Serpent's Kiss

by Deborah Cooke

  Thorolf pressed his thumbs against the man’s windpipe, watching as his victim began to choke. His skin hummed with the steady pain of that new tattoo, filling him with a need to do violence. He felt a chilly determination to see justice done.

  No matter what the price.

  “Where is she?” he demanded.

  The man kicked and struggled as he tried to escape, his fingers grasping at Thorolf’s hands. “I don’t know who you’re talking about!”

  “Don’t lie!” he snarled. “I’m talking about Viv Jason. She lives here.”

  “No. No! I live here. I’ve lived here for almost two years…”

  “Liar!” Thorolf lifted the man closer, then summoned the change to his dragon form, ensuring that his eyes changed first. He controlled the change, mindful of Erik’s injunctions against revealing his powers to humans, but desperately wanting to terrify this guy. Thorolf knew when his eyes changed to dragon eyes with vertical slits for pupils, because the man freaked out. Did he think Thorolf was stupid? Did this moron think he could just lie about something so obvious and Thorolf would believe him?

  “Tell me where she is,” Thorolf repeated. He wished he was good at beguiling, so he could convince this guy to spill the truth.

  He’d have to make do with brute force, as usual.

  The halo of blue light that surrounded Thorolf’s body before he shifted shape was already glowing, the change sliding through Thorolf’s body. He wouldn’t be able to stop it in a second, but his rage was overcoming his desire to hover on the cusp of change.

  He felt powerful as the dragon began to claim his body, and once he acknowledged how good the change felt, it accelerated. He’d shred this deceptive human if necessary and cast him aside, then follow the heat of the firestorm to the Pyr. He’d fight every one of them to defend Viv, fight them to the death if necessary.

  No one would take what—or who—was his.

  The man made incoherent noises in his terror. His eyes were just about popping out of his head. Thorolf pressed a little harder on his throat and smiled as the man gasped.

  “Where?” he whispered.

  “I don’t know!” the man squeaked.

  “Lies won’t help you now.” Thorolf lifted his victim higher and tightened his grip, determined to squeeze the life out of him slowly. He deserved no less if he were in league with the Pyr.

  The man struggled and flailed, but Thorolf was relentless. When this liar was gone, he’d find the Pyr. He’d get the truth out of them. He’d find Viv in time.

  He’d do what was right. He bared his teeth, feeling the change rocket through his veins. The man’s eyes widened and he tried to scream…

  Suddenly, Thorolf became aware of an inferno burning near his side. The firestorm was closer and hotter, close enough that he’d be able to see the lucky Pyr. Sparks danced over his flesh, the orange flames piercing the blue shimmer around his body. It was as if the hairs on his forearm were on fire. The fury that had filled him was pushed back, and the raging pain on his skin faded. He felt heat on the side of his face and a strange seductive warmth flooding through his body.

  The heat of desire. He was abruptly aroused, as he never was when fighting. He was amazed that the proximity of this firestorm had the power to affect him so strongly. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to experience one himself. The dragon retreated as Thorolf turned to look to his left, unable to stop himself. He fully expected to a see a Pyr come to fight with him over Viv, a Pyr experiencing a firestorm.

  But no. A young boy was climbing through the window, a boy dressed all in black. One sniff told Thorolf that the boy wasn’t Pyr. His intense dark gaze was locked on Thorolf, commanding his attention as much as the strange heat. The fire seemed to emanate from the boy, dancing between him and Thorolf in a way that defied everything Thorolf knew to be true.

  Something tickled in Thorolf’s mind, a vague memory of a boy who wasn’t a boy.

  The new arrival smiled, as if reading his thoughts, and the smile was so feminine that Thorolf realized his mistake. It was a slender woman who approached him, a woman with dark hair and dark eyes. She was just dressed as a boy. She walked closer and the golden radiance of the firestorm burned so brightly that he had to narrow his eyes against it. His mouth went dry and the need within him was strong enough to make his grip loosen.

  She was having a firestorm?

  With who?

