Falling Dragons (#3 Moon Shadows)

by Angela Castle

  Simon tore his eyes away from Ophelia for a moment to glance at Slazzamar, who scowled just as much as Simon did. Anger flashed through him for what they had done to her, now she’d explained it properly.

  “I had barely managed to escape after faking an illness, and underestimated my strength. That’s when I found Simon; he caught me as I was forced to jump off a fourth storey rooftop in order to escape Jones’ men. I knew he wouldn’t let me go so easy and no doubt right now is trying to track me down. That’s why I put a tethering spell on Simon, until the danger passes.”

  “Makes sense.” Slazzamar nodded and then glanced at Simon. “You have a good track record of being an excellent warrior.”

  Simon knew Slazzamar wasn’t complimenting him, but simply stating fact. “If you placed the spell, princess, then you can reverse it.” Simon watched her drag her plump bottom lip between her teeth. The guilty action made his erection swell even harder, aching to have her again.

  “I never made it past elementary spell casting before I ran away. I know how to cast them, but not undo them.”

  Slazzamar threw back his head. His bark of laughter filled the room.

  “What’s so damn funny?” Simon turned his glare on Slazzamar, trying hard to turn his raging lust for Opie into anger.

  “Well, Simon. Seems you two are stuck together as there are only three ways out of this. One, one of you dies. Two, she completes her dragon magic course. Or three, the threat to the princess is eliminated.”

  Death was certainly not an option for him or her.

  “I’m not going back to the dragon realm.” Opie folded her arms in stubborn defiance.

  “Well, you wouldn’t be able to unless you take Simon along with you, to which I’m sure you would get a very warm reception from your father.”

  Much to Simon’s annoyance, Slazzamar was obviously finding this whole thing amusing.

  Abruptly, his amusement vanished. “I don’t like the fact that this Jones has a collection of Outer Realm creatures. As for two Gullu in a week, that is very worrying.”

  Jonah, who had been sitting back observing everything, spoke up. “I’m guessing they are not your run of the mill demons?”

  “Gullu are a very nasty brand of demon; they are soul suckers. They can suck the very soul right out of a human. As for their bite, if enough of their venom gets into a human’s system, it can transform them within a few hours into another Gullu. My history’s a bit hazy, but they were created about twelve thousand years ago during the great demon wars, perfect for killing and converting the enemy over to their side. But the gods interfered and they were gathered up and sealed in a tomb, no one quite knows where.”

  “If they are supposedly sealed away, how have they managed to escape?” Jonah rose to his feet.

  “Trust me, if they all had managed to escape then we’d be in a hell of a lot of deep shit right now. Pardon my language, princess.” Opie just shrugged. “But this definitely warrants further investigation. I have a few contacts I can ask about the Gullu.” Simon nodded, the more information they could get the better. “As for your other problem, I suggest you two sort out your differences and work together. This Jones has no right to keep living sentient beings as a collection. Simon and Jonah, find out what’s going on with this human and put a stop to it.”

  Simon could not fault Slazzamar’s logic, but he was still stuck with a dragon princess. She was strong and stubborn. Her wild mane of red hair, defiant green eyes and curvy body was a distraction.

  “As long as this Jones is after you, I’m stuck with you, right?”

  Her green eyes held a note of guilt. Good, she should feel guilty. But he also stood on dangerous ground around her. The more time he spent with her the more he’d find her harder to resist.

  “Yes, unless you want to spend the next two years with me in the Outer Realm while I complete my magic course?” She smiled sweetly. Simon snorted, not in the least bit fooled. “Of course my father, and brothers, and any other dragon, would tear you to pieces.” She shrugged.

  No way in any hell was that going to happen.

  “I’ll take care of this Jones problem,” he promised. Surprisingly, he did care that she was in danger from this Joshua Jones.

  “Good.” Slazzamar slapped his hands together. “I’ll get back to you as soon as I have more information on the Gullu. Oh, and you two...” He gave them a pointed look. “Play nice.” With a ‘pop’, Slazzamar disappeared.

