Fire Maidens: Portugal

by Anna Lowe

  He wanted that — badly. But did she?

  “So…” Laura said, slowly lurching into conversation again. “What exactly did we accomplish at Quintus’s party last night? Other than an awesome dance, I mean.” The smile she flashed was brilliant, but it faded quickly.

  His did too. He would cherish that memory forever, but it didn’t answer the question of where he and Laura stood in the broader scope of things.

  “I had to get a sense for how things stand among the dragons of Madeira, so we accomplished that.”

  “And how, exactly, do things stand?”

  He sighed. “As I remember, more or less. The same power-mongers — Quintus and his inner circle — run things, as they always have. The others are about the same as well — the same blind followers, the same gossipers, the same know-it-alls.”

  Laura poked his arm. “It’s not all dire. We found some friends too. Well, I did. I really liked Paloma.”

  Marco smiled. Paloma was a few years younger than him — enough for them to have rarely crossed paths before. Still, she seemed to be as sensible as her great-aunt, and just as trustworthy.

  “Seeing Dona Leonor was a nice surprise,” he agreed. But the genuine smile that accompanied those words wore away quickly.

  “Unlike seeing Olivia,” Laura filled in.

  He glanced up sharply. Obviously, Paloma and Dona Leonor had filled Laura in. The question was, how much?

  He shook his head wearily. “I was hoping she would be on the mainland. Enrico left her a villa in Porto and a place in the mountains.” His voice grew bitter in spite of himself.

  A long, heavy silence passed before Laura spoke again. “Whatever happened between you and Olivia years ago is none of my business. But what happened last night… I have to ask. What did she want? And what about Duarte?”

  Marco pulled the sheet over Laura’s shoulder, wishing he could turn it into armor and protect her against whatever Olivia was plotting.

  “I’m not sure, but nothing Olivia gets up to ends well. Not for anyone but herself.”

  Laura snorted. “Sorry for saying as much, but if it doesn’t end well for Duarte, I wouldn’t mind.”

  Marco pursed his lips. “It runs deeper than Duarte. You may be in danger, too.”

  Laura’s mouth fell open. “Me? Why? How?”

  Marco studied her face, but a soft red glow dragged his eyes down to her chest.

  Laura frowned, clasping the ruby in one hand. “What?”

  “It could be…” Marco murmured more to himself than her.

  Laura tapped his shoulder when he didn’t go on. “What could be?”

  He took a deep breath. “Your gem is spelled. We know that, and we know it was passed down from your aunt.” He gazed deep into her eyes as if the truth might be written there. “Obviously, you come from a line of noble dragons. The question is, which line?”

  “Does it matter?”

  He jutted his chin. “I’d like to say it doesn’t, but it could. If you’re a descendant of Liviana…”

  Laura bit her lip in a way that asked, Why doesn’t that sound good?

  “Liviana who?” she finally whispered.

  The ramifications swirled through his mind. Maybe destiny hadn’t brought Laura to Portugal just for the sake of finding him. Maybe it had much bigger things in store for her — and dangers greater than he’d ever imagined.

  “It’s possible,” he whispered.

  Laura poked his chest, losing patience. “What’s possible?”

  Fire Maiden, his dragon breathed.

  He blinked, then he took a deep breath and explained.

  “Centuries ago, a legendary dragon, Queen Liviana, settled her daughters in Europe’s greatest cities — Paris, London, Lisbon, and so on. They, like Liviana, devoted themselves to establishing peace between warring shifter factions. That, in turn, brought peace and prosperity to the human world.”

  Laura’s throat bobbed, though she didn’t say a word.

  He went on. “As time went on, Liviana’s descendants mixed with other clans. The females were known as Fire Maidens, and they continued to protect their ancestral cities. Some even took human mates and had offspring who couldn’t shift, although they still possessed great powers.”

  Laura’s eyes narrowed. “How?”

  “In part, through sheer dedication and hard work. Like what you do for the cause important to you.” He touched her arm, marveling at how it all fit. How had he not seen it before? “Fire Maidens were assisted by a spell commissioned by Liviana to protect her daughters, their daughters, and their home cities.”

