Singed Page 3

  I turned back to Trey after my quick lip lock session had ended. “How come you didn’t tell me I had a bird’s nest on my head?”

  He shrugged, straight-faced but with a twinkle of mirth in his eyes. “Because it’s hella sexy. I like your JBF hair.”

  “Speaking of Just-Been-Fucked hair, what happened to waiting for me in the bedroom?” asked Ethan, his voice lowered to keep his housekeeper from overhearing. “I was looking forward to having my face between your thighs after my workout.”

  Yes, and so was I. A sigh escaped my lips, the pulsing between my legs still present but slightly dulled as I contemplated all that had occurred this morning in my sister’s room.

  “Amelie’s sick,” I explained. “She called me over to her bedroom. I don’t know what’s happening to her, but things are worse than before.”

  “Really?” Ethan stared at me with surprise. “I thought her health had improved.”

  “Yeah, me, too. But she had this dream, and…I don’t know. It was weird. Painful for her. Like some sort of premonition, but she couldn’t even tell me all the details. Jackson kicked me out of the room before I could get more info.”

  Ethan raised his eyebrows, and I could almost see his thoughts whirring while he processed this information. No doubt he was putting all the pieces of the puzzle together as logically as he could. But there were so many pieces still missing.

  What had Amelie seen in the dream, in addition to the darkness calling to her? That was some freaky shit, and the part that worried me the most. Should I tell the guys? I debated for a moment. I almost wanted to forget about it, to pretend like those words had never come out of my sister’s mouth.

  Thankfully Mrs. Bauer came by with our breakfasts—two plates piled high with eggs, bacon and toast for me and Trey, and a tall glass filled with a frothy green protein drink for Ethan—and my thoughts were temporarily distracted by the food.

  We thanked Mrs. Bauer, and then the three of us sat in comfortable silence, Trey and I digging into our eggs while Ethan slurped his disgusting smoothie.

  After a few minutes, Shay and Jackson entered the kitchen, followed shortly by Drake. A flurry of activity ensued with a series of kisses and fist bumps and cheerful, peppy exclamations from my cousin. Mrs. Bauer served more food and coffee, and soon the entire room was bustling with dragon conversation.

  I noticed that Drake had decided to sit at the opposite end of the counter from Trey, but hey, at least they weren’t threatening to punch each other’s lights out. Or burning down the house with dragon fire.

  Even though the conversations in the room were light, a heavy weight sat on my shoulders. Could I really do this trip on my own? I took a deep breath and turned to my cousin. “Shay, I think I should—”

  “I know,” she interrupted, a bright smile on her face. “Jackson told me everything. I’d be happy to stay with Amelie.”

  “Great. Thank you.” Phew. I grinned at her, realizing I’d been a little worried that she’d be upset. And the more I thought about it, the better I felt about her taking care of my sister.

  I clinked the side of my coffee mug with a spoon, and then waited until all eyes were on me. “I have an announcement to make,” I said to all my dragons. “I’ve decided to go on the trip by myself. Shay’s staying here to keep Amelie company.”

  Silence filled the kitchen. My mates suddenly looked at me as if I’d grown three horns.

  “By yourself, bella?” Drake finally asked in his sexy Italian accent.

  “Yes. Of course.” I squared my shoulders. I was so fucking ready for this adventure. “I can take care of myself.”

  “I think one of us should go with you,” said Ethan.

  “Or all of us,” said Jackson.

  Another moment of silence followed, while we all considered this idea. I would love to have all my mates there with me, but…

  The Dragon Oracle. It just wouldn’t work.

  “It’s not possible,” I said, shrugging apologetically. “The Dragon Oracle isn’t receptive to men, remember? Four of you will send her running for the hills.”

  Grumbles of acknowledgement rumbled around the room. My dragons eyed each other warily. It was true—not all of them could go.

  Trey’s light blue gaze met mine. “I agree with Ethan’s suggestion…what about picking just one of us to go with you?”

  Just one. Hmm. I pondered this as I chewed my bottom lip. It would be nice to have someone to travel with. A companion. A playmate…

  “I have an idea,” I told my dragons, with a grin on my face. “Have you guys ever drawn straws?”

