by Elle Thorne
“But we are in Denmark,” Jolie prompted him.
“My phone service is international,” he reminded her. “All of ours are. Dragons, Draecenguard alike. We were in Asia Minor, after all.”
“Then call him,” Oiddras encouraged. “And perhaps can you get word to Salvatore that his old friend Oiddras would like to see him again one day.”
Matteo had already pressed an icon and was holding the phone to his ear.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Where are you,” Salvatore’s voice sounded concerned. The alpha dragon was clearly agitated by Matteo’s absence.
Matteo resisted the smile. “I’m with Jolie. Listen, there’s a USB on the nightstand in her room. Can you give that to Griz? It might have information about you need. Might be Crossroads.” When he noticed Oiddras’s expectant look he added, “Oiddras would like to see you again sometime.”
There was a long pause on the other side of the line, then, “You’re in Denmark? With Jolie? How— What’s going on?”
“Sam brought us here.” Matteo could hear growling over the phone. It wasn’t near enough to the phone to be Salvatore, so he realized Griz was near Salvatore and his shifter hearing picked up the words. “Tell Griz to simmer down. She’s been an ally.” He was sure that was the last thing Griz wanted to hear. “Tell him the vehicle I borrowed is at the same spot where we parked when we met Sam.”
Matteo noticed a wicked smile on Sam’s face. She enjoyed irritating Griz, that was clear.
“Are you coming back?” Salvatore asked. “I don’t like us far from one another, where we can’t protect each other.”
He wasn’t sure about the answer to that. Did he want to go back? Sure. They were family, but now he had Jolie, who was also like family. Well, a lot more than family, to his mind, but he hadn’t really addressed the matter with her. “We’ll see. Jolie has some plans. Plus, she needs to be reacquainted with Oiddras. And I miss Italy.”
“We could all go back there together.”
“You have a grandchild on the way. You have a new set of commitments.”
“Allegra is all I have here, and she has Griz.”
Matteo knew Salvatore cared for him like a son. And he was fond of the alpha dragon shifter, but he had a destiny to follow, and, as far as he was concerned, that destiny was wherever Jolie was.
“Are they going to save Selene?” Blaise popped the question out of the blue, clearly unaware they’d moved off the topic of the USB and Crossroads.
“What?” Salvatore’s voice was a roar. “What did she say? Who was that?”
Matteo pulled the phone away slightly, from the onslaught of Salvatore’s tone.
“Did she say Selene?” That was Allegra’s voice, who also must have been nearby and with her shifter hearing picked up Blaise’s question.
“One of the sorceresses that was kept captive with Blaise and Jolie was called Selene.” Matteo didn’t see how that mattered.
“Describe her,” Salvatore commanded.
In the background, he could hear Allegra’s sounds of distress. Shit. She was pregnant. She didn’t need to be upset.
“Salvatore wants you to describe Selene,” he told Jolie and Blaise.
Why? Jolie mouthed.
He shrugged his response then mouthed back, Just do it.
“Older than us,” Jolie said. “But sorceresses—well, it’s not easy to tell their age. She has a birthmark on her cheekbone. Actually, two of them. Just under the corner of her eye. Look like tears, really.”
Matteo knew he could hear, what with his shifter senses, but even if he hadn’t known, the roar the exploded through the phone told Matteo this description was cataclysmic.
“You know this sorceress?”
Salvatore sighed heavily in the phone. “Allegra’s mother.”
“What?” He sat back in his seat. How could that even be? He wasn’t up on the history of Allegra’s mother, but this was… “What’s the plan? I can come back to help with—”
“No,” Griz said. He’d clearly taken the phone from Salvatore. “We’ve got this.”
“But don’t you need to know more about the facility?”
“Teague grabbed the USB and has it in the laptop. It’s got enough information for now. We can call to find out more if we need to. You take care of Jolie. If she were to come back and they’ve got some sort of enchantment on her, it could spell havoc.”
