Spark (Clan of Dragons Book 1) Read online

He smiled, again. “It pleases me to hear me name upon your lips. There be something else I crave to do with those lips.”

  Before she could respond to his odd words of praise, he melded his mouth to hers, and kissed her deeper then she’d ever been kissed. The warmth of his lips was unexpected. The moment he pulled her flush against his chest, his masculine heat soothed her chilled body. Her arms rose and circled his neck, as if they were always meant to. When she tangled her fingers in his silky hair, she giggled.

  Evan released her mouth, and gazed into her face. “Be I doing this wrong?”

  Was he actually so innocent? “Nay. Your hair feels as soft and silky as me horse’s mane. I mean no disrespect, but you must admit Spark be a handsome fellow.”

  “Spark? Aye, the name suits his coloring. He looks like the flames that shoot from lofty burning mountains, or like the copper ore mined in the Highlands.”

  “Goodness! You be quite a traveler, if you have seen such sights. Me ma used to have a necklace crafted of hammered copper. It came from the mainland, via a traveling merchant.”

  His eyes lowered, then returned to her face. “Why do you not wear it?”

  “I sold it in order to buy food.” She sighed, and her shoulders slumped. Tears threatened, but Evan cupped her chin, and raised her face until she looked into his eyes. The concern was there, and relief swept through her. “We be very poor.”

  “Do not be silly. You have a lovely farm, a comfortable cottage, weapons, sheep, a caring brother, and a handsome horse.”

  She smiled at that last word. Then worry made her step back, and head to the door.

  “Where you going in such a rush?”

  “Spark’s safety. ‘Tis not yet ensured. I must meet up with Orin, and see our cart of meat safely to the village.”

  “Wait.”

  She slipped her arms into her cloak, and turned to face him once more. He was beside her, his hands again resting on her hips. His eyes, the same shade as Spark’s, mesmerized her with the depth of concern they showed for her. “I appreciate the kind words. I be blessed, but if I do not win the wager, Spark will die and I will be forced to…”

  “What shall you be forced to do?”

  How could she answer, when the thought of giving her innocence to a foul creature like Toal the toad turned her stomach? Evan should know there was nothing she could give him, or any man, until the wager was completed.

  “There be a man, the one with whom I have placed a wager, who will do horrible things if he should win. Spark be one prize, and I be the other. I cannot allow him to succeed.”

  She read awareness in Evan’s wide-eyed expression. When a sneer filled his face, and he growled, she stepped back.

  “No one shall force you to do anything against your will. You be a wonderful human, and a mighty hunter.”

  Human? “If we lose, I fear we shall starve. I will have to give in, or—”

  “Nay!” Evan wrapped his large arms around her, and kissed her.

  When his tongue probed the seam between her lips, she opened to his advances. Trusting a man was a new concept, but this was merely kissing. When his hand lowered, and massaged a breast, that thought raced from her head. A tiny moan filled the darkened cottage. The moment that she realized it was her moan, her cheeks burned. He placed his other hand on her backside and pulled her tightly into his chest and groin. When he growled with pleasure against her lips, her womb clenched.

  He smelled of horse, and leather, and he tasted like apples and sunshine. Even with her chemise, shirt, dress, and cloak between his palm and her breast, her nipple grew hard like a pebble. When he ground his groin against her belly, she felt the solid outline of his erection. The evidence of his arousal made her smile against his mouth, knowing the power of her womanhood, until fear made her step away.

  Evan let her go. He was magnificent. His chest heaved, and his lips were moist and inviting. His amber eyes had darkened to nearly black, and another growl escaped. He straightened his shoulders, but kept his large hands to his side, as if waiting for an explanation.

  “I must go. Will I see you in the village?”

  “Lass, I would love to see you there, or sooner, should our paths cross.”

  Since he was on foot, she would meet up with Orin and probably beat him to the village. For a moment she considered offering him to share a ride on Spark, but the beast’s injury stopped her.

  “Lass?”

  Had she missed something he’d said? “Aye?”

  “You should straighten your gown. I will bid you goodbye.”

