Hours later after making love until neither could move, Katarina was laid across his chest when Viktor glimpsed the mark of their mating. Lifting her wrist to his lips, he kissed the beautiful glyph, thanking Zeus for the wonder of his Katarina.
Opening her eyes, Katarina looked at him as if he'd hung the moon and stars, and in that moment, Viktor Katsaros believed that he could.
Epilogue
"Well, la dee da, lookie here, Miss Fancy Pants. You have an invitation to the gala celebrating the Katsaros Industries and Roma Tech merger." Cyn's admin and long-time friend, Adele, sing-songed as she fanned herself with what looked to be an expensive off-white linen envelope while doing her best model walk into Cynthia's office.
"I have no idea why I would be invited to that. I'm just a sales consultant for a drug company. I don't know diddly about tech. And besides, I don't have anything to wear."
"Well, you better get your butt in gear. Dust off that credit card, baby, cause you've got the golden ticket."
"What the hell are you talking about? What golden ticket?"
"Girl, get your head out of the books and catch up on your pop culture. There is more to life than the newest anti-inflammatory or anti-depressant. You have a VIP ticket to the big show. It says you'll be sitting at one of the tables next to the head guy, his new wife, and the other big wigs. You have to go so I can live vicariously through you."
Cyn shook her head. How in the hell had she ever gotten on the guest list for something so prestigious? These people were the movers and shakers, kings of industry. Hell, most of them were from other countries, highly educated, rich from birth, and way out of her league.
Grabbing the invitation from Adele, Cyn saw the signature that had obviously been signed with the sender's own hand at the bottom of the beautifully embossed correspondence and had to sit down before she fell down from shock. Running the pad of her thumb over the signature, a chill ran down her spine and an image formed in her mind.
It had only taken one time, just a chance encounter at Starbucks two years ago in Dallas, and Cyn had been hooked. The spark of recognition between them when they'd touched had been electric. Sort of like déjà vu but stronger, and maybe a little different. It didn't make sense but it was oh so real. Long after they'd parted ways, Cyn couldn't shake the feeling that their meeting wasn't completely coincidental. Not that he'd planned it or anything stalkerish, but that they were ‘supposed' to meet, like it was a destiny kind of thing.
He was tall, had light brown hair that she knew would be wavy if he didn't tame it with products, and hazel eyes that mesmerized as the smooth golden in the center spread to an almost green before turning brown at the edge. To say Roman Marinos was good-looking was like saying South Fork was a farm. He was amazing and had an accent so exotic it curled her toes. She hadn't even told Adele about their chance encounter and Cyn told her friend everything.
Lost in thought, Cyn jumped when the intercom on her office phone buzzed. "Sexy man voice on line two," Adele chirped.
"I have told you a million times not to give the people on the phone nicknames."
Cyn cut off Adele's rebuttal by answering the phone. "Cynthia St. James, how can I help you?"
"You can accept my invitation to the KI/Roma Tech gala."
Her mind went blank. Her palms began to sweat. Her heart beat like a bass drum. Cyn thought she might pass out. Recognition like no other filled her mind. Dumb luck had walked up and smacked her in the back of the head again. How could it be possible? How could the man who'd she dreamed about every night for two years be on the phone? Wasn't it enough that she thought about him every spare minute of the day? Now, he was on her phone?
He owed her nothing, just as she owed him nothing. He'd replaced her favorite London Fog trench coat after spilling coffee on it and even bought the dark brown leather gloves she'd been eyeing for weeks, almost as if he read her mind. She'd tried repeatedly to return them only to have him refuse.
"Well...it's just that..." Taking a deep breath to stop further embarrassment, Cyn began again. "I have a previous engagement and to be honest Mr. Marinos, I'm in pharmaceuticals not tech. I think there's been some mistake."
For several seconds, Cyn could only hear him breathing on the other end of the phone. She was just about to apologize for seeming ungrateful when the rumble of his deep voice floated from the phone. If possible, his accent seemed thicker and his voice more intense. "My invitation has little to do with the gala and everything to do with you, Cynthia St. James."
