“And I was the payment.” The sapphire eyes darkened. “I’d already figured out that much.”
She slid her hand up to lightly touch his throat. “But you assumed that your mother abandoned you.”
Smoke curled from his nose. “She did.”
“She didn’t have any choice,” she told him. “A fire imp has to be near lava to survive.”
He scowled. “What?”
“From what my mother managed to discover, the creatures have a magical dependency on the lava.”
Torque looked far from impressed by her revelation. “If that was true she would have died in the harem,” he scoffed. “The last time I checked there was no lava there.”
“Any fey can survive for a short length of time even if they are separated from the source of their magic.”
“Just as they can easily be separated from their child.”
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She couldn’t blame Torque for being reluctant to consider the idea that his mother might have a legitimate reason for leaving. Hope could be a dangerous thing.
Still, she wasn’t going to let him turn his back on a potential explanation. It was important to her. Why? Hmm. Not because she was coming to care about him. Of course not. But…she simply couldn’t bear the thought of anyone living with the belief his mother had never loved him.
Yeah. That was it.
“Don’t you see? That would explain why your mother had to leave so quickly after your birth,” she insisted. “She must have been desperate to get home.”
His expression remained hard. “Even if that is true, she could have returned to visit me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Sure about what?”
She clicked her tongue. He was being deliberately obtuse.
There were times when he was so…male.
“Are you sure she didn’t try to see you?” she said in slow, concise tones. “You would have been the property of your father, which meant he would decide who could or couldn’t visit the nursery. She might have returned only to be denied entrance into Pyre’s lair.”
Something flared through his sapphire eyes before he was giving a sharp shake of his head.
“I don’t want to discuss my mother.”
“But—”
He rudely overrode her protest. “I want to discuss your suicidal tendencies.”
“Stop saying that,” she snapped, wondering if he was deliberately trying to piss her off. What better way to distract her? “I’m not trying to kill myself. I was just trying to find a way out of here. I didn’t expect to be caught in a maze.”
“That’s why you don’t rush into unknown places without making sure you won’t be trapped.”
He had a point. She’d impulsively used her shadow without a full understanding of the prison surrounding them.
That didn’t mean, however, she was going to admit she had been reckless. Not when he was doing his best to annoy her.
“Since when did you become my father?” she instead muttered.
“Father?” he snarled, horrified shock rippling over his lean face.
She sent him a chiding frown. “You scold like one.”
There was an explosive silence as Torque glared at her with eyes that smoldered with sapphire fire.
“You scared the hell out of me,” he at last burst out. “Again.” Another glare. “My nerves can’t take any more.”
Once again he managed to steal her righteous outrage. Aggravating creature.
Rya heaved a resigned sigh. Maybe they should discuss more important things. Like how to find her mother and the others so they could get the hell out of there.
“Could you recognize the magic of the maze?” she demanded.
He continued to glare at her, no doubt anxious to continue with his sermon. She was reckless, she was foolish, she was…yadda, yadda, yadda. Then, no doubt sensing he was wasting his breath, he leashed his desire to lash out and forced himself to concentrate on her question.
“It smells of dragon-magic,” he said grimly.
She blinked in surprise. “Dragon?”
“Yes, but it’s strange.”
“Everything about this place is strange,” she said in dry tones.
“True.”
She glanced toward thick ice walls, a shudder racing through her. It would be a long time before she forgot the terrifying sensation of being trapped in the frozen barrier. “How are we going to get out of here?”
He shrugged. “For now, we remain patient.”
She grimaced. “I’m not very good at that.”
His humorless laugh echoed through the small space. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.”
“Hey,” she protested. “Anything is better than just waiting around.”
He studied her flushed face for a long, unnerving moment.
“I could offer a distraction,” he finally murmured, the heat in the air notching up several degrees.
A strange, electric jolt of anticipation arrowed down her spine.
“What sort of distraction?” she demanded.
He lowered his head without warning, stealing her protest with a kiss that sent pleasure searing through her body. She made a sound deep in her throat, her toes curling.
Intoxicating excitement bubbled through her blood, making her lightheaded.
That was the only reason her fingers were curling into the fabric of his T-shirt to pull him closer to her trembling body. Right?
Of course, that didn’t explain why her lips were parting as his tongue stroked into her mouth. Or why she was arching upward in a silent invitation.
But at the moment, she couldn’t make herself care.
Not when he was tugging on her hair to tilt back her head. And his roaming lips were taking advantage of her exposed neck to plant dozens of kisses down to the pulse that thundered at the base of her throat.
Oh…lord.
She shivered as his heat danced over her skin. She could smell his dragon in the air. Taste him lingering on her tongue.
Such raw, ruthless power.
It was enough to make any female melt into a puddle of gooey need.
As she wrapped her arms around his neck, Rya’s lashes were fluttering downward when she caught sight of a gathering darkness out of the corner of her mind.
