Dragon Defect [D.O.A. 4]

CHAPTER 1 “Hey! Hey! Hey! It’s the ever so sexy, Lex in the house.” Bren looked up from his paperwork, smiling, “How you doing, Lex? What brings you out to Drago?” “I’m a mail man, Bren. I deliver mail…remember?” Lex said with a laugh. “You’re funny. We both know my mate picks up all our mail at the post office, so what’s up?” Bren asked as he continued to look at Lex. Seeing something move in the waiting room area, Lex turned, laughing, “What the hell is Azul doing?” Bren turned to his maharishi, smiling wide, “Reading the Poconos Times. What’s it look like?” Lex watched Azul bring one of his large clawed fingers to his lip and licked the tip, then gently turned the page, picked up a cup of what looked like coffee and took a sip. “You know he is nuttier than a fruitcake, right?” Azul lifted his giant paw and quietly produced his middle finger. “Did your beast just flip me off?” Lex asked sounding surprised. “It would seem so.” Bren said with a small laugh of his own. Lex stuck his tongue out at Azul, then said, “One day, dragon breath… one day.” “As entertaining as all this is, you still haven’t answered my question, Lex.” Shrugging, Lex said, “I saw one of your guys had a package and figured I would swing by after work. Can’t a friend just stop in and say hello?” “Lex, you know you don’t have to make excuses to come here. However, since you have made a point of steering clear of Drago for the past month, I have to ask myself what’s going on?” Bren asked once more. Sighing heavily, Lex muttered, “I missed you guys.” “Again, you know you’re welcome here at any time. You’re the one who chose not to come around.” Bren stated. “After what happened at the Fourth of July celebration I didn’t know if I should.” Lex answered. Bren shook his head, “You took the fireworks, Lex, but you returned them and explained why. We all had a great time after that, remember?” Lex remembered that day like it was yesterday. Rene and the other D.O.A. agents had decided to have a large fourth of July celebration… parade… picnic… grilling hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone… and then fireworks. Lex had gone, but hadn’t expected to feel instant loneliness. Surrounded by all these people in this town, and Lex felt so alone it almost hurt. Seeing Bren in the arms of Rene, Rylee laughing and kissing with Taj… but it was seeing Jude sneak off with Casper to make love that hit Lex the hardest. He wanted that. He wanted to feel the love of his life wrapping his arms around him from behind, kissing on his neck and doing everything he could to get a moment alone with him. The idea of seeing these men with their mates, as he sat back and was forced to watch and have that loneliness dig in deeper, had made him make a huge fuckup. Lex had gone to the fireworks and taken them. His thoughts were if they didn’t have the fireworks, then maybe he wouldn’t have to witness the love and devotion, and then, maybe he wouldn’t hurt and yearn for something he could never have. It was a dumb idea and it didn’t take long for Lex to realize how stupid he was being. Lex loved the color green, but not when it came with jealousy. These men were his friends and they deserved to be happy. Besides the fact that his kitty had scented… stop thinking about it, Lex. You were mistaken. Let it the f**k go. “So how’s mated life?” “Amazing. I can’t remember a time I was happier.” Bren answered. A small man walked in with a little poodle. Bren stood up smiling, “Mr. Paris. How is Iggy feeling today?” “He’s much better since you gave him that treatment. We’re just here for our follow up.” Mr. Paris answered. Bren pointed to one of the open doors, “Go right on in the exam room and I will be with you in a minute.” “Thank you, Dr. Billman.” The old man replied as he went where Bren had indicated. Bren looked at Lex, “I have an idea. Why don’t you come to dinner tonight. The guys would love to see you.” “I don’t know, Bren. I made a real ass out of myself.” Lex stated, feeling his cheeks heat with embarrassment yet again, and there was also the fact that he might be there. “Hey Bren, has my four o’clock shown yet? I was… well, I’ll be damned. Look what the cat dragged in… or since you’re the cat… hell, what would drag you in?” Jude said with a smirk. “Jude you are such an ass.” Lex said with a snort. Turning around, Jude bent over, smiling, “Well, I do have such a nice one. My mates seem to really like it, so thank you for noticing.” Before Lex could say anything Smoky, Jude and Casper’s dragon, otherwise known as a maharishi, lifted from Jude’s arm, stretched its head out and around Jude’s body and bit into the round flesh. “Ouch! Damn it, Smoky, that f*****g hurt.” “Then I suggest you don’t go around flaunting it for all the world to see… and don’t think I have not already informed our mate of this infraction.” Smoky stated. Rolling his eyes, Bren said, “Smoky, you do know that only means that Casper is going to come in here, toss Jude over his shoulders and take him to the back to f**k his brains out, right?” Jude snorted, “Why do you think he tattled. I think Smoky is hornier than Casper and me put together.” Lex didn’t