Unsure what Marinos meant and with no idea how to answer, Cyn fell back on the one tried and true excuse she always used when she wanted to get out of something. "I appreciate your invitation. I am truly humbled but as I said, I have a previous engagement."
Chuckling like she'd said something funny, Marinos' only reply was, "No you don't. Pick you up at eight."
He disconnected the call while Cyn was still dumbfounded by his response. It took several minutes before she returned the receiver to its cradle. Shaking her head, she just stared out her window at the cars on the freeway.
I have no clue what just happened but I'm sure I'd be safer directing traffic out there on the highway than spending a night with Roman Marinos.
Her Dragon, His Demon
Book #12 in the Dragon Guard Series
Coming March 1, 2016
Rian knew he shouldn't have run off half-cocked. Rory and Royce had damn near driven him mad screaming directly into his brain for the last three days. Finally, unable to stand their endless bitching, he'd cut all communications with them. It was the first time in more years than he could remember that he'd been truly alone.
As if all that wasn't bad enough, Rian had snuck into his oldest friend's private lair and stolen the stone they'd recovered along with Drago, the assassin. He'd known he was going to raid Maddox's cave even before he sent Tomas off with the ancient artifact, but it was the only way he could keep his plans from the others. No one would understand. How could they?
For years he'd been living with the secret of his mate's painful existence. Unable to go to her, unable to save her, only able to see her once every full moon and only with the aid of a Devil's Trap. His beautiful Audrey had been possessed even before he knew of her existence. A terrible curse was put upon her by the same evil wizards the Dragon Guard sought to destroy. She hadn't given up her freedom willingly; rather it was taken from her as a way to coerce her father, the king of a small seaside village, to give up his lands.
Unfortunately, King August was killed in battle before he knew his daughter had been taken and the man who inherited the kingdom, Audrey's uncle, was evil to the core. He simply left his niece to rot in hell, the servant of the Chancellor and President of the High Council of Devils.
Not long after Royce had left to train with the Golden Fire Clan, when the O'Reilly brothers were still considered young dragons, Rian had been deep in the forest that bordered the sea one night just after midnight. He'd needed time to think. The Elders had just come to him, requesting he join their ranks and rule the Blue Thunder Clan. The Guardsman was honored but filled with doubt.
Making his way to the water's edge, he'd seen the full moon's reflection in the calm seas an instant before glimpsing the most beautiful woman in the world. She walked toward him, obviously enjoying the feel of the sand between her toes and the breeze on her skin. Her long skirts and dark hair blowing behind her. The violet of her eyes glowed in the moonlight as her sweet dulcet tones reached his ears.
The woman's song was so hauntingly desperate it pulled at Rian's soul. He felt her in places he'd never imagined and knew at once she was his mate. Racing toward her, he was shocked when she threw her hands out screaming, "No! Stop! Don't come near me! Please, please, I don't want to hurt you. Just stay back!"
Stopping dead in his tracks, Rian scoffed, "How could you hurt me? I am a Dragon Guardsman in my prime and besides, you are my mate."
She fell to the ground, her head in her hands, and wailed, "No, no, no! This can't be happening. Curse you Adramelech, curse you and all you hold dear. Curse your cold, dead heart. I should've known it was all a trick."
Needing to comfort his mate but trying to abide by her wishes to stay back, Rian moved a step closer. The scent of fresh cut daisies invaded his senses, almost driving him to his knees. No longer able to control himself, the Guardsman took yet another step in the young woman's direction. She jumped up, stepping several quick paces backward. "Please, I beg you, don't touch me. I'm cursed, possessed, made to do a demon's bidding. Tonight is my birthday. The first in more years than I can count that my evil master has let me out. Although still chained to him within my soul, he allowed a few brief moments of peace in a place I hold so very dear. I should've known he had a plan, should've known it was all a game..." Her words trailed off as she stared at the sea.