Dragon Secrets (Dragon Breeze Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  © 2017 by Rinelle Grey

  www.rinellegrey.com

  All rights reserved.

  Cover design by

  Table of Contents

  Blurb

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  About the Author

  Blurb

  It's been a year since he's seen her—a year since Lyrian broke his heart. When his uncle dies and leaves him a house in Australia, Brad doesn't realize his whole life is about to change. He expects to take a week off from his demanding job as a cardiac surgeon. Maybe spend some time with the beautiful Lyrian again. But what he finds is more than he ever bargained for. He could never have guessed he'd end up with an instant family.

  But Lyrian is harbouring more secrets than just a child. She's a dragon princess on a mission. She must find her brothers and sisters so her infant daughter won't grow up without a clan.

  Can Lyrian count on Brad to help her find her lost clan? Or will he just get in her way?

  Dragon Secrets is Part 1 in the Dragon Breeze serial.

  Sign up to my mailing list for a free copy of Bringing Christmas to the Dragon, the story that started it all!

  Chapter 1

  Red and blue lights flashed in Brad’s rear-view mirror.

  He swore under his breath and checked the time on the clock on the dashboard. This shouldn’t take long. He hadn’t been speeding, and the rental car shouldn’t have any defects. Probably just a random breathalyzer test.

  The white pickup hadn’t exactly been his choice of vehicle, but it was all the rental company had available on such short notice. It was smaller than the pickups he was used to, even though it had a back seat. But he’d been lucky he could coordinate time off work, flights out here and any rental car at all to get all the way to Mungaloo.

  He had plenty of time, he was early even. Not that the lawyer was going anywhere, and neither was his uncle’s house.

  Despite all that, he couldn’t help feeling irritated. He wasn’t sure why.

  It couldn’t be because he was secretly hoping to see her again. She’d dumped him. Made it quite clear she wasn’t interested.

  That fact left a sour taste in his mouth as he pulled over and rolled down the window. He tried to convince himself he had no wish to see her again.

  It wasn’t likely to happen anyway. It had been twelve months since his last visit. Since she’d only been staying with his uncle until she sorted out her own place, what were the chances she was still around?

  “Is there a problem, officer?” he asked, as the police officer came up to his window.

  The man looked at him suspiciously. “Can I see your driver’s licence, please?”

  Brad bit his tongue to stop himself from asking why. The man would tell him what he was after quickly enough and then he could be on his way.

  Another man appeared beside the police officer, dressed in ordinary clothes, holding a phone out in front of him. The way his beady little eyes stared at Brad suspiciously made him feel instantly defensive.

  “He’s not the one we’re looking for,” the beady eyed man said, then glanced around, as though he expected someone else to be nearby.

  Brad’s eyes narrowed. He’d only been in Australia a couple of times, but surely this was unusual, even for here. He evaluated the man as he pulled out his driver’s licence and handed it over.

  There was a slightly wild look in his eyes that didn’t bode well.

  The police officer studied Brad’s licence for a moment, then looked back to Brad. “Visiting from America, are you?” His voice was conversational, but the frown on his face wasn’t.

  “Yeah, my uncle died a week ago and left me his house. I had to come out here and sort things out. I’m just on my way to the lawyers.”

  The police officer’s suspicion didn’t dim. “How long have you been in Mungaloo?”

  This was starting to get irritating. What were they after?

  Brad made himself take a deep breath and keep his voice calm as he replied, “I literally just drove into town.”

  The police officer frowned.

  The other man with him held out his phone and moved it around a little, as though tracking something. Then he glanced into the back of the pickup.

  “Hey.” He reached into the back and picked something up.

  This time, Brad didn’t stay quiet. “What are you doing?”

  He was pretty sure that taking something out of his car without a warrant wasn’t any more legal here than it would be in America.

  Not that it stopped the strange man. He triumphantly held up a purple phone with bunny ears.

  It was Brad’s turn to frown. Where had that come from? Had it been in there when he rented the pickup? Must have been, because it certainly wasn’t his.

  The police officer turned to the man, a frown still on his face. “Is that the phone?”

  The man nodded. He flicked the screen and pressed something, then held it out to the police officer. “See?”

  Was it his phone?

  A feeling of unease settled over Brad. What was going on?

  How had this phone found its way into his car? Or the car he was driving anyway.

  “Look,” he said. “I don’t know what is going on, but this isn’t even my vehicle. I just rented it. I’ve never seen that phone before in my life.”

  Both of them turned back to him.

  “Then how did it get in there?” the police officer asked.

  “Do you know Lisa?” the beady eyed man demanded.

  “Who’s Lisa?” Brad blurted out. “Look, the only people I’ve seen since I arrived in Australia, are the people who work at the airport and at the car rental booth. I’ve literally been in the country for a few hours, and I’ve spent all that time driving from the city to here.”

