Koishi

GateKeepers - 1

by

Annie Nicholas

To my fellow dragon lovers.

Chapter 1

Never make a deal with a dragon.

Koishi yawned so wide his jaw cracked. If he didn’t kill something soon, he’d–he’d have to find a hobby. A shudder ran down his human form’s spine. At least the winds were growing stronger so there would be good flying tonight.

Takai Crossing, the gate to Outremer in the east, had been quiet the last two months. Too quiet. Nothing had tried to escape into Inverness, otherwise known as Earth.

Outremer was the realm of magic. All manners of creatures lived there, including his kind. It was a dark and dangerous world. The gates, where both worlds touched, allowed people to cross. Keepers, such as he was, protected the worlds from spilling too much into each other.

The two worlds around his gate were safe for the moment.

The rough seas splashed warm water onto his bare feet and washed away the dirt from the dock. Dark storm clouds brewed over the horizon, racing toward Izu Oshima Island. Bands of orange and red slashed across them as the sun set.

He couldn’t wait until it arrived. Flying against the elements, muscle and sinew versus lightning and rain, would provide some relief from this calm.

Sheep bleated as the cargo ship knocked against the dock wall.

“Moe,” he called out over the noise.

The animals scurried to the far end of their pen and silence fell over the small herd. Sometimes animals were smarter than humans. They could sense a predator in disguise.

“Koishi.” Captain Moe waved from across the ship’s deck. He helped a female to stand, hanging her head and arms over the side rail. “Vomit in the sea, not on my ship,” he told her before shuffling toward the stern.

Clinging to the pens, Koishi kept his balance and surveyed the stock. A few cattle, less than he’d like. Twentyish head of sheep, difficult to count when they squeezed together like that. From the barking–he grinned–a few dogs.

Moe gave him a quick bow, then gestured to the livestock. “This week’s order. Was Master Ishi pleased with last week’s?” His voice shook. Who could blame him? Koishi’s dragon form was fierce, which forced him to hide among them in his man-form, as his own servant. A genius idea.

“Yes, he especially enjoyed the little dogs you brought.” The small bundles had been tender and their hair very short so they didn’t tickle when swallowed. They went well with a movie.

“The Chihuahuas?”

“Yes, those. You should buy a few breeding pair and start producing them. He’ll buy whatever you bring.”

Moe grimaced, but nodded.

Why did humans frown upon him eating dogs? They were delicious. He’d even sent his crazed mother a basket of them as a present. He would have loved to see the expression on her stern face when those arrived. She never played with her food. Her warrior nature wouldn’t allow such nonsense.

The boat jerked from under his feet as a fierce wave knocked the ship once more. “Better unload my–uh–Master Ishi’s–cargo before the storm hits. He finished the last of his prey yesterday and is hungry.” His stomach grumbled and he rubbed it. Not long now.

A groan traveled from the half-conscious female hanging on the side-rails for dear life.

“Your woman looks ill.”

Moe snorted. “Not mine. The ferry won’t run in this weather and she refused to wait. She bought passage with me.” He chuckled. “She fed the fish the whole way across. Where such a tiny thing keeps all that stored is beyond me.”

The smell from that side of the ship soured the air. He shook his head. Tourists. Always in a rush, clogging the beaches and disturbing his home. No matter the rumors of his existence, a few had to be chased down the volcano’s side as a reminder that the area wasn’t safe to play around. He doubted any of them truly wanted to cross through the gate–it would be suicide–but he couldn’t allow concrete evidence of him to surface. Baker Morris, a human company that dealt with the gatekeepers, would have a fit.

The magic realm tolerated some humans, but not the section where his gate exited. Shadowburn was a place where nightmares were born, and Takai gate resided close to a goblin nest. Whatever mortal stepped through wouldn’t survive for long. No, his duty was to keep the vermin from crossing into Inverness, or like the humans called it, Earth.

His memory surpassed those of the short-lived locals, though they did tell their young the goblin stories. He had heard them repeated often in taverns and around campfires. In each one he was the hero. He’d driven back the goblin hordes when the last gatekeeper had been overwhelmed, and he would continue to do so until he fell.

What dragon wouldn’t want such a destiny?

He had easy food, battles at his doorstep, and an island full of people who worshipped the myth of him. The gate had chosen well when it bonded to him.

Moe followed him off the ship. “She barely speaks Japanese.”

“Who?”

“The puker.”

He shrugged and continued along the dock. A truck backed close to the ship. “Load the livestock in there. I’ve hired new handlers, so show them what to do.” He dropped a gold coin into Moe’s waiting hand.

Unfortunately, changes happened quicker in the mortal world. Not many dealt with gold or silver anymore. Humans wanted paper or plastic now, but where was the warm and shiny in that?

Moe liked gold. Koishi could appreciate that in a male, and he trusted greed. They worked well together. Too bad Moe would be dead in a few decades. Finding ships, not only to transport, but to make his purchases on the main island, grew more difficult with each generation. If he had to start hunting the old fashioned way, they’d find a replacement fast, he guessed.

“Don’t let them release the dogs. They escape the pastures too easily, then the fucking locals adopt them. Master Ishi hates to make little girls cry.” He gave Moe a meaningful glare. Some of those Chihuahuas had escaped the pen last week. Little slippery snacks. His old handlers didn’t want them eaten.

