Fire Maidens: London

by Lowe, Anna

  The rest, Gemma didn’t see, because Sergio huddled closely, protecting her. But then the earth shook and sizzled, cutting off Petro’s anguished cry.

  She wanted to sink to her knees, but she couldn’t. Petro and Lorenzo were dead, but Enzo was still circling overhead.

  Sergio lifted his muzzle and snarled. Liam swooped upward, roaring in defiance. Gemma collected her nerves and raised her shield, daring Enzo to come closer. Rain pelted her face, and the ravens chattered wildly. In the midst of the din, Gemma closed her eyes, soaking it all in — that feeling of united power. Of allies battling for a common cause. Of love giving her strength and courage.

  Enzo roared at Liam, and Gemma’s heart sank. But the next whip of the older dragon’s tail propelled his body backward, and he twisted in midair. Then he beat his wings, fleeing for the horizon.

  Sergio barked in triumph, but Gemma swayed, praying it was really over. She watched as Liam gave chase before finally breaking away. He circled twice, and Gemma could sense his dilemma. Should he finish Enzo off or fly back to her while his strength lasted?

  “Come back,” she whispered. “Please.”

  Liam circled once more. Then, with a final roar of warning, he turned for home.

  As he drew closer, the ravens quieted down. Sergio sank to his haunches and licked an injured paw. Gemma blinked as the reality of it all hit her. She really was standing beside a wolf who could turn into a man. That oversized raven wheeling around was the butler, and that rapidly approaching dragon was her lionhearted lover.

  Liam glided in, touched down, and folded his wings awkwardly, as if the instincts that had guided him through the fight had suddenly petered out. His eyes were wary, almost pleading.

  It’s me, Gemma. Good dragons, remember?

  Gemma stepped forward without the slightest hesitation. Dragon…lion…human. Liam was Liam, no matter what shape he came in.

  She stepped forward. It was still raining, and the wind whipped her hair, but she barely noticed. All she really saw was the man she loved. Sergio gave a low chuff and turned away. At Gareth’s quiet caw, the ravens dispersed. And Liam—

  His eyes shone brilliantly, so full of hope, she could have burst. The space around his wings shimmered, and a charged current filled the air. By the time Gemma reached him, he was human again, with arms that held her tighter than ever before.

  “Gemma…” he croaked.

  She squeezed her eyes shut and clutched at his shoulders. He smelled of ash and sweat. Burn marks crisscrossed his bare back. But he was alive, and so was she.

  Slowly, Liam pulled away, taking her hands. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”

  “For what? Nearly getting killed? For saving me?”

  He shook his head. “For turning into a dragon. I swear, that’s never happened before. I would have told you if I’d known I could.”

  Her heart ached. The poor man had truly taken her No secrets policy to heart. She reeled him back into a hug. “You can turn into a warthog for all I care. I love you. You got that? I love you.”

  His lips curled the tiniest bit. “A warthog, huh?”

  She made a face. “Don’t take that too literally. But, yes. I loved you when I thought you were crazy. I loved you as a lion. I can love you as a dragon too. Correction — I’m proud to love you as a dragon.” She cupped his cheeks. “Are you seeing the common denominator here? You, Liam. I love you.”

  His yellow-green eyes took on a golden hue as he drew her into another hug. Then he kissed her, long and deep, only breaking away to murmur, “You, Gemma. I love you.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Liam held his hands toward the massive fireplace in the study, where Gareth had stoked a raging fire. But Liam’s eyes weren’t on the dancing flames so much as on his own arms. Wow. Had he really shifted into dragon form?

  Gemma set down her mug of hot chocolate and curled her elbow around his. “What are you thinking?”

  He sighed. “How much my lion relatives are going to love hearing about this.”

  She snorted. “Don’t tell me you’re worried about what they think.”

  He thought it over. “Not worried. Just a little…tired of explaining things. Things I don’t even understand properly.”

  “Like turning into a dragon?”

  He nodded. “To begin with.”

