by Julia Mills
More than one night had been spent dreaming about nibbling along that jaw, teasing the tender flesh of his neck and driving him wild with passion until he couldn’t help but make love to her. No matter how hard she’d tried to deny it, there was no getting away from the fact that he was her mate, the one she was meant to spend eternity beside…the man she’d started falling in love with the first time she laid eyes on him.
“You’re usually better shielding your thoughts.” Grey’s voice interrupted Star’s daydreaming, leaving her blushing as he turned around.
“Yeah, well I’ve usually had at least a few hours sleep,” she countered grinning to hide the heat in her cheeks.
“I hear ya’ there.”
Grey speared her with those hypnotic cerulean eyes of his, holding her captive as he stalked towards her. Snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her tight to his chest, he rumbled, “I know this is the last thing I should be doing at a time like this, but if I don’t kiss you right this minute, I fear I’ll just cease to exist.”
Holding her breath as he slowly lowered his lips to hers, Star couldn’t help but sigh at the first touch of his lips to hers. Their connection was immediate and explosive. She felt her wolf reach for his dragon, her heart beat in sync with his and the elusive piece of her soul she’d been missing all these years slip into place.
She could feel him holding back, taking it slow, trying to savor their first kiss but Star was having none of it. Shoving her hands into his hair, she held him tight, demanded entrance and moaned into his mouth as he gave her all he had.
In the span of a single heartbeat, Grey’s hands were on her ass, lifting her off the floor, forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist as he headed for the back of the house. Pulling her lips from his, she gasped, “Last door on the left.”
A grunt as she slammed her lips back to his was the only response she received…the response she needed. She smiled against his lips at the sound of his boot kicking the door shut and moaned at the loss as he gently threw her onto the middle of her four-poster bed and stood staring with lust turning his eyes a sizzling deep blue.
Feeling sassier than usual, she teased, “Like what you see, dragon man?”
“Oh, darlin’, you have no idea,” he growled, “And I’m more than ready to see more.”
Holding her eyes hostage as he kicked off his boots and instantly pulled his light blue T-shirt over his head, Grey challenged with an irresistible gleam in his eyes, “Now, it’s your turn, my sexy little wolf.”
Grabbing the hem of her shirt as she sat up, Star slowly slid the soft cotton fabric up her stomach, stopping just under her breasts and looked up at Grey through her lashes, taunting her mate in a low, sexy voice she hardly recognized as her own, “Is this enough?”
“Never,” he growled, pouncing onto the bed, gently pushing her back as he caged her in - palms on the bed next to her head and his knees next to her thighs. Capturing her lips, he spoke directly into her mind, “This is as close to Heaven as I’ve ever been, mo chroí, and I never want to leave.”
Deepening their kiss, needing more, Star shivered as Grey’s hands skimmed across her ribs sliding under her T-shirt and pushing it over her bra. In the blink of an eye, he lifted away from her lips, pulled her shirt over her head and got rid of her bra, before looking down at her and sighing, “Oh my Goddess, you are absolutely perfect.”
“You ain’t so bad yourself.” Was the only response her lust-soaked brain could come up with as he leaned forward while massaging the heated flesh of her breasts teasing first one nipple and then another with the tip of his tongue.
Arching her back off the bed, trying to force his masterful touch where she needed it most, Star groaned out loud when a loud knock at the front door had Grey sitting up and cursing in Gaelic. She couldn’t help but smile as he crawled off the bed, adjusted the front of his jeans and grumbled, “Stay right there. I know who this is and I’ll get rid of them.”
Chuckling to herself, Star crawled off the bed to get dressed and mumbled to herself, “Those boys are about to knock my door off the hinges. I don’t think they’re going away as easily as he thinks.”
Sure enough, the next thing she heard was Drago’s low, grumbly laughter. “I guess you made peace with your mate, huh?”
“Looks like we might have interrupted something here, Drago?” Snickered a voice she didn’t recognize, as at least three other males joined in on the fun.
