Dragon's Heart (The DragonFate Novels Book 3) Read online

  Her eyes were dancing as she shook out her hair, then she framed his face in her hands. “The shower is big enough for two,” she said, her tone teasing.

  “Yes.” Rhys speared his fingers into her hair and drew her up for another long kiss, wanting to both make this interval last and yearning for immediate satisfaction.

  “You’re huge,” she whispered, giving him a bold caress.

  “Complaining?” Rhys teased and she shook her head, laughing, her hair once again seeming to flow like a river. She held his gaze as she unfastened his jeans, and he savored the feel of her hands as she pushed them down. She caressed him then bent and took him in her mouth, making him shudder with need.

  Rhys couldn’t wait. He lifted Lila away and stripped off her tights, holding her against his chest as he turned on the water. He carried her into the glass-walled shower and backed her into one corner. He kissed her thoroughly, then eased down the length of her, kissing her neck, her breasts, her belly, then finally lifting her knees to his shoulders. Lila whispered his name when he closed his mouth over her and arched her back, spreading her thighs wide and then moaning deeply.

  Rhys braced her against the wall of the shower and ate her slowly, taking her to the brink of pleasure, then easing away again. He tempted and teased her, feeling how taut she was, loving how wet she was. He took his time, not caring how long it required to ensure her pleasure. He gripped her buttocks, holding her captive to his caress and she rocked against him, gripping his shoulders with her fingers. The hot water flowed over them, the firestorm glowed and he wanted her to remember the satisfaction of the firestorm forever.

  Rhys knew the moment when she was on the cusp of release and this time, instead of withdrawing, he drove her to her release. She cried out in pleasure, rocking against him as the tide swept through her. She was flushed and her eyes were sparkling when she looked at him, and Rhys saw resolve in the line of her lips.

  She spun and backed him into the same corner, then hooked one leg around him as she pulled his head down for a consuming kiss. Rhys lifted her up and she wrapped both legs around him, pulling him against her silky heat in silent demand. He gasped as she took him inside her in mercilessly slow increments, his heart nearly stopping with pleasure.

  And that was nothing compared to how she rode him. She tormented him as deliberately as he’d teased her, moving with that enticing rhythm until he was certain he’d lose control, then slowing or even stilling completely before beginning her amorous assault again. She was slick and smooth, powerful and seductive. The firestorm burned with new brilliance, so white and hot that even though the water should have turned cold, the shower stall was filled with steam. The water sizzled, the room was filled with radiant light, and Lila smiled as she took Rhys to the cusp of release again.

  This time, he couldn’t stop. He turned so that she was against the wall and buried himself inside her, moving with power against her clitoris so that she flushed with her arousal. They stared into each other’s eyes, transfixed as they conjured the storm together, then shouted as one with satisfaction.

  Rhys closed his eyes and sagged against the wall, his breathing hard. Lila leaned her head on his shoulder, then tapped a fingertip on his tattoo. Rhys could feel that there was no spark, and he knew the room had become dark.

  The firestorm was satisfied.

  He took a breath and looked down at Lila. She smiled at him. “I choose,” she whispered, and he kissed her again, overwhelmed with gratitude for the firestorm’s gift.

  He loved Lila, and his love would last through the end of time.

  Fascinating.

  Embron had listened to the Pyr conference in the restaurant and had learned a bit more from Eithne’s tale. He’d known nothing of the tokens of prophecy made for the Others and considered the residue of Regalian magick that must be in each one that survived. He didn’t particularly regret the witch’s passing—she’d served her purpose to him.

  How unfortunate that she’d only named two of the talismans. He waited for the Pyr to leave and sensed the consummation of the firestorm. When his fellow dragon shifters were gone or otherwise occupied, he left the apartment quietly, darting down streets until he found a deserted lot.

  Then he bounded into the sky and shifted shape, turning toward Chicago.

  The firestorm definitely lived up to its promise.

  And it had been worth the trip, too.

