by Tara West
“Do you want me to hold it?” Draque asked, nodding at his wand.
“I’m fine.”
Draque scowled. “You think I’m incapable?”
“I’ve seen your bubbles, Draque.” Teju didn’t bother masking his bitterness as he recalled Draque’s last attempt at a bubble had been a wad of gum stuck to the end of his wand. Draque had always fucked off in school, saying he didn’t need to be good at spells when they had Teju. Now he was singlehandedly keeping the dragon king at bay, and he couldn’t help feeling resentment that it had all fallen on his shoulders.
“I won’t be making a new one.” Draque wiggled his fingers impatiently. “I’ll be keeping yours intact.”
“It takes magic to maintain the bubble,” Teju said derisively. “Why the hell do you think I get angry when you don’t pay attention in class?”
Draque blinked. “I’m willing to pay attention now.”
“It’s a little too late.”
Draque’s cheeks reddened. “What the hell do you want me to do?”
The dragon king was still circling above their shield. “I didn’t ask you to do anything.”
Draque kicked a rock at the bubble. It crackled when it hit the shield and disintegrated into powder. “I don’t like feeling helpless.”
“I’m not here to stroke your ego. I’m trying to keep us alive. If you want to help, stay the hell out of my way.”
Draque balled his hands. “You can be real prick, you know that?”
Teju laughed in his face. As if Draque would be foolish enough to punch him when he was the only reason the dragons hadn’t been able to breach the barrier.
“Boys!” Grandmother stepped between them, wagging a finger in their faces. “Don’t forget who your real enemy is. He’s watching you even now.”
Teju turned from his brother, keeping his elbow locked and focusing on his wand. Ignorance was also their enemy, and Draque had stupidity in spades. Why Ladon looked to Draque as the alpha was beyond him. Okay, he was toughest of the three, but strategy won battles, and taking down the dragon king required a whole lot of cunning.
Draque stomped away. Good. He didn’t want him near. It had been Draque’s idea to return to their grandparents, and though Teju would never turn his back on family, as the alpha Draque should’ve mapped out a strategy before they flew headfirst into danger. Since that would never likely happen, he would have to do the planning from now on. One thing was certain: he had no intention of dying on this ledge. He had a mate and eggs depending on him.
He squinted at what appeared to be a bug landing on the shield. He was startled when the bug fluttered down the curved wall and then pressed into a section directly above Teju. “Merlin’s balls!”
“What is it?” Grandmother asked.
“Serah’s remembrance butterfly,” he said and let out a sharp whistle. “Draque, Ladon.” They were sitting with their grandfathers on a circular stone bench. “Serah’s in trouble.” His voice dropped to a dark rumble as he did his best to keep himself from losing his cool.
His brothers jumped from their seats.
“What do you think happened?” Ladon asked, rushing over and looking fearfully at the butterfly.
“Her father is what happened,” Draque said, stalking toward them like a lion on the hunt. “I’ll kill that sneaky fae if anything happened to our mate and eggs.”
“What do we do?” Teju asked Draque, the irony not lost on him that just moments earlier he’d resented his brother being the alpha.
Draque gave him an incredulous look. “We follow the butterfly.”
Jagua stood, his knees creaking. Just the act of him pulling his wand out of his coat was painful to watch, but he managed and held it up, his magic shooting out at the bubble.
“Grandpa,” Teju cried, “you can’t hold the shield by yourself.”
“I can and I will,” he growled, his lips twisting as he pulled back his wand and the bubble snapped with a ‘pop’. “Go save your mate.” He glanced at King Tormung in the clouds above them. “Now, before he attacks again!”
Without a second thought, Teju shifted and jumped into the sky, his brothers at his heels. He followed the butterfly as it dipped and fell, sunlight glinting off its wings. Casting a glance over his shoulder, he saw his grandfather rebuild the shield seconds before Tormung descended.
