Dragon Heat

by Allyson James

  Finally, the barge floated gently, lifting and settling as it would on a calm, sunny day. The windows far overhead had tinged golden with the morning sun. A beam of that sun flowed in and bathed the bowl in light. The radiance warmed Lisa's fingers, and she said softly. "It is done."

  The other three let out a collective sigh, removed their touch from the bowl and opened their eyes. Saba blinked at the daylight. "Is it morning?"

  Lisa laughed. She felt her other selves receding, the silver dragon's task done. A pang of regret touched Lisa's heart, and then she let them go. It would not be forever until she saw them again.

  "I hope it's morning," Lisa said. "Or else the sun is confused."

  Caleb rose on wings that flashed gold fire. He flapped them once, carrying himself up to the windows of the bridge. The ash and green goo of the demons had gone, as though the magic in the room had washed everything clean.

  "It's daylight," Caleb said, "A pretty sunrise. Except we have a problem."

  "Oh, no," Saba said. "What now?"

  "We're moving along pretty fast. Anyone know how to steer a barge?"

  Malcolm joined him, huge back claws gripping pipes to hold him upright. "It would be easy, if a golden dragon hadn't fried the controls."

  "I could have let the demons keep shooting at you, I guess," Caleb returned. "Would have meant one less problem for me."

  "The golden dragon answer to everything," Malcolm rumbled. "If it annoys you, kill it."

  Caleb ignored him. "I wonder what this lever does."

  "Don't touch it until I work out what all the controls are for. The ones that still work, that is."

  Below them, Saba glanced at Lisa, her look ironic. "Think we should help them?"

  "I don't know." Lisa folded her arms, staring up at the black and golden bodies. "It sounds like they're having fun."

  Above them, something clanked. The bow of the barge swung suddenly around, the deck listing horribly. Lisa and Saba stumbled into each other then across the floor until they banged into the wall. Malcolm snarled curses.

  Caleb blew out a tiny stream of fire. "We turned, didn't we? We're not heading straight for the wharf anymore."

  "No, we're heading for the bridge. Why don't you let me steer a while?"

  "You don't know how to do this any better than I do."

  Malcolm growled again and the barge made a sudden surge the other way.

  Once it straightened, Lisa and Saba jumped to their feet, clothes covered in oil and dirt.

  "That's it," Lisa called. "Both of you come down here. We're taking over."

  Two dragon heads swiveled to look down at them, one pair of blue and one pair of silver eyes staring.

  "Now," Saba said.

  Malcolm released his hold on the metal pipes, claws screeching, and drifted down on outstretched wings. When his feet touched the floor, he folded the wings, bowed his head, and flowed into his human form. Naked, he casually lifted his clothes from where he'd left them and headed for the door. "I'm going outside to see what's what."

  Caleb stayed behind. Together Lisa and Saba, with the help of Lisa's dragon magic, got the barge stopped and pointed out toward the Golden Gate and the open sea beyond. "We'll leave it drifting," she announced as she and Saba descended the catwalk. "The police or national guard will investigate and tow it back to the docks."

  The others had no objection. They flew back, silently and swiftly as three dragons, Malcolm carrying Saba safely in his talon. They landed under the bridge in growing daylight, where Lisa's car, looking soiled and prosaic, waited.

  Above them, morning traffic crept across the bridge, commuters on their way to work. Ships moved through the bay, the water now calm and quiet. Joggers ran through the streets near the entrance to the Bay Bridge, and somewhere a radio blared music. If San Francisco had experienced an earthquake last night, the city bore no sign of it. All looked ordinary and normal under the misty light of the rising sun.

  "It looks like nothing ever happened," Saba said.

  Lisa nodded, wondering if restoring the balance to the orb had restored the balance to the world.

  Next to the car, Malcolm dressed without embarrassment, lifting his long black hair to spill down the back of his coat. Caleb, still in dragon form, eyed the gold armband Saba held out to him then looked at Lisa. His blue eyes sparkled wickedly.

  "Kiss me once, Lisa," Caleb said. He tapped his talon to his scales. "Right here, between the eyes."

