by Amber Kallyn
“I would like nothing better. But I’m here for a different reason.” He closed his eyes, clenching his hand, thinking of the locket Anna gave him. A lump grew in his fist.
Pete opened his eyes and held his hand out to Isa. Gasping, she gently pulled the chain and stared at the necklace.
“This… this is Anna’s.”
“Aye. If you take it to the castle, out of this dream, we can track you. Find the mage and get you free.”
Isa blinked, her silvery eyes misty. “I will thank you greatly, though when that day arrives… I must let you know, our trysts can no longer continue.”
“That’s crazy.” He chuckled, rubbing her hand.
But she looked away.
When she answered, her voice was a shallow whisper. “You know what I am. Only in dreams are you safe with one such as me.”
“I refuse to allow such a thing to come to pass.” Pete pulled her into his embrace, claiming her lips in a harsh kiss. He grasped her ass, grinding his groin against her, while forcing her lips apart and taking in the heady rush of her exotic taste.
She moaned, leaning into him, hands clenching his shoulders.
Pete slowed his assault, nibbling her lip, chin, kissing down her neck. He pushed her shirt from her shoulders, baring her lusciously full breasts, then pinched down on her nipples the way she liked.
Isa moaned, pushing into his touch.
He sucked one nipple, hard and rough, as she writhed and trembled in his arms.
“Oh, lover. Give me more,” she cried.
Pete backed her to the bed, then jerked her around and pushed her face down on the silky sheets. The lust raging within him was urgent, undeniable. He ripped the skirt from her waist. Squeezing her ass cheeks, he bent over her body, licking down her spine.
“Give it to me,” she urged.
Pete drew back and slapped her ass. She wiggled delightfully. He put more force into the next swing, leaving a bright cherry red palm print across her alabaster skin.
She squealed. “Again.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
Isa turned her head to look at him over her shoulder. Her eyes, heavy-lidded, were excited, her face flushed with pleasure. “You won’t.”
The urge to fuck her consumed him. He jerked her shirt over her head, then pushed her back down onto the bed. Her ass stuck up in the air as she moved her feet apart.
Pete moved to the headboard and flipped up the top, revealing a chest full of leather and metal and wood. He selected her favorite whip, one that was soft but stung with each lash.
Moving back behind her, Pete stripped, allowing his throbbing cock release from the tight jeans. Bending behind Isa, he kissed the print left on her ass as he jerked the g-string down her legs, then forced her feet wider apart.
She wiggled her hips in anticipation. Pete eased a finger along her clit, dipping into her hot little sheath. She was wet, ready, but he would give them both the pleasure of drawing it out before taking her.
He slid his tongue along her, rubbing her clit hard. She twitched, moaning and jerking back to give him better access. He plunged his tongue into her, taking a teasingly quick taste, then stood upright and snapped the whip.
Isa shivered. “Yes.”
Drawing his arm back, Pete flicked the whip. It cracked as the leather hit one ass cheek. His cock throbbed harder, balls tight, aching.
“Ooh.”
“Ready for more?” Pete asked gruffly.
“Please,” she replied, a sharp little cry.
Pete flicked the whip once more, leaving another red line across her delicious rump. Isa cried out, reaching up to cup her own breasts and play with her nipples.
When her ass shone cherry red, he dropped the whip on the bed. Pete nestled his cock between her legs, rubbing the tip along her and pressing against her clit. Isa reached down, cupping his balls in her hand and squeezing lightly.
He ached so hard he would soon burst. With a hoarse shout, he plunged into her. She flexed, her sheath tightening around his cock as he slid in fluidly. He jerked his hips, grinding against her, pushing deeper until she screamed her enjoyment.
Pete ran his hands over her back, then grabbed a fistful of hair and tugged lightly. She rose, leaning back against him, his cock still deep inside her. Grabbing her breasts, he held her steady while he pumped his hips, fucking her fast and hard.