  Something very strange was going on.

  “Then how did this phone get in your car?” the strange man demanded.

  Brad stared at him for a few moments. Who was he, and why did he get to ask questions? He decided to ignore him, and turned to the police officer. “What’s going on?”

  The police officer’s lips pursed, then he sighed. “Is this phone yours?”

  “No,” Brad said flatly. He glanced at the man. “I’m assuming it’s his?”

  The police officer didn’t answer the question. Instead he said, “How did it get into your car? Did someone give it to you?”

  “If someone gave it to me, do you think I would have thrown it in the back of the pickup?”

  The police officer looked taken aback.

  “Lisa must have thrown it in the back as she passed,” the beady eyed man said gloomily. “To put us off the scent. It worked, too. They could be anywhere by now.”

  Despite knowing he shouldn’t ask, curiosity got the better of Brad. “Who’s Lisa?”

  The police officer frowned, and Brad suspected he was about to be told it was none of his business.

  The other man answered though. “My sister. She and her dragon buddy are trying to hide from us.”

  If Brad thought the episode had s
tarted out weird, it just increased exponentially. “Dragon?”

  Some weird nickname?

  It made no sense at all. Brad shook his head in confusion.

  The police officer frowned at the beady eyed man. “Go back to the car,” he said sharply. “This is police business.”

  The man looked like he was going to object, then he shrugged, and walked off.

  The police officer looked at Brad. For the first time, he didn’t seem so suspicious. “Since you say you’ve never seen the phone before, I suppose you won’t mind if we take it?”

  Brad hesitated. The matter had intrigued him enough that he had a slight impulse to deny the request. To see if he could get more information. But a glance at the clock on the dashboard reminded him that the extra time he had was slipping away fast. He didn’t want to be late for his meeting with the lawyer.

  He hated being late.

  And every minute he spent here was a delay in finding out if he’d see Lyrian again. At that thought, the impatience he’d felt earlier returned.

  Maybe it was time to give up on the pretence that he had no interest in seeing her again?

  Either way, he didn’t have time to indulge his curiosity about what was going on here. He didn’t have long before he had to get back to the hospital. Any time he spent here was time he wasn’t spending convincing Lyrian she’d made a mistake dumping him.

  If she was even there.

  “No, of course not,” he said, waving his hand. “Go ahead.”

  The police officer stepped back from the pickup, and nodded his head. “Thanks for your time,” he said.

  Brad drove off, glancing in the rear-view mirror and shaking his head again.

  He’d heard some strange stories in his life, but this one was right up there with the best of them.

  Chapter 2

  Brad stared at his uncle’s letter, trying to ignore his heart thumping. He’d spent the whole flight and drive out here trying to convince himself that Lyrian would be long gone.

  That he didn’t care if she was.

  That he was better off without her.

  Mostly just trying to convince himself not to get his hopes up.

  To have an opportunity like this dropped straight in his lap…

  Trouble was, his uncle’s letter made very little sense.

  Lyrian didn’t want me to tell you, you have to know that. She made me promise. Don’t be too angry at an old man, okay?

  She needs your help, even if she says she doesn’t. I know this is going to be hard to understand, lad, but Lyrian isn’t from our world. She doesn’t understand most of the things we take for granted.

  I would have left the house to her, but, well, that would have just put her in the spotlight. Instead, I’m counting on you. I know you’re a big, hot shot doctor back in America, but some things are more important than a job.

  She needs you, Brad.

  Watch out though, she can be a little skittish. Don’t ask too many questions. Just…

  Help her, please?

  Brad took a slow, deep breath, trying to calm his heart.

  He couldn’t help being transported back to that magical week.

  He’d been staying with Nate in Sydney when Uncle Henry had called. Said he needed some help. He’d been asking Nate, but Brad’s twin brother had a studio booked for a week and couldn’t take time off. Brad had offered to go in his stead.

  When he’d arrived, Henry hadn’t seemed to need help. In fact, he’d already had some.

  The young woman staying with his uncle, helping him with the cooking and cleaning Henry had said, had captured Brad’s interest immediately. Her blue curls flashing in the sun. Her smile as wide and infectious as the blue sky. Her eyes sparking and teasing, always tempting.

  She’d been so unlike any woman he’d ever met. He’d tried to tell himself that her impulsive and carefree nature wasn’t suited to him at all, but he hadn’t been very successful.

  He hadn’t been able to resist. And she certainly hadn’t been pushing him away.

  He shook his head.

  His uncle’s request was just what he’d been hoping for. Uncle Henry had to guess that. Why would his uncle think he would be angry?

  And what did he mean, not from this world? Lyrian was certainly special, and more than a little quirky, but that was a far cry from not from this world. Had the old man been in a worse way than Brad had realised?