  “The thief,” Thorolf said, remembering the night he’d found Viv in Bangkok. Her wallet had been stolen by a hungry young boy and he’d pursued the thief to retrieve it.

  This thief.

  Who hadn’t been a hungry young boy after all.

  What was she doing here? Intending to rob Viv again? His anger took new force from that idea.

  But the woman didn’t answer. She neither looked left nor right. She kept her gaze locked with Thorolf’s and walked steadily toward him. She didn’t appear to be armed, and her hands were empty. She held them up as if to let him see that she meant him no harm.

  It was a ridiculous idea that this small woman could ever do him, a dragon shifter, injury, but Thorolf let her keep her illusions. The orange flames grew brighter and hotter with every step she took, filling the room with a brilliance that heated him to his core.

  And made him forget everything but how much he wanted. Desire pounded through his body, making him keenly aware of this woman, of the slender curves beneath her boyish clothes and the sweet allure of her smile. He could seduce her, right here and right now, make her moan and beg for more.

  When she was two steps away, she lifted her hand toward him. A spark of flame leapt from her fingertips to Thorolf and he staggered when it struck him in the forehead, right between his eyes.

  His own firestorm.

  Thorolf stared at the woman who must be his destined mate, even as the firestorm crackled between them. The heat of its spark slid lower, rendering him speechless as it left him burning with hunger. He could almost taste the kiss she would surrender to him, the fire it would light within him, the way it would warm him for all eternity.

  He’d waited so long for this. He both wanted to savor the firestorm’s burn and satisfy it immediately. He would take her, and it would be a seduction worth remembering, one that would destroy all the wounds of the past and light the way for their new future together.

  “He doesn’t know where she is,” his mate said and Thorolf liked the sultry sound of her voice. It was a bit husky, deeper than he might have expected. “Let him go.”

  Thorolf glanced at the man whose neck he still held, the man he’d nearly forgotten about, the man who was still watching him in terror. He set the man on his feet with care. Thorolf was dazed and overwhelmed by the firestorm’s power, even as the man backed away warily.

  His mate put her hand on his arm, and he inhaled, savoring the surge of passion that emanated from her touch. He felt so much better than he had, settled and soothed and passionate. When she stood right beside him, he wondered how he could have doubted her gender. A thousand secrets shone in her eyes, filling him with a desire beyond anything he’d ever experienced before. She was Asian and slender, her dark hair cut short, her eyes darkest brown. She smiled up at him and slid her hand up to his shoulder. The flames burned hot at the point of contact, sending lust through Thorolf that eliminated every thought from his mind.

  Except one. He closed his eyes, reveling in spark’s touch, and knew there was nothing more important than this.

  Than her.

  “The firestorm,” he whispered. This was his mate, his destined lover, the woman who could bear his son. Thorolf was awed and humbled to experience the firestorm himself. He really didn’t want to screw this up.

  It was the one thing in his life that he had to get right.

  Thorolf turned to face her. He would be gentle and tender, as well as passionate. He’d be sure he didn’t frighten her with his desire. She was so much smaller than him, so fragile, so delicate. His mate. Thorolf cupped her
head in his hands, bent and touched his lips to hers.

  Her mouth was warm and soft, enticing and perfect. Her sigh of pleasure was ideal, but far less than what he wanted. He slanted his mouth across hers, encouraging her to join in his embrace, and was delighted when she touched her tongue to his.

  Thorolf kept his eyes open and was glad he did. Before his eyes, his mate shifted through a hundred feminine forms, each melting into the other in rapid succession. She had long hair, short hair, blonde hair, black hair, auburn hair, blue eyes, green eyes, brown eyes. She was tall, then short, then curvy, then not. She changed from one form to another seamlessly and with astonishing speed, becoming a kaleidoscope of different women in turn. Throughout it all, her knowing gaze remained locked upon him, telling him that all these women were the same one.

