His phone rang. When he answered, Walter said, “I found an obscure reference that might interest you.”
Ty grunted as he pushed speaker phone so he could talk while he drove toward Town Square, Fangs, and a certain beautiful girl he’d nearly lit on fire yesterday.
Walter continued. “It’s in an old Romanian text from the 13th century. It states, and I paraphrase, that there are three species of supernaturals that can become a dragon’s Flame.”
“Did they state what those species were?” The hope fanned into a small flame in his heart.
“The first is a dragon, so that’s out.”
“As you mention all too frequently.”
“The second is a crocodile shifter.”
“Lovely thought.” Ty shook his head. “And totally unappealing.”
“And, third, a bird of some sort. This is actually a good idea, as dragons are presumed to be closely related to birds.”
“Big Bird, perhaps,” Ty chuckled.
“Think outside the box, my friend. I can think of one species that could work.”
“My mind is a blank.”
“A Swan Maiden.”
“I met a Swan Maiden once, in Scandinavia. There were no sparks whatsoever.”
“It didn’t say every Swan Maiden could be your Flame. Your Flame is yours alone.”
“But there are no Swan Maidens in Moonchuckle Bay.”
“How do you know?”
“I didn’t sense one.”
“Well, so much for that theory then.” Walter sighed. “I’ll keep looking.”
“I know you will. You’re like a bulldog who won’t let go of a bone until you’ve found the answer.”
“Join me for a game of chess after you visit the bar?”
“Sure. Unless I have a hot date.” Ty turned south on Mane Street.
“Move slowly, dragon-breath.”
Ty chuckled. “Says the dog-breath who moves so slowly he hasn’t had a date in thirty years.”
“You haven’t dated for that long, either, you hypocrite.”
That was true. “We should do reality TV. Go on Bachelors ... Cooter Edition.”
“Good luck with the maiden,” Walter said. “I hope she really is the one.”
“Me, too,” Ty admitted.
As Walter hung up, Ty circled Town Square, driving past Fangs, Beans & Boos Coffee, and Count Baklava’s, before turning into the parking lot.
Climbing out, he locked his car and strode diagonally across Town Square toward Fangs. He became more nervous with each step. Why was he so worried? Surely the fire had been some sort of aberration. After all, he hadn’t been able to even set off a spark since last night at Walter’s home.
Surely the human, no matter how pretty she was, was not his Flame.
But, in case a miracle happened and she was, he pulled on the Kevlar gloves he’d picked up from the fire station. He had no clue if they’d work against the kind of fire he’d set off yesterday, but it might help.
There were already two men sitting at the bar, a shifter and a vampire, waiting for the bartenders to set up everything. He recognized them as supernaturals who hadn’t been able to handle their powers well. It happened sometimes.
Most bars opened earlier, but Stanley, despite his considerable other faults, didn’t want to encourage morning drinking. His father had died an alcoholic, so he wanted to spare others that fate.
Ty walked toward the bar.
The shifter gave him a wispy wave. “Hi, Ty.”
He nodded. “Good day, Gustavius.”
He put his hands, still encased in the gloves, on top of the bar before looking at the woman working industriously behind the bar. She was turned away from him, her hips swaying gently as she moved back and forth, working alongside another woman, setting up glasses and bottles. Mara, as Stanley had called her, was giving instructions to the other woman, who he’d seen before. Audrey, he thought her name was.
He was relieved to see she seemed unharmed — that both of them were.
“Hey, baby,” the vampire called out. “When can we get a drink?”
The woman turned her head and smiled. “We’re nearly ready.”
That face!
Heat rose in Ty’s chest, but not the contraction that had signaled fire yesterday, so he didn’t run for the door. Yet.
He watched for five more minutes, until she turned and faced the men. “Okay, who’s first?”
Gustavius lifted his hand. “Beer for me, Mara.”
“The usual?”
Gustavius nodded, and waited patiently while she pulled a lever and filled a glass. Handing it to him, she smiled again. “Good to see you.”
