Dragonfyre

by Donna Grant

  “And she needs you more. Go to your wife.”

  “You’re going to need this.”

  Aimery took the scroll Theron had written and tucked it in his jerkin. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.”

  “I’m sorry,” Lugus whispered before he touched another tattoo, this one on his right hand, and vanished before their eyes.

  Aimery sighed and sat back on his heels. He turned to Kyndra to find her eyes wide, staring at the spot where Lugus had just been kneeling. Aimery forced away the terror that clawed at him and stood. He held out his hand to Kyndra and pulled her to her feet. She looked up at him with trusting eyes, and he knew then he would do whatever it took to ensure she made it back to their realm.

  “Lugus having to leave is a minor setback. We’ve got the missive from Theron, which should enable us to see Eldar.”

  Kyndra licked her lips, drawing Aimery’s gaze to them. “You seem so confident of everything.”

  He was anything but, but he wasn’t going to let her know that. “We’ll be fine. Trust me.”

  “I do.”

  He hadn’t expected her to answer but, now that she had, he was glad of it. He turned his attention to Eldar’s castle. The climb would be steep and no doubt overrun with creatures and traps for anyone who didn’t know the way.

  “What if Isran has already gained control?”

  Aimery glanced at her over his shoulder. “There hasn’t been enough time.”

  “How much time does he need to take over a realm?”

  “Eldar is extremely powerful. Isran only ever dabbled in black magic, which makes Eldar almost invincible.”

  “Almost?”

  Aimery smiled. “Why is it, do you think, that he takes away other’s magic? Our magic is some of the strongest in the universe, Kyndra. We’ve defeated black magic before, and we will do so again.”

  “Aye, but has any of them ever had a dragon’s egg?”

  “That changes nothing.”

  “He knows how much that egg means to us.”

  “Exactly,” Aimery said and faced her. “Isran knows we’ll be hunting him. If we’re lucky, he’ll think he has a few more days before we come here, when in fact we’re already here and will be pleading our case to Eldar.”

  “It galls me that we have to plead anything to Eldar. He should turn Isran over to us to be dealt with.”

  Aimery smiled at her indignation. “That is the Fae way. We aren’t in our realm anymore.

  Remember that. They do things much differently here. Thav is a realm where evil gathers to hide from the rest.”

  “And we’re without our magic. We’re at Eldar’s mercy, Aimery. Anything can happen to us between now and gaining an audience with him.”

  “Which is why we need to keep moving.” He took her arm and guided her down an alley.

  She kept in step with him, her eyes seeking into the darkness just as he was. “How large is this city?”

  “Too bloody large.”

  Aimery caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. He pulled his dagger free and turned to his left to find a creature with half his face burned off coming at him. He ducked as a meaty fist came at his face. As he straightened, he plunged the dagger into the belly of the beast. The creature gave a grunt of pain. Aimery stepped back and withdrew his weapon.

  The beast stared at him with his one good eye. He reached for Aimery with one of his long arms, which Aimery easily avoided. Black goo oozed from the wound Aimery had inflicted.

  The creature pitched forward before he crumpled to the ground.

  “What is that?” Kyndra asked as she stood beside him.

  Aimery shrugged. “I’ve never seen the like before. Let’s move on.” They hurried through the streets, stopping every now and again when something moved in the shadows. Aimery didn’t like the city. It held too many vantage points for others and none for him and Kyndra. Once on the mountain, he would feel safer. Once in the castle and speaking to Eldar, then he would feel as though they stood a chance.

  Aimery halted and pushed Kyndra against a building, his arm across her front. Her hand came up and held on to him. He felt the slight tremble in her fingers, and he hated that he couldn’t give her a measure of safety.

  “What is it?” she whispered.

  He shrugged, unable to determine what had made him stop. He detected nothing but, in a place such as Thav, nothing could be your death.

  “Stay against the buildings.”

