Moon of Fire

by Aliyah Burke

  “I’d like to know about that as well. I’ve had my sign do a small bit of that but nothing like what yours is doing.” Tiarnán cleared his throat.

  She shrugged and hopped over a log. “I don’t know. I also apparently have a tattoo on my back.”

  “We all have them,” Aminta said.

  “No, this is a full dragon, or so says Luc. I’ve only seen it once in the mirror.”

  “Fuck, let me see this,” Aminta demanded.

  “Yes.”

  Turning her back, she undid her shirt and lowered it. Silence reigned.

  “Is it there?”

  “Oh yeah,” Aminta affirmed.

  “Who did this?” the big brother asked.

  She fixed her shirt and turned back to them. “No clue. When I saw it the thing was silver. And it moves, according to Luc, as well.”

  “That one on your back was silver and red.” Tiarnán began walking again. “I mean, mostly silver but some scales are lined by red. Who is this mate of yours?”

  She gave a small smile. “You know what I do.”

  They fell silent as they continued the rest of their trek. Each lost in their own thoughts. When the large house came into view, she slowed, allowing them to take the lead.

  They both looked at her. “Everything okay?” Aminta asked.

  “Luc’s over there. I’ll see you later.”

  She made a direct line to the man who leaned against a tree, arms crossed and ankles hooked.

  “You look no worse for the wear, although you do have new bandages.”

  “I was sparring with Tiarnán before the alarms went off.”

  He tugged her close and kissed her. “I was working out.”

  “So basically we’re both sweaty.”

  “Yes,” he said with a grin, kissing her again.

  “Wanna get dirty as well before we go clean up?”

  “I’ll follow you anywhere, Dray.”

  She took his hand and guided him back into the woods. They’d just come around a small copse of seedlings when her sign flared to life. Releasing Luc, she called up her weapons and waited, tip of the swords cutting through the fertile soil.

  “Get me some fucking weapons, Dracen.”

  She gave him the kama and put the other sword back in her hand. “Stay behind me.”

  “Fuck that, I’m fighting beside you.” He adjusted to stand next to her. “What is it?”

  Her blood burned. “I don’t know. Watch my back.”

  “Always have it, babe.”

  The forest went eerily silent. Dracen breathed deeply, waited, and thrust her blades up to the left. An unholy scream filled the air as the scythe-shaped limb fell free from the body it had been attached to.

  The creature became visible to her eyes and Dracen hissed. “Cheza.”

  “You always were good, human.” She shifted to human form and hovered just above the ground.

  “And you’re still an ugly whore. You aren’t supposed to be here.”

  “Ahh, but the rules have changed now.” She peered to Luc. “I see you have your mate.”

  “Touch him and I’ll cut off something that doesn’t grow back.”

  “I’m not here for that.”

  “Like I’m going to trust you. What do you want?”

  Past the treetops, the clouds had begun to darken and swirl. Cheza glanced up and for a moment appeared a bit uncomfortable.

  “I just wanted to see the newest member of the family. I hear you have demon blood in you. So, come to our side. We’ll even allow your mate to live.”

  “We’d rather die,” Luc said.

  “Whatever is flowing in my veins doesn’t make us family in any way, Cheza.”

  Lightning struck nearby and Cheza shook her head. “You were given the opportunity, don’t forget that.”

  “Don’t forget what I did to your arm. Next time, it will be your head.”

  Her laughter wasn’t kind but she left. Moments later the weather cleared.

  Luc waited until the forest slowly returned to normal. “The fuck?”

  “Cheza.”

  He’d gotten that when she’d spat her name out as a curse. The hatred in her tone told him all he needed to know about the creature-woman they’d just faced.

  “One of Them?”

  “Yes.” She frowned and glanced up, checking above them.

  “You expecting something else?”

  “Lian.”

  He pivoted. “I thought he was sick.”

  “He is.”

  “Then why are you checking the sky?”

  “Those storm clouds and the lightning, that was Lian.”

