Dragon's Heart Read online

  “I don’t think I want to go with you. You look at me like I’m something rotten. I think the two of us mix like oil and vinegar. I should just find shelter with my own.”

  She looked up at the dark sky. Stars twinkled in the sky…making her momentarily forget how twisted and dark her own world had suddenly become.

  “You stay.” In the flash of an eye, she was behind him. She pushed him into the car. “I’m not disobeying orders by letting you out of my sight for one bloody minute! So stop being such a pain in my ass!”

  “You bloody bitch!” He looked up at her and found that she’d already whipped around to the driver’s side.

  “Now, you come with me. I have a secure hideout…Denys won’t ever find us. You need to get that spell you’re working on to…” Suddenly she lost her breath.

  No matter what, she couldn’t quite swallow the thought of a spell created solely for exterminating her kind.

  The last war between dragon shifters and wizards had erupted over the same sort of incantation. Fortunately, they’d won the war and destroyed the spell before it could be put into effect. But this time would be different…for her king and queen wanted that deadly enchantment. They needed the curse to win the war. And she would defend this man until her dying breath if need be, if only to ensure that he lived long enough to perfect the incantation and hand it over to her king and queen.

  “I can do my work on perfecting the curse without you. I really must insist that you leave me to my own devices.”

  “Well, get over it. Like it or not, and I know you don’t like it, you’re stuck with me. I’m going to stick like glue to you. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.”

  “What about wild dragon shifters?”

  “I’ll be fine. I don’t think the shifters that are out to get you will kill me when it comes right down to it. Sure, they might give me a good work over, but end my immortal life? I don’t think so.”

  “You’ve gotten it all worked out, what the hell are you? A bloody seer?”

  “No…I’ve never been completely psychic, though I do get flashes from time to time.” She started the car and swerved out into the light traffic. She made sure she wasn’t being followed and then headed for her safe house.

  “You have no idea what you’ve gotten into when it comes to safeguarding me. I have more enemies than you could even keep track of.”

  “Just try me. We dragon shifters are well known for our keen intelligence.”

  “Yes, yes. You’ve always tried to assert your superior intelligence over us.”

  She set her lips in a grim line and looked over at him. Now that he’d gotten rid of the illusion of being a bloody mess, he actually looked—dare she think it, he looked handsome.

  “Why did you create that false illusion back in the shop?”

  “I don’t follow.”

  “You followed me just fine, you needn’t act clueless for me. I can see past that act. I asked you why you had created the illusion of being soaked in your own blood back in the shop. I thought that Denys had really given you one hell of a good thrashing.”

  He laughed. “I can see why you’d think that. That wasn’t my own blood. I was trying to put an attack spell on Denys, and well, he bleeds quite a bit when you hit him in the right spot.

  Unfortunately, he spewed blood all over me. After he covered me in his blood, that bloody fast healing gene you shifters have, charged into effect, and he ended up looking better than me.”

  William gave her a penetrating stare. She shivered beneath his gaze. She’d only known him for less than one hour and already the heat was on between them. She knew that her attraction to him was probably only one sided—besides, nothing could ever happen between them.

  A relationship between a dragon shifter and a wizard was unheard of and they’d be going into unchartered territory if they did start some sort of a relationship.

  “You know, I feel as if you and I have met before…I don’t know why but when I look at you I get the strangest sense of déjà vu. Maybe we’ve met in a dream.”

  “I don’t think so. Dragon shifter dreams are a lot different than the boring sort of dreams you wizards have.”

  “There you go again. Every time we try to have a conversation, we end up biting each other’s heads off.”

  “Don’t worry, I have no intention of biting your head off…I’m not into that sort of sport,” she said giving him a playful wink. She directed her attention back to the road. “This would be so much easier if we were allowed to fly in this realm.”

  “You are not allowed to fly? I can…our government doesn’t prohibit flying in non- magical realms, we just have to be inconspicuous.”

  “Good for you. Our governments are a lot different then. My government doesn’t want us to be exposed…if we are, the humans might decide to start hunting us again.”

  “Well, then, Draconian Law must be a lot different from ours.”

  “What did you say?” She turned onto the narrow isolated back country lane that led to her small cottage.

  “I merely said, Draconian Law.”

  “I thought I heard you correctly. We don’t like that particular name anymore. Not since the war broke out. My side has sort of blacklisted it.”

  “Whatever for?”

  “You’re not exactly in the know about what’s going on with our Civil War, are you? I would have thought your intelligence agents would have briefed you on the power players in our conflict, but since you are not aware of what’s going on, I’ll enlighten you.

  The leader of our opposition is Lord Draco. He might have been the man that instituted many of our laws back when we started to settle Dragonia, and yes, he is related to the Queen of Dragonia by marriage … but now that he has rebelled, his name is mud.”

  “I think your red hair is getting brighter. It’s the colour of flames, but when you get heated up, it looks like it really is a halo of fire. Come to think of it, your passions are getting riled up. Do me a favour and keep that beautiful red hair of yours from bursting into real flames, I don’t feel like getting a little crispy around the edges, if you get my drift.”

