Renard straightened to attention. "Vampires and demons have joined forces. They were making their way here when they stopped in the Inner City to give chase to this human and--"
"Me." Jewel stepped around him.
All eyes focused on her.
Because he felt a sudden rush of pride for her, Gray didn't try to push her behind him this time. She stood strong in the face of danger and accepted the consequences. Even though he hated doing nothing, he would not take that away from her. Especially when he sensed these men would not harm her.
His dad had raised him to believe women needed safeguarding, that they were weak and vulnerable without a man. His strong, capable sister, Katie, proved that theory wrong every day. Jewel, too. She sought to guard and defend his life, to place herself in danger in hopes of saving him.
"I had heard you escaped from Marina, so I sent my men to fetch you," Darius said. His voice was as hard and unbending as his expression. "I am unsure whether to trust you. Are you here at her bidding?"
A wave of hurt flickered in Jewel's eyes, but she quickly doused it and returned the dragon leader's frown. "No. Do you truly believe she would have let me leave for any reason? Even your downfall?"
Darius studied her and nodded. "You are right. I have many questions for you. The human, though--"
"Is my only reason for coming with your men. If he leaves, so too do I."
The dragon growled low in his throat. "Very well, then. If he hurts, destroys or steals anything, I will personally see to his death."
"I'd like to see you try," Gray said without fear.
Unused to insubordination, Darius advanced toward him. Anger darkened his eyes.
The redhead stepped forward with a smile, blocking his path. Her smile seemed genuine despite the tension growing in the room. "I'm Grace, the big guy's wife. It's so nice to meet you."
As she stretched out her hand to shake Gray's, Darius growled, "Touching Grace is not permitted, human. You will keep your hands to yourself."
"Oh, hush up," she said without turning around. She and Gray shook. "I, for one, am glad to see another human."
Darius threw up his hands in exasperation. "You see your brother every day."
She only smiled again. "Can you really consider Alex a human?"
Darius's lips pressed tight as he fought a grin of his own.
"Don't let Darius fool you," she told Gray. "He's nothing but a softie." Grace turned to Jewel. "We're so happy to have you here. I've heard so much about you and have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Why don't I show you to a room, and you can prepare for lunch. We'll all have a nice conversation after we've eaten."
Darius stalked to the petite woman's side. "I do not want you taking part in this. You--"
Grace turned her attention full force on her husband. She batted her lashes and curled her hands over his chest. "I seriously hope you're not trying to send me away, because you'd be in a shitload of trouble."
The man melted, that was the only way to describe it. His expression softened and he reached out and brushed a red curl from Grace's temple. "Take them to their rooms, then. After lunch, we will question them together."
Grace planted a swift kiss on his lips before beaming up at Gray and Jewel. "As I was saying, I'll show you each to a room."
"We'll share." Gray shifted to battle stance. No way was he going to be parted from Jewel. "Only one is needed."
She looked to Jewel for confirmation. Jewel nodded, her cheeks bright red with color.
The blue-green of Grace's eyes sparkled with knowing. "You can bathe, rest or...whatever, and we'll meet back here in one--"
"Two," Jewel said, looking down at her feet.
Gray's lips twitched.
"Two hours."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THEIR ROOM BOASTED a large bathing pool, an even larger bed, and so many velvet pillows they could drown in them. Vases burst with diamonds, and an array of jewelry sprawled atop a marble vanity. A lamb's fleece carpet lined the floor.
"The sheer amount of wealth is amazing," Gray said, pivoting on his heel to take everything in. He stood in the middle of the room.
"I've lived in many such rooms throughout my life." Jewel stood a few feet away from him and kept her back to him. She gripped the material of her robe, bunching it between her fingers. The time had come to admit who and what she was. She couldn't wait till morning. Worry over his reaction had slammed into her, consuming her, the moment they'd shut the door. Do it.
"I'm sorry about the destruction of the temple," he said before she could open her mouth. "I know how much you wanted to discover your father's identity."
"Perhaps one day, my father will find me. Perhaps I'll have a vision of him. Perhaps I'll stumble upon a clue that points me in the right direction." Her eyelids squeezed shut, and she straightened her shoulders, gathering her courage. "We need to talk, Gray. I must tell you--"
"Later."
