Witch’s Concubine (7 page)

She was still a smidge miffed about the shields.

And, oh yeah, the fact he’d not only sucked all the powers from her—thereby risking his freaking life—but he’d managed to possibly impregnate her. That would be something to tell Imperial Station.

Well, I sort of forced the vampire prince into screwing me, and now I’m pregnant with his baby. Oh, by the way, did I mention the baby’s daddy managed to maintain my dragon witch powers?

She was one bad hairdo and one too-tight outfit away from being the perfect talk show topic. Not that anyone would believe the chaos which always surrounded her like a minefield of bad karma.

She sighed and trudged up the hill, stepping where Alonzo stepped mainly because his feet were bigger and he hadn’t exploded yet. She knew Dragos, and he didn’t exactly like company. All those thoughts about karma minefields had her remembering that her so-called dragon warlock friend had a really sketchy past.

Not that she really knew much about his past. He was about as tight-lipped as a nun in a whorehouse. 

A shift in the air made her pause. She reached out with her magic, testing each strand of wafting power carefully. Tingles prickled her nape.

Alonzo paused, his gaze darkening as he regarded her. “Dmitri.”

He’d already stopped, his stance tense and his eyes guarded. Geez, he was danger encased in sex appeal. Heat spiraled through her.

This is so not a good time to get all horny for the vampire. Fight the curse. Focus.

There it was again, a soft click interspersed with a snap. Wait. That wasn’t magic she was using. It was some really freaky turbo-charged hearing. Dmitri and Alonzo moved closer, their bodies smoldering her already heated skin. She inhaled their scents, enveloped in shields not of her making.

“Uh, guys, Dragon Witch 101, Lesson Two.
Never
block us in. We’re claustrophobic.” Unable to find a fire source readily, her powers swept through the air, vacuuming up large chunks which catapulted between her and them. Bits of earth spewed like sandy lava, splattering on them.

Apparently her powers were a smidge stronger than she’d expected.
Mental note. Don’t use the powers ‘til you test drive them first. The dratted curse has waylaid them already.

They shifted, opening a small opening for her to exit, but Dmitri’s hand wrapped around her arm, keeping her locked against his body. “Not now, little dragon. Stay beside me.”

She wanted to point out the little dragon endearment was so not true. She hadn’t been little since she’d discovered Godiva. And Starbucks. Oh, and doughnuts. Okay, since she’d discovered caffeine, chocolate, and sugar. But for some strange reason she liked hearing the term. It was special, something he only called her.

Maybe he has a fistful of dragon witches worshipping his throne back in the vampire realm.
Self-doubt kept her mute. She looked around, knowing if anyone could draw Dragos out it would be her. That, however, required using her powers, which thereby meant extricating herself from about four-hundred-seventy pounds of muscle, also known as Alonzo and Dmitri.

Finding a flicker of fire somewhere would be nice.

She closed her eyes and drew the wind strands toward her, channeling her inner strength. Casting the currents outward in all directions, she allowed her astral self to surf them, looking for any signs of Dragos, any hint of fire.

The ability was one of a highly developed witch, one she’d been forced to teach herself since she’d been ostracized at such a young age. Dragos had taught her a few tricks, but opted for dumping thousands of books in lieu of tender loving mentorship.

Learning to read had been the first hurdle. Dyslexia had been a bitch. It still was in many ways, but she wouldn’t let it stop her. The curse would handle that easily enough.

A flame flickered into view, half a mile up to the east on the highest ridge, at the edge of a cave. The cave would be a suitable entrance for Dragos. She knew little of the man, other than he preferred to live off the land when possible. Perhaps he built his home within the land itself. If his powers equaled hers, it would mean he could easily draw on the earth elements making up his sanctuary.

The perfect fortress.

Too bad she couldn’t simply use her powers and avoid the hike altogether. But the riskiest thing a witch could do was use powers while encroaching on another witch’s domain. Someone as powerful as Dragos would note such a violation immediate.

Welp. No guts no glory. Honing in on the flickering flame, she fed it, nursed it to a large plume of fire. Slowly, hoping to capture Dragos’s attention, she spanned the flame into a fine, fiery strand and drew it toward her, making sure it was a beacon large enough to see from a distance.

“What are you doing?” Dmitri growled.

