“She is beautiful. No virile male would be able to resist her.”
Her golden, cat-like eyes were complemented by the silky, black hair that flowed down to her round ass. Pouty, red lips begged to be kissed, and large, firm breasts to be fondled. His cock stiffened.
“Fuck!”
He jumped to his feet. “And like an idiot, I stand out here talking to myself.”
Bones shifted and scales popped along his skin. Sand swirled upward creating a tunnel around him. He shot through it, his dragon taking flight. He needed to put several miles between them and perhaps find a warm female to lay beneath him. The cool air slid across his skin as he glided high above the desert, but it did nothing to squelch his temper or desire. He fought the urge to return to her but found he was unable to leave her alone. Fear sat like a lead ball in his gut, what if someone tried to harm her? He banked a hard right and headed back toward home. Landing in the soft sand of the Egyptian desert, he stared at his tent. It was going to be a long cold night.
* * * *
Lileta stretched, searing pain shot across her side causing her to hiss. The door to the barracks flew open with a bang and revealed a pink sky. She could only make out a shadow but knew by the size that it was Caleb.
“What’s wrong?” His voice rough as the sand outside.
“Nothing.”
The Draki stepped in, letting the door slam closed behind him. With the blinding light removed from her eyes, she noted he wore only a pair of jeans. His bronze chest covered with flawless skin and corded muscles. With the exception of a long scar across his stomach, he was perfect. She could only guess at the devastating blow that left the pink, raised line from the bottom of his left rib down to his right hip. Someone must have tortured him then kept him from healing. Immortals never scarred.
He caught her gaze and looked down at the old wound. His fingers curled into his palms and nostrils flared. “I asked you a question.”
She flung her feet over the edge of the bed and winced. “And I gave you an answer.”
Caleb was beside her so quickly her breath caught. Lifting her tee, the angry wound stared back at him. The only one that had yet to heal. A deep gash just under her ribs.
“You’re still injured.”
She reached to push the shirt down; her fingers touched his, sending searing heat through her veins. Her gaze lifted to meet emerald eyes. He leaned closer, hot breath caressed her cheek. He swallowed, looking torn as if wanting to kiss her. She should let him. After all, it would be very easy to let their saliva mix, transferring her poison into the dragon’s system. True, it would take hours to kill one of his size, but then she’d be free to escape. Instead, she looked away and pulled her shirt down. Wondering what the hell was wrong with her.
“It’s nothing. It will heal.” Her voice cracked, and she fought to control her breathing.
He moved from the bed and marched to a chest in the corner. Kneeling, he flung open the lid, tossed its contents into the air like a child looking for a favorite toy until finally he found the prize. He pulled free a small wooden box, stood and strode toward her.
“Remove your shirt,” he commanded.
Her brows furrowed. “I will not.” She might be a slave, but at least she would be a clothed one.
He set the box on the bed and opened it to reveal some bandages, latex gloves, scissors and a small crystal jar. He grabbed a glove and pulled it onto his right hand. “Either you remove your shirt, or I’ll do it for you. Believe me, you will not like what’s left should I do it myself.”
“Fine.” She grabbed the hem and pulled the flimsy pink tee over her head. Left with only her shorts and a pink, lace bra that formed over her breasts like a second skin, she couldn’t help noticing the bulge growing in his jeans.
“Christ,” he mumbled as he knelt to the floor.
She hid a grin.
I hope you suffer.
He opened the jar to reveal a thick, black paste. Dipping a gloved finger inside, he scooped out a dime size glob then proceeded to glide it across her wound. The coolness soothed the cut, numbing it along the way, but searing heat from his touch burned her, causing her to grit her teeth.
“What is that?”
He looked up. “An old family recipe.” He reached for a bandage, tore open the package and gently taped it over the wound.
She snorted. “Then why didn’t you use it on your own wound?” She motioned toward the old scar across his belly.
He stood, lip curling to reveal white teeth. With a flick of his wrist, the glove came off and landed in the corner. He turned and headed for the door, but not before she caught the hurt in his eyes.