  He looked at Sergio, who sat in a nearby chair, quietly nursing a brandy — and a badly mauled arm. Sergio had experienced far worse, but clearly, he wasn’t in the mood to talk. Gareth stood to one side, staring absently into the fire. Grumpy, infuriating Gareth, who had always pretended not to care.

  Liam hid a smile. Gareth cared, all right. The raven had fought as bravely as anyone and, with his flock of wild ravens, he’d tipped the tide of battle. He’d also organized blankets, hot drinks, and that fire without so much as a grumble. Meanwhile, his gray hair was still plastered to his scalp, and one arm hung stiffly at his side. The man was injured, for sure, though he refused to acknowledge any such thing.

  “Gareth,” Liam called softly.

  The raven shifter turned with his usual guarded expression. “Sir?”

  “What do you know about the Lombardis?”

  Gareth grimaced and looked back into the fire. “What is it you’d like to know?”

  Good old Gareth, keeping his cards close to his chest.

  “Enzo Lombardi…” Liam’s voice cracked, so he started again. “He killed my father, didn’t he?”

  Gareth glanced over sharply, and Liam could see him weighing up what to say. In the end, all he offered was a curt shake of the head. “No. That was his brother, who died of the injuries he sustained.”

  Liam exhaled a little. At least there was that. Allowing Enzo to flee would be harder to live with if that had been the case.

  “You were right to let him go,” Gemma said as if she’d read his mind.

  Liam frowned. “Was I?”

  At the time, he’d been too exhausted to go on — and too worried about an ambush from the rear that could have threatened his mate. But now, his mind replayed the decision a thousand times.

  Gemma wove her fingers through his. “No regrets. Everyone did what they could. Petro and Lorenzo were the real threats anyway.”

  Gareth shook his head. “They were the foot soldiers and the heirs to a cruel dynasty. But Enzo is the mastermind, and he has many more nephews. They will continue plotting their clan’s return to power.”

  “Plotting to return here?” Gemma’s hand went cold around Liam’s.

  Gareth’s eyes drifted to Liam, and though his voice was neutral, his eyes sparkled with pride. “I believe we have safely eliminated that possibility.”

  Liam hid a tiny smile. Maybe Gareth didn’t despise him after all.

  “They will only set their sights elsewhere,” Sergio muttered.

  Gemma didn’t look comforted. “First, they attacked Paris. Now, here. What next?”

  “Any of the great cities could attract their greed,” Gareth said. “Dublin. Lisbon. Amsterdam.”

  “Rome.” Sergio’s dark eyes flashed as he stared into the fire.

  Liam watched the embers glow. He’d been so focused on the immediate problem, he’d lost sight of the big picture. The Lombardis might have been vanquished in their most recent battle, but they wouldn’t abandon their quest.

  He groaned. “I can see it now. We’ll have to roam all over Europe, hunting them down one by one.”

  Sergio shook his head. “You and your Fire Maiden must stay here and protect your home. It is up to the rest of us to finish what you and Tristan started.”

  “Lord knows there’s enough to do here,” Gareth agreed.

  Liam’s heart stuttered. Sergio and Gareth were assuming Gemma wanted to stay with him and take up the role of a Fire Maiden. But he’d learned not to assume anything when it came to his mate.

  “Wait.” He looked at her. “We were born into this. You have a choice.”

  She pulled the blanket tighter around her sh
oulders. “I was born into this too. I just didn’t know it.”

  “You still have a choice.” Liam gulped. “About me, I mean.”

  She chuckled and nestled closer. “Well, that’s a no-brainer. Where you go, I go, Mr. Bennett.” Then she turned to Gareth. “What do you think? A good choice?”

  Liam paled, picturing what Gareth might say.

  Gareth cleared his throat. “It isn’t my place to judge, Miss.”

  But Gemma rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Gareth. Help me out here. What do you say?”

  Liam fought the urge to shrink under Gareth’s stern gaze, as he’d done as a child. But a tiny smile appeared on the butler’s lined face. “I think, miss, you could do worse.”

  Sergio laughed outright, as did Gemma. Liam sank back, letting out a long, slow breath.

  “I think I could not do better,” Gemma announced with a huge smile. “In fact, I know it. So there, destiny.”

