"Caleb," Lisa said in relief.
Caleb stood still, like a dragon statue, his neck curved, head turned to fix his gaze on her, much as he'd done the first day she'd opened the door and found him in her spare bedroom. His huge blue eyes regarded her without blinking.
"It is you, isn't it?" she asked. But of course it was. She felt Caleb's thoughts weaving around her as always, except they were bewildered. "Why did you bring me here?" She slid her hands down her naked sides. "I feel so strange."
"You were shot."
Caleb's mouth didn't move, but his voice echoed through the cavern while music merged with the words.
"Shot? I don't…" Lisa put her hand to her chest, right where it burned, and looked down. Her skin was covered with dried blood, so thick over her heart that it was black. "Caleb…"
Memories flashed through her—of the circle of blue light, of Malcolm the black dragon, his eyes silver fire, demanding Lisa bring her magic to bear. And then the barrels of pistols trained on Caleb, and Lisa knowing she could do nothing to save him even while she tried to push him out of the way.
The vision faded, broken by the song of the jewels and gold and Caleb. The song surged, and something surged inside her, too, a vast power that filled her and grew stronger by the second. Oh sure, Lisa thought, Now, the magic comes back to me.
Caleb remained still, his golden scales reflecting the light of the jewels at his feet. The power inside Lisa, filled her like liquid silver, flowing from the top of her head down her trunk and out to her limbs.
Her body vibrated and quivered until radiant light poured out of her hands, catching in the already glittering jewels. Caleb snapped his eyes shut at the sudden glare, but Lisa kept hers open, the powerful glow somehow giving her strength.
She felt strong, stronger than she ever had in her life, stronger even than when Li Na had held her hand and told her she was special. Oh, Li Na, is this what you meant?
Lisa's body elongated, stretching thin from floor to ceiling, swirling with silver and white light. Suddenly she understood everything, Caleb, Malcolm, the desperate need of the witches to touch this magic.
"Lisa," Caleb whispered.
"Caleb," she said in astonishment. She felt wings sprout from her back and stretched them, feeling bone against membranous flesh. She raised her arms and shot around the cavern, easily reaching the ceiling and swooping to just brush the jewels on the floor.
She darted past Caleb, her body changing and reforming to fit through the slender space between him and the roof of the outer cave. She enjoyed the look on his face—total shock, dragon eyes wide—as she slid past him and out into the wild air of the night.
Caleb stumbled as Lisa whooshed past. He stood unmoving while he watched her transformation from human woman to a being of translucent light, brilliant silver at her core.
Caleb had been unable to track down the black dragon, and he'd returned to see Lisa standing in the middle of his hoard, touching her bare chest with a puzzled expression on her face. She'd been healed, perfectly healthy and sound. He'd touched her with his dragon thoughts and found her whole and unhurt. The bullet had been gone, the wound closed.
And then, she changed.
He came out of his stunned surprise and dove from the cave after her. This was Dragonspace, full of dangers Lisa couldn't imagine, even if she now was a magical, radiant silver dragon.
She was already far ahead of him, the musical threads of thought between them stretching thin. Lisa, he sent after her in desperation.
Lisa did not slow. The silver of her laughter came back to him, rising far into the dark mists of the sky. Stars shone thick above them, untainted by the pollution or artificial light of the human world. The galaxy spiraled endlessly to the horizon, dusting the mountains with faint white light.
If she flew too close to the stars, he'd lose her. Dragons who flew into the heavens became enamored with it, so dragon legends went, the closeness to the gods too heady to resist. Those dragons melded into the night sky, becoming Stardust as they flew, and people made up stories about constellations that looked like dragons.
Caleb didn't want Lisa to become Stardust. He didn't think her grandmother Li Na had wanted that for her either. He wasn't certain how he knew, but he suspected that Li Na wanted Lisa to ground herself in her world, find her powers, and live happily ever after.
