Claimed by the Wolf Read online

  His hands stayed where they were, drawing patterns on her thighs that made her quiver. His mouth moved a breath away from the thin fabric covering her mound.

  When he exhaled, the warmth touched her in a phantom caress. Then his lips followed, lightly tracing her folds, before he pressed a harder kiss at her center.

  She made a low sound of encouragement and wound her fingers into his hair.

  He moved up until his teeth caught the upper band of her panties and peeled them down just far enough to expose her. Then his lips found her clit, and Sybil groaned at the intimate contact that incited sensitive nerve endings. His tongue laved the distended nub, and it was almost too much. Her lips rocked up in response. He licked down and dipped the tip of his tongue into her core, and Sybil felt like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

  “Yes, yes, yes,” she muttered, “There. Oh, yes”

  She felt his tongue penetrating her further, moving inside her, his mouth devouring her. When he stroked a fingertip over the slick hood of her clitoris, pleasure built to the breaking point. His fingertip and his mouth Found a rhythm that made her blood pound, as if her heart had escalated to match. Her sex pulsed, echoing the beat, and she came in a rush. The intensity of release pulled her muscles taut and she nearly came up off the ground.

  Afterward, she panted and tried to gel her bearings. “Thanks,” she finally said.

  For an answer, Kenric tugged her panties back up. That was probably the right thing to do, but it didn't stop a tinge of disappointment from coloring her afterglow.

  She reached down to pull her khakis on before he could do that, too, needing to at least pretend she was in control of something in her world.

  She risked a look at him from under her lashes, and noticed his cock still standing at full attention.

  “Um.”

  His eyes followed the direction of her gaze. “Yes?”

  “Do you want, you know, ah. Should I return the favor?”

  “Not now.”

  She blinked. “You're taking a rain check on a blowjob? Now I know you're not human.”

  He bared his teeth at her. Sybil decided lo lake that as humor and not threat.

  Especially since she wasn't really in any condition to run if he wasn't kidding around.

  Her legs felt like spaghetti and she was already breathing like she'd finished a hard sprint.

  She looked away, since that seemed like the safest response, and stood to finish buttoning and zipping herself hack together.

  Then she looked around at the desert flora, the water, the view in the distance, anywhere but at the aloof Granger who'd just gone down on her.

  “Is it setting dark?” Sybil finally asked when she couldn't stand the silence any longer. It should be if they were still on the same side of the planet; she'd stopped at the estate sale on her way home from work, and while events had moved at a breakneck pace since, it still had to be late evening. The thought that so little real time had elapsed was disorienting.

  “Yes.”

  “Are we spending the night here?”

  “No.”

  “Should we he walking, then?”

  “Not necessary.”

  Well, okay. Sybil tipped her head back to watch as the first pale stars appeared. It comforted her that some things remained constant. The sun still set in the west, stars still shone, the world continued to spin on its axis. It made her feel hopeful.

  Ghost flames danced across her vision, then winked out. She frowned “Tell me about the book”

  “It's the work of chaos demons.”

  “How could it write itself onto me? Into me?”

  “The book was a merely a container for the spells to inhabit. The spells are the magic.”

  Sybil turned to look at Kenric, careful to keep her eyes on his and not on anything more distracting. “How can magic just be made of words?”

  “Words are power. I know you're untrained, but surely you know that much.”

  “Well, yeah. But they're not alive.”

  “Aren't they?” His expression seemed serious Sybil felt her throat constrict “No,” she firmly.

  “As you say.”

  She scuffed the toe of her shoe across the ground. “Okay, fine, words are alive and these particular words came from chaos demons. Why did the book get written in the first place?”

  Kenric's face hardened “Witches made a bargain. Long ago. The word of unmaking would have been spoken, and chaos would have been let loose.”

  “Would have been.” She pounced on that point. “Let's come back to that, but first, what is the word of unmaking?”

  “The lost word “ He gave her the sort of look a teacher might direct at a problem student. “Creation came into being with a word. The lost word unmakes.”

