Tamed: A Curvy Girl and Dragon Shifter Romance (Black Dragon Brotherhood Book 1)

by Aidy Award

  He added hope to his prayer that his next move would work. That he could help her be safe. His power of shadow could do nothing, his skills as a warrior hadn't saved anyone before. He was useless as a protector, but he had one last thing he could try.

  Neo kissed Kady, rolling her to the ground and underneath him. He swept his tongue into her mouth and let his soul rise to mingle with hers. Kady grasped at him, shoving her hands into his hair and kissed him back, taking as much as she was giving.

  If they were both about to lose their souls to this shadow warrior, there was no other way he’d rather go.

  Kady’s light shimmered and the world around them faded away. It was as if she was bending the light around them. No that wasn’t quite right. She was slowing the light, dissipating it, scattering it.

  They could still hear the scream of the shadow and in the next instant it was upon them. Neo waited for his soul to be ripped from his body, he wished for Kady that it would be fast and painless.

  The shadow warrior passed into the slowed light space around them, and Neo saw a face he knew, would always remember, would never forget. The woman who had literally given her own blood to save him and his brethren, the mate to his Wyvern, the last unicorn.

  “Yvaine?”

  Fighting the Darkside

  Kady had no idea what she was doing with her magic to create this shield she and Neo were hiding behind. She only knew the evil thing attacking couldn’t hurt them anymore.

  It was evil. It was anger mixed with hate and a greedy need to destroy, take, pillage. The moment it touched her magic, way over in the forest, she could literally feel each of those emotions coming from the monster, as if they were cannonballs filled with mustard gas and toxic industrial waste that was on fire.

  This time she understood what to do, where the magic came from deep inside of her, and she expanded the shield to encompass them both, protecting them together.

  The being burst through the shield Neo had told her to call up as if it were tissue paper. When it passed through the barrier, a thousand fiery hot needles poked her from the inside out and she had to grit her teeth not to scream in the same way the monster did.

  Kady clearly saw the dark shadow made of fire and liquid mercury. It reminded her of an angry genie out of its bottle. Almost as fast as it penetrated her shield, it began to dissipate, the fluid transforming into wisps of nothingness.

  “Yvaine?” Neo whispered, both pain and surprise lacing the word like poison.

  The last part of the being to dissolve before their eyes was the face of a beautiful young woman who for some reason made Kady think of a unicorn. The unicorn woman had lines of pain across her eyes and mouth, smeared with…what?

  Sadness, anger, hate, hunger, need. But there was also a strange relief as she looked at Neo while fading into nothingness.

  “Kady, Neo, are you two okay?” Inanna and Kur scurried to the part of the field where she and Neo were lying.

  Kady wasn’t quite ready to release her shield and the couple ran right up to the edge. She was sure they couldn't see her and Neo behind her shield, but Inanna stared right at her with worry on her face, her arms hugging around her own body. Kur pulled Inanna into his arms and patted her hair, comforting her in the way only someone who loved the other very much could do. With unconditional love.

  Kady held Neo in a similar way, but so tight she would probably leave bruises on them both. Holding him like this was partly for herself to know that they were both still alive, but mostly because he’d gone as still and cold as a pillar of ice carved into a statue.

  If dragon shifter warriors could go into shock, that's what she'd guess was happening to Neo right now. That creature had been a grotesque version of someone he knew, someone very important to him. Man, she really hoped he had a sister or something, even as horrible as that sounded. Because Kady was afraid that this Yvaine was another lover, even though he'd as good as said he was a virgin when they'd been together last night.

  She had a hard time believing that someone as good-looking and brave and powerful as he was had even less experience in the bedroom than she did. He'd spoken of this Yvaine before and Kady's wariness and jealousy were bubbling up like a gooey green monster. She physically swallowed that envy down because Neo was freaking her the fuck out and she really wanted to help him, even if she was later going to lose him.

  “Neo.” Kady stroked his face and whispered his name.