Nobody would ever see him setting farmers’ poultry loose because he didn’t agree with the human penchant for winged meat, though technically, chickens couldn’t fly. He wouldn’t eat them. It wasn’t ethical.

Moe bowed. “Please extend my apologies to your master, Koishi. I’ll make sure these handlers are more respectful and unauthorized releases never happen again.”

* * *

Sandra stared at the mocking gray waves. They rolled the ship back and forth, back and forth, back and…she heaved one more time, pain radiating across her stomach, but nothing came out. Vomit had stopped flowing out of her before they’d docked. There was only so much a woman could puke, after all.

The lovely captain, who smelled of a wonderful combination of aged sheep and fish, had yelled at her the whole trip. Every time he approached and made her lean over the side of the ship, his stench would start a fresh wave of heaving. She needed to get off this forsaken boat before they had to bury her at sea.

Pushing against the railing, she took one stumbling step at a time across the rocking deck. If she waited for the world to stabilize, she’d grow old and gray before making one move. As she fell forward, something hard caught her under the arm and prevented a full force belly flop. A nibble on her fingertips shocked her straight out the nausea. She jerked her hand away and braced herself against a wooden pen.

Sheep.

She wiped the ewe spit on her shirt, next to the vomit stain. A sob knotted in her chest. She had to be here. She’d had no choice. Glaring at the animals, she wobbled away, using the pen’s fence as a crutch.

Captain Moe stood on the dock speaking with a tall Asian man. Hell, they were all Asian. She was the foreigner here. Japan had sounded so distant a few days ago, yet here she stood after spreading her DNA across the narrow strip of ocean separating the main island from this small one.

She hadn’t met too many Asians who were taller than her. Eyeing him, she appreciated the way his jeans clung to his muscular legs. His white t-shirt had a few dirt smudges on the front. He folded his thick arms over his chest and watched her slow progress with what she thought was a hint of amusement.

On weak legs, she stepped off the death trap and took a deep breath. It didn’t smell any better, but it at least didn’t smell worse. She had to find somewhere to stay before beginning her search. Someplace with a shower. Oh yes, a long, hot shower with lots and lots of soap to wash away the boat journey’s nightmarish memory.

The last few months had shredded her world. Her sister’s condition had taken a turn for the worse and the doctors had told Beth that her prognosis was poor. When Sandra had left, they were trying to convince her to send Beth to a hospice. She’d refused the idea.

Beth was all the family she had left. Nothing would stand in Sandra’s way of finding some hope, a procedure, or a…cure.

Not even a dragon.

She had run to her best friend and they’d cried on each other’s shoulders. That was when her friend had confessed a have-to-take-it-to-the-grave secret or her employer would kill them both. Her friend worked for Baker Morris, an agency that researched, chronicled, monitored and sometimes was forced to police creatures that came from another plane.

This other world was called Outremer and certain areas of both worlds touched to create gates. That was when she learned about gatekeepers. Especially about a certain dragon keeper who hoarded magical treasure.

Humans didn’t know about the magical realm. Hell, it had taken some convincing to get her to believe, and she was desperate. Determination could stiffen any spine and give courage to any coward. She’d need to muster all she could to face Gatekeeper Ishi. They didn’t have dragons in the mid-west. He’d be her first, and she didn’t know shit about them.

Flipping through her English-to-Japanese phrase book, she approached the captain and asked for the closest hotel.

Both men blinked and stared as if she grown a second head.

The stranger snorted, then threw his head back laughing. He slapped the captain on the back and dropped him to the ground. “Oh!” Bending over, he helped the captain back to his feet. “We don’t run those types of tea houses on the island anymore. It’s frowned upon.”

“Tea house? I asked for a hotel.” Slapping the book closed, she stuffed it in her pocket. “You speak good English.”

“So do you.” He continued to grin as the captain bowed to him and returned to the ship. “It’s an odd time of the year to visit Izu Oshima Island. Tourist season doesn’t start for another month.”

“Good, it should be easy to find a room. Can you point me in the right direction?” The seasickness fogging her head faded and her vision cleared. Her gaze met the man’s dark, intense stare. Heat flushed her cheeks in a wave of awareness. In her state of disarray, puke stains and all, she wanted to crawl back on the boat.

His gaze traveled lower, caressing her curves, before returning to her face. Only a predator could own such a hungry stare. “If you make a right off the dock, it will lead you to the main road.”

“Thank you.” She shifted the weight of the pack on her back and marched toward the street.

He twisted as she passed him, his gaze weighing heavily on her. “It’s about a three hour walk to the nearest hotel. If you run, you might beat the storm.”

She spun around. “What?” she wanted to smack that stupid grin off his face. The trip across the strait had been harrowing enough. She wasn’t in any shape to hike in a storm. “Do you have cabs?”

“Yes.” He approached her. “During tourist season.”

“Then how do people move around the island? There have to be buses.” She peered at the storm clouds, which appeared closer than before. She hadn’t considered the consequences of rushing here. Time was running out and she’d jumped on the first flight out to Japan.

“They walk or bike. There are a few buses, but I don’t know their schedules.” His gaze lowered to the opening of her blouse. “Maybe we could come to some kind of arrangement.”