Smoothing her curls, Star took a quick glance in the mirror before exiting her room and heading down the hall. Stepping into the living room, she winked at Drago before declaring, “Haven’t y’all ever heard of calling before you come visiting?”
Erupting laughter once again as Grey looked over his shoulder and rolled his eyes, one of the dragons who had interrupted she and her mate began to make the introductions. The tall blond with the shit-eating grin came forward with his hand out and as they shook he grinned, “I’m Kayne. I’m the one you call if you’re ever tired of the young buck.”
Grey immediately appeared at her side, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and growled, “That’s enough.”
Secretly thrilled at the possessive nature of her mate, Star still swatted his bare stomach and scolded, “Grey.”
“Grey, nothing.” He pulled her close. “You can’t trust these guys as far as you can throw them.”
The younger Guardsman with light brown hair and dark eyes slapped his hand over his heart and pretended to sob, “Oh, you wound me.”
“That pain in the ass is Noah,” Grey sighed. “And the one next to him is Pearce.” He looked down at her and whispered, “Be careful of ‘P’ and his voodoo power. He’s been known to read people’s minds.”
Holding up his hands in surrender, the Guardsman who exuded a sense of peace and calm shook his head, “I do not. It’s just that your mate forgets to shield his thoughts.”
Elbowing Grey, Star teased, “And he pokes his nose in where it doesn’t belong.”
“Guilty as charged,” he agreed out loud before kissing the top of her head and whispering, “But I just can’t help myself where you’re concerned,” directly into her mind.
Trying hard not to blush as Drago pointed at his brother, “And since you know Angus and me, I will get to the reason for our visit. Marrok…”
The Assassin’s words were cut off as her Alpha’s voice burst through her mind.“Star! Come now and bring those dragons. The swamps are on fire!”
Chapter Nine
Racing towards black, billowy pillars of smoke, Grey kept Star by his side as they followed his brethren to Wolf Hall. Meeting Olivia, Ellie and Caleb just outside, their group stopped and Star asked, “How did this happen? I just looked out the window an hour ago.”
“I have no idea. The lions think it’s out of control forest fires, but have you ever known them to burn in a perfect circle across each and every swamp and juts around our land?”
“Thanatos.” Came the unison reply from everyone in attendance.
Nodding as she went to her mate, Olivia confirmed, “That’s my guess.” Pointing to the west, she went on, “Marrok wants us to take the farthest border. He and the Betas have the others covered. There are wells that power the sprinklers for the fields at the midpoint, we just have to reposition the heads along the boundaries and that should take care of the fire.” She rolled her shoulders. “Unless it’s Hellfire and then we’re gonna need…”
“Did someone call for a witch?” Alicia appeared at Drago’s side.
Smiling despite the situation, Olivia nodded, “Indeed, I did. Thanks for coming Allie.” Turning back to the group she added, “Let’s head ‘em up and move ‘em out. One way or another we have to save our swamp.”
Running along with his brethren and friends to the west side of Gaelach Lán lands, Grey pushed his preternatural senses as far as they would go. The closer they got to the blaze the more he began to feel a sense of déjà vu.
Opening himself up to any and al
l disturbances in the Earth and the atmosphere, he mentally called to Star, “Do you feel that? Something’s off. I just can’t put my finger on it.”
Before his mate could answer Olivia yelled, “Angus and I are going to the well, y’all fan out along the border and move the heads when we get them turned on.”
Following Star as she broke off from the group and ran towards the southernmost corner, Grey asked again, “Do you feel that? Something is really not right.”
“Yeah, there’s something a little off, but with all the flames and smoke, I’m not surprised. Besides the sounds of the wildlife running for their lives is making it hard for me to focus on little else.” She paused then quickly added, “I don’t smell sulfur or brimstone like I did the night of the attack. This has to be out of control brush fires.”
Thinking about what she’d said as he waited for the sprinklers to come on, Grey just couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom. It was a living, seething entity breathing down his neck. His senses were on high alert. His dragon braced and ready for battle. The hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Someone or something was just beyond those flames, orchestrating this chaos as a form of distraction, of that he had no doubt.
