“They expected us. They expected the dragon. Let me back in. You’re too big, but I can get around to the glyph. I can destroy it with our dragon fire. Let me back in, Drago, for Natalie.”
Drago finally relented and released his hold on the change. The men standing around kept their eyes trained on me, ready to take action if needed. I slowly walked beneath the trip wire meant for a dragon’s claw and walked my way around the fire toward the glyph Drago and I had located. Only then did I let my eyes raise to meet Natalie’s. Her fear poured through our mate’s bond, and it was soul-crushing.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s almost over. I got you.” I crouched on one knee, the flames flickering in my view of Natalie. Her eyes followed my every move. I closed my eyes and pulled on the dragon fire simmering in my belly. I felt the tissue inside my esophagus blister when I pulled it up and let it sit as I focused on the glyph again. This cell of The Resistance had created their sacrificial circle in a warehouse with wood floors. Wood burns, and everything that is on or in that wood will burn with dragon fire. Magic or not, this I could destroy.
It only took a small tendril of fire, strategically formed and released to destroy the glyph and the section of floor it was engraved on. Once the fuel was destroyed, the flames went out and I rushed to Natalie and ran my hand over her, searching for injuries.
“Mmh mmph.” She tried to talk, and I realized she still had a gag in her mouth. I quickly untied it from behind her head as tears streamed down her face. I cradled her cheeks in my hands.
“Did they hurt you? Are you okay?”
“No, they just tied me here,” she said, her voice rough as she spoke.
“I’m so sorry. I should never have left you alone.” I rested my forehead against hers. “ I hope you can forgive me.”
“If you untie me, I think it can be arranged.” She tried to joke through her tears.
I pulled the knife from my thigh and quickly sliced through the ropes at her wrists and knelt to do the same thing at her ankles. I replaced my knife and lifted Natalie into my arms as I stood. “It’s time to take you home.”
The men parted as I walked out, leaving them to clean the mess behind me.
24
Natalie
So much has happened the past couple days. Hell, the past few weeks have been crazy. All my life I have known about the paranormal, been fascinated by it, believed in it, and wanted to be a part of it. Now, I am… I am a dragon shifter’s mate. Nothing felt as right as the moment we solidified our bond, though I still feel like there is more—one more piece to finish the puzzle in my soul.
Wyatt chose to stay with me instead of meeting with Leo and his men after the cleanup at the warehouse. I was grateful. Being taken and tied up like that was scary and for a slight moment, I had felt today was my last. After Wyatt had assured himself I was injury-free, he had sat me in his lap and it’s where I stayed. I felt a tad bit guilty for keeping him from his friend and his fellow soldiers. I know that type of work has been his job for years, but my joy at having him next to me was greater than the guilt. Mom was happy too. She had been scared and worried as any mother would be when Wyatt had flown off the porch after me. When Wyatt had carried me back, she had broken down crying in relief. Since then, she had been cooking, and she radiated appreciation as she bustled about the house I had called home since I was little.
“Mom, you don’t need to do all this.” I tried to get her to sit down and rest. The counters in the kitchen were covered with different foods, from finger sandwiches to cookies, cakes, a vegetable tray, and she had three pots of something going on the stovetop. I was also pretty sure a roast was cooking in the oven by the smell.
“It’s no bother, honey. I love taking care of my family, and now that we have added to it, I have to make sure he has enough to eat. You know shifters require almost three times the amount of food that we do.” She flitted around, adding things to the pots on the stove and giving them a stir. “And after tonight, I am sure he needs to refuel.”
“Mrs. Seraphim, this is too much. Yes, we do have a higher metabolism, but you have enough food here for a whole pack.” Wyatt chuckled as he settled his body behind mine and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned back, enjoying the connection, the feel of his hard body against my more rounded one. “Stop that,” he whispered. “I love every curve on your body. You were made to fit me perfectly. I won’t have you thinking negatively about the body I can’t wait to worship again.”
I felt the truth and heat of his words to my core. I wiggled against him, my desire rising. It felt a little dirty to be having these feelings in the same room my mom was in.
“You two shoo, let me cook. Nat should be relaxing. What you don’t eat, you can take home.” She waved her hands at us until we left the kitchen.
“About home,” Wyatt said. “We need to talk.” He led me to the couch and pulled me down with him, settling me across his lap. He took a deep breath before he began. “You know I am not from around here. I have a nice apartment back in Leo’s building, but we don’t have to go there. I can sell it, and we can go anywhere you want.”
My heart sank at the thought of leaving my town and my mom, the only family I had. “Do we have to go anywhere? Can’t we stay here?” I stopped, realizing how selfish I sounded. “Wait, that wouldn’t work with your job, would it?” Fear slipped into my thoughts, fear of change, of leaving home.
“Shhhh.” Wyatt rubbed my back. “We can stay anywhere you want, baby. My job is mobile. I don’t have to be at headquarters to work for Leo. Hell, I don’t have to work at all. I have enough money to support us as long as we need. Dragon here remember, we do love our treasures. Work was always just something for me to do, not a financial necessity. I have amassed troves of treasure over my lifetime. We can build a place of our own right here if it’s what you want.” He nuzzled my neck, taking deep breaths as he did so.