  A muscle ticked in his jaw and he continued to stare, or glare at the spot where the being, this Yvaine, had disappeared.

  “Come back to me now.” She whispered again and this time he heard her.

  He blinked and let go of the breath he’d been holding. “Good work using your magic to defend us from the...shadow warrior.”

  This wasn’t her Neo. His voice was distant and curt. The meaning behind the words sincere, but as if they were what he was expected to say.

  This Neo was a detached soldier, a cold husk that gave her the chills.

  He got to his feet and his action broke her concentration and her shield. The only concession to indicate the man she’d made love to, was falling in love with, might already be in love with, was a hand extended to help her up.

  “Neo?” What was she supposed to say? ‘Are you okay’ didn’t even begin to cover it. If that was really someone important to him, there was a whole lot more going on here than she understood.

  Hadn’t he said Yvaine was in New York, where they were going?

  Kady knew Neo's mission had to do with hunting down these shadow warriors and that he and his team needed to find a way to defend against and defeat them. The shadows were the bad guys. That thing had been part of the Dark Side, that she understood to her very soul.

  A shivery shudder ran down her neck and up her jaw. What if this was like a Skywalker family reunion? Instead of Luke, I am your father, it was Neo, I am your lover.

  When she didn't take his hand, it was as if he didn't notice at all. He was moving like an automaton at the moment. He didn’t respond to her at all, but instead walked across the field toward the houses.

  Inanna and Kur frowned at Neo when he reappeared from behind Kady’s shield. Kur followed Neo and Inanna helped Kady to her feet.

  “You’ve got some powerful magic, pretty witch. Disappearing like that.” Inanna wagged her finger.

  Kady glanced back at the place she and Neo had hidden. Disappearing? “I just put up a shield when Neo told me to.”

  “Your shield made you invisible and injured the shadow creature. We saw it dissipate, then when it appeared again it was weaker, both in form and energy.”

  “It’s still here?” Kady ducked, hoping it wasn’t already attacking.

  Kur pointed to the hole in the trees that still burned around the edges. “No, no, it flew back out the hole it crashed open to get through the wards.” He shook his head and tsked. “It was really gunning for you. Lucky you learned that shield, or I think the two of you would be in a sorry state.”

  She had learned more than a shield. Her magic had injured the monster that attacked them. If Neo could help her learn more magic, maybe she could use it as a weapon instead. She would use anything in her power to keep Neo safe, even if that meant from an ex-girlfriend or whatever Yvaine was to him.

  There were more of those evil things out there besides the Yvaine one, she was sure of it. She’d show those bully shadows who was a badass. Then maybe she could help Neo and his team fight against them. She could stand up for the meek in a way no one had ever stood up for her.

  Except Neo. He’d risked his life to save hers during the attack of the weird men in black, and he’d thrown himself between her and the attacking shadow. Her warrior dragon had been ready to sacrifice himself for her.

  If she had her way, he wouldn’t have to sacrifice ever again. She was done hiding from the world, trying to avoid the mean and scary things in the universe, letting them win.

  Kady had her own powers now. She didn’t kno
w exactly how they worked or what they could and couldn’t do. But she knew with Neo by her side she had a fighting chance for the first time in her life.

  Now to convince him. And find out exactly who Yvaine was.

  Neo had retreated to where the shipping container tiny homes had been, although only the one they had stayed in was still in the field. She couldn’t imagine what the gnomes had done with the others, but that last container-cum-tiny house was now on a trailer, hopefully with Percy tucked safe inside with some snacks, and her truck, Herbie, was on a smaller trailer ready to be towed behind it.

  Kady jogged across the field, her mind running through all the ways she could help Neo’s team. She could put the shield up around them all, she could learn to focus the shield into a sword…or a light saber. Yeah. That was the right idea.

  She was definitely going to need Jedi robes, or a super suit. But no cape. Capes were dangerous. No spandex with stars and stripes was going anywhere near her butt either.