“Star?”
Her name still echoed in his mind as the huge sprinkler head mounted on the seven-foot high PVC pipe sticking out of the ground sputtered to life. Twisting the cylinder until the powerful stream of water was spraying directly onto the fire, Grey ran to the next and completed the process until all the sprinklers were dumping water onto the flames.
Turning back towards the way he’d just come, racing to return to his mate, Grey stopped dead in his tracks as out of the flames rose the same dark-haired witch he’d seen in the cave the day they’d rescued Kamdyn.
“Son of a bitch,” he spat then screaming, he demanded, “Let her go, you stupid piece of shit!”
Looking down, Thanatos’ low, eerie voice boomed from Mara’s black, cracked and bleeding lips, “My, my, what do we have here?” He floated closer. “I do believe it is one of the elusive gray dragons. I had heard some of you survived.” Coming closer still, but careful to stay over the flames, the demon went on, “Yes, it is. The older of the Acheson brothers, the stronger, more powerful, Dragon Guardsman.”
His blood-curdling cackle filled the air as a bolt of lightning struck the ground at Grey’s feet revealing a vision of his brother, held to what looked like a huge, overturned, rusty water tank by silver chains, an engraved athame dangling precariously over his heart. “Will you give your life to save that of your brother?”
“NO!” Star screamed, sprinting towards Grey. “Don’t do…”
Her words were cut off and her actions frozen as Thanatos held her suspended by magic and laughed, “What about your mate?”
Opening his mouth to tell the demon to kiss his ass, Grey snapped his jaw shut as Drago’s voice whispered through his mind, “Keep him talking. Alicia, Kayne and the wolves are working on a spell and the others are in dragon form coming up behind the bastard.”
Looking at Star, his heart breaking and his dragon roaring at what she was suffering at the hands of the demon for the second time, Grey reluctantly agreed, “Alright. Hurry.” Then to Thanatos he snarled, “My brother, my mate, all the Guardsmen and all the wolves go free and you can have me and the soul of my Dragon King.” Then he quickly added, “And you have to make sure Mara is still alive, or no deal.”
Grey could see the demon considering his offer. He wondered how close Alicia and the others were to being ready to snap the bastard out of the sky and where his brethren were but dared not use their mindspeak for fear Thanatos would hear.
Finally, the demon scoffed, “No, just your mate and your brother. There must be rivers of blood, magical blood, to complete the ritual.” He then added, “As far as little Mara here goes, she will still be alive, as for anything else, I make no promises.”
Ignoring his fury and seeing that Thanatos was having way too much fun while others were suffering, Grey decided to use the demon’s renowned ego against him to buy a little more time. “Are you telling me that the great and powerful Thanatos can’t possess my simple shifter body with his own magic and that of my Dragon King?” The Guardsman snorted.
An impressive series of lightning bolts struck the ground at Grey’s feet as the flames to his left exponentially grew in height and heat. He’d struck a nerve, and now it was up to him to keep the demon angry and focused on him until the wings of his brethren’s dragons appeared over the fire.
Wrapping his arms around himself, Grey pretended to shiver as he mocked, “Oh no, I’m so scared. The mean old demon’s gonna strike me dead with his lightning. Ooooohhhhhhh, what am I to do?” Laughing out loud, despite the wrath racing through his veins, the Guardsman taunted, “Did you really think I was gonna fall for parlor tricks?” He stepped forward and stood tall. “I am the first son of Grannus Acheson, rightful Leader of the Grey Dragons. Who the hell are you but a broken down, hack of a demon with only a little, weak witch to inhabit?”
Again the flames grew, moving closer like glowing, fiery fingers lapping at his skin as black clouds swirled overheard and lightning struck the ground not only around Grey but also too close to Star for comfort. Reigning in his dragon as well as his own rage, the Guardsman continued to push on Thanatos’ exposed nerve, praying the others were ready to spring the trap as he feared this would be his last shot.
