by Mills, Julia
Stunning whoever dared to enter her special place would be Kam’s first line of defense. If she found the intruder to be harmless, the spell would wear off after twelve or so hours.
No harm, no foul, right?
On the other hand, if the trespasser proved to be aggressive, there would be time to hit him with something much more detrimental and run like hell.
Good plan, Kam, if I do say so myself…
With her pulse racing and her hands sweating, Kamdyn could no longer be a sitting duck. Waiting for shit to simply happened had never been her style and she wasn’t about to start now. Deciding to charge towards whoever made the mistake of following her, and hit him with her stunning spell, the witch decided asking him for forgiveness after the fact was the only way to go. Better safe than sorry.
Taking a deep breath, holding the talisman in front of her and praying she wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life, Kam ran as fast as she could towards the main tunnel of the cave. Repeating stiúdú over and over in her head, she rounded the last corner, slipped on a pebble and damned near lost her footing before swerving to the side to avoid running headlong into the biggest, most frightening, most gorgeous man she’d ever seen.
Unable to stop, moving at a high rate of speed, Kam was dumbstruck as her eyes met his. His gaze was magnetic. Her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t look away. Something deep in her soul burst to life. Her heart beat double time and she couldn’t catch her breath as everything in her screamed, “Friend, not foe!”
But it was the fact that the raven with whom she shared her soul, who hadn’t shown any signs of life since the day her parents died, raised her head, fluffed her feathers and pushed against the confines of Kamdyn’s mind that had the McGregor witch opening her mouth to speak.
Unfortunately, instead of screaming, “Get out of the way!” When Kamdyn opened her mouth, the mantra she’d been repeating sprang from her lips, filling the cave with, “ Stiúdú!”
Watching in horror as the best-looking man she’d ever laid her eyes on did a perfect imitation of a two-by-four, Kam stood stock still and dumbstruck. With wide, dark eyes suddenly the size of rubber balls, the man fell flat on his back with a loud thud! and an exhale of air that sounded excruciatingly painful. Racing to his side, Kamdyn fell to her knees, grabbed his shoulders and looked deep into his eyes.
Dropping her chin to her chest, she could only shake her head and groan, “Son of a bitch, you’re a dragon.” Looking back up at him, well aware he couldn’t answer but asking anyway, she added, “And since I have the shittiest luck in all the universe, I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that you belong to the Blue Thunder Clan.”
Looking towards the mouth of the cave and contemplating throwing herself into the angry waves and ending it all, the witch looked back down at her mistaken victim and shook her head, “Which means you’re under the Grand Priestess’ protection.”
Climbing to her feet and pacing around the Guardsman she’d just stunned, Kamdyn could only kick the ground and curse, “Well, shit, Calysta’s never gonna help me now. I’ve maimed a dragon.”
Chapter Five
Laying on the incredibly uncomfortable floor of the cave he’d stupidly followed the raven-haired witch into, held in suspended animation by the spell she’d thrown at him, Callum could only remind himself that he’d known from the first time the beautiful woman had walked through his dreams that this wild little witch would bring him nothing but trouble.
But I kept right on going anyway…
Questions he couldn’t ask, because well, he couldn’t move a muscle, let alone talk, raced through his mind. How did she know Calysta? Did she know Maddox? How did she know Cal was a dragon? What was she going to do with him? Would she please, for the love of all that was holy, come touch his arm and look into his eyes again?
Whoa! Where did that come from? No, no, no, absolutely not. That girl packs a punch…
Never one for sentimentality, the electric dragon was nothing short of gob smacked by the flood of emotions that not only he, but also his dragon, felt the moment they looked into their witch’s deep gray eyes.
And then she blasted me with some foul-smelling spell for my trouble. So, here I lay…
But not even that mattered. Their connection had been immediate. His dreams had come to life. Reality trumped everything he’d imagined, wrapped around his heart and changed him forever. And dammit all , he never wanted it to end.