Gasping, she clutched the edges of her blouse shut. “I don’t think so.” She must look better than she felt or smelled. How could anyone be interested in her in this state?

He rolled his eyes. “I meant your necklace.”

“Oh.” The heat of her mortified blush almost blistered the skin off her cheeks. Of course, he wasn’t making a crude pass at her. He was only trying to swindle her. Nice.

He gave her a crooked smile as if he knew exactly what she’d been thinking. “The gold reflects the light very nicely.” Reaching for her jewelry, he bypassed her swatting hands until he held the small heart-shaped pendant in his palm.

She yanked it away. “It’s not up for trade. My mother gave it to me.” She’d died in her sleep a year earlier after a long, happy life. Out of all the things from her estate, Sandra had only wanted this necklace. Her father, who’d passed years ago, had given it to her mother when they’d first met.

“It has a nice weight to it and is well crafted.” His gaze lingered on her necklace for a second longer before meeting her stare. “I have a truck. I could drive you into town where you would have a pick of fine hotels.”

“That’s very kind of you.”

“For the necklace.”

She growled like a rabid dog. Yes, it had been that kind of day. “I said no. Nain!”

“Nine?”

“What?” She threw up her arms and abandoned all hope of help.

“That’s what you said. Nine what? Rides? I usually don’t play taxi for tourists, but…” His gaze grew heavy with darker promises. “For you, I’d offer a ride on me.”

She blinked. Did he understand what he’d just said? “I think we lost something in translation.” In both their cases. “I’ll manage on my own.” Stalking to the road, she ignored his laughter and pulled out her phrase book. Lost and tired, all she wanted was a room. Maybe she could stay in someone’s home for the night. But how did she ask? These sentences were more tailored for people who had already arrived at their destination. Where is the bathroom? Where is the phone? She didn’t see a Can I spend the night? written anywhere. Then again, that could translate improperly and she’d end up in a worse situation.

Reaching the road, she turned right and kept searching for some kind of help. Another American tourist, an embassy, or even a flipping McDonald’s would be welcome.

A pick-up truck slowed next to her and the window rolled down. “Maybe you have something else to trade?”

The stranger had followed her and she gave him a what-the-hell look.

“I’d hate for you to walk all that way after such a harrowing boat ride.” He winked at her.

“That’s very kind of you.” She stopped walking, forcing him to slam on the brakes to maintain their conversation. Could she trust this stranger who exhibited a touch of stalker tendency? Flashes of serial killer music sang through her thoughts. She glanced around at the mostly empty road. What choice did she have? At least he spoke good English so when he murdered her she’d understand his evil monologue. “Maybe you could offer to drive me for free?”

He stared at her with mock surprise. “There’s such a thing?”

“Yes.” She dropped her pack to the ground, her shoulders already aching, and tried her best to not smile back at the jerk.

Leaning forward, he tilted his head to the side. “Why?”

She shook her head. “It must be a cultural thing.” Kneeling, she rummaged inside her bag and pulled out her wallet. She was on a tight budget. All her savings had gone to purchasing information. “How much?”

“Money?” He grimaced. “I don’t like paper. Don’t you carry anything valuable?”

“Most people would consider money valuable.” She mumbled under her breath as she shoved her wallet back into her pack. With a little more digging, she found her small carrying case and held out two silver earrings. “That’s all I’ve got. Take it or bug off.” She laid them on his outstretched hand.

He sniffed at the metal. “There’s not much silver in this.”

“How can you tell?” Her shout echoed over the water.

“I just can. Get in. I’ll give generosity a try.”

She climbed inside the old cab with peeling leather seats before he could change his mind. “It’s only charitable if you don’t keep the earrings.”

He dropped them in his breast pocket. “Believe me, this is charity.”

Chapter 2

Sandra settled inside the truck and glared at the driver as he pulled away from the curb. His audacity had stunned her into silence. He had taken her jewelry, insulted it, and then called himself a saint. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she kept her mouth shut, since she really needed the ride.

Before this week, she’d never left the large town of Crab Apple for any extended amount of time. She had worked at the local diner as a waitress and shared a crappy apartment with her sister. They’d been surviving until Beth fell ill six months ago with a tumor in her head.

Staring out the window, at the waves crashing against the shore, she sighed. Those events seemed like a hundred years ago, but in a matter of months, Beth had gone from a vibrant ray of sunlight to a faded shadow. The doctors said it was inoperable and the treatments weren’t shrinking it.

She’d lost all hope of her sister surviving until now.

“My name is Koishi.”

She twisted in her seat to face him. “Sandra.” If it weren’t for his crummy attitude, she’d consider him handsome. High cheekbones gave his face a sharp appearance. Fortunately, his full lips, which were too quick to laugh at her, softened the harsh lines. He kept his jet-black hair cut short in the back, but the wind swept his bangs across his forehead. Tall and broad shouldered, he could catch attention. He was definitely getting hers.

“What brings you to our fair island out of season, Sandra?” The way he spoke her name, as if he tasted it, sent a shiver over her spine.

Her pulse raced a little. “I’ve always wanted to explore the area and this is the only time I could get off from work.” She’d been practicing the lie and it flowed easily from her mouth.

