“Okay, okay.” She turned her attention back to the fire. She looked a little lost. I felt sorry for her, to have plucked her out of her life in the Fixed Plane, but she could at least be a little more grateful that we had saved her from other demons.
Of course, as soon as we had adjourned to another room, we started talking about her.
“I like her,” Xado said, raising an eyebrow at my skeptical expression. “Women who need a bit of taming are much more enjoyable in the long run.”
“Nobody’s arguing with that,” Rafe said. “But she’s also dealing with some genuinely heavy stuff. If her mom is sick, she should be home with her.”
Xado sobered immediately. “She obviously has a talent for spellcraft, but it’s hard to teach magic when someone is grieving.” Other demons usually expected that Xado was the fighter of the group, since he was a big guy and he spoke bluntly, but in fact he was the best sorcerer among our trio and usually left the actual fighting to me.
“And we have to get the Symposium to approve her for her to live in Sinistral,” I said. “We might like a feisty mate, but if she doesn’t take her duties seriously, they’ll want to place many restraints on her. It would be a miserable life. She’s used to freedom.”
“She’s the one who cast the spell,” Xado said.
“I know…but she obviously cast it on accident.”
“Every witch must learn, sooner or later, that casting spells has consequences,” Xado said. “It’s not a game. She’s lucky I caught her message in the ether, or…I shudder to think what might have happened.”
“Yeah…,” Rafe said. “The real question is, should we try to find a way to release her from the spell? Send her back to her old life?”
We all went briefly silent.
“We might not succeed,” Xado said.
“Do we owe it to her to try?” Rafe asked.
I shot him a look of anger. “Leave it to you to even make such a suggestion.”
Rafe gave me his little sarcastic laugh. “Fifty years and you still haven’t forgiven me for leaving? I came back, didn’t I?”
But Xado and I both know why you came back. I bit my tongue. I shouldn’t stir up an old argument when we had other things to worry about.
“We’ve been waiting for our chance for fifty-five years,” I said. “Some bond-fellows never find a mate at all. If we let Dakota go, and we never find another human willing to be our bride, would you make the same suggestion, Rafe? The fact is, whether intentionally or not, she has sworn herself to be a demon bride. I’m not some weak little Ethereal who would let such a chance go out of the goodness of my heart. Besides, we know we’ll make her happy.”
“I agree,” Xado said. “Deep down, this is what she wants, or she wouldn’t have cast the spell. Once she has a taste of us I doubt she’ll want to return to whatever life she’s known. She already enjoyed the meal I made her.”
Rafe’s expression was unconvinced. He scratched the back of his neck, where he kept his hair so short that he hardly looked like a warrior at all.
“Deep down, this is what you want too,” I said. “If the Fixed Plane was so great, you wouldn’t have come back. It’s time for us to settle down. This is my dream come true, for the two of you to help me hold the family castle with a human bride.”
“I know,” Rafe said. “And that’s why I’ve been here with you all this time, waiting. I just don’t like clipping a bird’s wings.”
“It’s not like that,” I said. “She’ll be happy with us.” But I wasn’t sure Rafe was talking about her anyway. “And we’ll be happy with her,” I added. “They say mating with a human bride is the greatest satisfaction a dragon will ever know.”
“I bet they never picked up a guitar,” Rafe said.
Xado snorted. “I’d be happy to take your turn for you while you play the guitar.”
“Seeing her just brings back memories, that’s all,” Rafe said. Seeing a human girl, hearing her American accent and her easygoing manner, must remind Rafe of other girls, and other days.
“All the more reason not to miss another chance,” I said. “No one forced you to give up your music, Rafe…” Occasionally the old wounds were opened.
“Of course not. My decisions are my own.”
“And no one forced Dakota to state her intentions. Now Dakota is ours and nothing will stand in our way. Are we agreed?”
“Agreed,” Xado said.
“Yeah. Agreed.”
