by Lili Zander
That catches Aria’s attention. “He’s missing?”
“Sure looks like it,” I say soberly. “I sweet-talked her into giving me his address.” I hold up a sheet of paper. “He lives half an hour away. Let’s go find him.”
“There’s no need,” Bastian says tightly. “Look who just walked in.”
I turn in the direction he’s pointing and mutter a curse under my breath. I don’t recognize the bald, Mr. Clean lookalike, but I know muscle when I see it. It’s the woman who’s with him that I’m more concerned about.
“That young hot Japanese girl?” Aria asks. “Umm, for the record, I’m not okay with you two checking out other women when I’m around.”
“Trust me, I’m not checking her out,” Bastian replies. “That’s Kioko Yone.”
“The head of the Society of Alchemists?” Aria’s voice is coated with surprise. “But she looks like a teenager.”
“Alchemists have their tricks. She’s older than she appears, love.” I’m about to say something else, but then Kioko Yone looks around the room and sees us.
Trouble.
For a second, wary surprise flickers across the alchemist’s face, and then her expression turns guarded. She makes her way over to us, weaving between the tables. “If it isn’t the dragon princes,” she says coolly. “The pretty one and the boring one. How exciting.”
“I can hardly contain myself,” Bastian replies flatly. “Sit down, Kioko. We need to talk.”
Her jaw tightens. “Must I remind you, Lord Jaeger, that dragons don’t rule over the alchemists?”
“Funny,” Aria remarks lightly. She puts her hand on Bastian’s arm. “Didn’t you tell me that the alchemists had asked for your help? Something about magic being eroded?”
I bite back my grin. My little kitten has razor-sharp claws.
Kioko’s gaze swings to Aria. “You’re Norm,” she says dismissively. “Don’t pretend to understand magic.”
Aria extends her right hand, turning her wrist so that the mating mark is clearly visible. Kioko inhales sharply, as does her bodyguard. For an instant, she hesitates and then pulls up a chair. “You’re their mate, aren’t you?” she asks Aria. “All five princes. As prophesied.”
My shoulders stiffen. “How do you know about the prophecy?” I demand.
Wrong tone. Kioko’s eyes flash fire. “I don’t answer questions,” she says. “I ask them.”
Bastian leans forward. “Three weeks ago, Mateo Valentini was poisoned in this bar,” he says, his voice dangerous. “Last week, Erik Valder was stabbed with a spear that almost killed him. Same poison. I take care of my own, Kioko. Start talking before I assume the alchemists are at war with the dragons and take countermeasures of my own.”
She holds his gaze for a long time. Finally, she nods curtly. “A month ago, someone broke into my private stores and stole some vials of a rare magic-suppressor potion. We’ve been tracking the thief ever since we discovered the loss.”
“Let me guess. Without any success.”
She sighs with thinly-concealed impatience. “Slater is the only one among you with any sense,” she snaps. “Of course not. You think it’s easy to break into a master alchemist’s stores? The thief is dead. Unfortunately, the vials are proving harder to find.”
Aria’s eyes narrow at the mention of Casius, and I suppress another grin. This is a whole new side of my mate, and it’s pretty flattering.
“Gideon Zyrian stole the vials,” Bastian replies bluntly. “Or one of his minions did. He’s using them against us.” He fixes Kioko with a serious look. “If the alchemists ally with us…”
She’s shaking her head before he can finish. “I think not, Lord Jaeger. This is a dragon matter. The alchemists have no role to play in your conflict with the dark mage.”
“A conflict that’ll eventually impact the alchemists,” I reply. “Are you under some kind of illusion that Zyrian will leave you alone if he prevails? Because he won’t.”
“That’s a chance I’m willing to take.” She gets to her feet. “The man you’re looking for is dead,” she adds. “I’ve doubled the protection around my stores. I’ll find the missing vials. Rest assured. The Dark Dragon won’t be stealing from me again.”
“How many vials?” Aria asks, her voice tinged with desperation. “At least tell us how many vials were stolen.”
