Breath of Flame and Shadow

by Ophelia Bell

“Not surrender, but compromise. I would give them a token of loyalty once your demands have been accepted.”

  “That isn’t my decision to make, but I can find Rowan. How long since she flew from here?”

  “She’s about two days East,” Darius said. “She loves you. I don’t think you deserve it, but she does. She’s trying very hard not to, but I think that trying might destroy her if you don’t find her soon.”

  “You think she’d be better off without me, don’t you?” Rafe asked. He believed it himself as he uttered the words. He never should have approached her in that bar. He never should have shown her what she was. He never should have fallen in love with her.

  “Maybe. I suppose it depends on what you do next.”

  ***

  “Where to next, my friend?” Roka asked a couple hours later.

  “A few islands to the East… there’s a resort village Darius sent her to.”

  “Are you ready to find her?”

  There were so many messages in those words, Rafe hesitated to respond knowing that he might respond to the wrong one. He let the question sit while he shifted, then stretched his wings wide, testing the air.

  “I will find her and we will prevail together.”

  “Well, then let’s fly, brother!”

  Roka trumpeted into the dusk and took flight. Rafe followed, launching himself into the air and leaving a clattering of pebbles behind.

  ***

  “She’s spread all over this place,” Roka said after they landed. “Sweet Mother, what was she doing here?”

  “Replenishing,” Rafe said, letting out a breath to clothe him in casual khaki and cotton shirt before walking down the path toward the house that sat silent in the dawn beside the beach. The remnants of a very long party were littered all over the landscape. Half empty cups and bottles caught the rising sun. A couple wayward bodies rested like corpses tangled together. They weren’t dead, but they’d fallen asleep or passed out in the middle of fucking each other.

  Roka laughed. “Reminds me of Geva’s stunts. Remember those?”

  Rafe clenched his teeth. He remembered the rogue Red’s antics and didn’t have any love for the dragon, but looking around now, he knew what had happened had to be an act of desperation. She’d needed energy, and these humans were the best source. The fact that she might not understand her true strength was Rafe’s fault.

  “Do you think we need to do damage control?” Roka asked. It was a valid concern. Kol might have come in and wiped everyone’s memories, but he’d need a Blue to get that job done.

  The door of the house opened and a lone male figure stepped out, two steaming mugs held in his hands. Rafe could smell the sweet aroma of fresh coffee from where he stood.

  “You’re looking for her, aren’t you?” the bearer of the mugs said. He shoved the mugs at them and Roka and Rafe both accepted without question. The hot liquid flowed easily down Rafe’s throat and he ignored the human’s gasp of astonishment when he handed back the still steaming empty mug.

  “Do you know where she went?” Rafe asked.

  “Dude, I want a little more info from you before I start sharing.”

  Rafe met he dark-fringed eyes of the human. “What do you want to know?”

  “Why are you after her?”

  “She’s crucial to our—”

  Roka’s knuckles hit his ribs from behind in the most painful spot and the Guardian whispered in his ear, “Humans, you fuck. This one can lead us to her if you don’t fuck it up. Her magic is linked to him already, like she was on the verge of marking him.”

  “I love her?” Rafe said. He didn’t quite intend the inflection he added to the confession, but it came out anyway.

  The man laughed a little bitterly. “Yeah… so do I, so I guess we have that in common. She left us both, but I’d really love to know why she was running in the first place. Do you mind telling me that?”

  Rafe silently sized up the other man, painfully aware of Rowan’s essence lingering around him and the intent look he had on his face, as though he was prepared to battle to the death for the woman he loved. Rafe’s eyes caught on the blue medallion resting at the man’s throat.

  “Who’s your boss?” Rafe said, narrowly avoiding blurting out the word “master”.

  The human didn’t miss a beat. “The new guy that took over is a man named Skye. I liked his mother better. She was…friendlier. This guy is cold as ice, so I don’t know how he manages to convince anyone to…well, to fuck him, if I’m being blunt.”

  “Your family’s been with us for a while, I take it?” Rafe let a little of his guard down upon the realization that this man was a bonded employee of another dragon. The man would be honest and wouldn’t give away any secrets he discovered during their conversation, except to his own employer.

