THE MATING CLAIM: Werewolves of Montana Book 14

by Vanak, Bonnie

  When they were seated and he’d poured the wine, Lacey dug in. She ate in small, dainty bites, but no use in pretending she wasn’t hungry.

  She was starving, even after that picnic at the swamp. It was as if her body realized there was food, and her dragon roared for more.

  “Did you find anything out yet?” Best to keep the conversation to business. You know, the business of me not dying.

  “No.” He played with his fork, twirling it in his fingers. Lacey had the feeling he wasn’t even aware of doing it. “It’s a frustrating and academic read. The language is somewhat challenging. But I have plenty of pages yet to decipher, so I am confident there is an answer in there, somewhere.”

  “Like a needle in a haystack. Or a diamond on a sandy beach.”

  Drust set down the fork and picked up his goblet, sipping the wine. “Try the wine. It’s an excellent vintage.”

  Lacey tried it and found it to her taste. “You always did have good taste in wine,” she murmured, swirling the liquid in her glass.

  Glancing up she saw him staring at her, a little frown denting his dark brows. “What?”

  “Nothing. At least, I believe it is nothing. Or it could be something.” He set down his glass. “Lacey, you said you feel as if we have known each other previously, when I was mortal and you clearly… had another life.”

  The excellent steak turned to cardboard in her stomach. She set down her fork. “Considering I’m only in my twenties and not ancient like you, it would have to be another life.”

  But her prickly joke did not make him frown, or drop the topic. “Yes, a past life. One you would not recall, of course. But I should. So frustrating.”

  “I don’t know about my past life, if I had one.” She sipped the wine, nodded in pleasure. “This is wonderful. A little tangy and yet sweet.”

  “Like you.”

  His smile made her tingle all over. “I think I’m more tart than sweet.” A shrug. “Regarding a past life, I’m more concerned with this present one. Maybe I have lived in the past. But I want to spend every moment now living in the present.”

  “Very wise. I have only my past to guide me, and like most of our people, my instincts. We dragons live a long time, but unfortunately, some of us let our passions and tempers rule over logic, and get into battles that end our lives far too soon.”

  The conversation turned serious. She wanted something lighter, yet now was a good time to fulfill her curiosity about him.

  “How did you die, Drust?”

  Watching his expression tighten, she realized maybe she’d been too blunt. But he took a large swig of wine and nodded.

  “Others have asked me the same, though you’re the first to not couch it in polite terms. Refreshing.”

  He set down his glass. “I’ve always told them it was a carriage accident. A simple explanation.”

  Lacey watched the shadows in his eyes. “You didn’t. It was… much worse. I can tell.”

  For a moment he was silent. Then his troubled gaze met hers, the blue of his eyes penetrating.

  “It was during the last battle of the great Drakon Wars between Fae and shifters. Together with my generals, I organized a plot to finally kill Fae King Emer, and end his reign of cruelty. But to do so, I had to sacrifice… the only way to get close to him was to swoop down through enemy fire, distract his troops, and draw fire away from those who finally did kill him.”

  “You were the sacrifice,” she realized.

  Drust traced a line on the tablecloth. “It was not… nice.”

  “Spears and arrows aren’t enough to kill a dragon.” Horror filled her. “Unless they manage to take one of us down and attack all at once.”

  A wry smile touched his mouth. “Exactly. And then to leave you alive, barely, as their prisoner in exchange for peace and ending the war, a trade for Emer’s life.”

  Lacey’s throat tightened. “How long did you linger?”

  Drust held up his hand. “Two weeks, three days, five hours and seventeen minutes.”

  Now Lacey knew exactly what happened. “I heard about this, about you. The story has been passed down through generations. But they didn’t say it was you. The name of the dragon was lost in time.”

  “Part of the deal I made. They erased my name from the dragon history books because they did not want my memory honored. And I did not wish my kin to avenge my death.”