The huskiness of his tone made her shiver. "But you need to know--"
"I want you on a bed." He moved behind her, his arms winding around her, his hands finding her breasts. "We can talk later."
She twisted, facing him, and he lifted her. He carried her to the silk-covered bed. Gently he laid her on top. Her eyes were already closed, her lips parted as she purred her growing pleasure. Her black hair spilled around her delicate shoulders.
God, he loved this woman.
He took her hard and fast, almost savage in his need. He was surprised the urge to drink her blood remained dormant as he hurtled them over the edge of satisfaction. Immediately afterward, he grew hard again. He couldn't get enough of her, but at least the urgency was gone. Now he could play and savor.
He kissed his way down her body, lingering on her ankles, the insides of her knees. Soon she was writhing beneath his mouth, crying out his name.
"You didn't go this slowly last time," she gasped out.
He heard a tinge of upset and stilled. "What do you mean?"
"You usually go slowly with your women. Like this."
A strained chuckle escaped him, and he hugged her close to him, loving the feel of her breasts against his chest. What an innocent she was. "Baby, that just proves I want you more than any other. With you, I lose my control. With you, nothing matters but being inside you."
"Oh. Ohh."
He licked his way into her mouth, feeding her kisses. She tasted sweet and womanly, the absolute essence of desire. Passion. Hunger. His cock was already throbbing with need for her, but he was going to go slow this time if it killed him.
As soft as feathers, he moved his fingers down her stomach and glided them to her silky, wet warmth. Teasing her. Taunting her. Pushing her to the edge before pausing.
"Gray!" She shouted his name like a prayer. "Let me finish."
He circled her clitoris with his thumb while two of his fingers moved in and out of her. When she tensed, readying for orgasm, he stopped again.
"Gray!" She shouted his name like a vile curse. "Finish. Please. Hard and fast."
How could he deny such a delicious request? Request? he thought. No, the woman had ordered him. But deny he would. "I thought you wanted me to go slow."
"I changed my mind."
"I'm glad, but I'm still taking this slow." Gradually, inch by inch, he entered her. She writhed against him. Her nails sunk into his back, her hands tugged at his hair and pulled his mouth to hers for a kiss. "I won't have my woman feeling left out or slighted."
"Faster," she gasped.
"Slower," he intoned.
"I already need...I need..."
"Me. You only need me." And he needed her. Inch by slllooow inch. When he was in her to the hilt, he pulled out just as slowly as he'd entered, than sank back in. Her hips arched in response. Everything inside him screamed to quicken his pace, to find release, but he didn't.
"I'm going to savor you," he vowed.
"Savor me faster." Her nipples were pearled against his chest, rasping against him wit
h his every movement.
"Tsk, tsk. So impatient." How much longer could he hold back? Out. In. So slowly. When she gasped his name, his control almost broke. His muscles were bunched with the strain.
"I love you," she moaned.
That was all it took; his control snapped completely. With a growl of need, he slammed inside her, quickly drawing back, only to pound deeper inside her.
Over and over, again and again, he sank into her depths, loving the feel of her hot wetness. And when she screamed her release for a second time, he spilled deep inside her, his orgasm shaking his entire body.
NAKED ATOP THE BED, Jewel lay cuddled in Gray's arms, quite positive she'd never been more content. Even the knowledge that the Temple of Cronus was destroyed, her father still a mystery, couldn't dampen her lassitude. Then...
"Now we talk," Gray said, his voice raspy from all the growling he'd done. He rolled to his side, facing her and propping his head on his upraised hand.
She sighed, mentally saying goodbye to her relaxed mood.
"What did you want to tell me earlier?"
Dread curled in her stomach, but she forced the words from her mouth. He deserved to know the truth. She'd promised him the truth. No matter his reaction, no matter what he decided to do to her, she'd promised to tell him. "I am--I am the Jewel of Dunamis."
She expected him to gasp, to push her away, or to snort in disbelief. Every muscle in her body tensed, waiting for his horrified reaction.