  Laura gulped. “A spell cast by witches?”

  He nodded. The great witches were all gone, like the most legendary dragons, but that was a story for another time. “In essence, a resident Fire Maiden will stoke the power of the magic spell, and the spell, in turn, contributes to the Fire Maiden’s power.”

  “Power to do what?”

  “Power to protect. To nurture the city and its inhabitants — shifter and human.”

  She mulled that over for a moment, touching her ruby. “Does Lisbon have a Fire Maiden? Does Madeira?”

  “Generations ago, yes. But dragon shifters bear many more male than female young, and over time, we lost our Fire Maidens.”

  “What happens to the spell then?”

  He shrugged. “It slumbers, leaving the burden of protection to the Guardians. Many believe that’s the reason there has been so much upheaval recently. Social problems…terrorism…the rise of right-wing extremists…”

  Laura snorted. “That’s not just in Europe. The same thing is happening in America and other places around the world. Did they lose their Fire Maidens too?”

  He tilted his head from side to side. “I’m not sure if they ever had any. Liviana’s spells and offspring extended throughout Europe, but not beyond.” He thought it over, then returned to the main thread of his thoughts. “In recent years, those problems have been on the rise, and the Guardians have been desperate to track down women descended from Queen Liviana.”

  Laura pursed her lips, thinking it over. “My family has lots of stories, but they were farmers, for goodness’ sake.”

  Then her brow furrowed.

  “What?” Marco asked.

  She thought it over before answering. “My great-grandmother claimed to be descended from Portuguese royalty, but my mother said it was just wishful thinking, especially when my father’s aunt came up with a similar story. It was all pretty farfetched — something about her mother having a sizzling fling with the rich cousin of one of the local landowners, and only discovering she was pregnant after he left. We were sure everyone was just trying to outdo one another with spiced-up stories, though. You know, illegitimate heirs, long-lost siblings…that kind of thing.”

  Marco mulled it over. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

  Laura didn’t look convinced. “I couldn’t even shift until recently.”

  He shook his head. “Some of the most powerful shifters don’t develop their powers until well into their adult years. For some, it happens suddenly. Like Lena in Rome, or Natalie in Paris. Simply returning to the city of their ancestors woke their powers. For others, it could be an heirloom.”

  They both regarded her ruby in silence. It pulsed with muted red light, but Marco was sure it would flare brightly with power if Laura ever needed it. A moment he prayed would never come.

  “Social issues are not the only ones the Guardians face these days. There are also the Lombardis.”

  “Like Luigi? Dona Leonor said his family was banished from Europe.”

  He nodded. “They were, but they are seeking to return and seize power. The Guardians of every city in Europe have been on the lookout for the Lombardis — and desperate to find Fire Maidens to help keep their cities stable.”

  “The Guardians of Lisbon never even granted me an audience. Does that mean I’m not a Fire Maiden?” Laura’s voice rose in hope.

  Marco shook his head. “Sadly, the
Guardians of Lisbon, like Quintus and the Guardians of Madeira, have grown complacent. Portugal has not experienced the same issues plaguing other European countries — at least, not to the same extent — so they feel safe. Too safe. But Luigi is proof that the Lombardis are on the move. Even without them, trouble is sure to find its way here if measures are not taken.”

  His eyes wandered to the window. His whole life, he’d thought of Portugal as a sleepy place. Madeira, especially so. But even bustling Lisbon was quiet compared to London, Paris, or Rome, given its slow recovery in the post-Salazar era. Still, that didn’t mean Portugal was immune to the problems sweeping Europe and the rest of the world.

  “Small-minded fools,” he muttered. “They don’t know how fragile peace is and how long the old alliances took to build.” Then he cupped Laura’s cheek, focusing on her, not them. “Whether you’re a Fire Maiden may not be the issue. It’s dangerous enough if Olivia, Duarte, and Luigi think you are.”

