by Lia Davis
“The little girl’s mother saw the dragon.” Mac met his gaze. His heart sank, and he took another step closer. She sucked in a breath before adding, “It was circling the village in the daylight.”
Bile swept up his throat and he slammed the mug down harder than he intended. Mac jumped.
“The dragon was out in the daytime?” His voice raised louder than he’d intended.
Mac nodded, eyes rounded as she cupped her mug with two hands. “Broad daylight.”
“Shit.” He ran his hand through his hair. “That means—”
“No one is safe at any time.” She finished his sentence. “Thankfully, it didn’t kidnap anyone. She said it seemed to be patrolling. Maybe it was planning its next move.”
He leaned against the kitchen counter. “That’s good news that it didn’t take anyone, but I don’t like it that it was out in the daytime. Is that why you’re so upset?”
She sipped her coffee, her hands trembling and worry furrowing her brow. “That’s part of it.”
“What else?” He felt like he had to pry the information out of her. What was she holding back?
She peered at him, and tears brimmed in her eyes. “I saw the dragon, too.” She set her cup on the table and looked down.
He swallowed hard, unsure what to say. In his dream, the dragon had taken Mac. Was it searching for her when it scanned the village? His own dragon spit and seethed, wanting to get a hold of the rogue. Wring its neck. Blast it with everything he had until it lay dead in the snow. He held his concern and rage in check. No need to scare Mac any more than she already was. “Where did you see it?”
“It flew near my plane when I was coming home. It bumped me a few times, then looked right at me before flying off.”
“Oh gods.” He was at her side but didn’t reach out to her. Not yet.
“I feel like it was warning me. Like it knew it had taken my mother and now wanted me. And there was no place for me to hide. It could’ve knocked me out of the sky, but I think it enjoyed scaring me. Almost like it fed off my fear.”
Luke clenched his fists. She was probably right. The dragon liked to torment people, and if he’d zeroed in on Mac, it was only a matter of time till it would strike. Try to kidnap her. Luke couldn’t leave Mac alone any more. No, he’d have to be at her side till the dragon was destroyed.
“We’re going to find it.” He tipped up his coffee and drank it down, hoping his calmness would settle her down. “My team is out looking for it now.”
“You keep saying you’ll find it. When? I’m scared.”
“Come here.” He took her by the hand. “It’s only a matter of time. Until then, I’ll protect you.”
She was right. He did keep promising her, yet they hadn’t found the dragon. The situation had grown more urgent, and they didn’t have any time to spare now that the dragon was out in the day. The hunt had to ramp up even more. The dragon had to be stopped before more people died.
Before it got to Mac.
* * *
Luke held Mac on the couch and she sank into him. He loved how she fit perfectly in his embrace, and he rested his chin on top of her head. The small fire in the fireplace gave off enough heat to keep them toasty, and he’d slipped off his shoes as they first settled on the sofa.
Mac had filled him in on every detail of her encounter with the dragon, and he’d called his team to give them the update. It was too dark to head to the mountain area where the dragon had last been seen, so they were going back to his cabin to get some rest. They’d try again at daybreak.
Knowing the dragon had threatened a plane in mid-day was scary.
At least they had a direction to search. Mac knew exactly which area of the mountains the dragon had disappeared into.
He stroked Mac’s hair, swirling its softness against his fingers, and she snuggled closer. They’d had time to talk a little, and she seemed to have relaxed a bit more. Her breathing was regular and deeper, not the panicked breath of someone terrified. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being a target, and though she didn’t know it yet, he was spending the night. He’d sleep on the couch.
Leaving her alone wasn’t an option.
“I miss my mother,” she said with a sigh. “Seeing the beast again brings back all those memories. It’s so painful.”
The fire crackled and sent a spray of sparks up the chimney, and Mac jumped, tense again.
“It’s okay,” he soothed, tightening his hold on her a little more. “It’s just the fire.”