Matteo didn’t understand it, but in his peripheral vision, Oiddras was nodding, then the older dragon shifter said, “It’s true. And the ways of sorcery are not always known to those of us who do not have access to those skills.”
“Let me know if you need me,” he told Griz. They disconnected. He set the phone on the low table by the chairs. He noticed concern on Jolie’s face. Pulling her aside into a room off the great hall, he asked, “What is it?”
In the dim room, lit only by the fire side through the doorway, her features were highlighted by the flickering flames.
“I like Allegra. She was kind to me. I hate the idea of not going back to help them.”
“But you heard them. Going back could hurt the cause.”
“I know.” She leaned her forehead against the stone wall. “How did things get so complicated? So confusing?”
He stepped closer, until he could feel the heat of her body. Drawing her into him, letting her rest her head against his chest, he stroked her hair. “They’re complicated, sure, but we have answers. There are solutions. We know what to do.”
“Do we?” She tipped her head back, looking into his eyes, studying, searching.
He wondered if she could see the emotions he felt for her deep within. He was certain she couldn’t see his dragon, because of the colored contact lenses which hid the gold striations, which turned vibrant with his emotions. And at this moment, he had way too many emotions. As did his dragon. The dragon roared at him. Asking why he was waiting to make her theirs. He knew why. She didn’t need to be rushed. She’d had enough emotional blows dealt to her lately.
“We do.” Sentiment choked his voice. He lowered his head, brushed his lips against hers. That was all he would permit himself. He didn’t want to push her.
To his surprise, she raised her arms, wrapping her hands around his neck, holding him captive as she pressed her lips to his firmly. They parted slightly, an invitation to explore, to claim. He couldn’t have turned the invitation down, not for anything.
He ran his tongue along the seam of her lips, grazed her teeth, explored the taste of her. She was like the heat of cinnamon and the coolness of mint all at once. She was fiery. She was subtlety. She was submission. She was domination. This woman of his.
Suddenly, he felt it. They were in a buckle of time. The aura surrounded them. Purple and blues in a haven all their own. A quick glance at the doorway revealed Samara, Oiddras, and Blaise were frozen.
“You did it,” he said against her lips.
Her eyes flew open. She looked about. “How? I—”
He didn’t let her finish. His mouth claimed hers all over again, enjoying this moment they had alone, in a world of her creation. A world that had room only for two. He moaned, the vibration strong in his chest, a combination of both his own desires and the dragon’s. One hand on her hip, the other at the small of her back, he pulled her against his body. Against the desire she’d produced in him that she was sure to feel.
The kiss lasted an eternity, and yet it was not nearly long enough. It was interrupted by her words.
She pulled away. “I shouldn’t have… I—”
“I’m glad you did. I didn’t want to push you.”
Her hands fisted in his shirt, holding him in place. “You wouldn’t have. I’ve had these emotions.”
“As have I.”
“I was hoping they weren’t, you know, adrenaline based. Sometimes, you hear about people bonding after going through harrowing ordeals.”
He studied her face. “You don’t believe this is that, do you?” For ce
rtain, he didn’t feel it was. He—and his dragon—were convinced this woman belonged in their life. Perhaps in a more sedate life, without having blood spells, escapes, misadventures. He fought a smile that threatened to appear with that thought.
“What’s so funny?”
Looks like he’d failed. “I was thinking of a calm life. A home. A couple of little dragonlings—”
“Time mages,” she corrected him.
“Or toddler time mages running around,” he agreed with a grin.
“What if they pulled pranks?” She gasped. “Like if they didn’t get their way, instead of tantrums they buckled time? I don’t even know how to counter that. Or how to control my own time buckling.”
“We have to find someone who can help you with that. I’m sure Oiddras would know. Seeing as how he knew your mother’s people.”
“He said they were from Romania. That’s a good distance from here. I can’t do both, starting a community and at the same time, hunting for my community.”