  “You have a lot of mystical shit around you, babe.”

  The grin she leveled at him yanked him from battle mode to full-on ready for hot, pulse-pounding, knee-knocking sex. “So do you.”

  Titanium covered the iron and steel as his cock pressed against his pants. His groan rose unchecked and he reached for her, taking possession of her mouth. Her curves melted into him as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “I want to fuck you right here, Dray. Use the tree to hold you up as I pound my dick deep into you.”

  “Yes,” she whimpered.

  He almost asked her how her injuries were, but nixed that when she attacked the button holding up his pants. When she gripped him he shook, his craving was so intense.

  The weapons were gone and he shoved a hand down the front of her leather, cupping her wet pussy then pushing two fingers deep inside her.

  “Luc!” she cried, head lolling back as her internal muscles rippled around him.

  “Right here, babe, and we’re just getting started.”

  He worked her pants down and gripped his cock. She rocked on the fingers buried within her.

  “Fuck me, Luc.”

  “I will,” he vowed. He pumped within her then pulled free and sucked her cream off. Then he pushed back into her. Removing his fingers from her core, he held them to her mouth. “Taste yourself. I can’t tell you how much I crave your taste on my tongue. Taste what I do.”

  Her lips parted and he grunted as she swirled her tongue around his digits. When she grazed him with her teeth he growled, fisting his cock. Running the head along her slit, he flexed his hips and drove into her.

  She sucked hard on his fingers as she gasped. Her legs were forced together by the leather of her pants, heightening the friction. God damn she feels good!

  He thrust. She sucked. They both panted.

  With the tree at her back, she couldn’t move away, and he pistoned harder, lifting her on her toes. He flicked his fingers over her exposed clit, her muscles flexing around him. Her silver lashes were lowered and he tugged his fingers free of her mouth. She looked at him.

  “We’re not stopping.”

  Thumbing her clit again, he then repositioned both hands on her hips, lifting her higher. She grabbed his shoulders, digging into him. He gripped her braid, wrapping it around his hand, pulling to expose her neck.

  “I’ll never get enough of this pussy. Or you.”

  She closed her eyes as an orgasm over took her. He powered up once more and came hard. Dracen opened her mouth in a wordless gasp, body trembling.

  He allowed her to put her feet on the ground and slowly withdrew from her heat. Leaning close, he kissed her, and eventually his heart began to slow.

  “I had something to tell you earlier,” he rasped, fixing his pants.

  Her breasts jiggled as she tugged up her pants and distracted him all over again.

  “You were saying?” She poked him in the shoulder.

  “Right. Don’t blame me, babe. You’re the one with the fabulous breasts. You can’t expect me to ignore them.”

  “Again, you were saying?”

  She spread out her hands and he watched the blades disappear from the ground.

  Wicked. Would have been beneficial in some of the situations he’d been in.

  “When I was—”

  He was interrup
ted by the phone Edmond had given him ringing. Frowning he dug it out and stared at the screen. The number told him all he needed to know. His father.

  “Hello, sir.”

  “Son. How are you?”

  “Fine, sir,” he said, winking at Dracen. “What did you find?”

  “A few black market deals have gone down with a sizeable amount of weapons and other gear.”

  “And did you have the name of the purchaser?”

  “Danvers. Joseph Danvers.”

  He touched Dracen on the arm. “Joseph Danvers mean anything to you?”

  She scrunched up her nose, and Lord help him, he wanted to kiss her on it.

  “Who are you talking to?” his father questioned.

  “My wife.”

  Silence from his father and one raised eyebrow from Dracen. He tapped her on the end of her nose. May as well get used to it, babe. I plan on getting you to carry my last name.

  “You’d better come home and explain that to your mother, because I’m not telling her, her only son got married without letting us meet the bride. Unless we know her already. Is it Stephanie?”

  “What? God no. No, sir, it’s not Stephanie.”

  “Okay, Laura? Terri? Carla?”

