Destiny (Experimental Heart Book 1) Read online

  “You fool. You got careless.”

  Shit… I shrugged. “I’ve learned to fake such things. It keeps others off my back. I pretend I’m someone I’m not, and no one bothers me.”

  My dragon companion narrowed his eyes. “You really expect me to believe that?”

  I got to my feet and looked out the window. “Do, don’t, I don’t care either way. It doesn’t change anything. You just become like the others. Thinking you know me when you don’t, or thinking you can change me as if I’m fixable. Reality is, there is no fixing me. I came to terms with that a long time ago.”

  A long silence filled the air until Raikidan spoke again. “The broodmother downstairs… was she correct in telling me I’d blend in better if I cut my hair?”

  I looked back at him. “Broodmother? Are you talking about Alena?” He nodded and I chuckled. “We really need to work on your vocabulary. That would help you blend in better than a haircut. And a race change, too.”

  “I still need time to understand your nu-human form. Shouldn’t be much longer.”

  I nodded. “Good. I don’t want your lack of understanding to get in the way of the goal.”

  He watched me for a moment. “Would it please you if I cut my hair?”

  His question took me aback. Why did he go back to this? And why is he concerned about my opinion on the matter? “Like I told Alena, I don’t care either way. It’s your hair. I don’t know why it’s such a big concern to you.”

  Raikidan averted his gaze. “If I cut it, it won’t grow back. It’s a one-shot deal.”

  My brow furrowed. “What?”

  “Our hair stops growing two decades after adolescence.” He rubbed the small bit of facial hair on his chin. “That’s how I ended up with this. I didn’t like the full beard, so my mother took a blade to it and cut most of it off. This wasn’t so bad, so I kept it.”

  I cocked my head and crossed my arms. “Well, that explains why I’ve never seen five o’ clock shadow on your face these past few days.”

  I approached him. “If you’re nervous about the outcome, Alena is good at styling hair. She’s had a lot of practice and she knows all types of hairstyles, including common ones worn in cities.” I smirked. “I’m guessing you don’t want a mohawk or partially shaven head like some of her kids. Rest assured, if that’s not what you want, she’ll listen.”

  Before I made it to him, I turned for the bathroom. “I’m not going to tell you what to do with your hair. That is solely your choice, and not my business to stick my nose into.”

  I closed the door behind me, immersing myself in the steam-filled room. Unlike the modern look to the bedroom, the bath had a natural appearance. Vines crawled up the stone walls, and the floor was made up of natural soil with beautiful plants growing from it. The small cobblestone path I stood on led to a stone bathing pool and a close-by stone sink with a pile of fresh towels and mirrors that were wrapped in what looked to be roots.

  Topping off the bizarre but spectacular view was the room’s main light source. It was an artificially placed natural light source that closely resembled the sun. Thinking back, I remembered the baths in this village were all like this, and at night, the light source would become a full moon. I had always wondered how they did it.

  I headed over to the mirror display first to get a good look at my condition. I groaned at the mess before me. My usually bright, gold-ringed, emerald-green eyes were now dull, and my violet hair was losing its luster. I looked pale and malnourished, and I had dark shadows under my eyes. My paler-than-normal complexion made the freckles that banded across my nose and around my shoulders stand out even more. One look at me and you’d know I’ve been running for a while.

  Pushing away from the sink, I stripped off my tattered clothing and sank into the warm bath water. A content sigh escaped my lips. Grabbing the nearby shampoo, I lathered up my hair. The packed soil and natural oils loosened from my hair, and I enjoyed the floral scent of the shampoo as it wafted into my nose. As I cleaned my hair, I started to hum.

  At first, I hummed only random notes, but they soon came together and formed the one song I knew well. My voice echoed around the room, giving me a sense of comfort. I just hoped, if he’d stalled in leaving the room, Raikidan couldn’t hear me. I wasn’t the type to sing around others, but when I was alone, I was more than happy to, especially this particular song.