  “Long enough for me to know one of you when I meet you, even if I don’t know exactly what you are. Rowan was pretty damn special. But I get the sense you knew that. Why was she running?”

  “Because I’m a fool. I just need to find her.”

  “Tell me what you really are and I’ll tell you where she went.”

  Rafe bristled at the man’s reluctance to give up Rowan’s location. He was tempted to just fly on, follow the remnants of her trail the way he had so far. But the pull Rowan had on this man was as clear if they were physically tied by a visible thread. Trevor hadn’t lied about loving her. Rafe could tell the pair had shared their Nirvana with each other very recently.

  The essence of her the man carried tugged at Rafe’s desire as strongly as if Rowan were standing in front of him. He longed to have a fresh taste of her. If this human wanted to know what they were, Rafe would show him the same way he had shown Rowan their first night, if only to have that taste he craved.

  The man had no idea what he was asking for, yet he held his chin out defiantly as Rafe and Roka both sized him up.

  “He’d let you mark him just for her,” Roka’s voice murmured into his mind.

  “Yes, but I need more than to mark him. I need what remnants of her essence are in him.”

  “Need, or want? How long has it been since you were with her?”

  “Want. It’s been months. Skye won’t be pleased if I take this human from him.”

  “Skye can be an unforgiving churl of a dragon. But you outrank him, so if he took issue, it’s Kol he’d have to answer to.”

  “Kol can easily handle Skye.”

  Rafe met the man’s steady gaze. His heartbeat sped up at the proximity to Rowan’s potent magic that lingered around the human like an aura. He took a deep breath before speaking, hoping to get his emotions under control. “What you’re offering requires a bit of sacrifice on your part, Mister…” Rafe raised an eyebrow, inviting the young human to give up his identity.

  “Trevor Markham.” He held out his hand and Rafe gripped it tightly. Rafe didn’t release the hand, instead pulling closer. Trevor reluctantly moved until his chest was against Rafe’s and Rafe’s mouth was at his ear.

  “I’m Rafe. Is there a private place for Roka and I to finish this, or do we have to resort to exhibitionism like the rest of your friends?”

  Trevor’s eyes widened. “You’re Rafe? Oh. Ah, sure. H-how private are we talking?”

  “Depends on what you want advertised, buddy,” Roka said, clapping a hand on Trevor’s shoulder hard enough to make the human flinch a little. Roka’s huge, white-haired form loomed threateningly and Trevor glanced back once, his eyes widening.

  Trevor nodded and grimaced slightly, darting a look between the two dragons. “I should tell you that I’m not really into…that…” His voice trailed off when Rafe raised an eyebrow, daring him to finish his sentence. So many human men he’d met were rigidly against coupling, so he’d avoided them. He preferred women, but men could be even more potent sources of energy, as long as they were willing. Trevor’s physical reaction contradicted his words, however, the rigid line of his erection pressing into Rafe’s hip and his pupils dil
ating in response to Rafe’s breath against his skin.

  “Are you absolutely sure you’re not?” Rafe asked. He lowered his hands to Trevor’s hips and pulled him tighter so the man could feel Rafe’s arousal, thick and pulsing, growing ever more insistent the longer Rafe spent in contact with the delicious tingle of Rowan’s energy that lingered around Trevor.

  Trevor averted his eyes, but made no move to escape Rafe’s grasp. “Are all of you this insistent about…sex?”

  “It’s a means for survival as much as enjoyment,” Rafe said, releasing Trevor from his grip. “Now lead on, Mr. Markham.”

  The conflicting flow of energy around Trevor amused Rafe, and he shared a covert look with Roka on their way into the house.

  “He’s a fucking trooper, we should go easy on him,” Roka sent.

  Easy was a relative term. The human would enjoy the experience as much as Rafe did. But by “easy” Rafe knew Roka was referring to the depth of feeling they put into the act. And because this was for Rowan, he had no qualms about making it worth it for the human.

  “If he’s doing this it means he’s fallen hard for her. He cares for her. He deserves nothing less for his offer to help.”