  She found Neo pacing, back and forth, back and forth, saying something under his breath. Swearing up a storm.

  He didn’t seem to notice her, so she gingerly reached out and touched his arm. He jumped about a yard and the form of the dragon shimmered over him for a moment.

  He clenched his fists and took several deep breaths. The dragon growled and receded. Neo paced once again, angry energy shooting off him. “Kady. I’m so fucking sorry for leaving you open and vulnerable like that. I’m an ass and shouldn’t have. You are mine to protect now.”

  She didn’t need protecting so much anymore. “Maybe you’re mine to protect.”

  Yeah, she'd said it. She even believed it. Crazy monster ex-girlfriend or not, Neo was hers.

  A warmth spread across her chest, melting the chill their experience with the shadow had created between them. It was the same feeling she'd had when he'd first kissed her in the hot tub and again last night. Was this what love felt like?

  Neo stopped his pacing, grabbed her, and laid a good hard kiss on her. This wasn’t a possessive kiss. He had a need, laced with vulnerability.

  Kady melted into him, kissing him back just as fiercely, trying to let him know she was there for him. He’d had a pretty harsh shock and she wanted to soothe him, take care of him.

  The warm glow that came from deep inside of her surfaced and she concentrated on spreading it to Neo, wrapping them both in its heat. The fire in Neo responded and flames flickered across his skin, jumping to hers, beginning their sensuous dance.

  A shriek sounded from far below within the ground, forcing them to break apart. The earth shook and rumbled, and more shrieks filtered up through thousands of tiny fissures in the dirt. A tremble of fear shot through Kady's legs so hard that she couldn't tell where the shaking of the earth stopped and hers began.

  What scared the bejesus out of her was the fact that Colorado didn't have earthquakes. Especially not earthquakes that screamed.

  Inanna snagged Kady's arm and pulled her toward their container house. Kur did the same with Neo. “Come on you two, inside. We’ve put up wards around the house, so it should hold those nasty beings off for a short while.”

  The four of them ran inside, and Kur slammed the door behind them. Inanna waved her arms and said some words Kady didn’t recognize. A flash zipped through the building and then a series of crashes and screeches came from outside.

  “Holy shit. The shadows are attacking in broad daylight, and in force this time.” Neo looked out the window. The morning sunlight was gone and the view out the window was pitch black. As they all watched in horror, something crashed into the pane. The glass remained untouched, but a small spider web of cracks formed a few centimeters from the window.

  Neo slammed his hand against the wall, claws extending from the ends of his fingers. “Fuck. I can’t do a god-damned thing to fight them. My power over the element of shadow is useless. Worse than useless, if I try to use it, I allow the bastards in.”

  Kady hated seeing Neo feel so helpless. What she was about to say might make him feel even more so. She hoped not, but she had to take the chance. For the first time in her life, not only could she do something to fight against the bad guys, she wanted to. No running away, hiding from the bullies of the world. It was high time she stood up for herself and those around her.

  “I can.” At first her voice was only a mousy squeak, but her soul wanted to shout. She bunched up her fists and took a deep breath making sure her words would ring out with the conviction she truly felt. “I can fight them with my magic.”

  Hope

  A deep, sick feeling ached in the pit of Neo’s stomach. He shook his head, denying her words. No way could he put Kady into battle with the evil that was the shadow warriors from Hell. The First Dragon had both blessed and cursed him with a mate as amazing as this curvy young witch. He wasn’t worthy of her.

  She was soft and tender, and oh so fierce. It would kill him, tear his soul from his body, to lose her. Even though he hadn't yet given his soul shard to her, his soul was hers from the moment they first kissed. Maybe even before. Losing her would be even more devastating than knowing the shadow had invaded New York and stolen a soul - maybe even the souls of all the Dragon Warriors and their mates.

  The crashing against the wards continued while Neo pushed back against Kady’s idea. “No way. It's too dangerous. You haven't seen what they do to a person. We've already lost Yvaine, I can't lose you too. I can't.”