  “Simon, I’ll need a description of the Gullu before you head back out, to prepare the other team members.”

  He gave a nod. Ophelia studied him wearily.

  “Got a plan, hot shot? Or are you just going to walk up to the front door of Jones’ and tell him to stop bothering Outer Realm creatures?”

  Simon grinned. Wasn’t a bad plan.

  Chapter 5

  “How old are you?”

  Ophelia startled at the out of the blue question, suspicion creeping in.

  “Why?”

  “I understand dragons live hundreds of years.”

  “So?”

  Simon sighed in obvious frustration. “I would say not that old, if you’re this annoying. You’ve not completed your magic course and you’re on the run from daddy dearest.”

  “You try being married off to an upstart prick, dragon slayer!” Her anger riled high, her words dripping with bitterness.

  “I don’t swing that way, sweetheart. But, the fact is you tethered yourself to me, not the other way around, so you need to live with the consequences or you can forget my help. I’ll simply ignore you and you’ll be dragged along everywhere I have to go. And you will have to watch me fuck every other woman I choose to fuck.”

  A sudden rage gripped Opie and her dragon. As if! No way in the fiery pits of hell she’d let him near another woman. She didn’t even realise she was growling until Simon placed his hand on her arm.

  “Easy, Ophelia. I’d rather you didn’t smoke like that in my car.” His voice was smooth and calm. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you or your dragon was jealous of the mere thought of me being with someone else.”

  Shit. She startled, realising there was dragon smoke coming from her nose and mouth. She drew in a deep breath, trying to calm her dragon. Her chest constricted, worried he would reject her. Had she ruined everything? Why did he have to provoke her? How in all the Hell Realms could she tell him, a dragon slayer, he was her one true mate?

  The automatic windows lowered, and her smoke drifted from the car, clearing the air.

  “Um... I have trouble controlling her sometimes... she’s...possessive. I don’t, I haven’t had sex with many men.”

  Awkward silence filled the car. She glanced sideways, watching Simon’s hands tightly grip the steering wheel as he guided his car through London traffic.

  “Would it help to know I don’t like the idea of you having another lover? Not that either of us could, with the shenanigans you’ve pulled.”

  “I had no choice, I—”

  “Save the excuses sweetheart, everyone has a choice, even pretty dragon princesses. I won’t touch another woman while we’re stuck together, so get your dragon under control.”

  “So what’s your excuse for murdering a dragon?”

  “It wasn’t murder, it was self-defence, and a very long time ago,” he muttered, shifting uneasily on his polished leather seat.

  “How long?”

  “I’m no ordinary human, Opie.”

  She snorted, folding her arms. “No, you’re a first class prick like the rest of humanity.” She glowered at him.

  “You didn’t mind my prick earlier. I thought you didn’t have a lot to compare me too?” His blue eyes flashed in her direction, his gaze sliding down the curve of her breasts, flared round hips, and soft skin. Simon gripped the steering wheel tighter to relieve the tingling in his palms, wanting to reacquaint his fingers with her skin.

  Fuck! What the hell is wrong with me?

  Women, it didn�
�t matter how long he lived, he’d never get them. Especially this alluring, sexy little red head occupying the seat next to him. She frustrated the hell out of him. He half wanted to strangle and fuck her at the same time.

  “Where are we going?” She sat up straighter to peer out at the passing scenery of built-up, suburban homes of outer east London.

  “Home, to shower and eat. I don’t know about dragons, but I like not to reek of blood and battle all the time. I’m not immune to hunger.”

  He’d known hunger and long cold and desperate times, which would have killed any normal mortal man. Such was his brand of immortality; he had to live and suffer like a human, without the effects of actually perishing as they would.

  “I eat like any human would. Just how did a jerk like you end up immortal anyway? Piss off one of the Gods?”

  Oh, if only it was that easy, but she wasn’t too far off the mark. Countless times he cursed the long dead god. He silently did it again, just for good measure.

