My head spun, trying to process everything he said. “What do you mean, bonded?”
“Err…” Auric shifted in his seat a little. “You would officially take us as your mate in the most…intimate way.”
Jasin flashed me a naughty grin. “What he means is that we need to have sex.” He leaned back in his chair with his arms folded behind his head. “Not sure about you guys, but I for one am looking forward to all of this.”
“Of course you are,” I said, rolling my eyes, even as heat flared inside me at the thought of becoming intimate with all of them. “Don’t get too excited, because I haven’t agreed to any of this.” I turned back to Auric. “So all we have to do is travel to the temples and uh, bond with each other?”
“Exactly.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You seem to know a lot about this.”
Auric shrugged as a small smile touched his lips. “The Air God told me some of it. The rest I learned after doing some research before I came here, although I couldn’t find much information overall. I suspect if books about this ever did exist, the Black Dragon had most of that knowledge purged. I’m hoping we can uncover more on this journey.”
“You make all of this sound so easy,” Slade said, as his long fingers rubbed his dark beard. “What happens when the Black Dragon and the others find out about us?”
“Good point,” I said. “I have a hard time seeing any of the Dragons giving up their powers willingly.”
“We’ll try to travel without attracting attention,” Jasin said. “Keep our powers and our mission secret for as long as we can. But we should leave first thing in the morning.”
“What about the last member of our team?” Slade asked.
Jasin shrugged. “He’ll catch up. It’s his problem he wasn’t here on time.”
“The Gods did tell us to be here in exactly one month,” Auric said, his brow furrowing.
They wanted to leave tomorrow? I’d wanted to run, but not yet, and not like this. Certainly not with three complete strangers. “We’re not going anywhere,” I said, rising to my feet. “Not until we know more about what is going on here and what we’re supposed to do next.”
All three men looked like they might argue with me, but I shot them a fierce look and headed for the door. I needed some space, needed to get away from them and everything they represented. Maybe they were destined to be bonded to me, but they weren’t my mates yet. I didn’t know a damn thing about them, I hadn’t chosen them, and I certainly wasn’t going off on some dangerous quest with them.
I found Tash in the kitchen, stirring a stew with a long ladle. As soon as I entered, she spun around. “What’s going on? Who are those men? Why are they here?”
Her rapid words made my head spin even more, but I had to tell someone what was going on to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I grabbed her arm and dragged her into my bedroom, then shut the door. “I’ll tell you everything, but I warn you now, it barely makes sense to me.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, leaning forward anxiously. “Maybe we can sort through it together.”
“According to those guys, they’re Dragons. Or they will be.” It sounded even more ridiculous when I said it out loud. “But they already have magic.”
Her brow furrowed. “How is that possible? The Dragons are immortal and there are only five of them. How does someone become one?”
“I don’t know. But each man says one of the Gods chose him, gave him magic, and then told him to find me.”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing.” She tilted her head and frowned. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, because you know I love you like a sister…but why you?”
I drew in a long breath. “Supposedly I’m the next Black Dragon.”
She gasped. “What?”
“Trust me, I’m as shocked as you are.” I ran my fingers through my long hair, where they got caught on the tangled ends. “Do you remember on my birthday when I came inside all muddy?”
“Of course.”
“Right before that I was struck by lightning, but it didn’t hurt me at all. Ever since then I’ve had these weird dreams of four men with elemental powers. Three of those men are now sitting in the other room, and I’m guessing the fourth will be here soon. I’m supposed to go with them to each of the Gods’ temples now to ‘bond’ with them—and after that we’ll be the next Dragons. Which I’m pretty sure the current Dragons won’t be thrilled about. Especially when they learn we’re supposed to overthrow them.”
She stared at me as if she’d never seen me before. “Are you going to do it?”
I paced back and forth in front of her. “No way. I don’t know a thing about those men. I’m not sure I believe any of this is real, anyway. It sounds even crazier now that I’ve said it all out loud. There must be some other explanation…”
She chewed on her lower lip as she considered. “I think you should do it.”
I stopped and gawked at her. “What?”
“If any of it is true, then you have a chance to change things. You’ve been chosen by the Gods to make this world better and stop the Black Dragon’s reign.” A mischievous look entered her eyes. “Plus it means you’ll be married to four very handsome men. It’s hard to complain about that.”
I sank onto the bed beside her and buried my face in my hands. “But I didn’t ask for any of this! I don’t want to change things or to go up against the Black Dragon. I just want to live a quiet, peaceful life and stay out of trouble. And I don’t want four men, or even one.” That wasn’t exactly true, but the whole thing was far too overwhelming for me to even consider what being married to four men would mean.
She rubbed my back slowly. “It seems that’s not what the Gods have in mind for you. They’ve chosen you, Kira. You have to answer their call.”
“Curse the Gods,” I muttered, then immediately regretted it. Were they watching me even now? Would they strike me with lightning again if I didn’t do what they wanted?
The door suddenly burst open, and at first I thought it was the Gods coming to punish me. But it was no God, only Tash’s father, who was almost as terrifying.
Roark stood in the doorway, his large hulking form completely filling it, as he glared at us. “There you are.”
