A low growl rumbled through him, and his hard body pressed against her back, his arms tightening around her waist.
“Don’t taunt me, heart-fire.” He nipped her earlobe. “Not if you want the whelp to live.”
Ash heard the cold intent in his voice, and her heart skipped a beat. But she wasn’t about to back down. “I’m not letting you kill poor Koal.”
Their stalemate hung heavy as Ash fought herself not to turn to him—because her damn dragon was that tempting. His chin settled on her shoulder, his palm stroking her lower belly.
“You drive me insane, woman. You can throw the whelp in my face all you want, but you’re mine, Ashaya. Every storming breath.”
He licked the mark, and her knees nearly buckled, desire thrumming through her, hot and heavy. She sagged against him.
“Much better,” he grunted against her skin.
She snorted, lightly elbowing him in the belly?—
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry!” She spun around. “I didn’t mean to. You’re still healing.”
“Feather-tap.” He dismissed it with a wave.
Shuffled footsteps echoed, and Bregga’s stooped figure appeared with a coal bucket. “Begging pardon,” he wheezed. “The stove needs feeding.”
Hastily, Ash stepped out of the way. His scale-sheened hands trembled slightly as he donned his gloves and cranked open the iron door then shoveled coal into the glow. Sparks leapt, snapping like teeth. “Gets bitter cold before dawn,” he muttered.
Did it? She wasn’t sure, not when her skin still burned from Race’s mouth on her neck. Maybe a blast of cold air would help.
As if sensing her problem, Race cast her a little smirk, rubbing his chest; the two claw lesions below were already scabbing over.
Ash rolled her eyes, grabbed another dishcloth, secured the kettle, and poured steaming water into the mugs, the sharp scent of tea leaves curling upward, soothing her.
“Thank you, Bregga,” she said, giving the old man a warm smile. “Proper tea is a blessing.”
He nodded and grimaced as he straightened. His eyes flicked to the kitchen window and the faint pulsing of the ward’s blue light. “Used to be every other week they’d take the little ones,” he rasped, leaving the bucket in the corner. “Now, them young are so few, and still, they cart off one or two.”
The weight of his words settled like lead in her stomach.
“You must have seen a lot from this house,” Race said, his tone deceptively casual as he removed the elastic band from his loosened hair and refastened it into a stubby ponytail.
“Aye.” The old man’s hand fidgeted with something in his coat pocket, his gaze distant. “My Naimi, she helped where she could. Even non-shifters find ways.” He shuffled closer. BeforeAsh could step back, his gnarled hand pressed something small into her palm. “Helped her go about unnoticed, time to time. Might serve you better now.”
Ash blinked at the pea-sized stone, blue as the Fijian seas, golden motes flickering inside like trapped stars. “Oh, I couldn’t?—”
“Take it.” The old man’s eyes held a fierce light despite his bent frame, folding her fingers over it. “Them children deserve better than cages. Tea’s getting cold, mistress.”
Race took the jewel, his nostrils flaring as if scenting its magic, then handed it back to Ash. “What if we were Malcarion’s men?” he asked. “You could’ve signed your own death warrant.”
Bregga snorted, the sound rough as gravel. “Aye, could’ve. But Mal’s dogs don’t speak polite to ones like us, nor look at a lass with respect. I’ve lived long enough to tell an evil face from another.”
Well, now,Ash smiled.Cautious and observant.
“Themorvaenstone dulls dragon-sight,” Bregga went on. “Won’t hide you proper, but might blur their tracking.” His voice cracked, his rheumy eyes growing wet. “My Naimi used it to walk the western passes unseen, helping them families leave. Until they caught her.”
Her heart ached for him. Ash touched his arm. “I’m so sorry.”
“Not your fault, lass.”
“You’re taking a risk, old one,” Race said quietly, a nerve pulsing in his jaw.
“What more can they take?” Bregga’s wheezy laugh held no humor as he shuffled for the door again. “I’m just an old retainer, watching them young vanish every time wards flare. Can at least help where I’m able.” His gaze shifted back to Ash. “Wear it close to your skin, lass.”
