Jace led her down the steps, Mia’s knees staking. Magic coursed through her, spiking inside until she needed release.

“Drive me to the warehouse.” Mia grabbed Jace’s shirt, bunching the soft linen up in her hands. “I need to release more of this power.”

Jace drove the van away from the apartment. Traffic was a nightmare. Mia breathed through her nose, magic rolling inside her. Warmth danced over her skin, running from her scalp all the way down to her toes.

Liquid desire chased the warmth, and Mia rubbed her hand down Jace’s arm. Soft hair covered his tanned arms. The bond between them pulsed, strong as it was the day they forged it.

And it had felt like forging metal. Fire and flames tempered with ice until they were linked. Mia shifted, her core pulsing. Jace was here, he was right here next to her. It was like someone had died and came back to life. She ran her hand over his arm again, and he took her hand in his and brought it to his mouth.

He kissed the back of her hand and she shuddered. It felt more intimate than it should. He kept his mouth on her hand, his warm breath sending shivered coursing through her.

Magic jumped inside her, and Mia grit her teeth. Oh this spell wouldn’t be hard to cast at all. Controlling the magic would be the hard part.

Jace pulled into the parking lot. Mia stumbled out of the car, her legs trembling. Her vision swam, the magical energies of so many dragons in one place coiling around her.

She let a breath out and sucked another in, her chest heavy.

Smoke opened the door. “What’s wrong?" He frowned, his expression promising murder to whoever was chasing them.

“Magic,” she said. “I’m going to ward the warehouse.”

Smoke blinked.

“Selene is molting,” Jace said, pulling the two of them inside.

Younger dragons lounged around the building, their energies tugging at her. The dragon on the couch wasn’t going to molt any time soon, but his energy acted like a catalyst for the dragon he curled around.

“Can I have the place empty?” Mia struggled to breathe, the energy was so thick. “It shouldn’t take long.”

Smoke looked around. “We’re going to ward the place, but we need it empty first.”

The dragon who was the catalyst jumped off the couch with a grin. “Don’t ask us twice. It’ll be nice not to worry about certain doom for a while.”

The dragons filed out of the warehouse, as Smoke lead her to the back of the place. There was a small office that wasn’t much to look at.

But Smoke’s energy covered the room. There was a small couch in the corner and a desk, and from the feel of the place, he spent most of his time here.

Mia dropped onto the couch with a sigh. Smoke’s energy curled around her, and he and Jace sat down on either side of her.

“Are you okay?”

Mia nodded. She didn’t have the energy to explain why her magic was being weird. She just wanted to ward this place, make Smoke safer.

Her magic usually brought nothing but pain and suffering to people. Let it do some good for once.

“What supplies do you need?” Jace brushed his hand over her arm.

Desire raced through her veins. Smoke leaned against her, his side cool against her skin. Mia took a breath in, dragging the magic energy inside her up, and let it out.

She didn’t trace runes or use items, she just moved her hands as those she was weaving threads together.

A ward, a ward to keep her lover safe, her magic thrummed. Mia focused on a spot on the cement floor, pulling more magic down than she had in her life. It flowed through her, from her bones and hands and breath until magic choked the room.

Smoke exhaled, his breath visible in the air. Jace breathed against her neck, his breath hot on her skin.

Mia shuddered, her nipples tightening. “More,” she gasped. Energy filled her as the spell grew tighter and tighter.

Jace brushed his mouth against her neck, and Mia whimpered. Smoke leaned forward and mirrored Jace’s movements.