  Aimery kept his hand on Kyndra as they moved slowly through the shadows. There was movement up ahead, but of what he didn’t know. It wasn’t until he reached the three ‐ story structure and heard the music that he realized why there was so much activity.

  “It’s a pub,” he murmured.

  No sooner had he said the words than a woman walked out of the door nude, her small breasts swaying as she walked. As soon as she stopped, a man stepped out of the shadows and cupped her breast, giving her nipple a pinch.

  Her head tilted back, and a sigh reached them when the man began to suckle her nipple.

  Aimery wondered if Kyndra had ever seen a man and woman together to realize what they were doing. The subtle shift of her feet told him she was uncomfortable.

  The woman’s head lifted and looked right at Aimery. “Who’s there?” she demanded.

  “Bloody hell,” Aimery growled and jerked Kyndra to him. There wasn’t time for words, not if he wanted to get them out alive.

  He turned so that he flattened her against the building and put his back to the woman.

  Kyndra’s soft body met his, and Aimery barely held back a moan as desire shot through him. Her lips parted in question and, before she could speak, he covered her mouth with his.

  Chapter Seven

  Kyndra forgot to breathe as Aimery’s lips moved over hers. The shock of it left her stiff, but the feel of his tongue against her lips made her blood heat. His arms molded her body to his, pushing her against the building. She never knew the hard length of a man could feel so…

  exhilarating.

  Her hands gripped his arms, the muscles beneath her fingers straining. His head titled as his tongue swept between her lips to touch hers. Of their own accord, her arms wrapped around his neck. His body moved against hers, sending ripples of pleasure bursting through her to center between her legs in a deep throb.

  Just as suddenly as he had kissed her, he lifted his head.

  “I had to think fast,” he whispered.

  She nodded, unsure of what to say, or if she should say anything. No one had ever kissed her before and, now that Aimery had, she found she enjoyed it entirely too much. She tried to get her breathing under control, but every time she thought of Aimery’s mouth her heart accelerated again.

  “Kyndra.”

  She forced her gaze to meet Aimery’s. Pull yourself together. It was just a kiss. Just a kiss that had left her rattled, weak. Vulnerable.

  His brow furrowed. “I’m not going to apologize for kissing you. I know you took vows, but I will do whatever I must to keep you alive.”

  Kyndra wanted to touch her lips. They felt swollen, sensitive. Had one kiss done that to her? One, simple kiss?

  She glanced around Aimery’s shoulder and saw the nude woman pointing at them while talking to two men. “Kiss me.”

  “What?”

  “They’re coming this way. Kiss me.”

  Kyndra knew she must have gone daft. Only a crazy person haven taken her same vows would tempt herself by kissing Aimery. Again.

  There was no soft meeting of the lips this time. When Aimery took her mouth, he brought her hard against his body. Her nipples hardened, yearning for something she didn’t understand.

  His hands caressed her back as he deepened the kiss, slanting his mouth over hers again and again.

  If Kyndra had thought his first kiss had made her knees weak, this kiss took her breath away. She was drowning in his kiss, and she loved every moment of it. His lips were soft yet firm, a
nd his kiss was unrelenting and fierce. She moved her hands over his wide shoulders, learning the hard feel of him. When she felt his rod, swollen and hard, press against her stomach, a moan escaped her.

  He stiffened and ended the kiss. Kyndra hated that she wanted to beg him to kiss her, to make her body come alive as it seemed to do in his hands.

  “What are ye doin’?” demanded a voice behind Aimery.

  Aimery shifted his head to the side and growled.

  A little thrill shot through Kyndra. She knew Aimery was acting for her benefit, keeping her alive, but she couldn’t help allowing a part of her to think he did it for her, and her alone.

  The man backed away, his arms raised. “All right. No need ta be gettin’ riled.” Kyndra fought the urge to bury her head in Aimery’s shoulder. Instead, she watched the man drag the nude woman inside the building.

  A few moments later, Aimery looked at her. “Is he gone?”

  “Yes.”

