“Very well.” Ororo vanished, whisking away.
Shaking his head, Eldred looked through the door with a spell. Zoe lay curled on her side, tears streaking down her face. If only her mate died, she could love him again.
Let her go. This can’t end well, Sirocco’s advice echoed in his head.
Chapter 20
Aquila paused as a dragon entered the bar. His presence prickled along her senses as she turned to look for him. Diamond eyes met hers, a smile quirking his lips as he strode through the building. Short blond hair was tousled up as if he’d been flying far too long. Loose white linen hung on his body.
Eldred’s bitch had finally found her. Too bad he was fucking gorgeous, and never mind that instinct to climb up his body and ride him like a bull.
Then she paused. Kellan was her master now…not that he actually ordered her to do anything, unlike her previous master.
“You seem perplexed,” he murmured as he took the seat beside her.
A smile quirked her lips. “I’m wondering what an air dragon is doing here.”
Light danced through his mesmerizing eyes. “Ah, that’s simple. I’m curious about the woman watching over Zoe.”
“Why do you care?” She fully expected him to attack her, not make small talk.
He licked his lips as his eyes traveled down her body. “I’m curious about you. I know you’ve been near the castle, undetected, except by me. No one comes near that castle. And I sense no magic.”
She turned away and stared into her drink. “Paineater took it when she healed me. Doesn’t make me any less dangerous.”
“Probably more so.” A smirk greeted her as she met his gaze. “How many years since that happened?”
She shrugged. “Centuries. How have I never run into you?”
“Spend most of your time in Faery?” he asked.
“Until recently.”
“You know Zoe’s mate?”
Her eyes narrowed.
“That’s answer enough.” He snorted. “I suppose I don’t have to go too far for answers. What are you willing to tell me about your master?”
“That he’s going to tear your master apart.” Her brow arched. “Though I have a feeling you’d welcome that. Wouldn’t you?”
“Wouldn’t you like Eldred to tear apart Kellan?”
“Nope. He’s never ordered me to do anything. I’m here because I want to help him.”
“Interesting. Tell me one thing. Where did he come from?”
“Water kingdom. That’s all I’ll say. I’m assuming Eldred wants answers.”
He nodded. “Less you tell me, less I can help Eldred. If Kellan manages to kill Eldred, I’ll be free. If you want to be free, I could help.”
“No. He freed me from my first master. I’m happy to stay bound to him. This way, no one else can claim me.”
“What about another dragon?”
She snorted. “Until Eldred’s dead, definitely not.”
He held out his hand. “I’m Ororo. Keep in touch. Perhaps I can help your master take on mine.”
“Aquila.” She gulped down her drink and left the bar. She heard Kellan’s call in her head and walked far enough to fade into a mist and find him.
* * * *
Lonny managed to hide his laugh as Aquila left the bar. He didn’t expect her to be loyal to Kellan, though he was happy to see it. And Ororo not wanting to serve his master, that was a plus.
He kept to himself in the corner, staring down at his phone. He wanted to text Toryn and get an update, but with the air dragon in the vicinity, he needed to wait. He’d nearly been caught bringing Zoe food and wanted to make sure that didn’t happen.
In fact, he found it interesting the dragon wasn’t attempting to sniff him out. How deep did the dragon’s hatred run? The dragon watched Aquila leave with a longing in his diamond eyes. Interesting.
He sipped his Scotch as he waited for Ororo to finally leave. Once he did, Lonny paid his tab and left. He shifted to a hummingbird and flew to the flat he’d rented. It would be hours until he brought Zoe food. She knew someone was watching over her, but not who.
Once safely locked behind wards, Lonny dialed Toryn. He answered quickly. “Hey. What have you found?”
“Aquila is loyal to Kellan. Ororo is still Eldred’s slave, though he doesn’t seem too happy about it. I’ve been bringing Zoe food at least twice a day, but I have to be careful about when I bring it. And Eldred—he seems to feel some twisted version of love for Zoe, which makes things more complicated.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, he’s definitely a raging asshole and needs to die, but he’s desperate to be loved. Though I don’t think he understands what love is. Shit, it makes my head hurt. He doesn’t deserve love, according to any of the stories I’ve ever heard. Could he be cursed as well?”
“How so?”
Lonny rubbed his face. “Destined to never find his mate? I was snooping through his things. He has a spell to force a mate bond. Not how Saressa forced hers with Scotty. An old ritual. Ancient. What if Nemia cursed him when he cursed her people?”
“Maybe,” Toryn answered. “He still needs to be stopped.”
“Oh, he does. He wants to kill Kellan.”
“He won’t,” Toryn assured. “It might be one hell of a battle, but Kellan has the elemental sword.”
“The sword of legend?”
“Yeah.” Toryn snorted. “Look, I don’t know the whole story. But it’s clear he wants Zoe back. I trust him.”
“Yeah. Well, I trust Zoe. We’ll make sure they get back to each other without either dying.”
“Kellan is about to call Aquila to him. I told him to find you when he gets there.”
“I’ll find him.”
“One day at a time, Lonny. Thanks for volunteering for this.”
