“How so?”
“The Elders raised me and taught me the science of dragonshaping. And that I was not allowed to touch or be touched.”
“Why not? And why are the consequences so severe?”
She exhaled a sigh of exasperation. “I suppose it’s for everyone’s protection. If I lose my temper—”
He wriggled his eyebrows. “I’m still here. Proof you have perfect control.”
If she had perfect control, she wouldn’t keep recalling how his eyes had raked over her naked body and how hot that had made her feel. She had to remember her feelings were one-sided. She scowled. “Just don’t touch me in public… not ever.”
“I’ll make a note.” He stared at her mouth, and she could almost feel the intensity of his gaze. “You breathe fire. How does that work?”
Her lips suddenly tingled. Surely not because he was staring at her, as if he wanted to kiss her. “Sometimes I eat platinum.”
“You dig it from the mountainside.” He didn’t sound surprised. “I could practically taste it myself during our telepathic connection.”
She nodded. “I have incisors for ripping meat and molars for grinding the metal. When I eat platinum, it acts like a catalyst and causes the hydrogen to ignite.”
“But you don’t get burned?”
Again he was concerned about her. Any other man on this moon would have been worried about his own safety.
“The inner surface of my mouth is practically armor plated. And there’s a fleshy valve that prevents a back-draft so I don’t set myself on fire.”
“And the shapeshifting?”
She shrugged. “No one really understands the process. But I remain warm-blooded. I have a heat-exchanging circulatory system, highly stratified layers of tissue under my scales to minimize heat loss, and a blood protein that prevents the formulation of ice crystals in the blood stream. Even my wings can soak up heat like solar panels.”
“You really are a fascinating creature.” His voice was low and soft. “So you change shape at will? Whenever the mood strikes?”
“Why do you ask?” She’d told him so much already. She hadn’t realized how vulnerable it would make her feel to tell him so much about herself.
He shot her a challenging look. “When we were trapped at the lab, you didn’t change shape until after we’d exhausted every other option. Why did you wait so long?”
“I don’t like to dragonshape indoors.”
“Why? Because you have to be naked?”
“If I dragonshape, my mass expands almost instantly. If I’m inside a structure, I could easily run out of room and be impaled by a beam or crushed by a concrete ceiling.”
Had she revealed too much? The secrets that the Elders had told her to keep to herself were sacred. And now she’d trusted Lucan with knowledge that could be used against her. As a scientist, he could surmise that if she ran out of hydrogen and platinum, she couldn’t fly or breathe fire. Was she naive to be so trusting? If he betrayed her to her enemies, they could take advantage.
For all she knew, Lucan, who’d been so closemouthed about his past, could be a spy for the military—although her empathic abilities told her otherwise. And she didn’t want to believe that he’d ever put her in danger.
Finishing their meal, Cael and Lucan packed the supplies. If they left now, they could reach Langor well before dark. She was about to slip the pack over her shoulder when her communicator beeped.
Lucan peered at the caller number. “Is it Rion?”
She shook her head. “My sister.” Cael opened communications. “Hi, Nisco.”
“I heard about the fire.” Her sister sounded breathless. “And that the military wants to question you. It’s terrible.” Nisco sounded close to tears. “And I wouldn’t have bothered you except…”
Cael broke into a sweat at the raw emotion in her sister’s voice. “What is it?”
“It’s Jaylon.” Nisco sniffled. “He’s not responding to his latest treatment. Sonelle’s hysterical, and I don’t know what to—”
“What are Jaylon’s symptoms?” She clutched her communicator so hard, her fingers left indentations on the hard plastic.
“He’s vomiting and dehydrated. And he’s drifting in and out of consciousness.” Nisco let out a sob.
