The Dragon Fighter's Witch: A Paranormal Romance (Separated by Time Book 7)

by Jasmine Wylder

  “Antonio,” she gasped out, her fingernails digging into the hard muscle of his shoulders.

  He silenced her with a searing kiss that had her coming halfway off the bed when he pulled back. With a chuckle, he kissed her another few times until she relaxed back onto the bed. “I know,” he whispered. “Just be patient. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Before she could tell him that he wasn’t going to hurt her, he began to move. Slowly, he began to move. His hips rocked back and forth until the movement became fluid and smooth. Then, bracing himself on his elbows over her, he began to pick up the pace. Audiv’s back arched as she clung to him, wrapping her legs around his and thrusting her own hips up. She couldn’t match his rhythm, but the pleasure coursing through her was so powerful she didn’t care. She was soon mewling and crying out, needing this to end but never wanting it to.

  “Antonio,” she begged.

  He kissed her, lips pressing to her mouth again and again. He grunted, his eyes screwing shut as his head dropped to her shoulder. Sweat coated his back. The scent of their mingled arousal was so heady in the air that Audiv had to lick his shoulder, to see if he would taste the same way he smelled.

  Everything tightened inside of her, so much that she could no longer even think. The fire inside her spread out to every inch of her, making her legs shake as what felt like a series of explosions went off in her core. Antonio grunted, his movement becoming jerky, harder as he thrust once, twice, and then she felt him filling her. Audiv bit down on her own hand to keep from screaming as pleasure washed through her, making stars burst before her eyes.

  When they were both done, they lay there together, panting for breath and gently kissing one another for a long time. Antonio gently withdrew and Audiv winced—it was only now that she realized that she was sore, and she grimaced as she realized she had probably bled. Oh well, blankets could be washed easily enough.

  Antonio kissed her forehead as he wrapped his arms around her. “Was that good for you?”

  “Yes.” Audiv hummed under her breath, feeling suddenly shy. “Was it for you.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Antonio chuckled as he relaxed. “And you know what the best thing is?”

  “What?”

  “It’s only going to get better.”

  Audiv’s eyes widened. Better? It could get better than that? She could hardly believe it… but her stomach quivered with anticipation as she cuddled next to her husband. She couldn’t wait to find out if that was true!

  ***

  Several days later, she was waiting outside of the J. Edgar Hoover building in DC. Antonio had gone in several hours ago, and she had walked around the grounds, taking in what there was to see before growing bored and sitting on a bench with a book. The potion she had made to track magical hotspots had worked, and there was one that had started to move shortly after they arrived in DC, and Audiv was certain she knew who it was.

  Her stomach twisted at the thought of facing Angstrom again, but she wasn’t going to cower like she had the first time. She knew well what modern things could be used against magic-users. A warlock might be able to steal magic but put a bullet in his head and he wouldn’t be able to survive that.

  More twisting in her stomach. She had never killed anybody before. Even the thought was enough to make her shrink back. Despite what Angstrom had done to her, despite what he wanted to do to her, despite what he had done to others. But she had to be prepared to make that choice, take that action… she’d be able to, to prevent others from going through the same thing she had, right?

  She looked up when she heard footsteps, and relief washed over her when she saw Antonio. There were smudges under his eyes and his skin looked paler than usual, but he looked relatively pleased. The cross around his neck glinted in the light as he sat on the bench beside her, undoing his suit jacket as he did so.

  “How did it go?”

  “I got through to some of my old friends,” he said. “And I have a pretty good idea who the upper leak is. I’m going to have to have proof before I move forward with this, though. He’s pretty high up…” He rubbed his face and shook his head. “There’s a couple of the guys who are doing their own independent investigation, and they’ve agreed to hand it over to me. It’ll be better for them. If I’m discovered, at least they’ll still be there… able to pick it up.”