10
Kira
Roark quickly took us both in with disgust written across his face. “What do you think you’re doing? Lazing about while we have customers waiting! Get back to work!”
Tash scrambled to her feet. “I was only taking a short break, Father.”
He grunted, then narrowed his eyes at me. “And you. It’s been two days since you last brought us any game.” He pointed to the door. “I have hungry soldiers out there demanding some supper. What am I supposed to tell them?”
Dread and panic shot through my blood. I’d been on my way to the forest to hunt when Jasin had shown up. “I’ll go right now. I’ll find something quickly, I promise.”
“Too late for that.” A sick grin twisted his lips as he grabbed Tash’s shoulder, his meaty fingers digging into her dress until she cried out. “You know what the punishment is for slacking off.”
“Father, please,” Tash started, but then was cut off when he backhanded her across the face.
“Stop,” I pleaded. “I’ll get you whatever you want right now. Just don’t hurt her.”
“The two of you sitting here gossiping while the rest of us starve,” he growled, before striking Tash again. “You both need to be taught a lesson.”
“No!” I yelled, then launched myself at him. He was double my size if not more—as well as being both my employer and my landlord—but I couldn’t let him hurt my best friend. Not again.
I tore at him with my nails, reaching for whatever I could, caught in an urgent frenzy to protect Tash. With a roar, he threw me off him in a burst of strength. I fell back, my head slamming hard on the wall behind me, before slumping to the floor in a daze of pain and darkness. Tash, I’m sorry.
When the black haze lifted,
three silhouettes stood in the doorway.
A flash of fire danced before my eyes. A rumble shook through my bones. A burst of wind tore at my hair. Roark was thrown across the room, knocked to his knees, and surrounded by flames. My three mates moved around him, their faces filled with disgust and rage.
“You will not hurt either of these ladies again,” Slade said, his voice low and foreboding.
Roark looked up at the men standing around him with both fear and hatred. “I can do what I want in my own inn. To my own women.”
“Not anymore,” Jasin said. The circle of flames grew hotter and danced around Roark, who yelped and shied back from it.
“Swear you won’t touch them in violence again,” Auric said, his voice as commanding as a prince’s. “Swear on the Gods. And believe me, they’re listening.”
“I swear it,” Roark bit out, but his eyes were full of menace.
The flames vanished. “Get out of here,” Jasin said.
Roark scrambled to his feet and bolted from the room like it was still on fire. Although he seemed afraid, I doubted he would heed their warning. He would come for Tash again—he always did.
Slade knelt beside me and asked, “Are you all right?”
I nodded, though my throat was so dry I could barely speak. “Tash?”
“I’m here,” she said, from behind Jasin. “I’m okay.”
“Thank the Gods,” I whispered, as I grabbed Slade’s hand and rose to my feet. I swayed a little as a rush of pain threatened to knock me to the floor again, but he wrapped a comforting arm around me and held me steady. For a second I was distracted by his broad chest and strong arms, overcome with the urge to lean into him and let him hold me some more. He smelled good too, with an earthy, pine scent that reminded me of the forest in the morning. I took a deep breath to ground myself before pulling away from him.
“Thanks for the help, but I could have handled it,” I said, as I rubbed the back of my aching head.
“He hurt you,” Slade said gruffly, as if that explained everything.
“We’re bound to protect you,” Auric added.
“Thanks,” I muttered. “And now you’ve cost me my job and my home, no doubt.”
Jasin sheathed his sword. “We need to head out in the morning anyway.”
I ignored him and moved to Tash, checking her face for injury. “Are you truly okay?”
“Yes, he didn’t hit me that hard,” she said, as she ran a hand over her jaw.
I glanced between her and the three men, torn between staying and leaving. Between my old, familiar life and an unknown, new one. Both seemed far too dangerous for my liking. I had no desire to leave, but after what they’d done to Roark, I couldn’t exactly stay here anymore either. But who would protect Tash and make sure the inn had enough food?
“We’ll talk more about this in the morning,” I told the three men. “I need some time and space to gather my thoughts.”
Tash wrung her hands as she addressed them. “You’ll have to stay somewhere else, unfortunately. My father owns this inn.”
“You sure we can’t sleep in here?,” Jasin asked, his eyes gleaming. “For Kira’s protection of course.”
“Good idea,” Slade said, with a sharp nod.
“Not a chance,” I said. “Like Tash said, it’s better if you don’t stay in this inn. I’ll be fine. He won’t bother me again tonight.” Unless he got really drunk, anyway.
“Very well, but we’ll be nearby if you need us,” Auric said.
“I’ll find you all someone else to board with,” Tash said, leading the men out of my bedroom. They followed her reluctantly, each one glancing back at me with emotions in their eyes. Curiosity. Protectiveness. Desire.
As soon as they were gone, I changed my clothes and crumpled onto the bed, my head pounding. I had a lot to think about, but Roark must have hit me harder than I thought, because my eyes kept closing, and soon sleep carried me away.
