Captive 0f The Dragons (Bonfire Falls Paranormal Romance Book 3) Read online

  In his defense, he only glances at my breasts for a split second before we make eye contact.

  “Are you hungry?” he asks as he pulls the gag out of my mouth.

  I’m so dazzled by his appearance that it takes me a moment to register what he says.

  “Yes. I’m also thirsty and need to pee.”

  He stares at me with what may be a hint of amusement, then reaches down and unties the rope around my ankles. While the unties my wrists, I lie there and take in his scent. He smells like the air after a lightning strike, with a smoky undertone that isn’t unpleasant in the least.

  His skin is warm and quite close to mine. If my mission weren’t so dire and urgent, I might be more distracted by his unparalleled good looks.

  Once I’m free, I sit on the bed and stretch. I stare at him pointedly. “Where’s the bathroom?”

  “To your left down the hall. It’s the first door on the right.” He points at the hallway. As I rise, he attempts to help me up, but I slap away his hand. His brow furrows. “I only wanted to help, witch.”

  “Like you ‘helped’ me last night?” I glare at him and carefully rise to my feet. “I can manage on my own, thank you.”

  I leave him there with his jaw hanging open. He probably doesn’t have people who give him sass very often. Most people wouldn’t talk like that to a dragon shifter, but I’m too pissed off to care.

  I expected a smelly outhouse, but instead, I’m greeted to the sight of a well-kept white marble bathroom. It’s luxurious and completely unexpected. I thought the dragons lived in a medieval village with primitive huts. His house would fit right in amidst the homes in Bonfire Falls.

  Once I’ve answered the call of nature, I can’t help but stop in front of the massive silver mirror hanging on the wall. My disheveled appearance is as bad as I’d expected after my traipse through the woods. Being manhandled by a dragon shifter didn’t help. And then of course, I was tied to a bed all night. There’s not much I can do other than comb my fingers through my hair and wash my face.

  I’d been so intent on packing magical goodies and survival supplies, that I’d forgotten basic amenities such as a hairbrush.

  I come out of the bathroom, and Blaze suddenly straightens up and seems a bit nonplussed. Perhaps he was listening at the door. After I cock an eyebrow at him, I clear my throat.

  “I’m hungry.”

  “Oh, yes, of course.” He shakes his head and gestures grandly. “Please, come this way.”

  “No way.” I cross my arms over my chest and glare defiantly up at him. It’s hard to stay mad when he’s so hot, but I manage. “Last time I turned my back, you ended up dragging me off to your lair and then you tied me to your bed for an entire night. You go first.”

  Disappointment and a bit of guilt flash across his face, but he recovers quickly.

  “As you wish.” He turns and walks ahead of me down the hallway.

  His muscular back is a magnificent sight. He’s only wearing a pair of jeans low and loose on his hips, which gives me a great view of everything from the waist up. Bear and wolf shifters have great bodies, but they’re nothing compared to a dragon shifter’s physique. God, why does he have to be so hot?

  He leads me out of his house and onto the cobblestone streets of the village. All around me, dragon shifters come out of their homes and greet each other cheerfully. There’s a placid tranquility about their demeanor that is sorely lacking in Bonfire Falls.

  Even before the war broke out, tensions have always run high between witches and shifters. With the Dragon Clan, however, it seems as if everyone trusts everyone else. No one is looking over their shoulder. No one seems to be on alert for anyone who might be dangerous.

  As we fall into the throng of shifters, I’m the subject of many curious stares. Perhaps I’m walking with the clan leader? He must have some kind of power here because no one questions my presence or speaks to me, but I have a feeling that will change soon.

  “Did you tell anyone why I’m here?”

  “No.” His voice carries a note of finality. “I’ve decided not to discuss this with anyone. You will leave today.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “There’s no point. They won’t agree to join the fight. It’s not our fight. It’s yours.”

  My lips twitch because I want to snarl a snarky response, but I hold myself back. I’m too hungry to think straight. The smell of delicious food draws my attention. A delectable scent hits my nostrils and my belly rumbles audibly.

