Kissed by Fire

by Shéa MacLeod

  “Dragons are evil,” Jade hissed at me. “They need to be destroyed before they destroy us.”

  “Did Alister tell you that?” Inigo snarled. “The dragons have been the guardians of human kind, not the enemy. That’s Alister’s twisted reality, not the truth.”

  Something slid through Jade Vincent’s eyes. Something not quite human and very definitely crazy. “The stories are true, then.” My voice was quiet. “Without the Rogues to Hunt, the Dragon Hunters went insane.”

  “We were bred to kill dragons,” she hissed. “And we will not rest until every last dragon is dead.”

  “Yet you are the last of the Dragon Hunters. It’s over, Jade.”

  “It’s never over. Alister will finish what we started.”

  Trevor gave her a grim smile. “Alister’s days are numbered. He won’t be in power for much longer. Even as we speak, the authorities are moving in.”

  I cast a quick glance at Kabita. She was lounging against the stove, relaxed now that we’d found Inigo. She nodded. “Dex has been appointed lead investigator. He’ll do what’s necessary.”

  Wow. Go Dex.

  “Good.” I turned back to Jade. “What about Bob?”

  “Bob?” She gave me a blank look.

  “The vampire. The one that killed me three years ago? And that other one that attacked me in Hyde Park?”

  “Oh.” Her laughter was a light tinkle, so at odds with her bag full of crazy. “That was just a distraction. I figured they’d keep you busy or kill you. Either way worked for me. It would keep her out of my hair,” she nodded at Kabita. “Plus, I figured if anyone could track me it would be another Hunter.” She gave me a scalding look. “Never figured you were so slow.”

  I ignored the insult. “What about Inigo?” I demanded. “Why him?”

  Her laugh held an edge of that crazy. “God you’re thick, aren’t you? Just like Alister said. We were going to use him to call out the dragons, but then Alison got her nose stuck in where it didn’t belong and we had to kill her.”

  “Why did you take her heart?” The thing that had clued me in. The thing that didn’t fit. I found it hard to believe after all that planning, she’d screw up so phenomenally.

  “What are you? Some kind of idiot? Everyone knows that when a Hunter eats the heart of her prey, she takes on the prey’s power. It’s an honor.”

  It was so bizarre it took a few seconds for it to click. Ew. Gross. I was pretty sure my face mirrored the look of horror on Kabita’s.

  Jade frowned. “Her death was supposed to do the same thing, stir up fear, blah blah. But it didn’t work, thanks to you. So, I had to go back to the original plan.”

  “I still don’t understand what this has to do with Inigo.” I tried to get my brain back on track. Erase the horrific image she’d put in my mind.

  She rolled her eyes. “He had to die just like the others. Inigo Jones is a freaking dragon.”

  I blinked. Then I started laughing. I couldn’t help it. It was just so damned ridiculous. “OK, fine, you don’t want to answer me. Whatever.”

  “I think it’s time I take the bitch to jail,” Trevor interjected.

  “You think a jail’s going to hold her?” I couldn’t quite keep the disbelief out of my voice.

  He smiled. “A regular jail? No. But I’ve got something special lined up for our VIP.”

  Huh. I guess sometimes it did pay to have a brother in high places.

  Trevor’s backup had finally arrived and they hustled Jade out to a waiting van. The thing looked more like an armored truck than any sort of regular transport. It made me feel better somehow. The crazy bitch was going away for good.

  Trevor and I hugged each other and said a quick goodbye before he hopped into the front seat and headed out with his team. He didn’t say anything about meeting up, but I figured we’d see each other soon enough. We were family.

  “What, you guys are all cozy all of a sudden?” Kabita sounded less than pleased. Apparently his help hadn’t appeased her one iota.

  “Yeah, well, we sort of have to get along now. He’s my brother.”

  Two pair of eyes, one blue and one brown, stared at me like I’d just grown a second head. “Excuse me? But did you say Trevor Daly is your brother?”

  I could hardly blame them for their shock.