  Lila knew she would miss it. No other lovemaking would ever compare. She and Rhys washed each other quickly, because the water was cold. They’d run the hot water tank dry. She dressed in his shirt again when he suggested she wait a bit before taking her bath. “Let me guess. You’re going to feed us,” she teased and he laughed.

  “Nothing heavy. I had oysters sent up from the kitchen and we never ate them.”

  “Because we need an aphrodisiac now?”

  His smile was warm. “Maybe we just need to keep up our strength.” They kissed again on the way to the kitchen and Lila was glad to slide onto a stool and watch him work. Even though he was superbly muscled, he moved with a dancer’s grace. He was both strong and gentle, principled and reliable.

  Lila would miss more than the firestorm.

  “How does that work anyway?” he asked as he opened an oyster with a knife. “That choosing bit?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, how long do you have to choose? Can you change your mind? How does your body know what you’ve chosen?” He opened another oyster and waited.

  “I’m not sure how to explain it,” Lila said, watching him work. “It’s like a question rises in my thoughts, a question about the choice. It lasts at most a day and a night, but as soon as I decide, it fades away.”

  “And your choice is what happens?”

  She nodded. “I can feel the difference.”

  “And if you don’t choose?”

  “I’ve heard that the body chooses, but I’ve never taken that chance. I like to be in charge of my own fate.”

  Rhys smiled. “I can relate to that.”

  “And once the choice is made, it’s done. I can’t change it. I can see the change in the auras of other selkies.”

  “Like Nyssa.”

  Lila nodded.

  “What do you know about this dark mirror?”

  She shivered. “Only that I’d rather avoid it.”

  “Why?”

  “It has a bit of a reputation of tricking those who look into it.”

  “That Regalian magick.”

  “Maybe.”

  “You said something about a dream,” he reminded her, punctuating it with an intent look.

  Lila sighed. “I dreamed that I looked into the dark mirror. It must have been when you were bringing me here.”

  “And what did you see?”

  Her throat tightened. “The day Thomas gave me this,” she said, lifting the hagstone on its cord. “He found it on the beach. He loved the beach, they both did, but he had this collection of treasures he’d found.” She smiled in reminiscence. “I made him a little bag and he carried it everywhere.”

  “It’s a good idea to keep the hoard close,” Rhys said with a smile.

  “I guess so,” Lila agreed.

  “But here’s what I don’t understand,” Rhys said. “You said that the Isle of the Blessed has sunk so that it’s too deep to reach.”

  “Yes.”

  “But Nereus complained about Embron invading his treasury and that he could only watch. They must have both been there.” He looked up, a question in his gaze, and Lila realized the discrepancy.

  “Maybe it’s not as deep as it used to be.”

  “What would make it rise again?”

  Lila shrugged. “An earthquake?” She braced her chin on her elbow. “Or maybe they both have extra powers.”

  Rhys nodded. “Maybe.” He slid a plate of oysters across the counter to her, garnished with half of a lemon. The rind had been cut to curl across the cut surface of the lemon in a playful s
wirl.

  “That’s pretty.” Lila said with appreciation.

  “Just a little something extra. There’s an old saying that one eats also with the eyes.” At her nod, Rhys squeezed the juice over the oysters with a flourish. “Maybe you should tell Nereus you’ve conceived and piss him off enough to start another earthquake. Then we could get to the treasury more easily and check out that dark mirror.”

  Lila froze in the act of taking an oyster. “You don’t want to do either of those things.”

  “Oh yes, I do. We need to find that portal and seal it shut.”

  And he wanted to go after Theo and now Arach. Lila felt cold. “I’m not sure he would be angry.”

  Rhys gave her an intent look. “I don’t have a single doubt.”

  They didn’t have a chance to argue about it, though, because there was a quick shimmer of blue light from beneath the apartment door. Someone knocked and the deliberate rhythm sounded imperious to Lila.

  Rhys inhaled sharply, his hand dropping to her arm even as he came around the end of the counter. His eyes glittered and he was tense. The blue light outside had vanished, and Lila wondered whether she’d imagined it.

