Her Dragon Hero (15 page)

Triumph bloomed in her chest. She’d won the day. “My father is long dead by my helping hand, and I helped myself to his powers.”

Much to her glee, Neman actually paled and glanced at his twin who shrugged. “Now, I will help myself to this realm. Once I’ve taken over, I’ll establish all the sealed ports to the demon realm. There will be no stopping me.”

“I think the gods will notice your hostile takeover and put a stop to it,” Neman stated with a sneer.

“After this amount of time, do you really think they care?”

“We care,” Sin spoke up.

“You are no longer gods.”

“Once a god, always a god, bitch.” Sin glared, taking a threatening step forward.

“I’ll take pleasure in paying your wife a visit once you’re dead. I hear she’s pregnant, but she won’t be for long,” she taunted with an evil smile. Neman grabbed his brother before he could lunge at her.

Giddy excitement built within her; everything was working out as she’d planned—she was keen to move onto the next phase.

“Well, as delightful as this little chat has been, I’m a very busy demoness. People to kill, realms to conquer.”

“Before you have us all killed, I have to know something.”

The big, red dragon stepped forward.

“How is it you’ve been getting your demons through our realm? I mean, what does it matter if you tell me, we’re going to die anyway.”

She shrugged. Yes, they would die, so what harm would it do? “Javir has been most accommodating. Our alliance will soon have me in control of your realm, as well, once he’s killed your king and taken the throne.”

Smoke billowed out of the dragon’s noses, she saw they were close to shifting again.

With a wave of her hand, she ordered her army: “Kill them all now!”

“You know, I’d think it would be an extremely bad idea.”

She swung around at the voice behind her. So, this was Slade the Sly. The golden dragon stood casually, as if nothing was under threat at all.

She scowled. “Why not?”

He snapped his fingers and winked at one of the hostage women, making the red dragon of the group growl.

“Because of this.”

Two dragon soldiers marched through the realm portal, dragging a limp Javir between them.

“Even with my genius brain, it didn’t take much to figure out who the dragon traitor was. Secondly, I really don’t like my friends being threatened like this.”

The portal realm rippled and dragon after dragon shot through it. Flapping wings and angry roars filled the air.

Blood pounded in her ears, red filled her vision. No, she couldn’t lose, wouldn’t lose like this!  “Kill them, kill them all!”

* * * *

All hell broke loose.

The demon who used her as a scratching post for his claws slackened his grip, and Amber didn’t hesitate to swing around, punching it right in the nose. Her hand screamed in pain with the impact, but he stumbled back, clutching his face, blood gushing down his ugly Hawaiian shirt.

The other women fought back as well, breaking free of their captors. She blinked and large, red jaws plucked the demon off the ground, shaking it like a rag doll before crunching and snapping the demon in half.

She heard Brimstone roaring with molten rage inside her head. She stumbled and tripped over a rock, her butt hitting the dusty, desert floor.

“
Hang on, my love
.” Brim shifted and she didn’t care he was covered in demon blood when he picked her up and cradled her in his strong arms.

“Oh, god, Brim,” she sobbed against his chest, adrenaline and relief that he was alright spiking through her system.

“I have you, baby. I’m fucking never letting go again.”

“No, no, never. Oh, god, Darren! I think they killed him.”

Before she asked him to take her back, he teleported them before she knew it happened. Blinking, she realised they again stood in the dining room of Holbrook Station with Slazzamar fussing over a loudly complaining Darren who now sat on a couch, holding his side.

She struggled out of Brim’s arms and raced over. “You’re not dead!”

Darren winced, pain evident on his pinched features. “It’ll take more than a little itty-bitty demon to kill me, honey.” He nodded towards the floor near the pool table, where the demon lay with a blade embedded in his forehead.

Slazzamar kissed him. “I wouldn’t leave my mate without him knowing how to defend himself.” Pride was clear in Slazzamar’s tone and he gazed fondly at Darren. “But he’s gonna bitch for ages until these ribs heal.”

Darren rolled his eyes, before glancing up at Brim.

“You should be proud of your woman, Brimstone. She didn’t panic or run, she came to my defence and used a gun like a pro. She killed those two on the floor.” Darren nodded at her, and she felt heat creep into her face.

Brim’s arms came around her from the back. Pulling her into his warmth, she soaked in his strength. “I am proud.”

Kaden appeared with a tired looking Terrie clinging to her husband.

“The battle is won. Slade and the others are cleaning up the mess. Unfortunately, Breylla escaped, but there’s little harm she can do now with her army destroyed.”

Amber’s head fell back against Brim and he tightened his grip. “Thank god, I think I need another holiday. This has been more excitement than I’m used to.”

“Sorry, Amber, but it may not be over yet," Kaden said with an apologetic tone. “The King wants to see Brimstone.”

“Fuck the King, I’ll see to my mate first. Come on baby, I’m taking you home to heal you.”

“So full of charm, isn’t he?” Amber gave them a wary grin.

Darren’s chuckle was followed by a curse. “Bloody broken ribs. Next life, I’m coming back as a cyborg; cyborgs are cool.”

“You watch too many movies, love.” Slazz shook his head.

Amber twisted in his arms. “I’m okay, Brim. You need to see the King. The pain is only a mild throbbing now.”

“No.” He pointed his finger at her nose. “You are more important than any fucking King.”

“Honey, you can’t beat that kind of logic,” Darren said with a smirk.

Kaden lifted his wife and she hung her arms around him. “I’ll leave you to talk logic, I’m going to care for my own mate.”

Terrie waved as he carried her out. “Good luck.”

Amber smiled at her big dragon, her heart filled with love for him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “No, my Brimstone's logic is infallible, even when naked and covered in blood.”