  She looked down and realized he had untied her vest, and had been close to removing enough of her clothing to reach her breast. Before she could sputter a response, he was gone.

  Vika fixed her loosened clothing, and searched for an apple to share with Spark. She remembered they had used the last of their drinking water on Spark’s wound, so she filled another skin from the rain barrel. Orin might get thirsty before they reached the village.

  She locked the cottage, and hid the key. She found Spark where she had left him, and she inspected his wounded thigh. “Looks sore, but I suspect you shall heal fine, once I apply some of Mistress MacFingan’s ointment. We should hurry.” She led him to the stacked barrels, and settled in the saddle. She would switch to riding like a lady once she reached the village. Riding astride was frowned upon, especially by men like Toal MacMorgan, but no one was about, not even Evan.

  She missed him. ‘Tis a simple youthful crush. If they met up once more, in the village, would he risk Toal’s ire by paying attention to her? “No way to know, until I find Toal and Evan in the same room. I pray Toal doesn’t hurt Evan.”

  Spark whinnied, and tugged on the reins.

  “Was Evan nice to you? Well, if you get me safely back to Orin and the cart, I shall share an apple with you.”

  Spark took off like an arrow, and Vika hung on for dear life. He raced straight and true, following the trail toward the village. They might meet up with Orin, once his trail and hers converged, and they would ride into the village together, and win the wager. The bloodied ground still gnawed at her senses. Had a thief died, taken by wolves? Or, had a dragon found his dinner? Would anyone in their village believe that? They had no evidence a man died in the clearing, but so much blood was against all odds, and someone had lashed Spark with a whip.

  Spark’s ears swiveled forward, and he slid to a stop.

  “What be amiss, lad?” Vika asked, suddenly wary of the absolute quiet of the forest. Not a bird was singing. Even the cold breeze that once ruffled the treetops had vanished. She wished she had grabbed Orin’s crossbow. It was easier to hold atop a restless horse, should something attack from the trees.

  Growls and snapping teeth announced the pack of wolves that crept from the trees and surrounded them. One nipped at Spark’s heel. The horse kicked it in its shoulder, and it tumbled out of sight. Another wolf bared its teeth in front of Spark, who reared and nearly crushed it beneath his hooves. Vika held on to the reins, and his mane, wishing she had a third hand, and could grab her bow. When she nearly had her booted foot bitten by another wolf, she cried out.

  A sudden rush of wind, followed by the crash of breaking branches, was the only warning before a huge dragon swooped down from the treetops, and grabbed the largest wolf. The others scattered into the forest.

  Vika stared at the dragon, who was devouring the wolf. Blood ran onto the ground as red as its scales. Its wings, folded back, were black as a raven’s wing. It was large as a barn, and it took her a moment to realize it was not the same dragon that Evan Brown had scared away. This one was nearly finished with its meal, and Vika feared that she would be the dragon’s dessert.

  “We must leave! Now!” She kicked the horse’s sides, and Spark flew down the trail. She held on for dear life, and curved her body forward, her arms tight around his neck. If she fell off, either the wolves, or the dragon, would kill her. Before they had gotten very far, a cry of pain caught her attention. It
sounded human, and nearby.

  Pulling the reins until Spark stopped, Vika slid off of him, and led him through the thick forest, shoving aside branches and stepping over fallen logs, until a dragon roared. Spark whinnied.

  “Quiet!”

  The flap of huge wings passed far overhead, and Vika didn’t move again, until assured that the beast was far away. “I cannot believe I have seen two dragons. Aye, Evan Brown was right. They live among us. Just because I have never seen them does not make them mythical.”

  The pain-filled cry came again, and she searched the underbrush with Spark at her heels. At the base of a gnarled broadleaf tree she spied a young woman. She was naked, with an open wound along her right shoulder. Her red hair, a shade darker than her own, was a tangled mess as if she’d run through brambles. Her skin was pale as a ghost, and she was young, possibly Orin’s age. Vika couldn’t tell if she was small because she was wrapped tightly in a ball, crying.

  “Praise be! Let me help you?”