  After some time, I didn’t know how long I had been in the bath, but I realized I was taking longer than necessary when I had gone through the song for the tenth time or so, and my fingers had become prune-like. Sighing, I reluctantly climbed out of the bath and grabbed a towel. Wrapping the towel around my body, I retrieved my clothes and washed them as best I could.

  I entered the bedroom as I carefully dried my clothes with fire, to find Raikidan hadn’t left the room like I’d expected him to. He sat on the bed, looking out the window, but his attention snapped to me the moment I entered.

  He raised an eyebrow at my appearance and then held up a bundle of clothes. “These are for you. That Valene woman came up, said they belonged to you once… I think.”

  I chuckled. I suspected he hadn’t listened to everything she’d said. She had a tendency to ramble when she crushed on a guy. I really needed to set her straight.

  “Oh, she also said that some of your things are in the possession of some other woman. She suspects they’re the items you’re here to get before we head to the city.” Gods, I hope he’s not talking about Maka’shi. I really didn’t want to deal with her. “A woman you two mentioned before. Shva… something-or-other.”

  I laughed. “Well, I can honestly say that was the most half-assed attempt I’ve ever heard. Her name is Shva’sika, and I’m glad that she has my things as opposed to Maka’shi. At least it means I’ll get them back. Though, depending on when she returns, I might make myself an even bigger enemy of Maka’shi’s.”

  “What is with the two of you anyway?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “You don’t want to get yourself involved with that mess. It makes no sense, and it’s just not worth your time.”

  Raikidan nodded and handed the clothes to me, but when I took them, his expression changed to one of interest and slight confusion. He leaned in close to me and smelled the top of my head.

  Perturbed, I jerked back. “What the hell are you doing? Personal space.”

  “You smell different. Not a lot, but it’s noticeable.”

  “It’s the scented shampoo.”

  “Shampoo?”

  “It’s a product that helps clean hair. Most are scented as well.”

  He tried to smell my head again, but I pushed him away. “I said personal space! You can’t just go up and smell random people.”

  He frowned. “But you’re not random.”

  I pinched my nose. He had a point, but it didn’t make his actions any less weird. “Regardless of that, you still can’t go up and smell people without their permission. It’s creepy.”

  “I’m just trying to figure out why it’s such a subtle but powerful change. It’s as if it’s made of what you smell like.”

  I tilted my head. “Is your sense of smell different in your natural form compared to this human one?”

  He nodded. “It’s not as strong, but it’s strong enough.”

  “Then you’ll like the nu-human form. Our sense of smell is better than an ordinary human.”

  He tilted his head and eyed me for a moment. “How so?”

  I leaned against the vanity, double-checking to be sure my towel was secure. “At a relatively close proximity, I can take your smell and break it up into layers that I can associate with other outside sources. Like, since you use fire, you have a sooty-ash smell mixed into your musky smell that most men have. There’s also a scent layer of mountain pines and petrichor, all coming from where you live, and you have a similar reptilian smell that the grekeleons have, but it’s also different. It has the smell of the sky mixed into it. And yes, I know, the sky doesn
’t technically have a smell, but trust me, that’s the image I get from this part of that scent. Your dragon scent is so new to me I really can’t describe it any other way.”

  His eyes widened with surprise. “You picked all that up?”

  I nodded. “You also have slight floral scent, like honeysuckle, that sticks to you better than the forest smells. That tells me it’s part of your natural smells that won’t go away when you reside in a different environment for a long period of time.”

  “Why honeysuckle, though?” he murmured, almost as if he were talking to himself. “There’s quite a bit in my territory, but…”

  I shrugged. “Everyone has a unique part to their scent. Some have a floral scent, some fruity, and some have a scent that’s way out in left field.”

  Raikidan’s brow rose. “What?”

  I shook my head and opened the door. “Human expression. Don’t worry about it.”

  He thought about this for a moment. “You, too, have that ash smell, though knowing you have control over fire, it doesn’t surprise me. But there’s a lighter smell I’m trying to identify.”

