Stroke the Flame

8

“We’re all set, thank you,” I told her with a smile that I hoped showed how grateful I was for her help. She was looking out for me, even if she had no idea what was going on.

She nodded and moved to leave the room, but was blocked by a huge, broad-shouldered man with muscular arms the size of tree trunks—the blacksmith I’d seen in my dreams. His eyes were a deep forest green, his skin was the color of tree bark, and his short beard gave him a rugged masculinity that was distinctly opposite Auric’s elegant beauty and less refined than Jasin’s handsome swagger. Yet I felt the same rush of desire, familiarity, and possessiveness when I looked at him as when I did the other two men.

Gods, what was wrong with me? I’d never felt this way about a single man before, yet now I felt it for three of them?

“Well, hello there,” Tash said, staring at the new arrival with interest.

“I’m here to see Kira,” the man said, his voice low and deep, like the rumble of an earthquake.

“Come inside,” I said, with a nod to Tash.

As this new visitor stepped inside, Tash shook her head as if bewildered. She left us alone and shut the door, and suddenly the room seemed a lot smaller with the large mountain of a man inside.

“My name is Slade,” he said, his intense eyes fixed on mine. “I’ve been looking for you, Kira.”

“How do you know my name?” I asked him.

“The Earth God told me.”

“Let me guess. He came to you a month ago, gave you powers, and sent you to find me?” When he nodded, I rubbed the bridge of my nose, so overwhelmed by it all I could hardly think straight. “That was my twentieth birthday. I was struck by lightning that night. After that I began to see all of you in my dreams.”

“You knew we were coming, then?” Auric asked, his eyebrows darting up.

“No. I only caught quick flashes or vague glimpses. I didn’t think any of you were real. Just figments of my imagination. I never expected you to actually turn up here. Or to tell me you’re the next Dragons, whatever that means.”

“We were drawn to you,” Slade said. “We couldn’t stay away. Even if we wanted to.”

Those last words held a touch of sadness or perhaps bitterness, and I knew there had to be a story behind them. All three men had given up their entire lives because the Gods had given them a duty and told them I was the Black Dragon. If it was true, they’d each been chosen to serve me, protect me, and love me—against their will.

I stared down at my food, but I wasn’t hungry. My thoughts made my stomach churn, but I couldn’t deny it any longer. All three of the men had been given powers by the Gods on the same night I’d been struck by lightning, and I’d seen them in my dreams ever since. The men could control the elements, and I was strangely attracted to all of them.

Maybe I really was the next Black Dragon.

8

Slade

I

pulled out a chair and sat across from my future mate, taking her in. She was certainly beautiful, with an inner strength in her hazel eyes that made my gaze want to linger on her. That would make this situation easier, at least. I had no intention of ever giving her my heart, but if I was forced to be with her for the rest of my life, it helped I found her pleasing to look at. But was she ready for what we had to do next? Were any of us, for that matter?

“So you’re the future Jade Dragon?” the soldier asked me. “Show us what you can do.”

I leaned back and crossed my arms. “These powers were given to us by the Gods so we can protect people. Not to use idly.”

He scoffed. “What’s the point of having them if you can’t have a little fun now and then?”

“Sorry, but I have to agree with Slade on this one,” the nobleman said. “Our powers should be used wisely, although we need to practice with them too, of course. We can enjoy that part, at least. I’m Auric, by the way.”

“Jasin,” the soldier said.

So these were two of the men I’d be sharing my mate with. I shook my head at their youthful eagerness. They sat closely on either side of Kira, as if already staking their claim on her. The soldier in particular seemed impatient and overly excited, especially the way he was constantly moving, like he was full of energy he couldn’t contain. The nobleman was calmer but had his head in the clouds, as evidenced when he pulled out a journal and began jotting down notes. Kira simply watched us all as though she couldn’t believe her eyes. I didn’t blame her.

I had probably ten years or more on all of the people at this table. It made sense that they were chosen—they were in the prime of their lives and ready to go on adventures, full of idealism and big dreams of saving the world. They likely had nothing tying them down either. Not me though. I’d already tried to help save the world and gave up on that task. Back home I had a good, stable life, one I wasn’t ready to leave behind. Why had the Earth God chosen me instead of someone else? How could he expect me to just abandon everything I’d spent my entire life building up?

After he visited me, I’d struggled with my new destiny. I’d always been devoted to the Gods, and one couldn’t simply turn down new powers and a divine mission. But I’d waited as long as I could to leave my home and travel here, even though it was only a day’s ride away. If not for the nagging feeling in my gut, I might not have left at all.