Blazed (9 page)

Turning, the master’s hidden gaze drilled into Bree. Then he disappeared.

Chapter Nine

For every dragon Ty felled, three more took its place. He drew in a deep breath and blew fire at the hordes, spinning in the air as the flames spread among the Others.

To his surprise, most, as if made of paper, caught fire and disintegrated into ash that rained down on the warehouses below.

Only two remained.

Ty slashed and bit at one, whipping his tail to keep the second from his back. Teeth sank into his tail. Ty spun, jerking, his spikes slicing the Other’s mouth. He managed to get his claws in the wings of the larger creature.

Unable to stay aloft, it fell through the air, crashing on top of one of the buildings like the others before him. Ty turned to the last dragon in his path. Fear shone from its mostly dead eyes.

A fireball, black with a greenish tinge, flew through the air from near the warehouse. Ty jerked in the air, diving to the right. It barely missed. He glanced down to see more coming his way. Black fire. Debilitating fire. Taking the only chance available, Ty folded his wings and dove toward the figure conjuring the fireballs thrown at him.

He swerved in the air to avoid colliding into a ball of black flames, bucking and twisting through them. The hooded figure had to be the mage himself. He bellowed loud enough to shake the buildings as he drew closer and dropped faster.

Another fireball flew at him. Ty twisted out of the way. A split second before he slammed into the master, the man disappeared.

Ty opened his wings, jerking to a stop, and turned to the sky. No Others lingered. With a trumpet call, he landed near the door and shifted into his human form.

The door was locked, but that didn’t stop him from ripping it off the hinges and entering the dark maze of crates.

From his left, a shadow raced at him. Ty spun, ducking as it flew at his chest. Sharp claws pierced his shoulders and a snarling scream echoed in his ears.

He stumbled back against the wall, doing a painful dance with a… cougar? “Kari?” Ty shouted.

The cougar slowed. She coughed a meow, then released him and dropped to the ground.

“Kari?” Ty repeated. “Where’s Bree?”

The cougar’s tail twitched as she picked up the end of a silver chain and headed into the maze.

* * *

Bree worked the cuffs harder. The distant sounds of Kari fighting became silent. Blinking back tears at the pain in her wrists and the thought of what the silence meant, Bree jerked her wrists again. Skin rubbed already raw began to bleed, but it furthered her cause as she was finally able to slip one hand from the damn cuffs.

Steps came closer.

With one final tug, Bree managed to get her other hand out. Power flooded her body as her magic was released.

The steps grew louder, closer.

Bree spun and conjured up bluish-red flames. As a shadow appeared between the crates, Bree flung her fire at the deranged man. The shadow ducked. Bree drew back to throw more flames. This time, she wouldn’t miss.

“Doggone it, woman. Is everyone greeting me tonight by trying to roast me alive?” Ty called as he stepped into the light.

Beside him, Kari dropped her silver chain and bounded forward, rubbing Bree’s thigh with her head. Sinking to her knees as a mixture of relief and happiness flooded her, Bree hugged Kari’s cougar form.

“Sorry,” Bree said, looking at the most welcome, beautiful sight she’d ever seen as Ty stepped forward and opened his arms.

Rising, Bree slowly moved toward him. In two steps, she was running, flinging herself into his embrace.

“Gods, lovey. You don’t know how glad I am to see you well,” he whispered huskily against her hair.

“Maybe as glad as I am to see you?” she replied. He’d come after her. Stunned disbelief changed into something softer, warmer, at the realization. This man had put himself in danger and come after her.

Drawing back, Bree stared into his loving eyes. A heated blush crawled up her face at the blatant, overwhelming emotion blazing from his gaze.

Kari mewled and Bree stepped back. She glanced at the cougar, then around the warehouse. “Where’s the master?”

“He disappeared just before I could demolish him. We need to leave before he comes back,” Ty replied.

Kari yowled as the bitter tang of smoke came to Bree. Something on the far side of the building crashed and the crackling sound of fire blazing filled the air.

“We’re on fire,” Bree shouted, rushing to Kari. As a fire nymph, she’d be fine. Ty, possibly. Kari couldn’t survive a fire. “We have to get her out of here, now.”

Ty crouched in front of the cougar. “Don’t freak out. I’m a shapeshifter too. I’ll get us out, but I need your cooperation. I promise not to eat you, okay?”

Kari barked out a cough.

“Get ready. I’ll fly you out of here,” he said.

A second later, his body grew, skin changing to shimmering white scales. His bulk was immense, knocking crates and boxes all over the place. His head hit the roof, his dragon too big for the small area. Then, he held out a paw.

The long, sword sized claws were a bit scary to contemplate, but Bree urged Kari to climb into the white paw. She followed, clutching both cat and dragon.

Ty flapped his wings. The air blew around them, filled with smoke, ash and sparks. Bree covered the cat the best she could. Then they lifted off the ground.

Bellowing a warning, Ty shot fire at the roof above them just before they crashed through.

Then they were in the sweet, clear air, flying over the city.

* * *

They landed on the outskirts of town, near a sprawling ranch house. Ty set Bree and Kari down gently, then shifted back to human.

A door slammed and Calla stalked outside, her eyes lighting with relief.

Her lips trembled and her eyes shone with unshed tears as she said, “I know I’m hormonal. But please tell me I can eat that jerk Donovan. He won’t shut up, just keeps yapping and demanding and complaining.”

Bree grinned. Being annoying was one thing, but the singer probably didn’t want to piss off a pregnant dragon.

Calla gripped Ty in a tight hug, then turned and grabbed Bree. Shocked, Bree did nothing but enjoy the sensation.

Finally letting go, Calla patted Kari. “Poor thing. Let’s get that off your neck.”