She stiffened, turning her head as the darkness spread, heading toward them at a frightening speed.
“Torque,” she cried in warning.
His arms tightened around her. “I’ve got you,” he muttered, cloaking them both in the power of his dragon.
Rya released her own inner dragon. It wasn’t as strong as Torque’s, but the two easily melded together, creating a blaze of magic as the darkness washed over them.
CHAPTER SIX
Torque held Rya in his arms, protecting her with his larger body as the blackness swept over them. There was the sensation of being whisked through dimensions. Not a portal.
Just pure magic.
Heat prickled over his skin. It didn’t feel like a threat. It was more a brush of curiosity. Then slowly the darkness receded and a soft glow of light revealed a large room that looked like it’d been carved out of stone.
With a muttered curse, he set Rya on her feet and stepped back. He didn’t want to let go of her, but he needed space to fight.
Spinning in a circle, he searched for a hidden enemy, flames dancing over his skin.
When nothing leaped out of the shadows, he returned his attention to his companion even as his senses remained on high alert. Nothing would be allowed to sneak up on them.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She pushed her hair from her face, her own power thick in the air. As fragile as she might look, she was still a dragon-shifter. She was far from helpless. “What happened?”
“I…” His words faltered as he allowed himself to truly take in their surroundings. “Shit,” he breathed.
“Torque?” Rya murmured in confusion.
He shook his
head, studying the familiar black leather couch and matching chair that was set near a large, stone fireplace.
“It’s not possible,” he muttered, crossing the barren floor to touch the leather-bound books that filled the wooden shelves on one wall.
“What’s not possible?”
He pivoted back to meet Rya’s worried gaze.
“These are my private quarters,” he told her. “Or at least the illusion of my lair.”
Widening her eyes, she glanced around with blatant curiosity.
“It feels real,” she said, studying the large space before lifting toward the vaulted ceiling. “Did you create it?”
“I don’t have the power. As far as I know, only a full dragon can produce an imprint,” he admitted, referring to a dragon’s ability to tap into a person’s mind to create a space that echoed their personal lair.
They could also call on a creature’s deepest fantasy or their worst nightmare, depending on the dragon’s mood.
Thankfully, he’d never been subjected to that particular torture.
Rya’s brows pulled together. “You did say the maze felt like dragon-magic.”
He moved toward the deep hearth with a rough wooden mantel built over it. Char had often teased him for enjoying a roaring fire while he read a book in peaceful solitude. He was half dragon, after all. He could create his own flames.
Was it possible that his love for the roaring heat came from his mother? He gave a sharp shake of his head. Dammit. He hadn’t thought about his mother in decades. Now wasn’t the time to start.
Instead, he concentrated on his companion’s words, recalling the distinct power that’d sizzled around him as he’d searched for Rya’s essence that was lost in the ice.
“Yes,” he said. “I don’t know why, but there was a definite dragon vibe.”
She nodded, accepting his vague explanation without question.
Nothing short of a miracle.
“Your father?”
Torque shook his head, glancing toward the small gift from Baine’s mate that was set on a low table. The delicate pewter figure had sapphire chips as the eyes and a scroll in one hand. Tayla had adamantly ignored his assurance that he had no desire for a dragon’s hoard, revealing that she’d had the gift personally made for him.
That knowledge had made him treasure the little figurine.
“Doubtful. The details are far too perfect,” he said, his lips twisting at the mere thought of his father wasting his energy creating anything that didn’t gain him an obvious advantage. “Like Synge, my father has always concentrated on honing his battle skills. He’s a big believer in the ‘might makes right’ philosophy.”
Rya nodded in understanding. She might have lived in a separate harem, but she would be well aware that her father ruled with brute strength.
“What about your master? I’ve heard that he is far more…civilized than most dragons.”
Torque gave a short laugh. Baine and civilized should never be spoken in the same sentence. Still, she was right that the younger dragon had a reputation for subtle cunning.
“Baine has the skill, but I would recognize his power,” he assured her.
She gave a slow nod. “So it has to be another dragon.”
“Or an enemy who wants us to let down our guard,” he pointed out, not willing to take anything for granted.
She wrinkled her nose. “Neither thought is very comforting.”
Without hesitation he was moving the short distance to wrap her in his arms. Instantly something eased deep inside him.
As if he wasn’t quite…settled without the feel of her warmth pressed against him.
Which was ridiculous, of course. But for now he didn’t question the odd sensation.
“Nothing’s going to happen to you, Rya,” he swore in low tones. “I’ve pledged my life to protect you.”
For a moment she leaned against his chest, seeming to take comfort in his embrace. Then, without warning, she became rigid in his arms, her scent changing as she tilted back her head to glare at him.
“More duty?” she demanded.
He studied her tight expression with a puzzled frown. He’d been trying to offer her comfort, but clearly he’d done something wrong.
“Why does that word bother you?”
“Who said it does?”
