by test
“Hey, don’t go pissing on my living like a mortal skills. We wizards and witches are given strict schooling in the ways of the humans. In order for us to blend in—we have to fit in. I love rugby, football, and crisps. I hang out in the pub and have a pint now and then, and I go to the cinema fortnightly.”
“Well, I stand corrected. Come with me, I have everything you need in the
kitchen.” She stared at him. He hadn’t budged an inch. “I promise, I will not bite you.
Follow me.”
“I have no problems with that, this way I can admire the view being behind you affords me.”
“I know you don’t like me—could we just call a truce and try to get through the next few months?”
“Months?” He stopped in his tracks. “I’ll be able to finish the spell in a fortnight at the most.”
Her heart fell. “Only a fortnight? You are a fast worker.” Her voice dropped to the merest of whispers.
“Only when the fate of the world hangs in the balance, of course I do—I’ve lost countless nights of sleep trying to perfect the incantation—I’m not going to drag it out if I can help it. I can say, though, that in bed, I like to make the most of it.”
“Your kind must view you as their savior.”
“Half of your kind views me as their savior—so I’m just a hero on all fronts. The only ones that are living in blissful ignorance are the humans we’re both fighting so damn hard to save.”
“Oh, please. I’m sure the wizards and witches are only supporting you because they want to save their own skins. They know that if we fall—if my father—if Lord Draco wins, he’ll finish off the mortals of this realm and then, then, he’ll go for the blood of the magic kind. He still holds a grudge against your people.”
“Well, he shouldn’t. He was on the winning side. We lost many good witches
and wizards during that particular conflict—making many of us dragon shifter shy.
Besides, you dragon shifters wield a kind of magic, as well—I don’t know why you always classify us as the lowly magic folk.”
“I try not to—I’ll be especially vigilant in my prejudice from now on—I’m going DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
to be mating with a magic kind soon.”
“I don’t think so. It would kill my mother if I brought you home. She’d keel over from the pure shock of it!”
“Nonetheless, you can’t fight the call. You will be mine.”
“We’ve known each other for what—two hours, and already you’re talking about
until death do us part. It’s kind of creepy, you know. You are going to get a stalker complex.”
She rummaged in the cupboards looking for a saucepan. Slamming it onto the
stove, she reached for a can of brown beans.
He turned his attention to the window leading out onto her lands. “Is all of that land yours?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. And I thought we had an estate. Yours is probably a little bit smaller than ours, though. However, I think your views are far superior.”
“The manor house up on the hill belongs to me, as well. I have it rigged up for tours now, but there was a time when my family lived there part of the year. My mother liked having her feet in the Earthly realm, from time to time.”
“And, yet your father wants to destroy it.”
“He doesn’t want to destroy Earth, he wishes to kill off the mortals that won’t bow to him, and then, he wants to take it back from our human oppressors. For many years, when the dragon slayers were slowly killing us off, we struggled with our dragon natures. We knew to fight back would go against all of our ideals, but in not retaliating we almost lost everything. We were almost driven to extinction, and then when we retreated instead of standing our ground, many lost a little of themselves. Dragonia is a beautiful world—but there are still some that long for Earth. We were created here on Earth … and our blood longs to roam the land and make it ours again.”
“So, your father thinks the only way of righting the wrongs of the past—a past that I must say is one thousand years old, is to stoop as low as the humans were when they hunted you. Didn’t anyone point out the fact that humans were less developed as a culture than both of our kinds?”
“We are superior, this is true—but that makes no difference to Draco.”
“Well, all I can say is that I’m quite happy I have a way of stopping it. My uncle was the first one that started working on this spell—he hasn’t been the same man since he had it wrenched from him and destroyed by dragon fire.”
“Great. Your family really has it out for my kind. Nice to know. I guess when we have children ....”
She put the plate of beans and toast she’d prepared for him on the table. He
walked toward her, a look of exasperation written across his features.
“Whoa—there you go again—building castles in the air once more. We aren’t
going to become lovers, and I’m not having children with you. Truth be told, I have my eyes on a hot little witch with rainbow colored hair that I met last week.”
Jealousy flamed within her. Her hand grew warm. She forgot she still had a hold of the plate. The beans on the plate started to bubble. “Forget her.” Her teeth gritted together.
“No.”
The extent of her jealousy surprised and frightened her. Was this how it was for DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
someone feeling the mating call? She could only imagine how lost her father felt—she could at least sympathize with him when it came to his feelings of losing her mother.
Her emotions for him were raw. She couldn’t help herself—not in any way. She usually prided herself on her self-control but in this instance, she was powerless.
“I guess I don’t have to worry about eating cold food when you’re around.”
She looked down at the plate she still held. The beans bubbled and the toast was getting black around the edges.
Before she could do any further damage, she placed the plate on the table. “You should eat and get to bed. It’s late.”
“Are we staying here for the time being?”