His fingers itched to feel the long silken locks of her hair. His lips tingled with the need to touch hers. His heart filled to bursting with emotions he dared not name. His soul reached for its other half, its light, its reason for being. His dragon roared to finally know beyond all doubt that the One the Universe had made for him truly existed. And most of all, in that very minute, Callum longed to have her at his side, the sweet, fresh, powerfully intoxicating scent of fresh rain filling his senses, feeding his desires.
Now, if I only knew her name…
The thought had barely crossed his mind when the pretty, little witch stopped her pacing, knelt down next to him and said, “Guess I should introduce myself since I’m the reason you’re lying here like a lump on a log.”
Reaching out as she chatted away, the witch’s fingers had just barely grazed the back of his hand when sparks, more powerful than his own lightning, shot straight to the bottom of his soul and in that very second made Callum feel as if he finally knew where he belonged. It was as if the elusive piece of the very fabric of his being had been restored with just that one simple touch from his sexy, raven-haired witch. The best part of it all was that he knew she felt it, too.
Had Callum been able to move, he would’ve pulled his lovely mate into his arms and swallowed her soft whispered, “Kamdyn…” with his kiss. He would’ve slowly, lovingly caressed her erotic curves, possessively memorizing her every sensual dip and silken inch.
Instead, all he could do was hope and pray as Kamdyn slowly leaned forward, her other hand gently landing upon his chest just over his heart, that she would complete her journey and lay her lips to his. Both man and dragon refused to breathe as inch by precious inch the one woman in all the world with the ability to complete them both body, mind and soul moved ever closer.
Her warm breath caressed his cheek. He inhaled deeply, bathing in her wonderful heady scent, now warmer, stronger, more captivating, with the heat of her arousal. Once again, she whispered, and the mere sound of her smoky, sultry tones rolled over him like a fine wine, warming him from the inside out.
“Oh, how I wish I knew your name?” Her hand lifted from his chest, and while continuing to speak, the beautiful witch tenderly stroked his cheek with just the back of her fingers. “At least then I would know who I was kissing. Who made me think of something other than death and revenge.”
Anticipation mixed with desire combined with unadulterated need filled the Guardsman. His heart beat faster. His pulse raced with wild abandon. Every cell in his body longed to join with the True Mate of his heart.
Yes, he was frustrated that he couldn’t move. With absolutely no doubt, it was torture not to show her how she made him feel with just one look from her spectacular eyes. Hell yes, he wanted to claim her as his own, throw her over his shoulder and never let her out of his sight…but, that was not to be. And for the very first time in his long life, Callum accepted his fate and waited for Destiny to work Her magic. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait for long.
Sliding her hand around his neck, Kamdyn’s lips had just barely grazed his when out of nowhere the loudest, most obnoxious, most ill-timed explosion sounded just outside the mouth of the cave. Jumping to her feet, his little witch screamed, “That better not be you, Terran.”
Callum cursed in his mind at his inability to help the woman he knew beyond all doubt was his mate. Then, divine inspiration struck, the Guardsman had a brilliant idea. Calling to his dragon, he begged, “Please, old friend, if you ever cared, shove as much of that pure, white dragon magic in
to my veins as you can. Push away the maddening effects of our Kamdyn’s misplaced spell. Help me help her before the little hot-head gets into more trouble than a few little spells and amulets can handle.”
From one heartbeat to the next, Callum could feel the energy, the power, the utter exhilaration of his dragon’s mysticism fighting their mate’s hodge-podge, makeshift magic. For a second, he wondered why she was using spells and potions and not her inherent magic, but those thoughts evaporated as Kamdyn yelled, “Show yourself, you cowardly rat bastard. I swear if I have to come find you, I will make sure you suffer even more. I promise your death will be slow and painful.”
Glad I’m not Terran. Kamdyn seems to have a hair-trigger temper and one helluva a mean streak.
Wanting to jump for joy when he was able to move both his index fingers and wiggle his toes in his boots, Callum almost had a heart attack when Kamdyn screamed, “Alright, you piece of crap! Time to put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye because there will be nothing left of you when I get done.”