“Ringing his doorbell,” she whispered. “I hope.”

The two vampires braced. She ignored the posturing and the influx of testosterone in their auras. She had another, bigger problem to deal with. The flames were rushing for her, rippling with animosity and rage. Raw power surged into her outstretched hand.

Clearly, this wasn’t a good idea.

She cried out at the assault. Dmitri snarled and shoved her behind him. But the flames maneuvered past him and surged around her, searing her flesh with their fury. A surge of power ruptured the air, the earth around them. The voracity enveloped them within a bubble of environmental elements her pained mind couldn’t beat.

“I don’t think Dragos is taking visitors,” Alonzo commented.

“Dragos.” Dmitri’s voice boomed over the gale-forced winds knocking them into one another.

Dirt stung Macy’s eyes, her body contorted in magical pain, enveloped in flames she doubted Dmitri and Alonzo could see. Her screams made Dmitri’s eyes widen, his stance hardened. His touch fueled the inferno. She gasped and pulled away.

“Dragos.” Dmitri thundered. “You’re killing her. Macy needs your help.”

An unnatural calm settled around them. Macy sensed the danger prowling somewhere on the edges of the trees, within the darkness. Magic grew, prepared to deal a fatal blow if they lied.

“Dragos.” Her voice was edged with unspoken pain. Her magic battled the intruder, holding most of the flames at bay, but she sensed more than felt she’d failed on many counts. The power he wielded was greater, harshened by a decades old battle against a curse far viler than hers. “Dragos.”

Flames bloomed to their right. He stepped from within them, blue flames flickering across his skin.

I so want to learn to do that
.

“Macy.” Hesitancy reflected in his voice. His hands remained at his side, palms out. “You brought vampires.”

“They brought me, technically,” she winced. “Can you kill the flame fest? I think I’m better medium well. Charred Macy doesn’t taste good.”

Dmitri growled. “You harmed her. For that you must die.”

He kneeled beside her. His hands hovered over her seared skin. She couldn’t help but brace for contact. “I think ringing the bell was a bad idea,” she stated weakly.

“Summon a healer, dragon warlock.” Dmitri’s voice was mottled with uncontained rage.

“Don’t bother.” Macy winced and maneuvered herself to a sitting position. “They won’t help.”

“Why not?” Alonzo demanded.

“The curse,” Dragos replied. “None of our witch healers will touch her for fear of removing a curse not of their making.”

Dmitri’s jaw twitched. His eyes darted over her body briefly, then over to Alonzo. “Then we take her to one who has no choice but heal her.”

“You can’t be serious.” Alonzo tensed. “I can’t allow you to do this.”

“Last time I checked, I commanded you, not the other way around.” Dmitri’s voice lowered to a feathery whisper against her ear. “Tell me where to touch you, little dragon. I’d rather rip out my soul than harm you.”

“You intend to take her into your realm, vampire?” Dragos growled.

“Leave us, dragon. You’ve done enough damage.” Dmitri ran his hand around her neck and positioned the other under her knees. Pain scored her body, but she bit her lip. There was no way to avoid it.

“Why did you come? I told you to never try and locate me.” Regret cleansed Dragos’s aura. “I am far gone.”

Dmitri lifted her. Dots returned in her gaze, a filmy haze settled. A response panged on her tongue, but the words refused to come. Crud. Her mind was shutting down because of the pain.

“Ease yourself, little dragon.” Dmitri settled her fully against his body. She sensed his vampiric shields form around them. “We came in search of a vampire slave auction. She suspected you could help us locate it.”

Dragos sneered. “Why would I help two vampires?”

“You would help her.”

“It is not her cause.” Dragos regarded them all.

He’d changed very little over the years. Dark blond hair tinged with red streaks ran in wavy lengths past his ears, somehow softening a haggard face. His eyes were darker, sinful blistering streaks of amber amidst a swirling sea of midnight ocean. Dark circles under his eyes detracted from his square jaw and full lips, now thinned with thought.

“By ancient right, I demand you aid them. That will settle your debt with me.”

“Debt?” Alonzo asked.

“The harm I did demands I indenture myself to her as recompense,” Dragos snarled. He glared at Dmitri. “Even if I know something about this auction, they would never allow you entry. Her either.”