  This one. Thorolf couldn’t believe his eyes. It was some kind of magic, not just to have a firestorm but to have a mate like this. Thorolf had always worried a little bit about the firestorm’s promise, particularly the conviction of his friend Rafferty that a Pyr should make a permanent commitment to his mate. Creating a son and satisfying the firestorm was something Thorolf knew he could handle, but long term plans weren’t in his repertoire. He liked variety. He liked exploration. He liked mystery, and he liked women. He couldn’t see himself being happy with just one woman, no matter how much he didn’t want to disappoint Rafferty.

  But his mate was incredible. He wasn’t even sure what she was, but she clearly was some kind of magical being. She was a hundred women, maybe even a thousand, all wrapped into one gorgeous package. Were these past lives he glimpsed? Other forms? Was she some kind of shape shifter who could take any guise she chose? Thorolf didn’t know and for the moment, he didn’t care.

  She was his destiny and he was glad.

  What he’d just witnessed convinced him that Rafferty was right about the firestorm, and that the Great Wyvern had chosen the perfect mate for him. Thorolf wasn’t going to mess it up.

  He locked one arm around her waist and tugged her closer, spearing one hand into her short hair. A searing heat surged through him, making his heart pound and his body demand satisfaction. He lifted her to her toes, then deepened his kiss, letting her taste the vigor of his response. To his satisfaction, she kissed him back with equal fervor, a promise of what they’d experience together.

  Thorolf had just one more moment to savor the sweet intoxicating heat of the firestorm, before he was struck hard on the back of the head.

  * * *

  Thorolf was a good reminder of why Chandra always worked alone.

  She had a quest. She had a perfect plan to fulfill it. Everything should have been neatly resolved by now.

  Instead, her plan had been very nearly trashed by the Pyr who needed only to provide one small detail for her success. After centuries of planning, Thorolf had vanished for close to two years, right when his presence might have been useful. The creature who called herself Viv Jason had also disappeared without a trace. The only thing Chandra knew for sure was that Viv had been with Thorolf.

  He should have been easy to find. From him, she’d learn the location of Viv Jason, and proceed with the completion of her quest.

  But no. Thorolf had vanished without warning. Chandra had spent twenty-two months checking and rechecking every single lead and contact she’d ever had, without success. She’d had plenty of time to panic.

  Then on this day she’d finally found the missing dragons shifter. He’d appeared out of the blue, which she didn’t trust one bit. He didn’t have the ability to spontaneously manifest elsewhere, unless something had changed. Even worse, by the time she reached his side, he’d been trying to kill an innocent human.

  Worse again, there was a firestorm sparking between them, probably some stupid trick of her brother’s just to add to his own amusement. A firestorm and an amorous Pyr—never mind one with a talent for making trouble—was a challenge she could have done without. These complications might have been enough to make another goddess walk away from the whole quest.

  But no. Chandra always finished what she started.

  She always kept her word.

  Even with complications.

  And Thorolf was more of a complication than she’d ever expected to encounter.

  Chandra knew all about the Pyr, she’d studied every resource she could find about their nature and abilities in preparation for undertaking this quest. She had to study because the Pyr were passionate creatures, as different from her as any being could be. She did her homework when she undertook a task. She knew about the firestorm and its promise, the respect the Pyr gave it.

  She also knew that no mortal woman managed to resist the power of the firestorm once it sparked. She wasn’t a mortal woman, so she’d never expected it to undermine everything she knew to be true.

  But with one kiss, Thorolf had shaken the foundations of Chandra’s universe. She stared down at him sprawled on the floor, touched her lips and took a deep breath. Thorolf’s kiss had awakened a desire in her body unlike anything Chandra had ever experienced. And it had worked fast. In seconds, she’d practically forgotten not just her quest but her ancient vow of chastity. Incredibly, the longer his kiss lasted, the more she wanted it to continue. Pleasure had filled her body in a new and wonderful way. She’d wanted to explore the firestorm’s promise. She’d wanted to learn the truth of the pleasure she understood a man and woman could share.

  She’d even revealed herself, her barriers dissolving before the firestorm’s sensory assault. It was frightening to have been so impetuous.

  It was dangerous.