“Are there no places closer to home to explore?” He raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.

“Sure, but they’re not Japan.” She wanted to change the subject before he questioned her more. “Where did you learn English?”

He swerved the truck and she clung to the dash for her life. They’d just missed hitting what looked like a Chihuahua running across the road. “Damn.” He snapped his fingers. “I missed it.”

Wide-eyed, she gaped at him. “You wanted to hit it?”

“Long story. I learned English during the war. Some American soldiers took refuge here. They taught me.”

“Which war? Desert Storm?”

“What?” His eyes widened. “I meant, they taught my grandfather. It was during World War II.”

“And your grandfather taught you to speak perfect English?”

“Yes,” he said with his ever-present smile. Turning off the road, he aimed the truck for a nice sized town. “This is the main tourist area. Beach, water sports, and lots of food. Plenty of hotels to choose from. I’ll take you to my favorite.”

“Sounds fine, but I don’t need anything fancy. Something clean with hot water will do.” Her smell was killing her even with the window open.

“This one has both, with a fine view of Mount Mihara.”

“Is that where the dragon lives?”

His easy grin slipped. “What dragon?”

“I’ve heard that a dragon guards this volcano.” From what she’d discovered of their race, all of them remained in Outremer except this keeper. “I was told, by a reliable source, most of the residents on this island know about him. I could imagine it’s kind of hard for a dragon to hide.”

“True.” He kept tossing furtive glances her way. “And you came all this way to see a dragon?”

“Yes.”

“He’s quite magnificent.”

She raised her eyebrow. “You’ve seen him?” What were the chances? She wasn’t born yesterday. Koishi could spin whatever tales he wanted, but she wasn’t buying. Even if she wanted to, she didn’t own any more jewelry to spend. She set her hand over the locket hanging from her neck. And he was never going to get her necklace.

“Sure I have. You can see him flying over the island sometimes when he feeds.”

“And he lives in the volcano?”

“Of course, he’s a stone dragon.”

She scratched her chin, not seeing the connection. “Wouldn’t a fire dragon be better suited for a volcano?”

He shrugged. “They’d like the heat, but stone dragons are drawn to lava.” His voice took on a tone of awe. “The birth of all land comes from magma. It holds quite a bit of magic.”

“Not on Earth. This plane contains no magic. It’s all in Outremer.”

“You know something about the other realm?”

“A little. I was wondering if you knew about it as well. Does everyone who lives here know?” She watched the locals hurrying along the street. One man was nailing shutters over the windows of his home. It would be a bad storm.

“You’re smarter than you look.”

“What?” She snapped her head around in his direction.

“Most know about the dragon, but very few know of the gate or Outremer.”

“Why do they think he stays here?” She couldn’t decide if she’d been complimented or insulted.

“There’s still magic here. It’s deep in the ground where humans can’t reach it, and useless to most.”

“Except to a stone dragon.”

“Master Ishi can use it to replenish his own magic.”

“Why doesn’t he return home? What’s he afraid of?”

The truck jerked suddenly and she shot forward. Luckily the dash softened her impact.

“What the fuck?” She rubbed her head.

He’d slammed on the brakes.

She gazed out the window expecting to see a body on the road or, at least, a flock of chicks crossing, but she saw nothing.

“Ishi isn’t afraid of anything.”

She faced Koishi. The storm clouds reflected in his eyes and she could almost taste the lightning in the air around them. She swallowed with a throat gone dry. “My mistake.”

“That’s the hotel.” He pointed to a building across the street. The humor that had been in his face had vanished.

She gathered her backpack and clambered out. “Thanks for the lift.” She’d paid for it, however. Halfway across the street, she heard him call her name. She turned.

“Watch the skies tonight. He’ll be out flying.” Then Koishi geared his truck into drive and pulled away.

* * *

Koishi drove his truck toward the beach and parked. The clouds loomed so close he could taste the electricity in the air.

Sandra. It was a very American name. He had enjoyed watching the play of emotions on her lovely face. She was easy to provoke.

Reaching inside his breast pocket, he removed the worthless earrings. Why had he bothered with a trade? The hint of silver in the jewelry wasn’t worth his time. Well…her laugh had been. It had been awhile since he’d found someone amusing.

Most of the locals didn’t understand his humor.

So, she’d come to the island for him. Flattering. He scratched his chin and let the silver jewelry warm his palm. She’d make a nice toy. How far could he push her? How desperate was she to meet a dragon?

A familiar sensation tugged on his body. It gave him enough warning to hold his breath before the gate teleported him back to the archway. The travel used to knock the wind out of him, but he’d been doing this for centuries. He arrived crouched and ready to tear something apart. It was about fucking time someone tried to escape Outremer.

The gate stood before him and was housed between two large natural stone pillars inside the volcano. The veil of magic undulated like the surface of a pond. Old lava tubes led to the site from his lair, but whenever something disturbed the veil’s surface, the gate transported him directly to defend the world.

With his natural affinity to the element of stone, he used magic to call the lava that trickled through the room. It formed into a whip-like entity and snaked around him, waiting to be unleashed.

