by Emma Alisyn
“My people have been on this continent before even the first Britons came. I can trace my paternal line back one thousand years through the indigenous population.”
“You’re a Hearn.”
“Through my mother.”
Jezamine moved away from him, casually, until she was staring out the French doors into the night. She slid them open, needing a brace of sweet evening air on her face. A cow ambled close to the deck, a deep moo in its throat. Interesting that they didn’t seem afraid of their master. She wondered if he bred particularly stupid cows on purpose.
“Isn’t that all that matters to witches? The mother?” He was at her back, a solid warmth. A hand settled on the side of her waist, a light touch. Nearly innocent.
That innocent touch burned through her thin blouse. She inhaled. “Of course, not. We don’t ignore our fathers. That’s a human misconception of the covens.”
“Hmm. Very well.” His nose nuzzled the curve of her neck. “The witch in my line is on my maternal side, by the way. Would that make me a warlock?”
“No. That would make you a dragon with a very foolish ancestor. You were telling me about the spell?”
“Forgive me, I was distracted. We approached a Hearn witch, Aleka, to create us a spell to help us find mates. We’re the last of our clan.” He paused. “You may think I’m unhappy about Kayla’s baby—the circumstances piss me off, and it is never smart to piss off a dragon, but I’m pleased to have a dragonling born to us. It will be only the second in centuries.”
“If the baby is a dragonling.”
“It will be. Our genes are dominant.”
“There are dragons who can’t shift.”
His teeth snapped, too close to her skin. “They are still dragons. And their children most usually are born able to shift. It very rarely affects two generations in a row. I’m letting you distract me again.”
She crossed her arms to control a shiver. His other hand settled on the other side of her waist, and he drew her fully against his chest. Her buttocks nestled near his hips, and it was made very clear that even if he appeared in control, his body . . . Jezamine pulled out of his arms, turning to face him, expression stiff, hoping the blush on her cheeks wasn’t obvious.
“You seem to be trying to make a point. Go ahead. Aleka gave you a spell to locate your mates.”
“It has never come to life once.” His look was steady, inscrutable. “Not in the entire time I’ve worn it.”
Jezamine crossed her arms. “I’m a direct descendent of Aleka. The spell could be reacting just to my presence because of the blood tie.”
He laughed at her. “I don’t think so.”
Jezamine stared at the jewel. She didn’t want to be a dragon’s mate.
She could undo the spell.
“What?” he growled. “You won’t do any such thing.”
Jezamine blinked. Had she spoken aloud? She tore her gaze away from his chest and met his eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m not at a point in my life where I can be anyone’s mate. Especially not a dragon.”
“You promised you would think about it. Dragons eat people who break their word.”
Intense. Territorial. Moody. She needed peace, quiet, hearth and home. She needed no attention drawn to herself since she was the only one protecting the book.
What if the spell was creating a kind of fake matebond reaction in him? What if his feelings weren’t real?
Her mood sank. That was the most logical explanation. She had Aleka’s book. Maybe she could break the spell. “Ooooookay. We should be discussing the children.”
His hard green eyes pinned her. “You can’t escape the reality of this, Jezamine. You don’t know me, I don’t know you. But I’ve been waiting for a female of my own for centuries. Do you really think I’m going to let you brush my years of longing aside because it isn’t convenient?”
“It takes two people to make a relationship.” Her voice all but snapped at him. “And unless you’re planning on kidnapping me and flying me to your cave again—”
“Tempting. But Kayla has school Monday.”
“—you’re just going to have to accept my no.”
Donato snorted. “I hear no evil.”
“Evil? Evil? A female saying no to a male is evil?”
He scowled. “You act as if I’m propositioning you. My intentions are honorable.”
“Look, we need to just focus on the new baby coming and shelve everything else for later.” Donato opened his mouth, and she scowled at him. “Stop it! We are not going to argue over this. I’m sorry you think I’m your prospective mate—and you don’t even know me—”
“As if that ever mattered. Mates get to know each other. Besides, I’m certain we’re compatible. You enjoyed my kiss. Your body craved more.”