  Her brow furrowed. “Why would they think that? I’ve never even seen two of them until last night, and Duarte attacked me out of the blue in Lisbon.”

  “But Duarte was with Fausto, correct?”

  She nodded grimly. “How does he fit in?”

  Marco wasn’t sure, but he had a hunch. “Vampires have a nose for blood. And royal blood is considered a delicacy — or so I’m told.”

  Laura paled as Marco went on.

  “If Fausto scented royal blood and told Duarte…”

  She shivered. “Maybe he was just after fresh blood. Anyway, you must have some local dragons who could be your Fire Maiden. Paloma, maybe?”

  Marco shook his head. “Liviana’s family line gradually died out, and none of the females here — the few we have — are direct relations. Our only hope for a Fire Maiden is someone descended from those who left Portugal generations ago.”

  Laura gulped. “Like me.”

  He curled a hand around her trembling fingers. “Like you.”

  She blew out a slow breath then pointed at him. “It’s all very theoretical, you know.”

  He stuck up his free hand. “It is.”

  “I could be a nobody.”

  He snorted. “You are not a nobody, even if you aren’t a Fire Maiden. You’re…you’re…magical.”

  She laughed out loud, making his heart sing for the first time since they’d started the somber conversation.

  “Right. Magical. Me.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Bewitching.”

  “Ha. All the men say that,” she joked.

  Well, he wasn’t joking. He gathered her in his arms, pulling her closer. “You bewitch me,” he whispered.

  Her eyes glowed, and her cheeks turned pink.

  “You’ve made me come alive like no one has in years. Years, Laura.”

  She swallowed hard, and her eyes asked, Me?

  Yes, you, he wanted to say. “You make me want things I never wanted before.”

  Like going to bed with you every night and waking up with you every morning. Forever, his dragon murmured.

  The strength of those words surprised him. Was it really true? Was he really that far gone?

  Yes, he decided a moment later. Yes, he was.

  She slid a hand along his cheek, making his inner dragon hum. “You make me want things I never wanted before, too.” Snuggling closer, she kissed him. “Like learning to fly.”

  He shook his head. “You flew perfectly well without me.”

  She snorted. “Okay, make that, learning to land.”

  He laughed. “You’re learning fast.”

  She play-smacked his shoulder. “That’s a nice way of saying, ‘You’re terrible.’ But I am learning.” Then she nuzzled him, rubbing her cheek along his jawline, just the way he loved. Slowly, she slid her leg around his.

  “You know what else you make me want?” she murmured, going all sultry.

  The way she slid a hand over his rear gave him a pretty clear idea, but he bluffed.

  “What do you want? And how can I give it to you?”

  She brushed her lips over his, then whispered through a kiss. “I want you.”

  Funny, how teasing could be fun. That was another thing Laura had opened his eyes to.

  “Where do you want me?” he whispered.

  She rolled back, guiding him into place over her.

  “Oh, here?” he asked, playing dumb.

  She hooked her leg around his, opening her core. “This is a good start, but I want more.”

  “How much more?”

  She huffed in exasperation, but he could see the smile hiding behind her stern look. “Do I have to spell it out for you?”

  “I’d love it if you spelled it out for me,” he rasped, forcing himself not to jam his hips against hers.

  She took his hands and tugged, guiding them into position over her head. “I want you to hold me, like this.”

  His inner dragon huffed and puffed like a racehorse in a starting gate.

  “I want you inside me,” she whispered, wrapping both legs around his waist. “Nice and deep.”

  His blood rushed as his dragon roared in glee.

  “And I want another one of those dragon kisses afterward.” Her eyes sparkled, and her face flushed. Then she cleared her throat and shot him a pert look. “You think you can do that?”

  He smiled, letting his full weight press down on her. “Oh, I think I can. But we’ll let you be the judge.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  He covered her mouth with his, kissing her deeply. Soon, they were locked in a sensual dance, bucking, panting, and murmuring in ecstasy.

  “Mate,” he whisper-growled in her ear, finally admitting it out loud.

  But that was all he said, because he was too wrapped up loving his mate, and loving her well.