When Gustavius smiled in return, Ty was amazed. He realized he’d never seen the other man smile. Ever.
The vampire requested a Bud Bite, a popular beer/donor blood mixture.
After serving him, she turned toward Ty. Her eyes widened. “You,” she whispered and rubbed her arms, as she’d done yesterday.
“Me,” he whispered back and nodded, stunned.
She stepped closer to him, the bar still between them. “Who are you?”
“Tyberius Thrakos.” He introduced himself formally, then added, “Known as Ty.”
She wiped her hands on a towel and stuck one out to shake. “Mara Swanson.”
He lifted his own hand, encased in a glove, and shook her hand. She laughed. “What’s with the glove?”
“I’m a firefighter. These are fireproof.”
She motioned for him to follow her farther down the bar. When he did, she said, “It was you who started that fire yesterday.” It wasn’t a question.
He nodded.
“How did you do that?”
“I’m not sure,” he admitted.
“What kind of creature are you?” she said, softly, letting him know she knew about the supernatural side of town.
The sound of her gentle voice soothed him, and he admitted something he normally didn’t tell people. “I’m the last dragon on earth.”
“Ahh. I heard there was a dragon in town.”
Heat rose higher in Ty’s chest.
“I never knew a dragon could set a fire with just his bare hands.”
“I didn’t either. And please don’t mention it to anyone. Firefighter, and all that.”
She paused and then said, “All right. The fire was put out with minimal damage, though we had to clean up and close early last night, so I’ll keep your secret. Just don’t do it again.”
“I don’t plan on it.”
“I suspect you didn’t plan on it last time.”
“You’re right.” He took a deep breath. “Could I talk to you for a few minutes? Outside? In case I happen to light a fire again.”
She called back to the other woman. “Hey, Audrey, I’ll be back in five minutes.”
Audrey nodded.
Mara led him out onto the sidewalk, into the cold February air. “What did you want to talk about?”
Screwing up his courage, Ty said, “I want to date you.”
Her eyes widened again and she gave a quick shake of her head. “I don’t date.”
“Please,” he said, and saw hesitation in her eyes. He couldn’t let her get away, so he told her more than he’d planned to. “The only time a dragon gains his flame is when he meets his mate. Yesterday, with you, was the first time I had flame.”
“So you think I’m your mate? That’s a new line.”
“It’s not a line. Please just go out with me once and let me prove I’m serious.”
She looked into his eyes and the gaze scorched him. Then she shook herself. “I’m really sorry, big guy. I have very good reasons for not dating. Now I’ve got to get back before Stanley fires me. See you around.”
She opened the door to the bar and walked back in without a glance.
He stood there as his heart contracted. The blast of fire from his hands shot the gloves into the air and scorched one of the small trees planted at intervals al
ong the sidewalk.
A human father and mother standing across the street in Town Square pointed him out to their three children. He waved as if he were part of some sort of demented magic show. Then he turned and retrieved his useless gloves, stuffing them into his pockets.
Heading around the perimeter of Town Square so he’d avoid the still-pointing family, Ty knew he had to learn how to control this fire. And find out why it was happening.
Mara wasn’t a dragon, of course, and she wasn’t a crocodile shifter, either. Or a Swan Maiden. Even with his senses not distracted by the first occurrence of fire, she’d still seemed human to him.
And he realized that it didn’t matter if she was his mate or not, or if she was human or not. He was fascinated by her. Whether she wanted to date or not, she was his mate. The flames didn’t lie.
He was going to woo Mara, the reluctant bartender.
He’d found his Flame and he planned to keep her. She’d be his most valuable treasure ever.
But first he needed to find her outside of the bar, even if he had to let the “steampunk dragon kite” fly more often than normal. He’d watch for her in town.
Two days later, Mara swam in the bay at Moonchuckle Lake.
Even though she missed swimming as a swan, this was the closest she could get, and she loved the feel of the water sliding over her skin.