As if the butterfly sensed their urgency, it changed shape into an arrowhead and dove into the clouds below. Draque and Ladon followed, flying blindly in some spots through fog so thick, Teju could barely make out his snout. Teju looked behind him again to see Tormung cutting through the clouds, chasing after them.
Behind you! he said, alerting his brothers.
Draque flipped around and landed on top of Tormung in a surprisingly acrobatic maneuver. The king howled and tried to shake Draque off, but not before Draque tore into his injured wing.
Another dragon joined the fray, digging his rear talons into Draque’s back. Draque launched off Tormung and spun, grabbing the other dragon’s tail and sending him careening into the flat face of a mountain. With a cry of anguish, it slid down the rock onto a small ledge, going limp.
The dragon king tilted, then dipped, his injured wing bent like a broken kite. He struggled to catch air pockets with his good wing, but the broken one worked against him. He dropped into the clouds and disappeared.
It was then Teju realized why Draque was the alpha. Brute strength was critical in warfare, and there was no doubt Draque was strong, brave, and tenacious, required qualities in a leader. But he didn’t regret berating him. Draque needed to take his studies more seriously.
They flew through another thick patch of clouds into clear sky. Teju swallowed bile when he saw how precariously close they flew to mountaintops. They could have easily slammed into one. He searched for Tormung but didn’t see him. Could he have fallen to his death? He rarely wished for the death of another, but he prayed this was the case. His grandparents would be able to escape, thanks to his brother’s bravery.
He located the butterfly. The little arrow was a short distance away ahead. It was flying away from the fae kingdom, which made Teju’s veins solidify with fear. Why wasn’t Serah with the fae? Who had her and where were they taking her? He had a sinking feeling her tricky father was behind her abduction. Why had they been foolish enough to trust him?
He looked back, and his heart faltered. Draque flew like a limp doll, his body sagging as if his wings could barely carry his weight. Blood flowed from his shoulders and down his arms, dripping off his talons in two steady streams.
Brother! he cried. Transform and ride on my back.
I can’t. Draque grimaced. These wounds would be fatal in my human form.
Teju’s heart slammed against his ribcage. We must find a place to land.
Never mind me. Steam poured from his snout. Follow that butterfly.
Teju cast Ladon wary look. If he can’t make it—
I will stay with him, Ladon answered.
Like hell you will! Draque bellowed. You will both go after Serah and our eggs. They need you more than I do.
Decision made, he prayed they made it in time to save Serah and Draque didn’t lose his life in the process.
VIOLET HAD NEVER BEEN more miserable in her life, and she’d just escaped slavery to a sadistic witch, so that was saying a lot. She hugged her knees while Thaddeus stoked the fire. After Thaddeus had dumped the bodies in a ditch, they had retreated to a cave big enough to be a dragon’s den, with hidden alcoves and even a shallow pool. They decided to camp in the front of the cave, close to the opening, where they could easily see with the light of the moon and watch the sky for threats. Thaddeus had dumped Periwinkle in a darkened corner on the opposite end of the cave. Not wishing to see Periwinkle’s stupid, smug face, he’d gladly honored her request and tied a sack over his head after she’d made him drink the entire flask of scyllshade. She took a bath in the pool to wash the blood off and changed into a robe she’d found in a dead witch’
s backpack.
When it had been Thaddeus’s turn to bathe, she couldn’t help but sneak a few peeks. Sure, she’d seen him naked before when she’d walked in on him in bed, but she didn’t look for too long for fear Katherine would catch her. But now she got a chance to admire his broad back leading to a tapered waist and perfectly round butt. How badly she wanted to squeeze it. Actually, she wanted to run her hands over every inch of his gorgeous hard, body. The color had returned to his skin, too. He was no longer ashen, but a beautiful golden brown—a sign he was recovering.
She had been sorely tempted to activate an invisibility spell on herself when Thaddeus had cleaned the vomit off his shoes and left them to dry by the fire. So much for those fantasies about her high school crushes. She imagined Thaddeus telling his brothers all about the awkward witch who puked on his shoes. Not that it mattered what they thought of her. She’d probably be sentenced to death soon anyway.