  "Then can I go home and get some sleep?" Lisa asked. "I'm beat."

  "One kiss. Then we go."

  Lisa stepped up to him. She placed her hands on his warm scales, felt his long, soft lashes brush her as she closed her eyes and pressed a kiss to his face.

  The scales vanished, a draft of air hit her, and suddenly she was holding six feet and more of naked male arm band restored, his lips seared to hers. He kissed her with all the possessiveness of a dragon for a beautiful jewel, and of a man for a woman he loves.

  She melded to him, feeling herself respond to him, every pore of her tingling for his touch. She drew her foot up his bare leg, wishing they were alone and that he could simply take her hard against the hood of her car.

  They weren't alone, of course. Malcolm cleared his throat, and Saba laughed. "Get a room, you two," she said.

  "Preferably one not right next to mine," Malcolm growled.

  Caleb drew back, holding Lisa against him, smiling his Caleb smile. "Both good ideas," he murmured, then he looked down at himself. "You didn't happen to bring some extra clothes, did you? Mine are in shreds on the barge."

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Caleb buried himself deep inside Lisa in the warm sunlight on Lisa's bed. He'd thought her beautiful before he knew she was the silver dragon, and he'd think her beautiful forever. She twisted beneath him, lifting her hips against his, her eyes half-closed, her face flushed and touched with sunshine. The same sunshine gleamed on the armband above his elbow.

  Malcolm and Saba hadn't returned to the apartment with them. After a visit to Ming Ue to reassure her that all was well, Malcolm asked Lisa to drop Saba and him off at his lodgings on Octavia Street.

  Ming Ue had told them she'd felt a small tremor but no earthquake. Restoring the orb seemed to have erased any damaging effects. Lumi and Grizelda had been at the restaurant, come to help make repairs. Ming Ue seemed forgiving of Caleb, understanding that he'd been under the power of the evil witch.

  Now that Donna was dead, Lisa had no trouble erasing the memory of Caleb's true name from Saba or Grizelda. She'd stood both witches together and gently removed the knowledge. The two young women hadn't even flinched or noticed when she was finished.

  Caleb was truly free, Lisa had said, softness in her eyes. No one could command him again.

  "Except you," he'd said. "What do you want me to do, Lisa?"

  That had led them back to the apartment, into Lisa's bedroom, and onto the bed.

  He pressed harder inside her, skimming his fingers over her damp skin. Lisa writhed beneath him, whimpering softly.

  "That's it," he whispered. "You are so strong, you can take so much."

  "No, I can't," she began, "I'm exhausted."

  "You're doing it, sweet Lisa. You're taking all of me."

  She murmured in excitement and he laced his dragon mark over her, twining his thoughts with hers as much as he could. "You're mine," he said. "My own mate."

  "Yes." She lifted her hips, her red hair tangled on the pillow. "Please."

  Caleb knew her words came from her fevered arousal, her physical need for him. When this was over, when they'd calmed, the silver dragon would make her choice of what she would do for the rest of her life, and that choice might not include him.

  For now, he would soak up every second with her that he could. He pressed his hips into hers, the bed swaying dangerously. "That's it. Come for me, love."

  "I'm too tired from saving the world."

  "No, you are not. Enjoy it, love
it." He gasped, a dark wave of feeling swamping him. "No, too soon. Gods, no."

  Her fingers bit his skin as he came, too excited by the feel of her around him to stop. He slid his hand between them, pressing his thumb over her mound, rubbing and massaging until her eyes widened and her shout joined his. They climaxed together, holding each other hard, the bed frame rattling.

  Caleb gave one last, swift thrust, and suddenly, the bed broke, the legs giving way, and the slats parting to send the mattress to the floor. Lisa burst out laughing and Caleb joined her, feeling the joy of being inside her while she laughed, and catching her sweet laughter in his mouth.

  "Oh dear," Lisa said, wiping tears from her eyes. "How embarrassing. I sure hope Mrs. Bradley has her television turned up."