  “So, then what now? Do we just wait?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  There was something that didn’t quite sit right with that answer. Maybe it was because he didn’t look at her as he said it. Audiv frowned, considering him for a long moment. Well, if there was something he didn’t want to tell her, maybe it was because it wasn’t safe. Especially not out here in the open. So, she slipped her arm through his and gave him a wide smile.

  “It’s a beautiful day,” she said. “And this is our honeymoon. Let’s not worry about what is and isn’t happening. Let’s just enjoy the day…”

  Antonio’s tense shoulders relaxed. He glanced at her, chuckled, and shook his head. “Yeah. That sounds like a good idea. Let me show you my old stomping grounds… rustle up some DC street food and maybe when we get back to the hotel, we can catch a massage before heading back to the room.”

  Heat swirled in Audiv’s core, though she pressed her thighs together to stop her scent from getting too strong. They’d been making love almost recklessly and she was tired and sore from it… but it seemed like she was always craving more. She couldn’t get enough of this man who was her husband. It was as though she wanted to get a lifetime in within these few days together… and she tried not to think about why that was.

  Antonio stood and offered her his hand. She took it, beaming at him, and they headed off together, smiling and chatting as they went. A chill stole down her spine as the thought that Angstrom’s contact might be watching them… and she tried to put it from her mind. Angstrom was on the move; he’d want revenge on Antonio and her for stopping him.

  She only hoped that when the time came, she was standing right beside her husband as they faced down the warlock.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Antonio

  In the pale grey morning, Antonio slipped out from beneath the blankets, shivering as the cool air brushed his naked skin. He longed to curl back up beside Audiv’s warm body, but if he was going to do what he needed to do—to protect her as much as anything else—then he needed to be strong and not give in to his selfish wants.

  He allowed himself one moment watching the peace on her face as she slept before he gathered his clothing and moved quietly to the bathroom to dress. The phone that Audiv had enchanted with the tracking potion sat on the nightstand, showing a map of the DC area. The magic hotspot that they had been watching all night was now within the city limits, and if he waited any longer, Audiv would insist on going with him.

  It wasn’t just because she was without magic that he was doing this. Even if she had been fully powered, she would have still been vulnerable. Her fighting was based on defense, and when it came to Angstrom, they needed to go on the offensive.

  The four hunters weren’t going to be around to go after him, not yet; they would have to go through all sorts of red tape to go after a US citizen, especially on US soil. Politics. Antonio knew that there was a time for them, that they kept citizens safe from overpowering forces in many instances, but there were times when they got in the way. Now was one of those times. Angstrom would only become more powerful as time went on, and he’d hurt more people.

  He had a name for the FBI, Ivan Dickerson, and had passed it along; there were others in the FBI looking to take down the corruption from the inside. But he had promised Audiv that he would get her magic back, and he had sworn to get back to the core of who he was and protect other people. He couldn’t do that sitting in a hotel room.

  With one last glance at his sleeping wife, he slipped out of the hotel and headed for the elevator. In a way, he was pleased that everything had worked out the way it had. Audiv was a stubborn woman
, and he hadn’t been certain he would be able to get away this easily. He knew if he had left her in Byrelmore, she would have just come after him anyway. Really, even if Indulf hadn’t decided to send her along, Antonio would have had to bring her.

  Now, he had three great hopes. The first was that she could forgive him for doing this, for leaving her behind as he went to confront Angstrom himself. The second, that she would get to Byrelmore as quickly as she could if he didn’t come back; that she would protect herself and go back to where it was safe. The third? That it wouldn’t be necessary. That he could tell her everything himself when he returned.

  That she wouldn’t be left a widow over this.

  His stomach twisted as he got into the car rental and pulled out of the hotel parking lot. Everything he thought he could have with his first love, he could see himself having with Audiv. A long, happy life. The two of them, wrapped up in love even when they had disagreements and fights. He could see them with children, some girls and some boys, playing around their feet at Christmas with the toys they’d gotten. He could see them going for long walks, complaining about increasing prices, seeing their children off to school and then college and then seeing them get married. They could grow old and grey together, to hold hands every night as they drifted off to sleep.

