Claimed by Fire (Dragonkeepers Book 4) Page 8

  Primal need burned inside me. That part of me wanted me to take her now, all the way, then work out the rest of it later. But that wouldn’t be fair to her or anyone else around us. I found the strength to hold back. The irony was, if Ash hadn’t come to me in the woods today, I couldn’t have. This woman gave me the power and strength I needed to hold my baser instincts at bay.

  I came inside her. Without my mark, it was safe. She wouldn’t get pregnant. She may not have known dragons, but Ash knew enough about shifters to understand. She folded her legs around me and kissed my neck as I poured myself into her then returned her kisses.

  Afterward, Ash fumbled to find her clothes. I reached for her, picking twigs and leaves from her hair. She blushed as she found her pants and slid them on. I hated to see her covered. If I had my way, I’d take her to Knoydart and make love to her a dozen times a day.

  As soon as she popped her head through the opening in her t-shirt, she sat up on her knees. “Loch...we…”

  “Don’t,” I said, leaning forward to kiss her. “I know.”

  “You know what?”

  “I know this is complicated. I know you have family obligations. And I know my being here is making trouble for you.”

  She arched a brow. “Well, actually I was going to say this is pretty simple.”

  I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “Are you ever going to stop surprising me?”

  “Well, I’ve surprised the hell out of myself. Do you know how many times I swore I’d never be with a shifter? I mean...I’ve had it up to here with them. My mother, my father, my brother. I was raised around them. To be honest, I think I can count maybe three people I know who aren’t shifters. Our mailman, my tenth-grade algebra teacher, and Sadie Perkins who owns the dry cleaners. But she hardly counts because she’s mated to a jaguar and her father was a panther.”

  “Are you sorry?” I asked.

  “How can I be sorry? I think I knew what you were the second you walked into that diner. I think it’s why I did what I did. My dad thought I was impulsive hiring you on the spot. I wasn’t. I knew. You’re supposed to be in my life. It’s as simple as that.”

  It was more than that. She might know it, but neither of us had yet been willing to say the words.

  “So what do we do now?” I asked. I’d said it to her, but I was really asking myself. I knew I should just come clean right then and there. She might hate me. She might leave. But, she couldn’t ever deny what we were to each other.

  “I’m not ready,” she said simply. “I mean...my body is...obviously. God. Loch. I think if you hadn’t said something, I would have just said the hell with it and let you mark me. I sooo want you to. What’s it like? I mean...with dragons?”

  “Well, it’s not like I’ve ever done it. I mean...I’ve done it, but not like that.”

  She was blushing. God, I loved the sight of that. In another minute, I might just slide those jeans of hers down and fuck her again for good measure.

  “Well, I haven’t,” she said with a fair amount of indignation.

  “I’m glad,” I said, more forcefully than I wanted to. I couldn’t help it. Even the hint of the idea that Ash would ever be with another man was enough to drive my dragon out. I would burn this forest to the ground.

  “I’ve never let my fire out like that,” I said. “That’s what I mean. Human women aren’t built for it. You are. It’s because of the shifter blood in you.”

  She cast her eyes to a point beyond my head. “It’s not fair,” she said. “I was supposed to be a shifter. I mean, if it weren’t for some stupid curse from like a zillion years ago, I think I would have been. I can feel it sometimes. There’s this power inside me. I’ve just never been able to get to it until...just now. With you. Your fire. Is that what you mean? My weird recessive shifter DNA draws your fire?”

  “Yes,” I said. “My brother Gideon mated to a wolf shifter’s daughter. I want you to meet her someday. Her name is Grace. Their daughter...Amelia…” My voice trailed. I wasn’t sure how many secrets I should tell today.

  But, Ash wouldn’t let me off the hook that easily. Her eyes burned with curiosity. I felt her pulse quicken.

  “What about her?” she asked. “Amelia.”