  Saba was hungry. She consumed a plateful of eggs and bacon, half a loaf of toast and then had a salad on top of it, all of which Malcolm brought home from a nearby restaurant. She was exhausted, the magic Lisa had required of her completely draining her. Malcolm and Caleb and Lisa seemed none the worse for wear, but they were dragons. Saba was a human with only so much energy.

  She'd wanted to talk to Malcolm about everything they'd seen and done, but Malcolm was uncommunicative. He shut himself in his study, a finely decorated room with leather furniture, and stayed on the phone most of the day. The few times he came out, Saba suggested she go home, but Malcolm had ordered her to stay, and still enslaved to his mark, she had obeyed.

  After downing two brownies and half a dozen cookies provided by a bakery down the street, Saba boldly marched to the study door and knocked on it. She had to go home and resume eating tofu and bean sprouts before she got too big to fit through the door.

  To her surprise, Malcolm invited her in. He sat in front of his computer, tapping on the keyboard, but she was too tired to be curious about what was on the screen.

  "What have you been doing in here all day?" she asked, throwing herself onto the love seat. The leather, soft and fine as anything he owned, caressed her. She was drained and still shaken by what had happened, not to mention horny, but by the somber look on his face, Malcolm wasn't interested in sex.

  "Making arrangements." He turned in the swivel chair.

  "The apartment will be transferred to your name, as will the assets in all my bank accounts."

  Saba sat up, her eyes widening. "What apartment?"

  "This one. You will live here after I'm gone. Your apartment is too cramped. Mine has plenty of room for your circles and spell working."

  "After you're gone." She repeated the words dully. She hadn't expected him to stay here, now that he could return to Dragonspace, but some part of her hoped that he'd want to.

  "Yes." He said the word without inflection.

  "I can't afford this apartment," she tried.

  "I own the house. Now it is yours."

  "Malcolm, I can't…"

  His dark eyes narrowed. "Stop bleating that you can't. I saw you break Donna's spell to release yourself to help Caleb. You are a damn powerful witch. The house is yours along with all my money. I have no more use for it. Tell your short-sighted mother and father that you landed yourself a good job programming your software and it's paid off. They should have more respect for you. I have an acquaintance who has agreed to hire you into his computer firm. You'll have all the money you need."

  She sat numbly. "Malcolm, don't."

  "I built up a fortune during the eight hundred years of my enforced confinement. If I disappear without making arrangements, the banks and brokers and tax-collectors will get all the assets. I'd rather it be in your hands, so I put everything in a trust for you."

  "You sound like you're never coming back."

  "I'm not."

  "No," she said. "Why should you?"

  "You'll do better without me," Malcolm said, sounding reasonable. "Once I remove the mark and your dependence on me, you'll blossom. I know this."

  "So you're leaving me for my own good? Terrific."

  Malcolm pushed himself from the desk and walked to the window that overlooked the green of the square opposite the house. "I don't belong here, Saba. I never did. I belong in Dragonspace, with the wind under my wings and all the time in the world to think."

  "Without human concerns and annoying witches to drag you down."

  He didn't seem to hear her. "Dragonspace is my home. I need to be there."

  "I know." Saba uncrossed her legs and moved to him. "I'm being selfish because I'll miss you."

  He didn't turn as she approached. "Once I remove my mark, you won't miss me. You'll forget all about me."

  Her heart burned. Dragon mark or no, she doubted she'd ever forget Malcolm, for many reasons. She slid her arms around his waist from behind, leaning her head on his strong back. "In that case, before you take away the mark, can we…"

  She let the words dangle, but she had no chance to finish the sentence. Malcolm swung around, lifted her in his arms, and carried her back to the leather sofa. Kneeling beside her, he stripped off her shirt and jeans and pressed his mouth to the join of her thighs.

  She squirmed and lifted her hips as dark feeling flowed through her. She would most definitely never forget this.

  Lisa awoke in the dark hours later. Caleb slumbered next to her on the broken bed, the mattress more or less flat on the floor. He'd curled his left arm under the pillow, his right arm lying limp on the bedcovers. The gold armband glittered softly in the moonlight.

