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

  “This is Ariadne. She’s—”

  Blaze interrupts. “She’s a witch.”

  “A witch?” My heart sinks. The universe itself has betrayed me. This lovely woman is completely off limits. “No.”

  “Yes.” She offers her hand and smiles. My anger melts away. Maybe she doesn’t spend a lot of time witching. I take her hand in mine and marvel at her supple skin against my own. “I’m Ariadne. Nice to meet you… um?”

  I stand there shaking her hand awkwardly for several seconds before I realize that she’s waiting for me to tell her my name.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” I clear my throat. “I’m astrologist the Copper. I mean, I’m Copper the astrologist. Pleased to meet you.”

  Ariadne tilts her head and looks at me quizzically. “Did you fall into a lake?”

  “What?” My gaze drops to my soaked shirt which is clinging to my body. That’s when I recall my unwashed body, unbrushed teeth, and the tangled mess of my hair. “Ah, why—no.”

  I clear my throat again and try to casually brush my wet hair back.

  “So, ah, what brings you to our village? You’re not planning on putting a hex on us, are you?”

  Ember smirks while Ariadne scowls. Even with her face scrunched, she’s beautiful.

  “I’m not here to hex you.”

  “Too bad, I was hoping you’d hex me and have your way with me,” I say.

  Ariadne’s lips twitch into a smile. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s checking out my chest, which is clearly visible through my now-translucent shirt. But I’m probably just seeing what I want to see.

  Her smile fades and her eyes darken.

  “I’m here because my town, my students, and my parents are in danger. There’s a war in Bonfire Falls between the shifters and a cabal of dark witches led by a woman named Sybil.”

  “War?” I blink several times and then gasp in realization. “That’s what all of the rumbles from down the mountain have been. I thought there was mining going on or something.”

  “I wish that’s all it was.” She glances out the window, toward the likely direction of her home of Bonfire Falls. Now I understand why she seems so driven.

  “Well, you may have come to the wrong place.” The look of disappointment on her lovely face makes me regret speaking. “I mean, I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but the Dragon Clan would never help witches. Never in a thousand years.”

  Ember sighs and shakes his head in agreement. “He speaks the truth, I’m afraid. The Council of Elders will never agree to help you.”

  Blaze’s rumbling baritone joins the discussion. “We don’t have magic and we don’t have modern firearms or other types of weaponry. We have fire, but the risk to dragon lives is too great.”

  “We really are a peaceful bunch.” I can’t help but feel badly for her. If only there were a way we could help.

  Ariadne bites her lower lip. She stares out the window as another distant rumble from Bonfire Falls reaches our ears.

  “I understand.” She sighs. “I’ll go home, I just—I hope it’s still standing when I get there.”

  She’s close to tears but is holding them back. This woman is very strong and she’s very brave. She risked the difficult trek up the mountain to beg potentially hostile Dragon Clan shifters for aid. I admire her courage.

  I eye my fellow dragons. “Can I speak with you two outside for a moment?”

  “Sure.” Ember turns to Ariadne with a sheepish expression. “Would you excuse us for a bit, please?”

  “Of course.” As Ariadne watches us leave, sympathy wells in my heart. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be helpless in the face of evil.

  Once we’re outside and the door swings shut, I address the Ember and Blaze. “We have to try and help her.”

  “Have you lost your mind?” Blaze holds his hands out imploringly. “I want to help her just as much as you do, but we don’t get involved with witches—ever.”

  “You’ve spent so much time staring into the heavens that you’ve forgotten our history.” Ember shakes his head sadly. “Witches are the reason we had to come up the mountain in the first place. Ariadne seems nice, but still—”

  “No, it’s you who’s forgotten our history.” I cross my arms over my chest and stare at him. “The French had a ‘wait and see’ attitude in World War II and they wound up being conquered by Germany. When the first colonizers came to Africa, their allies were tribesmen who wanted to remove native rivals.”

  “What’s your point?” Blaze snarls.