  I regarded him for a moment. I couldn’t figure out why he was so hung up about this, but it got my curiosity ramped up into high gear. “Why not try to take a nu-human shape? Just for a moment to see if you can maintain it with the information you have?”

  Raikidan rubbed his chin and then nodded. He closed his eyes and after few moments of silence, his ears elongated before my very eyes. Nothing else about his… impressive… physical appearance changed, but the difference was more internal than external.

  My dragon ally opened his eyes and looked around, his eyes widening. “If I got this right, this is far different than the other human shape.”

  I tilted my head. “Tell me what you’re experiencing.”

  “My eyes are far crisper. And I can hear much farther. It’s much closer to my natural form.”

  I nodded. “Sounds like you got those two right.”

  He stared at me. “I can pick your scent up better, like you said. I catch the smell of deciduous trees because of the surrounding forest of this place and of my territory.” His brow furrowed. “But that shampoo scent still has me confused due to other scents I’m picking up on you.”

  “Watch yourself around him.”

  Raikidan came over to me. He leaned in, though he passed my head and aimed for more of my neck area, making me tense. A lump formed in my throat that I didn’t like. I went to move away, but Raikidan placed a hand on my arm and took a deep whiff of the scent by my neck. “There it is. It’s a light but sweet floral scent.”

  Light and sweet? What flora had that kind of scent?

  “I believe it’s freesia.” He pulled away and pointed to the vase of flowers. “I smell it coming from that.”

  Freesia had a very unique scent that was hard to describe. I would have described it as a mix of clean sheeting in the wind, strawberries, and a hint of honeysuckle. But Raikidan came off as more simple in thought, so his description worked, too. He really thinks he detects freesia as a scent? “Well, the scent for the shampoo is freesia…”

  “That explains why it confused me, since it’s enhancing your natural smell.” He tilted his head. “You look confused.”

  I shrugged. “It’s nothing. In this form, are you able to pick up anything else?”

  He shook his head. “That’s the one that confused me.”

  I held my chin between my index finger and thumb. That couldn’t be right. He had to smell something else.

  Raikidan narrowed his eyes. “Are you expecting something more? Or are you unhappy with the scents I mentioned?”

  “No, it’s not that. I don’t think you’ve perfected the form. You should be able to pick up a racial smell.”

  “Oh, I do smell that. You smell human for sure, like the young woman downstairs.”

  I nodded. “Since humans and nu-humans are technically the same species, that makes sense.”

  He stroked his chin. “But now that you bring it up, there is something different about your smell. It’s odd, but it smells reptilian.”

  “That’s weird.” I shrugged. “But maybe it’s something I picked up from being around you.”

  “Maybe…” His trailing words caught my attention, but his eyes showed his mind had gone somewhere else.

  I took a deep breath. “You should either wash up or leave, because I’m going to change, and you’re not allowed to be in here while I do.”

  Raikidan’s brow furrowed. “Why?”

  “Because I demand my privacy when dressing.” I pointed toward the two doors. “Now go.”

  His face stayed scrunched in confusion, but he did as told. Before disappearing into the bathroom, however, he cast a glance back over his shoulder. “I’ve decided to allow your broodmother friend to cut my hair as long as she doesn’t make me look stupid. Would you tell her that for me?”

  I sighed. “Just call her a mother so your cover isn’t blown, and yes, I will do that.”

  He nodded his thanks, his ears going back to a human look, and shut the door behind him. I let out a heavy sigh and leaned on the vanity. That had been one hell of a conversation. I looked down at the flower arrangement, my eyes pinning on the freesia Valene had tucked in.

  “…a light but sweet floral scent…” Did he really think I smelled like this flower? I looked at my hand and flexed it. At least it’s what he focused on. And it’s good that I smell mostly human… I didn’t need any unwanted questions to come up. They’d complicate matters and there were some truths that were better left buried. I especially don’t need a dragon such as himself finding out these truths. If I had to lie to him to keep them safe, then so be it. It’s not like I haven’t given him a few already.

