by Katie Reus
Fool.
He let his camouflage fall as he descended on the now nearly empty street. King and his wolves scattered as he shot fire at them.
That’s right, run, little wolves!
He released another stream of fire along the wall, burning the treetops as he arrowed down toward the cemetery.
They— Where the hell was King?
His clanmates swooped down with him, landing on two opposite walls of the cemetery as he circled, looking for the Alpha.
He had to kill him. Had to do it now. Had to take over the city.
There! A shadow peeled off one of the gravestones. A wolf.
He flew downward, his wings flapping sharply as he descended.
A piercing pain sliced into the tip of his wing. He twisted midair and saw King standing on a gravestone, shirt off and sword out. A fucking wolf who used a sword?
He changed direction and flew back, breathing out fire as he dove. The wolf brushed it off, not bothered at all by it. No one could withstand it forever though.
The male shoved the sword into the ground and…ripped off a headstone. With impressive strength he threw it at Brennus.
He dodged to the left, barely missing a blow to the face. The huge headstone slammed into his wing, however.
He screeched, falling onto a cacophony of headstones. They shoved against his underbelly. Immediately he jumped back up, taking to the air when another headstone slammed into his face.
It broke in half against the hardness of his scales.
Hell no.
He released another stream of blazing hot fire and dive-bombed King. He’d thought to play with this wolf, to rip him to shreds. Now he would simply destroy him.
Fire-resistant or not, this wolf would not withstand his teeth and claws.
Closer, closer, he zeroed in on the wolf, flying fast.
King jumped off the gravestone, grabbed the sword with wicked speed. Before Brennus could pull up, the male tossed it at him.
He heard the soft singing of the sword as it swished toward him.
When it pierced his underbelly shock and pain tore through him in simultaneous blows. No! This sword should not have been able to hurt him.
Gritting his teeth through the pain, he continued his descent and released another stream of fire.
King dodged it, shifting to his wolf midair with a quickness he’d only ever seen in other dragons.
Unable to stop his flight, he slammed into two gravestones, ripping them up with his claws.
Fire and agony punctured his neck as a heavy weight slammed into him. Claws and teeth tore into his back. He twisted, fighting the attack.
A sharp, piercing pain sliced down his spine. He couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe fire for the agony that shot down his entire body. He couldn’t move his limbs. Couldn’t do anything. The wolf had…ripped out his spine.
Wait…no! This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. He was supposed to be victorious.
He was a dragon.
A fucking dragon.
“Just die already” were the last words he heard before death consumed him, her sharp talons reaching up to drag him to the afterlife.
Chapter 29
Greer scaled the giant wall to Cale’s house with her friends, and King and his wolves. Apparently while Reaper had been killing Damari, King had killed Brennus. And it had been quite the show, according to some of King’s packmates—who had finished off Brennus’s New Orleans’ clanmates. They hadn’t made it in time to help, but it seemed King’s pack hadn’t needed it after all.
If Brennus had any clanmates left in the city—and King didn’t seem to think he did—they would eliminate them. For now, they had to tackle a different problem.
She just wished Reaper had agreed to come with them in human form. Instead he was…well, he was in a rage. A full-on dragon rage.
As Greer landed on the soft grass, she winced as Reaper’s huge dragon slammed into the third story of Cale’s house.
She’d tried to tell him they should go subtle and catch the other male off guard, but he was beyond subtle at this point.
“Your man certainly knows how to make an entrance,” King murmured, a hint of a smile curving up his normally hard mouth.
“He certainly does.”
Greer heard shouts from inside even as Reaper turned right back around and dove straight for the house again, slamming into the second story. Seriously, he could have just set the place on fire, but he was in pure destructive mode. One of the little turrets flew off as wood and brick splintered through the air, landing in chunks against the ground.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Cale shouted, racing out of the front door shirtless as he looked skyward at Reaper. “You crazy motherfucker!”
The fact that he hadn’t shifted and attacked Reaper was potentially a good sign. Maybe he hadn’t been involved in her kidnapping. For his sake, she hoped he hadn’t. Greer didn’t want Reaper to have to kill another ancient. Damari had been on a tirade, telling her how Reaper had taken from him and how he was going to take from Reaper—meaning her. But he’d never mentioned his half-brother being involved.
Cale spotted the rest of them stalking across the lawn then. He froze, his gaze sweeping over all of them. All in all, including Reaper, there were about twenty of them that had invaded his land.
Yep, not a social visit.
Reaper landed on the ground next to him, tearing up dirt and grass with his claws—and breathed fire right in Cale’s face.
Once he finally stopped, Cale’s clothes were gone, turned to dust, but his claws were now out. He slashed out at Reaper’s nose. “Shift to human so we can talk, you lunatic!”
Reaper growled low in his throat.
Greer thought he showed a lot of restraint but he had sworn that he wouldn’t simply kill Cale until after he’d talked to him. He wanted answers as much as Greer did. Especially since she was the one who had been kidnapped and shot full of poison. If Cale was guilty…he would die.
