Wings Horns and Shifters

by Lacey Carter Andersen

Swallowing hard, I nod and walk towards them.

  “Do—n’t,” Brent coughs out.

  The red dragon steps forward and punches him again. This time, Brent sags in his grip. When I move close enough to the dragons, the gold one release the wolf and grabs my arm in a crushing grip.

  A little cry escapes my lips.

  He smiles. “You’ll get used to our roughness.”

  I glare at him. “That’s not the kind of roughness women like.”

  He shrugs. “What you want doesn’t matter much to us.”

  Ass.

  They drag me out the entrance. I look for my wolves, and a second later, I’m thankful to see them break out into the clearing. They’re massive, powerful looking creatures. But all of them look bloodied and exhausted.

  The dragon that holds me turns to the two others. “Kill them. I’ll take her.”

  I kick him as hard as I can in the groin. He flinches, but his grip remains firm. “You’ll pay for that later.”

  He takes a step back, but before I can try to run, he transforms into a huge golden dragon. One of his clawed hands closes over me, and fear steals the breath from my chest. I peer out of his hand to see the wolves fighting the dragons. Claws and teeth flash, but the dragons fight them like untouchable gods.

  The golden dragon’s wings begin to flap. Air rushes around me.

  And I realize, I’m going to have to do something so dangerous it’s almost stupid. If one thing goes wrong, it’ll end with me killing us all.

  Because that’s one thing about fire Elementalists, it’s a mistake to back us into a corner.

  “Get as far from here as you can!” I whisper to the wolves.

  Several pause.

  Men have ignored me my whole life. When I wanted to learn to use a sword, they laughed. When I wanted to learn to ride a horse, they rolled their eyes.

  But if these wolves don’t listen to me, it’s going to cost them their lives.

  I shout louder. “Trust me, please. Do as I say!”

  The yellowish blue eyes of Sam land on me, and he moves backwards from the dragons. As he does so, the other wolves follow suit. Thank you for trusting me.

  Mr. Green Dragon grins at me. “Smart sending them away. They were going to die if they kept fighting us.”

  I smile back. “Yes, they were going to die.”

  Then, I do the one thing I swore I’d never do again. I closed my eyes and called forth my blue flames. I built them inside of myself, bigger and stronger. I ignored the outside world, even when I felt myself lifting into the air.

  And then, when I’d put every drop of my magic into the blue flames, I let them go.

  Brightness was everywhere. Inside and outside of me. And power consumed me. Delicious, dangerous power.

  I heard the sound of a strange kind of screaming. I felt myself dropping.

  But that was the thing about using my blue flames. About using all my magic in one burst... I was useless afterwards. Usually unconscious for days.

  There was nothing I could do to save myself.

  But at least I wouldn’t be the plaything to three cruel dragons.

  Chapter Six

  My eyes cracked open. I was strangely warm and comfortable. Where the hell was I?

  Blinking, the room came into focus. I was in a massive pool of steaming water. A porcelain tub of some kind. And three strange men were bathing me.

  “What the hell?” I shouted, jerking back from them.

  One of the men, one with long blonde hair and an easy smile, spoke first. “We’ll have to let the alpha know she’s awake.”

  “Right away?” Another man asked. His hair was a deep, incredible auburn, and tattoos covered most of his very muscular chest. “Or can we have a little time with her first?”

  I glare at them. “You must be the rest of the pack.”

  “Yup,” the blond said. “I’m Peter.”

  “Rick.” The tattooed man responded simply.

  “And, I’m Heath.” This man had short blond hair and eyes the color of chocolate. He also looked way too happy as he looked down at my naked breasts.

  Even though his gaze heated me up in the most unexpected way possible, I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “And how often do you bathe naked, unconscious women?”

  Peter answered, his grin mischievous. “Well, we’ve been bathing you for the last two days, so I’d say two times.”

  My mouth dropped open. “And I expect you guys were complete gentlemen?”