  “He’s smarter than he looks, though,” the voice in my head warned. “You need to be extra careful.”

  I did need to be more careful. Dropping my towel, I went about changing into the clothes Valene had brought up for me. I pulled out a hairbrush from the vanity drawer and brushed my tangled hair, drying it with a bit of fire at the same time. Once I threw my hair back up into my hairclip, I went through a small pouch containing earrings. Most belonged to me, others I guessed she’d thrown in as a gift. Pulling out small gold hoops and gemmed studs, as well as two gold clamps connected by a chain, I went about inserting them into the various holes I had, some causing a bit of pain as I had to reopen them a little. My right ear had a match for the left, excluding the clamps and the first piercing hole, which I left empty. I suspect Shva’sika has that earring… at least I hope she does.

  My reflection in the vanity mirror looked a bit healthier after the bath. With a few nights of sleep on a nice bed, and some good meals, it wouldn’t be long before I was in peak shape again.

  I headed downstairs to let Alena know of Raikidan’s decision.

  I set the table as best I could with one hand. With Alena off helping Raikidan with his hair, her youngest had chosen me to cling to, and wanted me to carry him around on my back. I didn’t mind, though. He reminds me a lot of Ryder—only younger.

  My chest pulsed with pain and I did my best not to react. I hoped he was okay after all these years.

  Everyone stopped what they were doing when someone came down the stairs. Alena entered the common room, a smile on her face. “I’ve never seen such a drastic change in a person from one little haircut. Even I’m impressed by my work.”

  Valene joined my side as Alena stepped aside and someone entered the room behind her. My eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Raikidan sporting his new haircut, without a shirt. Of course, he’s not wearing one…

  His hair was no longer past his ears, and the center red portion had been cut and styled to be longer than either side of the black. Raikidan looked at me, holding my gaze, and a strange sensation fell over me while my mouth started to dry out.

  “Look away from him,” the voice warned. “Now.”

  Valene grabbed my arm, jerking
me out of my trance, and kept her voice low while also keeping an eye on Raikidan. “He looks like a god. Where did you find a guy that perfect?”

  Raikidan’s brow rose and some of Alena’s boys laughed. I looked at her with the same expression as Raikidan. “I’m not sure how to respond to that.”

  One of Alena’s older sons, who I noticed had been eyeing Raikidan almost as much as Valene, spoke up. “I know how you could.”

  One of her other sons snorted. “Yeah, like, where are his clothes?”

  I laughed. “Just be glad he’s wearing pants.”

  “Got a streaker for a man, do you?”

  I went about continuing my task. “We’re not together.”

  Alena watched me. “You haven’t made a comment on his hair. Do you disapprove of the haircut?”

  I looked at her with a raised brow. “I’m not saying that at all. I’m indifferent to the change. He looked fine with the longer hair, and he looks fine now with the shorter hair. I don’t know why all of you are making a big deal out of it.”

  Daren, hands full with a large serving platter, laughed as he left the kitchen. “Careful, lass, that kind o’ talk will get us tae think he’s not yer boyfriend an’ free for the takin’.”

  I sighed. “He’s not my boyfriend, Daren. Just made that clear.”

  “Ach, away ye go!” Daren waved me off and looked at the men in the room. “All right, lads, come help me serve the meal.”

  He set down the platter he carried on one of the tables and re-entered the kitchen, expecting the men to help him without question, which they did. Sethal continued to hang onto me instead of helping his brothers.

  Raikidan approached and held out a hand toward me. “Let me help you.”

  I half-smiled and handed him the rest of the plates. “Thank you. I’ll set the utensils since they’re over your comprehension level.”

  He smacked me in the arm and I chuckled. Sethal took interest in Raikidan’s presence then and Raikidan ruffled his hair before placing the last plates exactly how I had. Impressive. His ability to fit in after such a short time gave me an idea of how useful he would be in the city.