  Thank the gods and goddesses that the mortal had hit Thorolf in the back of the head. He’d saved Chandra from the firestorm—or maybe from herself. He’d proven to be more useful than mortals generally were.

  Even with Thorolf out cold, she couldn’t keep herself from admiring his physique. Tall and muscular, with long blond hair and eyes of vivid blue, Thorolf was a veritable Viking and a force to be reckoned with. Passionate, loyal, powerful. In human form, he was enough of a sight to make her heart skip. In dragon form, she could imagine that he’d always taken her breath away.

  But now she needed to get herself and Thorolf into hiding, quietly and quickly, and revise the plan as necessary. She needed to keep him from attacking humans in order to find out what he knew about Viv, which meant she had to take him to her sanctuary.

  The very idea troubled her. It smacked of complication. But Chandra had to repair the damage that was done, or everything could be lost.

  The apartment’s resident had disappeared into the bathroom. Chandra hoped he’d lock the door and ignore them.

  She knew enough about this Pyr’s nature to understand that so long as Thorolf was within a talon’s length of urban temptations, she’d never get his attention, let alone convince him to tell her what he knew. She’d have to touch him to move him, then the firestorm would spark, desire would overwhelm her and they might end up somewhere completely different due to her inability to focus. She needed to deal with the existing complications before inviting more.

  The easiest and fastest way of moving Thorolf was to have him shift shape and fly them both to her sanctuary.

  Which meant she had to wake him up.

  In that moment, the apartment resident reappeared with a towel wrapped around his waist. Worse, he was reaching for his cell phone. She’d already missed the chance to ensure they didn’t attract more notice, thanks to the distraction of Thorolf.

  Quick and quiet, that’s how Chandra preferred to work. Humans didn’t really need to know what was going on beneath their noses.

  That was another good reason to work alone.

  What would a mortal woman do?

  Beg for mercy. Try to persuade the guy to help her.

  “Please don’t call the police!” Chandra stood up and put out her hand in appeal. The firestorm’s glow diminished to a faint radiance.

  The guy still looked at it, his lips thinning in su
spicion. Chandra wished she had the Pyr ability to beguile humans, even though she didn’t approve of it. In this moment, though, she could appreciate its usefulness.

  “He’s crazy! I don’t have a choice,” the man protested, but his hand stilled before the number was completely entered. “You saw what he did to me!”

  Chandra tried to sound persuasive. “But he didn’t know what he was doing…”

  “It sure felt like he did.” His hand rose to this throat. “It already hurts to swallow.”

  “He’s just confused. He didn’t take his medication.” Chandra patted her empty pocket as she lied. She wished she was better at this. “I have it. I’ve been looking for him all morning.”

  The guy’s eyes narrowed. “You know him?”

  “I work at the hospital,” Chandra continued with her fabricated story, trying to invoke the man’s sympathy. “He’s a good guy. He just gets confused and angry. He doesn’t have anybody, really, and I feel so sorry for him.” She smiled down at Thorolf with apparent affection, hoping he wouldn’t wake up and reveal her lie for what it was. “The doctors say he has trust issues.”

  “He’s sharing that joy around.”

  “Well, I can’t blame him. Especially after what she did to him,” she continued. “Some people are so unkind.” Chandra shivered but didn’t have to fake it. It was easy to be appalled by the choices made by the viper who called herself Viv Jason.

  “She?”

  “He lived here before with some woman. A redhead. That’s why he came back here. He doesn’t remember that he doesn’t live here anymore, that she doesn’t live here anymore. She wanted to ditch him but he wanted to stay together.” She sighed. “He thought love could conquer all.”

  “So, that’s who he was talking about.” The guy lowered his phone. “You mean that bitch with the pet snake?”

  Chandra nodded.

  “He doesn’t know she moved,” he guessed.

  “He does, but he forgets. The doctors say the mind is a delicate instrument. It’s like he’s trying to remember what happened that night, because the betrayal makes him so angry, but his mind is trying to save him the pain of the precise memory.”