THE MATING CLAIM: Werewolves of Montana Book 14

by Vanak, Bonnie

  Through the throng of people at the counter, he spotted her. Long, dark hair bound back in its usual braid, her face shining as she rang up sales on the cash register. For a moment he simply stood, staring at her. She pulled at him in some mysterious way.

  Drust hated mystery. He started forward. As if sensing his power, the crowd respectfully parted. Whispers threaded through the air. “Coldfire Wizard.”

  He cared not.

  She saw him and her pretty mouth turned down. “Wait in line, like everyone else.”

  “I am not the waiting type, Lacey McGuire.” Flattening his palms on the wood counter he leveled his coldest stare at Lacey. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “I’m giving out spells. It’s called a loss leader, wizard. You give away a freebie to entice people into buying more because they crave the rest of the products you sell.”

  Drust vaulted over the counter and backed Lacey against the wall. “Are these spells from the Book of Shadows?”

  Lacey only smiled. “Maybe. I have nothing to lose, so what does it matter to you?”

  It means everything to me, for I cannot lose you. He blinked at the thought. Focus on the matter at hand.

  “The book was never intended for mortal use. You know not what you have, Lacey.” Drust turned, mustered his most charming smile for the clients. All of them were Others, so he could dispense the crowd easily.

  “Pardon me, but Lacey has an urgent request to fulfill. You’ll have to go elsewhere. Have a beer on me.”

  He waved a hand and all the witches vanished. They would find themselves inside a comfortable bar down the street, never remembering having visited the shop or why they were even in the area, only that the barkeep would run a generous tab, which Drust would later pay.

  As for Lacey…

  Infuriated at the idea she’d sold spells from the book, he let all his powers surge. The air grew cold and flickering with cobalt blue pulses. “Answer me, Lacey! Did you sell those spells from the book?”

  Blood drained from her face. She backed up against the counter, her breath hitching, her hands shaking “No.”

  Her voice was small and judging from her too-rapid pulse, he’d finally scared her. Regret filled him. He hated seeing fear on her face. “Good. What spells did you use?”

  “Old ones I had copied out of a potion book my mom gave me. The witches need to keep buying herbs and potions to keep the spells potent.”

  He let his powers die down, and the air turned normal. Lacey breathed deeply.

  “You tricked them,” he said slowly.

  “No, I gave them free spells and they have to buy the potions and herbs to make them work. I’m running a business here, wizard.” She glared at him, the old, insolent Lacey back once more. “And how am I supposed to pay the rent on this place this month without any customers?”

  “You have more to worry about than money.”

  “Easy for you to say.” She waved a hand. “You can go now.”

  “I think not. I have something to say to you.” Lifting her by the waist, he carried her into the back room.

  “And why are you always manhandling me? Asking nicely would get you further,” she complained as he set her down on her feet in the back room.

  Narrowing his eyes, he studied her. “I may consider it in the future. Would you cooperate?”

  “No.” A small smile touched her mouth. “But I may consider it in the future.”

  Drust wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t let her see his amusement. Instead, he stroked her cheek with a thumb. “I am sorry about killing your father.”

  Her eyes went bright, anger glittering in her gaze. “And I’m supposed to say, oh, it’s all right. It’s not like I have a spare one lying around, Drust. Do you even understand what you took from me?”

  Guilt and irritation filled him. “I took nothing from you, only removed an inherent danger that could have destroyed you, Lacey. He was quite mad. Surely you noticed the twitches in his hands, the nervousness he displayed.”

  She fell silent.

  “But I will not debate this with you now. Where is the Book of Shadows?”

  “Up yours,” she said sweetly.

  Drust gritted his teeth. “I am sorely tempted to turn you over my knee and spank you for your insolence.”

  She considered. “Huh. I never knew you were into kink. Might be fun.”

  This time he did release a grudging laugh, and backed her up against the wall. “Make no mistake about it. This would not be fun.”

  “You’re such an ancient. I bet you don’t even like sex. Do you even remember how to do it?”