  “My point is that war never stays in one place. It will creep up the mountain like a plague, flattening trees and blackening the earth until we’re surrounded by devastation. And then what will happen? Will they just leave us be in our quaint little village? Or will they go for the valuable natural resources this place has to offer?”

  My words hang in the air while my friends ponder them. Ember opens his mouth, then looks to Blaze and closes it.

  “What are you thinking?” I ask.

  “I’m thinking you’re right,” Ember says.

  “I wonder how bad the fighting truly is.” Blaze looks toward Bonfire Falls. A grim scowl darkens his face.

  “There’s only one way to find out,” I say.

  Blaze nods. “I’ll fly down there and see what the situation is. If it’s as bad as Ariadne makes it out to be, we should try to convince the others to get involved. Copper’s right. The war could come up the mountain. If it’s bad, I’d rather fight it down there. I don’t want magic up here destroying our village.”

  Ember looks to me. “Can you keep Ariadne occupied while I prep for lunch and Blaze does recon?”

  “Of course.” And get to spend time with that lovely woman? Don’t twist my arm.

  We head back inside and report our plan to Ariadne. She’s a bit shocked that Blaze is willing to risk flying down the mountain to Bonfire Falls. Cautious optimism plays across her magnificent face.

  When Blaze leaves to prepare for his journey, and Ember goes to attend to his duties, I’m left alone with Ariadne.

  “Would you like to see the village?”

  “Yes, I would.” Her smile is radiant enough to melt iron. I’ll have to keep her away from Ember’s blacksmithing studio.

  I lead her out of the dining hall into the street. I point out structures like the council meeting chamber and the apothecary.

  “We should stop and get a healing salve for the rash on your wrists.”

  “It’s not a rash.” Ariadne’s face twists into a sneer. “He—” She cuts herself short.

  “He what?” I prod.

  “He went and—never mind, he’s helping me now. That’s all that matters. So, you’re an astronomer?”

  “Yes, that’s right. I’m an astrologer and an astronomer. I can show you my workshop if you’d like.”

  “That sounds interesting.” The sincerity and wonder in her tone make my belly clench. She’s the kind of woman I’ve been looking for my entire life. Why does she have to be a witch? Fate is a cruel mistress.

  As we walk toward my workshop, I try to make conversation. I’m curious about her life in the city down the mountain. I’ve never been to Bonfire Falls. I’ve flown over it just to stem my curiosity, but I’ve never walked its streets.

  “You said your students were in danger. Does that mean you’re a teacher?”

  She nods.

  “Yes, I teach at the integrated school in town.” She sighs. “I’m sorry, I know you’re trying to take my mind off my troubles, but I’m really worried about my parents. I’m an only child and they don’t have anyone else to take care of them.”

  I gently grab her hand and hold it. “I promise we’ll help you if the war is bad enough. The others may be reluctant, but they’re not stupid. They will realize that fighting a war in Bonfire Falls will be far easier than fighting one up the mountain. They don’t want war in the village.”

  “I guess it depends on what you consider ‘bad enough’,” she says with a sigh.

  I nod and give her hand a light squeeze.

  “Trust me. If it’s bad enough, I’ll make them fight for you.”

  “Why?” Her gorgeous eyes meet mine.

  “Because I won’t stand by while innocent people are being killed.” A ghost of a smile lights her face. I turn and point toward my home. “That’s my place.”

  “I can’t wait to see it.”

  I get her settled in the living room before heading into the kitchen. I stack wood in the stove and light it. A cup of herbal tea will help to steady her nerves. It’s not much, but it’s all I can do for her until Blaze returns.

  After I set the steaming cup before her, she takes it in both hands. She delicately blows the top, sending small ripples across the water. When she brings the rim of the cup to her feminine lips, I stifle a groan. I can think of any number of places I’d rather she put her lips right now. I can’t think of the last time I’ve wanted a woman so much. I hardly know her, but I know enough to want her in my bed. It’s an impossible dream because she’s a witch and I’m a dragon, but then again, red comets are supposedly impossible too.