  “Was that meant as a compliment?”

  “I guess. It is quite enchanting … I think it is your best feature.”

  “Thank you.”

  “So why does the mere mention of this Draco’s name shake you up so much?”

  “Are you telling me you actually don’t know?” She turned into her long gravel drive and drove up to her sixteenth century cottage. She’d had a hand in building this cottage, and the lands that surrounded it were just what she needed when she underwent the shifting.

  Sometimes she even went against her kind's law by taking a nightly fly now and then. Even though most of the dragon shifters had lived in Dragonia for the past thousand years, she’d been one of the few allowed to routinely visit this realm.

  “I don’t know. Contrary to whatever you believe, I’m not that educated in dragon shifter lore.”

  “It’s our past … it’s our history. It all happened, and it’s well documented.” She got out of the car and stretched. She watched him stand up to his lanky height. “The mention of his name rattles me—because—he is my father.”

  “I’ll get out my tiny violin for you.” Without missing a beat, he turned and headed toward her cottage. “I’m knackered. I want a nice hot cup of tea some beans and toast and then, I need to sleep. Since you want to stick so close to me, why don’t we just share the same bed?” he laughed. “I’m up for little bit of loving if you are. It will be a grand night.”

  Groaning, she followed him to the cottage door and unlocked it. She could see she was in for a lot of fun guarding the smart assed, wizard. “I love being a loyal subject to the Crown.” Rolling her eyes, she stepped into the house.

  Chapter Two

  The dragon shifter known as Grania was quite possibly the most beautiful woman he’d ever set eyes on. Her flaming red hair, and emerald green eyes, had already entranc
ed him.

  In truth, he was falling fast for her, but he needed to keep his distance. So, he’d fallen back into his comfort zone of being a right and proper prick. It was a useful defense mechanism for his heart. Soon, she’d go running from him, she’d forget her vow to protect him and leave him in peace. And in turn, he’d hold onto the last vestiges of his sanity. He had to focus all of his energy into finishing the spell he was crafting, since without it, the world he knew and loved, would be destroyed or irrevocably changed forever.

  “The bedrooms are upstairs. Yours is the one to the left of the staircase.”

  “Pity, I thought we could keep each other warm tonight.”

  “Well, if you have an issue with being cold, I’ll be sure to light a fire in your hearth before I go to bed … custom made.” She snapped her fingers, and he started at the spark fizzing between her fingertips.

  “Don’t worry, my kind mastered fire conjuring more than three thousand years ago. I don’t need your assistance in that area, although I’m always open to helping you keep your bed warm.”

  “You just never give up, do you?”

  “Well, when the first dragon shifter representative from your king and queen came to me, they didn’t exactly say they’d be sending one hell of a dishy sweetheart to watch over me. I told them I didn’t need a fire-breathing dragon, but they were determined to see me protected. Fortunately for me, they sent someone I can really get into.”

  She groaned. “You can’t possibly be this annoying—you must be pulling my leg for some reason.”

  “Pulling your leg, no … though, I could take a look at your legs for you—I’m quite sure they must be just as beautiful as the rest of you.”

  “I’m being slathered in compliments…and you know what, I like it.” Her voice turned to a seductive drawl. He watched her face transform from slight irritation to a look of complete adoration.

  “Wait a second,” he coughed. He could feel the blood draining from his face. He suddenly felt lightheaded. Breathing was becoming difficult. His groin ached. This wasn’t the reaction he’d planned to receive.

  She walked toward him.

  “Sure—I’ll let you keep my bed warm … I’ve stayed chaste long enough. I think I could use someone like you to make me feel again. And, I warrant you’ll make me feel like one hot-blooded human woman.”

  “Whoa. Steady on, Grania. Don’t be jumping the wand.”

  She smirked. “What’s the matter, William? Can’t you handle a forward woman?”

  “Forward? You’re bloody fresh that’s what you are.”

  “You said you liked the fact that they’d sent someone that you could really get into …why don’t you prove that you’re not just talk—prove to me you’re filled with more than just hot air.”

  “All talk and no action…that’s not me.” He knew what she was doing…she was calling his bluff—the question was, would he return in kind? Did he really want to get skin to skin with a dragon shifter? His mother would think he had lost his marbles. His father would probably tell him to blow up Grania rather than sleep with her.

  “Really? Prove it, hot stuff.” She was tempting him—she was goading him…and she’d called his bluff—again. He’d never had another woman stupid—or spirited enough to do that. He swallowed, hard, trying to forget the other part of his anatomy that was becoming more than a little stiff.

  “We’ve only just met,” he said hoarsely. Her emerald green eyes sparkled like the gemstone they mirrored.

  “Yes. But we’re both wise, and we’re both old enough to know exactly what we want. You can’t deny the chemistry sizzling between us. I felt it the moment I stepped into your dumpy little shop. I intend to indulge my wild side I intend to set your world on fire—in a good way.”

  “You think so, huh?”

  “I do. I think we should take chances in this life. We are living in very uncertain times. Any moment now, this entire world could be thrust into complete and utter chaos, the likes of which hasn’t been seen since Rome burned.”