She turned back toward the shore, where she saw Audrey walking out of the water and toward their blanket. Audrey had picked up lunch for them from A Bite to Eat Café.
Satisfied, Mara started back, her strong arms cutting through the cool water, moving her forward. Even in her human form, she could swim faster and more efficiently than most humans. Most supernaturals, too, other than water folk, of course.
She caught a movement in the sky, and saw a large bird fly overhead. Wait, no. That was much too large for a bird. It was a ... dragon. Of course it was. The last dragon on earth, if he’d told the truth.
As if she needed any help keeping him fresh in her mind.
The dragon flew several circles above her, and then cut off toward one of the hills surrounding the lake, dropping out of view.
Stupid dragon. With his stupid smoldering eyes and hot body and fiery hands. Stupid fire that didn’t burn her body but seared her soul.
Stupid, stupid dragon, whom she couldn’t get out of her mind.
Mara stepped out of the water and strode to the blanket. She took a towel and wiped herself down, pulled a cover-up over her swimsuit, and plopped down on the blanket.
Audrey grinned. “The dragon was checking you out.”
“No.”
Her new friend nodded. “Oh, yes, he definitely was. I watched him fly across the sky and then — the instant he saw you — he slowed, came directly overhead where you were swimming, and circled around you for a few minutes.”
“And then took off.”
“Maybe he wants to come visit you — but not as a dragon.”
“Maybe.” Mara took a drink of water and recapped it, gazing out over the water. “This is fun. Thanks for suggesting it.”
“Hey, I don’t get many people who want to swim in the lake in February. It’s my Scandinavian ancestry that allows me to do it, but you stayed in a lot longer than I did.”
“It’s my Scandinavian ancestry, too.”
They smiled at each other, each knowing that the other was a supernatural and that allowed them to do it — Swan Maiden and vampire. Plus the strange temperate zone the town was in.
“How come this lake is so warm at this time of year?”
“Oh, that. Other lakes this far south get into the 40s, but this lake has a hot spring feeding into it, and the temperature stays at about 70 degrees all year long.” Audrey pushed a box over to her. “Here’s your King Kong sandwich. It was Ilene’s special of the day. You’ll love it. I brought several of them in case we want to share with any good-looking guys.”
Mara laughed. “Yeah, right.”
A duck landed on the beach beside the blanket.
“Oh, look,” Audrey said. “He wants our food.”
But Mara knew better. Everywhere she went, ducks and geese — and swans — liked to be close to her. She put out her hand and the duck waddled in close to her, looked up, and quacked.
Audrey pulled off a piece of bread and tossed it down by the duck, who snatched up the bread and then looked back up at Mara.
Mara reached out a hand and stroked the duck’s feathers. “You’re a pretty one, aren’t you?” It was a Harlequin duck, with chestnut-colored sides, black on its head, and several other pretty colors in a pattern. The duck preened and nestled down by her side.
She laughed at the shocked expression on Audrey’s face. “Happens to me all the time.”
“I guess. What supernatural are you, again?”
“I’m a bird shifter.”
“Well, that’s vague.”
“That’s why birds like me.” Mara shrugged. “And you’re a vampire, right?”
Audrey nodded, pulling out a B3 for herself — faux Type B blood with minerals added — copper, zinc, and magnesium.
“Maybe that’s why the dragon likes you. He’s kind of like a big bird.” Audrey laughed. “A huge bird.”
Mara shook her head. “I can’t get involved with a guy right now.”
“He’s so good looking, though.” Audrey sounded wistful.
“It doesn’t matter how attractive he is.”
Audrey lifted an eyebrow in question. “Really?”
Mara shrugged. “I don’t trust men right now.”
“That’s a shame. If the dragon showed interest in me, ever, I’d get involved with him in an instant.”
Mara chuckled. “You do that.” And she was surprised to note that the thought of Audrey being involved with the dragon actually sparked some jealousy in her.
Stupid dragon.
