by C. D. Gorri
Trepidation crept up his spine. And here he’d thought she’d stayed because she too felt the fierce attraction between them. Was he wrong? He could smell her arousal as it flared to life when she’d watched his naked form earlier. She was definitely interested. But then why all this subterfuge? Those blasted bosses of hers, that’s why!
“Well, you wouldn’t listen to me! I have a job to do, Nathan. An important one-”
“You did this,” he gestured to the table then glared once again at her, “prepared all this food, flirted shamelessly, all to tempt me back into the fold?”
“I did not flirt with you!”
“What do you call batting those ridiculously blue eyes then? And flaunting your delicious curves in my face? You took me for a fool!”
“No, that’s not what I did!” She stomped her foot on the floor, anger making her cheeks redden.
He wondered if she’d flush that way under other circumstances. Anger flared to life, replacing arousal as he reminded himself that she was a spy come to trick him.
“Of course it is what you did! It’s why they sent you. A woman after my many years in exile. The Heralds are using you to get to me.”
“No, look, I realize you may have been cooped up here for centuries, but this isn’t the freaking ice age, buddy! I am a fully qualified Junior Station Master! And yes, I cast a spell on this place to get you to listen to me!”
“Fat lot of good that will do you, Witch! I am a Dragon. Your powers can’t hold me here.”
He stalked back over to the front door, looking in the corners for any magical item she may have used to stop his entry earlier. Not finding any he grabbed some salt and tossed it over the threshold.
It wasn’t much, but salt was known to neutralize some spells. Surely, this Witch had no real power. His beast would be agitated by her if she posed a serious threat. Wouldn’t he?
“Nathan. Stop. I wouldn’t try that-”
He snarled in her direction before he took a few steps back, attempting to stop him mid-sprint would require some powerful magic. He doubted she could hold a flea much less him, a powerful SeaDragon and retainer of Cancer!
Famous. Last. Words. A huge volt of electricity struck his body the second he came into contact with the doorway. Nathan realized that he might have been a little hasty in his appraisal of her powers as he flew across the room, back landing against the heavy stone mantle of his fireplace. He closed his eyes at the crack he heard and shuddered to think of the damage that little stunt had done to his home.
“I told you not to do that,” the extended hand hovered above his face, but he couldn’t move just yet.
It hurt to breathe at the moment. Not that he would admit it. Fuck. She was powerful. Of course she was. And beautiful. But he closed his mind off to that second thought.
He’d been foolish to think the Heralds would send someone who was weak to rouse him. Interesting. Even more interesting was the way his Dragon still did not stir despite the pain inflicted on his person.
What do you mean just lying about while I’m being attacked? He spoke to his Dragon in his mind’s eye, but the beast merely curled up and slumbered on. Finally, he was able to breathe a little easier. He sat up, ignoring the concern in her gaze.
“Tell me exactly what it is that you did.”
“I told you. It’s a confinement spell. When you returned from your errands and stepped foot inside this house, you became bound to this space. Me too actually. The spell is on both us and your home. We won’t be able to leave or communicate with the outside world until we come to an agreement.”
“You did what!” He roared.
CHAPTER 4
Phoebe was proud of herself for not trembling in the face of a mightily pissed off SeaDragon the night before last.
She’d actually thought he was kinda cute. Until he started ignoring her and stomping around the house like a two-year old. I mean, really?
Forty-eight hours of dirty looks and a refusal to talk to her and she was going nuts. She was a bubbly person, she enjoyed long talks and even the occasional debate. This silent treatment was not gonna do.
She sat crisscross-applesauce on the gorgeous antique throw rug that graced his living room floor while she watched him as he once again emerged freshly showered from his private rooms. With an angry glint in his silver eyes and barely a glance in her direction, he walked round the whole first floor.
Room to room, like he had the past two days, and looked for a way out. For some weakness in her spell. As if. She cooked every night since she arrived, but he’d refused to eat the last two meals. Charring some plain meat for himself before returning to his room.