  3

  Ethan

  Drawing straws? Lyssa had to be fucking kidding me. It wasn’t like we were in some Wild West movie or something, trying to figure out who was going to have to muck the shit out of the pigsty.

  This was important. The orestaia held the future of the dragon population. No fertility stone, no breeding. The number of dragons would decline and, ultimately, we would cease to exist.

  Dammit.

  I really needed to be the one to go with her. How could everyone not see that I was the best choice? Nothing about this involved arrogance by any means—I just knew where my skills lay. I wouldn’t be the best candidate to heal someone, like Jackson, or to orchestrate a full-blown warrior dragon attack like Drake. And when it came down to knowledge base, Trey had the upper hand on all of us.

  But I was good at being in charge. This mission required logical, even-keeled thinking and organization. I could protect her while getting us in and out of Sedona in no time at all, gaining the knowledge that we needed to move forward with healing the stone.

  Besides, I was the only one in contact with Torm Troilus. Since the Blackfire Texas oil tycoon had found out about the stone’s inactivity a few days ago, he’d been breathing down my neck. He’d wanted this stone and the Guardianship for so long. Bad. But more than that, he wanted it healed first, and I didn’t blame him—who wanted a dead fertility stone?

  The problem was, he wanted it healed now. Patience wasn’t Torm’s strong suit. He was used to getting his way, and he had no qualms about being a dick about it.

  I had a perpetual urge to punch him in the face. Yet someone that wielded so much power needed to be dealt with carefully. Guys like Torm didn’t make empty threats. He’d said he would destroy Amelie and her family if she didn’t agree to pass down the Guardianship to him. I knew he’d follow through if we didn’t provide him with the stone, and a healthy one at that.

  So, I had no choice but to keep Torm in the loop, and the only way for me to do that was if I went to Sedona, too.

  I blew out a breath and ran my hands through my hair, trying to prevent clenching my jaw too hard. Now we had to resort to this straw bullshit.

  Lyssa smiled at all of us, that sexy, sensual smile that made me want to bend her over the counter immediately. “Okay, let me find some straws,” she said.

  “Maybe check in the pantry?” Shay suggested.

  I opened my mouth to protest, then after a moment decided against it. Behind Lyssa’s sweet smile resided a stubborn and willful woman, one of the things I loved so much about her. Battling my instinct to immediately butt heads with her, I forced myself to sit back and chill for a second. Trying to convince her to pick one of us—me, for example—just wouldn’t work.

  I could only hope that the odds were in my favor.

  For now, at least.

  She hopped off her seat, her luscious ass cheeks peeking out from below the little robe she wore. My cock stiffened in my jeans. Why the fuck hadn’t I had my way with her this morning?

  Good job, Ethan. Nice planning.

  All four of us guys watched her sashay toward the pantry, her curvaceous hips moving deliciously from side to side. I imagined grabbing those hips and plunging into that slick, wet pussy. Feeling those warm walls surrounding me, squeezing me tight.

  And that hair. Oh gods, I wanted to tangle my hands in it and yank it back, not super hard
, just enough for her to understand that I was in control.

  This was another reason why I wanted to go with her to Sedona. In general, I didn’t mind sharing her with the others, but I hadn’t had much time alone with her, only the two of us. I selfishly wanted to have her to myself, even for a little bit. If we went together, we’d have plenty of time for that, and to play out the current primal fantasies going on in my head.

  Damn. Now I had a full-blown hard on.

  Lyssa ducked into the pantry and I willed my dick to relax. Down, boy.

  Glancing around the counter at the other guys, I noticed with irritation that Drake’s smoke swirled around my face. I batted it away. “Can you seriously not control that?”

  Drake frowned. “Not really. I am not happy with all of this. I believe I should go with Lyssa on the trip.”

  “Oh, and why is that?” asked Trey, shooting him a cool glance. “I’m curious.”

  Drake puffed out his chest a little bit and glared at him. “Because I am High Commander of the red dragon army, of course. Who else can protect her better?”