It never came.
He sighed, and the sound echoed hers. "I thought so."
Confused, dazed, she jolted upright. "You thought so? You thought so! I've been sick with worry and you thought so? Why didn't you say anything to me?"
"Honey, it was just a matter of sorting through certain facts." He tugged her back into his embrace. "Plus, I'm a genius. You said the stone's protector wanted to keep it safe but would willingly hand it over for destruction. That protector is me, right?"
"Yes. You're not angry?" she asked, softening, still unable to believe he accepted her so readily. "You don't want to destroy me?"
"Of course not. For an all-knowing being, you sure can overreact. You're the jewel. We can deal with that. I'm not going to kill you, and I'm not going to give you to OBI. They would hurt you, and that I won't allow. I love you too much for that."
"What?" Heart thumping in her chest, she jolted up again. "What did you say?"
"I love you."
Her eyes widened. Ribbons of happiness curled around her every cell. He loved her. Gray James loved her. He'd never said those words to another, and she heard the truth in his voice. Of all the things she'd imagined happening, this had never entered her mind.
"This is--this is a dream, right?" She rubbed her eyes, blocking the momentary glimpse of wonder she knew gleamed there. "I'll awaken soon."
"Uh, excuse me," he said darkly. "Don't you have something you want to say to me? You've said it before, but that was at the height of pleasure, so it doesn't count."
With a whoop, she threw herself into his waiting embrace. "I love you. I've always loved you."
He reached between them and cupped her jaw with his palms. "That's better." One of his hands twisted her hair, banding the locks around his fingers. "You realize you're coming to the surface with me, don't you? Don't even think about saying no. I'll think of something to tell my boss, even if I have to steal one of the jewels here and give it to him, claiming it's Dunamis." He paused, his expression guarded. "You still want to come with me, right?"
"I'd follow you anywhere." She licked his collarbone, reveling in the sound of his sharp intake of breath. "We have some time before our presence is required. Think I can keep you busy until then?"
"I think you could keep me busy forever."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
JEWEL RIFLED through the only closet in the room and found several robes. She withdrew a sheer blue one, lace jagged across the hem and small, glistening sapphires sewed into the bodice. They'd bathed and Gray was already dressed in the leather pants and tie-shirt of the dragons. He looked delicious.
He'd radioed his boss several moments ago and told the man that he had Dunamis in his possession. After minutes of the man's excited whooping, minutes of her heart skipping multiple beats, Gray pried a sapphire from the wall and gave her a secret, tender grin before stuffing it in his bag.
How they were going to get her past OBI, she didn't know. She only knew she was going to the surface and she'd never been more excited!
"What do you think?" she asked, holding the glittery material up to her body.
"I think I prefer you naked."
She laughed and shimmied the material over her head, covering her nakedness. "I refuse to go to lunch naked."
"Too bad."
Just as she was fastening the ties of her new light blue robe, a knock sounded at the door. "Enter," she called.
The doors slit down the middle and slid apart. A blond warrior stood in the entrance, the dragon medallion hanging from his neck aglow.
"Brand," Jewel said with a smile. "Nice to see you again."
"And you. Come," he said, his golden eyes averted to keep him from seeing anything he shouldn't. His hair hung in disarray around his shoulders, giving his amused features a roguish quality. "Lunch is served."
Jewel sighed, already mourning the loss of this wonderful reprieve. Of the soft touches Gray liked to slide over her body, of the hot kisses he liked to climb up her legs. As if he couldn't stand letting her go, either, he strode to her side and placed a kiss on her lips, their tongues daring a quick mating.
"Gods above," Brand muttered, spinning on his heel. They followed him down the hall.
Gray linked their fingers and gave a gentle squeeze. "Everything's going to be okay. You'll see. I won't leave your side." Releasing her hand, he anchored his palm to her neck and massaged, shifting strands of her hair. "If there's any trouble," he added, staring into her eyes, making her feel warm and cherished, "I'll go all demon on Darius's ass."