  The young woman nodded, as she covered her chest with her uninjured arm. Vika pulled up the hem of her skirt, and ripped off a huge section of her chemise. After grabbing the water skin from where she’d tied it to Spark’s saddle, she kneeled. She poured water from the skin to flush out the young stranger’s wound, then pressed a wadded piece of cloth over the wound. After she draped the rest over the young woman’s chest, she got to her feet.

  “Me brother be nearby with our belongings. Stay here, and I shall fetch clothing, aye?”

  The young woman nodded, then settled her head against the tree trunk.

  “Spark, guard her. I shall find Orin.” Vika grabbed her quiver of arrows and slung it over her shoulder, then collected her bow. When the young lass cringed with fear, Vika said, “For protection. We were attacked by a pack of wolves. Spark will protect you.”

  “What about…the dragon?” she whispered.

  “Best to keep quiet.” Grabbing a few fallen branches with dried leaves attached, she made a small bower over the woman’s head. “This will help keep you hidden.”

  Vika headed back toward the trail as quietly as she could. At the spot where the dragon had devoured the wolf, she found Orin.

  “Bloody Hell! I thought this patch of blood and gore was you!” He leapt from the cart, and hugged her.

  “Have no fear, Spark again saved me life. We were set upon by a pack of wolves.”

  “Spark killed another wolf?”

  “Nay, he hurried me away. ‘Twas the dragon that did the deed.”

  Orin’s eyes opened wide, then he bent over, laughing. When he straightened, he must have noticed that she wasn’t smiling.

  “I thought you were jesting. Dragons? They be creatures from a fairy tale, told by those daft enough to…”

  “If you stop your laughing, I will repeat what I said. ‘Twas a dragon who swooped down, and grabbed the largest wolf. Spark kicked one, nearly trampled another, but I saw at least four. They meant to kill us. When the dragon flew into our midst, the others scattered. Now, if you will hurry, we’ve a young lass to save.”

  “A lass? Who? Where?”

  “Enough of your questions. She be wounded, and in need of clothing.” Vika rummaged through her bundle of clothing and found a nightshirt and another pair of boots. “These be all I can offer her, as I left me bloodied clothing at the cottage. She needs water, but I brought a small water skin, and used it to clean her wound. Have we any wine?”

  “Nay, I…never mind. I think I heard a stream farther back. I will find water and return. Can you bring her to the cart?”

  “Aye.”

  “What about the wolves?”

  “They be long gone, I suspect, and Spark be guarding her.” They went their separate ways, and Vika prayed the wolves and the dragon stayed far, far away.

  CHAPTER 11

  Evan sniffed the injured woman, and suspected he was correct. She was not human. When branches behind him rustled, he looked from the sleeping creature, to the trees. He suspected Dougal was nearby, so he stepped away from the partially hidden female, and shifted into human form to seek him out. The euphoria was nothing, compared to how he had felt when he’d wrapped his arms around Vika, and kissed her.

  “Why such a silly expression, brother? You appear dreaming of something quite nice.”

  “Never mind me thoughts, Dougal.”

  “I hope you appreciate what I did for you. If Wynn had come across you, I doubt he would have the forbearance to kill a wolf. He loves the creatures a tad too much.”

  “I agree, and I thank you. Having a rider on me back curtailed the ability to fight. I need another favor.”

  Dougal’s winged eyebrow rose, and smoke dribbled from his snout.

  “I need clothing. ‘Tis inappropriate to walk around naked. These humans wear cloth, and I fear the lack of any on me male form disturbs the females.” When he had surprised Vika inside her cottage, he had wrapped the horse blanket around him. He feared she would recognize it the next time.

  “Females? You have more than one?”

  “We have come across a wounded young female, and I suspect she be a shifter. In fact, I believe I kicked her, when she was in wolf-form.”

  “Thank goodness Wynn be far from here. He would love to meet a shifter who shares his passion for the vicious beasties. What color be she? I would hate to accidently eat her.”

  “Red, a dark auburn, actually, with a white nose and a white tip on her tail. ‘Tis all I noticed before I kicked her.”

  “A dragon?”

  “I know not.”