  Lisa touched it with light fingers, but he didn't wake. She thanked God that Saba had been close enough to Caleb to pull off the armband, that she'd been able to break Donna's spell surrounding her to do so. Saba had kept her head while Lisa the powerful being had been crazed with grief. Caleb might have died if he hadn't been able to shift into a dragon, and Lisa would have lost him. If that had happened, she would have killed Donna with the orb and let the world go to hell.

  The strength of her feelings alarmed her. As a normal person she could say that she'd give up the world for him, but as the silver dragon, she knew she could literally make that happen. She smiled faintly. Better confine herself to baking cookies to show her affection.

  He'd been so brave for her, willingly putting himself into Donna's power to help with the plan when he hated and feared witches, Donna most of all. After what they'd done to him and what they'd done to his son, he'd allowed Donna to use him and to chain him, knowing that Lisa needed him to. He'd been through so much and yet, he'd given more. He was an amazing being.

  Even now, he could sleep hard, knowing the danger was gone, while Lisa shifted restlessly. Outside the window, the lights of the city glowed softly against the sky, and beyond them, the stars beckoned her. She sat up and smoothed her hair, the silver streak warming her hand.

  She loved Caleb and wanted to stay with him forever. She knew the silver dragon liked the golden, and yet they still did not quite connect. What would she do if the silver dragon did not want him, and how could Caleb stay with her in any case? Lisa's heart ached even as the silver dragon said, Worry not. All will be as it should be.

  The stars glittered, bright even behind the thousands of lights of San Francisco. Lisa rose from the bed, careful not to disturb Caleb, and walked unclothed into the living room. All was silent here except a faint murmur of the wind chimes. The orb, quiet now, rested in its form as a dragon bowl with the charms inside on the shelf in the living room with all Grandma Li Na's Chinese things, where it belonged.

  Lisa turned to the spare bedroom door and opened it. The way to Dragonspace lay misty and dark before her, cool wind ruffling her hair. She stretched out her arms, her whole being responding to the pull of the other world. She longed to feel the air of Dragonspace sliding over her silver body, longed to see the deep darkness of the sky untainted by human lights.

  "Lisa-ling?" Caleb wandered out of the bedroom, hair tousled, moonlight shining on his bronzed, naked body. He saw her near the spare room door and stopped, his body still. He watched her a moment, then casual words came out
of him, forced and light. "If you can't sleep, want to watch some television?"

  "No." Lisa reached to the darkened doorway. "Come fly with me."

  "In Dragonspace?"

  Lisa smiled. The morning paper had carried a nice outline of a lighted silver dragon over the bay, the reporter wondering who had been shooting off fireworks.

  "We'll stick to Dragonspace for now," she said. "The night is calling us, can you hear it?"

  Caleb glanced at the open door, his look neutral. "If you say so."

  She held out her hand to him. "Come on."

  Caleb touched his armband, regarding her with an odd look in his eyes. At last he nodded and joined her at the door, sliding off the armband as they stepped through and to the rocky ledge.

  He tossed the armlet to the floor behind him, then Lisa took his hand and they leapt from the ledge together, both of them elongating and becoming dragons. One flashed silver in the moonlight, the other gold.

  Lisa stretched her wings, propelling herself upward into the night. She had no destination in mind, she simply wanted to soar over the dark land and feel the stars on her wings. She heard Caleb behind her, sensed hot air whooshing as he pumped his wings to keep up with her.

  Lisa followed the path of stars stretched in a hazy smudge across the sky. Her wings flashed, the moon, a little larger than Earth's moon, warming them. She laughed for the joy of flying and knowing that Caleb was behind her. She loved being in love with him, both as a human and a dragon. She sang out a dragon song to him, urging him to keep up as she soared higher and higher.

  The stars called to her, telling her to lose herself in them. Without realizing she did it, Lisa changed her body to the swirling lights, moving faster and higher. Starlight engulfed her, the air growing colder by the second.

  She knew she could become starlight, and the silver dragon in her told her exactly how to do it. The dragons that had turned to Stardust and constellations millennia ago called out to her, promising her untold wonders if she joined them. Lisa stretched her senses, drifting farther toward them, her body a pale streak of lights in the heavens.