Fiery Magic

by Caryn Moya Block

  Candace took him deeper, rubbing her tongue along the sides of his shaft. She felt Haytham begin to tremble.

  “Ah, baby, that feels so good, I don’t think I can last much longer. We’ve waited so long. Come here.” He pulled her up with his hands under her arms and then deftly rolled them so he stretched out on top of her. “Are you ready for me?” A finger pressed into her middle. Candace gasped and arched up against his hand.

  “So wet,” his finger circled her clit.

  He drove her wild. Her thighs fell opened. She began to tremble as Haytham continued to stimulate her. His lips took hers and then his tongue dove deeply, rubbing against her. Candace grabbed his head, holding him close. He added another finger to the first that pumped inside her. More liquid spilled from her core. He turned his hand and pushed his fingers apart stretching her. Candace gasped. Sparks of light began to surround them. Siarl was awake and aware of the mating.

  “Haytham, I’m losing control, my dragon.”

  “That’s right, sweetheart, give it to me. I’ve got you.” Haytham did something with his hand. His thumb grazed her clit. She exploded. Lights flashed in front of her eyes. She screamed as her world turned into ecstasy.

  Haytham chuckled removing his fingers and suddenly something else pushed inside her. She felt stretched, —a burning, and then he was in all the way. He pulled out and Candace felt bereft, but he quickly sunk back in. In and out, his hips pushed him deeper inside her. Another wave of heat and desire washed over her. A trickle of smoke rose from her nose. She began to tremble and buck up against his thrusts.

  “That’s right, baby. Give me another one.”

  Her nails sunk into his back. She pulled at him, trying to get him deeper. He lifted her hips and opened her further. There. He was right where she needed him. He pumped in and out, in, and then everything clenched down around him. She flew, a dragon, a woman, into space. Haytham groaned and another flush of heat and moisture filled her. His head dropped to hers and he kissed her.

  Candace felt their psyches merge for a few moments while Siarl watched from a distance. She knew everything about her man as he knew everything about her. She could feel his love, new, strong, and never ending.

  He rolled to his side and gathered her into his arms, her head on his shoulder. “Sleep now, I’ll wake you at dawn.”

  Candace yawned and then kissed his chin.

  He kissed her forehead. “Sleep well, Candy.”

  §

  Haytham leaned down to wake Candace. She gasped.

  “Shh, we don’t want to wake anyone else. Here.” He handed her a piece of the paper that wrapped the trail rations. “Put this in your ears. I’m going to deepen their sleep with a lullaby.”

  Candace nodded and Haytham picked up the flute. He started to play. Softly, at first, then louder and louder. He got up and walked outside. Three dragons snoozed in the early morning sun. He played one more refrain to make sure their sleep went deep and lasted before putting the flute away.

  Walking back into the hut, he found Candace dressed and writing on another piece of paper with a piece of charcoal. She pulled the paper from her ears.

  “I couldn’t leave Mother without writing her a note.”

  Haytham picked up the pack and slung it over their shoulder. “Come on, I’m not sure how long the spell will last on a dragon.”

  Candace nodded and stood. Unable to help himself, Haytham pulled her in for a kiss.

  “You look beautiful this morning.”

  “I look a mess. No shower, not even a comb for my hair.”

  “You always look beautiful to me. Let’s go.” Haytham took her hand and hurried into the jungle.

  He remembered the path from his first trip. The animals in the forest woke and birdcalls filled the air. Without a rogne, the trip would be slower and they’d have to be careful of the red ants.

  “Can you jog for a bit? I want to put some distance between us and our friends.”

  Candace nodded and picked up her pace. Soon they made good time. As the sun got higher in the sky, the humidity got worse in the jungle. Candace began to pant and Haytham worried they would be exhausted. Finally, after what felt like an hour or so, he called a halt.

  “Drink some water.” He handed over the water skin from the pack. Candace took a long drink before handing it back. Haytham took his turn then stopped the bottle and put it away.