  Dracen watched him and he knew she could hear his father. Problem was her expression remained blank. He couldn’t get a read on it. And Christ, why is the old man still rattling on with more names?

  “You don’t know her.” He interrupted the litany of names. Dracen went to turn but he stopped her.

  She gazed about. The gray streaks lightened and he knew she had gone into hunting mode.

  “I have to go,” she said in a low voice his father couldn’t overhear. “Enjoy your call.”

  She vanished before he could formulate a sentence.

  Damn.

  “Who is she?”

  “I’ll bring her home to meet you, but right now I need to know everything you found out.”

  His father filled him in and he paced as he listened.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Now, about your wife.”

  He sighed and headed off in the direction she’d gone. “I’ll bring her home soon.”

  “When?”

  “As soon as we can.”

  “Where are you now and why didn’t you mention it before? Everyone was worried and you were with your wife?”

  “She wasn’t—it’s not like that.” He frowned, realizing he’d lost her track.

  “How long have you known her?”

  Luc crouched, hand skimming over the terrain. Then he glanced up. Would she have taken to the trees?

  “Long enough to know she’s the one for me.”

  “Then bring her here.”

  He ground his jaw. “She can’t travel right now.”

  “Why not?”

  “She’s recovering from an accident where she nearly died.”

  “Come soon.”

  He dropped his head with a sigh. “Yes, sir.”

  The call ended. Luc shoved the cell in his pocket and got back to tracking Dracen. He didn’t find her but he did run into the undisputed leader of the Guardians. Tiarnán.

  They stared at one another for a moment. “Looking for someone?”

  “My mate.” Tiarnán’s demeanor was uptight.

  “Haven’t seen her.”

  He blinked. “I heard you have a tattoo like Dracen’s.”

  His gaze narrowed a fraction. “When did you see her tattoo?” It was on her back, so if he’d seen it, his woman would have not to have had her shirt on.

  “After the perimeter breech, she showed me.”

  Luc scratched his jaw. “She showed you? Just took her shirt off and showed you?”

  Tiarnán nodded. “Your eye is like hers as well, just not the right one, on you it’s the left.”

  “You saw her without her shirt?”

  “What? Yes, she had her back to me.” Tiarnán lifted his head and scanned the sky. “Something’s off. Come on.” The man set off and Luc followed, unsure of what had just happened. They’d gone from talking about how he’d just seen Dracen’s naked back and now they were running through the woods.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “What am I supposed to do?”

  Dracen slowed and crouched on the tree branch when she heard Calida’s voice. She couldn’t see her, though. Her sign shifted and she allowed a tanto to slip into her hand.

  Whatever the response, she couldn’t make it out.

  “I don’t know if I can do this.” There were tears in her voice.

  With a frown, Dracen jumped down to the ground and gazed about. She could see a small shimmering area and headed toward it. Barely discernible to the naked eye, she checked to see if she could spot a trap. Nothing. With a slight shrug, she made up her mind.

  Reaching out with her hand, she touched the shimmery space and her fingers vanished. This is new. Never one to back away from things, she progressed forward, her sword in her left hand by the time she fully stepped through. She paused—the forest had given way to a clearing with close-cut grass, stone benches and a fountain with statues.

  The centerpiece was a woman walking. Average height and curvaceous, she appeared damn near ethereal. Silver hair that hung past her butt, a one-piece bodysuit and the pearlescent hue that stood out against the dark skin, all combining to create someone she recognized.

  She knew where she was instantly. Lian’s private area. Never got here this way before. Off to the left, Calida sat on a stone bench. When she saw Dracen, Calida shot to her feet, eyes wide.

  “I didn’t see you come in.”

  “Who were you talking to?” she asked, not retreating with her weapons.

  “Myself,” she said, not meeting her gaze.

  A lie. Everything screamed that, but she let it go since her sign didn’t seem all that upset. “What are you doing here?”