He sat across from her, the fire’s flames casting shadows across his features.
She swallowed back a lump of regret. “I’m sorry about your shoes.”
Pity reflected in his large brown eyes, making her feel even more ashamed. “I already told you not to worry. Katherine gave me those. I planned to burn them when I returned home. Can I get you anything?”
“No.” Choking back tears, she hung her head. “Just leave me.”
“What’s wrong?”
Her heart pounded uncontrollably when he moved to sit beside her and took her hands in his.
He was strikingly handsome, with high cheekbones and luminous, large eyes with thick, dark lashes. She’d love feeling his full lips pressed against hers. She was almost positive he didn’t recognize her from school. She’d changed quite a bit since her freshman year. If only they’d met under better circumstances. If only she hadn’t broken the law to save their lives, she might have had a chance with Thaddeus and his brothers.
“I used the unbreakable curse,” she said, throat parched and tongue feeling twice its size. “I’m going to be executed.” Her voice cracked and splintered like shattered glass. Looking away, she bit her knuckles to keep from crying out. Life was so unfair.
“Like hell you will.”
“But I broke the law.” Feeling he needed comfort, she squeezed his arm. She pulled away when she felt the spark. She wondered if he felt it, too.
He smoothed back a strand of her purple hair in a surprising act of affection. His touch sent a zing down her spine, straight to her lady bits. Oh, this wasn’t good. She couldn’t let this shifter make her horny, not when he wasn’t attracted to her. At least, she didn’t think he was.
“I will burn down all of Parliament before I let anything happen to you,” he said fervently.
He’d do that for her? Did this mean he liked her as she liked him? Her heart pounded so loudly, she could scarcely hear him.
“You were a hostage. You did what you had to do to survive. Plus you brought down Goldenwand’s second in command.”
“If anything,” he added, “Parliament will reward you for your bravery.”
She fidgeted with the frayed end of her robe. “I hope you’re right.”
“I know I am.” He cupped her chin and looked deeply into her eyes. “Nothing will happen to you, Violet. I’ll make sure of it.”
She tried not to get lost in his eyes as the feel of his skin on hers branded her flesh. She wished he would be this close always. “Thanks.”
“It’s I who should be thanking you and apologizing.” He released her. “I should’ve listened to you and escaped when we had the chance.”
“But you didn’t,” she said, trying to sound upbeat, “and now we have Periwinkle.” Truthfully, she wished they’d escaped earlier. The smell of burned bodies was permanently imprinted on her brain. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that she’d killed tonight, witches and griffins. Never mind that they were evil and would’ve harmed society if she hadn’t. Heck, they’d already harmed society. She normally ate plants and legumes, and refused to harm the smallest insect when she was foraging for herbs for her brews. But for the past two nights, she’d had to forgo her vegan diet and eat whatever her companions killed. This was not who she was. Violet was no killer. She wondered if she’d ever recover from this experience.
“I’ve only seen one witch as good with a wand as you, and that’s my brother, Teju,” Thaddeus said. “You were amazing.”
The intensity in his gaze made her feel a mixture of apprehension and excitement. “Thanks. I had to be good with a wand growing up. It’s the only thing that kept me safe from the bullies.”
“You were bullied a lot?”
Her chest caved inward. He didn’t remember her, but she’d guessed that. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry.”
He leaned so close, she could smell a mixture of brimstone, spice, and pine. Her libido sprang to life. She wanted to rip off his clothes and have her way with him, but she wasn’t sure he felt the same way. Besides, she had heard dragons mated as a family, and his brothers weren’t here. But, oh, she’d have no problems sleeping with all three of them if they were. She forced herself to put some distance between them.
“Don’t be sorry.” Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried thinking about anything other than Thaddeus Firesbreath’s devastatingly good looks. “I’m stronger because of it. If not, I probably wouldn’t have survived Katherine.”
