"I did it," she said, then sighed. "All I need is you around to perform a little foreplay and I'm away."
"Try it on your own."
Lily closed her eyes and held up her hand. She concentrated on remembering the feeling, picturing the flames. Heat burned her fingertips. She opened her eyes and saw her hand on fire. She grinned and waggled her fingers, thought of water, and they were gone. "Why are your flames blue and black, and mine are orange?"
"Because I am a black dragon."
"Like my mark?"
He nodded. "You, I think, would be a beautiful golden dragon, with emerald eyes. Like my mark." He frowned. "Except, there is no such thing as a female dragon. None of the Dragon Princesses could change."
"How do you change?"
"You'll see when we get to Ankesh."
A wave of foreboding washed over her. It was so easy to forget what lay ahead. "What if we don't?"
"Don't what?" he asked.
"Don't get to Ankesh. What if this Vortigen won't let us go? What will he do to us? What will he do to you?"
"I don't know. If we fail, then he'll take you as mate and the only advice I can give is don't fight him. Bend to his will and maybe you'll survive. I won't be able to help you-if it comes to that point, then I'll be dead."
Lily heard the truth in his words. "Don't give your life away for nothing."
"You believe that while there's life there's hope? I hope you manage to keep that optimism, but I think it's unlikely if we fail."
A shiver ran through her at his words. Something worse than death. She stiffened her spine. "Then we mustn't fail," she said. "Come on, teach me some more. Show me how to use this fire to blow Vortigen's ass back to Ankesh."
Mal was training her in the use of her new powers: the fire, telekinesis, and her favorite, the ability to disappear and reappear. She could only go short distances up to now, but it gave her the biggest buzz she'd ever experienced. Aside from Mal's lovemaking that was.
Along with how to control her new powers, Mal was also teaching her the use of weapons. How to shoot, how to hold a knife, how to kill, and the days fell into a pattern. The mornings they trained, and in the afternoons, they would make love, lying in the huge bed, holding each other close and talking about everything. Lily told him of her childhood in the children's home, the constant illnesses that had prevented her from being put up for adoption. How she'd dreamed of a mother or father coming to claim her at last.
"Mal, tell me about my father. Please," she added when he remained silent. "You talk of the sorcerers with such hatred. Tell me why. Tell me what he was like."
Mal lay quiet for a long time and she thought he wasn't going to answer, but eventually he spoke. "Not all those with dragon blood become sorcerers. Many live normal lives among the humans. Many don't even realize that they're different, but when the dragon blood is strong, they can't help but know. The Conclave searches for these and brings them into its fold."
"But what do they do that's so terrible?"
"They do magic, but magic here on Earth requires dragon blood; the stronger the spell, the more blood is required or stronger blood. Pure dragon blood is the strongest, but they can't get access to that. So the sorcerers sacrifice their own kind to give them the power they crave. The more they sacrifice, the easier it becomes, and the lower they sink into evil. They breed among themselves to maintain the strength of their blood, which is why many of them appear similar, and they often use their own children in their sacrifices."
"And my father was like that?"
"Your father was the strongest of the sorcerers. He was a bitter man who believed that immortality was his birthright. He set up the Conclave to search for ever more powerful magic." He paused briefly. "He also killed my mother."
Lily froze. "What?"
"Oh, Shula was dying anyway. The Dragon Princesses weren't immortal. They were given extended life by drinking the blood of their mates. When the mates died, they would resume their mortal lives. My father had been killed by Vortigen in a battle for the crown. Vortigen refused her protection-she'd chosen my father over him thousands of years before and Vortigen has never been one to let go of a grudge. He left her alone on Earth, unprotected. Draegar found her and sacrificed her for the power of her blood. He gained much from that killing."
"So Vortigen was to blame for that as well."
"Yes."
"Draegar planned to sacrifice my mother," Lily said. "Weyland told me. He said I was taking Cara's place. I'm glad you killed him."
Mal came up on one elbow so he could look into her face. "Draegar was evil. He needed to die."
"I get that. I just don't understand why my mother went to him. She must have been so desperate. But he was my father. What does that make me?"
He leaned down and kissed her. "You're perfect. There's nothing of Draegar in you." He frowned. "There's also very little of Cara. You're your own person, something new. A gift from the Goddess."
"Yeah, but what's given can be taken back."
"I'll never let them take you."
Chapter 15
Lily awoke in the darkness. Beside her, Mal sat up in bed. In the dim light, he appeared to be listening to something. She strained to hear, but could make out no sound beyond their own breathing.
"What is it?" she whispered.
"The wards have been breached."
A shiver of apprehension ran down her spine. In the two weeks since Cole had left, she'd come to believe nothing could get to them here. Mal had spoken to the King twice. On both occasions, he'd insisted it was still not safe to meet, but they both knew Vortigen's patience wouldn't last forever. And the Conclave would be gathering strength, hunting for them. Still, she'd believed they had more time.
"I thought you said they couldn't be breached, that no sorcerer was strong enough."
He turned to her. "It's not a sorcerer."
"Oh."
"The wards won't stop a dragon-just warn me he's here. They must have traced us."
"An enemy?"
He shrugged. "Do you have any dragon friends?"
"Just the one." She switched on the lamp and slipped out of bed.
"What are you doing?" Mal asked, his brows drawing together.
"I'm getting dressed. I'm not waiting here for some dragon to come and find me." She pulled on underwear, jeans, and a T-shirt, then slipped into her sneakers, buckled the shoulder holster on and checked her pistol. She pushed a knife into the holster on her belt, then bent down, rolled up her jean leg, and buckled another holster around her calf, slipping a small blade into place and pulling her jeans over it. She glanced up to see Mal still sitting on the bed, a bemused expression on his face.
"What?" she asked.
"I was just hoping the poor bastard doesn't do anything to upset you before he has a chance to say whatever it is he's come to say. This will be a messenger, Lily. I don't think you're going to have to kill him."
"Spoilsport," she said. "I thought I was going to get a chance to try out all these nifty new skills you've taught me." She lifted her hand and flames shot from her fingertips. "Anyway, there's no reason not to be prepared." She looked at him. "You said you didn't want to kill any of your people, I never did. I'm willing to do whatever's necessary to protect you."
Mal chuckled. "It's almost worth handing you over to Vortigen just to see his reaction. I don't think he's ever encountered a woman like you." He stood up and came across to her naked but for the golden torc. He was magnificent and he was hers. At least for now. She realized then that she had told the truth-she would kill to keep him safe. He came to a halt only inches away, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her close. "I've never had a champion before," he murmured into her hair. "Never had someone promise to protect me. Thank you." He kissed her forehead, then glanced down at her and smiled. "But I'd be grateful if you didn't kill this particular dragon."
She stood quiet, breathing in the scent of smoke and musk that rose from his body, and then she pushed herself away. Trailing one finger over his broad chest, she scraped over the nipple. "Get dressed," she said. "Let's go see what your dragon wants and get back to bed."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Killian."
A tall man stood staring at the pictures on the wall of the professor's study. At Mal's voice, he turned and smiled.
The similarity between the two men was striking. Killian was tall and lean with thick black hair and golden skin, though his eyes were emerald green like hers.
"Mal," he said, coming forward. To Lily's surprise, the two men embraced. After a minute, Mal stepped back, but his arms rested on the other man's shoulder.