Nothing moved. He closed his eyes and listened. The distinct smell of goblin drifted in the air. “Come out, come out, where ever you are,” he sang. A current of magic traveled over his skin, sparking over the small hairs on his arms. He shifted to his dragon form in a blink of an eye. Nothing like in the movies where the actor transformed in a mess of blood and pain, though that would be cool. His magic transformed him, clothes and all, from one shape to another without any drama.

Something scurried to his left, with the sound of toenails scraping against the stone floor. He spun around, using his natural coloring to camouflage the lava orbiting his body, and met the attack with open jaw. His roar fizzled before escaping his throat as he came face to face with a single goblin.

The creature swung his sword back and forth, eyes closed, missing Koishi on every swing. How was it possible for someone to have such bad aim? He was a great, big beast.

Pressing the tip of his claw on the goblin’s helmeted head, he shoved down. Resting on his elbows, he searched the large empty room. All the shadows and nooks appeared empty to any heat signatures.

The goblin fell on his stomach, oversized helmet pushed past his ears. His sword clattered to the ground.

The gate always called him as soon as anything living crossed it. Even the lightest brush triggered its magic. “Where are the others?” Koishi leaned toward the tunnels leading into the room and listened. He heard nothing. Sending tendrils of lava through the air, he checked every crack and hole for life.

The goblin sobbed. “No one but me, Master.”

He sighed. “I guess you’ll have to do.” Clenching his fist, he raised it over the goblin.

“Wait!” The goblin raised his hands in the air over his head. “I didn’t wanna cross. They make me do it.” The sobbing restarted and slime oozed from its snout-like nose.

Grimacing, Koishi edged away in case it sneezed. “Who forced you?”

“The dwarves.” The foul smelling creature sniffed what sounded like a bucket full of snot.

Koishi threw up a little in his mouth. “Dwarves don’t live by this gate.” He’d never allow it. They could sniff precious metal from miles away. It wouldn’t take them long to follow the trail here, to his hoard.

“They do now.” Cracking open his eyes a slit, the goblin peered at him.

With his claws, Koishi gestured for him to sit. He didn’t have a problem with listening to a goblin beg. Sometimes it was cute.

“They hunted down me clan and chased us from our home. I was cut off. I have no choice but cross.” That could explain why the gate had been so quiet lately. They’d been fighting a war on the other side and forgot to include him. Most of the creatures living in the area would have vacated. Dwarves were a crafty, territorial bunch.

Koishi clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. Not an easy feat for a dragon. “There are always choices. Uh, I didn’t catch your name.”

“Urgle.”

“That’s a terrible name. Your mother must have hated you, Ur–Urgle.” It sounded similar to the noise the goblin had made when choking on his own mucus.

The goblin shook his head. “She hates us all.”

“I can relate.” Koishi shuddered. His mother wasn’t Betty Crocker either. Not unless Betty used a sword to skewer her brochettes and a shield to bake her cookies. “You could have stood your ground and fought, Urgle.”

“They would kill me.”

“And I won’t?”

Urgle prostrated himself at his feet. “Mercy, great dragon. I no warrior. I a humble black smith. I no fight worth shit.”

“So you thought to hide within my den. Then what?” He tapped his claw. What an odd day. First, he entangled himself with the human female, and now this. It must be a full moon.

“W–Wait until they leave and sneak back across.”

“Why not escape into Inverness?” He pointed to a tunnel that led to the caldera of the volcano, not the exit to his island paradise. No use in showing the goblin the true way out.

Urgle flattened himself even more to the floor. “No! It’s death.”

“It’s death to cross the gate.” He scooped up Urgle’s sword with the tip of his claw. “Here, I’ll give you a fighting chance.” Maybe the goblin could help him warm up his muscles before the storm arrived. He didn’t want to strain a wing.

The goblin stared at the weapon, then took it within his limp hands.

Koishi swung his tail, aiming the blade-like tip at the goblin, who didn’t move to defend himself.

He stood stiff with his eyes closed again.

Relaxing his stance, Koishi snarled. “You can’t fight if you can’t see, dolt.”

“Just kill me fast.” Urgle tossed the sword at his feet and managed to wedge the blade between the scales of Koishi’s toes.

“Fuck.” He shook it free. “That has a good edge.” The sword clattered to the floor.

“It’s me best work.” If Urgle’s shoulders slumped any further to the floor, he’d resemble a blob and not a goblin.

Koishi sighed. “Go back across.” He pointed to the gate. This would destroy his reputation. Next thing he’d know, there would be hordes trying to cross the gate and take over Inverness like in the old days. Slamming his tail to the ground, he did his best to hide his smile at Urgle’s jump. Hordes sounded great. A good solid battle was what he needed. “Hurry, before I change my mind. And make sure to tell all your gobliny friends how charitable I’m feeling today.” He gave him a little shove toward the gate.

“I don’t wanna go.” Urgle clung to Koishi’s claw. “The dwarves are waiting.”

“Then take this.” He handed him the sword and gave him another encouraging push.

With a stumble, Urgle fell through the gate. The magic shivered over Koishi’s spine, calling to him. If he’d been anywhere but within this room, it would have transported his body. A second later, he didn’t even have a chance to turn away; the magic touch returned with the high-pitched squeal of a goblin.

Urgle ran back through the gate, followed by a couple dwarves.

Yes!

With a quick slash of his lava whips, Koishi attacked.