Her face went red. “I don’t sleep with males I don’t know. And stop looking at me like that! It’s so rude.”
His eyes widened, and he placed a hand on his chest. “Skies forbid I am rude. My apologies.”
“You can take your apology and—” she cut off her words, shoving them behind her teeth.
His eyes glinted in satisfaction. “I knew there was a temper behind the soccer mom exterior. You must have everyone else fooled. But not your mate.”
“Oh, for Hekate's sake. I am not your mate.”
“You need courting. This doesn’t displease me.” He stroked his jaw with long fingers. Her eyes followed the movement for a moment before she jerked her gaze away. “Dracaena also give their suitors challenges. It is the dragon way. What do you need?”
What? The question threw her off. When had anyone ever asked her what she needed? No one, of course, because she’d been alone most of her adult life.
“I don’t need anything. I don’t know what you mean.”
He reached out and took her hand, cradling it. Jezamine’s eyes narrowed. All his aggression, snappish temper, and arrogance was gone. Oh, he was good. And capable of switching tactics with lightning speed.
Dragons. Always so tricksy.
“You said I would be a complication.” His lips curved. “A male worth his wings is always a complication, but there are benefits to having a drake for a mate, Jezamine. What do you need? Give me the chance to make myself indispensable to you. I raised a daughter, so you already know I understand taking care of females.”
She didn’t need to be taken care of. And if it were any other point in her life, she would be cautiously pleased. Because yes, the kind of male who would step up and raise his niece as his own, provide a stable home for her, was the kind of male she would be interested in. Stable. Steady. Responsible. A family man.
But. “There are issues with my coven. Joshua and I need to keep out of sight for a few years until things die down.”
His expression shifted, sharpened. “Are you in danger?” He glanced over his shoulder toward the kitchen where the teenagers sat. “I can kill anyone you want me to.”
10
She knew what he must be thinking. Any threat to Joshua was a threat to Kayla, and the baby. Wait . . . was he insane? Her brain caught up with the casual offer to do murder.
“Uh . . . no. No, I don’t need you to kill anyone for me.” She cleared her throat. “Are you hungry? Maybe you should go hunt something.” She waved her free hand. “Release some of the bloodiness in your system.”
“The bloodiness, as you call it, will never be released. It makes me a strong protector. A fierce mate.”
Her mind instantly went somewhere inappropriately dirty. Donato beneath her, skin glistening, scales moving under the layer of muscle as he lost control and his eyes flashed fired, a thick, textured cock between her thighs. Jezamine shifted, pressing her thighs together. Oh, Hekate. Just like that, and her body had gone from zero to one hundred, revved up and ready to go.
Donato’s nostrils flared. The edged smile, the hint of fang, let her know he knew what she was thinking. The flush of color in his cheeks let her know her was thinking the same thing. “Y
our body knows you’re mine,” he said, voice whisper soft. “It will take time for the heart to follow. Very well.” His thumb brushed her cheek, and he released her hands stepping back. “Tell me about this threat to you and Joshua.”
“There is no—”
“Don’t lie to me.”
She stilled. For a moment, the thin veneer of man faded away and nothing but a cold, hard, ancient predator stared at her, eyes as hard as jade chips, expression implacable.
“I–” It wasn’t his burden. She’d carried on for so long, just her and Joshua. What would happen if a drake became involved? Fire and brimstone that was what would happen. Well, it wasn’t her fault. The coven had begun this chain of events. They shouldn’t have given her to a male she didn’t love. They shouldn’t have ignored her when the warlock, her husband, made it clear he’d married her to get his hands on her ancestral book.
“I have something that someone else wants. Eventually, he’ll give up, but for now, I need to stay hidden.”
He assessed her. “How well hidden are you?”
“. . . well. . .ish?”
“I see.”