The alchemist hesitates and then relents. “Six vials. One dose in each vial.”
Zyrian’s minions used either one or two vials on Valentini. One on Valder. Which leaves three or four vials out in the open.
We wait until Kioko leaves the bar, and then Aria straightens her spine. “I’m not the jealous sort, really,” she says. “But I don’t like that woman. The pretty one and the boring one, she called you. Catty bitch.”
I start to chuckle. Bastian’s phone pings before I can agree with Aria. A relieved smile breaks out on his face as he reads the message. “Great news,” he says. “Erik’s awake.”
95
Aria
Erik’s sitting up in his bed when we get back. “You’re awake!” I squeal, throwing my arms around him and enveloping him in a bone-crushing hug. “Oh, thank heavens.”
I’m half-bracing for him to push me away, but to my surprise, he doesn’t. “Mateo tells me I have you to thank for it.”
I sniff into his shoulder. “I couldn’t have done it alone.” He’s got a really nice upper body, Erik. I’ve noticed it before, of course. I’m not blind. But this is the first time I’ve touched him, and I don’t really want to let go.
The guy was at death’s door. Stop perving on him, Aria.
I disentangle myself, feeling awkward. “I’m glad you’re conscious. It was a tense few days.”
“Don’t worry, princess,” he teases. “I’ll be up and about in no time. And then, I can kick your ass at pool again.”
A smile spreads across my face, and for the first time in days, I feel completely right. As if all’s well with the world again. “You talk a good game,” I toss back. “But can you back it up?”
He chuckles. “We’ll see, princess. We’ll see.”
Things slowly return to normal. We hear nothing more from the alchemists, but the attacks abate, at least for the time being. I keep holding my breath and bracing for bad news, but none arrives.
I double-down on my magic lessons. Mateo starts to teach me how to heal, which is a lot more complicated than the casual wave of a finger. “You make it look so easy,” I wail in the library as blood gushes unchecked from a wound on Mateo’s forearm, and nothing I do seems to fix it. “Damn it.”
“I’ve had just a little more time to practice,” he replies, as patient as ever. “As you know. I don’t expect you to master it overnight. Concentrate.”
“I am.” I tug the threads of my magic once again and imagine one of the strands stitching the cut together, just like a needle sewing thread, but the blood keeps getting in the way and blurring my vision.
“You’re trying to use your eyes,” Mateo says. “You’re fighting it once again. Focus inward, and don’t push against the magic. Push with it.”
Part of me wants to tell him where to stick his new-age mumbo-jumbo. The other part keeps remembering the blood congealed around the wound in Erik’s side. I need to learn how to heal. “Can you blindfold me?” I ask Mateo.
“Good thought.” He sounds pleased. I expect him to wave his hand and magic me something to prevent me from seeing, but instead, he walks over. Producing a silk scarf from thin air, he ties it over my eyes. “You’re doing really well,” he whispers encouragingly into my ear. “And if you heal my cut, I’ll give you a reward.”
My lips curl into a smile. As Mateo knows, I’m a sucker for a good reward.
It’s been two weeks since the attack. Erik has made a full recovery from an injury that should have killed him. Every time I see his brooding face, my heart clenches in my chest, and I have to remind myself that he’s fine. That all of my mates are fine.
&nbs
p; The close call has also given me a small taste of what Erik’s lived with all these years after losing Gisele. Now, more than ever, I understand why he’s kept me at arm’s length.
Now, more than ever, I wish things were different.
“You ready?” Erik asks, coming into the study and gesturing to the pool table.
Date night. I almost forgot.
I give him a genuine smile. “Yep. I’m ready to kick your ass.”
Okay, we both know I’m not going to actually kick his ass. We’ve been playing pool for weeks, and I’ve yet to win one round. Despite my complaining about him cheating, I know he’s just that good. I shouldn’t be too hard on myself—he is five hundred and fifty-two years old, after all. He’s had a long time to perfect his game.
“We’ll see, princess,” Erik says with a wink.