The icy fingers of dread danced down Callum’s spine as he heard the heels of Kamdyn’s boot slam against the stone floor a split second before another bone-rattling explosion struck the mountain they were concealed within. Trying to add the magic he’d inherited from his mother to that of his dragon’s, the Guardsman nearly shook with fury when he came up empty. Not only had his mate’s misplaced and ill-timed spell left his body immobile, it had also apparently incapacitated his magic.
Son of a …
Another explosion. Another inventive and blaring threat from his mate. Then silence. Deafening, eerie, foreboding silence. The loud boom-boom-boom of his heart sounded in his ears. Something was wrong. Something was coming. He had to protect Kamdyn.
With the limited mobility of his feet and hands, Callum pushed against the stone floor at his back, rocking back and forth, praying to get rolled over and with any luck at least crawl to his sassy mate to stop her from doing anything more reckless than she already had. But just as it had been for damn near every day of his life, all the planning in the world couldn’t beat Cal’s dumb luck.
I wonder if Fate and Destiny have a good time laughing at me. I bet they sell tickets. Have a highlight reel of Callum’s best fuck-ups…
Giving one, final, mighty push, the Guardsman clumsily rolled onto his stomach, landing face first in a pile of pebbles, dirt filling his mouth but incredibly thankful that Kamdyn hadn’t witnessed his less than graceful maneuver. Unwilling to give up and completely committed to helping his witch, the Guardsman called upon every ounce of strength he could muster, pushing it all towards his head and neck.
With minimal control returning to his muscles, Callum lifted his head a few inches from the rubble a split second before the foul stench of sulfur an acrid stench of brimstone filled the cave. Darkness, complete and unforgiving, covered the bright glow of the nearly full moon as Kamdyn took a step back and with a confidence, he knew she didn’t feel, demanded, “Show yourself!”
With movement ever so gradually returning to his arms, the Guardsman weakly pushed up onto his forearms and was attempting to make his legs work when a gust hot, fetid wind that smelled of death and decay whooshed through the cave. Looking to Kamdyn to be sure she was still there, Callum nearly fell back onto his face as he watched a petite, strawberry blond with brightly glowing blue eyes literally walk out of the swirling black mist, hovering mere inches above the rocky ledge at the mouth of the cave.
“Who the hell are you?” Kamdyn challenged then added with way too much attitude, “Where is the yellow-bellied coward?”
Finally, able to move the right side of his mouth, Callum slurred, “Ssssstop ttaalllkking, Kammddynn.”
Turning so quickly he thought she might just keep spinning like a top, Kamdyn threw her fists on her hips, furrowed her brow and opened her perfectly pouty lips to undoubtedly give Callum a witty rebuke at the precise moment that a blood-curdling howl rocked the stone walls of the cave for nearly thirty, long, bloodcurdling seconds. Stopping as quickly as it had begun, remnants of the shriek echoed through every cavern, crack and crevice of the cave, refusing to be completely silenced. Slamming her lips shut, shock painted on her face, Kam whipped back around to the mouth of the cave, her fists slipping from her hips and her shoulders slumping forward.
Watching in horror, the Guardsman could only stare as the strawberry blonde’s hair turned blood-red, an inky, oily black bled into her eyes and dark, slimy green lines snaked up her arms and down her legs creating a grotesque mosaic. Lifting her arms in front of her body with her palms towards the sky, the floating woman opened her bloodless lips and in a low, chilling, otherworldly voice resonated, “You, daughter of the McGregor witches, Keeper of the Secrets and Holder of the Key, now, is the time. Thanatos, Death Incarnate has need of you.”
Struggling to get to his feet, pins and needles assaulting every single nerve-ending in his legs, making it impossible for him to walk, Callum held onto the wall as Kamdyn argued, “No freaking way. I’m not going anywhere with you, Broom Hilda.”
“Kamdyn! Stop!”
His words went unheeded, bouncing off the stone walls, resonating with no one as the floating woman snapped her fingers, and in a puff of smoke, Kamdyn disappeared.
Gone was the swirling black mist.
Gone was the floating woman.
Gone was the scent of sulfur and brimstone, and…
Gone was Callum’s mate.
