Page 38 of Wild Fire

“I’m going to need to file that report in a way that lets them know the cult is shut down. I don’t think they can recover from what happened out on the peninsula.”

“You will do what you need to do from here,” he growled low.

She shook her head and smiled. Normally it would have annoyed her for some man to think he had authority and command over her, but with Warrick it just seemed right. Perhaps it was because she knew he didn’t see her as inferior to him, even though the argument could be made that in many ways a dragon-shifter was far superior to a human. He just never let her feel that way. He discussed things with her and if it was something she didn’t understand, he stopped to explain it to her, but not in a way that made her feel foolish.

Dani stood in the shower enclosure made of glass blocks, letting the hot water cascade all around her. There were times when she’d been tied to that pole, she wondered if she would ever feel warm and safe again. She began to sponge her body with a natural sea sponge and fragrant soap, washing and conditioning her hair, as well. She could hear him setting up what sounded like a large tub as well as filling it and letting someone enter with food. When its heavenly scent wafted to her, her stomach growled.

Before she could ask him if it was safe to come out, he was reaching in to turn off the water, pop something that tasted delicious made of meat, cheese, and spices into her mouth, and wrapping a large fluffy towel around her.

“Mmmm,” she moaned. “I can’t decide what feels better—the shower, the meatball, or the towel.”

Scooping her up, he returned to the center of the yurt, where he had set up an enormous copper tub filled with fragrant water. He stepped in, sitting down and bringing her into the water with him, before pulling over a large tray filled with all kinds of foods.

Dani leaned back against him. “I think I’m going to enjoy this,” she said with a sigh.

“This is only the beginning,” he chuckled. “I plan to apply all of my seductive skills to making this a night you will never forget.”

* * *

He stood on the bluff overlooking the harbor. Damn, that hadn’t gone the way he planned. But what could he expect from fanatics and mutants?

There was nothing left but a smoldering mess. He’d expected his operation to be gone, as communication had been completely cut off, but not this. As he made his way down to the devastation, he could see the dragons had left him a clear message—they might not know who he was, but they knew what he was up to.

He had work to do to reproduce what he had done here. The Shadow League would need to keep the Phantom Fire and the resistance movement occupied with other matters so he could get back to what was important.

He would see that the Phantom Fire paid for their interference. He picked up a handful of the ash. He let it trickle out of his hand; yes, they would pay.

CHAPTER 18

WARRICK

He held her close, breathing in her scent. That she was back here was a miracle. He would not allow her to leave his side again. He would allow her the choice of whether or not to become drakaina, but regardless of that he would claim her as his mate.

“This is nice,” she said burrowing closer.

“You know for a badass cop you sure are a snuggler,” he chuckled, nuzzling her neck.

“I only have to be a badass cop out there. Here in our yurt at Dragonwyk, I can be the mate of the first warrior. I had a lot of time to think while I was tied to that stupid pole, and I made a couple of decisions.”

“Such as?”

“Well, for one thing, I want to be with you. I really thought they’d killed you.”

“They came close,” he said, running the back of his hand along her ribs.

“And all I could think was how stupid I’d been. The whole committing myself to you forever, when I thought I might never have that chance, was such an easy decision. I love being a cop, but there’s no way I can do that and be with you. Oh, I suppose I could if you wanted to live in the city, but from what you and Zahran said, whatever is behind the slavers and the Shadow League is big and bad, and the Phantom Fire is the best defense any of us have against it.”

“I love you, my beautiful eternal flame.”

“And I love you. The thing is, I don’t want to be a human in a stronghold of dragon-shifters. I know Kessily is planning to transition as soon as she can after the baby is born. And you said if I was drakaina I could fight at your side.”

“And to that vow I will hold. Already my brothers talk about the brave drakaina that fought as warriors when the Age of Dragons held sway. There are those among us, especially here in the Phantom Fire, who believe it is time to return to those earliest traditions.”

“Do you think the other dragon clans will go along?”

He shrugged. “It matters not. The Phantom Fire has always followed our own ways, usually leading the way of the other dragon clans. But are you sure? The choice to become drakaina is not to be taken lightly. You have suffered a traumatic experience. You should take a few days…”

Whatever else he might have said was cut off by Dani ramming her sharp elbow into his ribs.

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