Isa reached down, sliding her finger along the vein of his cock as he pushed in and out of her tight heat.
Hot shivers raced down his legs and his thighs tightened as the release came close. He pumped into her faster, biting her neck.
She moaned, panting small, urgent squeaks. Reaching around, she grasped his hips, moving in synch to slam against him as he slid his cock into her heat.
Then it hit her.
Isa jerked back, screaming as her body tightened, her pussy spasming around his cock. He lost it, pumping into her as his seed flowed.
He licked the teeth marks he’d left on her neck, pleased at the sight. Slowly, he lowered Isa to the bed, stretching out beside her and kissed her swollen lips gently.
“Satisfied?” he asked.
“Mmm, I’m full. You are such a wondrous lover.” Dreamily, she added, “You are the only one who’s ever been able to feed me completely.”
Her eyes fluttered open. “Special you are.” A shadow crossed her gaze. “Very special.”
Pete blinked slowly, biting back the emotional words he wanted to say every time they were together.
But she’d told him, during the very first dream, exactly what she was and what she wanted, needed, from him. Commitment, words of the heart, had been strictly forbidden.
It was his own detriment that had him falling in love with a demon he’d only ever known in dreams.
* * *
Isa woke back in the damn dungeon that imprisoned her. Yet, in her hand, she clutched the golden necklace of Anna’s. The Dragos clan was coming. Not just for her, she knew—only Anna and Pete cared for her. But to take down the evil responsible for so much pain in their lives.
Quickly, she dropped the necklace. It fell between the mattress and the headboard she was chained to.
The master would be here soon. Isa didn’t dare let him find the locket. He’d know it on sight and realize the dragons’ arrival would be soon. The warning might cause them to fail.
A sigh escaped her.
She only hoped they’d be able to succeed with the mage unprepared for the exact time of their arrival. Even that would be hard.
She blinked furiously as such humanly emotions threatened to consume her. Part of her wanted to take it all back, to beg and plea with Pete not to come.
She shouldn’t fear so much for a human man, regardless he was magic, a dragon born of the earth.
She was nothing like him. A succubus, created in the deepest fires of hell. For eons she’d been a slave to a higher ranking demon—sent to the mortal plane to drain and destroy the souls of men.
In the centuries she’d been locked in this dungeon by the mage, her only recourse had been to seek out men in her dreams.
Yet none had ever truly fulfilled her like Pete Dragos.
Not only was he a fantastic lover, indulging in her fantasies, he’d grown to enjoy the minor acts as much as she.
Together, they’d found something Isa couldn’t… wouldn’t… put a name to.
She was a demon.
There was nothing within her to give to such a wonderful man.
Isa blinked harder, but couldn’t prevent a tear from escaping to trail down her cheek.
Chapter Three
The fireplace shimmered and a black robed figure emerged from the flames. “So do they come?” the mage asked, pulling back his hood.
Isa shivered, tried to hide it. “I don’t know.”
She’d never been able to figure out how he found out about the wonderful man in her dreams. The mage shouldn’t have been able to even sense when she jumped into her dream dimension.
But not only had he found out, he’d somehow managed to figure out she was meeting a Dragos.
It had been coincidence, Isa thought, refusing to consider the mage might have been able to influence her inside the dimension where her power ruled supreme.
The mage wouldn’t hesitate to use her in any way he saw fit.
Yet, a small part of her, throbbing deep inside her chest, wanted to believe that perhaps… perhaps destiny may have had a hand in connecting Pete and herself, even if nothing could ever come from it.
The master grinned, his pale wrinkled face just one of the many he could wear. “I think you do.” He strode to the bed, sitting beside her, though careful not to allow her to touch him. He’d only made that mistake once. And he’d barely survived.
The master glared at her, then sniffed the air. “I smell sex. You’ve contacted the young Dragos. But even more, I can sense magic around you. Hmm…” He held his hands above Isa’s body.