  Trey said nothing, yet he raised his eyebrows, a clear challenge for Drake.

  “I can protect her, too,” I said, normally at ease with Drake, but today annoyance rippled through me. Just because he commanded an army of warrior dragons didn’t mean he won the superhero award.

  Still, I couldn’t help but take in his massive bodybuilder frame and cringe a bit inside. Okay, so he was a little bit bigger and buffer than me, but I definitely won in the brains department.

  My inner dragon undulated near the surface, suddenly very possessive of our mate.

  Come on. She’s ours. We can take care of her best.

  Yeah, I know. I agreed wholeheartedly. But I had a roomful of other dragons who felt the same way—not an easy task to say the least.

  “I think we can all protect her,” said Trey. “But only one of us can go, and whoever it is needs to be able to help Lyssa find the Dragon Oracle. The Oracle isn’t going to be easy to locate—I’m sure there’ll be clues. Things to figure out. I’ve got the most knowledge of magick and dragon lore.”

  “So it’s just brawn and brains here?” asked Jackson, quiet up until now but suddenly jutting into the conversation. He furrowed his brow, a frown on his usual easygoing features. “None of you have a Healer dragon’s skills like I do.”

  Fuck. Even Surfer Boy was upset.

  All four of us glared at each other for a few moments. Drake’s smoke filled the room, billowing up around us. No one said a word, but my dragon lashed at his restraints, suddenly very interested in being unleashed. In kicking some ass and showing the others who was boss.

  Seriously. I was the best prepared for this job.

  A huge sigh came from Shay. “Come on, guys! You’re all acting like a bunch of kids,” she said. “What’s wrong with you?”

  I let out a breath and heard the others do the same. Shay had a point—we were all bickering like children. But how could we not? All four us would give our left nuts for Lyssa. Or even the right. Either one.

  “Lyssa’s doing the straw thing, and that’s that,” Shay added. “End of story. Stop being dicks to each other.”

  As if on cue, Lyssa emerged from the pantry. “I found them!” she announced, holding up a box. “I had to climb up on the top shelf, and they’re a little dusty, but definitely useable.”

  She selected four straws from the box and, after rummaging in several drawers, found a pair of scissors. She snipped an inch off the bottom of one of the straws.

  “Okay, are you guys ready?”

  Holding the straws in her hand, the tops all even so we couldn’t tell which was the shortest, she walked along the counter. Drake pulled a straw first, then I chose one. She then moved on to Trey, and finally Jackson.

  We all held up our straws and compared. Jackson had the shortest.

  Jackson? Seriously? A cool guy and an amazing healer, no doubt, but most likely the least qualified to go on this trip.

  Lyssa beamed at Jackson and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Guess we’re going to Sedona,” she murmured, and pulled him in for a kiss.

  I glanced at Trey and Drake. Well, I guess the two of them could hold down the fort while I went to Sedona, too.

  Because I sure as hell wasn’t planning on leaving this mission up to chance.

  4

  Lyssa

  I rolled my suitcase down the hallway and pressed my ear up against Amelie’s door. Dr. Bronson’s deep baritone melded with my sister’s soft, feminine murmur.

  Okay, she was finally awake. Phew. I’d tried to visit her yesterday, but each time I came by I’d found her sleeping, or with Dr. Bronson. And when I’d tried to do the brain wave bit with her, she hadn’t responded either.

  My gut clenched, thinking of how thin and pale and sickly she’d become. I wished there was something else I could do to help her, but deep down I knew that until we healed the stone, nothing else could be done for my sister. If only I knew what she’d seen in the dream.

  I knocked lightly.

  Dr. Bronson opened the door, his beady eyes peering at me from under his wire-rimmed glasses. “Yes?”

  “Hey. I’d like to see my sister, please.” I shot him a bright smile, even though he’d been quite unpleasant with me yesterday, shooing me away each time I’d stopped by. “I’m leaving for the airport and I want to talk to her.”

  Dr. Bronson frowned, his rat-like features even more grumpy than before. Did this guy ever lighten up? “She’s resting right now.”