It hurt that he wouldn’t partake of the food she’d prepared, but she tried not to let it show. After all, she was there for one purpose. To bring him back to the fold.
“Om,” she exhaled. Phoebe tried to focus on her meditation again. Distracted by the half-naked SeaDragon walking about what she now considered as her space. His Zodiac marking glinted in the dim light from its place on the lower left side of his waist making her mouth water.
Focus, Phoebe. Running her hands along the soft carpet, she once again marveled of the feel of the rich fabric. Must be Persian. Ooh. So soft.
She’d changed into her comfiest pajamas before attempting to start her nightly meditation. The sky-blue short set was made of washable silk and felt great against her skin. The fit was loose and baggy, not that she worried about tempting the beast of a man. As she’d done the past two evenings, she’d set up her relaxation candle, bowl, and incense as she tried to release all the remaining tension of her day.
The peaceful scents of lavender and chamomile filled the air while she chanted to relieve the stress of the day. A crash sounded from the next room, but instead of rushing to his aid as she’d done the first night. Six times the first night, with no thanks from Nathan, she simply continued with what she was doing.
It was difficult given the rather colorful curses coming her way from what she now knew was his bedroom. Oh well. That’ll teach him to underestimate women!
Heavy footsteps thudded her way pausing just in front of her. The sound of his forced breathing almost crept into her me time, but she wasn’t about to give in to whatever tantrum he was about to throw next. Phoebe ignored them while she finished thanking the Goddess for all her blessings of the day and recited her vow to use her magic for good.
She opened her eyes only to be startled by the wild silver gaze of her new roomie. Her soaking wet roomie. He must have tried to leave through the bathroom window. Yikes. Maybe she should have warned him that her spell would do whatever it took to keep them both locked inside.
“Get. Rid. Of. It.”
“Excuse me? I’m sorry, I couldn’t understand you with all the growling.”
“I said, remove the spell, Witch.”
“Um, no.”
“What do you mean no?”
“I mean, I can’t. It won’t work. The terms of the spell must be fulfilled, or it will simply go on forever.”
Her answer was met with more growling, but Phoebe simply stood. Ignoring him, she waved her hand and cleared the area of her belongings. Moving objects to the storage space between realms where most Witches hid their goods was a snap. Breaking spells already in the works, not so much.
“Okay, well I’ve had a long day being ignored and I’m tired now. So, goodnight, Nathan. I’ll try and get comfortable on this giant, hard lump you call a couch,” she snarled.
Phoebe tried to walk past her host but found herself frozen in place. The sea air scent that clung to him tickled her nose causing tingles to race up her spine. The feeling only grew stronger as a large, feral smile spread across his handsome face. Uh oh.
“My couch is not to your liking, Witch? Well, we can’t have that,” Nathan stalked her across the room. His silver gaze raking her in from head to foot, penetrating her flimsy pajamas and suddenly she wished she’d worn something else.
Like that
fuzzy, purple unicorn footie pajama her friend Isabella and her mate Luis had given her for Christmas last year as a gag gift. A low growl seemed to emanate from Nathan’s throat as he crowded her. Shit. He was a predator.
Top of the food chain actually, but she forced herself to remain still as he moved in closer. Drops of water splattered loudly against the stone floor from his still soaked clothes. Her spell must have used the growing waves outside to force him back into the dwelling when he’d tried escaping. Oops.
“Um, look, Nathan, I realize we might have gotten off on the wrong foot-”
“Oh, what gave you that idea?”
“If you’ll just listen to me-”
“You are the last person I want to listen to. If the couch doesn’t suit you, I suggest you sleep on the floor, Junior Station Master,” he flung her title at her like it was something obscene and she recoiled.
Shame filled her as he turned and walked away, slamming the door to his bedroom with a loud, resounding thud. Phoebe became aware of two things in that moment.