“Pack up; we’re leaving this shit hole.” He exited, letting the barracks door slam behind him.
There was more to his scar than a thin red line. Whatever it was ran deep inside him. For the first time in years, her heart ached and it pained for Caleb.
Chapter Two
Minutes later, several Draki descended on the barracks and began to dismantle it. The sun licked Lileta’s skin, and she wanted to bask in it but was interrupted by a shadow looming over her.
“You will fly with me.”
Her head whipped around, and her gaze narrowed on the Draki next to her. “I most certainly will not. I will travel with the other women through the portal.” She looked all around where they stood. “Where are they anyway?”
His jaw flexed. “You belong to me and will obey.”
Her fingers rolled into her palms, nails biting flesh. “Where are the other women?”
“Fucking slave, I should cut out your tongue and teach you to mind your manners.”
Lileta couldn’t stop herself, she let her tongue slip between her lips and point directly at him. Childish she knew, but satisfying none the less. Firm hands gripped her arms and pulled her to a muscular chest. She tilted her head to look up at the tall, fierce man.
Caleb laughed. “I should put you over my knee and spank you like a child.”
Her eyes widened, and her skin warmed. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He squeezed tighter. “Don’t tempt me, demon. You will soon learn I dare many things.”
Her breath caught when she pressed against his erection. All the blood flowed to her core and caused a burning she’d never experienced before.
Her body betrayed her.
His chest rose and fell in gasps, and he set her away. “The women have already left. You are no longer responsible for them.” His shoulders dropped. “Have you ever flown with a dragon before?”
She had let them down, all of them. Somehow, she needed to get to the women and help them escape. Glancing into Caleb’s eyes, she decided he might prove useful after all and would use him to aid her. She only need convince him Odage was wrong.
“No, I’ve never flown.”
He smiled. “Are you afraid?”
Her vision narrowed. “I fear nothing, dragon.”
His body shimmered as the transformation took place, and a majestic, blue dragon stood in front of her. She’d seen him in this form before, but never up close. He astounded her.
The sun reflected off the golden scales covering his belly and continued up the front of his long, lean neck. Two long horns crowned his head. He was fierce looking, a menace with wings. Capable of destruction not even she could imagine. However, his eyes told another story. The green orbs stared back at her, and for a moment, she thought she caught a glimpse of pain.
He lowered his massive head to the ground.
Climb on
. His voiced echoed inside her mind.
She scurried up thick muscles and pulled herself into position astride his back, grabbing a smaller horn for balance.
Hold on tight.
His voice sent a shiver up her spine. She was really going to fly, a dream she’d held since childhood. Never would she admit to him how she used to watch the dragons circle high above their mountainous home and wished to join them. That was long ago, nearly a lifetime, and so many things had happened since then. The carefree little girl was gone forever, replaced by a grown woman with revenge in her heart.
The dragon raised enormous wings, and with a gentle flap, they lifted off the ground. Within seconds, he took them high above the desert; cool wind blew through her hair. She swallowed a giggle as he increased his speed. The little girl was back, even if only for a moment.
“How do you keep the humans from seeing us?”
He snorted, jolting her.
There is much you don’t know about the Draki. I am able to cloak us. No one can see, not even the humans so called ‘radar’ can detect our presence.
“Really? I wonder why Odage found it necessary to seek a cloaking spell from Sidara then.” She’d overheard a conversation Odage had with one of his minions, about going to see the voodoo priestess for a spell.
His muscles tensed beneath her. Good, she’d struck a nerve.
We can only cloak in our dragon form. As humans, we lose the power.
“Ah, I see.” Was he going to avoid the subject of his fearless leader?
I’m sure Odage was doing recon and didn’t want to be seen. It doesn’t make sense to shift to our dragon if we are among the humans. Our bulk is simply too much to get around in their world.
She smiled. “Or perhaps it was because he wanted to steal Marcus’s mate.”
His wings stopped mid-descent for a brief moment before continuing on. She had his attention, and he couldn’t walk away from her.
Where is your proof?