  Aimery released her and took a step away. He stared at her, as if he wanted to say something.

  Kyndra didn’t need his words, nor did she want to explore depth of the desire pumping through her and her attraction to Aimery. They had been in Thav but a few hours, and already she had kissed him twice.

  “Let’s not tarry here,” she said and moved past him.

  Thankfully, Aimery fell into step beside her. She wished it were light enough so she could see his face but, then again, the feelings he had brought from her were too fresh for her to hide away. If he looked at her now, he would see the desire and hunger in her gaze, and she couldn’t allow that. Not now.

  Not ever.

  It would take just one word from her, and she knew Aimery would make love to her. She felt it in the way he caressed her, kissed her. She was going to have to be the one to stand against the temptation he offered her.

  Not that she blamed him. He had done the only thing he could think of to keep them safe.

  There was no telling how many men were inside the building drinking and whoring. Aimery wouldn’t take the chance if they were outnumbered. It had been a tactical call, and one she agreed with.

  Unable to stop herself, she reached up and touched her lips. They felt foreign to her now.

  She hadn’t realized it would feel so...good…to be kissed or that her lips could feel so very much.

  Lips had meant nothing to her a few moments ago. Now, she would never be able to look at Aimery’s mouth again without thinking of their kiss.

  They made it safely to the wall of the city. She crouched beside Aimery and looked at the wall before them.

  “The gate is being watched,” he said. “We’ll never get through it without raising attention. I’d rather Isran not know we’re here yet.”

  “He could already be at the castle.”

  “Maybe. In which case, it’s just another reason to keep our presence a secret until we get to the castle.”

  She shrugged. “Then we go over the wall.”

  He glanced at the wall and seemed to consider her suggestion. “I can give you a leg up, but I don’t know what’s on the other side.”

  “I’m not without my own skills.” She fingered her sword and raised a brow.

  Aimery nodded. “All right, but as soon as you get to the other side wait for me.”

  “Agreed.”

  She stood and waited for him to lace his fingers together before bracing his hands against his knee. “Ready?”

  “Ready.”

  Kyndra took a few steps back before she ran at him and used his laced hands as a foot hold. As soon as her foot met his hands, he tossed her up. She landed half on top of the wall with a grunt. She pulled herself up and realized the wall was three feet thick.

  She leaned over and gave Aimery a wave before she unsheathed her sword and dropped onto the other side. There was no movement, no shout that she had been seen, but Kyndra wasn’t taking any chances.

  A few moments later Aimery dropped down beside her.

  “You got over faster than I expected.”

  He grinned. “I’m not without my skills.”

  Kyndra turned away so he wouldn’t see her smile. They had gotten out of the city, but they still had to navigate the mountain. And the castle. “The terrain looks flat before we get to the mountain.”

  “It could be, but we’ll have to be careful. Not only is it flat, but there are no trees or anything to hide against. If anyone looks out, they’ll be able to see us.”

  “We’ll have to make a run for it and pray no one sees us.”

  “We need to find some place to rest. I don’t want to get on that mountain in the dark.” She sheathed her sword. “I disagree. It’s the best time to climb it.”

  “There are traps laid out all along the mountain. That was one of the reasons Lugus was with us. He was going to show us the way in.”

  Kyndra sighed and leaned her head against the wall. “You’re right then. We need to be able to see where we’re going.”

  “I’ll get us to the castle.”

  She turned her head to Aimery. She had no doubt he would give his life to make sure she found the egg. “I know.”

  He took her hand and pulled her after him as he darted across the open land, only it wasn’t flat as they had thought. The terrain undulated, making their run that much more treacherous.

  Kyndra glanced over her shoulder once, but no one at the gates had noticed them. She was just about to tell Aimery when a loud squawk sounded above them. She looked up to find a giant bird. Aimery cursed and lengthened his strides. Kyndra had no choice but to do the same or be dragged behind him.

  “Duck,” she shouted as the bird dove at them.