Pain raced over her skin then burrowed deep. Nausea rolled through her as he leached at the little power she’d received from Pete.
The dark mage jerked back, his orange ringed eyes flaring. “I sense it, but I cannot pinpoint it. Interesting.”
Jerking to his feet, he moved around the bed. “No matter. They come. I will have my revenge at long last.” He strode into the fireplace and disappeared once more.
The pain finally lessened and Isa gulped a few breaths. The key was he didn’t know the exact time they would arrive. Her eyes burned and she closed them tightly.
She savagely clung to the few tattered scraps of hope that remained within.
* * *
Pete dressed in dark clothes, then ate a large dinner with his silent, brooding family. They needed their strength, though he hated wasting any time.
Anna picked at her food, hands shaking and lips trembling. How he despised putting the woman through this.
But if they didn’t take down the mage, his evil would spread. The man would continue to come after them, and others. They could not allow it.
They were dragons, protectors of all who were weaker.
And they owed this man a horrendous death for what he’d done to their family. For corrupting their eldest brother. For the death of their sweet mother.
Yes. They owed this mage much. And they would deliver the punishment soon.
Shaking his head at the memories that made his heart ache, Pete tried to concentrate on what he could change, rather than the sorrows of the past.
Finally, they headed outside and loaded up into two SUVs. It had taken a bit of an argument for the women to be grudgingly brought along. Not that they would have stayed behind. From the gleam in Calla’s eye, she would have just followed them if her husband hadn’t finally stopped arguing about the women’s safety and agreed let them come along.
Garreth drove his black SUV, Anna squeezed between him and Pete. She couldn’t stop wringing her hands as Garreth followed her directions.
“I can feel it.” She blinked, as if surprised.
Two hours later and they were high in the mountains. Anna led them down a back country road that twisted and turned, doubling back on itself and then disappearing as a towering cliff blocked their way.
“Magic,” Pete spat in disgust as waves of energy poured over him.
“We are very close,” Anna replied. “Let me out. If I walk through the trees I might find something more.”
The woman, though she shook with fear, proudly held her head high and circled the truck, then headed for the trees. Garreth stayed by her side every inch of the way.
After a long, tense tramp through the forest, Pete huddled next to Anna and Garreth behind a berry bush. Down in a valley, almost hidden by the trees around them sat a dark, imposing castle.
The black stone seeped evil.
“It’s exactly as I remember,” Anna whispered.
“How do we get in?” Garreth asked, rubbing her shoulders.
“There are many ways. I escaped through a hidden door in the back. The mage most likely has traps laid all around the place.”
Pete nodded. “We split up. Tell me how to get to Isa.”
A half hour later, with his brothers and their mates still arguing over who would go with who, and how they’d try to get in, Pete couldn’t hold back. He slipped into the shadows, and using Anna’s instructions, hurried down into the valley. The others could linger, bickering if they wanted.
He would not wait another moment.
Isa’s nearness beckoned him.
His dragon stirred and Pete inhaled deeply, though the stench almost sent him into a coughing fit. Magic, strong. He moved further along the castle wall pinpointing the exact place.
Nudging thorny vines aside, he revealed a small wooden door.
He moved inside, a stone tunnel sloping downward. Torches lined the walls, but no one appeared to be around.
Slipping down the same hall from his dream of Isa being held in chains, he quickened his step. Soon he came to a four-way split. Each led into darkness and he didn’t know which way to go.
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder.
Pete spun, fists up, ready to fight, cursing himself for letting his guard down. He faced his brother Ty, who grinned.
“Which way?” Ty whispered.
“I dunno.”
The others caught up and after a bit of grumbling from Garreth and mumbles from their sister, they split up.
Pete headed down the left tunnel, the one calling to some deep, primitive place inside him. His dragon, fully awake, urged him this way.
Finally reaching the end of the tunnel, Pete stared at the door from his dream. This had to be the right one—the one with Isa held captive behind it.