  I picked up a stick and made circles in the dirt with it. “Ash, no one outside my family knows about any of this. If shifters...I mean...regular shifters ever found out…”

  “Amelia can shift,” Ash said, her voice toneless. “My God. That’s it, isn’t it? When your brother mated with this Grace...a shifter’s daughter...it broke the curse. I know that’s it. I don’t know how. But...I saw it. Hell, I saw a lot of things when you were inside me. When your fire went into me. But that’s the truth. Your niece is a wolf.”

  I let out a hard breath. “Yes.”

  “So if we...if I…” Ash got to her feet. Her face flushed, she started pacing. She put her hands over her stomach.

  “Ash.”

  She shook her head. “No. I know. I won’t say anything. But, God. Loch. This is...this is huge.”

  I stood beside her. My jeans and shirt were somewhere in the brush. I found them and got dressed.

  “Your brother Xander,” she said. “The one who came to the cut the other night. He’s mated too?”

  “He is. His wife Shae is human, but she has the protection of a spell. Their child, Cassia...she’s human, but we can feel some kind of magic within her. When she’s older, she may come into it.”

  “Right.” Ash nodded. “Right. Okay. Yeah. It’s going to take me a minute to process all of this.”

  “I need to get you back,” I said.

  Her eyes widened. “How long have we been out here?”

  It had been hours. The sun began to dip to the west. It was late in the afternoon. The whole day. I’d had Ash with me the whole day.

  “They’re going to kill me,” Ash said. “They know I came looking for you. The crew is already pretty suspicious of you. Loch, I’ll keep your secret. I understand how dangerous it is for you and your family if shifters at large knew about you. If they knew what mating with you could do. You can trust me. You know that, right? I’d never do anything to put the people you love in danger.”

  She faced me, her eyes big and trusting. It was like a knife straight through my heart. She would keep my secret and my family safe. But I had been sent here to destroy hers. Now everything had changed. Ash was mine. I didn’t know how or where this was going, but I knew I could never hurt her. That meant I couldn’t hurt her family either.

  “We’ll figure it out,” I said to myself as much as her. “And as far as the crew, they’ll settle when you count the gold in the morning. I’ve got a good feeling about it.”

  Her posture eased. She came to me, sliding her hands up my chest. “I hope you’re right. I hope we hit the mother lode. But why do I feel like I already have?”

  She went on her tiptoes and kissed me. She trusted me. She might be willing to go so far as give me her heart. Now, it was up to me to figure out how to earn it.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ash

  I went back down to the site alone. We decided it was better if Loch came back the next morning. I didn’t want to lie to the crew, but my personal life was really none of their business, no matter how much gossip formed the fabric of life in Blackfoot.

  I put two people I trusted on cleanup duties in the tent we kept on the north ridge of the jobsite. Stinky’s sister Lola came in from town. Mike Jeffries was one of my father’s oldest friends. It was Mike who’d given my father his first job on his uncle’s mine over thirty years ago. Mike and Lola waited for me. Lola had just about finished putting the last of the cleaned gold into the jar we would weigh.

  “How’s it look?” I asked. I had a strong hunch this would be a very good week. Even though we’d lost a day with the dozer, and despite the drama among the men, we’d hit our stride. I could feel it.

  Lola shrugged. Mike sat near the scale, making some final calibrations. “You know
I don’t like guessing.”

  “Ah, you’re no fun.”

  Lola peered out the tent flap. The rest of the crew had finished for the day. They were busy with a clambake near the huge bonfire Rick had started. It had become a weekly tradition on my father’s claim. Each crew took turns hosting what we called the “Sunday Night Special.” We’d all gather and reveal our totals for weekly bragging rights. This week, there would only be three competitors. My father’s crew, Will’s, and now mine. I tried not to feel the pressure. After all, this was a family effort. Still, winning this week would buy me some street cred and hopefully keep my dad and brother off my back for a little while.

  My spine tingled as I waited. Lola looked skyward. Her nose wrinkled, but she didn’t say anything. My heart skipped as I saw past her. Loch’s dragon flew across the horizon, circling the jobsite. Lola couldn’t see him, but she sensed something. Loch cast shadows, but to Lola, there were no clouds to obstruct the setting sun.

