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She was losing it. She really was.

SWORD OF FIRE Cynthia Breeding 48

Sophie pushed through the throng of media-types that were waiting for her when

she got to clinic the next morning. She had managed to avoid those parked in front of her house only because her car was in an attached garage and she‟d locked her car doors

before opening the garage.

“I need coffee,” she said as she managed to get the door closed before a reporter‟s

foot got inside.

“Right away,” Morgan replied as she hung up the phone and got up to go to the

small kitchen in the back.

“Another sighting…this time at your house,” Janie said as she trailed after Sophie,

manila case folders in her hands. “It was all over TV this morning. Do you have any

idea of what‟s going on?”

“Yes, what is going on?” Robert said as he turned away from the office window

to look at her. “This is crazy.”

“Tell me something I don‟t know, Robert. Why are you here anyway?” He

looked hurt, but she knew what a consummate actor he could be.

“Isn‟t a husband supposed to be supportive of his wife?” he asked.

“
Ex
-husband. You seem to keep forgetting that.” Sophie sat down at her desk and

rubbed her eyes. They burned and were probably as red as though she‟d closed down a

bar somewhere, but she hadn‟t had any sleep. She shook her head. “I‟m still trying to

come to grips that the thing is actually alive.”

Morgan came back and set the coffee down in front of her. “I put some chicory in

it,” she said and smiled at Robert as she handed him a cup too. “They swear by it in New Orleans.”

It had a decidedly different flavor, but it wasn‟t bad. Sophie was thankful that it

was strong and black too. Maybe the caffeine would give her a boost. She took another

sip as someone rapped lightly on the doorjamb.

“I just heard on the radio,” Michael said as he came in.

Sophie bit back a groan. Dealing with her ex was bad enough this morning, but

now Michael! She wasn‟t ready to face him after that way-too-realistic dream she‟d had.

Morgan gave him a bright smile as she stepped toward him and put her hand on

his arm. “Would you like some coffee?” she asked and pressed closer.

He shifted away slightly. “No thanks. There‟s a frenzied mob out there.

Shouldn‟t you be taking care of that?”

She gave him a slow pout, her full lower lip thrusting out. “All business this

morning? I liked when you held me the other night…”

“You tripped. I caught you.”

Sophie thought Michael looked uncomfortable, as though he‟d been caught at

something he‟d rather not talk about. That was unusual. Not that she knew him well—

unless she wanted to count that erotic episode she‟d had last night—and she felt herself blush at that and turned away quickly. Was there something going on between Michael

SWORD OF FIRE Cynthia Breeding 49

and Morgan? He had mentioned that they belonged to some sort of social circle or

something. It was also obvious that Morgan was attracted to him. An odd pain shot

through her stomach at the thought.

“Janie. Morgan.” Allison poked her head around the door. “I could use a hand

out here.”

Sophie waited until they‟d left and then cast a sideways look at Michael. This

morning he was dressed in a t-shirt that stretched across his chest and tight- fitting jeans but she was remembering him in that kilt and nothing else. She felt her face grow warm

again. Damn. She couldn‟t let him know about that dream.

“What brings you here?” she managed to ask as she gestured for him to sit.

“The semester‟s over,” he said as he pushed his chair closer to hers. “I thought

we‟d better make plans for the road trip.”

“What road trip?” Robert asked.

Michael eyed him. “Is that any of your business?”

He bristled. “She‟s my…she was my wife. I can be protective of her.”

Michael bristled too. “Maybe you should have thought of that earlier?”

The air suddenly seemed close in the small office, but maybe that was because

waves of testosterone were washing off both men, threatening to flood the room. Sophie

rubbed her temples.

“Enough! Robert, not that it
is
your business, but Mr. Smith wants Michael and

me to find…” She stopped at Michael‟s warning look. “a sword that he wants to add to

his collection.”

“And it takes both of you to do that? Why can‟t he ...," Robert gestured to

Michael, “go by himself?”

Sophie picked up her cup and took a large sip. She was beginning to think she

needed something stronger than caffeine if she were going to contend with this. A

Bloody Mary would be good. “I‟m not sure…”

“Smith asked her to. He also makes generous donations to this clinic. I would

think an attorney like you would understand politics,” Michael said.

Robert narrowed his eyes just as his cell binged a text message. He pulled it out,

scowling as he read it. “I‟ve got to go. The judge moved my case up on the docket.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket. “But I‟m not finished with this conversation,

Sophie. I‟ll call you soon.”

As Janie showed him to the door, Sophie turned her attention back to Michael.

The road trip. How in the world was she going to be able to spend time in a car or

plane with him after that dream? To say nothing of hotel rooms— Sophie folded her

hands around her coffee cup to keep them from trembling.

“Maybe Robert is right. I still don‟t see how I can be of help in finding the sword.

How do you know that riddle was meant for me? That part about “he who sees the

firedrake, the sword will take”—well, a lot of people have seen the dragon. That‟s why

the reporters are out there.”

“True, but the dragon only sits on
your
lawn,” Michael answered, “and he‟s not

done any damage. I‟d say that‟s pretty clear-cut that you have something to do with

finding the sword.” He leaned toward her. “Have you never felt—sensed—special

powers? Visionary, maybe?”

Sophie felt her cheeks flame. Dear God. Visions? Could he know about the

SWORD OF FIRE Cynthia Breeding 50

erotic dream she‟d had? She would be totally mortified if he even thought—and why

was he looking at her so strangely? Another wave of heat fanned her face.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She was definitely
not
“all right”. She‟d never had a hot, porno dream in her life, let alone climaxed from one—and that
had
happened. And now, all she could think of was Michael looked like without his shirt on. Damn again. In all likelihood, she might just be having a nervous breakdown to boot.