Reaper shifted, magic sparking into the air, a waterfall of colors. He stalked toward Cale and shot out his hand, wrapping it around the other male’s neck.
Cale was just as fast, wrapping his own hand around Reaper’s neck. Greer started to step forward but King held up a hand as if to stop her.
“He needs to do this. You are his mate.”
“Yeah, well he’s my mate too.” Even if they weren’t technically mated, she was claiming him as her own. She stepped around King and hurried forward. “Let each other go. Now.”
Reaper didn’t take his eyes off Cale as he released him. Wincing, Cale looked between the two of them, then everyone else. “Anyone want to explain why you just dive-bombed my house? You’re going to fix it, by the way. Jackass.”
“Did you know Damari was going to kidnap Greer?” Reaper snarled.
Cale flinched back in shock, his expression one of concern as he looked at Greer. “Wait, what? Are you okay?”
Before he could answer, Reaper snarled again, stepping in front of him so that Greer was completely behind him. “You don’t ask questions. You answer truthfully or you die. If by some miracle you manage to get past me, King and the others will finish you off. But I won’t fail in killing you. Then when I’m done, I’ll kill anyone you’ve ever loved.” Reaper’s voice was pure beast now, barely any human at all as he growled at the other male.
“I will answer your questions.” Cale said, his voice calm. “Stay back!” he continued, ordering his clanmates who had spilled out of the house. They would naturally want to defend their clanmate, but thankfully they listened. And if any of them had been assisting Damari, they would die too.
Greer placed a calming hand on Reaper’s back, wanting him to know that she was here. That she wasn’t going anywhere. Ever.
“Do you have any plans to overthrow the city?” Reaper asked.
“No.”
“Have you ever been in league with Brennus to kill humans?”
“No.”
<
br /> “Were you involved in any way in the kidnapping of Greer?”
“No.”
On and on Reaper went, asking the same question five different ways as he made sure Cale was not lying.
Greer scented Cale’s truth too. Well, truth and anger.
When Reaper was satisfied the male was telling the truth, he shoved out a sigh. Then he said, “Your brother is dead. He kidnapped Greer, and I killed him.”
Now pain washed off the other male, but it wasn’t potent, it was more…just resigned sadness. Cale looked at Greer now as she stepped around from behind Reaper. “I’m sorry. He…did he hurt you?”
“Yes. He poisoned me. It was a weird concoction of dragon poison and witch magic. It was very dark. It bound me, but I’m stronger than a witch.”
Something like resignation flickered over Cale’s masculine features as he closed his eyes. “Damari, you stupid fool.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He liked to play with fire.” Cale’s eyes snapped open. “He never really got over the death of Abria.”
Reaper stared at him blankly. “I do not recognize the name.”
“She was from the O’Dea clan. Ring any bells?”
“Why would I ring a bell?”
Cale blinked, his mouth curving up ever so slightly, but there was no humor in his eyes. “She was a red and yellow dragon, and part of a surprise ambush against one of Bayne’s strongholds. I don’t even remember how many thousands of years ago that was. Her clan thought to take over property that was not theirs. So…you stopped them.”
“Ah,” Reaper said slowly. “I remember now. Why was he angry about that?”
“She and Damari were lovers…would have been mates if they’d ever gotten the chance. The manifestation was there but they didn’t fully mate before you killed her. He always held a grudge but the kill was justified. And he never mentioned anything about hating you. Not truly. He just didn’t like you. He…mentioned his loathing of you after you came to visit us recently. Said you were still an arrogant asshole. But I never suspected anything like this.”
“I do remember now. I went into Hibernation not long after that kill.” Reaper’s tone was neutral, but his body was tense as if he expected to fight Cale.
“So did Damari. And that is a long time to hold on to a grudge, especially in sleep.” Cale shook his head.
Reaper ran a hand over his face, suddenly looking exhausted. “There were some other dragons with him. I have saved their heads but only temporarily, so you may identify them. I believe they were your cousins as well.”
“I probably know who they are—were. Two young dumbasses who idol-worshipped him. Fucking Damari,” he muttered, anger spiraling off him in waves now.
“You need to clean out your house.” Reaper’s words were spoken softly for only Greer and Cale to hear.
Greer understood completely. If there were more like Damari living with him, Cale would have to take care of it. Especially if he wished to live in New Orleans under King’s rule. For all Greer knew, however, Cale and his dragons would be leaving soon.
“I will.” Cale’s answer was just as quietly spoken.
“Are you and I going to have a problem? Are you going to hold a grudge?” Reaper asked, at a normal level this time.
“No. Never.” Cale held out a hand and clasped Reaper’s hand once, hard. “You are honorable. I know you would not have killed him unless you had to.” Then he looked at Greer. “My family owes you a blood debt. You are a healer and therefore—”
She shook her head. “Nope. You don’t owe me anything, and I’m not going to take it. The actions of your family have nothing to do with you. If you weren’t involved, then we are good. If you come after me or my mate or my friends, then we’ll have a problem.” Greer let her healer’s energy loose, two twin balls of green flames hovering in both her hands to drive home her point. “Understand?”