  They could have the ultimate happiness together.

  Please, God, he thought as he drove through the early-morning traffic, If I must die today, please let her find someone else to love. I don’t want her to be alone forever. I want her to have a life full of love and joy. If I can’t be the one to give it to her, please prepare someone else who will give her the love and happiness that she deserves.

  Antonio took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He couldn’t think about that, couldn’t let his attention be divided. He wrapped up Audiv’s smile, her laughter and the sound of her voice in the warmth of his chest and tucked her away in his heart. He would carry her with him, but he wasn’t going to let himself be distracted.

  He had to return to her. And to do that, he needed to put her away, so that he could focus on the mission at hand.

  ***

  Angstrom was hiding in what could only be described as a lair. He’d chosen one of the worst parts of town to meet his contact. Antonio sat in his car at the edge of a long street of warehouses, peering through the high-powered camera as he snapped shots of Angstrom and Ivan Dickerson shaking hands and speaking. He couldn’t get a good look at their lips to try to read what they were saying, but these pictures were good enough for now.

  Angstrom and Dickerson moved into a warehouse, and Antonio put the car in drive and pulled away. He moved off a few blocks before turning and working his way closer to the warehouse he’d seen them disappear into. Once he was close enough to get there quickly on foot, but not so close as to alert whatever guards they might have, he popped the trunk and began to pull on the tactical armor he had… ‘borrowed’ when an old friend had let him into FBI headquarters.

  The sound of a vehicle approaching made him look up. A small, sporty car, the kind that drew a lot of attention, sped past the alley he was parked in. Antonio paused, listening hard. A thrill of horror went down his spine as he heard it starting to return. He grabbed one of the assault rifles from out of his trunk and bent down, hiding, to peer around the back end of his car.

  The sports car stopped right at the end of the alley. And out came…

  “Audiv?” he hissed beneath his breath as he straightened. She gave him a furious glare as she marched at him, waving a second phone in her hand. His heart sank. He should have known she’d make a backup. “Get back to the hotel right now!”

  “Like hell I will.” Audiv clenched her hands and glowered at him. “You’re not as sneaky as you thought. I can’t believe you! We’re supposed to be a team, and you don’t trust me to have your back?”

  How could she possibly think that was the issue? He stared at her, frustration and indignation welling in his chest. He grasped her by the shoulders and stared into her eyes.

  “I didn’t want you here because we don’t know what we’re facing. I have training for this. I have been part of the FBI for years. You don’t even know how to use a gun.”

  “I’ve been to shooting ranges! You’ve gone with me—” She cut off as her eyes widened.

  He thought that meant that she understood what he was driving at until he felt the hot wind brush against his back. He whirled, heart jumping to his throat, as Angstrom shifted from a rainbow-colored dragon into his human form. His eyes gleamed red as he took in the two of them, nostrils flaring.

  “Did you really think that I was so stupid that I wouldn’t have surveillance around?” His gaze locked on Audiv. “Oh, but I forgot… you can’t sense magic anymore, can you? So you wouldn’t be able to tell even if it was dancing under your nose.”

  Antonio lifted his gun, but Angstrom lashed out, a clawed hand swiping it to one side. Antonio snarled, bringing his dragon forward as he lunged at Angstrom, driving him back, further away from Audiv.

  “The camera,” he shouted over his shoulder. “Get the camera and get out of here!”

  Audiv launched herself into the back of the car even as Angstrom slammed his fist into Antonio’s face. A splash of black washed over his vision, but he grappled with his enemy, punching him in the kidneys and gut. Angstrom grunted in pain, stumbling back. Antonio pressed his advantage, swinging his fists at Angstrom’s face. Angstrom dodged one only to run into the second. He fell heavily, and Antonio leapt at him.