  “Genesis and its opposite. Huh. Okay.” This conversation was making her head throb. The idea that a single word could undo everything, and that it was currently inside her, was enough to bring on a killer migraine. “So way back in history, some witches made a deal to get the lost word and turn everything into chaos. Their plans went wrong, and ever since it's just been hiding out in a book until I found it and bled on it?”

  “It hid in many places and forms over the centuries, but yes.”

  “Peachy.” Her sour tone said volumes. No wonder nobody would train her. She could destroy the world by going shopping.

  The sound of wings overhead gave her something else to think about. She watched as a large bird headed toward them through the deepening dust. Something about the shape was odd, and as it came closer she realized it was big. Really big. With a really long neck. More like a flying lizard than any bird . . .

  She took art involuntary step closer to Kenric as her eyes translated the image to her brain. “Did it see us? Is it too late to run?”

  “Much too late.” He sounded more resigned than alarmed as the dragon swooped down on them and backwinged to perform a neat landing.

  Sybil let out a yelp and dove behind Kenric. “What do we do now?”

  “We get on” He strode toward the dragon, which had curled itself into an obliging position, and climbed up to sit between the wings.

  “Thanks, I'll walk.” Sybil backed away.

  “Get on.” The dragon and the man spoke in unison, bringing her up short.

  Talking dragons. Talking wolves who turned into men with amazing oral talents.

  Living books. Afraid to ask what was next, Sybil took a hesitant step toward the bronze-colored winged beast.

  It lowered its head as if offering a confidence. “I am a vegetarian, it rumbled.

  “Of course you are.”

  Kenric stretched out his hand to grab hers and haul her up. She straddled the beast's back behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and clung tight.

  “Ready,” Kenric said.

  Wings extended with a sound like a parachute engaging. Sybil closed her eyes and tried to pretend she was riding a motorcycle. Her stomach plummeted as the ground fell away beneath them.

  “You can let go now.” Kenric's voice was level, not raised in a shout in order to be heard over the rush of wind and wings Sybil let her grip loosen slightly and pecked down. Oh, good. It was over. She released him and jumped off the dragon so fast she almost fell on her face. A long, pointed tail curled around her waist and righted her. She let Out a Startled shriek.

  “Vegetarian,” the dragon repeated.

  “Right. Um, thanks.” She touched the scaly tail with a tentative hand. It felt warmer than she expected, same as the beast's back and sides. Weren't reptiles cold-blooded?

  “Anytime.” The tail squeezed, then released her in a leisurely slide that felt like a caress. Was the creature flirting with her? She shook her head to clear the thought It was ridiculous. Even if it was flirting, human and dragon couldn't possibly have compatible parts. She imagined it, anyway, the dragon stalking toward its helpless, chained prey, sending its triangular-tipped tail under a skin to twine around a feminie thigh . .
.

  “Don't stop, this is getting good,” the dragon said.

  She jumped. It couldn't read her thoughts. Could it?

  “That would be rude.”

  “Crap,” Sybil felt a wave of heat rush to her cheeks. “Sorry. Vivid imagination.

  Didn't mean to offend.”

  “I find your thoughts entertaining. Feel free to continue. Does the beast tear her dress off with his sharp talons next?”

  Kenric turned to stare at her.

  “Shut up,” she hissed

  “Maybe it runs one claw down the middle of her gown, cutting it open and exposing her naked flesh to its lusting gaze,” the creature mused.

  “Quit toying with the witch,” Kenric said.

  “She started it”

  “I did not,” Sybil snapped, “You started it by flirting with me.”

  “You're the one with the vivid imagination.”

  She blew out a breath. “Fine. You were still flirting with me, and don't try to say you weren't.”

  “Of course I was. You smell delectably female.”

  The matter of fact tone made her want to scream. Of course dragons flirted. Of course they went offering rides and listening to private thoughts and interjecting inflammatory comments.

  “Moving on,” she said, trying to recover a shred of dignity.