  Dougal’s throat rumbled. “Getting back to clothing, I released the man who attacked you and the unsupervised cart, then followed him to his camp before I devoured him. He had lost so much blood, he was not long for this world. I put him out of his misery.”

  “I be sure he thanked you, as you tore him limb from limb.”

  “I was curious if he acted alone. I caught another’s scent, but the fire was cold, and there was no sign of anyone else living there. The camp be close by, and he has various pieces of wool hanging about it. I shall be back in a flash.” With that, he sprang into the sky, and flew away.

  From behind a tree, Evan peered at the injured woman. Vika had returned. The young woman had awakened, and Vika helped her into something white that looked like a gown. Blood seeped through it, from the wound, and Vika tied another piece of cloth around her shoulder. Evan was glad to see that the female was strong enough to stand on her own two feet. Did she miss her usual four legs, as did he?

  “Spark! Where have you run off to?”

  He could not answer her call naked, and in his human form. He walked away until Dougal landed nearby, as silent as a big beast could, and handed him the cloth.

  “It smells like sheep. I watched another human from the village once put on something like this. Lay this strip of leather on the ground, then place a section of cloth over it, make several folds, and lie down upon them.”

  Evan settled onto the wool on his back, then followed his brother’s instructions. He gathered the coarse wool around his lower torso, belted it at the waist with the wide strip of leather, then rose to his feet.

  “Pull the long end up and over your shoulder, and tuck it into the belt. There you go. You look human.”

  “Thanks, brother. You had best watch us from a distance. I worry that the strange woman might shift, and injure Vika, or her brother.”

  Dougal lifted his snout, and sniffed the air. “The bleeding has ceased, but she lost plenty. I doubt she has the strength to shift. Shall you remain as a human for awhile?”

  “Aye. I must integrate myself into this group. One problem…if I be aware she can shift, will she know I can, as well?”

  “Most likely. Gain her trust, quickly.”

  “What if she recognizes me as the one who kicked her?”

  “Explain that you were protecting your true love. Females of any species believe in such things.”

  Dougal sounded wistful, a
s if a memory had arisen to suck the breath from him. He might have really loved Cliona, and her passing still affected him.

  Evan nodded, and returned to the women. Orin was out of sight, but the Highland pony neighed, off toward the main trail. “Good afternoon, ladies.”

  Vika and the wounded woman turned toward him, and gasped. The shifter shot behind Vika, to hide.

  “Evan Brown? What be you doing out here? Be you following me? I thought you said you were heading toward the village.”

  “Aye, I was heading toward the village, but the dragon flying overhead caused me to search you out. I worried it might have attacked you. I heard growls and screams of pain, and came to investigate. Be you well?” His voice had dropped to a whisper, but Vika smiled. She was learning to trust him, and his confidence grew. The new clothing helped, he assumed.

  “You look…different,” Vika said, but he simply smiled.

  If she didn’t realize he had changed from a horse blanket into a purple and black wool plaide, so be it.

  “I be fine, but this lass was injured. I planned to take her to meet up with me brother, but me horse has wandered off.”

  Evan stepped closer to Vika, then gently touched the hiding woman’s arm. “I be Evan Brown. Let me carry you?”

  Vika nodded at the woman, who silently agreed. Her eyes spoke volumes, but she knew she needed help. He lifted her into his arms, and faced Vika. “Lead on.”

  Vika’s eyebrows lifted, probably at the ease with which he carried the lass, but she headed off to find her brother.

  “I know what you be,” the lass whispered.

  Evan smiled. “And I know your secret. I have no plans to harm you. Me concern be for Vika.”

  “She be Vika?”

  “Aye. Her younger brother, Orin, be also a friend, though he only really has befriended me in me horse form.”

  She seemed to think about his admission, then settled her head against his shoulder, and sighed. “I be sorry I nipped you.”

  He chuckled. “Lass, ‘twas more than a nip, and I struck out in order to save Vika. I be sorry about the big wolf. A friend?” His reference to the wolf Dougal carried away was answered by a nod, and Evan could feel her body tremble with pain from her wounds. When her small form was racked with sobs, he kept quiet so as not to upset her further.