“We don’t have to begin making babies right away,” he said, containing his laughter.
“Wha— Wait. What are you saying?”
“I’m saying let’s get the community thing started. Then let’s go on the road. Find your people. Visit Italy. Maybe even the Pontic Mountains. Maybe go back to Bear Canyon Valley for a visit.”
“No. I’m not asking that.” She mock-shook him by the shirt. “I’m talking about the other. The babies thing.”
“Ah that.”
“Yeah, that. What’s that about?”
“Just thinking ahead.”
She released him and stomped around the near-dark room, going farther and farther into the dim corners. “Oomph.”
He should have warned her about the stool she was about to run into, but he’d been too busy admiring the view of her coming and going to think about that. He reached out and took her hand.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jolie’s head was spinning. Her shin ached, but that had nothing on the way she felt. Overwhelmed. That kiss. His words. She knew she was falling. But she hadn’t expected this from him. Not yet. Sure, she’d had an inkling he was attracted. For, what guy would follow a girl across an ocean—albeit, through magical travel, but still.
She held his hand. The warmth, the size, the comfort.
“You don’t feel the same?” he asked.
Gods, how could she possibly explain to him what she felt. She didn’t even grasp the depth of it herself.
Once more, she decided to let her kiss do the talking. This time there was no buckling of time.
It was a kiss. A man and a woman. Gone were the time mage and the dragon. This time there was just him. Just her. In a tidal wave of emotion.
His tongue thrust into her mouth, tangled with hers. His hands cupped her face so gently as to contradict the fierceness of his tongue’s endeavor to claim her. To make her his. The kiss pulled her close to a cliff of emotion.
“Jump,” he murmured against her lips. “Jump with me. A leap of faith. Can you see the cliff?”
How did he know what she was feeling? What she envisioned? She nodded in the midst of the kiss, then said softly, “I do. I see it.”
“Jump with me. Together.”
“I will. I do.” And she would. And she did.
“Are you two going to join us?”
Samara stood in the doorway, leaning against the jamb, studying them coolly.
Jolie bit back a reaction to the sudden interrupt, then managed, “Yes, we are.” She tugged Matteo forward, toward the great hall.
When they came out, they found Oiddras standing over a sleeping Blaise. She’d crashed in the oversize chair in the corner. Resembling something one would see in a throne room, the chair was large enough for her to curl up in.
Oiddras looked at them. “She needs some time to recuperate.” He pulled her out of the chair. “I’ll be right back.” He vanished up the staircase.
Jolie kept her gaze on the fireplace, then walked over to it while Matteo stayed near the doorway. The silence was swollen with discomfort. What should she say? It felt odd with Samara there, watching, overhearing.
Oiddras returned less than two minutes later. His glance went from Jolie to Matteo then settled on his daughter again. “And you two?” He raised a brow. “Want to update me?”
Jolie waited, hoping Matteo would put into words what she felt reluctant to.
He did. “Jolie and I are—”
Samara laughed. A sound that filled the great hall with merriment. A sound so beautiful Jolie had to doublecheck to be sure it came from the fierce, diminutive blood elf. “For goodness sake, you two.” She approached Oiddras. “They are the only two who don’t realize they’re fated. It’s obvious to me. You?” She asked the dragon shifter.
“Absolutely,” Oiddras concurred.
Jolie’s cheeks heated, and it had absolutely nothing to do with the blazing fire. She looked at Matteo.
Matteo grinned. “Busted.” He stepped closer to Oiddras. “I’m head over heels for your daughter.”
Oiddras held out a hand and shook Matteo’s. “You have my blessing.”
Jolie threw her hands in the air. “Do I not have a choice in this matter? What are you two doing? Arranging a marriage? As if it’s medieval times?”
Samara was chortling now. The ferrets were scampering across her shoulders. “Say you don’t feel it,” she challenged Jolie.