  “With pleasure There you are, helpless and mostly naked, my tail twined around your bare thigh, trembling with anticipation. . . .'“

  “Enough,” Kenric interrupted. “See to her. I want to hear what news the others have.” He strode off, leaving Sybil alone with a dragon who had a warped sense of humor.

  “You weren't lying about being a vegetarian, were you?” Apprehension colored her voice and she cast a nervous look after Kenric's retreating back. His bare backside made a welcome distraction.

  “If I'm not, you'd better find another way to distract me. The creature curled on its Side, making itself comfortable. The tail curved around the hind limbs, catlike. One foreclaw patted the around in invitation. “Come. Sit.”

  Sybil took the indicated spot. If it wanted to pounce on her, it would. She couldn't hope to evade or outrun it.

  “That's right, little girl, the fearsome beast is inescapable. So come cuddle up.”

  She felt the foreclaw rake through her hair. Then the short limb nudged her shoulder, silently directing her to lean back against its chest, “Just don't breathe fire on me,” she muttered as she settled into a surprisingly comfortable pose between the beast’s front limbs, “I've had enough of that for one day.”

  “Wouldn't dream of it.” The creature nuzzled the curve of her neck, making her jump. “Tense, aren't you? And after our friend the wolf did so much to relax you.”

  Sybil closed her eyes. “I don't want to know how you know that.”

  “It didn't take a mind-reader. I could smell you on him a mile away. Although his did have some fascinating pictures. You made quite an impression on him. He doesn't usually project so strongly.”

  “I said I didn’t want to know.” Her voice turned sharp and she felt her body stiffen defensively. “And it's none of your business. Also, he wasn't a wolf at the time, so don’t think I do animals.”

  “And yet you have such interesting Ideas -about dragons and their helpless female captives.” The voice resonated in its chest, deepening the tone.

  “That's me. Full of interesting ideas.”

  “Full of questions, too. You want co know where we are. The answer is Xanadu.”

  And she'd thought she was numb to further her surprises. “As in, where Alph, the sacred river, ran down to a Sunless sea?” She scanned their surroundings, recalling the mystical realm described by romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in his immortal poem. Scholars attributed the vision to an opium-induced dream, but now Sybil had to wonder.

  “It's not entirely Sunless.” The dragon continued, “Poetic license. Also, Coleridge was on drugs when he wrote that.”

  A short laugh escaped her. “What about the ice caverns? Did he get that right?”

  “He did. You'll see for yourself. Later. Meanwhile, relax and enjoy my company and I'll answer more of your questions.”

  “Really? Let's start with an easy one. Who are you?”

  Four

  “Kadar. It means powerful.”

  “Well, that fits,” Sybil said.

  “Thank you “

  She could practically hear it preening. “Is it hard to fly carrying that ego?”

  “It's not as much of a burden as my huge member.”

  She laughed and felt tension ease in her shoulders, “Oh, yes. All the better to terrify helpless maidens with.”

  “Not terrify. Impress.”

  “If you're trying side-track me so I won’t ask more questions, you're doomed to failure, Sybil said, still grinning. “Kenric told me he guarded the gate I accidentally opened. Is that what you do, too? Are you guys some sort of paranormal police force?

  And are there more of you?”

  “Yes, not precisely, and yes,” Kadar answered, “We don't attempt to police all supernatural activity. We have a much narrower jurisdiction. Our task is to guard the gates to the world from the shadow realms.”

  “Set a thief to catch a, thief,” Sybil mused out loud. “Or in this case, set supernatural creatures to keep the world safe for humanity. So far we have a surly werewolf and a wise-ass dragon. I can hardly wait to sec what the others are.”

  “I'll enjoy watching your reaction when you do,” Kadar said.

  “I'll bet.” Sybil sighed and breathed in the warm, slightly spicy, and surprisingly pleasant scent of dragon.

  “Thank you. You smell good, too.” The triangular head rubbed against hers.

  “Yeah, especially with ketchup.”