I awoke to the sound of the door creaking open and instantly tensed, reaching for the knife I always kept under my pillow. My bedroom was completely dark except for the dim moonlight coming through the windows, which revealed two tall figures creeping into my bedroom. Fear made me immediately alert, but I held my breath and waited. I recognized Roark’s broad profile and guessed the other man was his drinking buddy, Koth. Each of them reeked of alcohol, making my nose burn.
This time, my dream men couldn’t save me. I was on my own.
“You’re going to pay,” Roark said. He reached for me, but I slashed at him with my dagger. He jerked back with a howl as it sliced through his arm, and then I pivoted on the bed, turning to ward off my next attacker. I was better with a bow, but I’d been taught a few fighting moves while living for a short time with some bandits. I hadn’t fought in years, but luckily my body seemed to remember what to do.
Koth dodged my attack, while Roark grabbed my arms tightly from behind. I struggled, lashing out with my feet, as he dragged me back toward him.
“Let me go!” I yelled.
“Where are your friends now?” Roark asked, his breath hot at my ear. He tossed me to the ground hard, then moved to kick me. I tucked my arms and rolled out of the way, gripping my knife tightly. I swiped at his leg and he danced back, but I took that second to get to my feet and bolt from the room.
I ran through the dark kitchen as fast as I could, clutching my dagger in my shaking hand. Heavy footsteps pounded behind me as I reached the door leading outside, but before I could open it, someone struck me on the back of my head.
I fell against the door, momentarily dazed, even as my brain screamed at me to run and fight. Through the haze I managed to spin around and knee Roark between the legs, but Koth was there too.
His blow got me hard, right in the stomach. All the air left me in a swift whoosh and was replaced by lancing pain. Stars danced across my vision, but I wouldn’t let my life end, not like this.
I stabbed the dagger into Koth’s chest with one last burst of strength. Koth howled as I buried the knife deep in him, and then he hit the floor. But I wasn’t safe yet.
“What have you done?” Roark asked, as he stared at his friend. When he took a step toward me, I wasn’t sure how I could stop him. Not when he looked at me with murder in his eyes.
A thin knife flew across the room and landed in the wall beside Roark with a sharp thunk. A dark figure in a black hooded cloak stood on the other side of the kitchen, with a sword in one hand. A matching sword hung from his waist.
“Get away from her,” the cloaked man said, his voice like ice.
“This is none of your concern, stranger,” Roark said, glaring at him.
“I’m making it my concern.”
Roark ignored the man and grabbed my arm, yanking me toward him. A blade flashed, glinting in the moonlight. A gurgling choke came from Roark’s mouth. Blood sprayed across my dress.
Roark let me go and fell to the floor, his throat slashed by the cloaked man who now stood behind him. I hadn’t even heard him move.
I gaped at my strange rescuer, wondering if I should be thankful or fearful. “Who are you?”
“Reven.” He held up his blade and the blood flew off it in a magical swirl before he sheathed the sword. As he turned toward me, I caught a flash of dangerous blue eyes and a sharp jaw traced with dark stubble from under his hood. Familiarity crept through me and I realized who he was.
The last of my four mates had arrived.
11
Reven
Walking in on the woman I’d been sent to find being attacked wasn’t what I’d expected this evening, but it also wasn’t all that uncommon in my line of work.
“Are you hurt?” I asked her, while I checked the area to make sure there were no other attackers.
She rubbed the back of her head. “A little banged up, but otherwise fine. Thanks to you.”
I examined the two men on the floor—the one I’d killed, and the one with a dagger sticking out of his chest, presumably Kira’s.
I yanked it out, used my magic to remove the blood from the blade, then handed it to her. “Who were they?”
“Drunken fools who enjoyed hurting women,” she muttered. “Problem is, one of them owns this place. Or he did, anyway.”
Footsteps sounded behind us and I reached for one of my swords again, but it was only a young woman in a chemise. She paused in the doorway and gasped when she saw the bodies on the floor.
“Father?” she asked, with a slight sob.
“I’m so sorry, Tash,” Kira said. “Koth and your father attacked me while I was asleep. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
Another older woman ran into the room, and she let out a strangled gasp at the sight of the dead men. The other woman, Tash, was already crying, and the two women collapsed into each other’s arms with a sob. Kira watched with sympathy, while I took the chance to admire her. Despite being forced into this against my will, I had to admit she was pretty easy on the eyes. Her red hair was lightly mussed and her cheeks were flushed from the attack. Her thin chemise hugged her body in ways that awakened parts of me I usually tried to ignore. She was obviously brave and quite capable, since she’d killed one of the men before I’d intervened. But none of that mattered, because I was getting out of this mess as quickly as possible.
Kira gestured for me to follow her while we left the sobbing women in the kitchen. We stepped into a back room with a small bed, which she sank onto as she covered her face with her hands. She took a long breath, then looked up at me again. “I’m assuming you’re here because you’re the next Azure Dragon.”
“Something like that,” I said, with obvious distaste.
“I get the feeling you’re not pleased about that.”
That was an understatement. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are. And a good thing too, because it seems it’s time I left this town.” She began pulling clothes out of a wardrobe and packing them in a bag, while I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorway.
Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series Page 4