by JD Monroe
A second guard, Idrima, sparred with Natalie in the center of the room. Struck with surprise, Erevan lingered at the door to watch. Natalie’s movements were smooth and fluid, as if she was dancing. She held a wooden sword in one hand, moving deftly to block Idrima’s attacks. She looked comfortable with the weapon in her hand. Sohan sat on a bench opposite the door, leaning forward eagerly as he watched the fight.
If there had been any doubt of her blood, it was erased now. She belonged here, and the thought was strangely pleasing.
Idrima smacked Natalie hard in the back with the sword, eliciting a grunt of pain. Erevan lunged forward to help before he realized what he was doing, then stopped short at the edge of the mat. Natalie hit the ground on all fours, but she looked focused, not distressed. Planting her hands, she kicked high to catch Idrima in the belly, throwing the other woman off balance and shoving her away with surprising force.
“That’s enough,” Sohan barked. He raised his head. “You gonna stand there and stare all day, boy?”
Natalie looked up and gave him an appraising look. “Oh, hi.” She took Idrima’s offered hand and stood up, brushing dust off her bottom.
Oh, hi? That was it?
“You’re not bad at that,” Erevan said.
“I know. I seem to remember telling you I wasn’t helpless.” Her scent permeated the air, but it was different now. The Kadirai blood was stronger, as if something had awakened it from dormancy.
“I never said you were.”
“And yet you left me here,” she snapped.
“Shut up, both of you,” Sohan interrupted. “Erevan, put down your purse and join us. You have some catching up to do.”
“My purse…” He stared down at Natalie’s floral bag and deposited it by the door. That prickly sonofabitch. He sat down to unlace his shoes, leaving them on the side of the ring before walking onto the rubber mat. “What?”
“Natalie is sul’kadi,” Sohan said.
“Yeah, I know.”
“Which means she’s a part of this now,” Sohan said.
Erevan stared at him blankly. “Huh?”
“The weapon that bastard used on you is called the Crimson Elegy,” Sohan said. “It’s magic based, and it only affects Kadirai. Specifically, your ability to transform. So, it doesn’t affect hybrids who don’t transform. You carry her on your back, and you’re safe from the weapon. You just—"
“No,” Erevan interrupted. Natalie frowned at him and crossed her arms over her chest.
“No?” Sohan glared at him. “What do you mean, no?”
“I’m not taking her into battle,” he replied.
Sohan straightened. “If I tell you to, then—"
“I’m not doing it,” Erevan said. “Besides, she doesn’t have any experience.”
“She has about as much as you do when it comes to dealing with the Raspolin,” Sohan said. “And before you get your head too much further up your own ass, chew on this. When you were laid out with their magic tearing you apart, she stopped it. She’s already saved your ass once.”
Erevan gaped at Sohan. “What do you mean?”
“That power is self-feeding. Once they start the cycle, you can’t control it. Has to run its course, which usually takes hours. Unless someone snaps you out of it.” Sohan pointed to Natalie and snapped his fingers. That was the small white flame, breaking through the chaos when he couldn’t find his way clear. It had been her all along. He frowned, staring at her as he tried to process the strange shift to his world’s gravity.
“This isn’t my fight, Sohan,” Erevan said. “Rosak already took over the case.”
The older man frowned. “You handed it over?”
“I had to,” he said. “I want to help, but—"
“Then fucking help. If this is as bad as I fear, then we need all the help we can muster,” Sohan said. “I’ll handle Rosak. I trained you myself, and you’re one of a handful I’d be comfortable sending after this.”
“Really?”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head,” Sohan said. “Because I’m sure as hell not sending you out there without her.”
“And if she gets hurt?” Erevan said.
“If you do what you’re supposed to do, then she won’t,” Sohan said. “She protects you, so you can rip these assholes to shreds.” Natalie’s expression was stony.
Finally, Erevan took a step closer. “What do I have to do?”
“I want you to try to compel each other,” Sohan said.
“I can’t,” Erevan replied.