  Unruffled by her feeble taunts, Drust gave her a knowing look. “Do not tempt me, young one. I could remove your clothing with a snap of my fingers, and when I was finished bedding you, you would be ruined for another male. No other would ever make you feel as much pleasure.”

  An unladylike snort burst from her, but not before he spotted the spark of intrigue in her clear green eyes, and felt the delicate wave of her interest, smelled the rise of her arousal. “Ah Lacey, you think you could resist me? I think not.”

  “I would just walk away from you, wizard.”

  His smile widened. “After being in my bed, you would have trouble walking, little one.”

  Her breath hitched. Got you. He’d found a chink in her prickly armor. Much as he liked playing with her, and the idea of really playing with her as she lay naked beneath him, he had duties.

  A tingling rushed down his spine. Drust cocked his head, listening to the faraway need for help. He still had time.

  First though. He removed the bracelet from his pocket and slid it onto Lacey’s wrist. She held up her arm.

  “Hey, what gives… ow!”

  She stared as the bracelet vanished, leaving a cobalt blue tattoo of itself stamped on her wrist.

  “Did that hurt?” Truly, he did not wish to hurt her.

  “It tingled.” She touched her wrist. “What the hell is this, wizard? If I wanted to get inked, there’s plenty of tattoo shops I could visit.”

  Closing his eyes, he hummed a little, feeling her energy as if it were his own. Excellent.

  “I shall return,” he told her.

  After dematerializing to his castle, he used his powers to see her in his mind’s eye. Lacey remained in the shop, touching her wrist, a confused and yet beguiling expression on her face.

  Drust returned to the shop. She scowled at him. “You put a tracking device on me! What am I, a prisoner?”

  “Not yet,” he murmured.

  She frowned. “It feels weird. When I touch it, I can see you.”

  Startled, he recoiled a little, for he’d thought it was a one-way transceiver. “Where I am?”

  Her frown deepened. “No, just a hazy image of you. Sort of like a daydream. If I wanted to daydream about something Drust, it wouldn’t be your ugly mug.”

  Lacey looked hopeful. “Can you use your magick to invoke an image of Jason Momoa for me?”

  “Who?”

  Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her phone, typed something and then showed him. “You know, Aquaman. Oh wait. You’re still stuck in the 15th century.”

  Though she insulted him, he laughed, for he knew she was throwing up a front to shield herself. Besides, Xavier was right. He was far too serious.

  Deciding to test her, he snapped his fingers, hoping he would get the illusion right. Gideon had taught him the art of glamour, but it was still a new power.

  Judging from her shocked expression, the trick worked. “Is this better? Do I resemble this aquatic man you admire?” he asked.

  “Holy crap, you look like Aquaman.” Lacey blinked and then stepped back.

  He was pleased to see disappointment flicker in her green eyes instead of desire and passion.

  “Turn it off before my shop gets invaded by fangirls.” She tilted her head. “On second thought, how about we go into business together? You stand outside my shop with a sign that you’ll give out autographs
and photo opps in exchange for people purchasing $15 worth of items from me.”

  “Only $15?”

  “Don’t want to be greedy.”

  “No, you only wish to be deceptive.” Drust snapped his fingers, dropping the glamour.

  Lacey sighed. “I like you better like this. I was only kidding about the autographs. I am a reputable businesswoman, Drust. I don’t cheat or lie. If I don’t have my values and my moral compass, I might as well close up shop.”

  “And yet you stole a potion from me.”

  A flush tinted her face. “It was an experiment to help my sister. I would do anything for Evie. That’s where my moral compass goes a little askew.”

  She glanced down at her wrist. “How is she? Is she happy?”

  “Very much so. She has everything she ever wanted.”

  “Good. She deserves it.”

  And what do you deserve, Lacey McGuire? He did not voice aloud the thought, but wondered. “Why would you be rigid in your personal life with a code of honor and drop it for your sister?”

