With a low growl that was the equivalent to a purr, Jess got to her feet. Her dragon was lovely, smaller than his but just as dark. One day, centuries from now, she’d have all her dragon abilities. Even then, her magic wouldn’t be as strong as his. Knowing that made him feel intensely protective.
She changed back into human form, so he did as well. He mentally congratulated himself for thinking to remove the diamond choker necklace before she changed. He wanted her to have it. It was made by a jeweler friend he met in 1862. He said it was the finest piece he’d ever made. Wrath used telepathy on him to verify that he was telling the truth.
“Feel better, love?” Wrath asked.
“I didn’t even hurt you, did I?”
“Don’t look so disappointed. You already know the real way to bring me to my knees.”
“I do? What’s that?”
“Exactly what you’re doing now. I’m helpless.”
All thought was lost as his mate approached him, her hips swaying hypnotically. Maybe their relationship wasn’t perfect, but he couldn’t find an imperfection in her. Feeling whole again, he didn’t need to think or talk. He knew exactly what to do.
He retrieved the choker from the floor and fastened it around her neck, loving the feel of her soft skin. Then he leaned down and slanted his mouth over hers as she gripped him tightly.
Lifting her up, he carried her to the spot where he’d lie down and meditate in dragon form. The pile of gold there was flattened and smooth enough for him to lay her there without worry that something would dig into her back. He didn’t have to think about doing that. He just knew.
He was back.
They made love for hours. When they were finally sated, Wrath lied with her and held her in his arms surrounded by his treasure. His inner dragon had never been so content.
“I know it probably feels like it’s too soon, Jess, but I hope you know there’s more here than simple attraction.”
“It’s magic.”
“It is.”
“You’re mine.”
“I am,” Wrath said, brushing an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
“I guess I love you, then, huh?”
“Guess so.”
Jess swatted him and he laughed. “I love you, Jess,” Wrath said. “This means I have a problem, though. Etel did me two favors. He sent you to me and he brought Namtar to lift the curse. I owe him.”
She propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at him. “How’s that a problem?” she asked.
“I’ll have to do as he asked and go to Texas to guard the gate. I guess that means making peace with my family.”
“I’m coming with you,” she said, resting her chin on his chest.
“Yes, you are. We’ll stay here long enough for Etel to have talks with a basilisk representative and then we’ll go. You won’t guard the gate, but you’ll meet some of my dragon family.”
Jess kissed his chin and said: “I can’t wait. But, you know, I helped Etel. It was my idea to have Faith sing.”
“Hm. So you’re my hero?” he asked.
“Yes. You owe me and you need more punishment for the whole wanting to kill me thing.”
“Really? What kind of punishment?”
“You wear the handcuffs.”
Epilogue
A few days later
Meditation was boring. Jess could only stand a few minutes of it and she preferred to be in human form. Wrath took a good half hour, so Jess occupied herself by reading. He wanted her with him when he meditated because his dragon was happier with as much of his treasure around as possible.
She was beginning to notice that not everything in the underground safe/dragon meditation room was there for its monetary value. For example, there was a chest of toys near the door. They might have a lot of monetary value—they were ancient—but she knew that’s not why he kept them.
He kept them because they belonged to his sons.
Unhappy with the heroine in her current romance book—she hated love triangles—Jess spotted some old books in the far corner. No wonder Wrath hadn’t wanted her to use fire in the safe.
She tried to walk across the giant pile of treasure quietly, but that proved impossible. In fact, every slow step seemed to be louder than when she walked normally. Just like with her grandparents’ cats, the sneakier she tried to be the more Wrath seemed to notice.
She saw the glint of one menacing dragon eye watching her and gave up on quiet. She marched across the hoard to the books. On the top shelf were books that had titles in languages she didn’t recognize. On the bottom shelf there were scrolls. The middle shelf had something far more interesting—a photo album.
As she lifted it from the shelf, she heard footsteps behind her. Not room rattling dragon footsteps, the footsteps of a man. Wrath had changed back to human form.
“Let’s take that upstairs, shall we?” he asked. “I haven’t looked through it in…days.”
Once they were upstairs and Wrath was dressed, they sat together on the sofa. Wrath draped his arm around Jess’s shoulders, and she opened the album. On the first page was a drawing of a dark-haired woman with laughing eyes.
“Zahra,” Jess said. “Did you draw this?”
“No, Adom drew it.”
“She’s lovely.”
“She was.”
Jess saw the similarity between herself and Zahra, but it was superficial. Their faces were different shapes, Zahra had an oval face while Jess’s was heart shaped. Jess’s lips were fuller, but Zahra had intriguing eyes.
Jess turned the page and got her first look at Wrath’s sons. The pictures were old and faded. She could hardly tell them apart.
“The newer pictures are in the back,” Wrath said, giving her permission to skip pages.
She flipped to a page toward the back and saw a picture of Wrath with three men who bore a striking resemblance to him only they weren’t as broad in the shoulders.
“They’re so handsome,” Jess said. “But they’re…”
“They’re what?”
“Trouble. Look at them. They smile like angels. They could melt your heart in an instant.