  Liam all but pulled her into his lap, and if it hadn’t been for Gareth and Sergio — well, who knew how far he and Gemma might have taken things on that couch. He settled for kissing her — a long, loving kiss, but still far too brief for his liking. His lion was prowling around inside him, demanding to claim his mate. Hell, he had a dragon in there as well, clamoring for the same thing. And Gemma didn’t make it any easier to resist, what with the way she pressed her body against his.

  Not yet, he told himself. But soon.

  Very soon, Gemma’s needy hum said.

  Finally, they broke apart. Gemma took a sip of her hot chocolate, then put the mug down with a jolt.

  “Oops. Should we be keeping a lookout or something?”

  Gareth shook his head. “All taken care of, miss.”

  A raven cawed outside, and Gareth lifted his chin like a general proud of his troops. With good reason, Liam decided. He had never thought much of ravens, but then again, he’d been wrong about lots of things.

  “What about that lion?” Gemma asked. “Did the Guardians send him?”

  “Rutland was a mercenary. No one will miss him,” Liam growled.

  For the next few minutes, everyone was silent. Then Gemma nodded toward the sword laid out on the table — the one she’d struck Petro with, which Gareth had retrieved and cleaned.

  “What do you know about Excalibur there?”

  Liam chuckled while Gareth waved a hand in one of those gestures that implied, I know so much, and you know so little. Where on earth would I begin?

  All he said was, “It’s been in the family for generations.”

  “A trophy taken when a dragon defeated a knight?” Gemma asked, tensing.

  Liam sure as hell hoped not. Gemma might have said she was okay with his dragon ancestry, but he didn’t want to push his luck.

  “Not at all, miss. Legend says it came from a knight who fell in love with a she-dragon.”

  Liam did a double take. Hadn’t his mother told him a bedtime story like that? She must have, because when Gareth went on, the tale was hauntingly familiar.

  “The knight had been sent to slay her, and she was prepared to kill him. But one look, and they fell in love. The knight pledged himself to the she-dragon, and she took him as her mate.” Gareth smiled faintly. “You have nothing to fear from that sword. It is a symbol of love and devotion, not hate or revenge.”

  Liam closed his eyes, listening to the faint echo of his mother’s voice. Then he looked around sadly. His parents had died so young — too young to see him make something of himself.

  The fire popped and crackled, and Liam imagined a pair of voices whispering, We see. You do us proud, son.

  He bit his lip, hanging on to that thought. His parents were there in spirit, and yes, they would be proud. But he had a lot to accomplish before he could rest easy. He and Gemma had to face the Guardians, for one thing. They would have to establish their own ground rules, the way Natalie and Tristan had in Paris. London still held its fair share of threats, and he was far from finished protecting the city. He and Gemma would be busy, indeed.

  The fire crackled merrily, and Liam found himself smiling. No matter what challenges lay ahead, he and Gemma could handle them together.

  “Are all the swords spelled?” Gemma asked, peering around uncomfortably.

  “I don’t think so. But who knows what treasures your keen eye might uncover?” Gareth’s eyes twinkled.

  Gemma held up her bracelets. “Like these?”

  Liam leaned closer. He’d been wondering that himself.

  Gareth nodded. “Part of the great Rhiannon’s treasure hoard — a Fire Maiden from the thirteenth century.”

  Gemma tilted her head. “And they have the power to…?”

  Gareth smiled. “The power to empower, so to speak.” Then he gave a little bow and backed toward the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, it is time for this old man to retire for the night. Shall I show you to your room, sir?”

  Sergio rubbed his eyes and stood wearily. “Please.” He turned to Liam. “All right with you?”

  Liam held his friend’s gaze for an eternity, trying to pack all his gratitude into a few heartbeats. But Sergio shrugged in that You would have done the same for me gesture they’d developed in the military. Of course, Liam would. But he had the sneaking suspicion he wouldn’t get the chance to. Whatever battles Sergio faced in the future, he would face alone.

  Sergio shook his head ever so slightly and spoke into Liam’s mind. Whatever challenges I face, I face with allies, new and old. And you, my friend… His eyes drifted to Gemma, and he winked. You take good care of your mate.