With a deep breath, Pete pushed open the silent door. On the far wall was a huge fireplace, but no embers burned. His breath came out a ghostly puff as he entered the room.
The large bed was the same, as were the chains capturing Isa’s too thin arms. Pete froze for a moment, unable to move as he saw this woman for the first time in reality.
Her skin was pale, eyes closed above dark circles. She twitched, moaning. Her hair lay lank, oily. Soot and dirt marred her skin.
She was beautiful.
A pounding began in his chest. How he wanted to run to her. To throw himself down on his knees and profess his love. Yet, she would not accept the words from him. And it pained him, knowing such a thing.
She’d told him long ago she did not love
She could not.
Finding his strength, Pete shut the door and hurried to her side. “Isa.”
She began to shake, her breath heavy pants as if caught in a nightmare.
Taking her shoulders, Pete shook her gently. She drew back into the bed, pulling from his touch.
“Isa, darling. It’s Pete.” He leaned over her, capturing her face in his hands. When she didn’t respond, he bent closer and brushed his lips over hers.
An electric shock raced through him, torturously sizzling along every nerve. His body stiffened as agony rushed through him.
Power, magic, leached away leaving Pete shaking and weak.
Isa gasped, her eyes flying open. She jerked from his touch, scrambling away as far as the chains on her arms allowed.
“You came,” she whispered. Her mouth opened in an O, and she shook her head. “You touched me.”
Pete’s jaw was tightly closed. He could only grunt.
Isa leaned toward him, placing a soft kiss on his forehead. The pulsing pain withdrew and he once more felt the connection of his dragon.
He scrambled to his feet, staring at Isa. “What happened?”
She glanced away, hands twisting in the iron cuffs. “You know what I am.”
“Yeah. But nothing like that’s ever happened before.” He rubbed his aching jaw.
“The dream dimension is different from this one.” She drew her lower lip between her teeth as her gaze darted to him, then back to her lap. “I am sorry. I wa
s not…”
Pete didn’t know what to think, but he knew what needed to be done. “Come. Let’s get you free.”
He approached the bed and leaned down to get a closer look at the cuffs. But a small part of him held back, fearing to touch her again.
Withdrawing his lock picks, he started to work on the first cuff. Inside, his dragon watched carefully. Even he was unsure about touching Isa again. Snorting, Pete clicked the first lock open, then glanced down at Isa.
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Her lips twisted in a grimace as she held herself back.
Pete couldn’t stop from reaching to caress her cheek, rub a smudge of dirt from her jaw. This time, the contact was not painful, but highly erotic as usual. He hardened as passion inflamed his senses.
Isa met his gaze. “I cannot promise my control is one hundred percent.”
Silently, Pete moved to the other cuff. He slid the thin metal pick into place.
The door to the room burst open with a howling wind rushing inside, whipping soot and dust into the air.
The wind knocked Pete from the bed. He tumbled over the icy floor and crashed into the stone wall. His head hit hard and stars burst behind his eyes.
“See, my sweet little succubus. I told you I would capture them,” a deep voice crowed from somewhere in the room.
Shaking his head, Pete tried to concentrate on locating the source of the voice. Thick with debris, the air didn’t make it easy.
Isa cried, “Pete. Get out of here.”
Daft woman, thinking he’d run away.
Pete pushed up to his feet and stepped into the gale whipping at his clothes. “I’m taking Isabella from this place. You will not stop me.”
The air stilled, dust and soot floating to cover the ground. On the far side of the room stood a hooded figure. The black mage.
He raised an arm, pointing to the fireplace. Flames roared inside.
The mage strode around the room, a low chuckle building. “Ah, young pup. Dragos you may be, but neither you, nor the rest creeping through my halls will find your escape. It will be fun to see you try, though.”
Pete rushed forward, letting his power flow over and through him. His body expanded, rusty-orange scales flowing over his skin as he grew bigger, almost too big for the height of the room.