Chapter Six
Flying over the sea in a giant, black ball of stinky mist had never been something Kamdyn wanted to do and now that it was happening, eating worms sounded better than continuing for even one second longer. True to form, too mad to be afraid, the feisty witch didn’t think, she just demanded, “Put me down you crazy bitch. Who the hell do you think you are?”
Of course, she got no answer, only deafening, boring, maddening silence.
“Arrrrrrrrr,” she growled. “What do I have to do to get an answer? You’re the one who kidnapped me! And I’d damned sure like to know why?” She paused, waiting…hoping for some response and when none came added with a ton of her usual sass and sarcasm, “This is crazy! Put me down, Broom Hilda!”
No sooner had she spoken the words the black mist stopped in midair, spun around like a twister until Kam thought she might toss her cookies, then made an abrupt, ear-popping, downward descent that had the McGregor witch searching for handles… or seatbelts… at least one of those little floatation devices the flight attendants on every plane she’d ever been on were always going on about.
“Now, you listen?” She yelled. “Great! Just super! Go ahead, kill me. I finally meet my mate, and now you’re gonna kill me. He probably hates me anyway. I did throw a spell at him and then left him lying helpless in a cave.”
She thought about the dragon and how good-looking he truly was. She thought about the way he made her feel and the electricity of their connection that had set her heart to racing and her libido begging for more. She thought about the way his heart beat under her hand and how the sharp, fresh aroma of ozone mixed with the warm, subtle scent of an open fire had wrapped around her, making her never want to leave his side.
“And oh, those beautiful lips. If only…”
Growing angrier by the second, thinking of the man she wanted to know more about, Kamdyn refused to simply just go gently into that good night. She had to fight. Had to say what she was thinking…had to have the last word, since it was, after all, her style.
Taking a deep breath, the McGregor witch opened her mouth to tell Broom Hilda and the crazy ass demon she was channeling that they could kiss her lily-white ass when the swirling of the cloud of evil stopped on a dime. Flying through the air like she’d been shot out of a cannon, screaming like a banshee, Kam’s wails were cut short when she crashed into the ground with a bone-jarring thud! narrowly missing a jagged tree trunk jutting from the earth.
And the fun didn’t stop there.
B
ecause of her incredible momentum, Kamdyn careened through an enormous mud-filled hole she was sure had more than dirt and debris in it. Then scraped the entire right side of her body on a thorny bush she knew had reached for her. And all of this before unceremoniously landing face down in a pile of rotten leaves with her butt in the air.
Looking up, she was just in time to get blasted in the face with a surge of ice cold water from a small waterfall flowing down the side of a small greenery-covered hill. But the final straw came when the feisty witch realized she was sitting on the other side of the sea cliffs where they’d started the whole effed-up, freak-filled ride.
Spitting and sputtering as she sat upright, Kamdyn immediately wished to be back in the big black mist. Things had just gone from bad to worse and she was careening towards oh-hell-no insanity, because there, right before her, was Broom Hilda, kicking the unconscious body of Terran the traitor as if he was a soccer ball and she was David Beckham.
Completely speechless for one of the only times in her life, Kam had to remind herself to breathe as the creepy, otherworldly voice of the demon who’d hitched a ride in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm turned Creature from the Black Lagoon asked, “This creature has your magic, Keeper of the Secrets?”
“Ummm…yeah. If you want to get technical about it and I’m the one you’re calling Keeper of the Secrets,” she croaked, clearing her throat before adding, “Can you stop kicking him, though? I really need him alive, so I can kill him for murdering my parents.” Slapping her hand over her mouth, Kam mumbled to herself, “Shut the hell up, dumbass. Don’t you know better than to mention murder in front of the Goon Squad?”
“His life is inconsequential. It is only the magic that matters,” the demon inside of Broom Hilda responded as the kicking stopped.
Now more intrigued than intimidated, Kamdyn let her hand fall from her mouth and shrugged, “While I agree about his life, I still want to be the one to kill him. This is my revenge. He killed my parents. I will avenge their deaths . Capisce?”