Lisa, he called again, pumping his wings hard. Lisa shot through the sky, a streak of brilliant silver that drew him on. A silver dragon, his stunned mind repeated. The rarest and most magical creature in the universe.
Caleb flew valiantly, swooping on thermals to gain more height, while his mind raced with questions. Silver dragons were so magical that they could go anywhere, be anything, without the restrictions put on other dragons. They didn't need magical armbands or special doors between the worlds or magic circles raised by earth witches—when they decided they wanted to traverse to another universe, they simply did it.
Chill wind bit him, the air thinning as Lisa flew higher and higher. He chased her, steam streaming from him like a comet's tail. No wonder Donna was so interested in Lisa's power. No wonder Malcolm wanted to harness it. Saba and Grizelda and Lisa herself had been dupes, not to mention Caleb.
Damn witches, Caleb growled to himself, willing his wings to move faster. He was the only one in all of this who did not want to use Lisa for his own gain. He cared about her, she was his friend, she was Lisa, and he'd protect her to his last breath. Silver dragon or beautiful woman, it made no difference to him.
"Lisa, damn it, wait for me."
He hadn't flown this much in a very long time and sitting in the doorway watching television hadn't helped him. He pumped his wings furiously then stretched them to glide, desperately chasing the bright silver streak too far ahead.
He'd never have caught her if she hadn't stopped and hovered in midair, coalescing into a solid dragon form to wait for him. She was bright pure silver, scales rippling across supple flesh, muscles strong and lithe. Her eyes were brown, Lisa's eyes, but spinning with silver flecks, wide and dragonlike and full of mirth.
"Caleb." His name rang from her like the sweetest of music. She danced on the thermals, swooping like a hawk as he caught up to her, then her dragon body dissolved into translucent lights and swirled tightly around him.
"Caleb." She laughed his name again and plunged upward, becoming a dragon again as she climbed into the sky.
The sound she sent back wrapped around his senses like threads of fire. He recognized it at once, having been caught before—the siren song of a female who wanted to mate.
"Hell," Caleb muttered, even as he spread his wings and chased her.
He scanned the horizon as he flew, expecting half a dozen dragons to pop up from behind the mountains and zoom in on them any moment. All males within range would respond to a female's call, unable to resist, and the call of a silver dragon would likely bring dozens. Caleb would have to fight off every one of them, and fight he would or die trying. No other dragon was going to come anywhere near Lisa. She belonged to him.
Her call came again, and he imagined Lisa's laughing voice saying, "Catch me, Caleb!"
He sent back a snarling male cry, loud, possessive, and angry. He beat his wings frantically, propelling himself up and up and up. Cold nearly froze his blood even through his thick hide, but he knew she could go higher still—hell, she could go into orbit.
But the chase fired him, making the cold immaterial. The chase was what dragon life was all about, the rapid beating of the heart, the burning of blood, the flames shot into the air for pure joy. The memories of being human and wandering the strange city of San Francisco and eating dim sum and rare steak were already fading. He was all dragon now, rejoicing in flying through freezing air and chasing the streak of light that was his mate.
She let him catch her. That was the only explanation for why Caleb was at last able to soar above her. She laughed at him as he drifted gently to her and covered her body with his,
his belly against her back. He wrapped his wings tightly around her, trapping her to his body, her silver form solidifying under his touch.
She turned her head and nipped his shoulder, and then they were free-falling back down the long way they'd climbed, plummeting from the edges of the atmosphere toward the earth. The rush of wind only intensified Caleb's feeling of being one with his mate. They soared downward, his wings tight against Lisa's body, his teeth in her neck, and her laughing.
The ground came up faster than he wanted. At the last minute, Caleb released her, and they climbed again for height. Lisa moved faster than he did, able to transform her body into a stream of light, stretching quickly toward the stratosphere. Caleb's flight was more ponderous, his wings beating so much air that it sent a gale into the forests below.