A smile twitched up the corners of his mouth while he gazed back at her. “Fucking believe it, baby. Now, let’s go.”

Chapter 12

Wide-eyed and holding tightly to Brimstone's hand, Amber’s stomach churned with nerves. It was almost like she was meeting the parents.

“You have nothing to fear; I’ll tear anyone apart who dares to even look at you the wrong way,” Brim reassured her for the fifth time.

“And I’ll dance on their remains,” Slade added for good measure, walking on her right side. She felt as if she had two guards, escorting her to an execution chamber, apart from the smug grin on Slade's face.

Brim kept glaring at the other dragons they passed while she attracted curious stares. Some didn’t try to hide the lusty gleam in their eyes. The writer’s side of her brain did note, however, she was yet to come across a scraggy and plain-looking face. It must be dragon genetics to be so buffed up, with chiselled jaws, high cheekbones, and lush, masculine lips aplenty.

She sighed, thinking back over the past two days of bliss with her dragon. They booked back into the Darwin hotel and Brim spent the nights reminding her how much stamina a dragon possessed.

During the day, they went for long walks, talked about their lives and did a few more touristy things, like fish feeding at a place called
Aquascene
set up for the tourists on the Darwin foreshore. She had to stop him from grabbing and eating the fish, explaining they were in a protected area and he couldn’t eat them. He grumbled it was a fucking a waste of good food. She patted his arm and took him to a sushi bar, where he ploughed through their entire stock.

Slade turned up, declaring the King demanded their presence. She was healed, and there was no excuse not to go.

Brim packed her up and they went to the portal. The desert valley showed no signs of a huge battle between dragons and demons ever taking place.

Two guards stood in the desert sun, nodding at the three of them when they passed through.

Brim insisted on shifting and flying her to the dwelling, so she could get the whole effect of the gigantic columns of grey stone which looked like they were holding up the mountain itself. Multiple, massive balconies stuck out like tongues on various levels where dragons landed and entered. The Dragon Realm itself was full of tall peaks and deep valleys. They flew above winding rivers and lush fields with human-like creatures who tended herds of sheep, cattle and goats.

“
Look up there, in the mountains
.”

She spied the tall peaks dotted with dark holes and ledges. “
Those are dens in the cliffs. These are the homes of dragons. It’s where we collect and guard our treasures
.”

“What stops others from coming in and taking what’s yours?”

“
Honour and a few dragon spells to guard. A dragon can curse their treasure, so no other can touch it. Dragons do not mess with others collections, the consequences are not worth the effort. If a dragon is stripped of his power, the spells vanish and the treasure is open for anyone to take
.”

“How much treasure have you collected?” She couldn’t help her curiosity.

“
Enough
,” was his only reply. She let it go. There was far too much to see to wonder about a dragon's retirement fund.

Now, they walked through amazing tall and ancient hallways where statues of dragons and some in human form lined the way. The palace itself was carved into the depths of a mountain.

“Throne room just ahead.”

Slade’s voice brought her mind back to the present, reigniting her nerves. She never met a king before. Well, a week ago she never met a dragon either, and look how this turned out.

“Can’t I go back to the hotel and wait?” Her palms started to sweat and itch.

“The King asked to meet you too, sweet.” Slade glanced down at her, giving a cheeky wink.

“Do you get many human visitors?” Brim noted the touch of hysteria in her higher pitched voice.

“I do believe you’re the first I’ve ever known about.” Slade shrugged, as if it was no big deal.

“Oh.” It didn’t help and the tension in her body climbed.

Brim pulled her to a stop. “Slade, go ahead. I need a word with my mate.”

Humour gleamed in the golden dragon’s eyes. “I’ll let them know.” He continued down the corridor, so large you could fit three semi-trailers in side by side, and so tall you would need oxygen masks to breathe.

He tugged her to a corner near one of the eight foot wide columns. “You need to relax, baby.”

“Easier said than done.”

“Then, I will help you.”

Her eyes narrowed, doubting he could put her at ease. Before she realised what he was doing, he lifted her with her feet dangling, pressed her back against the grey, stone wall, and his lips were on hers.

Her body flamed to life. She moaned into his mouth while he plundered hers, arms wrapping around his neck. He kissed her until her brain turned into a drunken mush. Every care fell away, and all she could do was feel the wonderful, masculine power of her dragon. He pulled back and she gazed up at him dreamily, trying to pull him back to her mouth.

“I want to take you to my den and fuck you on my pile of treasure.”

“We could go, now.” She ran her lips up his chin, nipping as she went, hopeful they could vanish.

A growl rumbled from his chest. “After our meeting with the King.”

With gentle care, he set her back on her feet. Yes, she was not relaxed, but she was turned on and, knowing the dragon's sensitive noses, realising everyone would scent her arousal.

He tugged her along and they at last entered the throne room. A crowd gathered around a raised platform of four steps. Three men in regal robes stood on top.

It was easy to spot the King by the glittering, golden sash sitting over his chest. Slade stood at the bottom of the steps. All eyes were on them. Brim bowed and Amber did what she hoped wasn’t a too awkward curtsy in her long, blue summer dress.

“Your Majesty, may I present my true mate, Amber, of the Human Realm.” The pride in Brim’s voice was clear.

“Welcome to the Dragon Kingdom, Amber.”

The king walked down the steps until he stood before them. His long, black hair, similar to Brimstone's, was streaked with silver and wisdom shone in his crystal blue eyes. His handsome face appeared as a man in his late forties.

“I’m realising there is much we do not know about humans. Slade here has been telling me you are a talented writer, and can help us bridge the gap between human and dragon, so other dragons may find true mates as Brimstone has done with you.