  Trevor led them up a wide flight of stairs to the upper floor of the expensive beach-side house—a house that any dragon might be proud of. Rafe could see a trickle of sweat making its way down the back of Trevor’s tanned neck, beneath the short, dark hair, until it was absorbed by the pale cotton collar of his t-shirt. In spite of the obvious scent of clean skin on the young man, Rafe was acutely aware of the smell of Rowan that melded with it and wondered if Trevor had pleasured her as well as Rafe had. Oddly, he didn’t feel jealous, but he did look forward to the possibility of sharing Trevor with Rowan when they found her.

  “Are you taking him, or am I? I just want to be prepared,” Roka asked.

  “I’m taking him. You’re damn good with your mouth, so use that.”

  Roka chuckled out loud, the sound causing Trevor to tense and look over his shoulder at them.

  The entire scenario reminded Rafe of weekend nights searching out a lover, except Roka’s presence made it much more enjoyable. He almost wished he’d had his friend with him before. The pair of them could have pleased so many women to the point of delirium. The fact of his love for Rowan aching in his chest made the need all the greater.

  Trevor led them to a door at the end of the hallway. Once inside he diligently locked it behind them and stood with a harsh scowl looking at them both.

  “It’s just us now. Does this really have to happen?”

  Rafe had been expecting the question. He stepped past Trevor into the room, looking like he was admiring the view. A gorgeous vista of the sun rising over the ocean shone through a bank of wide windows. Early sunbeams fell in golden pools onto the king-sized bed in the middle of the room.

  “You know something of what we are already, don’t you? How much do you know?” Rafe asked.

  “I just put it together over the years. Mora never seemed to age. I knew her my entire life. She was just the beautiful philanthropist employer when I was a kid, then when I got older she turned into more. My parents thought I was nuts, but I only mentioned it the one time.”

  “You were lovers?” Rafe asked, surprised by the man’s confession. It was unusual for dragons to take regular lovers from their staff who they didn’t intend to mark. Anonymity was so much easier unless the employee was particularly loyal. Maybe this one was, which raised him exponentially in Rafe’s opinion.

  “Off and on. We didn’t see her that frequently, but when she did visit, I always…delivered. How could I not?” Trevor’s eyes shifted down Rafe’s torso. He swallowed harshly when his gaze came to rest at the bulge in Rafe’s pants, then darted up again to meet Rafe’s steady, unmoving look.

  “Do you miss her?”

  Trevor seemed a little agitated at the question before settling. “Yeah, I mean, there was something about her and how she reacted to my pleasure…how I felt afterward. Rowan felt just like that and it wasn’t until I was with her that I put it together. There has to be more with you guys. Is there?”

  “There is,” Rafe said. “Your employer is Mora’s son, Skye?”

  “Yes.” Trevor shivered. “Not one shred like his mother. He’s definitely never tried this with me.”

  Rafe grinned. “He owns you, you know. But if you’re willing, we’re about to steal you from him.”

  Trevor’s eyes widened. “No shit, it’s like that?”

  “You want to know what we are, right?” Rafe said.

  Trevor nodded.

  “If I show you the truth, you will belong to me.”

  “What the fuck are you?” Trevor asked, somehow alarmed. “You talk about me like I’m some pawn to be exchanged. I didn’t lie when I said I was in love with Rowan. But I can also walk away, because this is some crazy shit.”

  “You can. Go now if you want to. This is your last chance to learn the truth, though.”

  He gave Trevor a moment, but the man didn’t budge. He just stood in the patch of sunlight that streamed in, clenching his fists in determination.

  “We’re dragons,” Rafe said, sending a mental message to Roka to shift a tiny bit when he said it.

  Horns erupted from both their heads. Scales glimmered along Rafe’s hands. As added emphasis he signaled again to Roka and they both blew out their breath. Rafe’s transformed into tendrils that became a dark hand cupping Trevor’s cheek, brushing fingers through his hair. Roka’s smoke was more amorphous, but no less potent, the white cloud hovered before Trevor’s face before sliding down the front of his body, making him quiver with pleasure.

  “Now, if you’ve had enough of the revelation, once we’re done with you, I am going to mark you. This will make you mine. No other dragon may touch you without my say so. Then you will take me to Rowan.”

  “I don’t honestly know where she is. All I know is that she said she was going home. I’m sorry, I lied.”