  “I wouldn't eat you. Unless you wanted me to. You didn't object to the wolf’s attentions.”

  She heard laughter in the beast's low-pitched voice and resisted the urge to respond with a sharp elbow. “He didn't have scales and a tail.”

  “You don't know what you're missing,” Kadar sighed as if mourning lost opportunity. “My tongue is forked. Imagine the possibilities.”

  “I'm trying not to.” she murmured. “This is obscene.”

  “No, this is tension relief. I want you relaxed. When you tense up, your body temperature skyrockets.”

  “It does?” Apprehension made her tense despite the warning. It hurt to burn.

  “Yes. Breathe out slowly and think of maidens chained to rocks.”

  She closed her eyes and tried to picture it, but the memory of her arms sheathed in flame overrode her attempts. “Kadar, what if I go all fiery again? Maybe I should move away.”

  “I'm scorch-proof. Now, focus, Maiden. Rock. Chains. Gown in shred's, No underwear.”

  “It's not working.” Her breathing hitched as heat built under her skin.

  “Quivering with fear. Or is it excitement?” Kadar mussed.

  “Kadar.”

  “Definitely excitement. The dragon is irresistible.”

  “The dragon is relentless,” she shot back, but the heat ebbed. She sagged in relief.

  “Dragons are wise. All the legends agree,” Kadar said, his tone smug. “Now enjoy the moment. It's a beautiful evening, Count the stars as they rise”

  “Okay” Sybil counted until she lost her place completely, but it didn’t matter. The calming task did its job, even if she kept recounting the same points of light. She caught the motion, of a shooting star from the corner of one eye, and turned to look, watching the trail cross the expanse of sky and disappear.

  Ripples of color washed across the night, and she gasped out loud. “What's that?”

  “Northern lights.”

  “Wow.” She took in the show in silent awe, almost holding her breath. When the dancing colors faded from the sky, she looked back in the direction Kenric had gone and found an even more impressive sight.

  Four men strode toward her. At least, she thought
they were men. Considering the dragon she was using as a backrest and the werewolf she'd already met, what were the odds that the other three walking beside Kenric were human?

  Not very, Sybil decided. But when they looked that good, who cared?

  One was taller than the werewolf’s human form, although none of them were short.

  The taller one had long. Silver hair that gleamed in the moonlight. The next man’s hair was as dark as Kenric’s, although worn shorter, and they were nearly matched for height. Kenric's, body seemed more heavily muscled and slightly broader in contrast.

  The fourth man had dark skin and a beautifully defined body that looked almost sculpted. His head was entirely bald, and on him it looked dangerously good.

  Vin Diesel on steroids, she thought, playing a really hot, really bad guy.

  They were all bare to the waist, hips and legs encased in some tight, form-fitting material. Leather, maybe? Kenric looked even more exotic standing with them. Wilder.

  More untamed.

  “This is like goth porn,” Sybil said out loud. Behind her, the dragon snickered.

  “I am Abaran,” the dark-skinned man said with some, exotic accent she couldn't place, in a tone that promised wicked things His voice made gooseflesh dance over her Skin.

  “Adrian.” The man next to Kenric whose dark hair was cropped short spoke next, his voice hard and almost curt.

  “Ronan.” The tallest spoke last, and something in his voice made Sybil press closer to Kadar.

  “Smart girl,” Kadar murmured. “He plays rough.”

  “Something tells me all of you do,” Sybil said. She took a good look at the four men who now ranged in front of her. Each of them bad the eight-pointed star set in a circle tabooed on their chests. She recognized it finally, lnanna's star, the precursor to the present-day pentagram. What did it mean?

  She turned to take a closer look at Kadar.

  He obligingly raised himself up. “Want to see mine?”

  “Yes.” She ignored the obvious double meaning and waited. A haze formed around him that shouldn't have surprised her, It faded away to reveal another naked man with a tattoo to match the others. His hair was the same shade of bronze his hide had been, his eyes a deep, jeweled green.