Helplessness and fear stole through Cael. For a moment she cradled her face in her hand and pictured Jaylon in the hospital bed, his eyes wide with fright. If only she could cure Jaylon with her blood. But even if his mother and his doctors would allow her to violate Dragonia taboos, she couldn’t in good conscience attempt such an experimental procedure on Jaylon. Curing his cancer was a totally different procedure than closing Lucan’s wounds. Still, she should be with him and her sisters at the medical center. She took a deep breath and reminded herself she’d been no more successful treating Jaylon than his regular physician. But if she could find the Grail… “I’ll call Jaylon’s doctors. Maybe we just need to adjust his meds.”
“I know you have so much more to worry about. I’m sorry for calling.”
“I’m glad you called.” Filled with fear and working hard to control it, Cael pulled herself together. “Take a deep breath and calm yourself. We knew the treatments were going to be rough. He’s going to have good days and bad. You have to be strong, Nisco. He’s a tough little kid.”
Lucan came up behind Cael and kneaded her shoulders, offering her comfort. Goddess, she hadn’t known her muscles were in knots. While he could hear only her side of the conversation, he could guess the situation wasn’t good. But had he guessed she was about to fall apart?
Nisco dragged in a deep breath. “Jaylon looks so pale and listless, lying in that bed. But I didn’t call just about him. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Cael had been taught to be the strong one, to stand alone. She’d worried that her independent behavior had pushed her sisters away. But here was Nisco, reaching out to her.
“Actually, I could use your help. Can you meet us at your booth in the market in Langor at sunset?” At her words, Lucan’s fingers stopped kneading, but he didn’t say a word.
“Us?” Nisco asked. “Who’s with you?”
“I’ll introduce him when I see you.”
Nisco was silent for a moment, and Cael knew she must have been shocked that Cael wasn’t alone. She was always alone. Finally, Nisco found her voice. “If I leave right now, I’ll be there on time.”
“Don’t tell anyone you’re meeting me or that we’ve spoken.”
“Got it.”
Cael hung up and could see Lucan was bursting with questions. “Hold on. Jaylon isn’t doing well. I need to make a call.” She dialed her nephew’s room, hoping to ask Sonelle to connect her with the healer in charge.
Her nephew answered. “Hello.”
“Jaylon? Is that you, sweetie?”
“Aunt Cael?” He sounded weak but clear-headed. “Have you found the Grail?”
“I’m working on it, baby.”
“I’m not a baby.”
“Sorry.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “I keep forgetting how much you’ve grown.”
“You should come see.” He spoke with childish logic.
“I will. Soon. Is your mom there?”
“She’s talking to the healer.”
“I’d like to talk to the doctor, too.” Her hearts were aching, but Cael kept her voice cheerful. “Put her on, please.”
“I don’t want any more meds. Or shots.”
The last time she’d seen him, his arms had been black and blue from intravenous needles. “If you want to get well—”
“The meds make me sick.”
He sounded so sad and discouraged. “Don’t you dare give up on me. Those meds are killing your cancer.”
“No, they aren’t. I can tell.”
His stubborn little voice put a lump in her throat, but she managed to keep her voice light. “If you don’t get better, I can’t take you flying.”
She’d promised to make
him a harness and fly him over the city. His mother wouldn’t approve, but it was their special secret.
“You didn’t forget?” he said.
“Of course not. Now let me talk to the healer, and I’ll see what we can do to make you feel better, sweetie. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Cael spoke to the doctor and then snapped the communicator shut. She couldn’t stop trembling. Lucan didn’t say a word. He took one look at her face and wrapped his arms around her, and she collapsed against his strength. She hadn’t realized she was so cold until he enveloped her in his heat.
Closing her eyes, she rested her cheek against his chest and let the steady pumping of his heart soothe her despair and frazzled nerves.
He held her close, rocking her, caressing her back and shoulders. His clever fingers worked on the tight knots in her neck. And as he smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead, it was as if through his touch he willed strength into her.
Tilting up her head, she saw the compassion in his gaze. Once again, Lucan was seeing her. Seeing Cael as a woman who loved her family.
His breath fanned her forehead and heat sluiced through her.