Did my grumpy mate just wink at me? My mouth falls open, but I hastily cover my surprise. “Rack ‘em up, dragon. I’m breaking.” I know better than to let Erik break. When he does, the game is over before it begins. He can run the table unlike anyone I’ve seen before.
“As you wish.” Erik playfully bows to me.
I gape at him. “Did you just quote the Princess Bride?”
He shrugs, a tinge of pink on his cheeks. Oh my God. Erik blushes. I’m seriously starting to feel like I’ve fallen into the Twilight Zone. What the hell is going on? Could something have gone wrong with the magic when I pulled him back into the castle? Could he have gotten a brain injury that went undiagnosed? Or did the poison do more damage than we know?
“It’s a good movie,” he says.
“Hang on. You haven’t seen Harry Potter, but you’ve seen the Princess Bride.”
“No dragons were being willfully misrepresented in the Princess Bride,” he points out. “I like movies.”
Huh. “Never would have guessed.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” he says quietly. “That’s my fault. I’m sorry, Aria.”
He takes the pool cue out of my hand and leans it against the table, then pulls me into his arms. My blood instantly heats at the contact. My body has craved his touch from the very start, and even though we’ve become friends of sorts, he has kept a physical distance from me. Until now.
“It’s okay, Erik,” I whisper. “You lost the love of your life and unborn child. I get it.”
Liar, liar pants on fire. The truth is, I want him to want me as much as I want him, but I know voicing that will only push him further away. We’re making progress. He’s hugging me. I refuse to put pressure on him.
“When Bastian and I were attacked… when I thought I was going to die… all I could think about was my mate.”
Oh, that stings. I struggle to keep the hurt from showing on my face.
“All I could feel was remorse and regret… Remorse at the way I’ve kept her at a distance. Regret that I didn’t tell her how much I’ve come to care for her.”
Wait, what?
By the look on Erik’s face, I’ve obviously blurted that out loud. I really need to learn how to keep my mouth on lockdown when I’m in shock.
His lips quirk into a slight smile. “It was you I thought of, Aria.” He takes a deep breath. “I know I’ve been difficult. A pain in the ass. I’ve been stubborn and stuck in the past, but I’d really like to change that.”
“Erik…” I start and then close my mouth. He’s rendered me speechless. I’m not a hearts-and-flowers kind of girl, but I’m totally swooning right now. I relax into his arms and let the bond between us strengthen.
Arousal sparks, and I start to pull away, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. Instead of letting me go, he slowly moves his lips to mine, giving me plenty of time to protest.
I don’t. I wouldn’t. I want him. He’s my mate. We belong together in this way. In all ways.
His lips are softer than I would have thought. His kiss is gentle, almost tentative, as if he’s not sure his touch is entirely welcome. Silly dragon. I stand on tiptoe. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him closer, sinking into the sensation of his lips on mine. When his tongue flicks across my bottom lip, I open to him.
Our kiss is slow and sensual and perfect.
When his hand threads through my hair and tightens, I moan into his mouth. A switch flips. My tongue becomes more aggressive, and my body wiggles against his. I silently beg for more, but Erik won’t be persuaded. He keeps our kiss slow all the way up until he pulls away. “You test my control, princess,” he breathes, his voice ragged.
I scoff. His control seems pretty damn ironclad, while I’m ready to hump him like a crazed monkey in heat. I want more. And I want more now. “Control is overrated,” I reply, cringing at the neediness in my voice.
He traces my bottom lip with his thumb. “Shall we go somewhere more private?”
I nod enthusiastically. My pussy clenches at the possibilities. As Bea would put it, my lady-garden is completely on board with whatever he has planned.
“Want to watch a movie?” Erik asks, indicating the flat screen mounted above the fireplace in his room.
Not even a little. Did I misread his signals? I thought we were going to fall into bed, not veg out in front of the TV.
Just pull on your big-girl panties and tell him what you want, Aria.