“I know that, stubborn ass,” Sohan said. “Just humor me.”
Erevan approached Natalie. She gave him a half smile, but her eyes were still narrowed in frustration. What the hell were they even doing? He’d promised to make sure she stayed safe, and now they were talking about throwing her on his back to ride into battle.
Sohan walked toward them. Leaning on his cane, he grabbed Natalie’s right hand and put it on Erevan’s arm. Then he roughly pushed Erevan’s hand onto her arm so they were clasped together. “Now make each other let go.”
For a split second, Erevan couldn’t think. Her touch was electricity on his skin, and more than the pleasant tingle of an attractive woman touching him. There was palpable power in her now, like someone had flipped a switch.
Judging by the way her breath quickened, she’d sensed something, too. Then her fingers clamped down on his forearm and she fixed her warm gaze on him. “Let go.”
He narrowed his eyes and squeezed her arm. She winced a little, and he let go instantly. Her eyes widened.
“Did I do it?”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said.
She scowled and grabbed his arm tighter, digging in her short nails hard enough to pinch. “I’m not fragile. Quit treating me like I am.”
Fine. If she wanted tough, she’d get it. He squeezed hard, expecting her to wince. “Let go.”
She didn’t flinch. “No.”
“Compel her,” Sohan said.
Protesting would prompt another harsh rebuke. Instead, Erevan focused and willed her to release him. When compelling a human, there was usually a sense of latching on, like he’d hooked her. “Let go.”
Her eyes went glassy for a split second, then she shook her head. “Let. Go.” The tingle radiated from her touch again, and his arm went numb from the shoulder to the tips of his fingers.
Without speaking, he pushed all of his power into her. He finally latched on, but it was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. Usually, there was a sense of tension, like he was pulling a weighted rope. Instead of pulling dead weight, this was tug of war, with a powerful force working against him on the other end and threatening to dominate him. Natalie’s eyes brightened for a moment, like lightning had struck behind glass.
Electricity flooded him, but it wasn’t painful. It rolled over him like a wave, coalescing at the base of his spine. A bolt of heat shot straight to his groin, and he clamped down involuntarily on Natalie’s arm. Her lips parted.
The resistance eased, leaving a subtle tension like a thin thread pulled taut between them.
Kiss me.
The thought was so crystal clear that he wasn’t sure if it was Natalie suggesting it or if his own body was responding to that insistent, almost-maddening tingle running across his skin. If that kept up, he was going to have a situation below the belt. And he would rather let Beale drain him dry than end up with a boner in front of Sohan.
“Told you,” Sohan crowed. “Look.”
Erevan looked down, and both of their hands were glowing where they grasped each other. His wreathed in flame, hers in blue sparks. His jaw dropped. The old bastard was right. Her pulse thrummed beneath his fingertips.
“Now, you have to do it without taking ten minutes to argue about it,” Sohan said. “But that’s a good start.”
Natalie extricated herself from his firm grasp, leaving him cold and empty as the connection broke. He almost asked for her to com
e back, to give back the vibrant energy that cycled between them. “Actually, I think I’m going to call it a day. I’m worn out, but thank you for this, Mr. Shadowbane.”
“My pleasure,” Sohan said. “Get something to eat, take a nap, and call me when you wake up. You two need to work at this some more.”
“Got it,” Natalie said. She gave Erevan a curt nod, then brushed past him. She paused long enough to put on her sandals, then hurried out the door.
“What the hell?” Erevan said aloud.
“The connection is strange at first,” Sohan said. “You’ll get used to it.” He pointed with his cane at the floral-print bag. “That yours?”
“Shit,” Erevan muttered. “I have to catch her.”
Sohan raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure you do.”
