Witch’s Concubine (3 page)

Pleasure streamed excess power into each lap of her tongue, each sweep of her fingers across his willing flesh. Warm hands tweaked her nipples into fiery, bundled nerves. She’d explode with the intensity.

He lifted her up until her nipple was poised before his mouth. A groan escaped her, enveloping heat sealed around an aching bud.   

Teeth grazed the sensitive surface, forcing her to writhe against the onslaught. She ran her hands through his thick hair and pulled him closer, longing for more, but she couldn’t express what.

A growl punctured her heady bubble of desire. “You’d better be half dead to be here.” Dmitri licked a slight abrasion he’d left on the swell of her breast and drew her close, until her chest pressed against his.

Someone was here.

The thought sent her oversexed powers into motion. Light bulbs shattered, her glass door crackled. Flames flickered to life in her bare fireplace. Damn.

She forced the haze clouding her senses aside and blinked when she turned her head. A smug grin spread across otherwise rugged features. Molten chocolate eyes glazed with silver swept across her. Wavy, cinnamon hair fell in disarray, brushing onto broad, bare shoulders.

Why couldn’t vampires afford shirts? Dang, she sensed another list for things to ask vampires.

The thought was met with a bark of laughter. “She’s a handful I bet,” the stranger whispered.

“What are you doing here, Alonzo?”

“Well, I thought I was saving you from a fate worse than death. But I suspect bedding this particular witch isn’t a bad thing. Tell me if it is, and I’ll gladly take your place.”

Dmitri expelled a breath and kissed her forehead. Frustration of a different kind fluttered in Macy’s stomach and pooled between her legs. Dread floundered in her sea of confusion.

“How did you find my place?” she asked.

“I found him. There’s a difference.” Alonzo made himself comfortable on her wicker chair, chucking the sunshine yellow pillow onto the floor. “This place is rather…homely.”

“A recluse’s income is rather limited.” She glowered at the intruder, then at Dmitri. “Should I turn him into something?”

Dmitri chuckled and pushed one of her arms into his vest. Did he really think it would cover much of her? She squirmed her way into it, too cognizant of Alonzo’s gaze. “Next time, little dragon. Next time you can do whatever you want to him.”

“Holy shit. That’s why her aura is so fiery. I thought they didn’t exist.”

How rude. Why hadn’t anyone else mentioned her fiery aura? “Wait. How do vampires read auras anyway?”

“Alonzo is a bit strange.”

“Unique.” Alonzo ran his fingers across the wicker chair. “Your hunger is palpable enough to make me feel bad for interrupting.”

“Dragon Witch 101, Lesson One, vampire. You don’t talk about our auras and never mess with our shields. It’s rude.”

“She’s a spitfire,” Alonzo commented.

Macy climbed off Dmitri’s lap and wrapped her arms around her waist. The vest peeked open at the top, spilling an ample amount of her breast through the material. So much for proper coverage. She moved toward the bedroom but Dmitri’s words halted her.

“Don’t.” He ran a hand across her back and urged her down onto the sofa. “He won’t be long, and I intend to fuck you the moment he leaves.”

Alonzo chuckled. “Ever the seduction artist, Dmitri.”

“Why are you here?”

He shrugged and focused a contemplative gaze on Macy. “Is she vetted into this?”

“No.” Dmitri settled his elbows on his knees. “I’m afraid there’s no other choice now. Everything’s gone to shit.”

“Woah. Back up. What are you two talking about?” She looked between them. “Well?”

“I was sent by the vampire king to look into an increase of missing vampires from this region.” Dmitri wiped his face.

“The king suspects witches of running an underground slavery ring,” Alonzo added.

“He didn’t express his concerns with the Imperial Station about this? Surely they would’ve helped your investigation.  Silence clung to the doubts creeping into her aura. “They are the investigation.”

Dmitri nodded. “It was believed there had been such an influx of fledgling vampires that the slave ring would require more ancient meat to market. A few well-placed whispers in the right corners and Doctor Death was created.”

“And so the fact became legend.” Alonzo chuckled. “Imperial talons struck quickly, even more so than we’d anticipated.”

Macy sat back, stunned at the scene unfolding. She’d walked straight into a covert war between the vampires and her kind. She gulped as dregs of what-ifs sloshed around. “And I screwed it up because you were exactly where you needed to be.”