  “Did you speak to my uncle, in the last few weeks?” Brad asked the lawyer.

  “Not recently,” the man admitted. “He came in to write up his will about three months ago, and I haven’t heard from him since.”

  “Did he seem… all there?” Brad asked cautiously.

  The lawyer hesitated. “He seemed, on edge,” he admitted. “And a little strange. But he seemed more than capable of making his own decisions.”

  Brad stared at the letter again. Apparently the old man had managed to seem coherent to others.

  And the lure of a chance that Lyrian might speak to him again, might even need him, tempted him to ignore the red flags this letter raised.

  Either way, there was only one way to find out what was going on. “When can I take a look at the house?” he asked.

  “You can go out now if you like,” the lawyer said. “I’ll give you the keys. I’d take you out myself, but I’m the only one in the office. I’ll get the paperwork in order for you this week. How long do you plan to be in Australia?”

  That was the question, wasn’t it?

  “I can wait a week,” Brad allowed. “But probably no more than that.”

  Even a week was pushing it. Finding someone to take his position for that long on such short notice hadn’t been easy. If it had been for anything other than a death in the family, he doubted he would have managed it.

  His uncle had said that some things were more important than a job, but Brad’s position as a cardiac surgeon wasn’t easily filled. He had a responsibility to his patients, and to the hospital. He couldn’t take any longer even if finding a replacement had been easy.

  “We’ll make it a priority,” the lawyer said smoothly.

  “Thanks.”

  Brad pocketed the key and headed back out to the pickup, dumping the papers the lawyer had given him into the back seat.

  He headed out to his uncle’s property, remembering his way this time. Even so, he almost missed the dirt track turnoff. He’d only been here the once before, and that had been a little over twelve months ago.

  The bittersweet memory of that day hit him, distracting him as he drove, the memory as big and bold as if he were living it again.

  He didn’t have a clue where he was going. Thank heavens for the GPS on his phone.

  Half way down the dirt road, the car began to cough and splutter, and slowly slid to a halt.

  Great.

  Just what he needed.

  Brad climbed out of the car, the heat hitting him as soon as he left the air-conditioned cabin. He lifted the hood and stared at the engine.

  It looked like an engine. A dusty, dirty engine.

  He could repair a man’s heart, but he didn’t know the first thing about cars.

  He sighed and pulled out his phone. It was going to cost him a fortune to get someone to come out here to give him a tow.

  As if his day wasn’t already bad enough, there was no phone reception.

  Why had he agreed to do this? Whatever Uncle Henry needed surely could have waited a week until Nate had time to help out.

  Brad stared back up the road. When had he last had reception? The GPS had been working when it directed him down this road. So about three miles back. He glanced the other way. About the same distance to the house. His uncle would give him a hand. The old man knew all about engines.

  He heaved a sigh, and started to walk. He hadn’t made it more than a few steps when he saw a cloud of dust in the distance.

  Someone was coming.

  Maybe it was his uncle?

  As a dusty pi
ckup drew closer, Brad stepped out from the car and waved his hands.

  Hopefully the driver was a normal person, not a maniac. He was suddenly aware that he was in the middle of nowhere, with no phone reception. Who knew what he would find out here. Surely he was due for a lucky break?

  Perhaps he was, because the person who stepped out of the pickup was a woman. Not that she looked normal by any stretch of the imagination. Pale, sky blue curls bounced around her shoulders, and her skin was so pale it seemed almost translucent.

  As if in contrast, she wore a grease stained pair of overalls over a bright pink t-shirt.

  Brad did a double take.

  Nate had taken great pleasure in showing him all the weird and wacky things here in Australia, but this one was his favourite.

  “Hi, I’m Brad,” he said, stepping forwards and holding out his hand.

  She stared at it for a moment, before reaching out her own hand and taking his.

  Her hand was cool and gentle. For some reason, a wave of goosebumps ran up Brad’s arm.

  The woman didn’t say anything though. Didn’t offer her name in return.

  Brad itched to ask, but he reminded himself he had more pressing concerns. He didn’t need distractions right now. Even fascinatingly gorgeous ones like this.

  “Sorry to trouble you,” he said. “But something seems to be wrong with my car. I don’t suppose you can give me a lift up the road?”

  She flashed him a smile. “Let’s take a look.”

  Her voice was light and raspy, almost a little breezy.

  Brad’s heart gave a leap, and a few other parts did as well as she bent over the engine, her overalls pulling tight around her butt.

  He moved to one side, and focused his eyes on the engine. “I have no idea what it is,” he said. “It’s just a rental car. I suppose I’m going to need to get a new one.”

  “Hose popped off,” she said cheerily. “That happens a lot in this heat.” She reached her hands into the engine, and fiddled for a few minutes. “There you go, it should be right now.”

  Brad couldn’t help staring at her in admiration. Gorgeous and practical.