  She wasn’t imagining that Rhys was on the cusp of change himself.

  He reached for the door, waited a heartbeat, then opened it. Lila smelled salt, the salt of the sea, and knew that Nereus had sought her out.

  But why?

  Arach awakened in a place of brilliant silver light. There was sand beneath him and it reflected the light with blinding intensity. He rolled over, realized he was in his dragon form, and discovered that he couldn’t shift shape. There was a red cord tied around his ankle, one that burned where it touched him.

  He couldn’t breathe fire either and that spooked him.

  Worse, somehow he’d ended up in an arena, one with high white walls around the circle of white sand. At the summit of the walls were rows and rows of spectators, all cheering and clapping, as if they’d come for a spectacle. They were Fae, with wings and fair skin, with tattoos and sparkling laughter. They were so delicately made that they didn’t look real, and their gazes were filled with bloodlust.

  Arach had a bad feeling about that.

  High above there was only darkness, and Arach didn’t know whether that was a roof or a starless night.

  To his right, there was a structure that sheltered a group of seats, one that made him think of the private boxes at sports events. A red and silver striped awning hung over what could only a throne, and Maeve was seated upon it. She was dressed in red and held a golden orb in one hand. Her smile was filled with satisfaction and he guessed that she held the gem of the hoard.

  Even from a distance, Arach could see the red light that circled her like an army of glowing fireflies. A familiar Fae warrior stood slightly behind her and to her left. The librarian Sylvia sat at her right. She didn’t look pleased about her situation and Arach guessed she didn’t have a lot of choices.

  A woman with dark hair sat at Maeve’s left hand, her expression mutinous. Arach realized with a start that it was the bartender from Bones. Mel was her name, if he remembered right. She was silent and he wondered whether that was by choice. He narrowed his eyes and saw the red strings on her wrists. She’d had one before, but now she had two.

  He saw Kade sitting just outside the royal box, his expression sulky. It was good to see that there hadn’t been any benefit to betraying the Pyr.

  Was Theo here, too? Arach sought his fellow Pyr, but there was no sign of him. There was a gate directly opposite him in the high wall, and something moved restlessly behind it. Something big and orange that caught the light at intervals.

  Arach knew that Theo was carnelian and gold in his dragon form. He rose cautiously to his feet and the spectators shouted. Eggs and stones were thrown onto the sand, several of them striking Arach and he looked around himself in horror.

  “Let the games begin!” Maeve cried and the crowd roared approval, stamping their feet and clapping their hands. Sylvia looked grim. That Fae warrior smiled. “Let them fight to the death!” the Dark Queen added and the spectators were deafening in their approval.

  But who did Arach have to fight? And how could he fight without all of his powers?

  The gate opened slowly and Theo lunged onto the circle of white sand. He breathed fire at the sky, pawed at the ground like a wild beast, and slashed his tail through the air. The crowd bellowed their approval. His carnelian and gold scales caught the light and it seemed to Arach that there was a red glow beneath them all.

  It was Theo, though. His first thought was that they’d make a feint and both escape. Somehow they’d save Mel and Sylvia and...

  But in that moment, Theo turned his glittering stare on Arach and dread filled Arach’s heart at the hatred in his friend’s expression. There was a red string around Theo’s leg and hunger in his snarl.

  And not one glimmer of recognition in his eyes.

  Theo bellowed and charged, and Arach wondered which of them would survive.

  Then he feared neither of them would.

  Lila could see that Rhys didn’t appreciate Nereus appearing at his apartment and lair. He was protective and she understood that. She liked it, actually. To tell the truth, she wasn’t happy about Nereus coming after her either.

  Nereus was dressed this time, wearing jeans, a deep blue anorak and a white knit aran sweater. She didn’t doubt that he’d attracted some attention on his way, because he was handsome and fit. He exuded vitality and charm.

  “I’ve come to take Lila home,” he said with a smile, but Lila heard the thread of steel in his tone.