Dmitri remained expressionless. Alonzo’s grin faded. “The original plan was flawed, too high level to have ever worked. This ring goes much deeper than we’d anticipated.”

“How so?” she asked.

Butt out while you still have an ass to back up. Remember that little curse you need to lift? Yeah, that should be the only thing you think about.

“We expected to find one Imperial Station representative controlling the ring, but Dmitri’s imprisonment proves there’s more than one responsible.”

It took a majority vote of the Witch’s Council to hold an ancient vampire at Imperial Station. Macy processed the information, ferreting out possibilities and discarding conjecture. “Did your king receive the manifesto declaring your guilt? Was it signed?”

Alonzo shook his head. “He’s demanded one, but given the timing, it will likely take several weeks to get. By then Dmitri will be pawned off to the highest bidder.”

The upcoming Samhain festival would plunge the political realm into a slow crawl. “The festival is the perfect backdrop for a mass of potential buyers.”

“Like we said, the initial plan was flawed,” Dmitri stated. “Our advisors didn’t take certain witchly things into consideration.”

“Obviously,” she stated. “How many are missing?”

“It’s hard to say for sure since most of the ones missing are fledglings,” Alonzo stated. “Not all makers file the proper paperwork to claim a newly turned vampire. It’s quite ugly at times.”

“We’ve received missing reports on twenty-two.” Dmitri tossed an ugly glare toward him.

“Twenty-three,” Alonzo corrected. “A female was taken from her sister’s home. Vanessa’s recently turned sister.”

Dmitri cursed.

“You knew her.” Jealousy reared in her. Why did the realization he had an entirely unknown life bother her?

“Vanessa is the king’s younger brother’s mate.” His jaw twitched. “When royal blood is spilled, it will mean war.”

“Civil unrest would destroy us all.”

Alonzo nodded. “Thus my unannounced visit. We need to get this derailed car of shit back on track.”

“We will discuss this situation when I get Macy settled into bed.” Dmitri rose.

“Whoa, back up, bucko.” She shook a finger at him when he neared her. “I’m not a child you tuck into bed. You just told me your king intends to declare war against my race if this situation isn’t resolved. I may not be the biggest fan of Imperial Station, but when it functions properly our judicial system is the only thing holding my race together.”

She glared at both of the silent men and crossed her arms. “If you think you can give me a belly full of warm cookies and milk and I’ll crawl into an empty bed while you two vampires try to save my race, you’re high on bad blood.”

“This doesn’t concern you.” Alonzo’s distended fangs lisped his words with a clear warning. Stay the hell out of it.

“Something you should learn about dragon witches, vampire,” she stood and pulled on the strands of power near Alonzo. They wrapped around him, fiery licks of unseen heat. “We don’t respond kindly to threats.”

“Macy.” Dmitri grasped her arm with a firm grasp. “Don’t make me hurt you. He’s my second. I will defend him from any harm.”

“Don’t force this issue, Dmitri. You two bumbling oafs need me. You know nothing about witch politics and have no concept of how we think if you believe you two can saunter into this auction when it goes down.” She took a cleansing breath and channeled power into the fireplace.

A hum flitted through the air. Telepathy. Those rat bastards could talk to one another. Why hadn’t she been told vampires could do that? She expended an exaggerated breath and crossed her arms. “Are you two done talking in front of me?”

“She’s a handful,” Alonzo said.

“A little dragon spewing fire,” Dmitri wrapped her into his arms. She shivered as his hot breath fanned her ear. “You have my apologies. It’s against our nature to allow a female to place herself in imminent danger.”

“And it’s against mine to do nothing.”

“We agree your help would be an asset, but we can’t have you involved when the auction occurs. The risk is too great,” Alonzo explained.

“Fair enough.” There was plenty of time to worm her way into that part of the plan later. “So we agree. I’ll help you and you’ll…” She paused, heat crept up her cheeks.

“Ah, the little dragon spews fire but cowers when aroused.” Dmitri chuckled and rubbed her back. “I like the chase.”

Alonzo cleared his throat. “Well, this is awkward.”

Macy forced the knotted tension and arousal aside. There was a lifetime to contend with that monster. First she needed to find a slave ring. “Obviously witches like me are probably the clientele.”

The men looked at one another.