  “That’s what you said every time I’ve come by. I heard the two of you talking in there just now. Can’t I see her for one second?”

  Peering over his shoulder into the guest suite, I could see Amelie’s form on the living area’s sofa, amidst a pile of blankets. Her face was lost in a mountain of pillows and almost hidden from view. I nudged Dr. Bronson over a little bit to get a better look, but then he growled, grabbed my shoulders with a firm hold, and eased me backward.

  “Excuse me.” I smacked his hands away and glared at him.

  “No, excuse me. Amelie is resting right now, and as her physician, I don’t think she should have any visitors.”

  Biting my lower lip, I briefly considered simply busting into the room anyway. Dr. Bronson was a skinny little guy, and I could take him on if he tried to start shit with me. Healer dragons weren’t often known for their battle prowess.

  Lyssa, it’s okay. Amelie’s thought popped into my mind, to my relief. Dr. Bronson is stubborn, but he’s a good physician.

  He’s kind of a dick, I responded, even though I knew it sounded rude and unappreciative of me. I just want to see you before I go. How are you feeling? And you never finished telling me about the dream…

  Please go now. It’s all right…I’ll be fine. I have the utmost faith in you that you can complete this journey.

  But what about—

  Ugh. It was hard to talk to her with Dr. Bronson trying to have a stare-down with me. I gave him an exasperated look, and despite my firm desire to give him a good ass-whooping, I eased back out of the doorway instead.

  “Good day,” he said, and shut the door in my face.

  I stood in the hallway, alone with my suitcase, and tried to send another thought into my sister’s mind. Amelie?

  No answer. I tried again, sensing the connection still open between our minds. Hello? Amelie?

  The connection felt fuzzy, as if she was trying but couldn’t quite do it. I waited a few more moments, then nothing again. I blew out a sigh.

  Dragon’s breath…

  The thought came light and faint, and I wondered if I imagined it.

  Dragon’s breath? I sent, hope filling my core.

  Yes. In the dream. Dragon’s breath. A sacrifice…

  Wait, I pushed toward her. What is it?

  Another pause, then a sigh. Then I felt the connection between us fizzle out, and only a void remained.

  What the hell w
as my sister talking about? I gripped the door handle, determined to go back in and talk to Amelie, when I heard a loud honk from outside. Lukas, most likely, being impatient to drive us to the airport. Quickly pulling my cell phone out of my back jeans pocket, I realized we’d be late if we didn’t leave now. Going back in simply wasn’t an option—I’d just have to talk to her again another time.

  Dragon’s breath, I contemplated as I hurried down the hallway. What did that mean? Like fire from a dragon’s mouth? Amelie had mentioned pain, too…maybe she’d dreamed about being incinerated by a dragon’s fire. The thought made me cringe. Spewing fire could be fun, but being on the receiving end wasn’t my idea of a good time.

  And what about the sacrifice? I puzzled over this as I hoisted my suitcase, carrying it while I descended the grand staircase. But I didn’t have time to peruse this much longer, because all four of my dragons—and Shay, too—waited for me downstairs in the foyer.

  Lukas honked again from outside. Shay rolled her eyes and laughed—we had a mutual feeling of irritation for our belligerent driver. She gave me a huge bear hug. “Good luck! I’ll take good care of Amelie, I promise.”

  “Don’t let Dr. Bronson be too much of a douchebag,” I told her, hugging her tight.

  “I won’t,” she said.

  Then I turned my attention to my three dragons who weren’t coming with me. None of them looked particularly happy.

  “I wish you could all come with me,” I said apologetically. I really did—five brains were so much better than two.

  Drake immediately scooped me into his arms and gave me a passionate kiss. Smoke swirled around our heads while I clasped my arms around his neck. “Amore, I should be the one going with you,” he said. “I’m the biggest of us all, and the most capable of taking care of you.”

  “Mmm. Well, you definitely are the biggest,” I said, in firm agreement. My gaze lowered of its own accord to his crotch—even his cock was the largest of them all. “But I’ll be fine—I can take care of myself. Plus Jackson will be with me.”