quite get the aspect of a mating with a member of the Dragons of Anarchy group. Bren, Jude and some of the other agents had tried to explain things to him, but it was still a bit confusing to him. For a shifter, the animal was a part of the human and they could shift into whatever that animal might be. Lex’s happened to be a snow leopard. In Lex’s world you found your mate, had s*x and bit into the partner marking them for all the world to see and scent… if they were a paranormal. When it came to D.O.A., they were different. Each agent had a maharishi… or a dragon. Rene had told Lex that he and the other agents had all been born in the early 1500s and died during war. They had been approached by the right-hand man to the god, Heck, asking them to help him keep the humans safe, not just from any kind of danger, but from those known as serialists. People that raped, killed, set fires... and so on, in multiple proportions. The population had grown to the point it was difficult for Heck to help all that needed it and he wanted Rene and his men to be part of a great team and take those assholes down... okay, not Rene’s words, but Lex’s, although that was the gist of things. When Rene and the others agreed, they were introduced to the dragon that would share their soul. The agents couldn’t shift into the dragon, but call on them for help. The dragon could be as small as a pinprick or as large as their original dragon, and the really freaky part was how they could almost apply themselves into an image… like a tattoo, on the agent or their mates. It was all crazy, but kind of cool. When they spoke of finding their mates… well that had been kind of interesting to Lex, since the D.O.A. agents’ bodies acted something like a cat’s. They went into heat upon finding their mate. Cat shifters did this as well, but it didn’t normally happen until after they found both their mates and then, unlike the D.O.A. guys, cats repeated their heat on the full moon. This was what had brought Lex to Drago… that scent… now it was really important that he understood what it meant to be a mate to a D.O.A. agent and their maharishi. Lex went to ask a question when the sound of a motorcycle screeched to a stop outside, confirming what Bren had just said. Casper walked into the office and without saying a word went straight to Jude, lifted him like a sack of potatoes and headed to the back, Jude shouting, “Tell my four o’clock I have been detained!” Bren laughed, then looked up at Lex, “This appointment won’t take a minute and then I’m free for the rest of the day. How about you stick around for a while and we can talk? Maybe by then you can make your mind up about dinner.” Lex nodded, saying, “I stopped by Taco Bell and grabbed a couple of ten packs of tacos for Cobra’s dragon. How about I head to the main house, make the maharishi’s day, then grab us a couple of beers and meet you by the pool?” Laughing, Bren said, “That dragon is going to love you. Sounds good. Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be right there.” Lex turned and left for the house. When he was passing the grocery store, he noticed the dragon with sharp antlers and a cool long white mohawk. “Taco? Well, what are you doing here?” Lex asked to himself. When Lex stopped his vehicle, the dragon turned his antlered head towards Lex, but then quickly went back to staring into the window of the store, swinging his tail from side to side. Lex had one particular dragon that he really was drawn to, but Taco was almost like a kindred soul. They had first come upon each other when Lex was watching Drago in his snow leopard form. Taco had been on patrol and found Lex walking through the fields going to the forest area. Bren, Jude, and Rylee had been missing and Lex was fearful that the biker gang he had seen in town had hurt them. Imagine his surprise when he discovered that D.O.A. wasn’t a biker gang at all, but agents sworn to capture the most vile of people. He and Taco had started talking and surprisingly a fast friendship was formed. Maybe it was because the beast had a panther-like body and Lex’s cat liked that. It sure wasn’t because of the sharp spikes going down his chest, or that extra-long lizard style tail. That s**t made Lex nervous. “Hey Taco, what are you doing?” Taco didn’t turn away from the window, answering, “Waiting.” Lex was shocked to hear Taco actually speaking to him in public. Yes, some of the maharishi could be verbal and then there were some like Azul, who only spoke within the mind of their shared souls and to the other dragons. The first time Taco talked to Lex he had been shocked at how pretty the dragon’s voice was… almost angelic. “It always surprises me how soft and soothing your voice is. I mean you’re a massive force to be reckoned with, but your voice is so calm and soothing.” “Thank you.” Taco replied. Laughing, Lex replied, “I only speak the truth. Anyway, I brought you something.” Taco turned his head and swung his tail so fast, Lex damn near got knocked on his ass. “Dude, watch that appendage you call a tail.” “Do I smell Taco Bell?” Taco asked. Lex held up his offering, asking, “What do you think?” Taco turned back towards the