Isa turned to Toryn with wide eyes and scrubbed a hand over her still short, curly hair. Toryn’s glamour was stripped, leaving him the way he usually looked.
Her mouth popped open. “Shit, what the hell was that? And why do I have my glamour, when you don’t?”
He sighed as he grabbed her arm, and started toward a sporty black convertible. “My magic isn’t rooted in all the elements. It doesn’t take as much to strip it. The portal wiped out my glamour.”
“But my magic stayed,” she argued.
“Because it’s rooted in all four elements, and then some. Your magic is stronger than mine, always will be.”
She frowned. “Not stronger, only different.”
“Stronger, Isa. You can do anything you imagine. Now get in, so we can get out of town before Zamal comes back for you.”
“Probably a good thing we’re leaving. I heard commotion as the door shut.”
He nodded, but his voice was cold. “I wouldn’t worry too much. There were healers in the crowd. Ones who will heal anyone for a price. And Zamal should have to pay for helping your uncle.”
Swallowing hard, she nodded. “Right, collateral damage, and I have to expect that.” Her stomach knotted at the thought.
“If it comes to you, or the world, I’m going to choose you every time.”
“Ditto. Doesn’t mean I like the idea I may have hurt a few people. I wasn’t thinking.”
“You were saving my ass without letting me give away the fact I don’t possess an ounce of earth magic.”
“Didn’t think I had it in me?” she teased.
His hands squeezed into fists. “I’m supposed to protect you, not the other way around. Now get in the car.”
“Right.” She sighed and threw herself in the seat as Toryn’s image changed back to Drake in the blink of an eye.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, he plucked the keys from her hand, and started Leon’s car. His attention was focused on driving, but he said, “Look, we both have to adjust. I need to let you handle yourself in situations like this, and you need to remember that my only purpose in life is to keep you safe.”
“I only want you to love me,” she answered sadly.
“I do. More than you can imagine. Which is why I have to stop thinking like your protector, and start thinking like your partner, but you’re nuts if you think I can stop worrying about your safety.”
“I can live with that,” she mumbled, staring out the window.
He took her hand. “No matter what changes, you’re all I care about. I will do everything I can to make you happy.”
“That’s easy. Don’t let me go.” She looked over at the same time he did and their eyes locked. “I love you, Toryn.”
“And I love you, Isa.” His gaze swept back to the road, as he drove them out of town and up the coast.
“Where are you taking me?” she inquired, running a finger up his thigh.
“Somewhere secluded, and protected by magic.”
“So, tell me something. Your security firm isn’t exactly normal security, is it?”
He shook his head. “Not exactly. It’s magical security. We do the same type of thing, only for people who need wards and more than what human electronics can offer.”
“Like the wards you put on my place?” She smiled, thinking back to the day she moved in, and how Toryn insisted the guys and he make sure everything was secure.
“Most of the wards are Lonny’s work, though we help. He’s better at it than us.”
Her brow arched. “But it was your idea.”
“Sure, but they jumped on it. None of us want anything to happen to you.”
“I know you think you’re going to get in trouble, but it seems my mother and father are on our side.” Isa tapped her chin. “How do we prove to anyone who matters that you are on my side, and Henroyld and Remus are the assholes who need to pay?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted.
“I’m guessing my word isn’t going to be enough. Who might be someone who has seen it all?”
“Alenathos found you easily. His memory is long and far reaching. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could help. But the price may be too high.”
The tension thickened around her. She knew it came from Toryn, and that worried her. “What do you mean?”
He didn’t look at her when he said, “Like most people, he wants to use you to his advantage. He’ll try to exploit you.”
“Then I won’t help him. If he wants his freedom, and I’m his only shot, then he needs to give me a reason to help him.”
“He could kill you,” Toryn stated flatly.
“He hasn’t yet. Some of that had to do with my father, some of it to do with you. If he wanted me dead, he could have accomplished that long ago. So, he needs his freedom.”
“Don’t trust the dragon, Isa. He doesn’t think like us. His motives are far-reaching, and they can’t be trusted.”
“Unless you have a better plan, we have to try.”
“Perhaps.” He pulled off the street, onto a wooded dirt road that wound down toward the water. “Now, let’s not worry about the future, and focus on the present.”
“Mmm, I believe you hinted at sex on the beach.” She licked her lips as his eyes swung her way.
“I did.” He gave her a lascivious grin. “I’ll never tire of exploring new ways to make love to you.”
“Neither will I.”
“Hope not,” he whispered as he parked the car and hopped out.
Before he could come around to her door she stepped out. “What would you like?”
“Are you willing to take a suggestion?” he asked with a crooked grin.
“Oh, I’ll do anything for my knight, you know that.”
“Do I?” His voice was low and husky, conjuring up all of her old desires.
Licking her lips, she pulled her dress off and tossed it in the sand as she started to back toward the water, kicking off her shoes.
“Lose the glamour. I want to see you.” His fell away with the clothes he quickly peeled off.
With a smile, she let go of the magic, revealing her true form.
His gaze caressed her skin as he prowled toward her. Once his hands landed on her hips, he nipped her bottom lip. She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around him.
“This feels so much better. I like you in the other face, but this feels natural.”
“Perfection.”
He walked into the ocean which was cold at first, but his heat radiated out, warming both her and the water. His hand slid between them, sliding against her heat. “Always so ready for me.”
“Can’t help it. Need you,” she moaned as he teased her with his touch.
He walked her back until he could lay her in the margin where water met wet sand. “I want inside you.”
“What are you waiting for?” She stared up into his stunning blue topaz eyes that burned with a fire she craved.