  “So, are you going to answer my question?” He persisted, ignoring her question.

  She frowned. “What question?”

  “How old are you?”

  “What, you want my star sign too? Or maybe you’d like to know if I like margaritas and taking long romantic walks on the beach?”

  Simon snorted, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. Fucking Odin, he was turning into some modern pansy.

  “Fine, I’m eighty five.” Her folded arms pushed up the swell of her chest, making his brainless dick ache even more. Where many woman had tried and failed to kill him before, this little dragon princess just may succeed through sheer frustration, sexually and mentally.

  Although he knew a lot about the demons he hunted, he’d only ever had contact with one dragon, a time he’d rather forget. He didn’t know much about them. Guess he was getting a crash course on them now. Shifter Dragons 101.

  “How long do dragons live for?”

  “You really don’t know much about us, do you?”

  He turned his head. Raising his dyed eyebrow, he stared at her, his look as dry as he could muster.

  “Alright, we can live up to seven to eight hundred human years.”

  “So what you’re saying is, you’re practically a baby, that’s why you didn’t finish your magic training?”

  Guilt rubbed at him, making him feel like a dirty old pervert.

  “Hardly, I’m very grown up and all woman,” she purred, twisting towards him in the seat, giving him a better view of the crest and valley of her cleavage.

  The car swerved dangerously at one glimpse of her wet pouty lips. His knuckles white on the wheel, he forced his gaze back on the road, trying very hard to ignore the painful throb in his loins.

  Shit, he was in trouble. Think rationally, and not with your cock. A plan, he needed a plan. Fuck her a few more times, to get her out of my system. Kill the bastard after her and then get her the hell out of my life. A simple, fool proof plan.

  “So I skipped a few magic classes, but with good reason. No way was I going to stick around and be married to some old dragon lord for the next millennia. Would you stick around if your father had sold you off for gold?” Bitterness dripped from her words. She shook her head. “So just how old are you, how long ago did you kill a dragon?”

  “You’re not going to let it go, are you?”

  Her glare was a big hell no.

  “Seventeen hundred years ago. Like I said, it was a long time ago. We all do foolish things in our youth.” Of course he left out the part where he took its treasure. But he’d been a foolish youth, blinded by the desire for wealth to gain the attention of a powerful and beautiful woman.

  “You’re seventeen hundred years old?”

  “Give or take a few years.”

  “Oh, so how do you fit that many candles on your birthday cake?”

  “Moot point, I’ve never had a cake to put candles on. So did you attended sarcasm school rather than learn proper magic?”

  She poked her tongue out at him. “Gee, you don’t let up, do you? I learnt enough magic to get by.”

  Simon was sure he was about to rip the steering wheel from its column, he gripped it so tightly. Silence filled the air as she turned her head to stare out the window. The sudden quiet in the car stretched, unnerving him more than her annoying chatter. He’d rather have her asking questions and raging at him than this nerve wracking silence.

  “I grew up along the Rhine, in the forests of North Germany.” Why the hell was he telling her this? Yet, he couldn’t seem to stop himself. “I’ve been a king, so I know the way of royalty. I was tutored by dwarfs and learned to fight and lead my people. I heard from the people about a dragon terrorizing my lands.”

  Opie turned her head, her pretty brow dipped in a frown, her green eyes focused on him.

  “I vowed to grow stronger, to become a skilled warrior and rid the land of the dragon. It took another five winters until I was skilled and strong enough to face the beast. The rest, as you can say, is history.”

  Her chest heaved in a sigh, sadness reflected in her lovely depths.

  “Only exiled dragons are sent to the human world, as punishment for some crime they would have committed in the Dragon Realm. Most dragons are ignorant of how humans live, and fear coming here. If this dragon killed innocents, then you were probably within your right to defend your home. Did you take his treasure?”

  “At the time, I didn’t know there was treasure until after I’d killed him. I was young and foolish. The treasure I took caused me nothing but grief.” Simon pulled his car to a stop to let the gates of his home open.