  Roka laughed, but Rafe responded differently. The knowledge was more than enough. If she was on her way back to San Diego, she may be looking for him. He stepped close to Trevor, gripped him by the shoulders, and kissed him.

  Trevor remained tense for a long moment, then his lips softened and his mouth moved, clasping at Rafe’s in response. He could even taste Rowan on him, but he wanted more. He wanted all of her, not just this brief flavor she’d left behind on this man whom she’d given her particular attention to.

  Their bodies seemed to merge halfway into the kiss. Trevor relaxed and tilted in. Rafe dropped one arm and wrapped it around Trevor’s shoulders, pulling him close. The man was hard as a rock against Rafe’s own erection.

  He dropped his lips from Trevor’s mouth to his cheek, then his neck. In his ear he heard Trevor whisper. “Why are you still doing this?”

  “You taste of her,” Rafe said gruffly. “I need more. I need just a little of what she gave you. Please.”

  Trevor’s body quivered against him and a set of fingertips clutched hard at Rafe’s hips. “How badly do you need what I have?” Trevor asked. He pulled away slightly and pressed a palm against the rigid shape straining against Rafe’s pants. Trevor gripped him through the fabric and stroked once while holding Rafe’s gaze intently as though challenging him to beg.

  Rafe dropped to his knees and feverishly unfastened Trevor’s pants. He gripped Trevor’s hot shaft in one hand and flicked his tongue around the smooth tip. The flavor of Rowan was unmistakable even beyond the clean taste of the man’s flesh. Rafe slid his lips down Trevor’s length, reveling in Rowan’s essence that coated the flesh sliding beneath his tongue.

  “Holy fuck,” Trevor said.

  Roka chuckled and Rafe glanced up. The Guardian slipped his hands under Trevor’s shirt from behind and tugged it off. “Might as well get naked,” Roka said. “You belong to us for the next few minutes. But I think if you enjoyed Mora, you’ll enjoy us, even more.”

  “But
she was…ah…yeah, do that.”

  Rafe cupped Trevor’s balls and stroked, his fingertips meeting the velvet wetness of Roka’s tongue as it teased between Trevor’s cheeks from the other side.

  Roka had shed his own conjured clothing and now knelt with a huge erection just behind Trevor, who seemed to be gradually pushing towards Rafe as if to escape the large Guardian, even though his energy signaled how much he enjoyed what Roka was doing.

  Rafe released Trevor’s cock and urged Trevor to turn. The man gave him a startled glance but complied.

  Rafe stood and disrobed with a breath. “Rowan has beautiful breasts, doesn’t she?” Rafe commented, the image of her clear in his mind after the close contact he’d had with her flavor. He pressed himself fully against Trevor from behind, brushing his hands along Trevor’s hips. With one hand, he gripped the man’s cock again while the other caressed his chest. “Tell me what you did with her breasts.” He let his hand slide along Trevor’s length, stroking until Trevor’s flesh jerked in his fist.

  “You want a story? While you’re…ungh…”

  “Do you like this?” Rafe asked. He eyed Roka over Trevor’s shoulder. The massive form of the Guardian knelt watching, his white hair long and loose over his shoulders. Of all of them, Roka was the only one who looked exactly the same as Rafe always remembered, refusing to conform to any modern standard.

  He gripped Trevor’s cock tighter and stroked quicker.

  “I do,” Trevor said in a strained tone. “God, you’re good at it, too. Hell, I worshiped her even before she let me touch her. I’d have given her everything.”

  With a look and a thought from Rafe, Roka leaned in and clasped the tip of Trevor’s cock between his expert lips. Rafe moved his hand away, making way for his friend.

  “Ohhh, oh, Jesus,” Trevor said when Roka took him greedily into his mouth, sucking his cock in deep. Rafe watched for a second. He knew firsthand how adept Roka was.

  “What did you do first?” Rafe murmured, trying to imagine Rowan landing here, desperate for energy, and what she might do to gain it. He’d only seen the remnants of the party that had occurred, and had been surprised that this man, out of all of the humans, still seemed sane enough to talk to them. He supposed being bonded to a blue might have something to do with it, though. Bonded humans were a supposed to be resistant to the influences of other dragons, but even Rowan’s power had been enough for this man to give in. Unless he’d merely fallen in love.