He cared. She snuggled closer, fitting perfectly in the crook of his arm. She should pull away, shouldn’t allow herself to be tempted. But in that moment she could think of nothing she wanted more than his arms around her.
Survival plans are always necessary.
—THE ELDERS
8
Looking for the Grail instead of heading to Jaylon’s bedside was the hardest thing she’d ever done. All the delays, the fire, the military takeover of Avalon, and the arson accusation had piled up while Jaylon was losing his battle to live. “I should be there with my family.”
“They know you love them.” Lucan rocked her against his strong chest while his fingers made gentle circles on her back.
Tears filled her eyes, and she closed them tight so none would escape. “Jaylon’s so sick. I want to be there for him.”
“Of course you do.” His voice was filled with warmth and concern. “But you’re with Jaylon in spirit. He knows that.”
Lucan was doing his best to put her mind at ease. He was being so nice. Too nice. The last thing she needed was him giving her comfort, making her aware of his strength, his gentle kindness.
He’d wrapped his arms around her so protectively, she had to fight an overwhelming need to get even closer. His heat seeped into her. He smelled so male, and his hands on her back were so tender that she was having difficulty remembering they were friends. Just friends.
She didn’t know when her arms had wrapped around his back. Or when her pulse began to pick up speed.
But friends didn’t let friends get aroused when they were upset. And even if she was aroused, she couldn’t ask more from him. He’d made his feelings clear.
She told herself to pull back. But she couldn’t make her body obey her mind.
“Jaylon’s going to be okay.” His voice was soft and gentle. “We’ll find the Grail. We’ll save him.”
“Suppose we don’t ever…” She leaned back and their gazes met, his as soft as a caress. He tilted his forehead to hers, until their noses touched and their mouths were a mere inch apart.
“It’s going to be okay.” His voice was low and sexy, and every time his gaze met hers, her pulse kicked up another notch. “We’re going to be okay.”
We? “You don’t know that,” she whispered.
“I know that you’ll do your best, and that’s all anyone can do.” His fingers slid sensuously over her arm.
“But my best—”
“Your best is passionate and strong. Your best is better than anyone else’s I know,” he insisted, the searing heat in his eyes melting her. Then his mouth closed over hers. She let out a soft gasp and parted her lips. He slipped his tongue between her lips, and while she knew friends didn’t kiss like this, she made herself stop thinking. She wasn’t going to think about anything painful, not when she could lose herself in his kiss.
Aching deep in her heart and her loins, Cael trailed her hands over his back, his neck, and into his thick hair. Goddess, she adored kissing this man who could be so tender and hot all at the same time.
Kissing him was oh so much better than any dream she’d ever had. His kisses made her feel cherished, special, and, most of all, for the first time in her life, desired.
Lucan ever so slowly slid his hands under her tunic and onto her waist, and she shivered in anticipation. Tiny flames licked their way from his fingertips, blazing a path of delicious sensations over her flesh. She longed for their clothes to be gone so they could be free to touch every inch of each other. Breathless, she began to tug off her tunic.
“Let me do that.” His breath in her ear was enough to persuade her to let him have his way.
He slowly removed her clothes, taking his time, stroking and caressing her hips, then the hollow in the curve of her back and between her shoulders, and the deep ache inside her spread like wildfire.
When he tossed their clothing to the floor and eased her onto her back, his eyes sparkled with tenderness. Excitement coursed through her.
“Let me make this good for you.” Without waiting for her reply, he leaned over and kissed her. She opened her arms, expecting another embrace, but he lay on his side. His hand roamed, smoothing her hair back from her face, down her neck, over her collarbone, leaving a delicious trail of heat.
Her nipples tightened in anticipation as he traced a silky trail down the center of her ribs to her belly. Sweet heat seeped between her thighs, and she parted her legs.
His lips left hers to retrace the path his fingers had just taken. He settled between her thighs. When he blew a breath on her curls, she clenched the blankets beneath them. Goddess. She yearned for his mouth.