  5

  Ariadne

  Warm sunlight beams through the window of Copper’s study, glinting off the delicate metal flanges of his Copernican armillary sphere. With the slightest touch of my finger, I send it spinning in a tightly coordinated but beautifully intricate dance.

  Copper stands near my side, patiently allowing me to prod and poke at every little bauble and gadget in his study. Dad once told me that seeing into a man’s study meant seeing into his mind and how he saw the world. Copper is a man of interests, both mundane and arcane, judging from his study, and he’s highly organized about both.

  “
You seem rather taken with that piece.”

  Copper’s velvet smooth voice startles me out of my contemplation. I shift my gaze from the sphere to his gorgeous face.

  “It’s so precise, yet so lovely.” We watch as the spines bearing the planets slow their movement. “What is it for, exactly?”

  “It was a model of the solar system before good telescopes had been invented.” Copper runs his nail along the golden edge of Mars. “Unfortunately, it’s a flawed model. Copernicus believed that the universe must be perfect because God is perfect. But he was wrong, at least when it came to solar system.”

  “Our solar system isn’t perfect?”

  “No, there are no perfectly symmetrical orbits around the sun. All the planets pull and tug at each other, and there’s a gradual slowdown of their velocity so minute that it’s only observable over millennia.” Copper stops speaking and grins. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t force you to listen to me ramble when you’re here on such urgent matters.”

  “It’s all right.” I smile at his smooth and youthful yet sage face. He’s insanely attractive, but he’s also correct about my urgent business. My hometown is literally on fire but while we wait for Blaze, listening to Copper speak is a great distraction. “I kind of like the way you ramble.”

  His smile stretches wider. I’ve certainly pleased him, and that also pleases me for some reason.

  A knock at the door startles us out of the moment.

  Copper’s face wrinkles with a micro flash of annoyance before he goes to answer the door. A moment later, he returns with Ember in tow. The town’s resident food maestro takes my breath away. Are all dragon clan shifters this remarkably sexy?

  I keep my cool and force myself to remember why I’m here. I’m not here to hook up with hot dragon shifters, I’m here to save my town.

  “Ember, was it?” I smile at him with as much nonchalance as I can muster. “What brings you by?”

  “I’m honored that you remembered my name.” He offers a bow with enough flourish to make my smile genuine. “I’m just here to make sure that my good friend Copper is safe and sound. I thought he might need some protection from your witchy enchantments.”

  “My witchy enchantments?” I laugh and raise an eyebrow.

  “I’m doing just fine, brother.” Copper claps a hand on Ember’s shoulder—his finely chiseled, well-developed shoulder. “She hasn’t cast a love spell on me yet, so I’m safe.”

  Together, they look even more extraordinary. These two sexy as sin dragon shifters are making me hotter than a midsummer’s night. Maybe I should use an enchantment spell to live out my naughtiest fantasy.

  I silently chide myself. Now is not the time to be drooling over men. But it’s hard to ignore the sizzling tension between the three of us. Our mutual attraction is frivolous, unless I turn it to my advantage. Should I flirt with them just to get their help to stop the war? Are they even single? How do I find out without sounding obvious or desperate?

  After a brief internal debate, I decide to help save Bonfire Falls by any means necessary. I reach out and run my fingers over Copper’s shoulder. It’s the exact same place his buddy Ember touched him.

  Instantly, I have his attention. He focuses those magnificent eyes on me.

  “If a love spell will get you to help me save Bonfire Falls, then that’s what I’ll do,” I say coyly.

  Ember steps back, his eyes widen. Copper, on the other hand, offers me a shy smile. His gaze drops to where my hand caresses his shoulder. He doesn’t recoil from my touch. After all, I’m not the plague-ridden, wart covered witch of fairy tales.

  I take my hand away and laugh heartily. Copper seems a bit disappointed, but Ember relaxes.

  “It’s a joke, guys. Come on, my specialty is fire and lightning magic, not sex magic.”