  I told them the whole story, or at least what Trevor had told me. I imagined there was still more to it. Especially the part about our father’s murder.

  “Oh, my,” was all Kabita managed to say.

  “Holy crap.” Inigo was a succinct as ever.

  “Damn, am I glad you’re OK.” I gave him a big hug. I decided to forget all about our weird incident from a few weeks ago. I knew he’d never hurt me and whatever had happened, we’d figure it out later.

  “Easy.” His breath was warm against my ear. “I just got beat up by a girl.”

  I giggled like a moron and snuggled into the warmth of him. Gods he smelled good. Like campfires and autumn and hot chocolate.

  My mind stuttered to a halt, remembering the smell of the Drago. He, too, had smelled of campfires and chocolate. S’mores in his case. My brain simply didn’t want to deal with how those numbers stacked up. Coincidence. Had to be.

  Except Jade had said Inigo was a dragon. And while she might be crazy, she was still a Dragon Hunter. Oh, gods.

  “That poor girl really did go nuts, huh?” My words were muffled against Inigo’s chest, his arms still wrapped around me as if he wasn’t quite ready to let me go. I didn’t mind. Neither did my hormones. They were very happy indeed. For once, I didn’t even care that Kabita might figure out I had the hots for her cousin.

  “What do you mean?” His voice was a little rough.

  I pulled back a little. “Oh, come on. That crack about you being a dragon? I mean, how ridiculous.” I waited, praying he’d tell me what I wanted to hear. That it was a mix up. A joke. Anything but the truth I feared it was.

  He and Kabita exchanged a look. “Yeah, it was a pretty stupid comment.”

  “See.” I tried to snuggled back in, but his next words froze me into place.

  “I’m only half dragon.”

  ***

  I scooted back out of Inigo’s arms and staggered to my feet, my gaze dodging wildly between him and Kabita. “Stop messing with me.”

  He pulled himself up, too, using the stove as a crutch. “I’m telling you the truth. My father was a dragon. My mother was human. I am a Halfling.”

  My eyes wide, I searched his face. He seemed sincere, but it was all too mad. I turned to Kabita.

  “It’s true.”

  I shook my head. “You said he was your cousin.”

  “He is. Of a sort. My many times great-grandfather had a sister. She was raped by a Rogue dragon in human form. When Inigo was born, it was clear that he wasn’t entirely human. It was also clear she had to hide his true nature.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Dragons kill Halflings.” Inigo’s voice was hard. “Especially those sired by Rogues. We are considered impure and a threat to the continuation of the race. My mother and her family hid me from the dragons. They’ve been protecting me ever since.”

  I was trying really hard not to hyperventilate, but it was all too much. “How ... um, how old are you?” Gods, this was like Jack all over again only worse. At least I’d known what Jack was from the beginning.

  “Only four hundred years.”

  “Four hundred.” It came out a mere squeak.

  “I’m sorry that I lied to you, Morgan.” Kabita stepped toward me. “But I had to. As Inigo’s protector, I was sworn to secrecy. As was each protector before me. To keep him safe from the dragons, everyone had to believe he was human. That’s my job. I didn’t want you in danger. And knowing the truth would have put you in danger.”

  I swallowed hard. The truth was that I did believe them. I just didn’t want to. “Too late. Alister saw to that. How did he find out?”

  “He’s always kn
own. He’s family,” Kabita said. “Obviously he was just biding his time until he could use our secret.”

  And he had. To try and start a war.

  Inigo heaved a deep sigh. “It’s time, Kabita. What she knows can’t be unknown. I might as well show her.”

  Her face was strained, but she nodded. “I’ll give you some space.”

  I just stood there feeling lost and alone as she exited the kitchen. My best friend had been lying to me for three years. Inigo had been lying to me. Gods, I didn’t know which was worse. I completely ignored the fact that I’d been lying to them, too.

  He reached out and cupped my face in his hands. “Morgan.” His voice was warm and smoky and held just a hint of pleading. It wrapped around my heart, begging me to understand. “I’ve wanted to tell you for so long. Since the moment I set eyes on you I’ve wanted you to know who I really am. What I really am.”