  “Patience, witch, you’ll be fed soon enough.” A wry grin spreads across his face.

  “Go to hell. And I told you, my name is Ariadne. Not witch."

  “Ariadne.” He carefully forms his mouth around my name, almost as if he fears he may mispronounce even the slightest inflection or syllable. “That’s a good name.”

  “Hmph.”

  “Good to strike fear into the hearts of your enemies.”

  If I roll my eyes any harder, they’ll probably fall out of my head. He’s a lost cause. If only he weren’t so damn easy on the eyes. Even when I’m mad at him, I find him gorgeous.

  Ahead of us, I spot the source of the wonderful smell. The dragon shifter villagers are all filing through the double doors of a structure nearly half the size of the school where I teach.

  We follow them through the door. I’m greeted by the sight of nearly a hundred villagers sitting at long tables. They’re eating communally. They really are one big happy family. Bonfire Falls could take a lesson from this enclave.

  Once I get over the sight of so many dragon shifters, I’m awestruck by the incredible spread of food. It’s being served buffet style. Nearly every type of fare is available, from simple green vegetables and fruits, to stacks of pancakes drizzled with thick amber honey. Platters laden with greasy, steaming sausages sit near the end of one table.

  My mouth waters as one young villager seizes a link still too warm to handle. He promptly takes a bite. Tears form at the corner of his eyes and he opens his mouth to let steam out. Apparently, the fire-breathers can’t handle hot food. Interesting.

  Sausages aren’t the only type of protein. There are platters of ham, bacon, and thinly cut pork chops. It’s like an all-you-can-eat diner, except this is all high-quality food that has clearly been freshly prepared.

  “Come.” Blaze leads me to the front of the food line.

  I take up a ceramic plate with a lovely painting of a field of daffodils in the center. As I Follow Blaze’s lead, I take a bit of everything because it all looks so good.

  Around me, the dragon clan continues to stare, but no one speaks to me. Perhaps they’ll wait for a sign from their enclave leader. Part of me just wants to shout, “Hey, there’s a damn war on the other side of the mountain. Maybe you should get off your asses and help put an end to it!”

  I hold my tongue out of politeness. From what I’ve been told, manners and courtesy go a long way with the dragons.

  And who knows what Blaze might do if I holler? He might slap a hand over my mouth, drag me back to his bed, and then tie me down again. It takes me a moment to banish that thought from my head. It appeals me more than I’d like to admit.

  Just as I’m about to take a golden-brown blueberry muffin, someone with a melodious, relaxed voice speaks.

  “I do hope you enjoy my humble breakfast.”

  This new stranger stands on the opposite side of the buffet table. A thin white apron struggles to cover his thickly muscled chest. His smooth, high cheekbones are stretched into a friendly smile, and curly hair is tucked into a white plumed chef’s hat.

  I’m not about to miss this opportunity. He may be just a food service worker, but he’s the only dragon shifter who’s spoken to me other than Blaze.

  “This is hardly what I’d call a ‘humble’ breakfast.” I gesture at my already heavily laden plate. “Are you the cook?”

  “I am.” He offers a little bow. It’s hard not to stare because he’s insanely, unbelievably hot and doe
sn’t even seem to realize it. “I am called Ember. I prepare the meals here. Well, me and my wonderful team.”

  “Nice to meet you, Ember.” I offer my hand for a shake. “I’m Ariadne.”

  Blaze grinds his teeth with impatience.

  “Nice to meet you, Miss.” Ember’s hand is huge. Mine nearly disappears inside of it. For a cook, he’s in fantastic shape. “I hope you enjoy your stay in our little village.”

  Blaze clears his throat and steps closer to me.

  “She’s leaving.” His hard stare seems lost on the jovial Ember. “Right after breakfast.”

  “Really?” Ember turns his expression of disappointment my way. “That’s too bad. I’d love to show you around the village. There’s a lot to see here.”

  “That sounds like a lovely idea.” I smile as I pop one of the sausages into my mouth. It’s crispy and spicy and as wonderful as it smells. Around a mouthful of Ember’s sausage, I continue to speak. “You can show me around after we eat.”