  They exchanged a look. But it was Peter who answered again. “We may have stroked ourselves off looking at you, but otherwise, we were completely innocent.”

  I spoke without thinking. “How would you like it if I masturbated while looking at your naked bodies?”

  “That would be... amazing!” Heath answered. “Is that an actual offer?”

  I groaned with annoyance. Was the tub getting hotter? As my gaze moved from each of the big, muscular men, the notion of touching myself while looking at them didn’t sound half bad.

  “You guys should get out so I can get dressed.”

  “Is that what you really want?” Peter leveled me with a knowing-look. “Because we’re your mates. And because we can smell your arousal so strong that it’s driving us wild.”

  I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. “I’m not turned on.”

  Holding my gaze, he spoke, “fine, then we’ll get out of the bath.”

  He stands, and suddenly I’m face-to-cock with his very nice package.

  “Shit.”

  “You like that?” he asks.

  Did I actually curse out loud? “Not a bit.”

  When his hand goes to his length and starts to stroke slowly, I’m completely transfixed.

  “That’s the thing.” He explains carefully. “We can get up and leave now, or we can show you what it feels like to have the three of us inside of you.”

  I swallow. This idea should be ridiculous, but I can’t seem to bring myself to tell him no.

  The other two shifters stand, and oh my goodness, the sight is nice. Really damned nice.

  I chew my lip. Can I really just tell them yes? Can I really just try these men out?

  My brain moves slowly, trying to come up with any reason to tell them no. But then, Peter brings his cock just a few inches from my lips and I don’t even hesitate to take him into my mouth.

  He groans, and my hands go to the other two men. I stroke them slowly while I suck on Peter. I’m not thinking anymore. I’ve completely given in to the heat that has erupted in my belly. One I know these three can quench.

  I lose myself in the moment. Licking, sucking, stroking.

  Somewhere in the back of my thoughts, I hear one of them swear.

  He pulls free from my hand and picks me up.

  The other men don’t protest. Rick places me on Peter’s lap. He strokes my clit with one hand, while he reaches down and grabs Peter’s dick, placing it against my ass. I rub against it as he continues to stroke me. And inch by inch I take his length into me from behind. When I come to his hilt, I’m breathing hard. Aroused. Frustrated. And ready for more.

  Then, Peter moves closer and places his tip at my other entrance. Sinking inside me, he fills me in the most delicious way possible. I hold myself tensely as he moves deeper until he too has reached his hilt.

  For a second I wonder what they’re waiting for, and then Heath grasps the back of my hair lightly and turns me. I spread my lips without waiting for his command.

  And then the most incredible thing happens, the three of them begin to move inside me as one.

  If I thought I liked sex before. I was a fool.

  My nails dig into Peter’s shoulders. I’m moaning around Heath’s cock. I’m riding them even as they ride me, and my head spins.

  How can anything feel this good?

  Their pace picks up. Peter reaches down and starts to stroke my clit.

  My eyes snap open, and I suck hard.

  Heath explodes into my
mouth as I buck wildly. They explode inside of me, but my orgasm continues to roll through me. When Heath pulls his dick free of my mouth, I’m shouting, every nerve in my body awakened.

  And then, I calm.

  “Still mad at us stroking ourselves off and staring at you?” Peter asks, breathless.

  “I guess—I forgive you.”

  Maybe Sam was right about me enjoying six men, because the strangest thing isn’t that I just had sex with three men at once, it’s that I want more.

  Chapter Seven

  Several hours later, I’m dressed. Greyson is walking me around a massive estate. Apparently, Sam is some kind of king. Which I’ve learned makes me his queen.

  Seriously. Me. The girl who had to shovel horse shit out of stables just to be allowed to ride them. The girl who had to work like a dog for the blacksmith to get him to make a sword for me.

  I’m... a queen!

  Sam’s lands are massive, spreading out as far as the eye can see, and his pack all live here in his castle. Greyson shows me gardens I can explore. Horses I can ride. A sword room I can practice in. And room after room of new and exciting things.