Natalie’s cheeks were still burning by the time she reached the Emerald Wing, to say nothing of the fire burning deep in her center. She hadn’t been prepared for the turn their training had taken. At first, she’d been annoyed with Erevan’s dismissal, and then frightened at his strength. Flame simmered under Erevan’s skin, leaving a pink handprint on her arm. But when their minds finally met, forging an electric connection, it was like fireworks went off in her brain. A thrill ran through her, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. She’d been so terrified that he would use those dragon senses, to smell her sudden lust and hear the way her heart raced.
She was fumbling with the key card when a long shadow fell over her. Erevan stood a few feet away with her bag slung over his shoulder. “Oh, hey.”
He shifted awkwardly and held out the bag. “I brought your things from the hotel. I hope I got everything.”
She took the bag and hung it on her shoulder. “Thanks.” Seeing him up close again reawakened the fiery memory of his touch. A dull ache pulsed between her legs, and she remembered Sohan’s playful mention of the Arik’tazhan who strengthened their connection with sex. Son of a bitch. She forced a smile. “This was really thoughtful.”
He stared at her for a long stretch. “Listen…I’m sorry. Did I hurt you? You just ran off, and—"
“No.” He just lit a fire that hadn’t burned in quite a while and wasn’t fading away any faster with him standing there, consuming every molecule of air in the room so she couldn’t quite catch her breath. “I’m fine.” She hesitated with the key in her hand, then turned back to him. “Actually, if you want me to be honest, then yeah, I’m a little hurt.”
“I didn’t mean…I’ve never tried that. I’m sorry.”
“Not physically,” she said. “You keep dismissing me. You’ve done it from the moment I found out what you were. You keep threatening to stow me away somewhere safe. And even when it turns out I can help you, you refuse.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt. What’s so wrong with that?”
“Who said it was your job to protect me?”
“Who said it was yours to save Thea?” He stepped forward, close enough that she could smell soap on his skin, tinged with the hint of smoke.
“Someone has to,” she snapped. His eyes widened. “Thea gave me a place to belong when everything turned upside down. And if someone’s doing to her what they did to those dragons…”
He hesitated, then put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m going to find them. And I will bring her back, no matter what.”
“Let me help. Sohan said this was what they did back when they fought the Raspolin the first time. I’m not just saying this because I want to find Thea. I really think I can help you if you’ll let me.” She held up her hand in front of him. He gently placed it on hers, and she interlaced her fingers through his. Her anger dissipated as his burning skin met hers. Slowly, she raised the other. He took her other hand, until they stood there holding hands like a couple of idiots. “Trust me.”
For a moment, she felt herself pulled toward him, then pulled back, in that unseen tug of war they’d fought with before. Then the spark ignited in their hands, and heat exploded through her. It was intense, but not painful. A delicious tingle ran down her arms, as if someone teased a single finger along her bare skin, down her back, and along the back of her thighs. She gasped involuntarily.
“Is that—"
He cut her off with a kiss, fierce and furious. There was no tentative searching. As his grasp tightened on her hands, a primal hunger roared to life in her. His strong arms pushed her back until she met the wall, pinning her hands on either side of her. “Are you making me do this?” he breathed. He buried his face in her neck, his jaw leaving a burning trail as he kissed the sensitive curve. His teeth nipped lightly at her throat, sending a shiver down her spine.
“No.” The world spun around her. Heat pooled between her legs. She strained lightly against his grasp, but he kept her wrists pinned. Fighting to find his mouth again, she kissed the rough line of his jaw, savoring the faint hint of salt on his skin.
He pressed closer, capturing her mouth again. His tongue thrust against hers, tangling and dancing in a breathless battle. It was getting hard to breathe, hard to think. She pressed herself against his strong thigh, finding the perfect spot to send a shudder coursing through her from the sensitive nerves. He released one wrist, sliding his hand down to pull her tighter to him, trapping her between his hard chest and iron grip.
Would anyone hear them if they…
What the hell are you doing?
“I can’t,” she murmured, even as the subtle shift of his powerful leg sent a wave of burning pleasure through her. She gasped sharply and put her free hand on his chest. “I’m sorry.”