“Really?” I couldn’t keep my excitement from my voice. “We can build a house?” I clapped my hands together, and he laughed.
“Anything you want.” His phone rang, and he moved my legs to get it out of his pocket. “Wyatt,” he answered. “Hang on, let me put you on speaker.” He hit a button and held the phone so we could both listen. “Go ahead.”
“Hey, Wyatt. Hi, Natalie.” I heard Stephen’s voice echo through the speaker. “I just wanted to let you know the circle has been completely destroyed. Leo and his men have the members loaded into transport. The warehouse is decimated thanks to your fire.”
“That was fast,” I said.
“Yeah, hang on, he wants to speak to you,” Stephen replied, and we heard the phone changing hands. People in the background were yelling orders, but I couldn’t make out their words.
“Hey, Wyatt.” A deep rumble of a voice rang through the phone.
“Were there complications?” Wyatt rubbed his hand up and down my back.
“No complications. Wyatt, all members are accounted for and being transported as we speak.”
“Great.” Wyatt was apparently at a loss for words.
Mom’s voice floated to us from the kitchen. “Your friends are more than welcome to come for dinner. Tell Stephen to bring him.”
“That woman has very acute hearing,” Leo observed aloud. “Tell her I would appreciate a good home-cooked meal after today’s events.”
Wyatt chuckled and agreed. “That she does. I’ll let her know. What about the circle?”
“As Stephen informed you, they are all accounted for. My men will of course take them in for questioning to see if we can find out any more information. The local coven’s leader, Selena, has been thanked and properly reimbursed for their help.”
“Ask them about Virginia. Valmyre said something about a cell there to someone on his phone before he died. I also have his phone. I’ll give it to you when you stop by. Maybe it can help find more of the members of The Resistance.”
“Good, good.”
“Then we shall see you at dinner.” W
yatt’s equally short response made me giggle.
He leaned forward and whispered, “What is so funny?”
“This all feels very secret ops, more like a movie than real life,” I replied, forgetting we were still on speakerphone.
“I can promise you this is not a movie but rather a very serious situation. But one that is in hand. I will see you both at dinner.” Leo hung up.
“Oh no, did I piss him off?” I gazed at Wyatt, worry building in my stomach.
He kissed me soundly before answering. “No, it takes a lot to piss off that lion. He is more than likely amused by your comments. Now, back to what we were discussing before they so rudely interrupted.”
Mom walked in drying her hands. “There is a wonderful tract of land for sale outside of town just up the mountain some. It has beautiful views. Maybe you two should check it out.” She continued walking up the old wooden stairs, avoiding the creaky steps as she went toward her room. “With company coming, I need to freshen up.”
The sun was making its way on its westward descent. The rays filtered through the bright yellow curtains in the living room, giving it a golden glow. I knew Mom wouldn’t take long and dinner would be soon. We had talked about some things, but not the one thing that had been on my mind since the dream.
“I can see the wheels turning in your head, baby. You know you can ask me anything.”
I scooted back off his lap. I needed a bit of space to think straight. His hands kept my mind in a constant haze of desire. I clasped my hands in my lap and dove into it. “I know our bond isn’t complete until you mark me.” I rubbed my hand against my neck, already wishing his mark was there. “Will I change when you mark me?” I blurted in a rush. My feelings on that were mixed. I want to change, to become a dragon shifter like Wyatt, but then again, I was scared it would hurt or be a process I might not live through. All the legends about the different species of shifters were unclear on how it happened. Some say it only takes a bite. Others say only those born of a shifter can shift. I didn’t know what to believe.
He pulled me back into his lap and pulled my face into his hands, angling me so I looked straight into his eyes. “My mark will not change you.”
His words turned a knife in my heart. I tried to pull away, the pain sudden and severe, but he wouldn’t let me go.
“I wasn’t finished,” he chastised. “For dragons, there is a difference between our mating mark and a bite that is meant to change you. A changing bite does not ensure the one receiving it will make it through the change. It’s not something I want to chance with you, my mate, my heart. The mating mark will secure our bond and gives you some of my powers. It will lengthen your life to be the same as mine. It will allow you to speak to me telepathically, and you will also have heightened senses—not as good as mine but better than a normal human.” He paused, so I jumped in.
“But what if I want to change? I want to become a dragon too.” My heart raced at the thought.
“No,” he stated. “I won’t take the chance.”
I stood and crossed my arms. “It’s not just your decision.”
“Natalie, please. You don’t understand the dangers. I think you’ll find the benefits of my mate’s mark will be more than enough to adjust to without the fear of death.” He stood and tried to take me in his arms again.
“So you don’t think I’d make it through the change. You don’t think I’m strong enough?” I pushed him away. “Such an egotistical male attitude to take.”
I stormed upstairs, not wanting to be in the same room as him.
Mom met me on the stairs. “Natalie, what’s wrong?”
I threw my hands up. “He doesn’t think I’m strong enough to be a dragon.” I fumed as I continued up the stairs and slammed my door behind me. I threw myself on my bed and tried to work through the emotions flowing through me—the pull to run back to him and curl up in his arms and wanting to punch him for thinking I was weak. I wanted to scream and cry so I did both, holding my pillow in front of my face as I did so.
