We passed by a stall selling weapons, and Slade took a moment to compliment the owner on their fine craftsmanship. I eyed a sword that would be the perfect size for me, and even held it in my hand briefly to feel its weight, before I put it back and turned away with a heavy heart. I longed for a sword of my own to be able to defend myself better, but I only had a few coins to my name and didn’t want to abuse Auric’s generosity.
As we continued through the market to pick up the supplies we needed, I tried not to get off track, though it was hard not to be tempted. There were dozens of things I wanted, including some new clothes and a horse, but the more frugal we were now the longer the money would last us.
After Slade and I picked up all the supplies we needed, we found Auric at a stall selling old books, which made me smile. Where else would he be, after all?
“Find anything?” I asked.
Auric closed the book he was flipping through. “Not here, unfortunately. I did get some new clothes, and I bought you a present as well.”
He handed me a long, heavy package, and I immediately knew what it was. I tore the paper open and found the sword I’d been looking at earlier. The blade shone under the bright sunlight, while the hilt was simple and black, but it was exactly what I wanted. Auric had also gotten me a new sword belt made of black leather, which I couldn’t wait to strap onto my waist.
“Thank you so much,” I said to Auric. “But this is too much, really.”
“Nonsense. I saw you admiring the sword earlier and knew you had to have it, for your own protection if nothing else.” He slid his hand around my waist, drawing me close as his eyes gazed into mine. “If things were different, I’d buy you everything you could ever want. Gowns of the finest silks. Jewels to complement your beauty. An entire library full of books, or a whole arsenal of weapons, if that was more your style. But unfortunately, none of those things are practical right now, so this will have to do.”
“I love it.” I slid my arms around his neck. “Thank you, Auric.”
He brought his lips to mine, while Slade crossed his arms and looked at everything except us. I pulled away from Auric quickly, feeling awkward about kissing one of my mates in front of another. I wasn’t sure any of us were ready for that yet.
Slade cleared his throat. “We should get back on the road soon.”
We returned to the inn and found Reven waiting outside by the stables, looking impatient and bored. I couldn’t tell if he had bought anything or not.
“Have you seen Jasin?” I asked.
“He’s upstairs, first door on the right,” Reven said, with distaste. “Might want to knock first though.”
“Thanks.” I headed inside to find our wayward soldier while the other men loaded our supplies onto the horses. The place had cleared out since last night, and I didn’t see any sign of Jasin anywhere. My stomach sank as I realized what he must be doing. And with whom.
“Jasin?” I called out, as I rushed up the stairs.
I knocked on the first door, but then threw it open with a burst of anxious energy. Jasin stood inside without a shirt on, while Minda, the waitress from last night, sat on the bed with a smile. My jaw fell open and I could only glance between the two of them, completely speechless. Even though I’d suspected this was what he was doing, it was still so much worse seeing it in person.
“It’s not what you think,” Jasin said quickly. But I’d already turned on my heel and walked out of the room.
He rushed after me into the hallway, then caught my arm to pull me back to him. He moved close, his naked chest only inches away. Muscles rippled across his skin, showing all the contained strength and power in his body. I swallowed as I forced my gaze up to his face, but that wasn’t any better because he was so handsome he made my chest ache. Especially when I thought of him with that other woman.
“Her brother is about my size and I was trading my clothes for his,” Jasin said. “Getting rid of my uniform, like you suggested. That was all. Nothing happened, I swear it.”
“She was watching you change!”
“I was trying on a shirt to make sure it fit. She saw nothing more than you’re seeing now.”
I glanced down at his words, taking his body in again. He was so warm I could feel the heat radiating off him, and he smelled good, like a bonfire on a cool night. I had the strongest urge to press myself against him, tilt my head up to his, and ask him to give me some of that warmth too. But then Minda walked out of the room and gave us a smirk before heading down the stairs back to the tavern, and jealousy and hurt rose up in me again. I pulled away.
“Kira?” Jasin asked.
“It’s fine,” I said. “I just came to tell you we’re leaving soon.”
“No, it’s not.” He took my hand and led me into the room, then shut the door behind us. “I can tell you’re upset. What can I say or do to make it better?”
“I have no right to be upset. What you do with other women is no business of mine. We’ve never made any promises to each other and I know you didn’t choose this life with me.”
His dark eyes were intense and serious as he gazed into mine. “Kira, I’m yours and yours alone. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be but by your side.”
Gods, how I wanted that to be true, and how I wanted to believe him. But no matter how much I desired him and wanted him for myself, I wasn’t sure I could trust him. I pressed my back against the door, my heart racing. “You don’t need to say that. You don’t even know me.”
Jasin placed his hand on the door by my head, leaning close. “I want to know you. In every sense of the word.”
A rush of desire flared inside me at his words. He caged me against the wall, and though I could easily step away from him, I didn’t dare move. “Me and every other woman, it seems.”