Putting him from her mind, Mara dug into her food. She’d only been in town a few days, but she’d already learned what an excellent cook Ilene was.
The King Kong was the biggest sandwich Mara had ever seen, filled with every lunch meat she could imagine, three cheeses, and a homemade sauce that pulled all the flavors together.
After eating, she put everything back in the box, including Audrey’s empty bag of B3.
Then laughing, they laid back on the blanket.
A chilly breeze sprang up across the lake and Audrey sat up. “It’s probably time even for us Scandinavians to warm up.”
With a contented sigh, Mara sat up, too — and that’s when she saw him.
The stupid dragon.
Walking across the sand toward her.
Her heart tapped out a welcoming message, one she resisted. No. We’re not going to welcome him into our heart. Stop that.
Audrey followed her gaze and, when she saw Ty, she looked back at Mara and raised both eyebrows, smirking.
Mara whispered, “Stop.”
He wore jeans and a warm jacket. Jeans that snugged close. She noticed he wasn’t wearing the gloves he’d had on the other night. Maybe he wasn’t worried about fire anymore.
Ty smiled down at them. “Afternoon, ladies. Here to enjoy the sunny beach?”
The sun did feel marvelous, even though the air temperature was in the 40s.
Audrey said, “We love to swim. How about you? Want to go in the water?”
He laughed, and the sound tickled Mara’s spine. “I’m not as brave as you two.”
Audrey motioned to the blanket. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” He settled himself down, cross-legged.
He was such a big man, and he seemed a bigger predator than most men, too. Dragons were apparently the apex predator among all the other apex predators — and everyone acknowledged that. She wondered if anyone ever challenged him — and where they were buried.
Audrey eyed him approvingly, and Mara felt another stab of jealousy. Stupid dragon. What did she care if other women found him as attractive as she did?
Attractions. Ha. He was the town’s biggest attraction — in more ways than one. “So you must be the steampunk dragon kite that I see advertised around town.”
He shook his head. “No. That’s actually a gimmick used by the studio. It’s like a ride. They have a schedule and everything. Twelve people can ride on it at once and it does mild aerial maneuvers. It does also hide the fact that a real dragon flies overhead occasionally. When people see me fly, doing much more than mild maneuvers, and ask about me, they’re told I’m the prototype for the new, faster steampunk dragon kite.”
“Ahh,” Mara said and smiled. “You’re the new and improved version.”
Audrey sighed. “My mother warned me about dragons.”
Mara narrowed her eyes. “My mother warned me about men. So did my sisters.”
The dragon tipped his head. “Men?”
She wasn’t about to go into the dangers of losing one’s swan coat to a man who wanted to force a Swan Maiden into marriage. Though the man who’d stolen hers hadn’t used it to coerce her in all the time he’d had it and not knowing why drove her nuts. “Men. So there you have it. Our mothers warned us about men and dragons — and you happen to be a man who turns into a dragon. We will be very wary around you, Tyberius Thrakos.”
“Ty. Please.”
“Have you met my friend, Audrey Hepburn?”
Audrey smiled at Ty. “Not the actress.”
“I met the actress once,” Ty said as he shook Audrey’s hand. “She wasn’t as pretty as you are.”
“And my mother definitely would not approve of a man/dragon spouting compliments and flirting shamelessly,” Audrey said.
“Flirting shamelessly is my best talent.”
“Is that how you conquer fire?” Mara challenged.
His slow smile in response sent a shivery message along her nerve endings. “I conquer fire like all my firefighter friends — with bravery and honor.”
She couldn’t help but laugh good-naturedly. “Would you like a sandwich? From A Bite to Eat Café?”
He shrugged. “Thanks. That sounds great.”
Audrey grinned at Mara and tipped her head toward the dragon. “I forgot something in the car. I’ll be right back.” And then she gracefully rose to give Mara some time alone with the man Mara didn’t want to be left alone with.
The Fireman Finds His Flame Page 3