Chapter Five
Dakota
Having a moment alone, I tried to center my thoughts. The fire glowed on the stone walls and gave the hearth a pleasant warmth that kept me from shivering in my shorts. Rafe’s leather jacket was still draped over my shoulders. The food was excellent, and it was quite cozy. And the guys…
When I thought about three men devoting themselves to me—and I couldn’t help thinking about it—I also couldn’t help getting seriously turned on. They were all supremely gorgeous in their own ways. When they were all sitting around me in the firelight, I hardly knew where to look. The way the soft light turned Hiron’s hair to the color of flame, the silhouette of Xado’s massive shoulders contrasted with a certain surprising delicacy in the shape of his hands, the suggestion of a shadow under Rafe’s eyes that gave his expression an intensity that melted me where I sat. Even Xado’s horny attitude seemed sweet underneath the surface. He had placed the bowl of food in my hand so gently.
And the moment they left the room, it just seemed like a big drafty hall again. But when they were here, it was warm and inviting.
Still, there was no way around it. The living conditions here were way too remote and primitive. I couldn’t survive in a world like this, and even worse, I wouldn’t be there for my mom.
My eyes roved to the paper and pen Hiron left out.
If writing an internet message and burning a candle had created a spell, then what about writing on paper? The fire was still crackling nicely. And letters thrown into chimneys, well, it worked to summon Mary Poppins.
I quickly scribbled,
Dear Edie, Dante, Alister and Van,
I’ve been captured by dragons. They said I accidentally created a spell and swore myself to them, and if they don’t marry me, I’ll be captured by other demons. But my mom has cancer and I need to be home. I didn’t mean to cast the spell. I want to go back to the Fixed Plane. Please help!!
Sincerely,
Dakota Eloise Carr
I quickly folded the paper and tossed it into the fire just as I heard the guys’ footsteps coming back.
Oh shit! Burn faster. I darted back into my chair. The shape of the letter was still visible in the fire as they came in.
“This food really is great,” I said. “I will give you guys that. I’ve been savoring every bite. I taste a lot of saffron! It must be pretty expensive to make, I guess, like I was just reading a thing about harvesting saffron and how hard it is. I would ask for the recipe but I could never make something like this in a thousand years.”
Xado puffed up with pride as the remains of the letter disappeared into ashes. Their eyes were all on me. Phew.
“All right,” Hiron said. “We need to discuss what happens next. This is quite serious. We are rule-abiding demons, and so we must bring you before the Demon Symposium. Sinistral is a dangerous realm for unprepared humans to live in. You will be very precious to the Symposium, as you are to us, but if you fail their tests, they’ll place many spells upon you to keep you guarded and confined. You will have no freedom here.”
I swallowed. “I thought you guys might come back with better news, but it keeps getting worse. I’m a prisoner.”
“The shadow spirits,” Hiron said warningly. “The crows.”
Right. I needed protective magic or I would be torn up by something or other. I twisted my hands. The scratches were all healed, but I could still feel the stinging and burning pains of them like phantoms.
“She will pass,” Xado said. “I sense her skill.”
“Yes,” Hiron said. “If you can learn a few protective spells from Xado, you will have a much better life here. For instance, you can go to the village on your own and the crows won’t get you. Eventually, you would learn more witchcraft and—”
“Learn spells?” My heart didn’t just skip a beat, it sprouted wings and soared right out of me. “Magic?”
“Of course,” Hiron said. “Your friend Edie, she’s learned some magic, I would imagine?”
“A little, I think, but…” I swallowed, trying to tamp down childhood excitement. “It doesn’t work in my world, right?”
“Some witchcraft does work in the Fixed Plane,” Xado said. “That and spirit magic are the only kinds that have some power in your world.”
I noticed his tone was different when he spoke about magic. Like the subject piqued his curiosity. I was supposed to learn magic from Xado? I hadn’t expected that.
“But it can’t cheat death,” Rafe said, like he could read my subconscious.
“I know,” I said. “That’s like, the first rule of every fantasy story ever. Cheating death is either impossible or it’s really, really bad.”
