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Page 10 of Dragons Of Shadow and Sea

We're close enough that our lips nearly touch. I let my hand drift down her side, relishing in her curves.

And then it hits me. "What is your name, beloved?"

"Ember," she whispers, and it's a cruel joke. She's a spark. A still-burning flicker of a flame, come to the Water Dragon Kingdom seeking refuge from the dark.

I need to act with care. I won't drown her or put her out.

"Ember," I repeat, and I lean in. Everything in me goes liquid and soft with the anticipation of my fated mate's kiss.

But she puts a hand to my chest, and the cresting wave within me vanishes.

"I want to..." Her gaze flickers between my eyes and my lips. Her palm over my heart is warm and soft, and I can smell her arousal on her skin.

"But?" I ask, my voice going thick and husky with need. Placing my hand over hers, I stroke her thumb with my own.

Apologies form in her eyes, but as she pulls away, she's resolute. "But first I need to see my other mates."

Chapter

Three

RAFE

Idon't know how the hell I keep my temper in check as Jianyu and I basically get frog-marched through a fucking jungle toward a supposed witch's house. The whole thing is infuriating. I could summon my dragon and fly off in an instant if I wanted to.

I don't, though. For Ember's sake, I can't just wander off--or worse, get myself or Jianyu killed.

I cast a glance at him as we trudge along the path. Jianyu is his usual, obnoxiously stoic self, but underneath it all, he's as pissed off as I am. Like he can tell I'm looking at him, he cuts his gaze toward me, too. We share a moment of silent conversation. Yes, we're going along with this shit. No, we're not happy about it.

"Move," the lady with the big, pointy, glowy spear orders. She brandishes said spear, and I bite back the instinct to growl.

Fucking Water Dragons. They've always been assholes. They don't have the sheer, raw power of Fire or Stone or even Air Dragons, but they don't need it. Water can put out a fire. Given enough time, it can eat away stone. All it needs to do is lie in wait.

Clearly.

Ten goddam years, we all assumed the Water Dragon Kingdom had been destroyed, and yet here it is, in all its dickish glory.

The lady with the spear grunts again in impatience. Holding up my hands, I direct my gaze forward and keep walking. It's messed up that Jianyu and I are actually on the same side, but it's nice to know I'm not alone in this whole being-kidnapped situation.

Eventually, the path leads to a clearing. In the center of it stands a small, modern-looking house built of stone, with solar panels on the roof and a water-feature running down one wall. I raise my brows. Not exactly what I expected for a witch.

As we approach, the front door of the house swings open. A tiny, ancient Black woman saunters out of it, leaning on a cane. She adjusts her glasses and calls out, "Haoyu? Aeden? Come to visit me again?"

This woman knows the Stone King and the Fire King?

"No," Pointy-Spear-Lady corrects her. She nudges me with the handle of the spear. "Their sons."

"Ah, yes, yes, of course." She comes to stand before us and looks us both up and down. I have the irrepressible instinct to stand up straighter, though I scowl when she tugs at my torn shirt. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

Jianyu, Pointy-Spear-Lady and I all ask as one, "You were?"

"Well, no time like the present." She gestures to the house. "Come along."

Jianyu and I share another glance and shrug. Together, we follow her inside. The front room of the house is decorated in Water Dragon style, with lots of plants and tribal prints. It's also filled with the brick-a-brack and mementos you'd expect from a grandma's home. There's even a basket with knitting needles and about fifteen balls of fuzzy yarn. Jianyu and I end up standing in the center of the room, which is covered with a big, plush, woven rug.

Despite myself, I relax. This woman may be a witch, but she doesn't seem to be a threat.

Then she picks up a remote.


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