  His pupils slowly elongated, his irises morphing from blue to gold. I sucked in a breath. I’d seen those eyes before.

  “That night. The one I can’t remember. Your eyes did that.”

  “Yeah.” His voice was a sigh. “I can usually control the shift, but something about you ... I can’t always control myself.” His laugh held an edge of wildness.

  I swallowed hard. “Do you remember that night? What we did?”

  He leaned his forehead against mine and the world went away. It was just the two of us wrapped in the scent of campfires and hot chocolate and the gold glow of Inigo’s eyes. “No,” he whispered. “I wish I did, but I don’t. I remember nothing after the kiss.” His lips brushed my, velvet soft. “After that all I remember is heat. Then darkness. Then nothing at all.”

  “So you don’t know if we ... ” My voice trailed off. I wasn’t sure what I wanted the answer to be.

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. I hope we didn’t. I want to remember our first time together.”

  I blushed. “Oh, OK.” I felt like a frigging teenager on her first date.

  His thumbs caressed my cheeks, his breath warm as he touched his lips to mine. “Stand back and watch carefully.”

  I did as he told me. I felt cold without his warmth, so I wrapped my arms around myself. My mind was having trouble grasping on to the situation and I wasn’t sure if I should be hurt or angry or what. All I felt was confused.

  I watched as Inigo’s skin began to shimmer and glow, turning a golden hue. His body shifted, elongated, the glow growing brighter and brighter until it hurt my eyes. Then suddenly, in the middle of that dingy kitchen, stood a dragon the size of a large horse. My mouth dropped open.

  He looked exactly like the dragons in fairytale books with a long spiked tail and wings kind of like a giant bat. Except that Inigo’s wings were cerulean dusted with gold and looked as soft as brushed silk.

  His scales were similar to the one I still had in my pocket. Only his had the rich blue, green and purple hues of New Zealand abalone. He was incredibly beautiful.

  “You can touch me if you want.” Inigo’s voice jarred me out of my shock. Except I wasn’t hearing him with my ears; his voice was inside my head. “I don’t much like people touching me, but you’re different.”

  I admit to being a little nervous as I approached him. He brought his head down to my eye level, his gold eyes boring into mine. “Hey,” it came out a little croaky and I swear I saw him smile.

  He gave me a gentle head butt, so I reached out and stroked my hand down his side. His scales were smooth and hard, but suppler than the one I had. That made sense. Like skin which was soft and elastic when alive, but grew hard and tough when dead.

  He butted me again, and a laugh escaped me. I rubbed his nose which was surprisingly soft and he let out a sound that was very close to a purr. “You really are beautiful, you know,” I whispered to him, all my anger and hurt and confusion forgotten. “I wish you’d have shown me sooner.”

  My hand gently brushed his wing. It was softer than silk, unbelievably so. I ran my fingers over it again. He shuddered and rubbed his cheek against me.

  “I’ve dreamed of this, you know.”

  I caught Inigo’s face between my palms, leaning my forehead against his, much as he’d done to me earlier. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve been in love with you since the day I met you.”

  I cleared my throat, beating back another blush. “Is that so?”

  He huffed.

  I laughed. “Of course it is, and I know it. I’ve always known it, haven’t I? But I’m such a stupid girl sometimes. I’m completely nuts about you, too. I’ve just been too stubborn to admit it.”

  “There’s nothing I’ve wanted more than to show you my true self. To have you accept me for who I am. All I am.”

  I nodded. My throat was so tight I couldn’t speak. My heart was thumping hard against my ribs and I was afraid I might cry. Everything was just so overwhelming.

  I cleared my throat, but my voice was still a little wobbly. “I take it your clairvoyance comes from being a dragon.”

  He nodded his big dragon head. “Yes. Along with the ability to manipulate human minds. It’s a dragon thing. With you it seems to go a bit wonky, like you’re partially immune or something. I think that’s what happened ... that night we were together.”