“Sometimes it can heal, however,” Xado said, with a hint of tenderness in his eyes.
“In my world, too? Could you teach me?” I asked, a spark of hope flying through me as he nodded.
“Of course, dear little bride.”
I guess since I told him ‘little mate’ was offensive, he changed it up. I decided it was still a slight improvement. I was starting to soften to him just a little, seeing how he lit up talking about magic.
If he could teach me anything that might help my mom, it would be worth accepting this arrangement. As long as I could make her understand that. Because I didn’t want to break her heart by leaving her or putting myself in a situation that would worry her, but if there was any chance she was sicker than she implied, and any chance I could save her, then I would deal with living in a gloomy castle forever.
Yes, that was how I would have to justify the whole thing. I wouldn’t leave her just because three hot guys seemed really eager to make me happy. No way.
“I’m definitely interested,” I said, meeting his eyes.
And when his blue eyes met mine in return, and a sideways grin cracked his perfect lips, well…maybe I could make this work.
Chapter Six
Nicole
I’m sure everyone on the train was wondering what the hell was wrong with me as I slammed my luggage onto the overhead rack. I was just barely keeping it together and this ride was going to take forever. Last minute plane tickets were just too damn expensive. Like I have money for this shit either.
But more importantly, if we couldn’t find a way to save Dakota…
Edie said she’d gotten a message, while I kept staring at the note that had appeared in the mailbox without a postmark in which Dakota explained her situation. Her absolutely impossible situation.
It was already a stretch for my brain to accept that Edie was moving to a magical island and hooking up with three guys. But at least she still lived in the real world, sort of. Dakota had apparently vanished into the ether while jogging.
Sinistral? I mean, what. The. Hell.
I had a stack of magazines in my bag, with some thought that I was going to catch up on the news and culture, being a supporter of print journalism in theory. (Is it still topical to read the Atlantic if the issues just pile up on the nightstand until I go on vacation?) But I just couldn’t think. I used to read paranormal romance on trips like this, devouring romances about witches and vampires, but I hadn’t been able to get into any of that since Edie left. I just shut my eyes, kneading my aching forehead.
I didn’t want to be alone.
I mean, that’s the problem with getting out of college and moving in with your two best friends, I guess. You know at some point they’re probably going to meet someone and move out. But…seven years later, and we were all still there. Settled. Happy. We’d actually kept the same rental house all that time, and it felt like home. We had learned to mostly put up with each other’s annoying qualities and lean on each other too. Sometimes when our other friends had drama with their boyfriends and husbands we patted ourselves on the back for not having to deal with any of that.
Of course, I’d been the one hassling Edie to get out there and take a vacation and not just spend time on her phone. If I’d had any idea what mess I was starting, I would have kept my big mouth shut.
Dakota was right. This was going beyond what a list could handle.
I heard another bag sling above my head, and heard someone sit down beside me.
“You okay?” a low male voice asked.
“Fine.” I opened my eyes to see what nosy stranger was getting in my business.
Black curly hair, light brown skin, stubble, gorgeous lips, broad shoulders, vintage-style band shirt, black jeans, black canvas slip-ons with dinosaurs on them, eyebrow ring. A hard pass on the styling choices, but he was good looking. He’d gotten on at Philly. I straightened up and tried to look composed. “Just tired,” I added. I grabbed my sweater, bunched it under my shoulder, and pretended to sleep.
“I saw you’re getting off in Portland,” he said. “That’s bizarre. Same here. Long ride to Maine.”
“Yeah,” I said, eyes closed. Get the hint, man.
“So I guess we’ll be getting to know each other,” he said. “I’m Elias.” A pause.
“I’m someone you don’t know,” I said. I was not in a good mood. “And I’m tired.”
“I’ll let you sleep.”
“Thanks.”
I wasn’t actually tired, so…great.
I pretended to nod off as long as I could stand it, then opened my eyes again. I tried to remember where I put my phone. Pants pocket? No, bag pocket.