  God, he was beautiful as his colors streaked across the sky. He dipped low, searching for me. His dragon glided almost to a stop, somehow suspending himself in midair. The urge to go to him burned through me, driving the breath from my lungs. I wanted to fly with him. I wanted to feel what it was like to soar. Tonight maybe. I could call to him after the others fell asleep or passed out. The promise of it sent white heat shooting through my veins. Desire swelled within me.

  Loch Branson. Dragon shifter. My fated mate. It still didn’t feel quite real. I shook my head, trying to bring my mind back down to earth.

  “Quit stalling,” I said, drawing Lola away from the opening to the tent. “Let’s hear it.”

  Mike whistled as he poured the gorgeous flakes of gold into our custom scale. My mouth practically watered as I heard nuggets hit the metal. Oh, it would be a good week. Would it be enough?

  I watched the numbers climb on the scale. Lola took my arm. “You go, girl,” she said. She wanted me to show up the boys just as much as I did.

  Finally, the numbers stopped. I blinked, thinking I’d misread the count. “Is that?”

  “Hot dog!” Mike clapped his hands together. “Two hundred fifty-six point seven!”

  Two hundred and fifty-six ounces! That was a monstrous number for just six full days in operation. At today’s prices, that was worth over three hundred thousand dollars. It rivaled some of my brother’s best weekly numbers in the over ten years he’d been running his own crew.

  “Read it and weep!” Lola said. “Is everybody out there?”

  “Do you know what Will and my dad posted?” I asked, my voice dropping to a whisper.

  “Not that!” Mike said. “Will’s come in just under two hundred. The old man’s got him beat, but I don’t think he’s close to two fifty. You win the week, little sister!”

  My heart soared. I felt Loch’s presence. Did he know? Could he hear me? Instinct took over and I tried to call to him with my mind.

  I think we did it! It’s big, baby.

  I waited. My heart thundered behind my breast. I was almost afraid to breathe. Then, I felt him. Loch was in me. It was even more intimate than sex and felt just about as wonderful.

  You did it. You’re amazing.

  “I want you,” I whispered, low enough so Lola and Mike couldn’t hear. “We have to celebrate. Find me tonight. I want to fly.”

  I could hear Loch’s sultry laugh in the wind. It melted me. I throbbed for him. God, how was I ever going to make it through dinner without somebody picking up on the change in me?

  “Let’s go,” Lola said. “Time to knock the socks off of some good ol’ boys!”

  Breathless, I followed Lola out to the bonfire. My father sat in a camp chair next to my mother. They held hands and she leaned her head against his shoulder. Rick had brought out some of his famous moonshine. Half the crew had already imbibed.

  Mike came out, holding a strip of paper with our weekly numbers on it. When he shouted the number, a holler went up in the crowd. My father smiled and gave me a knowing nod. On the other side of the fire, I saw Will’s shoulders drop. Then, he forced a smile. Knowing him, he’d only drive harder this week. Will Yeager was the most competitive person I knew. Bring it on, brother, I thought.

  “Well,” my mother said. “Guess that’ll shut you boys up. She beat the pants off of you.”

  My father leaned down to kiss her. She put a soft hand to his cheek, her eyes flashing silver. He glowed in his own way as he caught her gaze. Fated mates. My mother’s heart beat alongside my father’s. Neither of them felt fully complete unless the other was near.

  Fated mates.

  They’d claimed each other against the wishes of my mother’s pack in Michigan. My father had nearly died fighting for her. Since as far back as I could remember, I’d heard him tell her how he’d do it over again every single day if that’s what it took.

  Then, there was Will. He hadn’t yet found a mate of his own. My mother told him that someday he’d have to leave Blackfoot, maybe for good. She was convinced his mate was out there for him. If she didn’t come to the Yukon, he’d have to seek her out somewhere else.

  I felt like I was lying to them as they each came to me with a congratulatory hug. Rick tried to get me to drink the moonshine. I wanted to keep my head clear. Loch was out there. Up there. I hadn’t realized why he’d been so insistent on staying away until now. One look at the two of us together and my parents would see it.