  Aimery wrapped his arms around her and fell to the ground. They hit the ground and fell over a hill and began to roll. Kyndra wrapped her arms around Aimery and buried her head in his chest.

  And then suddenly, there was nothing.

  A scream formed in Kyndra’s throat, but before she could get it out, they landed with a resounding thud. All the breath was knocked from her body. She tried to breathe, to get air in her lungs, but they refused to work.

  “Don’t fight it,” Aimery said as he sat up.

  He lifted her in his arms and tucked them in the shadows while the bird circled overhead, screaming its rage.

  Kyndra was finally able to get air in her lungs. Her body ached, but she was comfortable in Aimery’s arms. She should move, she knew that, but she didn’t have the will to do it.

  “Are you hurt?”

  “I don’t think so. Where are we?”

  She felt his shrug. “It looks like a canyon. I don’t know how big it is, but it’s a good place for us to rest and hide.”

  “From a giant bird.”

  He chuckled. “You’ve never been out of our realm. You have no idea what’s out there waiting to be discovered. There are things you wouldn’t believe.”

  “And you’ve seen them?”

  “I’ve seen so very much.”

  “What’s it like?” she asked. “Do you like leaving our realm?” He shifted. “I do like to see other realms, but the call of our realm is always with me. I can never stay away too long. As a priestess, you can’t travel can you?”

  “No.” It had never bothered her before, but now that she had left their realm, the yearning to see other realms had begun to grow.

  “That’s too bad. I think you would enjoy it.”

  Unfortunately, so did she.

  Chapter Eight

  Aimery tore his hungry gaze from Kyndra’s sleeping form and watched the sun rise over the mountain. He had spent the remainder of the darkness reliving their kisses over and over in his mind. The taste of her lips, the feel of her body, her soft moans. He’d had a cockstand since the moment he first placed his lips on hers, and he feared he wouldn’t have release anytime soon.

  He fisted his hands and rose to his feet. He needed to do something, to work off some of his frustration. Of all the people, he knew he shouldn’t h
ave touched Kyndra. But she had been a temptation he was powerless to resist. Now that he had a taste of her, he yearned for more. Much more.

  His gaze locked with the canyon wall. They would need to know the lay of the land if he were going to get them to the mountain and Eldar’s castle. Without another thought, he climbed the sheer rock wall until he could peek over the edge.

  There was a chance the canyon would take them to the mountain. Aimery grunted when he spotted the giant bird pecking clothing from the bones of some poor soul. He didn’t want to chance being attacked again.

  Aimery had expected the realm to be cloaked in blackness. Yet, as the sun shed its rays on the mountainside, he saw trees with leaves of vivid pink instead of green. A smile pulled at his lips. This was one of the reasons he loved to visit other realms. There was always something different to see.

  By the time he climbed down the canyon, Kyndra had awaken. She had removed her cloak, giving him a view of her full breasts. “Did you sleep well?”

  “As well as can be expected. My body hurts. Everywhere.” So did his. “Our magic healed us. Without it, we’ll feel everything.”

  “And die that much easier.”

  The Fae were immortal, but they could be killed. It was their magic that helped to heal them quickly and gave them long life. Without it…anything could happen.

  Kyndra brushed the hair from her face with her hand and scrunched up her nose. “Is the bird still out there?”

  “Aye. He procured another meal for the time being.”

  “What’s the plan?”

  He lifted a brow. “The plan?”

  “I saw you climb up and take a look. You must have found something because you aren’t frowning.” She touched the spot between her brows. “You furrow your brows.” Aimery hadn’t realized he did that. It sent a thrill through him that she had noticed. Had their kiss affected her as much as it had him? Had she dreamed of him holding her as she slept?

  Did she think of him sliding into her heat, thrusting inside her until sweat beaded their skin and she screamed her release?

  He took in a shaky breath and turned his back to her. Regardless of how much his body wanted to feel her soft curves beneath him, there was more at stake here than his need. He clenched his jaw and focused his mind on the mountain.