window and then back to Lex. He looked indecisive at first, then sighed as his body shrunk down to the same size as Lex. “You alright, Taco?” Lex asked, handing over his gift. Shrugging, Taco replied, “Why are humans so dense? I mean, why can’t they see what’s right in front of them. I know you’re not really human, but a part of you is and I just don’t understand them.” Lex took one of the tacos from the tray and bit into it. “I don’t think that humans are dense, as much as sometimes they don’t see things within themselves, so they might not see those things in others.” “So it’s a self image thing?” Taco asked. “I guess you can call it that. I think it depends on what the situation is. For example, let’s say that a human comes across someone that they really like. Every part of that other person touches all of their s****l buttons. However, that human has never really known how to be around people. Most, if not all of their life has been that of a loner. That means their social skills aren’t sharpened and also means they are not sure of what to say, or what to do when they find themselves attracted to someone. So, they either run for the hills, or ignore the feeling altogether.” Lex said. Taco nodded, “I can kind of understand that, but… but what if they are a talker and everyone seems to like them. Why then do they ignore what is right in front of them?” “Some people do that more when they are around others. It’s called a nervous habit. Say things so fast, or say a lot of words, but if you think about it, they really say nothing at all. Then there are the ones that make jokes all the time. It’s a way for them to have people focus on the funny and not the man.” Lex answered, finishing off his taco. “But if you don’t want people to focus on you, then why draw attention to yourself in the first place?” Taco asked, finishing off one box and opening the next. Lex replied, “They don’t see it like that. I can’t tell you how many times people will laugh and think, man this dude is crazy, but not see how lonely or even sad the other person is.” “You sound as if you talk from experience.” Taco said with a knowing look. “Maybe I am. Taco, I’m a snow leopard. My animal is known as the ghost of the mountain or ghost cats. They are born and live with their mothers until they are eighteen months old, then take off to live on their own only getting together with others of their kind to mate, then they separate once more. I guess my human nature kind of blended in with my cat.” Lex explained. “But you are friends with Bren, Jude, and Rylee.” Taco stated. Sighing, Lex replied, “I guess so. Honestly, I think you and I are closer to friends then I am with them.” “That’s nice of you to say, Lex. I feel the same about you. However, I also know what I heard the other day when they were talking about you. Bren, Rylee and Jude were really getting worried. because you hadn’t been coming around. Jude said if he didn’t see you by today, he was going to go into town and hunt you down like the dog… well cat… you are and have Smoky set your tail on fire for making everyone worry. That sounds like a friend to me.” Taco replied. Laughing, Lex replied, “In Jude talk, I guess it is.” Taco finished his taco treat, then looked towards the store, asking, “Is there any way someone interested could get someone like you to open your eyes and see what’s in front of you?” “Don’t push too hard. Just let them see you and let them set the pace. Otherwise, you might scare them off. So, are you going to tell me who it is you’re trying to attract the attention of?” Lex asked. Standing back up, Taco replied, “I think I found Cobra’s and my maharishi.” “You think? I thought you guys knew them right off, and if you even got a tiny whiff, it would set Cobra into his dragon heat?” Lex asked, sounding as confused as he felt. Taco scrunched his face, looking a bit baffled, “Yes, but the problem is, this human gives off very little to no scent and I don’t know why.” “Maybe he isn’t as human as you think, or he’s like my cat and can mask his scent.” Lex stated, standing up and brushing the dirt off from his backside. Tilting his head to the side, Taco muttered, “I never thought of that. But if he isn’t human, what is he? And, how do you do it?” “I can’t answer as to what he can be, Taco, but as for me it’s all part of the type of shifter I am. I just think no scent and there you go… no one can smell me. It’s a safety mechanism within my DNA for my snow leopard. Maybe you should ask him what he is and why he gives off no scent?” Lex suggested. “Maybe I will.” Taco replied, enlarging himself and turning to look back in the window once more. “By the way, if you can’t smell him, why do you think he’s Cobra’s and your mate?” Lex asked walking to the car. “Because I dream about him. I hate it when a day goes by and I’ve not seen him. Sometimes I want to lift him into the sky and take him to my hoard so he will never be harmed.” Taco answered, more to himself than to Lex. Lex shouted out, “Well, that is a sign alright. Well I gotta go. I promised Bren I’d stop by the house for beer and maybe dinner. Catch you later, Taco.” “Have fun.” Taco replied almost absently.