When he gently parted her folds and lowered his head to taste her, the delicious sensation of his lips on her most sensitive flesh was like nothing she’d ever felt. Every fiber of her being centered on his mouth, the wondrous friction, the lovely sensations. Panting, breath so ragged she couldn’t hold still, couldn’t take any more of the sweet pleasure, she arched up as he lapped her with his tongue. His tiny flicks against her core sent spirals of heat blazing across her skin.
His hands held her thighs down. And the fire inside her burned hotter. Blazed so bright, she exploded in a fiery barrage of sensations so intense that she screamed.
When she finally regained her senses, he’d covered her with her tunic and moved away. He smiled down at her. “You are amazing.”
He hadn’t taken his own pleasure. She frowned at him. “What about you?”
“I’m fine.” He met her gaze with a level one. Goddess, he’d kept his word. He’d known they were going beyond the limits she’d set. But he’d wanted to comfort her. He’d distracted her from her pain, but at what cost to himself?
She wasn’t that selfish. She patted the blanket next to her.
He shook his head, eyes bleak. “When you’re ready, we should leave.”
He strode away to give her privacy to dress.
LUCAN AND CAEL reached the market about fifteen minutes before sunset. Grateful to be in a crowd where he could look at anything or anyone besides Cael, he realized how close he’d come to breaking his word. He shouldn’t have touched her again.
Simply holding her hand now reminded him of tasting her. How the flesh under his lips had been as soft as a flower petal. Even here in the market, he expended all his willpower not to raise her wrist to his lips and nip his way up her arm.
He dropped her hand. Held his breath. He didn’t dare breathe in her scent.
Because at that moment, there was nothing he wanted in the entire universe more than this woman. As he recalled the flames flickering in her eyes, her ragged breath, the pulse throbbing in her neck, his need only escalated.
Earlier he’d wanted to comfort Cael, but also to prove to himself that he could stay in control. That he would not let hi
s cravings overcome his good sense. He would not let his burning lust govern the moment.
He’d just barely hung on. Now Lucan had to cool off, and Langor’s market was a good distraction. The scents of sugared nuts frying, sweet meats grilling, and corn popping mixed with perfumes, barbecue smoke, and animal odors as they strolled through busy stalls. Vendors sold everything from tools to furniture to pets. Strings of overhead lights and copper lanterns lent a festive atmosphere to the busy market.
Cael had donned large sunglasses, a straw hat with a wide brim, and a scarf wrapped around the lower half of her face. Lucan wore a cap and his regular glasses. So far no one appeared to have recognized either of them as they strolled among Langor’s citizens on their way to meet Nisco.
Still, Lucan kept his guard up. He wished Cael had consulted him before arranging this meeting. He didn’t believe being out in the open was a good idea. “How much farther?”
“Two aisles over, then once we reach the wharf, another block.” She tilted her head toward the river.
Langor sat on a hillside overlooking a midsized waterway. Part of the port was industrial, but much of it had been set aside for restaurants, carriage rides, and clubs.
Two boys ran through the crowd, and he pulled Cael aside so she wouldn’t be trampled. After the boys passed, she jerked her arm away. “Be careful,” she whispered.
Telling himself he could handle a simple touch once more, he hooked his arm through hers and grinned. “Just think of me as part of your disguise.”
A military man on patrol strode by, but his eyes swept over them and moved on. Nevertheless, Lucan angled them the other way.
Cael shook her head. “We have to go to the wharf.”
He readjusted their angle and forced the tension from his shoulders as they made their way around a live band. Young girls in clinging green costumes danced to the music and entertained the crowd while a monkey collected tips in a hat.
The aisle of talented street performers led them to the wharf. Here, artists along the boardwalk had set up easels and painted portraits. Others sold glass jewelry and pottery etched with intricate designs. Cael strode through the groups of artisans until she reached a booth filled with sculptures of animals and people carved from a variety of native stones and wood. The sculptress hawked her wares to the passing crowd.
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