  Ember seems nice enough. Getting a tour from him will be a great way of getting out from under Blaze’s watchful, judgmental gaze. And who knows, maybe Ember will agree with me that the war needs to be stopped. He might be a powerful ally. The guy who feeds the village is probably pretty influential around these parts.

  “She’s with me.” Blaze’s voice is low and rough. I scowl at him as Ember turns an inquisitive, but somewhat envious stare my way.

  “Are you really with him?”

  “No,” I say. Blaze flinches at my denial. “Absolutely not. Your great clan leader wasn’t exactly very cordial to me last night. He tied me to his bed and wouldn’t let me leave or talk to anyone.”

  “Wow. He did that?” Ember turns toward Blaze and looks at him askance. “I never knew you were into that whole ‘taking women captive’ thing.”

  “I didn’t take her captive.” Blaze’s voice rumbles through the hall. Many shifters look our way. He leans in closer and lowers his voice to a whisper. “Okay, I did kind of take her captive, but you have to understand, she’s from Bonfire Falls.”

  “Bonfire Falls?”

  “Keep your voice down.” Blaze’s voice is an angry snarl. “Apparently, there’s a war tearing the town apart. Ariadne’s people are caught in the middle. Keep it between us, or you’ll start a panic.”

  Unfortunately for Blaze, and perhaps fortunately for me, his stage whisper isn’t nearly as subtle or covert as he’d intended. As he fills his plate nearby, a man stares at us with his jaw hanging. He nearly stumbles into his fellow villagers as he hastily finds a table to eat at. He whispers to his friends, and soon, the story is passed around the dining chamber.

  “See what you’ve done?” Blaze stabs his hand at the room, which is filled with anxious, hushed conversation.

  Most of the village glances our way. More whispering continues until a woman with long, frosty hair stands. She shoves her wooden chair under the table with a shrill screech, and points directly at me.

  “Who are you, and why do you bring talk of war to our peaceful village?”

  Her query is taken up by the disorderly throng and they begin to swarm us. They would probably try to rush me if Blaze wasn’t standing behind me with a protective hand on my shoulder. I shake his hand off and stand.

  “I’m here because I need your help.” My voice cuts through the din. The dragon shifters quickly silence themselves. At least they’re polite in this village, well except for their jerkface leader. “War has come to Bonfire Falls. Blood literally flows in the once peaceful streets.”

  “Why would we care about what happens in Bonfire Falls?” The old woman’s condescending tone carries an undertone of fear. “We moved away from their petty squabbles ages ago.”

  A murmur of agreement rolls through the villagers, many of them nod their heads.

  “But you’re not separate.” I spread my hands out, palms up in supplication. “Your history is tied to ours. We all live on the same mountain. The war could easily cause you harm whether you want to get involved or not.”

  “Bah. I say she’s full of rubbish.” A man stands up and skewers the crowd with fierce blue eyes. “Witches won’t dare take a stand against the might of the Dragon Clan. We have no stake in this war.”

  “Right.” Another man stands. “Who cares if the lesser shifters and witches kill each other? It’s not our concern.”

  “Wait, please.” My voice falls on deaf ears. No one wants to listen to me. It’s as if the entire village has shunned me. Even Ember refuses to meet my pleading gaze.

  I’ve failed. The Dragon Clan doesn’t want to help, and without their aid, I fear Bonfire Falls is doomed.

  4

  Copper

  My eyes flutter open as the tickling sensation on my nose overwhelms my exhaustion. I must have fallen asleep at my research table. Last night, I was up until the early morning hours, well past my normal bedtime, because of the wondrous celestial phenomenon I’d witnessed—a red comet. As far as I know, no one else has ever seen one in the modern era, but they have great prophetic significance.

  That’s why I’m now using my cedar desk as a pillow.

  My gaze focuses on a furry gray mouse which is sitting on the table. The little fellow sits on its hind legs, holding a nub of cheese left over from my late-night snack. His black nose twitches.