“Where did you go to school?” Crossing his ankles, he leaned back against a flat stone jutting from the ground, looking far too comfortable and sure of himself, considering he was still recovering from being poisoned for a year.
She’d been hoping he wouldn’t ask about her past. “You don’t remember?”
“No, should I?”
“My freshman year.” She swallowed nervously. “You and your brothers were seniors. You saved me from my tormenters.”
“You went to our school?”
“I did. You probably don’t recognize me. I was a late bloomer.”
That was an understatement. She’d gone from a skinny, freckly broomstick to the curves of a siren and then some. Some of those curves could be attributed to her love of blueberry scones and cherry tarts. Not that she’d had any of those luxuries in a year. With the exception of the twin cauldrons attached to her chest, she was probably on the emaciated side. Slavery would do that to a witch, but she knew her dear mother would remedy that as soon as they were reunited.
“What did you do to get sent to Dame Doublewart’s?” he asked, looking at her as if seeing her for the first time.
“I shrank Lanila Longmire’s tits,” she said matter-of-factly. Shrinking tits was no big deal after being forced to use the unbreakable curse.
His jaw dropped. “You did what?”
“She was at my secondary school. Another bully. She made fun of my breasts, so I shrank hers.”
Looking back on it now, she had no regrets. If she hadn’t been sent to Doublewart’s, she never would’ve met the Firesbreath brothers. Actually, it wasn’t a meeting. More like a brief encounter. But she’d developed a crush that had lasted nine years, spoiling her for other men. Now here she was with the brother she’d always considered the sweetest of them all.
“What’s wrong with your chest?” he asked, blatantly staring at her tits as if he was trying to determine her bra size.
She crossed her arms as if she could hide her boulders. But she wanted Thaddeus to do more than just stare at them through the robe. She wanted him to take each breast in his mouth and suck them like a newborn babe trying to draw milk.
“My tits were small,” she said, her cheeks flaming when he kept staring.
“They were?”
As if things couldn’t get more awkward.
“I hadn’t gone through puberty yet.”
“Oh, because your tits look nice to me,” he blurted. He dragged a hand down his face with a groan. “I’m sorry. I haven’t had to act civilized in a while.”
Her che
eks burned so hot, she swore she was about to combust.
“It’s okay, Thaddeus.” She chuckled. “I’m not offended.”
“Okay, good, because you’re really beautiful.”
“Oh?” She froze like a gnome caught in a trapper’s net. Thaddeus Firesbreath thought she was beautiful? Either he was mistaken, or he was desperate to get laid and she was the only fuck available.
He chewed his lower lip. “Was that offensive?”
He had been through a lot. They both had. His mind was muddled after their ordeal. “No, Thaddeus, but I think you need to get your eyes examined.”
“My eyes are fine.” He moved closer to her. “Why don’t you believe me?”
She backed away again, pressing her back into the cave wall, missing the warmth from his body but knowing she’d regret it later if she didn’t stop him. “I haven’t looked in a mirror in a long time. I don’t feel beautiful.”
“But you are.” He caressed her cheek.
Great goddess, she loved his touch. He was looking at her with such intensity, it took her breath away. “Why me?”
“Why not you? You’re brave, smart, and gorgeous, and I feel a connection when we touch.” As if to emphasize the point, he traced her jaw and stroked her lip with his thumb.
“O-oh,” she stammered, unable to say more. She wanted to melt into his arms. Just one touch and she was on fire. She could only imagine how wonderful making love to him would be.
“You feel it, too, don’t you?” he asked in a sultry whisper.
Yes, she felt it. She’d thought the zing when they touched was simply her reaction to a longtime crush. She moaned softly when he tenderly kissed her neck, his lips leaving a trail of heat all the way to her collar bone.
This was really happening! She’d had no idea how many times she’d dreamt of making love to the Firesbreath brothers, and now he was seducing her.
“Thaddeus!” She pressed a hand against him in a feeble attempt to push him away. “I don’t want you straining your heart.”