THE DRAGON-CARVED TABLE was piled high with food and drink, wafting a mouth-watering aroma in every direction. All of the warriors Gray had met in the forest were there, plus a few more, sitting impatiently, waiting for him and Jewel to arrive. Darius claimed the head of the table with a formally clad Grace on his right. A ruby necklace draped her neck, her red hair was piled high on her head, and she wore a soft pink gown.
The only two available chairs were on Darius's left. Gray claimed the one closest to the dragon, and Jewel eased in beside him.
"You may eat," Darius said.
Immediately the men dug into the food, a meal that consisted of honey-glazed ham, cranberry turkey, and some kind of white pudding. Each recipe came from the surface, Jewel realized, for she'd seen Gray eat each of these dishes. She spooned a bite of the pudding into her mouth and closed her eyes in surrender as the rich, decadent flavor spread on her tongue.
"I hope you found the room satisfactory," Grace said after swallowing a bite of ham.
"We did. Thank you." Jewel offered her a soft smile.
"Darius explained that you have no name." The pretty human wore an expression of utter perplexity. "He said most people call you 'it' or 'slave'."
"She has a name," Gray said, his tone flat and hard and brooking no room for argument. "It's Jewel."
"See." She tossed Darius a smug glance. "I told you she had a name. A beautiful one, at that." Smiling, she returned her attention to Jewel. "I think it's so cool you can predict the future. Darius and I could have used that kind of ability when I first came here. You could have told him how much he loved me, so he wouldn't have fought it so hard."
Darius arched his brows, his only reaction to his wife's taunting. He tossed back a drink of wine. "What know you of the vampires and demons...Jewel?"
The room tapered to absolute silence; everyone present waited with bated breath for her answer.
Stomach knotting painfully, Jewel said, "I would like to discuss that with
you in private."
She meant the discussion to come after lunch. Darius took her words to heart. "Leave us," he told his men.
Though his tone was conversational, the dragons reacted immediately, grabbing their food as they jolted to their feet. Their chairs skidded behind them, creating a screeching symphony. Besides Jewel and Darius, Gray and Grace were the only ones to remain.
Darius looked pointedly at Grace.
"You told me I could stay, remember?" she said stubbornly. She leaned back in her chair, pinched a piece of turkey from her plate and nibbled on the edges, the picture of relaxation.
Darius turned that look on Gray.
"Don't even try it," he said, rolling his eyes. "I'm staying. End of story."
Jewel drew in a deep, cleansing breath, and met Darius's piercing stare as he next turned it on her. "I have an impending sense of doom for you. Marina once asked me what I knew of the Atlantean Mists."
Fury blazed in the blue depths of his eyes. "What did you tell her?" he growled.
"Watch your tone, Lizard," Gray snapped, "or the conversation ends here."
At first the dragon king flashed his teeth--sharp and lethal. Then he nodded stiffly and repeated his question in a gentler tone.
"You know I cannot lie, so I gave her no answer at all. She does know about the mists, however, and hopes to gain control of them."
Little by little, the dragon relaxed. He snorted. "As if her puny army could match mine."
Tapping a finger on her chin, Grace frowned. "Why would this Marina want control of the portals? Atlantean creatures cannot survive outside of Atlantis. They die within days. Even Darius was not impervious."
"What!" Gray straightened. "Atlanteans die outside of Atlantis?"
Jewel paled. Oh, gods. Having always felt connected to Gray and the surface world, she'd forgotten about her connection to Atlantis. If she traveled to the surface, she would die. She covered her mouth with a shaky hand, hoping to cut off her moan of horror.
"Jewel," Darius prompted.
Would Gray stay here? He claimed to love her, but would that be enough to keep him here? She was too afraid to look at him, judge his expression.
"Jewel?" Darius said again.
Gathering her composure nearly proved impossible, but she did it. She squared her shoulders and forced her next words to form steadily. "Marina doesn't know she will die if she leaves. None of the creatures do. Remember, no one even knew of the portals except the dragons until a group of humans came through and struck a deal with Layel. Of course, Grace and her brother solidified the knowledge of them, since they were not sent by the gods. Now most of Atlantis is aware, yet none know of our vulnerabilities. Marina assumes she can live on the surface without any problem."