“Sure,” she finally said, “if you count the fact that a dragon visits me a nd last

night he brought a friend who looked like he was on fire, but wasn‟t burning. If that‟s normal, then I‟m fine.”

Michael sat up straighter. “A man on fire?”

Sophie set her cup down. He was probably going to suggest she see a psychiatrist

or, worse, call 911 and have her taken away. But she had to tell someone. The media,

thankfully, had arrived after the man and dragon had already disappeared.

“I know it sounds crazy. The guy was standing next to the dragon and there were

orange, red and blue flames surrounding him. It was almost like he was
wearing
the fire.” She suddenly hid her face in both hands, tears spilling over. “It‟s crazy. Maybe I‟m crazy .…”

“You‟re not crazy.” In one swift move, he was holding her in his arms and her

head was resting against his hard chest. His hands stroked up and down her back in a

soothing motion. She could feel the steady beating of his heart. So normal. For a few moments she allowed herself to bask in his comforting touch. Sophie swiped at a tear

and managed a trembling smile as she straightened.

“How many women do you know that see dragons and men-on-fire?” She stifled

a hiccup. “There are all sorts of mental disorders that can cause hallucinations…”

“You listen to me, Sophie.” Michael sat her down gently in her chair and perched

on the desktop next to her. “The dragon is real. The reporters wouldn‟t be outside if they hadn‟t seen him too. And the man—well, he really isn‟t a man.”

Sophie stared at him. “I‟m making him up?”

“No. He‟s real. He‟s just not human.” Michael took her hand and held it

between his. “He is the Celtic god of fire. His name is Tanio.”

“A god of fire,” Sophie repeated, still staring at him. “Sure. Why not?”

“I know this all sounds strange to you,” Michael said, “and I know you have a

hard time accepting something that can‟t be proved by science, but these ancient gods

still exist. Remember the talk we had?” When she nodded slowly, he continued. “Tanio

is the god of dragons. It was he who provided the special fire that forged Excalibur. It‟s not surprising that he is here. What is surprising is that he showed himself to you. The ancient gods normally prefer to stay hidden from today‟s world. It only proves, though, that you are going to be important in finding the sword.” He released her hand and stood.

“I need to check on a few things though—and I think the sooner we can get started in our search, the better it will be.”

“It doesn‟t sound like I have a choice anymore,” she said resignedly. “Thank God

the media doesn‟t know about the “Come to the lake” part of the riddle or they‟d be

swarming over the shores of every lake within a hundred miles.”

Michael smiled. “If the Tarot correlation holds true, Texas would be too far west

for the sword. It‟s somewhere in the deep South.” He leaned down and gave her a quick

SWORD OF FIRE Cynthia Breeding 51

kiss on her cheek. “I‟ll call you later.”

Watching him leave, Sophie touched her cheek where he had kissed her. It had

been a gentle, brotherly kiss, nothing at all like last night‟s torrid ones. And that was fine. Michael didn‟t seem to be harboring any lustful thoughts about her. Maybe this

would work out. They could find the sword, for whatever it was worth, and then her life could get back to normal. She would be in control of herself again. No more dragons or men that gave her sleepless nights.

So why didn‟t that sound good?

* * * *

Morgan narrowed her eyes as she removed the coffee cup from Sophie‟s desk.

The woman had to be a witch from another coven. Why else would Michael—who

usually had a devil- may-care bad-boy attitude—be so attentive and caring over that

bitch? The way he held Sophie—Morgan had seen the healing blue aura surrounding

them and she hadn‟t missed the flecks of bright orange that was his lust either. Michael had never held her that way, not even when she‟d managed to trip and fall right into his embrace at the moon ritual a few nights ago. And he had never looked at her the way he

did Sophie.

She looked down at the empty cup. Maybe next time she would put something

else into it. Something that would make Sophie break out in hives and rashes. Michael

wouldn‟t think the bitch so beautiful when she was itching and mottled with a rash.

Glancing through the door to make sure she wasn‟t watched, Morgan quickly put

her hand under the desk and removed the tiny clip from the listening device and inserted a new one. Part of their conversation had been about the sword, but she‟d not been able to hear all of it, due to the blasted phone ringing.

She slipped the clip into her pocket and smiled. Baylor would be pleased. And

when Baylor was pleased, she could get more modeling contracts from him, not to

mention he would teach her new sexual skills as well—skills she would use on Michael.

Skill that other women didn‟t even know of. Pain and pleasure.

Michael would be so pleased with her ministrations.

* * * *

Even though the night was dark, the new moon not due for another evening,

Michael drew the shades in his apartment, shutting out all light from the street. He

placed the goblet containing his potion of Anise, Fly Agaric, and Mandrake root on the

fireplace mantle and knelt to kindle the oak twigs and small branches he had gathered

earlier. The need- fire wasn‟t large, as the medieval ones had been, but it would be

enough to summon Tanio.

The apartment lights were off. In the eerie glow of the small fire, he reached for

his drink, downing it quickly. From a small jar, he dabbed his finger into Sandlewood oil and drew a cross on his forehead, opening the third eye that would let him see into the

Otherworld. Then he sank to the floor, cross- legged, and stared into the fire until it was all that he could see, all that he could feel around him. His hands brushed through the smoke, becoming one with the blaze.

“Tanio, come forth.”

The flames leapt as though a sudden breeze stirred them. Michael withdrew his

hands and watched the fire god appear.

“I rarely answer individual summons, warlock,” Tanio said, the bright blue flame-

SWORD OF FIRE Cynthia Breeding 52

tips of his hair sparking around him, “but you used the magic mushroom. What is so

important?”

“Did you appear with the Pendragon at Sophie Cameron‟s house last night?”