When they reached the point where the blue of the sky gave way to black, he caught her and dragged her silver body against his again, wrapping his wings around her.
They plunged down. This mating was dangerous, and glorious, and made him happier than he'd ever been in his life. His other mates had been nothing like this. Lisa was playful and affectionate, murmuring happily in her mind. But then, he'd never met a silver dragon before—he'd never met Lisa before.
Their descent ended at the top of a dense forest, both of them breaking apart and rolling away to fly upward once more. Caleb met her at the top of their climb, roaring triumph that he'd made it up faster than she had. She only laughed at him, then dove over his body, nipping at him as she went.
He grabbed her, catching her in his wings, and down they plunged. They dropped and climbed like this three more times, the mindless pleasure of the last coupling nearly making Caleb forget to let go at the bottom. But Lisa slithered free of his grip before it was too late, lights chasing through her body, laughing at him as he frantically rolled away from the ground and flew after her.
The sun was rising when they landed near a lake and refreshed themselves with a long drink of water. Lisa's body, in solid dragon form, was smaller than his, maybe thirty feet in length, and less than his in girth. Her wings were iridescent, jewel colors catching the sun's light as she spread them.
Caleb drank about a hundred gallons in one gulp, his mouth dry from the plunges in and out of the atmosphere. He wondered why no other male dragons had arrived—the call of a silver should have drawn dragons for thousands of miles.
Lisa gave him a smile, as though reading his thoughts. "I called only you," she said. "I wanted you to catch me."
He chuckled. "So, are you going to kill me when you're done using me as your sex slave?"
Lisa drank, water rippling from her smooth silver skin. "No. I have a better idea."
She rose from the lake and launched herself into the air, turning once more into streaming lights and sending her siren call back to him.
"All this flying might kill me anyway," Caleb muttered, and he hurtled into the air and flew after her again.
The being Lisa twined with that of the silver dragon, who rejoiced at finding life as a dragon again. The large golden warrior who chased her was gorgeous, with beautiful blue eyes and musical thoughts and the strength to keep up with her.
A name swam to her, Caleb, along with a vast feeling of fondness. She'd met him before and cared for him. How strange.
Somewhere inside her Lisa worried, I'm a dragon and I just mated with Caleb as a dragon. Oh my God.
The silver dragon, on the other hand, stretched her wings and rejoiced in the wind. I am free again and strong. She looked behind her at Caleb streaking toward her like a golden comet. And I'm in love.
The silver dragon had mated before in her life, but never with a dragon who displayed such exuberance and affection. Dragons mated because of the irresistible call to procreate and for pure sexual pleasure, but this one wanted her and she wanted him. She sent her thoughts back to twine around his, silver and golden music weaving together.
She wasn't entirely the silver dragon any longer, she knew that. The women she'd shared her long life with were still inside her, including this new one, Lisa, who was kind and warm-hearted and wanted life. She'd been lonely and hurt, but soon she'd understand that she'd endured it for a purpose—her troubles had driven her back to San Francisco where she needed to be to inherit her destiny when Li Na's human body finished with life.
As much as the silver dragon loved flying and playing with this golden, she knew she had to return. She could not leave the human world unprotected for too long.
The silver dragon turned unerringly, feeling the pull of the slit in the human world Lisa had come through. That world and the people who lived there no longer felt alien as it had at first. Now it was home.
She slid and flew across Dragonspace, Caleb directly behind her. They moved over glaciers then through dry, rocky plains, making straight for the way to the human world. She heard Caleb flying hard, a burst of effort letting him catch up to her just before she streamed through the open door of her spare bedroom into her apartment and the Earth world. Caleb snagged the gold armlet Lumi had left outside the door and shifted into the human Caleb just as he fell into the apartment.
They landed on the soft Oriental carpet in the living room, Caleb shoving the armlet in place above his elbow. Lisa leaned back on her human hands, naked and breathing hard, the streak in her hair burning like silver fire.
"I'm a dragon," Lisa gasped.