The door was open; now she would glide through. “I spoke with her when he succeeded in taking her. He then sent her to Hell with that bitch Eliza.”
This is why you released Marcus?
Good boy, he was finally asking the right questions. “Yes, also I was hoping he could save the others. That is still my hope.”
Why should I believe any of this?
His voice echoed with irritation.
“You were once Marcus’s friend. Maybe before you decide to kill him, you should ask him about his human mate.” She squeezed the horn in her grip. “
Kill first and ask questions later
is not a good code to live by.”
She hoped the seed of doubt had been planted. Perhaps somewhere, deep inside the hulking carcass she flew on, there was a conscience that would keep him from killing a longtime friend.
* * * *
Odage stood in the location Lowan had instructed for him to wait. Again with the sand, when was he ever going to get away from the shit? He was anxious to be done with this meeting and move on to the next phase. Whatever that might be.
When his patience was stretched thin, grains of sand lifted, forming fingers that grasped his ankles. Sharp claws dug into his flesh and pulled. His body sank into an ever-growing hole of gritty darkness. His eyes snapped shut, unable to bear witness to his sandy grave.
“Open your eyes and look upon me.”
Odage did as commanded by the sinister voice, spitting sand from his mouth and wondering why the fuck he couldn’t enter Hell in a more dignified manner. The demon in front of him stood seven foot tall, his jet black hair fell over obsidian eyes. A nasty scar ran from his left temple, across his cheek and stopped just above his lip, which curled into a deadly smile.
Odage dropped to his knees and gazed at the marble floor. “My Lord, I am pleased to be in your presence at last.”
“Rise, dragon, and let me feast my eyes on the amulet.”
Odage shuffled to his feet and removed the piece from his pocket, handing it to Lowan. The dark lord turned it over in his palm and then moved to an ornately carved desk a few feet away. Lowan reached for an ivory box sitting under a Tiffany lamp and flipped open the lid. His hand disappeared inside and pulled out the other half of the amulet. The demon placed the two pieces together then cupped them in his palms. Red light shot out between his splayed fingers, and sparks flew into the air with a sharp snap. When Lowan opened his palms, the pieces had fused.
He smiled. “It’s a thing of beauty, don’t you think?”
“Of course, My Lord.” Odage swallowed the lump in his throat and stared at the glowing stone. “My Lord, what about the girl? You promised—”
“Silence!” Lowan took a step closer to Odage. “You fucked up one too many times, dragon. There will be no visits.”
Odage dug his nails into his hands and forced himself not to shift. “But you gave your word.”
Cold shadows wrapped around his neck and squeezed. “Do not piss me off; you will not like the consequences.” He released his invisible grip. “I have another job for you. If you can manage to not fuck it up then perhaps we can talk about the child.”
Odage lowered his gaze back to the floor. “Yes, My Lord, how may I serve you?”
“You will kidnap Qadira.”
His head shot up, and he dared to gaze directly into the dark lord’s black orbs. “M-my Lord. You want me to kidnap a goddess? May I ask why?”
Lowan laughed. “You may ask, but I will not be divulging that information.”
Odage dropped to his knees. “I will do as you bid, My Lord.”
I have no fucking clue how I’m supposed to take a goddess hostage.
Lowan patted him on the head. “That’s a good puppet. I’m sure you will find a way to succeed.”
Odage found himself back in the sand where he’d started. Jumping to his feet, he called for his dragon, and his body shifted. Rage coursed through him as he spat fire across the terrain, turning it to glass. He roared toward the heavens. When he shot into the sky, the wind chilled the wetness on his cheek. He would kill Lowan if only he knew how.
* * * *
Caleb had decided to take Lileta to his home buried in the forests of Romania since it was his favorite and the most secluded. He landed softly in a meadow close by.
We are here.
She disembarked. “Where is here?”
My home is just beyond that ridge.
He indicated by tipping his head.
We will have to walk the rest of the way since the forest is too thick for me to land any closer and I have no desire to advertise our arrival by flashing.
He shimmered back to his human form and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.