“Not anymore. The moment I met you I knew the Fire God had chosen me for a reason, and that reason is you.” He used his free hand to cup my face, and I sucked in a breath at his warm touch. “The only woman I want is right in front of me.”
“And I’m supposed to believe you’ll be loyal? Or happy with one woman for the rest of your life?” I gazed up at him defiantly, even though he was making me melt. “You admitted you’ve slept with lots of women.”
“I have, yes. But that’s all in the past.” He arched an eyebrow. “You don’t honestly believe the other guys have all been waiting for you to come along, do you? I doubt any of them are strangers to a woman’s bed either.”
My cheeks flushed. “No, of course not, but you’re the one I have to bond with first. And I’ve never…ah…” I tried to duck my head, embarrassed as soon as the words slipped from my mouth, but he caught my chin and made me look up at him.
“Never?” His eyes flared with obvious desire, and then his gaze dropped to my lips. “Then it’s a good thing I’m well versed in the arts of pleasing a woman.”
His mouth captured mine, while his strong body pushed me back against the door he leaned against. With dominant hands he tilted my head up to his and gave me the most sensual kiss of my life, teasing a soft moan from my lips. His naked chest pressed against my breasts, and even through my dress I felt how firm his body was. I was suddenly overcome with the need to touch him and placed my hands on his waist, pulling him closer. I needed to claim him as my own in the same way he was claiming me.
His mouth moved to my neck, leaving a trail of light kisses that made me moan again, while my hands smoothed across his hard chest and strong arms. His powerful fighter’s body was solid under my fingers, and as his lips skimmed across my collarbone, all I wanted was to feel more of it. Forget the Fire Temple, I was ready to bond with him right now. Or at least get some of that practice in.
But then he straightened up and stepped back, making me instantly miss his warmth. I nearly pulled him back to me, but somehow regained control of myself. Except there was no denying I’d kissed him back as hard as he’d kissed me. And if he kissed me again? I wouldn’t stop him.
He ran his t
humb slowly along my lower lip. “That’s only a taste of what’s to come. But first, I’m going to convince you that the only woman I want is you.”
Without another word, he grabbed his clothes off the bed and walked out of the room, still shirtless. Leaving me breathless and dazed and wondering what exactly just happened.
23
Kira
Another day of travel passed by without incident, except that I was forced to ride with Slade and Reven for long hours while trying to ignore the feel of their strong bodies against mine as they pointedly did not make conversation. I loved my sword, but I really should have asked Auric for my own horse.
At least I wasn’t sore anymore. Like my head injury from Roark, my body had recovered quickly from the aches and pains of riding. It made me wonder if my new healing powers were working on myself as well.
After so many days on the road, we were all exhausted by the time we stopped to make camp in the forest. I set my bedroll as far from the fire as possible like I did every night, and both Jasin and Auric rushed to put theirs on either side of mine. Not that Slade or Reven seemed to care about being close to me anyway. Reven was brooding in the shadows as far away from me as possible, and Slade turned away from me when I glanced at him. How was I ever supposed to get close to them if they kept their distance like this?
On the other hand, maybe Slade and Reven were the least of my problems. Jasin and Auric had been glowering at each other all day, and as Jasin walked past me, he bumped into Auric hard and obviously on purpose. Auric muttered a word under his breath that sounded a lot like, “Barbarian.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I got to my feet and glared at all of them. "I need a few minutes alone. Don’t follow me.”
"Stay close," Jasin said.
“I'll be fine,” I snapped.
I headed into the dark forest, shoving branches out of my way and kicking at rocks under my boots. But even once I was out of sight, I could still hear their low male voices behind me, though I couldn't make out the words. I moved deeper into the woods, with the bright moon guiding my steps, until I found a large rock to sit upon. I listened carefully. Silence. Blissful, sweet silence.
It was the first time I’d been truly alone with my thoughts for days and I relished it. I'd gotten used to being in solitude for most of my life, and it was hard to adjust to suddenly being around four men all day every day. Even if I enjoyed their presence—when they weren’t being obnoxious males, that was. It felt right with all of them at my side, but I realized I still needed some alone time now and then too.
The male voices grew louder, intruding on my quiet moment. Arguing about something, it sounded like. Probably related to me. Maybe I should feel honored they were fighting over me, but I had a feeling it would only get worse as I got closer to each man. Would any of them ever be comfortable sharing me with the others?
Would I?
The idea of sleeping with Jasin didn't make me as nervous as it once did, not after his mind-blowing kiss. But I had also kissed Auric only hours before and enjoyed it just as much. And then there was Slade, who I'd nearly kissed. Not to mention Reven, who I’d definitely wanted to kiss, if only because he was so gorgeous in his deadly, dangerous way.
How could I have feelings for all four men? It didn't make sense. Lust, I could understand. Friendship as well. But I felt more than that for all of them. Not love, not yet, but the potential that I could love each of them someday. It had to be the magical bond pulling us together and nothing more, right?