  At first she said nothing, only kept touching her tattooed wrist. Finally she spoke in a quiet voice. “Because Evie saved my sanity those last five years in my foster monster’s home. She kept me from cashing in my chips. With her to protect, I had a purpose.”

  Gaze haunted, she finally looked at him. “You know what that’s like, wizard? To not have purpose?”

  His chest tightened as he recalled all the long, lonely centuries spent in the afterworld of the Shadow Lands, filled with guilt, regret and loneliness. “Yes. It is… not good.”

  “You’ve been there. Maybe not like me… but something else.” Lacey studied him. “What was it? I can see it in your eyes that something terrible happened.”

  How could he explain to her the horrible emptiness of his time in the Shadow Lands? She was a mortal dragon shifter. He hoped she never did find out.

  “It is in the past. My past is not a topic for discussion.” His voice sounded edgy and he did not mean it, but damnit, just thinking about what happened after he died dredged up horrible emotions.

  She held her hands out. “No worries, wizard. I get it. No need to get blue on me.”

  As he stared, she offered a small smile. “That’s a joke. I mean you already dress in blue…and sometimes you glow blue…”

  “I get it,” he said dryly.

  Drust shook his head, deeply amused. This dragon irked him, frustrated him, and challenged him, and yet she made him feel more alive than he could ever recall.

  And he had a duty to compel her into destroying the book, whether he did it through cajoling her or through force. Because the book was his overriding concern.

  He splayed his fingers over her face, wishing he could drill sense into her thick skull. “I have another call. A dragon has great need of my presence. You have two hours to come to your senses about the book. Do not use any spells from it or there will be bitter consequences for you. I’ll be back. You will do as I say.”

  But just before he vanished, he heard her mutter, “Not on your immortal life, wizard.”

  Chapter 6

  Although she was dragon, Lacey had the instinct of a hunted animal. When there was something that marked you as prey, you did not bring it out in the open and flaunt it.

  Especially not with the powerful Coldfire Wizard hunting you down. A wizard who now had embellished her with a tattoo that could track her at all times. She felt like a prisoner with an ankle bracelet.

  So while Drust was gone, hopefully preoccupied with another dragon, she went home and tucked the Book of Shadows into a safe hiding place. The spells within it would make a nice profit for her shop, but right now it proved too risky. Lacey shuddered as she remembered Drust turning Turbo Wizard on her. Not only had the temperature dropped thirty degrees, but the blue glow surrounding him resembled an electrical field. She knew if she dared touch him, she’d die.

  Never before had she seen such immense power before. Another shudder raced down her spine. Not that I wish to see it again.

  And yet he’d flirted with her, and she flirted back. Stupid me. Having sex with Drust would be more dangerous than getting near a nuclear reactor melting down.

  Because a nuclear reactor would only kill her.

  Drust could cripple her emotionally for life.

  Why she felt this zany attraction for him, she did not know. Men had held little interest for her over the years, though she had dated a few. Once or twice she wondered if she was gay, but women held no interest, either. She just had no interest in having sex and thought herself as asexual.

  Until meeting Drust. Then it was like someone flipped on a switch and all her lady parts sat up and said. Hello! You’ve been neglecting us!

  Troubled, she pushed the idea of sex from her thoughts and went to her part-time job at a local restaurant. The bar bustled tonight with locals, all shifters, for it was a restaurant catering to Others. Mostly dragons and Lupines and few scraggly cougar shifters frequented The Burning Taco.

  The food was not the only thing that burned. Tommy, the owner, kept several fire extinguishers handy. It was the only way he could insure the place.

  Tonight she’d been assigned to the patio. Lacey cringed as she belted on her apron over the jeans. Her white blouse was old, but clean and pressed, though a little too tight for her liking. At least the weather outside was cool, with the hint of a breeze that kept the cigar smoke at bay. Her nose wrinkled as she stepped onto the shaded wood deck. Dragons who smoked. It really made no sense to her.