“Least I can do. I want her to know she’s part of our merry clan.”
* * * *
Kellan headed deep into the forest and called Aquila. He stood in a small clearing, waiting impatiently.
A smirk formed on her face as she appeared before him. “There you are. I was beginning to wonder if you forgot what you asked me to do.”
He dipped his head. “I apologize, and I wanted to thank you, for everything. You kept her out of Eldred’s hands.”
She smiled. “Ororo isn’t so bad. He let me keep him from finding her. The problem was, she went and convinced Ororo to take her to Eldred. I truly hope she knows what she’s doing.”
“She does. We discussed it and as much as I would love for her to hold off, I need to kill Eldred before she has our baby. Otherwise, she’ll get sick the same way I did.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Honestly? I hadn’t thought about you helping me since I was sick.”
“Thanks, that makes me feel great.”
His head dropped, then he lifted it to look her in the eye. “I’m sorry. Been preoccupied with trying to figure out how to save her from this damned curse.”
A smile lit her eyes. “Sorry. Teasing, and I probably shouldn’t be. Why haven’t you made it to Glensburgh?”
“Not like I can drive there. I’ve been searching, but it’s fucking hard to find.”
“Here, let me help. You can crash at my place.”
He nodded. “And in the morning I’ll contact Lonny. You can fill me in first.”
She dipped her head. “Sounds good. Let’s get your woman back.”
Chapter 21
In no time, Kellan slipped into sleep.
He reached for Zoe and found her sitting at the edge of the water behind their cabin in the New Zealand Mountains.
He came around to face her. A soft smile spread on her face as she looked up. Her hand curled over the baby bump.
“Can’t wait to see you in person, gorgeous.”
She tugged his hand, pulling him down beside her. “Eldred finally lost patience with me.” She sneered, looking away. “He’s convinced you will on
ly hurt me. I don’t believe that.”
“Never, Zoe. Not much longer and I’ll be there. I just hope you won’t hate me when I kill Eldred.”
“Never hate you. Maybe I did love him once, but I learned that he doesn’t love. There is no hope for Eldred. He’s a broken man who believes he’s entitled to love and a mate.”
“Stay here with me, as long as you can. I plan to sleep through the night. I’ll be there with you tomorrow.”
She turned to him, a sad smile on her face. “I’m worried about how far Eldred will go to keep me. Be careful, Kellan. I can’t live without you.”
“You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. To save me, you walked away—gave me freedom I never wanted. Never, Zoe. I never want to be free of you.”
“Kill Eldred and nothing will come between us,” she promised before placing her mouth over his. She lay back, pulling him over her.
His only regret was it wasn’t real. Though he could feel every inch of her silken skin as he pushed her skirt up her long legs. He pulled the top of her dress down, exposing her swollen breasts.
“Zoe, you were gorgeous before, but this baby, our baby…” He dipped his head to lick one sensitive peak. “More so now.”
Her head dropped back with a low moan. He closed his mouth and gently sucked, laving his tongue over the pebbling nipple. Her excited whimper made his already hard cock throb.
“Need you, Kellan.”
He pressed two fingers into her heat. So ready, so wet, and he needed to fill her. He switched to her other pink tip as he pushed deep into her. Her nails anchored into his back. Their connection, even over the distance and a dream, flared, bringing them closer.
Kellan rolled to his back, and Zoe rose over him. His hands skated over her rounded belly. She rode him hard but slow as her sounds quickened. Sliding one hand down, he rubbed her clit, and she came around him, pulling him with her.
Lowering down, she rolled to his side. He followed, staring into her eyes. “How many girls do you want, Zoe?”
Her brow arched. “Tell me you don’t want a dozen.”
He laughed. “No, but maybe a few.”
“I’ll have as many babies as you want,” she cooed, snuggling closer.
Brushing his fingers through her hair, he watched her with a smile. “Soon.”
* * * *
Eldred sat outside the door to Zoe’s room. She uttered Kellan’s name far too often. No one knew a damned thing about this mystery pest.
Ororo walked up the stairs, his eyes on Eldred. “You’re pissed.”
Eldred hissed, “Of course I’m pissed. She’s calling out his name.”
“She’s mated, Eldred. You broke her trust years ago. I’m amazed she stayed as long as she did. And now—honestly, I think the only reason she isn’t finding a way out is because she wants Kellan to live.”
“Find him. Bring him to me. Until I end his life, I’ll get nowhere with her.”
Ororo sighed. “You do realize that if you kill her mate before her, she will find a way to kill you herself.”
Eldred snorted. “She didn’t last time. She won’t now.”
“And her mate? What do you know of her mate?”
“Not enough.” He dragged his fingers through his hair and paced away. “How can she be so confident someone can kill me when I’ve lived eons?”
The dragon shrugged. “False confidence? Wishful thinking? Or maybe she finally knows something.”
“There’s nothing to know. I can dematerialize and come back whole. How does anyone stop that?”
“By turning your element against you.”
“Impossible. No one has the power to turn air against the master.”
Ororo wore an indulgent smile. “I’ll see what I can learn.” With that, he disappeared.