  All things he explains that I have access to... whenever I want!

  When he takes me to a beautiful waterfall near the back of the castle, he snaps, and we both end up ripping each other’s clothes off and making love to each other right under the waterfall.

  Afterwards, he cuddles me in the waters. I inhale the scents of green life, and listen to the sounds of the birds. This place, it feels like a dream.

  “Who would have thought that the day I was forced into being a virgin sacrifice would end like this?”

  He laughs. “We did.”

  I want to hear more. I want to know everything about them and how all of this came to be. But he tells me the others are expecting us. So we dress and head to the dining hall, where my entire pack waits for me.

  These men are big, handsome, and their eyes are kind.

  It’s weird to know they’re all mine.

  Sam seats me at the spot on his side, kissing me fiercely as he does so.

  A delicious dinner is served, and we dig in.

  “That blue fire thing was unexpected,” Sam tells me, taking a large bite of his meat.

  I smile. “My sister and I accidentally learned the limits of our powers a long time ago. I wasn’t sure it would work against the dragons, but I hoped it would.”

  He freezes. “Sister?”

  I frown. “Yeah, my sister. But don’t worry, I sent her far from the town before the dragons came.”

  “And she’s an Elementalist, like you?”

  I nod.

  He swears. “You two haven’t travelled much since you came of age, have you?”

  “Not at all. Why?”

  He shakes his head. “Because, we could smell you from days away. Elementalists are irresistible to our kind. My bet is the right group of Shifters will be tracking her down soon.”

  I laugh.

  His brows rise in surprise. “How is that funny? Your sister could be in danger.”

  Danger, right...

  “My sister and I are pretty similar.” I take a sip of my drink. “I feel sorry for any Shifters who think they’re going to catch some innocent flower, because she’ll leave them crying for mercy.”

  He stares at me for a long time, then throws his head back with a booming laugh that draws the attention of everyone in the room. “I think you might be right! If you can kill three dragons, I have the sense that she’ll be just fine.”

  The rest of the meal passes slowly. Comfortably. But occasionally I find myself thinking of my sister. I hope whoever finds her, she’ll be just as happy with them as I am with my Shifters.

  Sinful Ice

  Chapter One

  Riya

  I freeze in the middle of the path. There, in a clearing not far from our horses, is a miraculous sight. It’s a relic from the time before dragons. I think they called it a car.

  “Whoa!” Benjamin exclaims from beside me.

  My fingers tighten on my reigns. “Have you ever seen one as intact as that one?”

  Benjamin shakes his head, his messy head of dark hair falling in front of his eyes. “No, but then I’ve never been this far from home before either. Maybe they’re all over the place around here.”

  I pull on my reigns and steer my horse off the path, too curious to simply pass the relic by.

  “What are you doing?” Benjamin has an authoritative note to his voice that irks me.

  I sigh. I know he’s trying to seem older, since he was left in “charge” of getting me to his aunt’s house safely, but he’s really little more than a boy. Fifteen years old and far too cocky for his own good. And after days of traveling together, my patience is wearing thin.

  “I just want to see it,” I say, raising my chin.

  “You can see it from here. Besides, your sister said no extra stops. Just straight there.”

  My sister. Right. My best friend and the woman who told me I had to leave to keep Benjamin safe. We both knew he probably would’ve been fine on his own, but it was my sister’s way of protecting me.

  Which I hate.

  “We’ve stopped to rest plenty the last three days.”

  “But this isn’t to rest!”

  I roll my eyes. “Then, we’ll stretch and have a snack here.”

  “Riya,” he chastised. “We’ll hit the town before nightfall if we don’t stop.”

  “If reaching town before dark is so important to you, why don’t just go ahead without me?” I snap.

  His dark brown eyes narrow in annoyance, but at last he nods. “I’m staying, of course. I should have known arguing with you was pointless.” He glances at me. “But could you try not to look so damn smug about it?”