He made a sound of impatience. “I’m not very good at reading minds, but you smell like scorched lotus blossoms when you’re angry.”
She jutted her chin, her eyes a rich amber in the muted light. “I don’t like the knowledge that you see me as a constant burden.”
“A burden?” What the hell was she talking about?
She hunched her shoulders. “What else would you call a duty?”
He reached up to lightly touch her cheek. Inwardly he cursed his past mistakes. He’d made her feel unwanted. Now she doubted every word he said to her.
“My duty toward you isn’t a burden, Rya. It’s a sacred promise,” he murmured in a soft voice, considering his words with care. “One that is etched upon my soul. What could be more important?”
She didn’t look entirely convinced. “That still doesn’t change the fact you were forced into the betrothal.”
“Just as you were,” he gently reminded her. “But while our meeting was fated by your mother’s vision, how we choose to build our relationship from here is entirely in our hands. I think we could create something very, very special.”
“Oh.” Something vulnerable flared through her eyes as a warm flushed touched her cheeks. “Torque—”
“Shh.” He pressed a finger against her lips as he felt the approach of an intruder. “Someone’s coming.”
Pulling back, he started to pivot toward the entryway, when Rya suddenly reached out to grasp his arm.
“Wait.” She frowned as he turned his head to meet her narrowed gaze. “You get to put yourself in danger, but I can’t?”
“Exactly,” he agreed, wondering why she’d asked such a foolish question. Gently he tugged his arm free of her grip. “Stay here.”
She growled low in her throat. “This conversation isn’t done, mister,” she warned.
“Mister?”
She shrugged. “It’s better than jackass.”
Torque headed out of the main living chamber with a shake of his head. Rya was without a doubt the most complex, aggravating creature he’d ever met.
Or maybe it was just the emotions she inspired that were aggravating.
After all, he’d spent his entire existence pretending that he didn’t have feelings. That was what was expected of a warrior in his father’s lair. It made life much easier.
Now he didn’t know what to do with the tangled mess of emotions.
“Females,” he muttered, moving through the small entryway and into the corridor that was a perfect match for the one in Baine’s lair.
“Yes.” A lightly accented voice murmured before there was a shimmer of magic and a small creature appeared before him. The stranger had a pretty oval face with long, brilliant red hair and odd, pale eyes dotted with flecks of color like opals. “I believe I am a female.”
“Shit.” Torque spread his feet and squared his shoulders, prepared to be attacked.
The power pulsing in the air was heavy. Thunderous.
Ancient.
The intruder, however, did nothing more than smooth her hands down the linen robe that covered her slender body.
“Language,” she chided, the air filled with pinpricks of heat.
Torque gave a cautious nod of his head. The female was a delicate wisp, and her pale features made her look as if she was still barely more than a foundling. But he wasn’t stupid.
A dragon could take any form they wanted. And this one had the sort of presence that only came from a very old creature who wielded an unimaginable magic.
It seemed best to treat her with a wary respect.
“Forgive me,” he murmured.
The threatening power eased as her eyes
suddenly twinkled with starbursts of color.
“Of course.” She seemed to float forward, patting him on the cheek. “I do adore a handsome male. There was one…” Her words trailed away, her voice becoming distant. “So long ago.”
Torque remained wary. Dragons were fickle creatures who could go from charming to lethal in the blink of an eye.
“I’m Torque, son of Pyre,” he said, waving his hand toward the doorway behind him. “My companion is Rya, daughter of—”
The female interrupted his introduction. “Synge.”
Torque instinctively stepped to the side, blocking the doorway with his body. Not that he could hope to stop the female if she wanted to get to Rya. He wasn’t sure even his powerful father could match this dragon in a fair fight. “Do you know her?” he demanded.
The woman blinked in confusion, the colors dimming in her eyes to leave them oddly opaque.
“Of course not.”
Okay. Torque cleared his throat. He was sensing there was something not entirely…stable about the female.
“Can you tell me where we are?” he asked, keeping his voice light.
He feared if he pressed her too hard, she might disappear.
Or worse, turn him into a crispy critter.
“No.” She glanced around, as if confused by the sight of the wide corridor and high ceiling. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“It wasn’t our intention to intrude,” he rushed to assure her. “We were searching for Rya’s missing mother when we were trapped in the ice.”
She frowned, perhaps silently testing his words to search for any hint of deception. Finally, she tilted back her head and sucked in a deep breath.
“A portal,” she abruptly said.
He nodded. “Yes. It was a portal that brought us here.”
“How?” Her frown deepened. “It doesn’t smell of you.”
“No.” He shrugged. “It was formed by an unknown enemy who has been kidnapping frost sprites along with a Shinto female.” She continued to frown and he was struck by a sudden thought. “Oh, and it was kept open by a miniature gargoyle.”
The dragon looked at him as if he was some sort of whackadoodle.
“A miniature gargoyle?”
Dragons of Eternity Collection Page 24