“Yes. Still, I am sorry, and we do owe you. We will most definitely repay you.”
She wanted to argue with him, but dragons and their traditions were so long-lived, especially dragons as ancient as Cale. It wasn’t as if she would ever call on the debt anyway so she let it drop.
“We leave now, then.” Reaper turned to her, his dragon wild and beautiful in his eyes.
“What about my fucking house?” Cale growled.
“I’ll take care of that.” Bo stepped up, but Greer only had eyes for Reaper.
In that moment, she only cared about leaving with Reaper.
Her mate.
She simply nodded at him and stepped back, letting the shift come over her. She didn’t bother taking off her clothes either, just shredded them. Because who cared about clothing right now? Maybe she should feel bad about leaving the others to clean up the damage but she didn’t. Not at all.
As she shifted, Reaper did the same. Before he could take off, she took flight first, practically daring him to catch her. They were mates, and if he wanted her, he would have to catch her first.
That was the dragon way.
She flew high into the sky, her wings stretching as she arched higher, higher until she darted into a set of thick clouds.
There was so much she and Reaper needed to learn about one another, but she’d never been so sure of anything in her life as she was of mating with Reaper.
The clouds were pea-soup thick as she dove through them, the moistness in the air refreshing.
Not wanting to hide for too long, she burst through the clouds and wasn’t surprised when moments later Reaper appeared at her side, his waterfall of colors glittering under the moonlight.
She dove downward in a tight spiral, completely showing off her flying skills—her dragon half was in full-on preening mode right now. Greer had never imagined that she would care what a male thought of her but right now she wanted Reaper to love what he saw.
Because he was beautiful to her in dragon form, a magical work of art against the near full moon suspended above them.
He dove down after her, mimicking her spiral until they almost hit Lake Pontchartrain. Almost as if they’d choreographed it, they both pulled up at the last second, their wings stretching out as they glided over the water, sending ripples out everywhere. She felt completely free as they stretched their wings.
He took her cue when she turned upward, joining her. Their wings flapped in unison as they pushed higher and higher, a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors under the full moon.
As they flew, losing themselves under the night sky, she spotted a couple familiar dragons against the moonlight, flying in beautiful dips and arches.
It was strange to see dragons out with no camouflage.
Free.
She had very rarely risked it in the past because of human satellites, but to see her own kind free, if she had been human, she would have cried out in joy. There was no more hiding, and while it was a little terrifying, it was also liberating. She might hate what had gotten them here but…dragons and other supernaturals were truly free to be themselves.
She released a short burst of fire, signaling to Reaper, and banked back north. No more flying tonight.
It was time to claim her mate. She put on a burst of speed, knowing he would follow. That was another strange thought—to have no doubt that this male would follow where she went.
He was hers and she was his. Talk about being free.
Chapter 30
Reaper had never flown so fast or hard in his life as he chased after his mate. As they landed on the mansion’s grounds, they both tore up dirt and grass as they skidded to a halt.
She shifted before he could, and by the time he had turned human, she was racing for the back door, her rich, throaty laughter and long hair trailing behind her in the breeze.
He caught her on the top landing of the stairs, scooping her up as he raced to the nearest bedroom on the second floor.
He didn’t care where they did this, outside, inside, on a hard or soft surface. A bed of grass or inside a show
er. He simply wanted her.
But he wanted to do this right for her.
He crushed his mouth to hers as they fell onto a fluffy, giant bed with far too many pillows. As she wrapped her arms and legs around him, he shoved the pillows out of the way. Brilliant purple flames erupted everywhere, bathing everything in their wake.
“Do you want this?” he growled against her mouth, barely sounding human.
“Yes. Yes!”
He would not ask twice. She was a female who knew her own mind. His mouth was on hers again as he reached between their bodies, sliding one, then two fingers inside her. She was slick, completely soaked. All for him.
She rolled her hips against his hand as she ran her hands up his chest and around his body, digging her fingers into his back. He savored the bite of her nails against his skin.
Everything about this female had him twisted up in knots. She eclipsed every single fantasy he had ever had of what his mate would be like.
No fantasy could compare to reality. To Greer.
His erection was heavy between their bodies, and when she wrapped her fingers around his cock he shuddered. She widened her legs and he guided himself inside her without any help.
Sweet heaven, she was perfection.
As he thrust once, then twice, the flames seemed to consume everything, eating up everything in their path but not actually burning.
The only thing that existed in front of him was Greer.
He cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples as she grabbed onto his ass, urging him to go faster. Harder.
Part of him wanted to slow down, to savor this moment, but he felt possessed. He couldn’t stop. She was just as hungry as he was, her kisses wild and harsh. Her need as sharp as his.
He wasn’t sure how long they mated, but when he felt her inner walls tightening around his cock, he knew she was close.
So was he, barely balancing on a razor-thin edge. All his muscles were pulled taut as he continued thrusting inside her. He reached between their bodies and barely grazed her clit, teasing the sensitive little bud.
That was all it took to push her over the edge. Her climax surrounded him, and going on instinct, he bit down on her neck, marking her.