“What’s the matter? Running out of steam? Lost your power? Used up all of Mara’s?” Pulling the knife from his pocket, Grey slashed his palm and threw his hand in the air, shouting, Smell that you bastard? Smell that power? Feel the magic?”
Wavering in the air, Thanatos looked nearly drunk as he smelled Grey’s blood. With a sappy grin on his face, the demon nodded, “It’s a deal.”
Slapping his bleeding palm to his thigh, Grey challenged, “How do I know you’ll honor your deal?”
“I’m a demon of my word. The letter of the ritual is clear. I must live up to my end of the bargain or all benefits owed to me will be forfeit.”
Thinking for just a second, his dragon signaling that others of their kin were near, Grey played the last card he had. Shaking his head, he yelled, “I don’t believe you. You demons always have a loophole or a backdoor.” He stepped even closer to the fire. “Tell me where my brother is first, so I can send the others to get him then I will willingly become your sacrifice.”
Watching the demon float silently above the blaze for what seemed like forever, Grey was just about to give up and shout another insult when movement out of the corner of his eye stopped him cold. Flying at top speed, the dragons surrounded Thanatos at the same time that Alicia’s voice rang across the swamp. “Demon bheith imithe! Dhíbir go deo! Go hIfreann gach áit a tháinig tú!”
Thanatos dropped through the air, stopping just before the flickering flames completely engulfed him, wailing, “NO! NO! NO!”
“It’s working! Say it again!” Kayne bellowed.
Responding in English, everyone yelled, “Demon be gone! Banished forever! To Hell, whence you came!”
The demon screeched in pain. The oozing green snakes slithering all over Mara’s possessed body hissing as the flames died down to little more than a campfire.
Repeating the spell again as the dragons closed in on the demon, ready to catch Mara’s body as his soul was sent back to the Pits of Hell, their cries were cut short as the earth began to shake and the fires once again sprang to life. Spreading his arms wide, Thanatos roared, “BE GONE!”
A shockwave burst from his fingertips hurtling the dragons through the air as the demon shot through the sky disappearing in a firestorm of lightning. Racing to Star as she crashed to the ground, released from the demon’s magic as quickly as he disappeared, Grey pulled her into his arms and shouted into his brethren’s minds, “Everybody okay?”
Listening to each of them answer, he didn’t have a chance to answer back as Star opened her eyes and murmure
d, “You ever offer yourself to a demon again and I’ll kick your ass myself, ya’ hear me?”
Kissing her soundly, happier than he could have ever imagined just to hear her voice and know that she was okay, he wanted nothing more than to carry her back to her house and never let her out of bed again. Unfortunately, that would have to wait.
The wolves, with Kayne leading the way, appeared all around him. Looking up at Alicia, he met her sad eyes and apologized, “I am so sorry. I failed again. Not only Mara but also you, your family and my brother.” He shook his head. “I swear that fucking demon has nine lives.”
Dropping to her knees, Alicia patted Star’s hand as she said, “No way, Grey, you didn’t fail. You kept Thanatos busy. You made it possible for me to not only break the spell he had on the land but also to use the connection I have with my sister to look into his mind.” She swallowed back her tears, and when she started again her voice cracked, but the brave witch powered on, “I wasn’t about to banish him this time, but next, with my sisters by my side, we’ll get him. Mara will be fine. I have to believe that. She’s strong. I felt her in there fighting. We’ll get her back. In the meantime, I have good news for you. I know where Garrett is and it’s not far from here.”
Chapter Ten
Leading the way through the swamps, with Grey at her side, following the map Alicia had drawn, Star couldn’t help but worry what they would find when they got there. Would Garret still be alive? Would that be a good thing? Would he be glad to see Grey? Or blame him for all the years he’d spent in captivity?
“Stop thinking so hard.” Grey squeezed her hand. “You’re making my head hurt.” He grinned. “Everything is gonna be fine. I’m prepared, no matter what we find when we get there.”