  She felt stalked and didn’t like that. Nereus had cornered her before, but she’d hoped that his seduction of Nyssa would have taken the edge off his desire to breed more selkies.

  No such luck.

  “I thought a king would be too busy to play courier,” Rhys said, bristling on her behalf.

  “I have so few subjects left.” Nereus surveyed Lila and she saw the gleam in his eye. “I can’t help but be protective of every one.” He ignored Rhys then and spoke only to Lila. “I see you’re ready. I have the yacht here and am heading back to Ireland myself. It will be no trouble to take you home.”

  Nereus had a plan and Lila could guess what it was. Nyssa had said the yacht was luxurious. He must be planning to seduce her on the crossing.

  Lila was fiercely glad that she had decided to conceive Rhys’ son already. Nereus wouldn’t be able to force her to submit to him. He’d be displeased not to get his way, but then he’d calm down.

  It would be better if he discovered the truth when they were far from Manhattan. Another earthquake wouldn’t be a good thing.

  Nereus came to her side and leaned close to speak to her. His eyes were very blue and his expression intense. “It’s time to go home, Lila,” he said softly and she found agreement in her heart. “You need to finish your work for the season.”

  Lila opened her mouth then closed it again, a conviction that he was right filling her thoughts. Her concerns about his intentions faded so quickly that she almost forgot them.

  “I know what it is to fall in love,” Nereus whispered, understanding in his expression. “But you and I both know our kind are cursed in romance.”

  Lila stared into his eyes, knowing he was right.

  She couldn’t give Rhys the relationship, the romance, and the family he wanted. It wasn’t in her. Just because she was tempted to try, she knew she couldn’t really trust. Their relationship was doomed in a dozen ways. Rhys didn’t like the cold, but her life and work were close to the Arctic Circle. He loved his cooking and his restaurant: there was no call for either on North Rona or even much on Westray. He said he wasn’t much of a swimmer and she could have spent her life in the water.

  They were badly matched.

  The firestorm had gotten it wrong.

  Or it really had been just about sex.

  “You’re right,” Lila said to Nereus. She shrugged
into Rhys’ jacket again as Nereus watched with approval. “I’ll send it back to you,” she promised as Rhys stared at her, then picked up her purse.

  “I thought we were going to Scotland together.”

  “There’s no need. If Nereus has his yacht, that will be simpler.”

  “But...” Rhys looked at Nereus and fell silent. She suspected he wanted to ask about the Isle of the Blessed and the dark mirror. “You’re sure?” he asked instead.

  He’d support her choice, whatever it was.

  That would ensure that he and Nereus didn’t fight, which had to be a good thing.

  “It only makes sense,” Lila said lightly, then kissed Rhys’ cheek. “Thanks for the great meals, Rhys. Give my best wishes to the Pyr.” She walked past him to leave the apartment,. “Let’s go,” she said to Nereus. “You probably want to catch a tide.”

  Nereus matched his step to hers. Satisfaction oozed from his every pore and she saw his aura brighten. He took her elbow and she couldn’t think of a polite way to pull away. It was a small gesture, really. “It’s not so important with the yacht,” he told her. “It has so much power. I never have to wait for tides anymore. And so smooth. You won’t believe it. You can hardly tell that you’re on a boat...”

  Lila was well aware of Rhys watching her go. She sensed his disappointment but knew it was probably better sooner rather than later. Their partnership had no future.

  The situation was perfectly typical of selkies in love.

  Lila could give Rhys a son and she would. He’d given her some potent memories.

  That would have to be enough for both of them.

  Lila had gone willingly with Nereus.

  She’d abandoned Rhys, apparently without a second thought.

  Even though she’d warned him that selkies were all about pleasure and living in the moment, that they were selfish and didn’t make lasting bonds, Rhys couldn’t believe it.

  He’d been so sure that she was beginning to believe in the merit of a permanent bond. He’d been positive that they were good together and couldn’t accept she didn’t see as much. He watched until Lila and Nereus got into the waiting cab and then he paced, fighting his indecision. He was torn between the need to protect her and his commitment to defending her choices.