“Cursed witches are only allowed one indenture per year. A truly cursed witch with no morals would be the ideal buyer for vampires since one wouldn’t be nearly enough to help for long. Curses force a witch’s powers to build up exponentially. It’s quite painful.”

“Wouldn’t one be enough? I mean, you negotiate the terms up front. And the curse would be purged,” Alonzo stated.

“Sometimes, but not always.” She gnashed her teeth. “Take me for example. I have two weeks until I’m permanently damaged by my curse. It’s almost at its full height and will take eight weeks, minimum. I was given six.”

“So what happens then?”

“I’m not sure.” She fortified her determination. “But my issue gives us the perfect
in
to the auction. My problem is well known.”

“You are not going in as a client,” Dmitri stated.

“I doubt they’d let me in. But, we can work that angle at the same time as the real angle.”

“Which is?” Alonzo asked.

“I have a friend—a dragon warlock who is saddled with a much worse curse. If anyone has been invited to a slave auction, it would be him. His situation isn’t even whispered about within social circles because of the jinx surrounding it.”

“People are afraid it will come back on them,” Dmitri stated.

Macy nodded. “Curses are mysterious in many ways. The more serious ones handed down from generation to generation are feared by everyone, especially the darker ones endured by dragon witches.”

“Why are your kind cursed so much more often?” Alonzo asked.

“Our powers are unique. We’re naturally withdrawn from coven society and don’t work well with others. There’s a number of reasons. The warlock I know, for example, has suffered worse than anyone I know.”

“And you know this person?” Grey eyes narrowed. “How well do you know him?”

“When my mom died Dragos took me under his wing from afar—made sure I understood the rules of my curse, sent food and stuff I needed since I was too young to work. He even hired tutors and nannies to watch out for me.” Macy smiled. “He was a big brother.”

“Dragos the dragon? Seriously?” Alonzo shook his head. “I don’t even want to know what the hell some of you witches are smoking in your cauldrons.”

Dmitri tossed a fulminating look toward the vampire.

“What? You’ve gotta admit the name is beyond messed up. I mean, that’d be like me naming my rugrat Vampy.”

“You’re allowed to breed?” Macy asked.

“Okay, you two. Enough.” Dmitri chuckled. “You still have contact with Dragos?”

“I know where he should be. Sort of.” She chewed on her lower lip. “He turned thirty and came fully into his powers about ten years ago. He’s been pretty much an unseen recluse since then, even staying away from other cursed witches. He doesn’t even come to the CWA meetings.”

“I’m afraid to ask,” Alonzo stated.

“Cursed Witches Anonymous.” She narrowed her gaze. “It’s a very serious problem.”

“I’m sure it is, little dragon.” Dmitri wrapped an arm around her waist. “We will find Dragos in the morning.”

What would they do until then? Desire resurfaced, rearing its treacherous head like the albatross she’d expected to endure for eternity. Awareness fluttered in her belly, spanning its wings until liquid heat settled between her legs and her pulse became a staccato beat worthy of a drunken warlock pounding bongo drums to a tune only he knew.

“We’ll see you in the morning.” Dmitri clapped Alonzo on the back. “Not a moment before that.”

A wicked grin spread on the vampire’s face. “I can hang around, come in as backup.”

A feral growl rumbled from Dmitri as he opened the apartment door and unceremoniously shoved Alonzo out. “Tomorrow.”

The door slammed with haste. One lock, then a second. A pause. Then the third. A sigh. The fourth. A growl. “Woman, how many locks does one dragon witch require?”

“I’m into safety,” she replied with a wince. The fifth lock clicked into place. She’d have to sneak in later and reseal the latches herself for the protection spells attached to truly work, but she didn’t think Dmitri would appreciate knowing that.

“I should probably get to work on charming crystals, just in case we need them tomorrow.”

“Expecting trouble?”

“No one should venture near a cursed dragon witch as strong as Dragos and not expect trouble.” She blinked and regarded the intense vampire. “In a few weeks I’ll be too dangerous to come around.”

He prowled forward. A musky scent encased her in raw compulsion. Touch, taste. Her lips burned and her fingers blazed with carnal need.

“Do you think I’d allow a curse to remain within your body, little dragon? I’ll chase whatever demons I must to sate your hunger.”

“All I need tonight is you.”

He grasped her head and claimed her lips. Warmth amplified stark need. She nestled into his embrace and ceded control. She explored the bare expanse of his corded abdominals.