  The dragon mentioned in the books had died horribly. Lacey’s chest felt hollow. “You sacrificed your life for our people. Why then, did you remain in the Shadow Lands in the afterlife?”

  Another wry smile. “Guilt, over something that happened with Tristan and how he died. We were best friends in our mortal lives.”

  As they finished the bottle of wine, he filled her in on the details. When the last drop had been drunk, Drust sat back and glanced at the sun, slowing sinking toward the Gulf of Mexico.

  “There are no Skins for at least a mile in either direction. I warded the land for while we are here. I have the need to fly tonight. Do you care to join me in watching the sunset from the sky as only our kind can do?”

  Lacey grinned. “Better than watching it on the beach. Let’s go. Can we breathe a few flames into the air just to scare the Skins into thinking the sky is on fire?”

  “You are a naughty dragon,” he murmured. “Ah, let me think. No.”

  She glanced at the dirty dishes and glasses. “You cooked dinner. I’ll clean up.”

  Drust arched a dark brow. “Not necessary.”

  He waved a hand and the dishes and glasses vanished, along with the tablecloth. Drust dusted off his hand. “I’m ready.”

  Lacey laughed. “That’s efficient. I bet you wizards don’t even know how to do dishes.”

  “I believe Tristan’s mate Nikita has him do them once in a while, just to keep him humble. He’s a Lupine wizard, so he has the tendency to be arrogant.” Drust winked.

  Charmed, she laughed. “Unlike you.”

  “Of course.”

  Drust stood and held out a hand. She slid her palm into his, feeling the tensile strength beneath skin and sinew, and yet his grip was gentle, as if he knew his own strength but didn’t wish to hurt her.

  They walked onto the beach. As predicted, no one was around for miles.

  “Ready? You first.”

  Lacey walked off and then called upon her magick. This time, thanks to the beef she’d consumed, her powers flared easily. Laughing she twirled, and felt her bones transform, her body change without even a twinge of discomfort.

  When her eyes opened, her vision was sharper, but in shades of different colors. Drust appeared as a cobalt blue shimmering outline of a man. Startled, she realized how much power he manifested, even at rest. Her dragon had never deciphered this because she’d been too focused on maintaining her dragon form.

  Lacey stretched out a wing, admiring how the dying sunlight picked out flecks of blue amidst the green on her body.

  Hey, I make a pretty dragon.

  All her senses sharpened. The briny smell of the Gulf, the taste of salt on her tongue, and the feel of the breeze against her scales.

  Grinning at him, she stretched out her wings, indicating “let’s fly!”

  When Drust did not move, she opened her mouth and blew a small puff of smoke his way. Then she lumbered over to him and nudged him with her nose.

  Still, he did not move, merely stood there and slowly reached out to stroke her nose.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said, voice husky and soft.

  Few men ever complimented her looks. None ever admired her dragon form. Lacey was far too pragmatic to preen over his compliment.

  For a dragon, she muttered in her mind.

  Beautiful in any form, his voice spoke in her head.

  Frowning, she looked at him. You can read my thoughts, and I can hear yours.

  Of course. I am the Coldfire Wizard. Just one of my many talents.

  Well, is shifting included in those talents? Because I
’d like to fly before the next sunset, Drust.

  Grinning, he stepped back, iridescent sparks shimmering around him. He shifted into a dragon slightly larger than she – a lovely silver dragon with cobalt-tipped wings. Power radiated from him much like the glow of a lamp.

  She’d seen him in dragon form before, but this was different. Always it had been a slight threat, a chase after her. This time was purely pleasure.

  Need a boost, he spoke into her mind.

  Lacey wasn’t too proud to admit she did. She nodded.

  Magick glimmered around her and she found herself floating upward. Extending her wings, she flapped them and caught the breeze, rising higher.

  He joined her and then he headed for the water. Lacey let him take the lead. It had been too long since she’d flown simply for enjoyment.