“I’m so on edge.”
“We all are. It will be over soon. I’m sorry this whole thing has brought up sad memories.” He wished he had the power to make it all go away with a snap of his fingers.
He’d do anything for his mate.
Mac let out a little sigh. “It has. I’ve not thought about my mother so much in a long time. It’s almost like I’m living through it all again.”
“I definitely understand that feeling, and the situation has dredged up some sad memories for me, too.” He lay his head back.
“Did you lose someone, too?” She placed her hand on his chest. “Someone you were close to?”
“Yes. My girlfriend—fiancé, actually. She was killed by a beast like this one.” He choked out the words.
“Oh my god, Luke. I’m so sorry. What happened?” She sat up, placing her hand on his arm. “If you feel like telling me.”
He did feel like telling her, oddly enough. He wanted to tell her that Jo was his mate, just as Mac was. Tell her that Jo had been kidnapped. Murdered. That he had also promised Jo he’d keep her safe.
The same thing he promised Mac.
Tell Mac he’d failed to keep Jo safe and that it shattered his heart when she died. Grief surged like a rising tide, threatening to wash away his composure.
He stood and walked to the fireplace, suddenly cold at the loss of Mac’s touch. He couldn’t place all that burden on her—it wasn’t fair. He could tell her some of it, so she’d understand, but no way he could tell her everything. Not while the dragon was still on the loose.
“Her name was Jo. We’d been a couple for a while when she was kidnapped and murdered. It was horrific. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.” He kept his back to Mac.
He definitely wouldn’t ever get over losing Jo. But he was beginning to realize that didn’t mean he couldn’t go on living.
Meeting Mac had been a turning point. A rebirth of sorts. Everything in his being screamed that he belonged with Mac. That he needed to claim her and make her his.
And that it was okay to love again.
Mac joined him, putting her arms around his waist and hugging him from behind. “I’m so sorry. That’s terrible. When my mother was killed, I didn’t think I’d be able to go on. I was in a daze up until they found her body, then it became real. Too real.”
He turned to pull her into his arms. “I know exactly what you mean. I’m not sure the hurt ever goes away.”
She lifted on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
The softness was more than he could stand. Desire flared through him. She relaxed in his arms, and his dragon begged him to claim her.
Just one bite…
Not yet.
He ran his tongue along her lips. When she parted them, he slipped it inside her mouth and met her warmth. How had things progressed from being in the wilderness to recuperate to now considering claiming a mate? He didn’t know, but it felt right. Keeping her safe had to be his first priority, but…he couldn’t focus on anything with her mouth on his.
She broke the kiss and without a word tugged him toward the bedroom. He peered down at her.
“Are you sure?” he whispered.
Eyes wide, she nodded, then headed toward her room, pulling him along. He followed, anxiety warring with passion. His dragon bounced around inside him like a hyper puppy. Luke was also lit with anticipation. He needed Mac. Needed to feel her underneath him, needed to become one with her.
Jo would und
erstand. She would want him to be happy. He felt it all the way to his soul.
Mac wasn’t sure how she’d gotten undressed so quickly, but as she lay on the bed watching Luke take his pants off, she sighed at the sight. Not even an hour ago, she’d been so upset she wouldn’t have believed anything could calm her down. Yet Luke had.
She almost giggled. He’d calmed her down in one way and worked her up in another, and she wasn’t even sure he realized it. Her heart ached for him losing his fiancé. He’d opened up to Mac in a way she hadn’t thought possible.
More than that, he’d told her about a part of him she knew he didn’t often share with others. How she knew that was beyond her understanding. It was more like a bone-deep feeling. They both had lost people important to them and had chosen to go on living.
His pants hit the floor, and he stood tall, staring at her like he was about to devour her. Heat pooled in her core and she ached with need.
Her breath caught at the sight of his nakedness. In the semi-darkness with only her nightlight illuminating him, he towered over the bed, a mixture of muscle and a hardness that only came from work.