  Laura, on the other hand, didn’t hold back. She cried out his name. She choked out lusty commands like More and Harder, which he was all too happy to obey. And behind all her little cries and exclamations, Marco heard Laura’s dragon call to his.

  You and me, the blissed-out, feminine voice purred. You and me forever, my mate.

  Chapter Seventeen

  When Marco woke — for the second or third time, because it turned out to be a morning better than any other in his life — he tightened his arms around Laura. Damn, did that feel good.

  Perfect, his dragon agreed.

  He felt like a man awakening after making love for the first time, and in the true sense of the word. Making love — with his heart, body, and his soul. The way it should be.

  Which was why the quiet rap at the door made him groan. Inés, the housekeeper, had given him and Laura their privacy throughout that incredible morning. Couldn’t she give them another quarter of an hour?

  But the rap on the door became more insistent — alarmingly so — and a moment later, Inés called into his mind.

  Senhor — there’s an urgent message from Quintus.

  Marco groaned. What did Quintus have to say that he hadn’t voiced the previous evening?

  It had better be urgent, he nearly growled back, but he bit his tongue. That was no way to talk to the woman who had practically raised him.

  Instead, he grumbled, What is it?

  Inés hesitated, and Adriano, her mate, called into Marco’s mind instead.

  Quintus asks to see you immediately. Some kind of emergency.

  Marco frowned. It was exceptional enough to have Inés knock on his door. To have both Inés and Adriano out there, anxious about something…

  “Hmm?” Laura rolled, still half asleep.

  He kissed her shoulder. Damn it. Did he really have to go?

  Inés knocked again. Senhor…

  Marco smoothed over Laura’s rumpled hair. What he wouldn’t give for another hour of holding her, followed by a quiet day of long talks and lazy meals. Because, damn — they really had a lot to discuss.

  But all that would have to wait. He rolled out of bed, careful not to disturb Laura, then
threw on a robe and padded to the door.

  “Desculpe, senhor.” Adriano had never looked so sincerely apologetic — or distraught. “But this is urgent.”

  At his side, Inés wrung her hands. “I’ve never known Quintus to call a meeting in quite the same tone. It really sounds like an emergency.”

  Marco frowned. “What did he say?”

  Inés looked pained. “Not much. He said he needed you immediately.”

  Alarms went off in Marco’s mind. Quintus didn’t need anybody, and even if he did, he was much more likely to call in one of his cronies than Marco. Was it a trap? A genuine emergency?

  Marco’s heart clenched. Did it have anything to do with Laura?

  He shot an anxious glance at the bedroom door, then motioned brusquely. “Bring up the car. I’ll be right there.”

  Adriano hurried away, nodding, but Inés didn’t budge. Her eyes slid to the bedroom, and her worried expression made Marco’s heart thump.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  Inés fluttered her hands. “I don’t know, exactly. But I have a bad feeling about this.”

  So did Marco, but he had no choice. He had to pay Quintus a visit to find out what was wrong.

  He turned Inés gently by the shoulder, moving away from the bedroom door. “I have to go. I’ll take Finn,” he added before Inés protested. “That means I need you to keep an eye on things here.”

  I need you to keep Laura safe, he added with a grim look.

  Inés nodded firmly. “You know we will.”

  Her voice was so steady, so determined, it scared him. Inés and Adriano had unwaveringly served his family for years. Without children of their own, they’d always treated Marco as their son, and he knew they would put their lives on the line for him — and now, he sensed, for Laura. He hoped to hell it wouldn’t come to that.

  “Thank you,” he murmured, touching the older woman’s arm.

  The housekeeper’s dark eyes shone, making a pang go through Marco. Over the decade he’d spent in the Foreign Legion, he had barely been in contact with home. And yet, home had always been there for him, thanks to Inés, Adriano, and Amit in Lisbon — shifters whose devotion went far beyond their job descriptions.

  He took a deep breath. Boy did he have a lot to make up for. But that, too, would have to wait. Right now, he had to see what Quintus needed.