His response was a powerful thrust that drove pleasure through every nerve ending.
“Oh, fuck, right there, hard!” she cried out.
He didn’t disappoint as he pounded into her with a ferocity that should have scared her, but only ignited her desire into a firestorm.
Then he took her ankles, pulling them to his shoulders as he pistoned into her. She couldn’t move, and the sensation rolling through her was overwhelming.
“Yes… yes… yes!” she chanted.
Release washed over her, blotting out the moon and stars. Then he shifted her to her side and kept right on going, finding a new spot to give his attention. She should have been numb, but pleasure thrummed through her body as his grunts became more primal, his desire igniting a ring of fire around them.
She felt his climax as she spiraled over the edge. He collapsed to his side, pulling her into the circle of his arms as they both lay there, trying to find their breath.
“Sorry,” he whispered, his voice catching.
She was boneless, and couldn’t summon the energy to open her eyes. Still, she murmured, “For?”
“I was too rough,” he groaned, rolling away.
Startled by his concern, she sat up and threw a leg over his waist to straddle him. Isa pulled his hands away with a grin. “I’m not hurt. Far from it. I can still feel you in every fiber, the pleasure burning hot enough to melt me. So don’t worry. I’ll tell you if I ever can’t handle what you have to offer.”
“You sure?” he asked breathlessly.
She nodded. “I swear on my life. That was amazing. I only regret not being able to make it better for you.”
“Oh, it was incredible. I don’t know what came over me.”
Applause made Isa jump.
Toryn’s eyes narrowed to slits as he propped himself up to look behind her. “You weren’t invited.”
Isa’s spun around, landing on her ass in the sand as she watched Alenathos stride onto the shore, fully nude… much like they were. She was too pissed to be embarrassed. “Go the fuck away.”
“Now, now, I simply want to congratulate you on a great performance, and I don’t mean your romp in the sand on my beach. I was there, in Underhill, and you put on quite the show, princess.”
“What are you talking about?” she growled, standing up.
“Poor Zamal has a broken shoulder and hands. You did a number on him. I feel sorry for him, but he seemed determined you were, well, you.” He chuckled. “Though you managed to convince him that he did indeed piss off two shaman with an abundant amount of power, and that you are likely to come after him to perform voodoo rights or some such nonsense.”
Isa looked to Toryn, who nodded slightly. “Remus won’t go easy on him for causing a scene.”
“He should have left me alone,” she replied without an ounce of remorse.
“You convinced him, princess.” Alenathos dipped head. “I’ll warn you though, Aeremaius is going to be looking harder for you. I would stay under the radar.” His gaze shifted to Toryn. “Both of you.”
“This beach is blocked by magic,” Toryn stated.
“Aye, but I bound myself to your little princess long ago. I can go where she goes, wards or not.”
“What the fuck?” Isa demanded, taking two steps forward with her hands clenched into fists.
“You were always my salvation, Isadora.”
“I’m bound to Toryn.”
His eyes slowly traced up and down her body, a smirk playing across his lips. “Aye, you are. That is not the type of bond I speak of. This one only allows me to slip through wards meant to protect you. Consider me added protection.”
Which reminded her she had to ask for the slimy bastard’s help. Gritting her teeth, she sucked in a breath.
“You want my help. Right?”
He nodded. “I do indeed.”
“Then I need yours. I need you to find proof that Aeremaius, and if possible, Henroyld, are working against the queen.”
“First, find a way to break my bond to Saressa.”
“Nope. Not going to happen. You don’t help me, I have no reason to help you. I don’t trust you. You’ve been spying on me for who knows how long.”
“Would it make you feel better if you didn’t know I enjoy watching you any chance I get?”
Her hand shot out, the slap reverberating, stinging her palm.
His smile was cruel. “Mmm, I like pain. You might keep that in mind, but I will do what I can. I believe you when you say it’s the only way you’ll break my bond.”
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked back into the water, transforming into a giant serpent.
* * * *
Toryn stood there watching the whole scene play out. He hadn’t felt the dragon, which left him wary. How long had he been able to move past her wards? And had he been to Morrigan’s house?
“I fucking hate that slimy bastard,” Isa muttered as she walked into the water.
Toryn’s hands landed on his hips. “What in the abyss are you doing?”
“Getting sand out of delicate places,” she offered sassily.
“Right, the reason I generally avoid sex on a beach.” He joined her in the water.
Her attention swept up the beach, where he had already noticed the ring of glass around where they made love. “Oh wow, that was from the flames?” she asked with a warm smile. Her gaze locked on his. “Tell me that doesn’t happen with everyone.” There was a pleading note to her tone.
“No one else, not ever. It was so good, my magic leaked out.”
She grinned. “In that case, I’m glad.” She started for the beach, a chill running down her spine.
Hurrying to catch up, Toryn placed a hand on her back and focused his warmth into her.
A soft laugh escaped her. “You’re going to spoil me.”
“No more than you deserve.”
“Not sure about that.”
He sighed. “We should get back.”
“Even if I’d rather stay here with you?” she asked, looking up at the stars. “I like it when it’s you and me, no one else.”
“We start early,” he regretfully reminded her.
“Right. We can’t stay down here forever. I’m starting to worry about my friends.” She walked toward the car, picking up her dress on the way.
“They’re all being watched, Isa. I don’t want anything happening to them either.”
She stopped beside the car and turned toward him, pulling her dress back on. “You always take care of everything.” She placed a kiss on his lips and yawned.
He opened her door and she slipped inside. Her eyes fell shut and she drifted to sleep before he ever dressed and made it around the convertible.
“Sweet dreams, Princess.”