Page 22 of Fight Fire With Fire
Ozul was drowning in his fury and beyond the ability to listen to reason. “He may have let you get off scot-free, but I’m going to make you pay for every minute of pain I suffered under his hands.”
This was only going to end one way…either Ozul died, or I did. And I had no intention of leaving my fated mate behind to live without me.
Drawing on my fire magic, I shifted into my other form in the blink of an eye. Flames swirled in my dragon’s eyes as my gaze landed on my mate, and I let out a little chuff of pleasure upon seeing that she hadn’t moved while I’d stripped out of my clothes and shifted. Then my entire focus was where it belonged while in battle—on the man I needed to defeat to ensure Ember’s safety and happiness.
Ozul lobbed balls of hellfire in both of our directions, and my dragon screamed his fury before breathing fire of his own. My stream of flames created a barrier in front of Ember so he couldn’t reach her, but I was a big target in my dragon form, and Ozul landed some volleys against my large body. His fire was scorching hot, but the green and purple incandescent scales covering my dragon protected me from the damage they would have inflicted.
Jumping onto the garden between my mate and danger, I faced off against the demon. We blasted fire at each other, our flames almost equally matched. But I had Ember on my side, and she crouched at my side with my tail curled around her for protection, jumping up to lob her own balls of fire at the demon from time to time. Between the two of us, we were starting to win the battle. Ozul’s clothes were scorched, and skin was melting off his bones in a couple of places. But that wasn’t enough for me, not when he’d threatened my mate’s life.
When he swung his arm backward again, getting ready to send more fire our way, I pounced forward. Widening my jaws, I clamped down on the limb, preventing him from attacking as I crunched down on bone. Ozul screamed in pain, but I didn’t stop, not even when his blood flowed into my mouth.
Spitting out his arm, I raked my claws against his chest, shoving him to the ground. Then I stomped on his head, his skull crushing beneath the weight of my beast. Now that he wasn’t moving, I stepped back again and sent a stream of fire over his body until he burst into flames, and nothing but ashes remained. Only then did my dragon turn to our mate and chuff again before letting me return to my human form.
“Holy fuck, are you okay?” I patted my hands down her body, heaving a deep sigh when I found her unharmed.
“Of course, I am. Your dragon protected me. I barely got to lift a finger to help.” Her gaze scanned my naked body for injuries, and when she found none, her blue eyes burned with desire. “But I still have lots of adrenaline to work off.”
Apparently, my savagery turned my little witch on just as much as my possessiveness. Which only went to prove yet again that she was my perfect match.
14
Ember
Dawson and I had been together for a little more than a month before he finally agreed that it was time to visit my coven. Or my old coven, as he liked to call it.
Our bond was complete and thriving, but that didn’t stop him from being territorial, even over the silliest things. Including what I had packed for this trip.
As we pulled through the gates of the Aldebrand family compound, he grumbled, “I should have packed a muumuu for you.”
I laughed and shook my head. “What is with your obsession over those things?”
His green eyes were heated as he slanted a glance toward me. “It’s the closest I can come to having you wear a paper sack without being a total asshole.”
“Witches are just as protective of the consort bond as shifters are of fated mates. Nobody is going to do anything inappropriate.”
“That might be true,” he conceded. “But that doesn’t mean they’re not going to be thinking it.”
“You exaggerate my appeal because of your bias,” I chided.
“And you woefully underestimate how fucking gorgeous you are.” He parked the car and leaned across the console to claim my mouth in a deep kiss. “Especially when your lips are all puffy, and your eyes are glazed over with need.”
My voice was throaty as I suggested, “Maybe you should wait to kiss me again until we’re in my bedroom.”
“Your former bedroom,” he growled, shaking his head. “And no way in hell am I going to do that. I kiss you when I want, where I want. End of discussion.”
“Alrighty then.” I shivered at his domineering tone, knowing his dragon was close to the surface. “Just don’t forget that none of the warlocks in my old coven ever saw me the way you do.”
He flashed me a grin of pure male satisfaction, his inner beast soothed by that reminder. “Damn straight. Because you were always meant to be mine and only mine.”
Blake rushed forward to greet us as soon as we stepped out of the car. “It’s so good to see you. Thanks for making the trip.”
Dawson gave him a curt nod in acknowledgment. Blake still wasn’t one of his favorite people, but my consort’s anger over his oversight had finally burned out.
I gave Blake a hug, giggling when a growl rumbled up Dawson’s chest. Stepping back, I reached for my consort’s hand. I knew from experience that the only way he’d be soothed was if he was touching me. “Sorry, he still gets a little territorial.”
Dawson rolled his eyes. “I keep telling her there’s no ‘still’ about it. I’ll always be this way.”
“I don’t blame you. I was a jealous bastard when it came to my consort, too.” Blake flashed him an approving smile. “And Ember doesn’t seem to mind, which is all that matters.”