He was sexy as hell.
He raised an eyebrow. “Everything look okay?”
She nodded and smiled. But there was no hiding the blush heating her cheeks. “Everything seems to be in the right place.” She scooted back on the bed. She shivered. The bedroom wasn’t as warm as the living room with its toasty fire.
He rolled on a condom then joined her on the bed, running his fingertips up her abdomen and sending a fluttering of sparks through her. She shuddered under his touch.
“You sure you want this?” he paused, his hand resting on her bare stomach. “I know you were really upset, and I wouldn’t ever want to take advantage—”
“Oh yes. Please. Can we make time to forget about the dragon for a while?”
A look she couldn’t decipher crossed his face then he bent close. “If that’s what you want.”
“Yes. You and me.”
He lay alongside her, then gathered her into his arms and stroked her back.
She gasped at the feel of his skin against hers, and she tingled. He was cool to the touch but ignited a fire inside her she wasn’t sure could ever be put out. He didn’t give her time to think about it, either. His kisses came quickly, from her lips to her chin, to her breasts, where he paused to suck each nipple. She squirmed underneath him, wanting to feel him everywhere at once. Every nerve in her body screamed for him, his warmth, his lust.
“Feel good?” he asked.
“Uh-huh.” He had no idea. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a man in her bed. And she’d never had a man like him. The thought of Luke Snow inside her almost sent her over the edge. She pulled him on top of her. “Please, now.” She panted and wrapped her legs around him. “I need to feel you. Know you’re real.”
“I’m as real as it gets.” A wicked smiled formed on his lips before he kissed her again.
She thought she saw a glimmer of silver streak through his gaze, but before she could say anything, he pressed his forehead to hers. His breath was hot against her cheek and he panted.
“I want to feel you, Mac. All of you. I’ve wanted it since I met you.”
Chills raced through her, and she craned her neck to move toward him. She’d never thought she stood a chance with him—he was often so distant and aloof. Tonight was more than a dream come true. It felt like she’d unlocked a destiny more powerful than she could imagine.
She grasped his flexing biceps as he held himself over her. Her heart warmed, like a racing fire burned through her chest and reached out to him, ready to consume them both.
He pushed inside with a slow stroke and Mac sucked in a breath, eyes closed as he slid in deep. He felt so good, and her body ached for the night to never end. So strong and powerful, like he was more than just a man. She lifted her hips to meet him. He held still for a moment, and she wondered if something was wrong.
“You’re so beautiful,” he breathed.
He began to move slowly, and she rose to join him. She relished every touch, every thrust, every bit of skin-on-skin contact.
As he moved more quickly, the pressure built in her abdomen until it spilled over and released in a rush of warmth and pleasure. Toes curled, she cried out—for once in her life, not worrying that a man would think her weak for enjoying her pleasure. Luke thrust a few more times as she rode her wave, then he collapsed against her, his own pleasure taking over as he held her tight.
His heart slammed against his chest, and she felt her own heartbeat trying to match the rhythm. It did, and nothing had ever felt so right.
Chapter Twelve
Loud banging woke Luke out of a dead sleep. He shot upright in bed with a low growl, his dragon on immediate alert. Through the haze of sleep, it took him several moments before he realized where he was. And that he wasn’t under attack.
He was in Mac’s bed.
Beside him, Mac sighed in her sleep and rolled over, her arm delicately arched above her head. She looked like an angel or fairy princess, and he smiled as he watched her sleep. The gods were being good to him.
He lay back down beside her and brushed her dark brown hair off her cheek. It was tempting to wake her for a repeat of the night before. Instead, he leaned in and kissed her bare shoulder, then pulled the blanket up and tucked it under her chin.
“Morning,” she said sleepily. A smile grazed her lips.
“Morning.”
The sound came again, and he realized it was someone pounding on the front door.
What the fuck?
Mac sat up, a frown on her face. “Who could that be?”