Five years of marriage, one year of separation until she’d finally fled, unable to withstand the increasing pressure of her ex’s attempts to get the book. The coven’s attempts to make her reconcile with her husband, a man she’d never wanted or loved. She’d been a good girl, though, and respected the choice of her maven, a distant cousin. They were one of the few covens that still arranged marriages. But a witch of Aleka’s direct line would never be allowed to choose her own mate. The blood was too precious.
“That doesn’t sound like ‘not in danger’, Jezamine. I am a member of the council, not just Kayla’s father, and your mate.”
She shook her head, troubled. “It’s a coven matter. I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t care what pretty lights your jewel gives off, we aren’t really—”
“Family? We will share a grandchild, soon. If only that. And, Jezamine, that won’t be all we share. You know it, here.” He reached out, placed a hand over her heart for the briefest moment. “Besides, if there is danger, as a council member I’m required to handle the matter. This isn’t just about you, or us. It's a public safety matter. Tell me this, what will this person do to get this item that you have and they want?”
“I’ve thought about that over the years.” She hesitated, mulling it over. “I know he won’t hesitate to use magic, deception, theft. He might even attack my property—my wards. I don’t think he’d hurt Joshua. There have never been any . . . injuries.”
Donato wasn’t a stupid man. “Are you talking about your ex-husband?”
Was there any true harm in admitting it? It felt good to unburden a little. “Yes. A warlock from a prominent bloodline in my family. The marriage was arranged.”
“Does he want Joshua?”
Jezamine laughed. “No. He was never interested in raising a child, though he might want to show Joshua once he’s an adult.” A tall, handsome, intelligent son even if a little lazy with his magic. But still obviously gifted, drawing on two good bloodlines.
“Jezamine, pay attention,” Donato snapped.
“I’m thinking. And don’t snap at a lady. No, he wouldn’t hurt Josh. He might try and use him, though.”
“Will you tell me the object he wants?”
“No. If you don’t know, it’s just better that way. If it gets into the wrong hands, it could have consequences.” The spells in the book were old, powerful, particular, and sometimes a little nasty. Always effective when wielded correctly—the souce of at least some of her family’s power and influence. No one had quite had Aleka’s knack before or since.
“Whether you like it or not, Jezamine, you are my responsibility now. To think you were under my snout this entire time and it took my daughter to find you.” He shook his head. “When can we talk privately again, with no interruptions?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You know that’s not really what you want, Jezamine.”
She wanted him to not tell her what she didn’t want. Jezamine sighed. Her ex wasn’t exactly known for his care of other people's feelings, or consequences. The lack of damage so far was mostly because she’d taken a defensive route and had avoided confrontation. That wasn’t really an option anymore. If anything happened to innocents because she’d arrogantly wanted to handle the dance all by herself when she had an offer for help—even one with strings . . . .
“No strings attached? You’ll help me, but I don’t have to . . . “She waved her fingers, face heating again.
He snapped his teeth. “Don’t insult me. You’ll come to my bed, eventually, and you’ll come sweetly. I don’t have to use tricks to get you there.”
Well, the arrogance . . . . Jezamine pushed past him, her shoulder accidentally bumping into his. Hard.
“And it begins,” he said in a smug tone. “The courtship. Fiery, like a dracaena.”
Infuriating.
Joshua’s look was wary as the teenagers came back to the kitchen area. Kayla glanced at her dad. “We were about to interrupt you guys, but I didn’t smell brimstone, so I figured it was okay.”
“No magic,” Josh muttered. “She didn’t hex him.”
Jezamine cast her son a withering look. “We don’t go around hexing people, no matter how irritating they are. There is always a way to solve a disagreement rationally, without the use of coercion, spells, or violence.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, Mom. Me and Kayla finished the notebook. We’ve been looking up midwives. Come look at this one. She has experience attending bear shifter births. No dragons, but that would’ve been a long shot.”