  “I have an idea,” Candace said. “I thought about it before, but it wouldn’t have worked with three sleeping dragons lying in the clearing. When we came through the jungle before, the hestin stampeded. They cleared quite a swath of trees and foliage. If we could find that spot, I could transform into a dragon and fly us out to the box canyon. It can’t be far from the edge of the forest. It would be a whole lot quicker.”

  “Do you think you could find the spot?”

  Candace nodded and pointed. “I’ll take the lead.” She headed off the trail at a fast walk. Haytham grabbed the pack and followed.

  They’d been walking for about two hours when the roar of a dragon filled the air. The whole jungle fell silent. Candace glanced back at Haytham.

  “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “We need to hurry,” Haytham said. “If you can use the clearing for taking off, they can use it for landing. Come on.” Haytham took the lead and began to jog.

  “Follow the path to the right,” Candace said. “It shouldn’t be much farther.”

  Haytham had no idea what Enfys would do if he caught them, but from the roar, the king didn’t sound happy. Finally, he saw a line of broken trees ahead. A wide swath had been cut through the jungle.

  “Be careful of the ant hills,” Candace cautioned.

  Haytham swerved to avoid the three hills and their palm sized occupants. A short distance away, a sparkling pool of water reflected the blue sky and clouds above them. Candace started undressing. First her shirt, then her pants and boots. Haytham put the items in the pack. He stepped back as lights began to circle her form. The process was much quicker this time. Haytham smiled, he was proud of her.

  She opened her large claws and Haytham stepped onto the palm of her paw. In seconds, she leapt into the air and flew over the jungle. A loud roar sounded behind them. Candace picked up speed. Would Enfys try to stop them?

  Haytham peered out between the large claws enclosing him and saw a place where the forest stopped suddenly up ahead. Could that be the box canyon that held the portal and the sand crabs?

  Another roar sounded behind them, a little closer this time. Candace flapped her wings harder and they moved even quicker through the air. She dove down over the edge of the canyon. Haytham recognized the stones of the ruin as Candace landed with a thump. The ground trembled beneath them. The dragon claws fell open. Haytham ran from between their tips.

  Would the crabs come out of their holes? He headed for the entrance to the portal. Candace shifted and ran up beside him. A high-pitched screech above their heads made Candace turn from the exit.

  “Engyl? Is that you?”

  A flash of red and gold the only warning as the phoenix landed on her shoulder.

  “Candace, the portal,” Haytham urged.

  With a large puff, she blew fire at the doorway. “Hreghen we came and from Hreghen we will go. Home of the dragons is finer than most, Hreghen, Hreghen, Hreghen, the portal will open when I say it again, Hreghen.”

  Haytham turned to watch for their pursuers as Candace said the spell. Enfys dove into the canyon.

  “Hurry. The king!”

  Candace grabbed his hand and jumped through the door of fire, Haytham pulled behind her. Engyl jumped from Candace’s shoulder and glided through the flames. They landed on the stone floor of the fireplace in the blacksmith shop and rolled. Candace jumped up covered in soot and waved her hands to stop the fire and close the portal. Haytham patted out the singe marks on his clothes. Engyl squawked from the back of a nearby chair.

  “What the hell! Candace where are your clothes?”
Aiden yelled. Suddenly an irate blacksmith dragged Haytham to his feet. “Why is my sister naked? What have you done?”

  “Aiden! Put my Destined One down!” Candace roared, a puff of flame escaping her mouth.

  “Easy, big guy.” Haytham smiled. “Clothes and shifting into a dragon don’t mix. I have something for her to wear in my pack.” Haytham suddenly found himself on the floor again. Aiden had dropped him.

  “You can shift into a dragon? Then what are you doing here? The council will hunt you down.” Aiden crossed to his sister and grabbed her by the shoulders. “It’s too dangerous. You have to go back.”

  “Aiden,” Haytham said, rising and grabbing the big man’s arm. “Candace is part of undoing the Marwolaeth spell. The council will have to let her stay, especially since we aren’t going to tell them about her dragon form.”