He pulled away, staring at her in confusion. “Did I—I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
“No, God, no,” she said. As he pulled away, she took a deep breath. “I’m just not…this isn’t me. It’s not you.” He looked stung, and she realized she was about to ruin everything. “It’s too fast, I’m sorry.”
He frowned and ran a hand through his mussed hair. She couldn’t help but notice the bulge against his dark jeans. He stood straight without glancing down. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so forward.”
It was like watching someone else operate her body. She wanted him and wanted him to be as desperate for her as she felt in that moment. And still, she said, “It’s okay. You didn’t do anything.”
Idiot.
He cleared his throat. His stung expression smoothed into a stone mask. “We found Beale, but he won’t be able to talk until tomorrow. Thosrin has people following trails to see if we can find anything. And the queen’s elite will be taking over. Tonight, I’ll go through the rest of Thea’s journal for anything I missed before.”
“I could help—"
“You should rest. I’ll be in touch.”
And with that, he turned and walked down the hall. She leaned against the door and watched him go, kicking herself mentally. The urgent throb between her legs put the punctuation on her admonishment. What an idiot she was.
She bent to pick up the overnight bag and let herself back into her room. Setting her jaw, she unpacked the bag. He’d made an effort to put her toiletries back in place and had even neatly coiled the cord of her straightening iron. Regret crashed over her like a wave as she contemplated the thoughtful gesture.
What the hell was wrong with her? Erevan Skyblaze was literally the hottest man she’d ever met. He was always pleasantly warm, like he’d just come in from a day at the beach. He smelled good. He was fiercely and annoyingly overprotective. And yeah, he was a freaking masterpiece with no clothes on. That memory had more than burned itself into her brain. If she developed profound amnesia, she would still never be able to forget the sight of him naked.
But he was also surrounded by beautiful women like Ruana and Lilya. Women like that didn’t have to cry when they tried on bathing suits. There was no way he could look at Natalie the way he would look at someone like Ruana. Even if being a hybrid made her marginally more unique than an average human, she was nothing like those two. She could only disappoint him and
seeing it in his eyes would destroy her.
With a deep breath, she untied the gray wrap top and examined herself in the mirror. She wanted to see beauty in the reflection, but it eluded her. Absently, she traced the silvery marks on her left hip.
As her ex-boyfriend Devin had so helpfully pointed out, she’d “let herself go” after Mom died. Somehow, he thought diet and exercise were a girl’s top priorities when her mother, the source of her very life, was wasting away from the inside out. A few months after the funeral, he’d suggested a gym membership to help her get back to who she was. She’d suggested that he pack his shit.
She didn’t regret it, and she knew he was a jerk for saying what he did. But she couldn’t shake his disapproving remarks whenever she looked in the mirror, even two years later. When she’d moved to Asheville, she’d decided to get back in shape as much for revenge as for her health. That was how she had met Thea in the first place. She was in the best shape of her life, but she hadn’t been with anyone since Devin, and the prospect of another man rejecting her at her most vulnerable was too much to bear.
Everything was happening so fast. Even without the revelation of being a hybrid, the world had turned upside down and she was clinging on for dear life. Adding in a dose of magic that had a side effect of lighting up her nervous system with a bunch of lusty fireworks wasn’t helping anything.
She shook her head. “God, I’m stupid.”
With the excitement of meeting with Sohan and her interlude with Erevan, Natalie had forgotten to check her phone. She had a message from Perry asking if she’d heard anything about Thea. She sighed. It was one thing to lie to the clients, but another to lie to her friend. But she was already formulating the story as she called his number.
“Any word?” he asked as soon as she picked up.
“Yeah. It was all a big misunderstanding. Thea had a family emergency and had to go out of town.” She spun the same story Thomas had told her, which Erevan had refined for Officer McQueen.
“Okay…it just seems weird that she wouldn’t call me,” Perry said. He sounded stung.
“Don’t let it bother you,” Natalie said. “She sounded really overwhelmed with everything. It’s probably best if we give her some space and let her reach out if she needs something.”