  She shrugged and sat back on the bench. “I come here to think. Lian said he didn’t mind. I didn’t think anyone else came here to this place, Tiarnán said you all left it alone because it was Lian’s.”

  Lian had a place. News that in itself wasn’t that shocking, but to hear that Calida not only did, but visited and considered this place her own, while the other Guardians didn’t, came as a bit of one. She gazed about, sure they weren’t alone, but she couldn’t sense any malice.

  Dracen circled the bench Calida sat upon, unsure what she looked for. “You come here a lot?”

  Calida picked some blades of the sweet-scented grass and wove it together into a braid. “When I want to be away from Tiarnán. This is the one place he mostly leaves me alone at.”

  Dracen walked to the fountain and made her way around it this time. Incredibly crafted, it made Lana appear as if she were alive, even though it was made of stone. Her kindness radiated beyond the stillness of her likeness.

  Calida moved to her side. “She was a beautiful woman.”

  “Yes.” Dracen stared at the water, marveling at how crystal clear it was, especially as this resided in the middle of a forest. Then again, this was Lian’s woman. She cut her gaze to Calida. The woman appeared the most relaxed she’d seen her. What right does she have to be in a place I don’t go to?

  “I asked him, you know. About my being here. He said I was welcome any time.”

  That stung a bit but she struggled to contain her irritation, grinding her jaw. “I see.” That was all she could manage. Staring at the arms on the statue, she noticed the cuff around Lana’s right wrist. It looked identical to the one Lian wore. On her left hand she had a wedding band. Also the same as him, that knot.

  “You are nervous around me,” Dracen stated, sitting on the edge. “Why?”

  “I don’t feel I’ll never measure up to you. Not in Tiarnán’s eyes.”

  “You’ve already surpassed me. He loves you.” She attempted a small smile only to fall short. “In fact he’s out there now, searching for you.”

  “I left him before.”

/>   Dracen narrowed her gaze, protective of her foster brother. “Why?”

  She sat as well and trailed her fingers in the clear liquid. “I was second. He pushed me aside, only partially listening, but when it came to you, he was all ears.” She shrugged. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”

  Dracen wasn’t sure either. They’d had a small chat before but nothing more than a name exchange and welcome to the vineyard.

  “He has a big-brother complex.” Her smile came easier this time as memories resurfaced. “We met in court. I was crying and he has always been protective since.”

  “To hear him talk, you’ve never cried.”

  “Not sure why that would be.”

  She crossed her arms and stared at the ground. “He loves you.”

  “And I him. He’s my brother. Nothing between us other than that. Never has been.”

  “I was so jealous.”

  “I know.”

  Her gaze snapped to Dracen. “How? How did you know?”

  “I could say, I’m a Guardian. But basically, women’s intuition. The flames dotting your hair when you looked at me also helped.”

  She shook her head. “I feel so damn petty. But I couldn’t let go.”

  Dracen crouched before her. “Listen to me, Calida. Tiarnán and I will always be close, but believe me when I say there is nothing more important to him than you.”

  “How can you be so certain of that?” She made a small moue. “I mean, I know he said he would leave here and come with me, but I kind of chalked that up to him wanting me out of the dress I was in.”

  “He’s a man of very few words to most people. He means what he says, but more than that, I know because it’s that way with me and Luc. Tiarnán would give it all up for you, whatever it took to make you happy and keep you safe.”

  “But—oh God, I know I sound petty—how do you know this?”

  Dracen stood and looked at the statue. “Lian said he knew Lana was the one, he didn’t want to accept it until something happened, she quoted something which only confirmed that which he’d already known. All the other Guardians have said the same thing. I was skeptical, but when I saw Luc he pushed through the cold wall around me that would have made me take him to a hospital and leave him there. Instead I carried him back to my cabin and took care of him. I just knew it was the thing to do.” She reached out only to draw her hand back at the last moment before actually making contact with the statue. “The way he almost lost you is going to make his protective streak even more intense.”