  “What? But what about when she shifts? Is that a phoenix? What the hell?”

  “Engyl is my familiar. What did you do to hide it when you shifted, Aiden?” Candace asked. “I can smell the dragon inside you.”

  “You can smell it? No, this isn’t happening.” Aiden walked over and flopped in a chair. “Put some clothes on. What will people think if they walk in and see you like that?”

  Haytham handed her clothes from the pack. “When we get to my apartment, I’m going to take a nice long shower. Then I’m going to burn these clothes. I hated being made to wear them, a servant’s uniform.”

  Haytham looked at Candace’s brother slumped in his chair. “Why don’t we go now? Your brother seems a little overwhelmed at our appearance.”

  “Before you go,” Aiden said. “You should know you’ve been gone four days, Haytham, and your uncle is asking about you. Luften came to the shop demanding to know where you were. I didn’t tell him about the portal. Since I could truthfully say I wasn’t sure where you were, he left. I know he’s your uncle, but something about that man is off.” Haytham felt an answering twinge in his gut. Yeah, his uncle was a puzzle.

  “Take another sword. With the Marwolaeth around, you shouldn’t go anywhere unarmed.” Aiden waved his hand at the swords lined up on the wall.

  Haytham had enjoyed the last sword Aiden gave him. He smiled and walked over to look at the selection. Trying several, he finally picked one with a filigree design on the blade. He checked the balance and liked the feel of the sword in his hand.

  “You don’t want that one. It’s made for a Fire Witch. It can hold fire on the blade,” Aiden said.

  “I think it’s perfect. Besides my Destined One controls fire, so I should be able to load the sword if needed.” Haytham attached the sheath to his belt and then picked up the pack and swung it over his shoulder.

  “You’re bonded then?” Aiden asked.

  “Of course,” Candace said. She stood fully dressed with her hands on her hips. Engyl flew to her shoulder and perched. “Are you finally ready to go? Too much longer and I might take that shower alone.” She held out her hand.

  Aiden groaned. “Too much information.”

  Haytham smiled and took her hand. “I can’t wait.”

  Candace winked and ported.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Haytham blinked. They stood in a small bathroom. A deep claw foot tub sat against the wall. Pictures of daisies decorated the opposite wall over the sink. Cheerful yellow and orange towels hung on a rack. Engyl flew through the door to the other room.

  “You weren’t kidding when you said you wanted a shower.” Haytham tugged on her hand still clasped in his and drew her into his arms. She reached for the fastenings on his shirt.

  “I didn’t want to take a chance on getting the rest of the apartment dirty.” She pushed the shirt and pack from his shoulders, forcing him to let go of her. “Hold that thought.”

  Candace reached up and removed her own shirt and then pushed down the linen-like pants of the servant uniform and stepped out of them and the too big boots. “What are you waiting for?”

  “Nothing, just enjoying the sights.”

  Candace smiled and leaned over to turn on the water. She performed a little butt wiggle before turning around and winking at him. Haytham chucked his pants and boots, in a hurry now that Candace made her intentions known. She stepped into the tub and waited for him to join her before tugging the plastic daisy shower curtain closed.

  Haytham put his arms around her waist from behind and kissed her shoulder. Warm water cascaded down around them. Candace sighed and leaned back into him. She then handed him a netball and bar of soap.

  Getting the message, he began to soap her body. First, her shoulders and back and then down. He knelt to get her legs and lifted each foot.

  “Turn around,” he said still on his knees.

  Candace turned and grasped his shoulders. He worked the soapy scrubby up each leg and then between her thighs making sure to put pressure on the red curls at the juncture. Candace moaned and spread her legs a little wider. He continued up her stomach and then stood to soap up her breasts and neck. He made sure to circle each nipple several times, watching in appreciation as they pebbled into hard little nubs. Now finished with the soap, Haytham adjusted her under the spray of water to rinse.