“Not particularly…” I slowly approach him, not stopping until we are toe to toe. I look into his dark eyes and breathe a sigh of relief when I see desire reflected back at me. “I want you, Erik.”
He gives me a searching look. “I don’t want to rush you.”
“You’re not. I promise.”
Erik’s eyes grow dark with lust. “I want you too, princess.”
I stand on tiptoe again and press my lips to his. “You have me.”
We slowly undress each other, our hands hungrily touching each inch of skin that is revealed. Our lips duel, and our tongues clash in a messy kiss. We tumble into his bed, and I realize how big Erik is. Everywhere.
His cock is long and thick. Really long. Really thick. Holy fuck. It’s just... wow. Bea would call it a Unicorn Cock.
“You’re staring, princess.” Erik’s voice is laced with humor.
“Yeah, well…” My cheeks warm under his amused scrutiny. Sue me. It really is a fantastic cock. It takes effort to pull my gaze away.
“My turn to look.” Erik’s eyes are hot with desire as his gaze slowly runs down my body. “So beautiful.”
His mouth finds its way down my throat to my breasts. He circles one nipple, and then the other with his tongue. The touch is light and teasing, and I arch into him. “Please…”
“You’re so beautiful,” he says again. “Look at these perfect breasts.” He flicks his tongue over my nipple once again, causing me to shudder. He takes the turgid peak between his lips and sucks. Yes.
I whimper with pleasure. His beard scratches my skin, and that soft prickling touch just amplifies my arousal. “Harder,” I plead. “More.” What can I say? I’m greedy.
He switches back and forth between my breasts, licking and sucking until I’m writhing beneath him. “I could suck on your pretty little nipples all night,” he growls. “But I want to taste you.”
You’re not going to hear a protest from me.
He slowly licks a line down my abdomen, stopping just above my pussy. He looks me in the eye as he presses his mouth over my folds, his tongue trailing through my wetness.
My hand finds its way into his hair, and I hold him to me, encouraging him to keep going. “Erik… ohhh… more… please,” I beg. Desire coils tight in my belly as he feasts on me, his clever tongue and mouth driving me to distraction.
But though I plead for more, Erik doesn’t appear to be in any hurry. Stubborn dragon. “What’s the rush, princess?” he asks, his voice muffled against my thighs. “Savor the moment.”
The pleasure builds and builds until I’m dangling on the edge of release. Every time I’m close to tipping over, he backs off, letting the orgasm fizzle before working me
up again. Over and over he takes me to the edge.
Just when I’m about to threaten bodily harm, he slips a thick finger inside me, then another. One more flick of his tongue and my climax won’t be denied any longer. It’s too much, too good, too impossible to hold back my release…
I explode in his mouth, muscles quivering and trembling from the onslaught of pleasure. God, that was good.
Erik licks his lips as he crawls back up my body. “I could spend the rest of my life between your thighs, princess.”
“I wouldn’t complain,” I say with a sated smile.
He laughs, the sound glorious. Erik doesn’t laugh often. The rare times he does, I catalog them, etching each one into my memory so that I’ll never forget.
I rock my hips up into him, rubbing against his hard cock. His laugh turns into a sexy growl. He positions himself at my entrance and with a slow glide, pushes in deep. My muscles burn as they stretch to accommodate his thickness, but it’s an intensely pleasurable burn, one I can’t get enough of. “Yes,” I hiss, throwing my head back as he fills me completely. “So good.”
“Ah, princess,” he whispers. “Right now, I feel like the luckiest dragon in the world.” He lowers his head to my lips and kisses me deeply, swallowing my moans as he sets a steady pace.
Once again, my orgasm builds in a slow burn. The push and pull of his thick length rubs all the right spots. I’m completely overwhelmed. I dig my nails into his back and cling to him.
Erik isn’t fucking me. This isn’t a rough ride to the finish. This isn’t fast and furious. This is slow and tender. He’s making love to me, and it takes me by surprise. The Erik I know is gruff and taciturn. Not tonight. Seeing this achingly tender side has my heart clenching in my chest.