  “In case you hadn’t noticed, Earth isn’t the most peaceful planet as it is.”

  “Throw in blood hungry dragon shifters, and I guarantee you, the way that Earth is right now will look like Paradise.”

  “You know what I think? I think you’re trying to rebel by proving to your people that you can screw with a wizard and have fun thumbing your finger at them.”

  She took a step toward him. “You might be right on track—and then again, you might be right off the beaten path.”

  He took a step backward with every step that she took forward. “I think you’re being a bit hasty.”

  “Hasty? You shouldn’t have stirred the pot. As you said earlier, my passions are up. You should not have riled them. Keep in mind I haven’t had them stirred in many, many years.” Her eyes flashed again. He swallowed, trying to force down the thick lump erupting in his throat. He was getting increasingly hotter. He pulled at his collar.

  “Yeah…but I have a distinct feeling that I didn’t do that. I’m an asshole, yeah…but I’m not normally this effective. I usually really repel women by now. This is the time where you slap me, and leave in a huff, muttering expletives at me while you stomp away.”

  “Show me how effective you can be. You know we shifter females don’t believe that wizard males have what it takes to satisfy females.”

  “You want satisfaction? I can give you satisfaction.”

  She took another step toward him—he didn’t realize she’d been backing him into the corner until he slammed up against the wall.

  “You look good enough to eat. You underestimate your sexual appeal to the other sex, William.”

  He swallowed again, he felt like fanning himself, he had to remain in control of the situation, even though every part of him wanted to slam her against the wall and take her hard and fast, he couldn’t do that—he had a job to do, and getting involved with her would only complicate matters. Besides, he wasn’t into long term relationships, and he was pretty certain that if he gave her a steamy hot night to remember he just might have one hell of a nasty dragon coming after him to take a bite out of a part of his anatomy that he rather have left intact.

  “Your face is quite red, William. Maybe I should help you out of your clothing—you look as if you’re overheating.”

  She put her hands on his chest. A jolt ran through his body. She must have felt the force their physical connection caused, because she jumped back, almost as if she’d been electrocuted.

  “This can’t be…” Her voice grew faint, her eyes widening, and her face went white. She seemed stunned. Her eyes went wild—and he could pretty well guess they were not wild with passion.

  She shook her head. As if she needed to prove to herself that it wasn’t true—she touched his chest again. Again, the jolt ran through his body and back into hers. He noticed that her right hand rested right over his heart. Her eyes contained a soulfully mournful look to them. She seemed as vulnerable as he could ever imagine.

  Her ferocity and her tenacity melted away. He didn’t know what made him do it, he just couldn’t seem to hold back. He rested his hands over hers. The touch of her skin felt like silk against his somewhat calloused ones.

  She drew in a shaky breath, and then slowly exhaled it.

  “This is not to be borne. I can’t—no, this can’t be right. It must be a mistake!” She pulled her hands out from under his, and staggered backward. Were those tears pooling in her brightly lit eyes?

  Suddenly, he felt like a really big asshole.

  “I never meant to have it get carried away this far—I just wanted to push your buttons a bit. I guess old habits die hard.”

  She licked her lips at the word hard, and continued to back away from him.

  “I—we—you simply don’t understand what this means, do you? You have no comprehension of what I just ignited between us.”

  “I have no idea what you’re going on about—all I know is that I’m intensely
attracted to you—it goes against all of my values and beliefs, let me tell you.”

  “Sex on the night of our first meeting isn’t what I ever thought would happen either. I’m not that sort of woman. In fact, I’ve never truly joined with anyone before…”

  “Hey— you don’t need to continue elaborating. You don’t owe me an explanation. Your life is your life—there is no reason for our lives to intersect. You are my bodyguard, nothing more, nothing less.” Now, he was rambling.

  “You need to listen to me!”

  “I don’t see where I wasn’t listening to you.”

  She put as much distance between him and her as she possibly could. She still looked inclined to either run from him, or give him a kiss of fire.

  “We can’t touch ever again. Or at least I can’t touch your heart, and you can’t touch mine. If we do it at the same time—we will both be lost. You won’t be able to resist me and I won’t be able to resist you.” She took another shaky breath.

  “I don’t understand. Sure, I am highly attracted to you, and I admit the thought of kissing you appeals to me and…”

  She put her hand up. “I know. I know. I feel the same way. But as you said, you don’t understand. A dragon shifter’s heart is one that will call and find its true mate.”

  “You mean like a soul mate?”

  “Aye. A soul mate like no other…” At this point, she completely lost her colour. She seemed overwhelmed by whatever had occurred between them.

  “You mean when you touched my heart…”

  “The jolt it gave me wasn’t a normal experience for me. I’ve never felt it with any other man—not even the man I thought I once loved.”

  “Look, if it were up to me—I’d be off somewhere on my own, working on my spell. I prefer living the life of a hermit, and every so often finding some female companionship with absolutely no strings attached.

  Sure, it doesn’t have many perks—but it keeps me out of trouble. I definitely don’t need you distracting me—even if you are supposed to be my protector.”