  They soared higher, keeping below the few scattered clouds, dipping now and then to startle flocks of pelicans flying past. The bright yellow sun turned into an orange ball sinking into a rose and gold sky, and then finally vanished.

  Her human half sighed with pure appreciation. Living in Florida certainly had its advantages. Sunsets were one.

  Drust soared above her, and then dove into a freefall, and at the last minute before hitting the water, pulled up, his scales skimming the surface. Lacey grinned, showing rows of dragon teeth.

  Show off.

  If you’ve got it, flaunt it.

  Spreading his wings, he flew upward, circling around her. You try it. You’ve got the strength now.

  Lacey didn’t feel nearly comfortable enough to try. I’ll watch. You put on the show. Feels good just to fly.

  She flew higher, sailing upward, admiring the striations of color in the clouds dotting the horizon. Brilliant pink streaked the sky, the clouds indigo and purple. Only in flying did she feel truly free and uninhibited.

  No worries.

  No fears.

  Just living for the moment. As dragon, she could dismiss everything but instinct to fly, fight, hunt.

  Breed.

  A tingle rushed through her. Sexual awareness heightened in her animal form. She watched Drust in dragon form, remembering the athletic physique of his Skin body.

  The taut muscles and sinew.

  The smooth curve of his tight bottom.

  The impressive display of his cock and balls.

  Arousal flowed through her as Lacey watched Drust perform circles, blowing out puffs of smoke like a skywriting plane. Charmed, she saw he spelled out Beautiful Lacey.

  In cursive.

  I may be a millennial dragon, but I can read cursive. Laughing, she blew out puffs of smoke of her own.

  Tried a little skywriting of her own and then dropped to a lower altitude to study her creation.

  Drust.Well-hung.

  Horrified, she blew out more smoke, trying to erase it.

  Too late. Flying closer to her, Drust flashed a toothy grin.

  Thanks for the compliment. She heard him laughing inside her mind.

  Finally the last streaks of light faded, and Drust nudged her from behind. Let’s return to the house before you tire.

  Lacey followed him back toward the shore. Shifting into dragon certainly had its advantages.

  When they landed and shifted back into their human form and clothing, Drust held out his hand. Lacey took it as they walked back to the house.

  “I love being a dragon,” she told him, still rapt with the experience. “Flying is so freeing for me. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t fly. I guess that’s why I spoiled Evie for all those years, for her malformed wing. I felt bad she could not experience the skies the way I could.”

  He nodded. “To fly at night, see the canopy of stars as if one could touch them, it is truly the best part of being dragon.”

  Drust made her feel free and uninhibited. She cherished this feeling, thinking she could express herself honestly and not worry he would take it the wrong way. He didn’t push himself on her, but seemed to take cues from her. So different from the other men she’d been around. Letting her take her time, getting to know her, and yet she knew the simmering heat between them threatened to boil over like a pressure cooker.

  Anticipation could be as wonderful as the reward. A shiver of sensual delight went through her. As long as the anticipation did not stretch out too long.

  She didn’t know how long she had on this earth. No one did. But while she still lived and breathed, she wanted to seize life with both hands and enjoy every last second.

  That included sex with Drust. She could imagine no one else for a lover. Every time she was around him, her body felt electrified, tight with need. It made her realize she hadn’t been as frigid and sexless as her ex-boyfriend stated.

  I was merely waiting for the right man.

  No, the right wizard.

  The house was dark when they approached, but Drust waved a hand, illuminating the outdoor and kitchen lights. In the living room, she rummaged through one of the books on the shelves.

  Ancient Greek Myths. Lacey held it up. “Your high school yearbook?”

  “Ha ha. Before my time.” He headed into the kitchen. “Drink?”

  “You drink?”

  “Not alcohol. I was thinking hot chocolate. It is chilly out and you are cold-blooded by nature.”

  I feel warm-blooded now, real warm. Lacey sat on the sofa, curling her legs beneath her.

  When he brought over the hot chocolate, steam curling into the air, their gazes met. The heat in his almost made her drop the mug.

