Bound to Me (5 page)

They called us Guardians. The term Guardian was given to us because just like Angels, we protected and guided the humans. We protected them with our very being, because humans were ours to protect. They were weak and destructive. Without us there to guide them, their world would have been lost. They were the ones who were walking the earth right now, and if they don’t know how to stand up and fight for what they believed in, or make right decisions, then there would be no meaning to life at all. Then their world will surely end. We also protected humans because some of the dragons take them as mates. I wanted to ask the White Guardian Devon what was his intentions when he assigned Veronica to me. She was my first female charge. I am a black dragon of battle, and a fierce warrior at that. My charges are usually prisoners trying to repent themselves or soldiers fighting for the military.

I see the White Guardian Devon is getting ready to leave. Most likely he would be heading back to Dominion. Dominion is the new tattoo shop where all the magic happens, and it was also a doorway from our world to the human one. He tattooed our dragon essence onto the human skin there so we could begin our next assignment. When the case was over the tattoo would be nothing more than a simple tattoo. He stretched out his feathery white wings and since he was in Dragon form I spoke using telepathy “Brother we must speak of Veronica.”

The White Guardian Devon halted in place and relaxed his wings back and stared at me with his cold ice blue eyes “Speak fast Black Dragon, time is running out and I must head back to Dominion.” He was sizing me up to make sure I had come with good intentions to him, and not with a fight. Black dragons were usually soldiers in war. We were always looking for battle.

“I just wanted to know why her? I never once had a female charge, so I found it quite odd that you switched up out of nowhere.”
  I said waiting for his answer.

“Well this particular human needed someone fast, and you were the only one available. I hope that you take great care of her since it’s hard for her to trust a male to begin with. Do not disappoint, and make sure she realizes she has a place in life.” I still did not understand why he could not have assigned anyone else but me to the job.

So I knew there was more that he wasn’t telling me and I was curious to find out. “I still don’t understand White Guardian, Why me?”

“That was simple Black Dragon, because you also had a lesson to learn out of this case, and when that time comes you will understand what it is. Till then, keep focus and don’t fail. I have said too much, and I must make haste.” When the White Guardian usually assigned something out of the norm to you, it was because you had something to learn as well.

I had been cold hearted for centuries but it was in a black dragon’s nature to be that way. I did not love anything or anyone. My heart was as black as my dragon hide and the only fire that burned within my heart was passion, passion for war and blood. “I don’t wish to feel anything other than the true calling of my nature Devon, which is the only thing I crave, and that is battle. I can’t believe you would do this to me brother.” I said a little disappointed. How could I have a lesson to learn out of this as well?

“You will face a battle Black Dragon. This
battle would be fought within your own heart. Go back now and protect the human. Do your job.” Devon said dismissing me then took off into flight and parted the rift in the sky with his blue dragon fire. He crossed over into Dominion leaving me there with my thoughts.

I decided to fly back to my cave, and go over every word that was exchanged between us. I had to think about things before I found my way back to the beautiful Veronica. I really wanted to know what lesson I could possibly learn out of this whole ordeal.

She was an astounding creature, I gave her that much, and she didn’t seem to know it. She had the most beautiful emerald green eyes, they looked like the emerald jewels I have in my hoard. Her dark ebony wavy hair fell mid-back. When I was healing her lip I could see into her soul through her eyes, and what I saw almost broke me into a million pieces. I thought I felt my black heart beating for the first time in my four thousand three hundred and twenty eight years of existence.

I saw a woman who just wanted to belong to someone. I wanted to rub her flawless, creamy olive skin with my hand and whisper in her ear all the things I wanted to do to her. It was weird and otherworldly for me, which was why I made my escape as soon as I was done healing her lip with my dragon smoke. If I had stood there a second longer, I would have tasted those sweet lips just like she had been thinking I would.
  She must really learn to keep those forbidden thoughts to herself. It only drove me over the edge, and I was not the type of dragon who liked to feel any type of emotion that wasn’t pure rage. 

Chapter 6

It was already four O’clock in the evening and sure enough Dominion was open, I could see Devon through the store window standing there talking to a customer. I slammed open the door and worked up enough courage to tell this dude off. Where did he get off, giving me something I never asked for? I walked in like a crazy woman walking to my target on a mission. I slammed my hands down on the counter to get his attention then I spoke loudly “What the hell did you do to me?” I said.

He stopped talking to his customer and looked at me and smiled like he knew I would be back, and that pissed me off even more. “Excuse me for a second while I see what the problem is with this unsatisfied customer.” He told the man and looked at me again “Follow me to the back Veronica.” Then he started to walk past the curtains into his office, Devon turned and looked at me “What happened? I want to know details.” He demanded. 

He gave me this stupid tattoo, yet he was the one questioning me? I guessed I should just let it all out.

“Um, well for starters you tatted a dragon on my arm that can take form into a MAN. What the hell were you thinking?” I said, sounding a little close to paranoia.

Devon rubs his chin and smiles “So he already took human form then?”

“Well yeah, why else would I be here? Is this a permanent thing, and what exactly is he? I have the right to know.” I demand.  I knew what he was already, but I wanted to hear it out of this man’s mouth. Just to make sure I wasn’t crazy. This whole situation had gotten out of hand, and if I was going to be walking around with it, then I felt like I should get all the details.

“Liam, takes human form, from time to time when needed. I’m sure you already know what he is. Do I really need to spell it out?” He said and then the burning sensation on my shoulder was back again, but this time I barely felt it. I guess each manifestation hurt
s less and less.

Now, knowing he was going to be behind me, I turned around and he was standing there in his birthday suite. “Wow do you always have to be in the nude when you do that magic appearing act? Don’t try that in public. This is New York City and you’ll be arrested.” I said just tired of this whole magic show, tired of this whole thing period.