  “You might want to keep her away from the food.” Copper winks at Ember. A wry grin is etched into his lovely face. “She might enchant the whole town and turn us into her personal dragon shifter army.”

  “I would never try to enchant an entire village…but I might try to enchant a couple of men…” I glance from Copper to Ember, then back. Their eyes speak volumes about what they might want to do to me if I did cast a love spell. And honestly, I can’t say that I object to any of it. Unfortunately, I don’t mess with love magic. That’s just asking for trouble.

  Love magic is incredibly messy. It conjures the attention of dark forces. It tends to explode into tragedy under the best of circumstances. And when it really goes wrong, it’s an epic disaster. Azealia, a powerful witch who only recently returned to Bonfire Falls, could confirm that based on personal experience. I’ve heard her story, and now I know not to mess with love spells.

  “I’m afraid we can’t do much until Blaze returns and reports.” Copper seems genuinely apologetic. “After that, we might be able to help.”

  “Yes, we need to find out what he discovered before we make any moves,” Ember says.

  He’s slightly more relaxed, but he still keeps a bit of distance between us. Perhaps he’s afraid I’ll cast a love spell on him. I smirk, because given the chance, I doubt he’d turn down the opportunity to be my love slave.

  “I see that you have things well in hand here,” Ember says. “I’m off to prepare the next meal. I’ll see you later, Ariadne.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.” I grin.

  His gaze darkens with desire before he turns and walks away. I get a splendid view of his tight butt as he heads for the door. I hate to see him go, but I love watching him leave.

  I turn to face Copper. He scratches his back with a sheepish expression.

  “I’m afraid, with all the excitement of the red comet, I didn’t have a chance to take a bath today. Would you like to go with me to the river?”

  “If I say no, will you tie me up?”

  He turns bright red.

  “Blaze tied me up.”

  “What?” His eyes narrow.

  “He didn’t hurt me,” I quickly say. “He was just afraid I’d get loose and cause havoc in the village.”

  “I trust you to stay in my house, but you should come with me. The water is pure and clear, and I guarantee that you’ll find it very refreshing.”

  “What? Do I smell?” I try to discretely sniff myself. I am rather ripe, after all I did walk through a burning village, traipse through the woods, then I spent the night tied up. I’ve been wearing the same clothing since yesterday morning. I probably do need a bath. “Okay. Let’s go. Besides, there’s not much else we can do until Blaze gets his grouchy, scaly butt back here.”

  Copper laughs, though he shakes his head in admonishment.

  “That’s not entirely fair. He has a lot of weight on his shoulders, but he always means well even if he comes across as gruff.”

  Gruff? That’s one way of putting it. “So, where’s the river? Please tell me it’s not a long hike.”

  “It’s not long at all.”

  As we walk out of the village, we climb across rugged terrain which acts as a barrier to the dragons’ village. I’m glad I had the foresight to wear hiking boots, because at times I’m clambering over rocky outcroppings and sliding down shale which breaks free from the surrounding mountain.

  Copper handles the journey with the grace of a shifter. Even in his human form, I can see a bit of his dragon lurking within. He seems like he’d be content to sun himself on one of these rocks, while contemplating the nature of the universe.

  He straddles a deep fissure in our path and offers a hand to help me across. I accept, and he softly tugs me toward him. His strength is amazing, but so is his gentleness when he releases my hand.

  “This seems like a lot of trouble to go through just to take a bath.” I wipe sweat out of my eyes with the back of my arm. I cock an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you do this every day.”

  “Well, normally, we would be in dragon form and we’d fly over all these obstacles.” Copper smiles. “But I don’t mind the walk, really. It gives me time to think.”

  “About what?”

  “Nothing.” His cheeks flush a bright pink.

  “Come on…” I bump my shoulder against his. “You can tell me.”

  “It’s really nothing,” he mumbles.

  I let it go. I love teasing him, but I don’t want to push my luck. He’s still a dragon who could burn me to a crisp in an instant.