were worried about Cato for a while there,” Dax said. “He was getting weirder than usual.”

  “Weirder than usual?” Penelope said giving Cato a sideways glance.

  “Yes, well. Let us proceed to the lab. We have much to discuss.”

  “Lunch is on the table,” Kian said. “We’ll eat first.”

  Everyone went inside and sat around the kitchen table. Everly took Ember and placed her in a high chair while Kian went about serving their lunch. He’d made meaty lasagna and a big bowl of crunchy salad with tossed raw vegetables and ranch dressing. They ate, everyone asking Penelope questions about her life and her sister.

  “As you know, Flora and I are twins. She was in her last year of her doctorate program at the University Washington. She was writing her thesis on genetic engineering. She disappeared a week ago and the police haven’t been able to do anything for me. They claim she left town of her own accord and didn’t want to be found. There’s no way I can believe that.”

  “Why would the police come to that conclusion?” Kian asked.

  “My theory is that they’re in on it. And in my research online, I’ve come to the conclusion that my theory is correct. I’ve heard whispers about the existence of vampires. Until Cato revealed his true nature to me, I didn’t believe it. I thought it was just insanity. But now I see that it’s true. These same vampires may hold sway in human society. Dictating the reaction of the police to cases like this. There are many other families who have experienced the same loss and received the same reaction from the police. These were people who never would have just disappeared from their lives. It is a big messy situation, and no one is helping. I refuse to let my sister go. I will find her.”

  “And we’ll help you,” Kian said.

  “If she’s been gone for a week, she might already be dead,” Dax reasoned.

  “Dax please,” Cato said. “We are trying to remain hopeful.”

  “The vampires have left their compound,” Aiden informed the group. “Since the death of their awakened elder, they’ve disappeared. I went on a reconnaissance mission to spy on the compound and found the place abandoned.”

  “When was that?” Cato asked, irritated that he hadn’t been given this information.

  “That was just yesterday,” Aiden said. “I don’t know how long they’ve been gone.”

  “Did you go in to investigate? Or did you just stay around the perimeter?” Cato asked.

  “I tested their wards and discovered they were down. I then walked to the grounds. The place was strangely quiet. I picked a lock to get inside. I looked around briefly and determined they were truly gone.”

  “I suggest we start there and look for clues. We may be able to find something that points us to their new location,” Cato said.

  “The three of you can go after lunch,” Kian said. “I will stay here with the ladies. We will protect you, Penelope.”

  “I’m not staying here,” Penelope objected. “Flora is my sister. I’m going to find her.”

  “You are an unmated Dragon Soul,” Kian said. “It is too dangerous for you.”

  “I’m going with you or I’ll go alone,” Penelope said.

  “Penelope,” Cato said. “It may be more prudent for you to stay here.” He admired his mate’s stubborn determination, but at the same time he was worried about her.

  “If they didn’t kill my sister, they wouldn’t kill me. So, if she’s still alive, there’s no reason for me to be afraid for my life. I know she’s alive. She’s desperate and terrified but alive. I am the one who can find her. And I won’t be left behind.”

  Cato sighed, accepting his mate’s rationale. “If you going to go with us on a mission,” he said. “You’re going to need a wrist device.”

  Chapter 12

  Penelope followed Cato through the mansion and down the stairs into the basement. At the end of the hall, a door opened into what could only be described as the bridge of an alien spaceship. She couldn’t believe her eyes as she took in the advanced technology. Blinking several times, she put her hand over her heart as it thumped wildly in her chest. It was the most stunning thing she’d ever seen in her life.

  Shaking her head, she walked forward, reaching out to the dashboard control panel for the ship. Cato strode forward and slid his hand over the dashboard, bringing up a three-dimensional holographic screen before them.

  “Bethi, I need you to print a wrist device for Penelope.”

  “Penelope Baptiste, place your hand on the analysis plate.”

  Penelope stepped forward, unsure of what to do. Cato guided her hand to a metal plate on the dashboard. She pressed her palm and fingers to what felt like cool glass. Lasers flitted up and down and back and forth below her hand.

  “Analysis complete,” the AI said. “Wrist device printing commencing.”

  A moment later, a bracelet type device popped up from the dashboard. Cato picked it up and brought it to her.

  “Your right hand is your dominant one, correct?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said, lifting her right arm for him.

  He unclasped the bracelet and attached it around her wrist. It fit snugly, cinching up automatically.

  “Run your hand down your wrist to activate the hologram,” he said.

  She did as instructed, and hologram control panel appeared over her palm.

  “Holy crap,” she muttered, staring up at him. “Unbelievable.”

  “We don’t have time to go over all the particulars, but this device is set to your language, so you can study it at your leisure. I know someone as smart as you can get a long way on their own. But, I will show you a few of the more pertinent functions before we depart. If you will navigate to the weapons screen, you will see a variety of available weapons at your disposal. When you select a weapon from the weapons panel, it will immediately appear in your hand. I would suggest a projectile device. These tend to require the least amount of fighting skill. Not that you couldn’t attain these skills over time, but what I know about your personal history is that you do not currently possess those types of physical skills.”

  “Wow, thanks,” she said, scrolling through the weapons screen.

  “That isn’t an insult. I also use a projectile weapon. My primary role is not as a fighter but as an analyst. One is not more valuable than the other.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” she said. “I’ve always dreamed of having a laser gun.”

  She tapped on the laser pistol on the weapons screen after reading the short description and it immediately appeared in her hand. She squealed with delight at its appearance and turned it from side to side, inspecting the weapon. She couldn’t believe how physical it felt when it was just a projection from the wrist device on her arm.

  “You just pull the trigger to shoot,” Cato said.

  “I got that,” Penelope said.

  “If you will navigate to the defenses screen, I will show you how to activate a personal shield. It would be good for you to have one of these should we encounter vampires.”

  “Will it keep them from kidnapping me?” she asked, retrac
ting her laser gun and navigating to the shields screen.

  “That is unknown,” he said. “Vampires use magic. It is possible they could transport you and then be unable to touch you. As long as the energy of the wrist device remains.”

  “Does this thing loses power?”

  “Wrist devices maintain power by being close to the ship. They can also be recharged through solar energy. But I suppose if you were kept underground for an extended period of time, the device could lose all charge. But I don’t foresee that happening.”

  Penelope scrolled through the possible personal shields. There were only a few. One of them was more defensive than the others, like a tortoiseshell. One of them exploded on contact but then dropped completely. And the third made the user invisible.

  “I like the stealth shield,” she said. “I always wanted to be invisible.”

  “We use this shield quite often,” Cato said. “It’s come in very handy while on Earth.”

  “What is this mental link thing?” she asked.

  “It’s a little bit like a Bluetooth that allows mind-to-mind communication. But you will be unable to use this feature.”

  “Why is that?” she asked a little disappointed.

  “It requires an implantation of a microscopic chip inside your brain. And we currently don’t have time to perform the necessary surgery.”

  “Oh,” she said.

  “Kian and I have been discussing implanting our mates, so we can all stay in communication, but the surgery has never been performed on a human brain. We are reluctant to try it until we are one hundred percent certain there will be no negative side effects.”

  “That’s probably for the best,” Penelope said, scrolling through the other options screens on her hologram. “This thing is freaking amazing. Way better than my iPhone.”

  “Yes well… Dragonians are millions of years more technologically advanced than humans so…”

  “Brag much, do we?”

  “That isn’t a boast. It’s just a fact,” Cato said, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. My species is primitive, and you were responsible for creating our advanced intelligence, blah blah blah…”