Caleb pushed her down to the carpet, his eyes blue and hot with desire.
"I'm a dragon," she repeated, still feeling the shimmering silver dragon laughing inside her. The dragon was delighted that Caleb could follow her into the human world and stay with her. She had learned in her long life what it was to be in love.
These thoughts swirled deep inside her, the dragon receding as Lisa's awareness took control again.
Caleb kissed her, his mouth rough with wanting. "You're a silver dragon," he said. "The most magical creature in the universe."
"Yes," Lisa panted. "How the hell did that happen?"
* * *
Chapter Fourteen
The sun was high when Saba managed to slide out of bed without waking Malcolm. He lay facedown, his head turned on the pillow, one arm curved next to him, black dragon tattoo on his bicep. The sheets were low on his back, baring his bronze-colored torso and a swell of pale backside. His dark lashes curled against his cheeks, his face relaxed in sleep.
He looked so harmless like that, Saba thought as she quickly dressed. Just a handsome man asleep in a bed, his gorgeous body half bared. Not the kind of man who'd charge into her life, take it over, and then almost kill her in the space of a few days.
Everything used to be so simple. Casting her circles at esbats and sabbats, gazing at the moon and feeling the presence of the Goddess, lighting candles inscribed with runes for safety, health, prosperity, and peace. Listening to her father extol the virtues his Japanese friends' sons, hinting that one of them must need a nice wife. Scanning computer magazines hoping someone in San Francisco needed a young woman specializing in complex database programming for a large salary and good benefits package.
Life used to be very straightforward. Then Donna had lured her into a coven to raise the power of a golden dragon to protect a young woman from a black dragon. Saba had felt honored to participate in such a rite and indignation at the black dragon and his ability to destroy the world.
And then Malcolm had walked in and tied her to the bed. The trouble was, Saba did not feel evil from him. He was dangerous yes, but not cruel. He truly believed that Saba had the magic to help him and that using Lisa was his only ticket home. He hadn't meant for Lisa to be shot. She'd felt his anguish even when Saba had lain half-conscious inside the broken circle.
Even so, it was time to get out of here. Saba needed to restore herself, and she couldn't do it here, not in this ornate, expensive apartment—damn, where did he get the money for a place like this? The ceilings were high and intricately molded, designer chandeliers hung in the main rooms,
costly leather armchairs faced the fireplace in the cozy living room. He had weapons, too, hanging on the living room walls, antique Chinese swords, and one she recognized as Japanese, truly ancient and probably extremely valuable.
His bed in the white-painted bedroom was wide and soft and covered with expensive sheets and the best kind of pillows. Malcolm might not like his exile, but he sure had figured out how to live well. Existing here hundreds of years and having a brain like a computer must have given him a hell of a return on his investments.
Saba sighed, hungry. Using too much magic always left her depleted of energy, and she needed carbs in the worst way. She'd stop on the way home at her favorite bakery on Van Ness and grab a bear claw or something.
Quietly, she slipped down the hall to the large front door at the end, unlocked it, and turned the handle.
Malcolm's large hand appeared above hers and pressed the door closed. His naked body was warm and tall against her back, his strong arms pinning her to the wood. "Do not leave yet," he said in his deep, rich voice.
Saba studied the door, polished walnut carved with grapes, probably the original restored at hideous expense. Antiques Roadshow would love this place.
"Why not? I can't do any more spells for you, Malcolm. You've wasted me."
"It is safer if you stay here." His breath moved her hair, tickling heat inside her ear.
She felt his magic take hold of her, making her want to stay with him. It didn't hurt that his erection gently bumped her back and his strong, tall body covered hers from behind. He never asked for sex; he only pleasured her, as though he refused to take any pleasure for himself.
She also knew that he had callously told his men to shoot Caleb so that Lisa would use her magic to protect the golden dragon. Malcolm was desperate for Lisa's magic, and he'd manipulate anyone to get it.
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