The dwarves’ heads rolled. Their metal-armored bodies rattled on the stone floor.

He sniffed at their metal. This was poor work for dwarves. Not an ounce of magic in their armor. These weren’t of their warrior class, probably some crafters looking to torture a goblin for fun. “Toss the heads back through the gate.” It wouldn’t be so easy next time. Someone would find the heads eventually and the dwarven colony would know he really existed on this side of the gate. Dwarves weren’t like Urgle and his ilk. Their intelligence and craft were legendary. Too bad they loved gold as much as dragons did.

The goblin didn’t hesitate to follow his command.

“How many were waiting for you?” he stretched his wings.

“Twenty, at least, Master.”

“And only two followed. How brave. Urgle, I can’t leave you to wander inside my lair or this realm.” He scratched the tender scales behind his ears. “Follow me.” When the urge suited him, he sometimes kept a prisoner for interrogation. They entered his storage room.

The goblin’s eyes went wide at the sight of the chains and hooks bolted to the wall as he fell to his knees. “I will go fight the dwarves.”

“Oh, grow some balls.” Koishi set the iron collar around Urgle’s neck and adjusted the size. Not even the cave troll he’d kept had been capable of breaking free of the thick chains. “I’m not going to torture you. I think…” He patted Urgle’s head. “I think I’d like to have a pet.”

As he left the room, he heard the chain chime as it hit the ground. He glanced over his shoulder at the prone and unconscious goblin. How did Urgle survive within his goblin clan? They normally ate their weak.

That would be a question for another night. At present, he had dwarves to eat. Good thing he was famished–they were a chewy race.

Chapter 3

The wind from the storm rattled the windows in Sandra’s hotel room. Lightning flashed, illuminating the stark modern furniture surrounding her. She’d pulled the curtains closed and set the volume on the television loud enough to drown out the thunder.

After a hot shower, she almost felt ready to eat something. Almost. Her stomach quivered at the memory of the ship ride. Best to wait for breakfast–she’d heaved enough for one lifetime. Water would have to do.

The storm had rolled in not long after Koishi had dropped her off. It pounded the building with a vengeance. Thank the universe she wasn’t on the ocean during this. It would have turned her guts inside out.

A game show played on the television. She couldn’t understand a word. Even with all the bells and whistles howling, the thunder still crashed over the noise. Childhood fears were the hardest to get over. Koishi had mentioned the dragon, Ishi, would be flying tonight. She flinched at the flare of light. Would he go out in the storm?

Odd how close their names sounded, but when she’d checked her Japanese-English book, they meant very different things. If Ishi was anything like his name described, she’d be in worse trouble than she’d thought. Things like ruins, volition, stone, and death were listed under the definition. Koishi simply meant pebble. Well, if she ever met him again she’d ask him about it.

With a flicker, the power went out. The drum of rain filled the quiet, then a flash of lightning, followed close behind by the clash of thunder. Sandra clutched her knees to her chest. Didn’t the hotel have a generator?

She rocked on her bed and peered at the curtains. This day was going down in history as the worst in her life. All she needed were a couple of huge, hairy spiders crawling onto her bed to perfect it.

A distant roar followed the thunder. She jerked from her curled position and listened more intently. That couldn’t be Ishi, could it? She relaxed her iron hold on her legs and contemplated the dark floor. There weren’t any spiders. She’d only placed them there with her imagination, but it didn’t make stepping off the bed any easier.

With a surge of childish fears, she bounded across the room on tiptoes and tore open the curtains covering the sliding glass doors leading to her balcony. Lightning lit her room again. She stood transfixed, paralyzed by the vision of red, gleaming scales slipping into the dark clouds.

She pressed against the glass, searching the sky. No flipping way, had she really seen that? The inky night had swallowed him. When her source at Baker Morris told her about the Takai Crossing gatekeeper, she’d allowed herself to believe because she had needed to, but deep inside doubt had resided that a dragon existed on Earth.

Lightning zigzagged across the sky, illuminating the clouds long enough for her to catch another glimpse of the red dragon battling the winds. His massive wingspan strained against the currents of the sky as he roared with the peal of thunder. Rain glistened over the hard surface of his scales. As the flash faded, he vanished.

Reeling backward, Sandra tripped over the edge of the bed and landed next to her pack on the floor. How the hell was she supposed to face that creature and not pee her pants? He could swallow her whole without chewing.

She sat up, leaned her back against the bed and stared out the sliding glass doors as if expecting him to land for a midnight snack.

Her sister was sick. Dying. Fear was a luxury Sandra couldn’t afford. Too much depended on her facing a creature that legend said hoarded treasure of all sorts. She needed to keep this thought in the forefront of her mind to battle the dread building in her soul. Love had given her the nerves to travel halfway around the world to a country where she didn’t speak the language. If she clutched her devotion like a shield, it would help her face the dragon.

After Beth’s diagnosis, Sandra had phoned her best friend to cry on her shoulder. She’d never even heard of Baker Morris Inc., which her friend claimed to work for, but Sandra was willing to grasp at any straws if it would save Beth. Until tonight, Ishi and the gates to Outremer had all been a strange fantasy, an odd quest to hide from reality.