  “Hello, little friend.” The mouse doesn’t respond until I raise my head off the table. Then it skitters away, dropping noiselessly from table to floor. “Well, goodbye then.”

  A piece of paper sticks to my face. It crinkles as I pull it away. I stare at what I’ve scrawled across its surface. It’s barely legible, but it seems to be about the comet.

  “The comet!” I stand too fast and my head spins.

  I need to tell Blaze and Ember right away.

  Glancing out the window, I surmise that it’s already well into the late morning hours. I’m late.

  I leave the paper on the desk and I race out of the study. Taking the steps two at a time, I nearly stumble in my haste. The time it takes to put on a pair of boots seems to stretch on forever. And wouldn’t you know it—the laces are knotted! I have to get an awl to loosen them.

  “Today of all days,” I mutter.

  Bursting out the front door of my home, I run halfway down the cobblestone street before I realize I’m still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. I also didn’t bother to brush my hair or do anything to fix my devastatingly awful morning breath.

  “Whatever, nothing’s as important right now.”

  I run past Blaze’s forge and then quickly return to it. He keeps a barrel of water to quench the ironwork he hammers day and night. He refills the barrel from the stream before breakfast, so the water is fresh every day. That big bastard can haul a sixty-gallon barrel of water on his shoulders like it’s nothing. I wish I could do the same without first shifting into dragon form, but what I lack in brawn, I more than make up for with my mind. Brute strength is good for some things, but a strong mind is better for others.

  Exultation rushes through me when I peer into the barrel. Yes! It’s filled with fresh water.

  Holding my breath, I plunge my head into its depths. Cold, so cold. I should’ve tested it first. Still, I tough it out, hold my head beneath the surface, and give it a good shake.

  When I pull back out, I swish a mouthful of water and spit it back out. There, clean enough. Maybe I should do this every day.

  But it’s not every day that you get to tell your best friends about a prophetic comet.

  I race toward the dining hall. I smile and wave at passing villagers but have no time for any other pleasantries.

  At last, the door is in reach. I start shouting before I even have it all the way open.

  “You won’t believe what I saw last night!”

  Ember twists his head toward me and his smile melts. Blaze stands next to him. The walking mountain of muscle seems agitated. His face is a mask of worry.

  “Oh, good, you’re here,
too.” I walk across the mostly empty dining hall while talking a mile a minute. “Do you remember how I said that the Omicron meteor shower was going to be particularly brilliant this year, provided one had the telescope necessary to see it? Well, I was on my roof, scoping out that distant galaxy, when I happened upon a great crimson smudge of light in the sky.”

  Ember opens his mouth as if to speak. He glances to his left, then presses his lips together. I follow his gaze and glimpse the arm and shoulder of a third person hidden behind Blaze. I don’t know who it is, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing matters except for this comet.

  “My first thought was it must be a comet. But there’s no comet due to visit anywhere close to our solar system for at least three more years. So where did it come from? Red comets are unheard of, but then I discovered that it is, in fact, a harbinger of great doom. Doom which could come in the form of…”

  My voice trails off when I come all the way around Blaze’s side. I spot the third member of their party. She’s not a villager. I know everyone, and I’d definitely remember her if I’d met her before. My tongue turns to lead as I drink in the sight of her beauty. Not even the Pillars of Creation, a magnificent, distant nebula, could compare to such a wondrous sight.

  This strange woman is stunning. Her eyes glimmer with a sense of purpose that could be good or evil. She’s driven by something, that’s for certain. I shouldn’t stare at her, but her beauty takes my breath away. Even in her mud-stained hiking garb, she’s gorgeous.

  “I thought there was no such thing as red comets,” she says.

  I’m stunned by the sound of her voice. It’s as smooth as honey, and yet it possesses the same charged aura that the sky gets right before a storm.

  “I—Who?” Turning my gaze between Blaze and Ember, I desperately seek some clue as to the identity of this wonderful new creature. Is she single? Have my good friends have already staked a claim to her?

  Ember smiles and gestures to the woman.