  So he definitely felt it as well. With this kind of sexual energy jumping between them, it was going to be hard for him to focus on finding a way to save her.

  Setting down the mug, she bit back a nervous laugh. Not that he didn’t look amazing when he was hard.

  Maybe she should push him away. Because as much as she was dying to have sex with this cute, serious and extremely hunky wizard, she was also dying if he didn’t answers to the book’s destruction.

  “You know Drust, I’m restless. I think I’m going to fly again, See the stars.”

  He sat on the sofa and leaned back. “No.”

  Ah hell, here we go. “No? You’re telling me what to do?”

  Jumping up, she began to pace by the sofa. “It’s a lovely night and you said there’s no Others or Skins for two miles. I’m safe.”

  “No. It’s not safe. I need you here where I can keep an eye on you.”

  “So you’re my keeper now? I thought you cared.”

  “Damnit I do care!”

  The outburst stunned her. She licked her mouth. “You say you do, but you’re acting like a jailer. Why Drust? Maybe I’ll go to a local bar, see if there are any cute guys.”

  “No.” His jaw tensed so hard it looked ready to shatter. “You will not pick up any strange men.”

  “So, maybe there are some who aren’t strange.”

  “No! I forbid it!”

  “Why? You can’t tell me what to do.”

  “Lacey…”

  “Or is it because you want me for yourself, Drust? And the thought of another man touching me drives you nuts?”

  “Our destinies have collided.” His gaze burned with intent. “You and I shared the same dream. We will be lovers. I will not share you with another man.”

  Suddenly she was in his arms, and he was kissing her, really kissing her, his hand splayed over the back of her head, tugging at her hair, his mouth devouring hers. His body crushed against hers, hard and muscled, quivering with bare restraint.

  She did not hold back, but let him feel everything she’d bottled up. Lacey dug her nails into his back and kissed him back, tasting him, her tongue meeting his as he opened his mouth and deepened the kiss. A moan escaped her as everything in her turned liquid hot with arousal.

  She wanted to strip off all her clothing and lie naked on the sofa and let him ravish her.

  Her legs quivered with the need to open wide and let him plunge deep inside her, claiming her in the f
lesh.

  They made it to the sofa, and he pulled her on top of him, letting her feel his need, his arms around her as they kept kissing. Everything inside her screamed with joy.

  The joy of feeling passion, where she’d previously felt none.

  The joy of simply living for pleasure, for the moment.

  For this, this wizard who’d tormented and teased and threatened her, in her arms at last. He was no longer a powerful wizard, but simply a man with a man’s needs, same as her.

  Equals.

  He flicked his hands upward and she found herself floating through the air, then deposited gently on the chair opposite the sofa.

  What the…

  Lacey stared in utter bewilderment. Panting, Drust sat up, his blue eyes glowing cobalt, as if his powers surged along with passion.

  “I cannot do this. Lacey. We must stop.”

  Drust strode toward the sliding glass doors, opening them to the sea breeze. Panting, and quivering like a race horse ready to sprint, but denied the starting gate.

  Damnit.

  “Why not? I want you, Drust.”

  A short laugh. “And I also desire you, Lacey, obviously. But you are my charge and I will not violate my oath to protect dragons like you, and deliver justice. I cannot get involved with you.”

  She picked up the book he’d been reading and threw it at him. It smacked him between the shoulder blades.

  Drust turned, his eyes narrowing.

  “Too late wizard. You’re already involved.”

  For a moment anger flared on his expression, then shadows chased it away. He dragged in a deep breath. “I am. And I must focus on what you need most – your life.”

  She licked her lips, all desire and need doused as if she’d plunged headfirst into the Gulf.

  “Right.” A shaky laugh. “How could I forget that? Fine. I’m going to bed then.”

  Alone.

  “Good night, Lacey.” He did not look at her. “Thank you for flying with me tonight.”

  Drust went outside, leaving her standing there, alone.

  And frustrated.