  If it made him sound weak, so be it. He was a fragile fucking flower when it came to Kady. He wasn't strong enough to let her fight, to watch her soul be sucked from her body and turned into an abomination.

  “Let the witch try, dragon. She may be our only hope.” Inanna held Kur's hand and stuck out her chin. Their wards were the only thing standing between the shadow warriors and a fate worse than death.

  Hope.

  Dammit. How in the world did this Inanna character know to invoke the one crucial belief he'd ever had?

  He wasn't sure he had any right now.

  Neo had thought the souls of those who were stolen by the shadows lost forever. The family he'd seen ripped apart in the attack become shells of their former selves. Oh, they lived, they breathed, they could even perform the most menial of tasks if directed to, but their bodies were only empty husks. The bastards had stolen the essence of their beings.

  Kady’s magic had helped him see and understand what happened to those souls, to Yvaine.

  He swallowed hard, and pulled Kady into his arms, holding her tight against his chest. Inanna was right. If they were going to save other from Yvaine’s fate, like probably Jett and other Dragon Warriors, his mate and her crazy powerful magic was their only hope.

  “I can do it, Neo. I need to try.” She spoke quietly but with clear confidence.

  She had done something that neither he, his elite team, nor any others battling the scourge had been able to figure out how to do. She had injured the enemy.

  Up until now they had only been able to track the shadow warriors through the gossip that wound through supernatural communities. Stories of souls stolen in the night, fiery localized earthquakes that left entire families in a vegetative state. Fear and rumors were no way to defend and protect.

  No weapon, human or magical, that anyone had tried, including his own power over the shadow, had ever done anything to even slow the bastards down. Too many souls had already been lost to them and he feared many more had been lost that they didn't even know about. Someone was building an army of darkness.

  Kady and her magic could be the first step in winning the war, to saving them all from Hell. It also drew them to her. Her bright shining soul, and her magic, were like nectar to evil.

  What if he lost her? The fire inside of him sizzled and sputtered as if it had been doused in mud. The dragon part of him rejected the idea of losing her so vehemently it literally gave him goosebumps. What kind of Dragon Warrior got fucking goosebumps?

  If it were only about him, he wo
uld gladly sacrifice himself to save millions. It was the life he’d chosen, to serve, so that others could live. That was the main tenet of the Brotherhood. Apollo had been willing to sacrifice himself in order to give the Black Dragon a chance at a real life, free from the bindings Hell had on his broken soul.

  Neo recognized that darkness in himself and knew instantly that although this was the cause that would define his life, it was his life. His life. Not Kady's.

  She had not made that choice. She was the one he’d signed up to defend.

  This was the hardest decision he could ever imagine. None of his training had prepared him for this. Save the world and countless helpless, hopeless souls or save the love of his life, and his own soul.

  Only if the First Dragon and the White Witch blessed him, could he have both. He said a silent prayer, thanking them for bringing Kady into his life, and asking for their help and benevolence.

  “Okay, sweet fire, this just might kill me, but let’s go save the world. Together.” He took one last opportunity to savor having her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. Then he switched into commando mode.

  “Kur, are you ready to transport your containers?”

  The gnome nodded. “All the rest of the homes have been miniaturized and loaded. I had a devil of a time getting the broom loaded onto the trailer, but it’s there too.”

  “Herbie? My truck?” Kady asked.

  Kur nodded and grinned at her, clearly quite proud of himself.

  One down, a thousand more details to go to make the plan Neo was building on the fly happen. “And the transport?”

  “The big rig is ready, but we need to hook her up to the trailer.” Kur motioned to a semi-tractor painted with flames and rainbow colors sitting at the edge of the garden. No one in the world could miss that thing trucking down the road. It was a wonder Neo hadn't noticed it before. These gnomes were excellent at hiding things in plain sight and Neo was counting on that for the journey.

  “Inanna, what can you do to reinforce the wards as we travel, anything?”