“This cottage is safe. It has been magically blessed. It is on sacred land … we will not be attacked here.”
“Sacred land?”
“Our kind cherishes this land.”
She sat with him while he ate. Scrutinizing his face, she committed each feature to her memory. The cleft in his chin, the dimple in his left cheek.
He kept his eyes on his plate. “Are you going to stare at me all night?” He raised his head to meet and hold her gaze.
“I’m attempting to come to terms with having you as my mate.”
“I don’t look like a troll.”
“You can say that again.”
Redness started to creep up his neck to flood his face. “I didn’t sign up for this sort of thing. I never dreamt I’d find someone as horny as you. To make matters worse you are my bloody protector. How do I contact your King and Queen?”
“You don’t need to know that. You have me as your constant companion. If you need to talk to my leaders, I can relay the message. Besides, I contact their advisors before directly speaking to the monarchs. They have other things to concern themselves with.”
“I’d have thought I topped their list of concerns right now. They need me.”
“Indeed. But their people need them, as well. Do you know how many of us
have died already?”
“Can’t say I’m privy to the casualty reports.”
She took offense to the tone of his voice.
“Ten thousand. Ten thousand of us have died already.” Her hands shook. She
fought to control her breathing.
“Ten thousand?” The hand holding his fork trembled for one brief moment. “I
didn’t think there was that many of you to ....”
“Sacrifice themselves for the humans that condemned them?”
“
Yes.”
“There are … and thousands more are willing to put their lives on the line.”
“I didn’t realize. I’m sorry. I’ve been making light of the entire situation when it’s no laughing matter.”
“You should have realized that when Denys showed up in your shop hell bent on
killing you!”
“I was doing alright before you showed up! I could have handled the situation. I was just about to slam him with a spell to finish him off and you went and ruined DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
everything!”
“I think you’re being a tad melodramatic. Everything you’d thrown at him
seemed to bounce right off him.”
“I told you, the blood on me wasn’t my own.”
“It would have been. He would have killed you.” She took a deep breath. “I
think he knows.”
“Knows what? Everyone knows I’m the one trying to come up with the forbidden
spell.”
“He knows what you are to me. He must have gotten a seer to read my life
destiny.”
“Well, then, he should already know he’s going to lose.”
“The future is scaled into different sections. One wrong move could tip the fate of us all into another splintered destiny. I have no way of knowing who will win this war—neither do any of our seers—nothing is absolute, except for my mate—there is only one man meant for me—and it’s you.”
“That’s ridiculous. What if you had never met me?”
“We would have ultimately been drawn to each other.”
“How sure are you of that?”
“Quite. All dragon shifters have found their mates, even if their lives were
headed in different directions, something would always happen to lead them into each other's arms.”
“So what happens if you dragon shifters tempt fate? What happens if you go
rogue and marry someone that isn’t destined to be yours?”
“Madness. Oblivion. We lose ourselves and become something that is almost
unrecognizable.”
“Interesting.” He finished off the rest of his brown beans and toast. “I’m stuffed.
I think I’ll retire for the night. It’s been one hell of a long day.”
She drained the last drop of tea out of her cup and stood up with him. “It has.
Your bedroom has an in suite bathroom as does mine. You should get cleaned up. You have a soot mark on your cheek. Your self cleaning spell dealt with Denys’s blood—but you missed a few spots.” She reached over and gingerly touched his cheek. He pulled back as if her touch burned him.
“Thanks for the advice.” He stood up and strode out of the room. Walking to her sitting room, she moved to the safe she’d had installed in the wall. Opening it, she reached in for her crystal globe. Setting it on her table, she touched the top of it.
Mists and fire swirled in the globe. When it cleared, her contact was revealed.
“Blaze … how goes the war?”
“Not good, Grania. We lost another one hundred warriors today alone. The front lines are crumbling. We’ve asked the king and queen to retreat to Earth, but they remain steadfast.”
“As their son, why are you so surprised by their reaction?”
“I’m not. I’m just disappointed. I wish they’d see sense.”
“Even if Draco does win the war, they won’t be safe on Earth. Draco will turn his attention to Earth when he’s done with Dragonia. That was his original intent when he started the war. The only reason he’s fighting this civil war is so that he can crown himself the rightful ruler of all Dragonia.”
DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
“Then, he’ll have to kill us all.”
Fear stabbed her heart. “Blaze, don’t do anything foolish. You know he will eat you for breakfast if you stand directly in his path.”
“If you weren’t guarding that bloody wizard, you’d be here with me. You are one of the few that can keep my frightful temper in check.”
“Just keep thinking of what I’d do if I were there and don’t forget to count to ten before you do anything rash.”
“Well, why don’t you keep me from doing something rash by lighting a fire under Lightfoot’s ass? We need that spell soon. If Draco gets into the capitol .…”
“I know. It will be akin to Rome burning.”