“I can’t say that.” Then she scowled at the blood elf. “Release me from the blood binding.”
Samara laughed again, a loud belly laugh. “There never was a blood binding.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the vial, handing it to Jolie.
“Then what was that all about?” She took the vial and shoved it into her jean pocket.
“Just a show. To keep you honest. I see I don’t need it now.”
Jolie stared at the blood elf, liking her more than ever. “You’re unbelievable.”
“We aren’t all bad,” Samara said.
She shook her head at Samara then turned to Oiddras. “Shall we begin the process of turning Dragespire into a place that’s a little bit cozier?” She glanced about the barely furnished room then shivered against the chill that had settled in, despite the roaring fire.
“Why don’t you let me tend to that. You and Matteo can go to Italy. He seems to miss his mother country. I’ll get this place in order. Bring in accommodations, employees, fortifications. Then say, in a few short weeks, you can come back.”
“I’m not leaving you alone,” Jolie told him. “Not after nearly losing you.”
“He won’t be alone,” Samara stated boldly. “I’ll stay and help. I’ll keep Blaise company while you two are gone.”
“Sounds grand to me.” Blaise said from the top of the staircase. “We’ll get this place to what it used to be.”
“But better,” Oiddras added. “Much better.”
Jolie was convinced they could do it all. But a part of her wanted to be here for it. To be a part of it. Then to go to Bear Canyon Valley and reconnect with those who had started this ball rolling. And she wanted to see if they saved Nameless—Selene. She felt eyes on her and turned toward Matteo.
He rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb, eyeing Jolie with that dark gaze of his.
“What?” she asked. “What are you thinking?”
“A trip to Italy can wait. Let’s make sure things get started here then let’s take a trip to Bear Canyon Valley. Wrap up loose ends. Come back here and ascertain that Sam hasn’t burned the place down—” The blood elf scoffed at this, but he continued speaking. “Then maybe we spend some time checking Italy out.”
“I’d love to see the place you grew up. To view it through your eyes.”
“I’d love to show it to you,” he told her, but his smile was bittersweet, and melancholy laced his features.
“What just crossed your mind?”
“The gravestones of my ancestors. Seeing those again. It carries a m
easure of sadness.”
She found herself thinking it would be sad indeed, but at least he had a place to visit. She had nothing. She shook herself from that state of mind. Not true. Not true, at all. She had Oiddras. That was worth all the gravestones in the world.
She went to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding him tightly. “I’ll be there when you go. We’ll do it together.”
He raised a hand as though to hide them from view of the others and kissed her lips gently, just the barest brush of his against hers, yet they delivered a promise which set her pulse to racing. Something she was sure he could sense, and indeed, his eyes lit up with a green fire. This made her remember something.
“I want to see you without your contacts sometime. I want to meet your dragon.”
“You kind of did meet him when you sent him careening through the trees, straight to the ground. Maybe it’s not a good idea for you two to meet again. You two create a hell of an explosion.” He winced, scrunching his face in pain.
“What’s wrong?” She stared earnestly into his features, confused by his expression and the flinching.
He smiled. “The dragon let me know that not meeting was not an option. Yeah, two negatives, that’s how he rolls.”
“Would he be willing to give me a ride sometime? A test drive now that Samara has worked her magic and removed that curse?”
Matteo’s smile grew wider. “He’s anxious to. Whenever you’re ready.”
Oiddras coughed, capturing their attention. “There are no enchantments in place anymore which would hide a dragon from view of those on the ground. If you choose to follow this treacherous notion, I’d recommend taking off from the cliff and spending your airborne time over the North Sea.”
Jolie noticed the excitement on Matteo’s face. It was downright contagious. “Now?” Thrills chased their way up and down her body at the prospect of being airborne on a dragon’s back. Not just any dragon. Matteo. Matteo who gave the scorching kisses.
“Sure.” Matteo turned to Oiddras. Got a couple of shot glasses?”