  I felt myself flushing again and pressed my cheek tighter against Inigo’s smooth scales. He made a little grumbling sound but didn’t pull away.

  “So, now you know the truth, the whole truth.”

  “Trevor knows?”

  “Yes, he had to. He’s the liaison between the dragons and the U.S. government. Not that he’s ever had to do much. No one’s heard from them for years until now. Still, he figured it out.”

  “That’s what he’s got on you and Kabita.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Sounds like Trevor and I need to have a talk.”

  “He’s just doing his job, Morgan. Don’t go all Ninja on his ass.”

  I snorted. “I’ll try and restrain myself.” I stroked Inigo’s nose again. “Can you change back?”

  He stared at me out of golden eyes then slowly nodded his head. He nudged me a little, and I stepped back. This time I watched the shimmer with interest and fascination. It was really kind of cool. Pretty too.

  The simmering stopped and Inigo stood there in human form. I couldn’t help myself. I walked over, wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. There were definitely tongues involved.

  “Ah, Morgan, I’m sorry,” he said when finally came up for air. “I wanted to tell you. I wanted ... ”

  “Shh.” And I kissed him again. Best way to shut a man up ever.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “All right, so why didn’t you just shift and go all dragon on the crazy bi ... ” I broke off as Kabita glared at me. Not a fan of the “b” word, Kabita. “Uh, the crazy lady.” We were headed to the car, moving slowly for Inigo’s sake.

  Inigo snorted with laughter. “And start another war between dragons and humans? I think not. That would have given her exactly what she wanted. Besides, she was using silver chains. I can’t shift when silver is touching me.”

  “What like werewolves?”

  He rolled his eyes at me. “I’m nothing like a werewolf, but yes. The principle is the same.”

  “How’d she get a drop on you anyway?” Kabita interjected.

  He shrugged and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, hugging me to his side. “I knew she was tracking me, which was why I called you. No way I could fight her on my own. If I was full dragon, that’d be one thing, but I’m not strong enough. I figured I’d just stay out of her way until you got here.

  “It worked for a while. But then the bi ... uh, Hunter, got sneaky. She coated my front doorknob with Nightshade extract.”

  I must have looked confused because Kabita translated. “Nightshade acts as a strong sedative for dragons when they are in human form, even through the skin. It would have knocked him out in seconds.”

  “By the time
I came to, she had me chained and a gun to my head. I tried to fight, but the chains...” He shrugged. “What was I going to do but follow her here? Fortunately, I knew you wouldn’t be far behind.” I was glad someone had so much faith in our super powers.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here.” Kabita started for the door. “This place creeps me out.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh.

  ***

  I was glad to be home. Really glad. Everything was exactly as I left it right down to my steampunk style boots lying in the middle of the floor and my bed piled high with unfolded laundry.

  Jet lag was creeping in, draining the energy from my body. I felt wasted. Even worse, I felt gross. Like I hadn’t showered in days.

  I left my suitcase in front of the bedroom door and headed for the shower. I’m sure I’ve said it before, but the restorative powers of a hot shower are vastly underrated.

  I didn’t even bother to dry my hair, though I did manage to towel off. I just staggered from the shower to my bed, shoved the laundry to the floor and climbed in. Lights out.

  ***

  I was back on top the Wall overlooking the valley. Cold wind slapped into my face, carrying a few snowflakes with it.

  “You’ve done well, Hunter. We are grateful.”

  I turned. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. He was in human form, his inky black hair dancing in the wind.

  The wind carried away my laugh. “Hey, Drago. I was just doing my job.”

  “More. You did not do only your job. You also did what was right. As you promised. Justice has been served.”

  I shook my head sending brilliant red strands flying. “Not enough. Not yet. Alister Jones is still in power and gods know what kind of crazy he’s up to.”

  “’Tis true. Alister Jones has yet a part to play, but for now, he is no longer a threat.”

  I frowned, the light was dimming and it was hard to see his features clearly. “What do you mean?”

  “You shall know soon enough. See you soon, Hunter.” He opened his mouth and flame engulfed me.