“Indeed.”
The sound of a chair being knocked over caught her attention. Urgency pulled at her being. “I hate to cut this chat short, Blaze. But I think I have a situation on my hands.”
“What sort of a situation?”
“A great escape. Houdini style.”
“Oh, crap. If you lose him, there’s no telling if we’ll ever be able to track him down. Our resources are spread dreadfully thin.”
“I won’t let him escape me. You know full well that no male can escape the
Mating Fire.”
“Oh, no! Don’t tell me he’s the one that’s destined for you. If the reports on him are accurate, I feel for you. You have a difficult journey ahead of you. And it’s not going to be strewn with roses.”
“I know. The fates mock me. They must be having a grand laugh as we speak.”
“I’m sorry, Grania.”
“Don’t be sorry. He’s not that bad of a chap. He’s got a huge ego, and he’s got a big mouth .…”
“Sounds to me as if you’re already falling for him.”
“I didn’t realize how strong the pull of the dragon’s heart could be. Maybe we should just become completely human—I’m wondering if our dragon side makes us
weak. I do think less with my heart when I am in my human form.”
“Weak? You call your super strength in human form a weakness? I’d call it a
power to be revered and valued. Maybe you’ve been living among the non-shifters for far too long.”
“Perhaps ....” Another crashing noise caught her attention. “I need to go—he’s trying to break through the enchantments that I had put on this cottage long ago.”
“How’s it going?”
“He’s mighty. He could just find a loophole, and I can’t allow that to happen.”
“May the flame of your life force never grow dim!” He saluted her, placing his right arm over the left side of his chest.
“Or yours.” She nodded to him, placing her hand over her heart in farewell.
Flames exploded in the globe, cutting off their communication link.
Rolling her eyes, she ran to up the steps and headed straight for his bedroom.
When she tried the handle, she wasn’t surprised to find it locked.
“Dylan, you open this door immediately! As your protector—you can consider
that an order!”
DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
“I’m sleeping.”
“Sure … and I’m standing out here buck naked.”
There was a short pause. Apparently, he was trying to decide whether or not he should give up his escape attempts. “I’m off to dreamland!” His voice sounded a bit strangled. She heard a loud whooshing noise. Then, more silence.
Holding her hand up, she wasn’t surprised when she was faced with the shape of a dragon glowing.
“Lead me to him—the old fool.” A swirling vortex opened before her. So, this
was how he’d finagled his way out of the cottage. He was one crafty little bugger. “The things you do for future love … and for the fate of the world itself.” Heaving a deep breath, she jumped into the vortex.
Blinding light engulfed her as she was hurled through the magical tunnel.
Seconds later, Dylan’s magical tunnel belched her out. Fortunately, she had the foresight to somersault into her landing so she landed on her feet. “Whoa.” She felt queasy from that. She preferred flying rather than magical transportation. Even though she had to travel through similar means to reach Dragonia the unsettling sensation ne
ver left her.
Shaking her head, she looked around. Where was she? By all appearances, it
seemed as if she was in someone else’s home. Portraits lined the wall. She glanced upward. She was standing in the grand hall of some majestic building—if she was correct she was standing inside one hell of a grand house. Scratch that, the place looked like a castle. Some of it had to date back almost one thousand years.
“Out of the question. You shouldn’t have come here, Dylan. You’ve been
marked—she’s bound to follow you. You silly boy! I don’t know what you did to get hooked up with that dragon shifter bitch—but I don’t need you bringing that trouble to our doorstep.”
She raised her eyebrow at the insult. She’d show them just how much of a dragon shifter bitch she could be.
Her boots clanged against the wood flooring as she headed toward the room
where Dylan sat.
Pushing the door open, she took in the inhabitants of the room.
“Oh, bloody hell.” Dylan stood on the far side of the room. He had his hand
wrapped in a bandage. She resisted the urge to smile. He’d probably been spooked when he felt the tingling sensation on his palm only to see the dragon mark on his palm.
“So, how many things did you break in your bedroom trying to work past the
enchantments surrounding the cottage?”
“That’s all you have to say to me?” His face fell. A look of complete wonder
crossed his features.
“That’s all. I’m not here to condemn you—I’m here to protect you.”
There were three older wizards sitting in the room. One was a woman, the other two were men. They all bore a strong resemblance to Dylan.
“Are you going to introduce me?”
“Mum, Dad, Uncle, this is Grania Burns.”
“Hello.” All three of them talked in unison. They wouldn’t meet her gaze.
Instead, they all seemed unnaturally interested in their feet.
“Well, isn’t this cozy.”
“Dylan, you should go with Ms. Burns. I’m sure she knows best.”
DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
“I do,” Grania said simply.
“Mother .…”
“You should really listen to your mother, Dylan. She only wants to look out for your own well-being. She wouldn’t want you to get blown up in a hail of dragon fire,”