One, she was actually starting to care about the oaf. And two, she was going to have to sleep on the stupid rock-hard couch again. No matter what he said, she would not sleep on the floor like some sort of stray cat. The jerk.
Thank goodness the maddening SeaDragon stood over six and a half feet tall, she thought as she fluffed one of the few pillows on his overly big sofa and attempted to get snuggly. Unfortunately it hadn’t worked out well the past two nights, and she doubted she’d have much success this night.
Plus, she couldn’t seem to find a thick blanket and didn’t have anything other than a thin afghan in storage. Damn. She shivered a little, curving her body into a ball as she wiggled closer to the almost extinguished fire.
“Some gentleman. Taking the bedroom, leaving me out here alone, again,” she muttered as she tossed and turned on the unbelievably uncomfortable couch.
Dammit. She was never going to get any sleep out there in the cold living room. Some island this turned out to be! After she’d spent weeks tracking the damnable SeaDragon to the remote, unchartered isle, she’d at least expected to be greeted with some tropical sunshine! But no, instead she raced ahead of the looming hurricane that was about to hit them.
Brought on by some maniac demon trying to get a foothold on the world! And to top it all off, the fool who was supposed to be her newest and first solo charge wouldn’t even listen to one word about it! Arghhhh!
How was she going to get him to use his powers of Cancer to stop this threat? That’s it, she thought, standing up much too quickly in the pitch-dark room.
“Oof!” she yelped, banging her shin on the marble coffee table, and hopping up and down in pain.
The little scream did some good at least. It sent a half-asleep Nathan running into the living room, in nothing but his skin. Yummy, yummy tanned skin.
“What is it! Who’s there?” He roared, looking around baffled and yet ready to tear apart the whole room. For her? Her heart warmed at the idea, but she didn’t waste time thinking about it.
Phoebe did the only thing she could under the circumstances. She slipped right past him and jumped in the bed, snuggling deep into the thick comforter that was still warm from his body.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Look, I’m cold and I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”
“Not in here you’re not!”
“Oh, yes I am! Just try removing me from this bed, cupcake, and I’ll turn every damn article of clothing you own into haircloth!” Her threat seemed to hold weight with him if the shudder that went through his powerful body was any indication. Guess the rumors were true about Dragons, they loved their comforts!
“I told you to take the couch,” he grumbled.
“You take it. There’s no blanket out there, the couch is hard as a rock, it’s cold, and the wind is too loud,” Phoebe bit her bottom lip.
She pulled the comforter up and around, covering her body from throat to foot. Still, she didn’t miss the look of astonishment that crossed his handsome face once he figured out the reason for her behavior. Damn.
“You’re afraid?!” Surprise laced his words as Phoebe sulked deeper into the pillows.
So what if she was a scaredy-Witch when it came to being in strange places alone at night? She hated the dark. She also despised being alone. That’s why she had a roommate all lined up back home. That is she had one, until Isabella reunited with her old crush. She was now living happily-ever-after with her mate, a fellow Warden of Terra, Luis Fernandez.
Both Zodiac Shifters dwelt and worked at the Virginia Station where Phoebe was Junior Station Master. Between them and the other mated pair, Troy and Andrea, things were getting kind of tense at the old quarters. What with the two pairs in a constant state of mutual admiration and the rest of the gang trying to keep their jealousy under wraps.
It wasn’t easy, but mostly they just had to remember these were their friends. Rex wasn’t happy of course. The Bear Shifter was used to being exceedingly powerful, but the mated Shifters certainly gave him a run for his money. But that wasn’t the real reason why he was so averse to love, not that he actually confided in Phoebe or anything. Sometimes she had a sixth sense about these things.
The rumors of increased powers when a Shifter found his or her fated mate seemed to be true. The Parcae, those sisters who were responsible for weaving the fate of all Supernaturals, Shifter-kind included, throughout all time and universes, had decreed it. Sigh. A hopeless romantic, Phoebe loved those stories.