  His words had a saucy edge, and Liam wanted to protest. He and Gemma were too tired for that kind of fun, their minds too full of what had transpired. But a minute after Sergio and Gareth left the room, calling their goodbyes…

  Liam kissed Gemma’s ear. Just a little kiss, really, along with what he loved most — finger-combing her long, silky hair. But one kiss followed another, and before he knew it, Gemma was lying back and tugging him with her. He followed eagerly, and the next few minutes were a heated blur. The fire crackled and sparked, just like the electricity between him and Gemma. The blanket slid to the floor, and soon, Gemma’s clothes followed.

  Gemma ran her hands over his rear. Shifting back to human form had left him naked, and he’d only been covered by the blanket since they’d come down from the roof.

  “So convenient,” she murmured. “I could get into this shifter thing.”

  He chuckled, letting the last corner of the blanket slip away. “You’ll be the same way soon.” Then he froze. Oops. Had he told her about that? “If I make you my mate, you’ll be a shifter too.”

  Gemma didn’t so much as blink. She just grinned and cupped his ass. “Lion or dragon?”

  He stared. “You don’t mind?”

  “No, I don’t mind. It’s in my blood, isn’t it?”

  “What about the Guardians? This is just what they wanted, you know.”

  She shook her head. “No, they wanted a couple of puppets to control. And anyway, no one is part of this decision except us.”

  Liam liked the sound of that. No — he loved the sound of that. Us. Him and her, a team of two.

  “And, hey,” she went on. “I wouldn’t mind having a second means of self-defense in case that sword isn’t always handy.”

  He frowned, because she was right. Fire Maidens could develop great powers, but they had great responsibilities too. Enough that she might have to fight more battles.

  “Come what may, I can handle it,” she whispered, kissing him. “But only if you’re my mate. Now, where were we?” Her voice became a purr, and her hands slid over his hip, moving from his rear to—

  He hissed as she palmed his cock and murmured, “Oh, yes. We were right about here.”

  She fisted his shaft, and when she started to slide, his eyes rolled back.

  “Poor little lion. Er, dragon,” she whispered, stroking faster.

  “Not little,” he said through clen
ched teeth.

  If she kept that up, he’d be a goner in no time. As it was, he was aching for release. Still, he lay there, enjoying his mate’s touch for another few minutes of immeasurable pleasure while a plan formed in his mind. Then he jackknifed up, scooped her into his arms, and rolled.

  “Oh!” she squeaked.

  “My turn.” His voice was a growly mixture of human, feline, and dragon desires.

  “No, my turn,” Gemma cooed as she lay back and closed her eyes.

  His blood rushed at that sign of her surrender, and a wave of adrenaline swept through him, guiding him in a thorough exploration of her body. First, he claimed her mouth in a deep, searing kiss. Then he treasured her breasts, licking and nipping until she cried out. Finally, he slid to his knees beside the couch, spread her legs, and consumed her.

  Gemma wove her fingers through his hair. “Yes…”

  Her flavor acted on him like a drug, and he couldn’t stop tasting…touching…exploring. Gemma started gyrating, and her moans grew louder.

  “Yes…”

  His hands, tongue, and fingers were all devoted to her pleasure, but his mind spun ahead, calculating. The two of them would never fit on that couch, and the bedroom was too far away. That left the floor — not exactly a classy place for the act of mating, but hell. He doubted Gemma would mind, and the fireplace did lend a certain ambiance…

  When he eased away from Gemma, she whimpered, tugging him back.

  “Don’t stop. Please…”

  “Just relocating. All right with you?”

  Her eyes were hazy, and he was fairly sure she would agree to relocating to just about anywhere if that’s what it took. The barn. Hell, on the roof in the rain. He wouldn’t mind, except for the time it took to get there. So he lowered her to the floor and slid into place over her body.

  “All right with me.” She wrapped her legs around his waist. “Just promise me Gareth won’t walk in, offering more hot chocolate.”

  Liam laughed. “I think he has a sixth sense for these things.”