  She shrugged, “All dragon treasure is cursed, if you’re not a dragon or a dragon’s mate. It’s how we stop thieves.”

  Interesting. “You have treasure?”

  Her lips curved up in a sly grin. “I have a bit saved up. Why? Thinking of slaying me and taking it?” The challenge made her eyes sparkle.

  A shudder of fear ran down his spine as she held his gaze. Lust thickened the air between them as she licked her lips invitingly. He’d already agreed he wasn’t going to bother resisting seductive charm. Just a few more fucks and he’d have her out of his system.

  “I’ve only got one sword I want to sink into you, sweetheart.” He reached forward, fingers sliding around the nape of her neck, tugging her closer, feeling her hot breath fan his face and her rapid pulse under his fingertips. Right here and now she was human, soft, and oh so sweet. “I’m going to make you scream for me, again and again, until we both die from pleasure.”

  Opie’s hand snaked down and cupped him through his leather pants, making him groan, his cock about to burst from just her simple touch. “Your sword is so big and hard, dragon slayer. I like how it feels inside me. I’ll let you slay me all you want with this.”

  “You’re playing with fire, princess.”

  “No, big demon hunter, I think you have it the wrong way around this time. I’m going to make you burn.” Shoving forward that extra inch, their mouths met in an aggressive and hungry kiss. Neither one shy when their teeth and tongues collided, battling for dominance.

  With one powerful shove from her, he slid back into his seat as she climbed over, straddling him, following him down, taking and demanding.

  Damn, he loved strong women. It had landed him in hot water the last time—it had also led to his downfall and betrayal.

  She’s not the same woman; she’s a sexy dragon woman.

  No, he’d be in charge or not at all. He grabbed her wrists, pinned them to her sides and took control of the kiss, nipping at her lips before pulling away.

  “As much as I’d love to take you again, I don’t want to make a public spectacle in the driveway, sweetheart.” He nodded at several people passing on the pavement.

  A deep flush spread from her neck up to her cheeks as she scampered off him. Simon wasted no time lifting his foot off the brake and guiding his car through the gate and down into the basement garage.

&nb
sp; The security doors slid shut behind them and the automatic lights switched on. He slid out of his seat, not the easiest thing in the world to do when you have a boner that could drill for oil. With a flick of a switch, he activated the security settings on his underground compound.

  “Paranoid much?” Opie climbed out, eyeing the large lit panel he punched numbers into.

  “Hunt and kill demons for as long as I have and you learn to be careful.” He turned to her and stalked forward, backing Opie up against his Audi. Her red hair looked damned good against the shiny black; her pale skin even better. He traced a finger down her arm, liking how she shivered at his touch. So responsive.

  “So, princess, you’re on my ground now. Remember I make the rules here, so no more spell casting, got it?”

  Such a mix of innocence and seductiveness. Wide eyed she nodded. “Cross my heart. No more spells, I swear on my life.”

  It was all he needed to hear. “Good, we’ve got something we need to finish.”

  He swooped in, scooping her up in his arms, only one destination in his mind as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his neck, licking at his skin. He could feel her purring against him, or was it her dragon? Even if the human side of her still held reservations, her dragon liked him, he could feel it. Odd, but in this moment he didn’t care, and her purring turned him on even more.

  Chapter 6

  Since her escape from the dragon realm, Opie found herself wanting to experience everything the human realm offered, including human men. But in her encounters, she’d never really experienced true arousal, the kind of desire that makes people act crazy. Here, with her true mate, she and her dragon knew the meaning of pure, aching desire.

  Walls, pictures, and masculine decorative objects passed in a dim blur. Her sole focus, the wonderful feel of the man she wrapped herself around, wanting again to sink under the warm blanket of his essence. She wanted his scent all over her body and to leave hers all over him, so no one would dare come near him. He is mine!

  I know, I know, and we’ve got him, for now at least.

  Mine, keep, mark! Opie held in her snort.