  “My turn.” Candace turned and grabbed the soap and netball from his hand. She lathered the scrubby and dropped the soap before drawing large circles on his chest and stomach. Each circle of her hand got smaller and smaller until she surrounded his nipples and then grazed them with the net. Next, she soaped his stomach and then his thighs. Haytham couldn’t help but react to the stimulus and grew hard under her ministrations.

  Candace made sure not to touch that tender part of him and knelt to continue with his legs and each foot.

  “Turn around.”

  “Didn’t you forget something?” Haytham asked.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of that part in a moment.”

  Haytham chuckled and turned. Candace soaped up the back of both legs and then spent some time on his butt before rubbing the netball up his back and to each shoulder blade. She pressed a kiss on his shoulder before pushing at him.

  “Turn back around.”

  Curious to see what she would do next, Haytham did as she asked.

  Candace dropped the ball and picked up the soap. She rubbed her hands together until she created a foamy lather and then knelt. She soaped his member, running her hands from his balls to the tip. Haytham groaned. Her hands felt like heaven. She sighed and stood.

  “Okay, rinse.”

  Haytham suppressed a groan. His Destined One was a tease. Candace reached for the shampoo and quickly scrubbed her hair before handing the bottle to him. He took a large dollop and lathered up his hair, promising to continue what she had started as soon as possible.

  Candace finished rinsing her hair and went to step out of the shower. Haytham grabbed her around the waist.

  “Come here, you little tease.” His picked her up and she automatically put her legs and arms around him.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” she said with a smile in her voice.

  “I think you do.”

  Hay took her mouth, devouring her taste as he slowly lowered her slick body onto his erection. Candace moaned into his mouth. His desire spiked, making him grow harder and longer. Candace rose and then dropped down onto him. The friction exquisite. A tide of desire built inside him with each thrust and retreat.

  Candace sucked his tongue into her mouth, before pulling back and pressing kisses to his neck and chin. Haytham held her hips as he took over the ride, pushing up each time Candace dropped. She moaned and nipped his throat. He turned and pressed her still wet body against the tile on the wall to gain more leverage. In and out, he connected them.

  “Oh, Hay, it’s so good. I can’t take it.”

  “Come for me, sweetheart.”

  Candace’s whole body clenched down around him. She cried out. Hay pressed in once, twice and then he joined her in a wave of pure ecstasy. He held her close as their bodies shuddered and t
heir breathing slowed. Finally, when he thought he could speak, he pulled back and kissed her nose.

  Her eyes glistened as she looked up at him. Concern immediately took over.

  “Did I…”

  “Shhh…” Candace placed a finger against his lips. “I love you. I wanted you to know.”

  “Oh, baby. I love you too.” Relief flowed through him.

  She smiled. “I know. I felt it when we merged, but I realized I’d never told you and I thought it was time I said it out loud.”

  Haytham chuckled. He was happy, so very happy his heart felt full. “I love hearing it, Candy. Come on. Let’s finish rinsing off. I think I got soap in your hair again.”

  “What?” Candace said, lowering her legs and feet to stand.

  She leaned back into the water while Haytham still held onto her waist. “There, all done.” She reached up and turned the knobs controlling the water from her precarious position. “What are you going to do with me now?”

  Haytham pulled her into an upright position. “I’d like to take you to bed for a week, but I need to check into Guardian headquarters and we need to tell them about the Dragon’s Heart to undo the Marwolaeth spell. We have the Fire, and I think Elise and Owen will find Air, so that means we still need Water and Earth.”

  “Spoilsport. What happened to the book we brought back from Hreghen?” Candace asked.

  “I put it in our pack. It’s on the floor with our clothes.”

  “We should study it and see what other clues to undoing the spell it might hold.”

  Haytham got out and grabbed two towels, handing one to Candace. “Let’s get something to eat and then we can study it. I’m really tired of eating suchi fruit and banweh jerky.”

  “Mmmm, I think a pizza sounds like heaven right about now, with extra cheese and black olives, and a nice cold cider to drink.”

  “Here I thought you’d want to go to a fancy restaurant for steak and lobster.” Haytham finished drying and wrapped the towel around his hips. He’d have to port over some clean clothes.