“It’s a part of how it all works, Veronica.” Liam says with a wink.

Devon looks at the exchange with interest. “Well Veronica, I see you met Liam. He was chosen for you. I am the White Guardian who gives them their assignments.” He starts to explain

“Assignments for what, may I ask?” I cut him off and crossed my arms on my chest, tapping my foot, as I waited for an answer. For some reason I knew this was only going to get more complicated.

“Don’t interrupt me, so I can explain the whole thing to you first before you start asking questions.” He said sounding a little more irritated than usual. I looked over at Liam who had now covered up with a blanket, which just magically appeared out of nowhere; most likely he took it off the recliner that was sitting in the corner. I could only guess that meant he knew his way around this place. “Well as you can see, Dragon’s aren’t myth. We still exist, but on a different realm that is known as Dragconia. Humans have over taken earth so there wasn’t enough room for dragons anymore. We could have destroyed you guys if we really wanted to, but we protect that which is ours. It’s obvious who the more superior race is. When a human is in need of protection or a life lesson, one of us intervenes and helps the human out with whatever it is they need.

“When you came into the shop that night, it was already in place that Liam here was going to be bound to you.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Not only was he rude but arrogant to. If I didn’t fear he would turn into a dragon I think I would have slapped him straight, for that comment.

This whole situation was like waking up on Christmas during the middle of night and catching Santa Clause putting gifts under the Christmas tree. Except Santa was not Santa but a parent caught red handed. “I was hoping this was like some sort of a joke, I guess I got more then I bargained for huh? I knew I should have just gone with the butterfly tattoo instead.” I said then noticed I blurted that last part out loud.

Liam was busy going through the closet and looking for a change of clothes. Devon chuckled and then looked over at Liam. “He’s very good at what he does Veronica, he’s a black dragon, one of the very best. Black dragons are extremely possessive and make fierce fighters. They make the other dragons look like babies. A lot of our kind fear them for what they truly are, deadly warriors.”

Liam was ready and dressed in a tight black shirt that showed off his entire well defined muscles, and a pair of tight blue, dark jeans. I swore he had the whole Chris
Hemsworth thing going on, but with shorter hair. This guy was too fine for his own good and the cocky bastard knew it. He looked up at me in that instant and our eyes meet. He was undressing me with his eyes, and it made me feel all sort of tingly in all the right places.

“What do I do with him Devon?” I ask frustrated, because I knew exactly what I wanted to do with him. Of course I was not going to say that part out loud.

“Well for one Veronica, I am standing right here and two, it’s like I told you before, you are bound to me and there is no getting rid of me.” Great, just what I needed, a tail to follow me around, what exactly am I supposed to tell my Mom? 

I just sighed and looked at Devon with desperation “What he said. I just assigned him to you, and now he has to see through his assignment.” He winked and headed over to Liam and stared at him. I bet they are doing the whole mind talk thing, which was something my puny mind could not comprehend at the moment. I gave up, throwing my hands up in the air, walked out of the back room to the front of the shop and waited for them to finish their conversation.

As I stood there finally looking around at my surroundings and taking in the whole place, I looked at the three unknown tattoo artist. I mean, really looked at them and I noticed they had this predator look going on. “They’re all freaking dragons.” I whispered to myself. Each one was beautifully made with an eerie look to them. I was probably still knocked out on my front porch steps, back at the apartment building. I was probably in a coma from Ben’s last punch to the face. I was really hoping so.

******

I decided I didn’t want to go home right away. It was my birthday and I wanted a breath of fresh air, and did not want to be cooped up in that apartment. Mom probably went out anyways. Liam was trailing behind, giving me the space that I needed to soak in all of the knowledge that was given to me earlier. For some uncanny reason I could feel him there. Like he was waiting to say something, or probably waiting for me to make the first move.

I noticed that I had made my way to Central park. The one place I usually went, to clear my head. I looked back at him and his head was down and he was looking up at me through his lashes and tilted his head to the side in an animalistic gesture. I guessed that type of body behavior was normal to him since he’s not really human. I had to remind myself that this
beautiful man was more deadly than any predator out there and that made me feel excited.

I quickly turned my head to the front and looked at where I was walking. I saw a bench and sat down on it, resting my elbows on my knees and head in my hands “What am I going to do now?” I say more to myself then to him.

“Well there is nothing left to do, but to learn.” He said as he sat down next to me. He leaned back on the bench with one arm up resting right behind my back. I looked into his eyes and noticed that they were never a normal color. They would always be ruby red with the slit in the middle just like a lizard. He would never be anything less than a dragon.

“I don’t know what to do with you now Liam, what am I supposed to say to my mother? By the way, you really need to get a pair of shades to cover
up those freaky eyes of yours”

“You tell her what seems right to you Ronnie, but never tell her my true nature. It is forbidden, and I have a pair of shades in my pocket. Devon gave me them before I left.” Smirking, he sat up pulled his shades out from the inside pocket of his jacket and put them on. I can still feel him staring at me through them
. “You are captivating Veronica.”

Taken aback by the passion in his voice I looked at him one more time, and then up at the sky. I sat there and thought about how he made me feel and this
is something foreign that I can’t even explain to myself. I never had time for a boyfriend, or a lover. I’m not saying I’m a virgin, but it had been a really long time for me, so you could say I was a born again virgin. Trust and believe, I had lost my virginity at an early age but things like this, or should I say sexy, cover model guys like him didn’t take interest in a girl like me. The Gods are laughing at me right now. “Thank you Liam. I guess I will have to tell my Mom if she asks that you are my boyfriend, since you are going to be around a lot more then.” I said and then looked back at him.