She’d even managed to find a copy of the recently revealed Scroll of the Parcae. She’d memorized it, having read the thing so many times:
“Heed me, you Shifters of the Zodiac, we are the Parcae, the three sisters whose needlework determines your lifespans.
We, the Fates, have halved your souls, the missing piece of each of you lies within your one true mate.
The Wardens of Terra have been thusly designed with the intention of balancing your powers and focus.
You have been truly blessed with the signs of the Zodiac above all others. Your fated mates have been written in the stars. Your destiny spelled out across the heavens.
Follow your path to your other half for you will not know truth until that mate is found.
Your strength as Shifters of the Zodiac will increase when the claiming is complete. Power will flow in abundance in the veins of you Wardens, and your mates shall bask in the glow of such strength.
You have only to speak your vows aloud and ask us for blessings, if granted you shall be bound for eternity.
Stake your claim, but strike with care, for once complete, none can destroy your matebond.
Blessings to you who embrace the powers of your Zodiac sign and the one true mate fated for you.”
Phoebe shivered as she recited the verse to herself. Though not a Shifter, was inclined to believe that such a bond was unbreakable and worthy of respect and devotion. Even if it meant she was now roommate-less. Dammit.
If only she could believe that the Parcae had gifted her with such a mate. One man in the entire universe designed specifically for her. Who would desire and adore her, respect her independence and power, and would make her feel loved…loved…?
If she ever found such a man, he would be her entire world. She’d give him everything she had, happily. But she was not a Shifter and she seriously doubted she’d even register on the Parcae’s list of things to do. If only…
“Alright, if you are really afraid then you can stay here, but I am not leaving my bed.”
“Fine,” she mumbled not about to let him see her shock.
“And.” He continued with a sly grin on his face, “I prefer to sleep naked.”
The last word was nothing more than a deep growl, the vibration from his chest hitting Phoebe right between her legs. Uh oh. It started an aching throb that she hadn’t experienced in a while. A very long while. Biting her lip to keep from moaning, she scooted to the edge of on
e side of the bed.
She wasn’t going to argue the point, after all, it was technically his bed. That and the fact that she was being both presumptuous and rude silenced her objections.
The mattress dipped disturbingly low as he settled in and she realized he’d taken up residence further in the middle than she expected. She tried sticking to her side, forcibly hanging on to the outside of the mattress through the silky sheets, but it was no use.
Every time he moved, she slipped farther and farther back until she was right up against his enormous body. Good thing he’d fallen asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. She didn’t imagine he’d appreciate her being practically on top of him. Oh dear Goddess! What was she going to do?
She muttered a quick alarm spell and hoped she’d be up before the brutish Dragon opened his lethal silver eyes. Sighing, she took a moment to relish the heat coming off his ridiculously muscular body, as well as the softness of the sheets and blankets.
The couch had been fine to sit on, but it was grossly uncomfortable to sleep on without proper bedding. Sighing again, she snuggled deeper into the mattress, and into him, willing herself to relax against the stranger who’d suddenly rolled over. He now had one large arm wrapped around her middle.
Eyes wide she stiffened until his steady breathing reassured her that he was indeed asleep. Great, she thought, I’m a freaking teddy bear to a SeaDragon!
CHAPTER 5
Nathan’s Dragon was holding on by a thread. The feel of the curvy little Witch up against his body was almost too much for him to bear. He’d been trying to avoid the minx the last few days, but tonight he’d had no choice. Not when she charged into his room and thought to commandeer his bed.
Truth be told, he liked her take-charge attitude. In fact, the very first second his SeaDragon had spotted the little Witch in her naughty short pajamas he’d wanted to get her in his bed. Imagine his delight when she jumped in all on her own! If only his beast would stop pushing him to claim her, to bite the sensitive skin at the base of her neck and make her his forever. Es Meus.