Lightheaded, she slowed her breathing and glared at the night sky, searching for another glimpse of red scales. This might work. She could really save Beth.

What price would the dragon ask for in exchange for the saji? She didn’t have much money. She’d used her life savings buying any information on Ishi that she could find. The most expensive thing was a list of items within the dragon’s hoard. This treasure hunter claimed he’d entered the room and barely escaped with his life, but listed the things he’d seen before they faded from his memory.

From what Sandra could find out, a saji was one of the few magical items that could work on Earth. Unfortunately, the list didn’t contain any pictures, so she didn’t know what a saji looked like.

Tomorrow, she would have to question the locals about the dragon. Someone on the island must know the location of his lair. How could a creature that big hide on an island this small without someone knowing his location? Maybe some knowledge of his history would help figure out what he’d like in trade. Her heart soared with fresh determination and she grinned at the storm that only a few moments ago had frightened her. Gathering her courage wasn’t a choice but a necessity.

Her grin faded. Damn, how was she going to question anyone? She couldn’t even ask for the location of a hotel without screwing it up. Chewing on her bottom lip, she searched the dark clouds for an answer. Lightning flashed once more and she spotted a red tail slipping into the storm.

That was it. She opened her pack and yanked out a note pad. By the dim light of the storm, she sketched a rough drawing of the dragon. How could anyone misunderstand what she wanted with a picture?

* * *

Koishi rolled his right shoulder to ease the knot. He had pulled a muscle while flying in the storm last night. After a dinner of dwarves, the flight had helped him digest.

The bleating of sheep grew louder as he approached the pen on his small farm on the side of the volcano. He opened the gate and watched as they gathered in the far corner. The handlers had done a good job settling the animals and taking care of his stock. He was the one who choose what animals to set free on his mountain. Technically, he could just swoop by and snatch a snack at will from the pen, but where was the sport in that? He always gave his prey a fighting chance.

Mud sucked at his boots as he made his way toward them, searching the flock for the fattest ewes. Using his dragon reflexes, he darted in and tucked one under his arm. It squirmed and bleated as he carried it back to his truck. It was more cumbersome than heavy. Closing the pen gate behind him using his foot, he recognized a familiar pretty brunette hiking up the hill toward his truck.

She’d made good time. He hadn’t expected to see her at least until tomorrow. “Good morning, Sandra. Did you sleep well?” He opened the large crate door in the bed of the truck and settled the ewe inside. Patting its head, he watched as Sandra came around the back to confront him.

“You!” She set her hands on her hips. “You knew I was here to see the dragon. Did it ever occur to you to mention that you work for him?”

He shrugged. “I’m not his secretary. I don’t schedule his meetings.” Everyone knew Koishi as the dragon’s human servant. If contact or messages needed to be relayed, they sought him out. Imagine if they ever found out they were speaking with the dragon directly… He chuckled.

“This isn’t funny. I’m on important business.”

Raising an eyebrow, he assessed this lovely, furious female. He still wasn’t a hundred percent sure what he planned to do with Sandra; he already had a pet. But she was much more attractive than a goblin. He leaned forward and inhaled. She smelled better, too.

A dark flush covered her cheeks. “But you could instruct me on how to make an appointment, right?”

“Maybe I can.” His gaze wandered to the shiny gold necklace warmed by her skin. A vision of her bare on his bed, except for that piece of jewelry, occupied his thoughts.

“I’m not trading it.” She set her hand over the well-crafted piece.

He grimaced. “You made that perfectly clear yesterday.” How best to enjoy his new toy? Allowing his gaze to wander over her curves, he had a few salacious ideas. “Have you eaten yet?”

“I bought some kind of rice ball thing on my walk here.”

Nodding, he closed the crate door, trapping the ewe. “How did you find me so quickly?” She spoke terrible Japanese. It was a miracle they hadn’t sent her to the other side of the island on a wild goose chase. Or it could be fate.

She unfolded a piece of paper with a drawing of him in flight.

With a dawning appreciation for her cleverness, he leaned forward to take the picture. “You watched me–him in flight last night?” Laughing, he handed it back to her. “Very ingenious to use a drawing.” So she was smart as well as pretty. If she had a crafty streak, he might just keep her.

“I could use some coffee.” She leaned against the side of his old beige truck and only then did he notice the dark circles under her eyes. They hadn’t faded since she’d gotten off the boat.

“You look like you can use some.”

“Thanks.” She gave him a weary smile, the first one not carrying an edge of anger to it.

He pointed to the small house by the pens. “I’ll make you some. Come inside.”

Hesitating, she glanced at the surrounding empty land and didn’t follow.

“If I were a serial killer and wanted to add you to my collection of frozen body parts, I would have done it last night when you were trapped in my truck. Don’t you think?” He entered the house, leaving the door open for her, and opened the cupboards in the kitchen. Most were empty–he didn’t actually stay here, but it was a good pretense for his game warden persona to have a home. He glanced over his shoulder as she stuck her head through the doorway. “You can leave the door open, if it makes you feel better.” Not like she’d make it out if he really wanted to have human for breakfast.

He hadn’t eaten human flesh since becoming a gatekeeper. It would be a conflict of interest, given that his job was to protect them from supernatural creatures like him. “What do you want to know?” The coffee maker appeared dusty. He plugged it in and all the lights came on. Must be fine.