They spent several minutes in pleasant discourse, a slow build of pleasure infusing Jezamine’s chest. She wasn’t quite settled on the idea of being a grandmother, per se, but a new baby in the family was always an event to be celebrated. There were worse things than a very young couple who were obviously good friends, and in love. She watched them interact, the casual affection and joking. Kayla and Joshua were friends. Friends always made the best parents.
“I’m proud of you,” Jezamine said. “Both of you. You’re handling this very well so far, and the plans you’ve drafted for school and income over the next three years are well thought out.” The teenagers had considered both their educations, career paths, and factored childcare into it without appearing to assume Jezamine or Donato would be responsible for everything. Though they did lean heavily on their parents, as they should.
“My uncles will help, too,” Kayla said.
“Well . . . that might not be necessary, dear.” One drake around a small baby . . . but several? Had any of them ever even held a baby? That didn’t have scales and breathed fire?
Kayla grinned, reptilian mischief in her eyes, as if she could read Jezamine’s slightly pained expression.
“I spoke with my brothers,” Donato said.
Jezamine started, realizing that she’d felt him leave the room several minutes ago. He glanced at her. “They’ll come over to grill Wednesday.”
“On an actual grill?” Joshua asked. Kayla elbowed him. “What? I just thought you guys flamed your meat whole and got down to work.”
“Really?” The pair began to bicker energetically, though Jezamine winced at some of Kayla’s more cutting comments, which her son just smiled and took in stride . . . with his own form of laid back, sweet venom.
Teenagers.
“It’s really late, Joshua, we should go home now.”
“4 o'clock tomorrow . . . today,” Donato said, drawing closer. “If you aren’t on time, Jezamine, I'll come and get you.”
“I should let you try and breach my wards when I don’t want them breached.” They glared at each other, and Donato’s lips twitched.
“Just be here on time, okay? We still have a lot to talk about, and my brothers need to meet Joshua, so they know not to flame him.”
11
Jezamine drove home, stomach unsettled. As she exited her car, she glanced up at the sky. It was dark and the clouds moved across the moon, but for a moment she thought she’d seen the shadow of wings . . . or felt them.
Aleka.
Jezamine locked the house, then spent a moment resetting her wards. The house phone rang as she was finishing up, and she moved to the side table, hand hovering over the wireless set before some instinct stayed her movement. She hesitated, then backed away as it continued to ring. No one sane would be calling after midnight.
The answering machine clicked on. One breath of silence, and then two. “Jezamine, we know you’re there.”
Her spine chilled instantly, but she refused to move. She hated that voice, loathed it. A light, harmless-sounding tenor which could charm the hex off any witch. Except her. She’d lived with him for six years. She knew him. She despised him.
“We want what belongs to us, Jezamine. We’re coming for it.”
The B movie dialogue infuriated her, and the subtle threat.
“Then come,” she said, knowing they would hear. “I was thinking you didn’t care anymore.”
Despite her bravado, a sliver of fear rattled her. Jezamine knew when the line went dead, then went to her room, sitting on the side of her bed as she clutched the charm around her neck. Ironic, keeping a spell book in a charm. But there really was no better place for it, especially since it would never leave her sight.
The decoy book was in the attic on a cheap Walmart shelf in plain sight, it’s spine cheerfully announcing it was a 1980’s book of casserole recipes, the dust cover appropriately faded and worn about the edge.
And despite the threatening midnight call, or maybe because of it, all she could think about was Donato.
“Aleka, what were you thinking? A locator stone for a drake? You didn’t even give the female a sporting chance to get away.”
She’d seen the look in Donato’s eyes. He was more controlled than most dragons, likely due to his exposure on the city council. He would have had to learn to tamp down his nature in order to build the sexy soccer dad persona. But he was still a dragon looking, waiting, for a mate. Despite human misconceptions, dragons weren’t actually solitary creatures. They just weren’t people persons. People being anything without wings and not the size of a house. He’d give her time, because a crafty old dragon knew when to let the prey think it had a fighting chance, and when to pounce. She was certain he wanted a happy domestic life—and an angry, unwilling witch was not conducive to happy.