“Tell us what we need to know so we can get her the aid she needs. Make no mistake, dragon warlock. You will tell us what we wish to know.”

Macy shivered in Dmitri’s embrace. A part of her wanted to defend her long-trusted ally. Dragos hadn’t meant to harm her. But another part wrapped around the protective vampire and yearned for his taste, his heat.

Goddesses, it was cold. She snuggled deeper into his embrace, ignoring the stabbing pain the movement created. Dmitri was so warm.

“Her powers are coalescing with one another.” Dragos moved toward them.

Alonzo stepped in front of her and Dmitri. “Say that again in layman terms and stay the hell back.”

“She’s dying.” Dragos prowled forward until he was eye-to-eye with the vampire. “Is that clear enough for you?”

“What do you mean?” Dmitri demanded.

“Her magic inhaled as much of my powers as it could to prevent her body harm. The newfound abilities within my power strands are merging with hers. She must be healed soon or she will die.” He looked at Macy. “I wouldn’t have ever hurt you intentionally.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I’m so cold.”

“The fire is internalizing within her. Soon she will experience a raging inferno, her skin will blister and sear anyone who touches her.” His voice lowered. “Get your healer before that cycle completes. You don’t want to watch what will happen otherwise.”

“How would you know this?” Dmitri asked.

“My mate died this way centuries ago. I can still hear her screams as she combusted.” Rage boomed in his voice. “Go. I will see about your vampire slaves.”

****

Macy whimpered against him. Her cheek seared his shoulder, but he didn’t care about the pain. All that mattered was healing her. He turned to Alonzo and commanded. “Make the portal.”

“This is suicide. Your father will destroy you for no other reason than to finally have an excuse.” Alonzo’s power surged, the portal shimmered behind him. “Remain here. I will take her.”

“No.”

Before his second could continue the argument, Dmitri rushed into the portal, his soul aching with each movement. Macy suffered because of him. He shouldn’t have taken her to the dragon warlock. The danger had been too great, and he’d failed to realize it soon enough.

She could die.

The thought increased his speed until he darted through the portal, uncaring of what awaited him. Darkness swallowed the light, ringlets of fire beckoned from the distance. The corridor between the other worlds had become more sinister over the years, as if an unseen force infringed on the two realms with malevolent intent. His father never wanted to hear the whimsical notion, but one day Dmitri would investigate.

Two sentries bowed upon his entry. Their eyes widened upon sensing the female in his arms, but they remained obediently mute. Loyal subjects were hard to find, clearly these had decided they’d rather live today.

Power hummed in his veins, ready to strike the first threat. Aside from the absence of light and the continuous battle for blood, the realm he’d been raised in wasn’t much different from the human one. Blood bars with inflated prices lined the main streets. Primary locales were divided between factions. Few treaded where they weren’t bred.

“Petra?” Alonzo asked.

Dmitri’s skin crawled. “No. That hag would require a blood bond with her. I will not subject Macy to that.”

“Then who?” Alonzo’s gaze scanned the vacant streets. “It must be feeding time.”

“Or they sense her presence and fear the king’s actions.”

Cannibalism purged most of the weak fledglings from this sector. Poverty prevented the masses from affording human blood trafficked in from the other realm. Since only royals or their trusted infantries could cross to another realm, the majority of the vampire realm’s inhabitants were left hungry the first several centuries of their existence.

“I don’t miss this time,” Alonzo commented. “My veins still ache from the hunger.”

“We survived.” Barely. His father had seen fit to toss him with the masses. Only the toughest of warriors deserved to lead the people. The bullshit excuse had served well enough and left Dmitri to fend for himself within the harsh existence of the Bloodless Realm. “I wouldn’t have survived if it hadn’t been for you, your family.”

Alonzo grunted a response and kept walking. Mentioning those his family had slaughtered brought old wounds to the surface, the festering rage returned.

“He’ll pay for what he did,” Dmitri promised.

The second nodded, his throat constricting with unspoken anguish.

Dread and tendrils of fear seized Dmitri. Seeking Zivon’s help would stir ancient waters, but there was no choice. Alonzo remained thankfully silent, the destination all too clear when they rounded the corner and headed into the Dead Lands, where no sane vampire treaded—most especially an ancient of royal blood.