  Later, as the crew filled their bellies and the fire died down, things got quiet again. Most of the men took off. Half would take the revelry into town. Those too far gone to drive would sleep it off in their trailers.

  My family stayed behind. When it was just the four of us, my mother finally spoke.

  “We really are so proud of you, Ash. You know I’ve been telling your dad for years you were ready for this.”

  My father chuffed. “She did just fine. But one good cleanup isn’t the whole season. You just keep doing what you’re doing.” He looked around the site. Proud as he was, I knew there was something still on my father’s mind.

  “What is it?” I asked. “You’ve been dancing around something all night. And what about you?” I looked at Will. “You’ve had that sourpuss expression for about the last hour. I know you’re not jealous, so what gives?”

  I knew the answer before he said it. I just really hoped the gold I produced would end their doubts.

  “Some gold’s been taken from both my site and Dad’s,” he said. “I’m short about twenty ounces. Dad’s missing five.”

  “What?” I leaned forward in my chair.

  My mother put a steadying hand on my father’s knee and shot a look to Will.

  “Nothing’s missing here?” Dad asked.

  I blinked hard, trying to clear my head. “What? No. Ask Lola and Mike.”

  Dad fingered the rim of the mason jar he’d been drinking from. I didn’t like Will’s posture. He hovered near my father. Whatever they suspected, they’d clearly been cooking it up together.

  “I trust the men on my crew with my life. Dad’s too. And yours. The only newcomer here is Loch Branson. Rick came to me a couple of days ago. He said he saw him sniffing around your trailer.”

  “So?” I said, my heart racing. They couldn’t honestly think Loch stole gold from us. It was ridiculous.

  “I did some checking,” Dad said. “He’s got no background. The man’s a ghost. The plates on that truck he drives? Came back to an Alexander Brandhart, not Loch Branson.”

  “You think he’s driving a stolen truck?” My mind whizzed through the possibilities. Alexander Brandhart. Loch said his brother’s name was Xander. But Brandhart?

  “He’s shifty,” Will said. “I’m sorry, but I stand by that. Something’s off about that guy. And where the hell was he tonight? Or all day? Rick came to me. He said he’s AWOL.”

  I wouldn’t lie to them. I also wouldn’t betray Loch’s trust. I didn’t have the answers they wanted.

  “Listen,” I said,
my anger rising. “Loch’s part of my crew. He’s my responsibility. And he’s doing a good job. He asked for the day off. Personal reasons. He’ll be back tomorrow. You feel like interrogating him, that’s up to you. But don’t come storming up here acting like you’re in charge. You can come find him when his shift is over. Not before.”

  “That’s enough of this,” my mother said. “Ash is making sense. We’re questioning everyone. Loch won’t be an exception, but you need to let Ash run her crew now. She’s more than proven she’s capable of it.”

  My father clearly didn’t want to talk about it anymore either. He gave my brother a grim nod and stood. He wrapped an arm around my mother. They came to me. I got a quick kiss from each before they headed up to my father’s truck. That just left Will and me to square off.

  As soon as my parents pulled away, Will started in again.

  “You can bullshit them, but it won’t work on me.” Will’s tiger eyes flashed gold. Stripes popped out across his forearms.

  “Go home, Will,” I said.

  “I can smell him on you.” Will growled and his nostrils flared. “What the fuck are you doing, Ash? This guy is trouble. I want him gone.”

  “Why? Because he’s good? Because I’m better at this than you are, or at least I’m just as good? Wow. You’re a sore loser, brother. You need to check yourself.”

  Will started to pace. No. He stalked. He took a few steps and his tail popped out.

  “You’re not thinking straight,” he said.

  I raised a brow and pointed to his tail. “Really?”

  Will swished his tail behind him. “Guy’s gotten in your head. And he’s off. You can’t deny that. He came here using either a false name or a stolen truck. Loch Branson doesn’t exist. Ask him to fill out a damn W-2. Did you even check his I.D.?”

  “Give me a break already. How many forms do you have your new hires fill out? This is the Yukon, William. Loch has proven himself to me. The rest of you can just grow up and mind your own business.”