  With a snarl, Angstrom flipped over and kicked out at Antonio. His eyes began to glow red as smoke curled out of his nostrils. Scales sprang from his body, every color of the rainbow in shifting patterns like oil on a puddle. Antonio backed off, calling forward his own flames. He shot a burst of fire from his throat as he shifted, his wings snapping out to either side of him. Angstrom blocked the fire with a wing. When Antonio’s burst faded, he lifted his head—or rather, heads.

  A chill swept through Antonio’s body when he saw the dragon Angstrom had shifted into. A seven-headed beast, with flames flickering in each of his mouths as he laughed. He was bigger than Antonio by more than half. Antonio was seized with horror for one moment—then the report of gunfire burst through his daze.

  His head swung round to see Audiv kneeling on the ground, holding the assault rifle as she fired at Angstrom. The seven-headed dragon grunted in annoyance but turned his attention back to Antonio. They leapt at each other, clashing in mid-air. Chunks of brick were ripped out of the building next to them as Angstrom slammed him into the wall. Claws ripped off great chunks of Antonio’s scales, and his blood spurted into the air.

  He lunged, desperation filling him, and managed to lock his jaws around Angstrom’s throat. Angstrom threw himself to the ground, pinning Antonio beneath, and pounded and clawed at his body. Waves of darkness washed over his vision as his body took the pummeling. Other images played in his mind. Audiv pinned beneath this monster, her tearfully telling him that he had taken her magic, the hollow way she had looked at him…

  His jaws tightened, even as it got harder to hold onto his dragon’s form. With a thrill of fear, he felt his fires cooling rapidly.

  Angstrom was stealing his dragon.

  Antonio snarled in his throat. It was no good… his fires would be out in seconds. He only had one chance…

  He released his dragon form, rolling to one side as Angstrom drew in a gasping breath. Antonio wasted no time, scrambling forward to snatch the assault rifle from Audiv’s hands. He shot Angstrom in first one eye then the next, desperately hoping this would work.

  Angstrom roared. He clawed at his seven faces. Then released a breath of fire—it puffed into the air as he collapsed. His clawed hand came out—and swiped Antonio across the chest, flinging him into the wall. He gasped as Audiv screamed, then everything went black.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Audiv

  “Antonio!”

  Audiv rushed to her drag
on’s side, her heart slamming into her chest as she checked for a pulse. Great tracks of flesh were torn up on his body, the wounds already starting to smoke as they healed. His heartbeat was hard and fast but steady, and she let out a soft sigh of relief. As she let her hand trail down his chest, she felt something start to tingle in her bones. Her eyes widened as it swept through her, powerful and joyous, like the first time she had used magic.

  Holding her breath, she raised both her hands and, concentrating, called on the long-absence magic. It welled to respond to her command, rushing to her fingertips. A laugh bubbled from her throat as sparks danced at her fingertips. Tears pooled in her eyes and she quickly brushed them aside, not about to let herself get weepy.

  Especially not when Antonio was in such bad shape. His skin was slick with blood, his eyes still closed and his breathing shallow. Audiv placed her hands on him, trying not to feel the clench of her stomach as her hands were submerged in blood. The scent of it made her light-headed, but she pushed that aside and struggled to visualize his skin stitching together.

  Healing was not her strong suit, but as she pushed her magic into his body, a connection flashed between them so she could feel every one of his wounds in a dull, throbbing ache. She concentrated the magic in those areas, helping his extended abilities to heal, making the flesh stitch back together faster. It only took a few minutes before her head was swimming from the exhaustion, but his bleeding had slowed significantly.

  Audiv glanced at Angstrom’s body, shook her head, and used her magic to help herself heave Antonio to his feet. He groaned, barely able to help her. She left Angstrom where he was as she got Antonio into the car. The camera that he’d told her to get out was in the back seat, and she placed it on the floor before gently putting Antonio back there. There was no telling when and if Angstrom’s cronies were going to arrive…