I covered my face in my hands, feeling overwhelmed by it all. That's when I heard something moving in the bushes near me.
I jumped to my feet and rested my hand on the hilt of my sword as I scanned the woods. Something was out there.
I was about to call the guys, when the leaves swept aside and the old woman I'd met on my birthday stepped forward.
"Hello there," she said, as if it was perfectly normal for her to run into me in the middle of the nowhere. "Kira, isn't it?"
"You," I said, my mouth hanging open. "Are you the Spirit Goddess?"
She let out a low laugh. "Gods, no. Why would you think that?"
My heart sank and I sighed. "You were outside Stoneham on my birthday, and now you're here. How?"
The old woman shrugged. "I get around."
"Are you following me?" I asked, my eyes narrowing.
"Not exactly."
She settled in on a rock opposite mine and I slowly sat back down since I sensed she wasn’t a threat. She looked exactly as I'd seen her before, down to the same hooded robe. How had she wound up here, in the middle of the woods? We weren't anywhere near a town this time and she was alone, without even a horse.
"You can call me Enva," she said, as she folded her hands in her lap. "Let's just say I have a special interest in you."
“Do you know who—what—I am?”
"I do, and I might be able to help you.” She cocked her head. “I'm sure you have some questions."
"Hundreds of them," I said. "Is it true? Am I the next Black Dragon?"
"Yes, you are. Assuming you live long enough to claim that title.” She shrugged. “None of the others have ever made it that far."
My mouth dropped open. "There were others?"
"Of course,” she said, as if it were obvious. “You didn’t think you and Nysa were the only ones, did you?"
Nysa, the Black Dragon. Even hearing her name sent shivers down my spine. "I wasn't sure. I've never heard of any others."
"Because she kills them all before they become a threat."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "But not me."
"She doesn't know about you. Yet. Best thing to do is to keep it that way as long as you can."
I nodded slowly. "We'll do our best."
"See that you do." Enva examined her fingernails on one of her wrinkled hands. "Any other questions? I don't have all evening."
She was mighty pushy, considering she was the one who’d visited me. "Why did the Gods choose me?"
She let out a sharp laugh. "They didn't."
I blinked at her. "I…I don't understand."
"The others were chosen. You were born."
My mouth fell open as I absorbed this bit of information. "How?"
She gave me a sardonic look. "I'm pretty sure you know how that happens. I should hope so, or you're going to be in for a big surprise when you reach the Fire Temple."
I bit back a frustrated response and asked, "Did my parents know about what I was?"
"Yes."
I nodded slowly as everything I knew about my past realigned. The Dragons had been looking for me all along. My parents really were killed because of me. "But there was never anything special about me. I never had any powers or anything. Not until now.”
"Animals have always been drawn to you. You've always had a way with plants and herbs as well. Those are all gifts from the Spirit Goddess.”
"What about the healing? That only started recently."
She nodded. "You came into your powers on your twentieth birthday, although you still have a long way to go. After you bond with your mates you’ll be able to take on their powers as well.” With those words she stood up. "I think that's enough for one night. I'm sure we'll meet again. If you live that long."
She gave me a short nod before stepping back into the forest. I called out, “Wait!" but she had already disappeared. Literally. Leaving me with a few answers, and even more questions than before.
24
Kira
When I returned to camp I told the guys about my strange visit from Enva, but none of them had any further insight into what she'd said or who she was. For now, she remained a mystery.
And thanks to her, I was stuck with four overprotective men who kept telling me not to wander off by myself again. The tension between them was still there, but they were united under a new purpose: keeping an eye on me at all times. Needless to say, I wasn’t thrilled.
“Where are you going?” S
lade asked me the next morning, as I walked toward the forest. He was already jumping to his feet and grabbing his axe as if to follow me.
I gave him an exasperated look. “I need to relieve myself. Could I get a tiny bit of privacy?”
Jasin looked up from where he was sharpening his sword. “You shouldn’t go anywhere alone.”
“For once I agree with Jasin,” Auric said. He was jotting notes down in his journal, likely recording everything that had happened yesterday. “One of us should be with you at all times.”
I propped my hands on my hips. “Seriously, I’m fine. First of all, I wasn’t even in any danger last night, and second of all, I can protect myself.”
“We know you can, but it’s our duty to protect you,” Slade said, his brow furrowing.
Auric nodded. “Exactly. We don’t know who or what Enva was. Your encounter with her proves there are forces at work we don’t understand, whose interests might not be aligned with ours. We won’t know until we learn more.”
“Don’t follow me. I mean it!” I snapped, before storming into the forest without looking back to see if they listened. If my infuriating men wanted to chase after me, that was their problem. I couldn’t live my entire life making sure one of them was guarding me at all times.
I took care of my business quickly, just in case they were watching, then headed back toward camp. I caught sight of Reven standing in front of a stream, making the water rise and fall in front of him, almost like it was dancing.
I sighed. “Did they send you to keep an eye on me?”
Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series Page 10