Kari mewled and docilely followed Calla toward the house. Bree started after them but Ty took her arm and headed to the barn.

The place was warm, smelling of sweet hay. He closed and barred the door, then advanced on Bree with a predatory look in his eyes.

“What?” she squeaked.

“Would you like to know what I felt when I found you gone?”

Her heart thumped loudly. “Not really.”

“Too bad. I was panicked, almost crazed with fear. I even attacked my brother-in-law.”

Her eyes widened as he drew even closer, anger stiffening his body. “You fought Scott?”

“Punched him in the nose after playing one of your tricks and pinning his neck to the wall.”

“I’m surprised Calla didn’t eat you.”

Ty reached her and there was nowhere else to go, with her back to the wall.

“She almost did.”

“I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“Didn’t you hear what I just said, woman? Worry doesn’t cover a bit of it.” He slammed his palms on the wall, arms on either side of her head. “I’ve never been so scared in my life,” he whispered.

His eyes softened a split-second before his mouth bruisingly slammed against hers.

The heat inside Bree blazed to life, and she matched him, fear for fear, anger for anger. Fire for fire. His hands roughly roamed her body, tugging at her clothes. Bree jerked his shirt off, then unsnapped his jeans and pushed them down his hips.

His cock sprang free, large and swollen. Ty made short work of her clothes. Soon, they were naked, their skin rubbing and touching as he pinned her between the wall and his hard body.

Bree could barely breathe from the emotions swamping her. She was already wet and ready for him, the lust pushing her to meet his rough demands. A slightly hysterical giggle worked its way up her throat at the pressure bursting around her heart.

Ty stepped back, eyes blazing. “You find this funny?”

Bree smiled, running her hand down his scruffy cheek. Then, she grabbed his arm and swept her feet behind his legs. Unbalanced, Ty fell back onto a bed of hay.

Bree straddled him, running her hands up his muscled abs and chest. “Do you know how rare and wonderful it is to have someone worried about me?” she asked.

Ty grunted, but his eyes lightened, the anger fading. Bree nibbled along his chest. Reaching for her, Ty grasped her sides, his thumbs caressing the edges of her breasts. “Do you know how unusual it is for me to lose control?”

“No,” Bree said, licking up his neck. Whispering against his lips, she added, “I think I like your loss of control right now.”

“You think?” he asked, his lips twitching.

She didn’t answer, just nibbled his lower lip before kissing him with all the need inside her. His arms wrapped around her, making her feel safe. As if, maybe, for the first time in her life she’d found a place she belonged.

Crushing her to his chest, Ty flipped them over. The hay poked at her, but Bree barely noticed as he ran his hands over her breasts, stopping to flick her pebbled nipples.

“Well, guess we’ll just have to work on figuring it out for sure.” He leaned down and sucked one nipple deep into his mouth, his tongue hard and playful over the sensitive skin. Bree clutched at his shoulders, the muscles bunching beneath her touch.

Back arching, she gave herself over to the pleasure this man made her feel.

Ty wanted to hold on to his anger. Instead, he ran his hands over her body. The stubborn, tough, independent fighter turned into a soft woman beneath his touch, her whimpers and moans piercing the silence of the barn as she showed him with every move that she was his.

At least, her body was for the moment.

Ty wanted so much more. His plans for the night had crumbled, but some remained salvageable. He was going to show this woman how much he wanted her, not just for the night, but permanently.

Ty kissed her rosy nipples, moving to nuzzle her flat belly. Her scent filled him, his dragon clawing for control, to take this woman and force her to see how they felt.

This was mate. Mates were forever. And soon, he would claim her agreement to go through with the bonding ceremony, to seal their destinies.

His body warmed, his cock thick and hard, ready to sink into Bree, have her tight hot pussy clenching around his shaft. He wanted to plunge deep, fill her womb with his seed and make something take root.

To bind this woman to him for all time.

He jerked her thighs apart, staring into her orange flickering eyes, then lowered his mouth to the center of her heat.

Bree gasped at the touch.

Ty plunged his tongue into her sheath, tasting her juices. Beneath his hands, her body heated until she was burning to the touch. Her hips jerked, back arching as she came, screaming his name.

Ty licked the folds of her flesh, sucking her clit hard and fast as he dipped his fingers into her wetness.

* * *

Bree sighed as the orgasm raging through her began to calm. Ty hovered over her, his eyes completely white, blazing with frightening emotion.

“I want you to stay,” he growled forcefully.

“Stay?” Her heart skipped a beat before picking up to gallop around in her chest.

He pulled her to sit up, facing him, Ty still straddling her legs. “Stay. The master will not stop chasing you. Here, you will be protected.”

Bree’s breath caught in her throat. “I can’t stay for that.” Hells, she couldn’t stay at all. Why’d she even say that? Because she wanted to hear more, Bree realized.

“I want you to stay,” he repeated, his hands tightening on her shoulders.

“I… I can’t.” She avoided his gaze, looking down at the hay around them, wishing she knew what to do.

So she did the only thing she could, with her body still burning for Ty’s touch.

Pushing him back, Bree climbed on top. “Love me. That’s all that matters right now.”

She kissed along his chest, wrapping her fingers around his straining cock. Ty groaned, finding her breasts and grasping them.

Bree licked his flat abs, then along the tops of his thighs.

She breathed on his length before pressing her tongue to the base and licking up to his glistening tip. He was salty, musky. Egging on her desire. She wanted to devour this man.

But this would be their last time together. She would take it slow, draw it out, make it last all night long.

Her chest hurt. She ignored the strangeness and took his cock deep into her mouth, swirling her tongue along his thickness. His body trembled beneath her hands.

She licked up his length, then sucked him hard. Ty groaned, his hands fisting in her hair. She nibbled along his cock, nipping the tip, ran her hands up his chest, back down his sides.