Elias was eating truffles. Like, fancy truffles from Trader Joe’s or something. “Do you want any? They’re individually wrapped. Maybe you’ll feel better.”
I must have looked confused and annoyed, because he lowered the bag. “I get it. You want to be left alone.”
“Yes. I should have sat in the quiet car.”
“I can be quiet,” he said.
But guess what? He couldn’t. There were noisy foil wrappers of truffles, then a crinkly crunchy bag of herb flavored popcorn, then headphones and a bunch of hands tapping on his jeans and occasionally a little under-the-breath humming. Finally I got up, grabbed my bag and moved to the quiet car. I lost my window seat, but whatever. This hellish ride to Maine was way too long to deal with someone who was friendly and fidgety.
I hustled my bag off the train the second the doors opened, not wanting to see the guy again since I’d been kind of a bitch to him, and found Edie waiting for me at the curb in a rental. She hopped out immediately and gave me a huge hug. She was pregnant again, with just a little baby bump for now, and she looked great—like, dewy and glowing, although her expression was concerned.
“So good to see you, even if under weird circumstances,” she said. “You must be exhausted. Dante’s making a big batch of chowder and you can relax. I’m giving you my room in the tower so you have total privacy. We’ll figure this out. Dante knows a guy who knew one of the demons that kidnapped her…” She was looking past me.
“What?”
“He was on the same train as you.”
“Fuck,” I whispered.
She raised an eyebrow.
“I mean—what’s his name?” I asked.
“Elias.”
“Fuck,” I said, more firmly, as Elias came walking over. He was taller than I’d realized in the train car, with a surprising amount of presence.
“Are you Edie?” he asked.
“Yes, you must be Elias. This is my best friend Nicole.”
“Ah. So we aren’t strangers anymore.”
“I’m sorry if I was a jerk back there,” I said, even more annoyed than before. Now I felt like I’d somehow lost, although I realized there w
as nothing to actually lose.
“Well, now I know why. You were worried about your friend.”
Edie opened the trunk and Elias threw his bag in. Edie grabbed mine and tossed it in after his, as I was giving Elias the side eye. Now I know why? You’re supposed to say I wasn’t a jerk. Jerk.
I grabbed the front seat before he got any ideas, since he’d probably fit in the front seat better than the back with those long legs. It was still a decent drive to the dock to get to the island.
“What happened on the train?” Edie asked. “You guys were talking?”
“He sat next to me when he got on,” I said. “But I had to move to the quiet car. I’m just exhausted.”
“Are you loud, Elias?” Edie said with a grin.
“I’m actually the quiet one in the band.”
“So…who…he…” My brain was barely working. “Elias knows one of the demons? Who kidnapped Dakota?”
“I’ve met Rafe Holland,” Elias said. “He’s a dragon. I know he has bond-brothers, and he would be about the right age now for dragons to find a human mate. So it makes sense.”
“Are you a demon?”
“Yes. A sinistral.”
“He’s a wolf shifter,” Edie said.
“A werewolf,” Elias said. “Wolf shifter. That’s what girls call us now. What’s up with that?” He glanced at me even though I hadn’t said anything.
“You haven’t put on your seatbelt,” I said. He was leaning in on the front seats.
Edie knew me well enough to be able to tell that this guy was not my type. I hated guys in bands. I hated guys who dressed like they were still into the same stuff they liked in high school. I hated guys who teased me or got in my business. (I was definitely not going to mention I was Team Jacob, back in the day.) Edie reached in the mom bag flopped at my feet, handed me a coconut water out of it (she knew I was committed to hydration), and gave me an apologetic look. “So can you get Dakota back?” she asked Elias.
“I can get her back,” he said. “You don’t want her to hook up with dragons. We can set her up with some gatekeeper demons like your guys, so she’ll still live in this world. Well, halfway in this world, but it’s better than nothing.”
Captured by Dragons: A Reverse Harem Paranormal (Brides of the Sinistral Realms Book 2) Page 4