* * *
Wyatt
Mrs. Seraphim walked into the living room as I had just made the decision to follow Natalie and try to fix the blunder that had just exploded. Her hand on my chest stopped me.
“Come and sit.”
“I need to go talk to Natalie.”
“Natalie needs a moment, and you need to hear this.” She pushed past me with all the confidence I would follow, and I did, straight into the kitchen.
“Sit.” She pulled out a pitcher of what looked like lemonade and took two glasses from the cupboard. Once they were full, she placed them on the table, one in front of me, and she took the other as she sat. “There is something you need to know about Natalie’s heritage before you make decisions for her.” She took a sip. “Natalie isn’t even aware of this, and I don’t think she needs to know.” She paused. “Your assumption that she isn’t strong enough to make it through the change is ill placed. You see, her father isn’t who I have told her he was. Her actual father was a shifter who stopped here on his way through on his travels. I threw caution to the wind. I knew what he was, and the excitement of grabbing his attention dulled my common sense. I thought one wild night would be all it was, but six weeks later, I found out I was pregnant with Natalie. He was gone by then, and I knew I wasn’t his mate and didn’t want to saddle him down into a life he could never really enjoy.”
Her admission put a different spin on things, and I held a higher respect for her mother knowing what she went through. “But she isn’t a shifter.”
“No, and I admit I was thankful when she never showed signs of that gene being active.” She took a sip and waited.
“Does the local alpha know?” Having a child of a shifter, whether or not they became one themselves, was always a blessing.
“Yes, I told him as soon as I knew I was pregnant. I wanted to know if we would have support if indeed she developed that talent. When she didn’t, he assured me they would still support us if we ever needed them. They have always been welcoming and are part of the reason Natalie knows so much about the paranormal world. They wanted me to make sure she knew enough to protect herself if she ever needed.” She smiled. “But I know having her father’s blood running through her veins means she would survive and be the most beautiful dragon you ever saw.” She reached across and patted my hand. “Put your fear aside and put your trust in my daughter.”
I sat back and drained my glass, letting the knowledge she had shared with me settle in. It really did change things, and I began to feel excitement at not only finding my mate but a mate who could represent that word in all aspects. Drago pulled me toward the stairs, wanting to share the joy with her, but I held my ground. This was not information that needed to be shared. The fact that I would consider changing her was though.
I stood quickly. “Thank you, Mrs. Seraphim, I do appreciate you telling me. It does change things quite a bit, I think I’ll go talk with Natalie now.
* * *
Natalie
I heard Wyatt climb the stairs, hitting every creaky spot and cursing. I giggled, knowing he was trying to sneak upstairs. I wiped my tears, having calmed down and been able to look at things from his perspective. I decided waiting to push the issue was the best option right now. The mating mark was priority, and I was ready for it. I opened my door just as he approached. He was hesitant on the last few steps.
“Hey,” he said a bit sheepishly.
“Hi. Come on in.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him in, then shut the door to give us a bit of privacy.
“I’m sorry,” we said in unison, and I laughed.
“Let me go first.” I watched as he took in my room. I had never thought to look at it through someone else’s mind but now realized it seemed very childish, from the frilly white curtains to the pink flowered bedspread again edged in ruffles. The walls were a light pink with vines painted along the border. I had a large tapestry hung on the wall behind my desk depicting a full moon s
hining on a silver-haired woman in white. My desk was painted white, but the paint was chipping from years of use. A simple wooden dresser and plush pink throw rug completed my simple room.
Wyatt stood in the middle of it, looking lost. I guided him to my bed and sat, patting the spot next to me and said, “I’m sorry for acting childish. I could have handled things better.”
“No, baby, I overreacted too.” He took my hands in his, making me want to crawl into his lap and kiss him until we both forgot what we had fought about. I resisted the urge and placed my finger on his lips to shush him and stared at our hands as they wound together again.
“I didn’t look at things from your perspective, and I am sorry. Let’s table the talk about the bite for now. We will have plenty of time to discuss it in the future. For now, let’s focus on completing all aspects of the mating bond. Particularly the mate’s mark.” I finally took my eyes off our adjoined hands and met his gaze. His eyes were bright and full of love, both from Wyatt and his dragon.
“If that’s what you wish. Just know I did the same. I didn’t stop to look at it from your perspective either, and I am open to discussing it whenever you feel it’s time.” He pulled me toward him and back into his lap. “Now about the mark. I can take care of it right now, but remember, part of placing the mark is an amazing sexual experience. It’s not just physical. It will take our bond to another plane. Are you ready for that?” His sweet breath puffed across my lips as he spoke.
“Yes,” I said, my voice barely above a breath as I leaned in to seal the kiss he promised.
A deep timber of a voice echoed up the stairs. “Hey, food’s getting cold and your company has arrived.”
“Fuck.” Wyatt leaned his forehead against mine. “This will have to wait till later. How about we take a journey tonight and go look at the land your mom talked about.”
“Oh, that sounds lovely.”
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 293