Luke kissed her quick. “I’ll get rid of whoever it is.”
“Maybe your team caught the dragon.” Her voice held hope.
“Maybe. But I think they would’ve called. Be right back.”
Easing out of bed, he grabbed his pants and T-shirt. He dressed as he moved down the hall to the front door, which was easier said than done. He nearly tripped over his pants leg as he rushed down the hall, but regained his composure by the time he reached the door.
Whoever it was pounded again and then jiggled handle. Luke caught Yutu’s scent. He opened the door and the man’s fear slammed into him.
“What happened?” Luke searched his face for answers.
Yutu stared at him wide-eyed for a moment before he spoke. “There’s been another kidnapping. A girl of about sixteen.”
“When?”
Yutu shook his head. “I’m not exactly sure. Maybe five minutes ago. A search team has gone in the direction the beast carried her off. Come on, we need to hurry. I knew you’d want to know.”
“Yeah.” Luke ran his hand through his hair. “Dammit. I was hoping we’d catch the beast before he pulled some shit again.”
Yutu nodded.
Mac entered the living room wearing a floor-length blue robe, her arms wrapped around her middle, and her hair winding over shoulders. Even with the robe, Luke could tell she was cold. It had gotten cool in the house since the fire died during the night, though he hadn’t really noticed till that moment.
She drifted over to him and frowned at Yutu. “Give us a few minutes, and we’ll get dressed.”
“Catch up with us. I’m going on out.” Yutu turned to go.
“We’ll be there soon.” Luke closed the door.
Mac rushed back to the bedroom as Yutu headed to join the search team, and Luke followed her. He could tell by the determination in her eyes that she wasn’t going to be talked out of going, no matter what he tried. After she got dressed, she faced him, her jaw rigid and hands clasped.
“What?” Accusation tinged her voice.
With brows drawn, he cupped her cheek. She’d been so shaken after her encounter with the ice dragon, and he wanted to make sure she was ready to chase it down. The last thing he wanted was for her to have an emotional breakdown. “Are you sure you’re okay to go?”
He understood where she was coming from and respected her for it. He framed her face in his hands and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “We stay together, and we hunt this thing down.”
She stood a little straighter and squared her shoulders as if gathering her strength. Then she returned his kiss with one of her own, lingering a little before she pulled away. “We stay together.”
Her words gripped his heart, then took root. There was no way he’d walk away from her now. She was his. And when the threat of the ice dragon was gone, he was going to claim her.
His dragon cheered.
Hold on there, boy. There’s work to be done first. Luke turned away from Mac so she wouldn’t see his grin.
Within minutes, they had dressed and had their coats and hats on. Mac motioned him to the garage where the snowmobiles were parked. She pushed the button to open the garage door, and cold air flooded the space. Luke headed to the slightly larger blue snowmobile. He loved Alaska and the cold, but it was a danger to the kidnapped girl and to the search team.
He glanced to Mac. She looked like she’d dressed to withstand an ice age, so hopefully she’d stay warm.
Yutu said witnesses saw the dragon fly off toward the west, so they’d head that way and hopefully catch up with the other villagers.
“I can’t believe the beast took another.” Mac hopped on her snowmobile. “This all feels like a terrible nightmare.”
“We’ll get her back, just like we did Elisipie.” Luke pushed his snowmobile forward to the edge of the snowy driveway. “I promise. Give me a sec to call my team and let them know the latest.”
“We can use their help.” Mac was ready to take off on the snow.
The snow could’ve been a lot deeper this late in the season, but they’d been lucky. Less snow meant an easier hike in the mountains.
Luke tried calling Owen and when he didn’t pick up, he tried Courtney, then Anders. No one answered their phones. He wasn’t sure if they were asleep or already out hunting. If it was the latter, they’d be in dragon form and wouldn’t have their cell phones on them anyway. No one had texted him with a plan, so he didn’t have a clue what they were up to.