  For two hours she bustled, carrying plates of the nightly special to tables filled with hungry Others. Six dragon shifters crowded into the coveted corner table with its pristine view of the Intracoastal Waterway. They drank too much beer and were getting far too boisterous. One tried to cop a feel, but she danced around him.

  If she didn’t need the tips so badly, she would have kicked him where the sun didn’t shine, but as it was, she had to settle smiles and staying out of reach.

  As the sky darkened with the setting sun, she felt an odd shift in the air, a bump of pure energy that made her spine straight. Gooseflesh broke out on her forearms. Lacey set down a heavy tray of fish tacos and two bottles of scorching sauce. This table, filled with dragon shifters who only wanted to party, promised to be a good one tonight, with the food rolling in until closing, and the liquor as well.

  Thunder rumbled in the distance. Lacey squinted at the cloudless sky, streaked with orange and pink colors of sunset.

  Several dragons glanced upward as well, looking uneasy. A few dug out bills from their wallets, tossed them on the tables and scurried away.

  As she started to set down the food plates, the dragon sitting at the head of the table shook his head. “Sorry sweetheart. We’ll pay next time, but we’re not sticking around for the fire show.”

  Her heart sank, but there was little she could do except watch them leave as if demons from hell pursued them. With a weary sigh, she sat on a chair vacated by the dragons.

  Damn. There went her chance to make decent tips tonight. She wanted to bang her head against the wood post.

  Instead, she stood, and carried the heavy tray back to the kitchen. The cook was far from pleased, but again, it wasn’t her fault.

  “This comes out of your check,” he growled.

  Lacey blinked. “I wasn’t the one driving them off.”

  “Doesn’t matter!” Scowling, he turned his attention to the orders.

  She went outside, her stomach rumbling with hunger again. All her energy fueled by the earlier meal had vanished with shifting into dragon.

  As she picked up empties from the corner table and delivered an extra-large piece of prime rib, the big, burly dragon who’d tried to cop a feel earlier clapped a hand on her ass and squeezed.

  “I like females with lots of meat on them,” he purred.

  She slapped his hand away and grabbed his steak knife. “Touch me again and I’ll serve you your balls on a pla
tter, extra crispy.”

  A cold mist crept over the parking lot. Lacey nearly dropped the platter as she stared at the fog.

  “Fog in Florida?” A Lupine shifter sitting at the outdoor bar shook his head. “Something wicked this way comes.”

  No, something wizard this way comes.

  The dragons sensed it as well, for all of them turned to look at the spooky fog, snaking over the asphalt, blurring the excellent water view and blocking out glimpses of the expensive yachts preening as they cruised up and down the waterway.

  Now the thunder boomed, and the wind blew hard, scattering napkins, knocking over the salt and pepper shakers. Everyone ran inside. She heard frightened murmurs of “Coldfire Wizard.”

  Aw damn. Seriously?

  “I don’t have time for your scaly hide, Drust.”

  Barely had she muttered the words when said owner of the scaly hide materialized on the deck a few feet away.

  “Scaly hide?” he asked in a deep, silken tone.

  Lacey’s heart banged against her chest. She shrugged. “You are a dragon. What else would you have?”

  The wizard gazed around at the nearly deserted patio deck, empty but for the corner table of boisterous dragons eating tacos and a drunk dragon at the outdoor bar nursing a tall glass of whiskey. “What is this place you’re working at?”

  “It’s a taco restaurant. Some of us have to work for a living, Drust. We can’t just wave a hand and have a sack of gold appear.”

  “Cool trick,” the drunk said. “Can you top off my glass with some whiskey?”

  Ignoring him, Drust gently laced his fingers around her wrist. “Come. I wish to meet the owner of this establishment who employs you.”

  Unless she wanted to make a fuss, she had little choice. Still, she couldn’t help but push his hot buttons. “And if I say no? You going to cart me inside like a sack of potatoes again?”

  He tilted his head, those amazing blue eyes sparkling with humor. “Potatoes at a taco restaurant? Truly Lacey, how uncouth do you think I am?”