  Licking my lips, I try hard to hide my smile, but I’m pretty sure I fail horribly.

  When we’re about halfway through the tall grass, I yank my reigns and climb down from my horse. I’ll let Old Henry rest and eat a little while I explore. Benjamin climbs down from his horse, places his hand on his sword, and stands a little taller.

  I laugh, but try to turn it into a cough. The look he sends my way says I failed to hide my amusement again. But I can’t help it. Does he really think if there was trouble he’d be the one to help us?

  Sending my ice magic out, I bend the grass in front of us. Parting it in a path that leads directly to the relic. I won’t have us getting bit by a snake.

  Benjamin would never let me hear the end of it.

  We start forward, him right behind me. The woods around us seem to grow quieter with each step we take. My ears prick up. I can feel something in the air, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

  My sister said the relics contain little bits of magic, of technology. But I’ve never believed any of the ancient magic still remains. Otherwise, we would’ve heard rumors about it. The relics are simply fascinating reminders of a past lost to us forever.

  But in my boring life, seeing something like this is enough to make my pulse race.

  And yet, I can’t shake this feeling. Something is off.

  It’s just your silly nerves. Don’t chicken out now.

  When we reach the car, I reach out and touch its oddly colored surface. It’s cool. Like ice. I close my eyes and run my hand along the smooth surface, amazed by the texture. I sense Benjamin move to stand beside me.

  Everything is quiet. Too quiet. I open my eyes and goose bumps spread across my arms. A cool wind teases the grass that hasn’t been frozen by my powers, but it isn’t the breeze that caused my reaction.

  So what did?

  I look up at the sky. The midday sun barely penetrates the clouds, casting everything in a gray light that was oddly soothing while we were riding, but now adds to the unsettling feeling that I can’t seem to shake.

  “Look!”

  I turn to Benjamin. He’s pointing to the back of the car.

  Hurrying over to him, I rea
ch out to touch the space he’s pointing toward, and my hand passes right through it. The glass that once covered this area is gone! I peek inside and see a strange wheel and pedals.

  Grinning, I pull up my skirts and start to climb in.

  “What are you doing?” he asks, sounding worried.

  “I just want to get a closer look.”

  A quick look won’t hurt anything.

  It takes a little bit of maneuvering to squeeze myself in and climb across the squishy seat, littered with leaves and grass. At the wheel, I sit feeling strangely thrilled. I have a distant memory of a picture I once saw of a young woman seated in front of this same type of wheel. I put my feet on the pedals, alternating them from one to the other. Nothing happens, but I didn’t expect it to.

  Suddenly, a wolf’s howl splits the silence. So close the wolf must be in the field with us. I turn to look at Benjamin; his eyes are wide in panic.

  “Head to your horse. Slowly.” I tell him.

  “What about you?”

  “Don’t worry; I’ll be right behind you.”

  He does as I tell him.

  Without hesitation, I start to climb out of the relic. But before I can get across the seat, I get yanked back. Damn it! My skirt’s caught on something.

  Another howl comes followed by another and another. Shit. How many are out there?

  Of all the luck...

  I crawl back across the seat, reaching under it to find where my skirt has caught. I’m not afraid of some damn wolves. I can take them. But I am worried about Benjamin and Old Henry. I can’t be stuck here while they’re out in the open and vulnerable.

  But my damn skirt won’t budge. Gritting my teeth, I yank as hard as I can until the fabric tears. I leave behind far too much of my dress, one whole side of my skirt.

  I guess I’ll be making an even bigger impression on my temporary home than my first one.

  Climbing back out takes some more maneuvering, but at last I’m free. My nerves feel stretched tense as I look across the field to where Benjamin waits anxiously on his horse, and Old Henry moves as if too-aware of the wolves.

  I catch movement in the grass to my right. I swallow hard, but keep going. The grass bends on my left. And suddenly, the grass is moving as if in a great storm.