Eldred rubbed at his head. Perhaps a meal with her would change her mind. He could try a whole new approach. As long as she didn’t ask for her freedom, maybe they could get back to their old companionship.
Eldred hurried down the stairs to start a dinner of all her favorites.
* * * *
Ororo strolled down the street, hoping to get a hint of Aquila’s trail. He couldn’t care less about her master, but he was intrigued by a dragon who’d lost their connection to their magic. He’d only heard of one other with the same problem. They could still shift into their many forms, but they could no longer control their element.
She’d been defensive, but he only sensed her strength. Insecurity had to fill in the hole when her power was ripped away.
Aquila appeared before him. Her deep sapphire eyes bore into his. The light shone off her dark hair, showing the hints of blue. He stopped, a smile quirking his lips. “There you are.”
“What do you want?”
“You, but until our masters sort out their squabble, I’ll make do with getting to know you.”
Her arms crossed under her bust. “Nothing more than talking?”
“For now. And I don’t want to talk about our masters. I want to talk about you, about me, and what we want.”
“What do you suggest?” she asked in amusement.
“Dinner.”
A real smile brightened her features. “Where?”
“Follow me.”
* * * *
Knocking startled Zoe awake, pulling her from Kellan before she was ready to let him go. Her baby shifted, and she pressed a hand over her belly.
“We’ll protect you,” she whispered.
Another series of raps on the door made her jump. “Don’t bother with being polite,” she snarled. “You’re keeping me locked in a prison.”
Eldred entered the room with a sympathetic smile. “I bring food and drink, but no alcohol.”
“I don’t trust you, Eldred. I don’t want anything from you but to release me from this curse and let me have my mate.”
Anger flashed through his eyes as he took the tray to the table. “I made your favorites.”
“I’d rather starve,” she hissed.
“At least talk to me.”
“If you’re hoping I’ll tell you about my mate, it’s never going to happen.”
“Tell me about your life in Seattle. You can leave out Kellan.”
“No.”
He set the tray on the table and began removing lids. “Then let me tell you about my life since you left.” Sadness was etched into his face, maybe even agony.
“I won’t fall for your lies. I’ve been happier without you than I ever was with you. You said you’ve changed, but then you locked me in a pretty cage and have no desire to set me free.”
“Would you choose me if I gave you freedom?”
She shook her head and looked away. “Nothing could make me choose you, Eldred.”
His hand covered his chest as he took a seat at the small table in the corner of the room. “You loved me once.”
“Mistake of youth. You tethered me, trapped me, and ripped down my confidence. I have it back. I won’t let you take it again.”
“You’re right. Losing you taught me where I went wrong with you. I want what we had back, but better.”
“You’ve lost any chance you had at proving you were better than before.”
“Let’s talk.”
“Fine.” She sighed. “Tell me about where you grew up. What made you the man you are today?”
He settled back in his seat. “That was so long ago, Zoe. I haven’t been to Faery in thousands of years.”
She’d found some information on why, but nothing solid. “Why?”
“I was the king of the Air Realm in Faery. I entered into a treaty I never should have. Perhaps Sirocco was right. Perhaps I should have let the harpy go, but she refused to uphold her end of the treaty.”
“What treaty?”
“Esmeralda wanted to keep her people on her mountain and keep her reign over her territory. I said yes for a chance to woo her daughter. Nemia…” Shaking his head, he looked away. “I saw her and only wanted to
love her. A week in my castle, but she refused to give me a chance. Instead, she stole one of my guards from me, formed a mate bond, and then her people started a war on mine. They killed so many air fae.”
“You tried to force her to love you?” Zoe snorted. “Love isn’t something you can make happen. It either does or doesn’t.”
“Oh, I loved her from the moment I saw her. Much like you captured my heart. Since you left, I haven’t been able to look at another woman.”
Zoe looked away. That wasn’t love. Maybe obsession. “What happened?”
“She took Aurion away. I was so angry I cursed her whole race to lose their mates or die themselves. The Elder Guardians exiled me. I’ve been here since.”
“Same story, different age. Only this time, you had my love and trashed it. Now I have the man who infuses my soul with happiness, but you can’t let me go. I don’t blame her for retaliating, for fighting for what she wanted. That should have been a good clue she wasn’t yours. Same as me. No bond formed.”
“It would have if someone hadn’t cursed me. I believe either Nemia or Esmeralda cursed me to never find my mate. That’s why our bond never formed.”
Almost tragic, but it didn’t change reality. He wasn’t her mate. “How many harpies came before me?”
“Many over the eons. However, I’ve never felt for any of them what I feel for you. Not even Nemia.”
She shook her head. “If that were true, you would have trusted me to stay. I would have, in the beginning. If you had treated me with love and respect. There was a time I only wanted to be with you. The more you stifled my freedom, the more I grew to resent you.”
“Then let me try again.”
“I have a mate,” she hissed. “Once upon a time that missing bond didn’t bother me. Now…I couldn’t live without it. You don’t understand what I’d be missing. You’re not the love of my life. You’re a man who doesn’t understand what love is or how to keep it.”
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