“Have you ever been in his lair?”

“Sure.” Coffee grounds. Where did he leave those? It had been ages since he’d made any for himself. The coffee shop a few miles away always seemed more convenient. He opened the tin canisters on the counter and located the grounds, but a stale smell came from inside. Mold. He scraped it off and discarded those in the sink.

“Does he collect treasure like the legends say dragons do?” She came far enough into the kitchen to lean on the counter.

He couldn’t locate any filters, so he found a roll of paper towels. Lining the coffee maker’s basket with a layer, he poured the clumps of grounds inside. He filled it with water and turned it on with a grin. “There!” Twisting, he found her staring at him. “What did you say?”

“Treasure, does the dragon keep treasure?” She crossed her arms over her chest with a glare.

Tilting his head, he hesitated before responding. “Why do you want to know about his treasure? He guards it day and night.” She wouldn’t be the first to try robbing him, but it would be such a shame. He didn’t want to destroy her. She gave him pleasure.

“Shouldn’t he be guarding the gate?”

“Well…” He blinked. Maybe intelligence wasn’t such a good quality in a toy. Then again, he grinned. “He keeps a goblin as a pet that guards it for him when he’s not around.” Let her think about that. “It’s stupid and dangerous to try stealing from a dragon.”

“Who says I want to steal anything? I want to make a deal.”

His eyebrows shot up before he could school his expression. “Like what?” He managed to keep the eagerness out of his voice. Barely. The scent of stale coffee filled the kitchen and he pulled two mugs out of his cupboard. When was the last time anyone had the courage to barter with him? He restrained a grin. How much would she be willing to do for what she wanted?

“That’s not any of your business. How can I meet the dragon? You know, without him eating me.” She chewed on her bottom lip and her gaze dropped to the floor.

“Tell me what you want from the dragon and I’ll see what I can do.” He busied his hands by pouring the coffee into mugs. What could she want from his hoardings? Maybe she had something really good to trade, like old gold, the kind that wasn’t processed by modern chemistry and didn’t have the stink of machines. Pirate gold was the best, especially if it had been sitting in the ocean, because it had a nice salty scent to it.

He turned to offer her the coffee, but stopped mid-twist.

A tear was sliding down her cheek. “It’s between me and the dragon, Koishi. It’s personal.” She wiped her face and gave him a watery smile. “I’m not an idiot. If I could avoid meeting him, I would. I don’t care to meet something that could swallow me whole.” Her voice shook.

“Then why do it?” His greed faded, replaced with something he hadn’t experienced in decades. Curiosity. He took a sip of coffee. The putrid flavor coated his tongue and stung his delicate sense of taste. He spat it out in the sink. “Foul.” He wiped his chin. “Maybe we should walk down to the coffee shop.” He poured the poisonous stuff down the sink.

She gave a soft laugh and shook her head. “I’ll skip the coffee for now. I need to find someone who’ll help me.” She stepped toward the door as he gripped her elbow gently.

The touch sent an electric pulse through him. “I’ll help.” He didn’t often act without thinking, but knew he didn’t want her to leave. He scratched his chin. How would a mortal expect to meet a dragon? There was only one path leading to his lair, and he didn’t want others to know about it. He couldn’t stroll down to the city in his dragon form without causing riots.

In Outremer, when a human wanted to speak with a dragon, they made a sacrifice. He gazed out the window. “Uh, you’ll have to hike up halfway to the top of the volcano.” What next? Make her chant some silly spell or–or bring a present?

“I have to go on foot?”

He shook his head. “There’s a road you can drive part way.” He flipped the picture of the dragon she had drawn, and he sketched a map. “At the end, there is a trail. Follow it until you reach a large, flat stone. Sit there and–and sing until he finds you.”

“Sing?”

“Well, how else will he know you’re there? Doesn’t have to be a fancy song.”

“I’m a terrible singer. Couldn’t I just ring a bell or something?”

“You’re summoning a dragon, not a bellhop.” He shoved the paper into her hand and guided her from the house. Maybe a gong, but never a bell. “Wear something pretty.” He smirked at his brilliant idea. May as well enjoy himself fully.

“Hike up a mountain in something pretty?”

“I didn’t say it would be easy. I tried to warn you away. If you go through with it, that’s up to you.”

She sighed. “Anything else?”

“Bring him a present.”

She stomped her foot, but didn’t say anything else and left.

Koishi watched Sandra storm back to town from his doorway. He took pleasure in the way her ass swayed in her tight jeans. Where was he going to find a large, flat rock? He’d better set some of his sheep free on the pastures quickly, then start searching.

Chapter 4

A present for a dragon, indeed. Sandra picked her way along the stone and dirt path leading up the volcano. Look pretty? She tried to kick a rock in her sling-back heels and missed.

But she’d done it. Anything to get her hands on the saji. Whatever it was. She had the name of the item; however, no one knew what it looked like. For all she knew it was a syringe full of magic fairy dust.

She had listened to Koishi, against her best judgment, and wore a blue dress she’d purchased in town. Heck, she’d even had her hair done. If this turned into a joke, she’d find his tight Asian ass and–and give it a good hard pinch.

He had the oddest sense of humor. Even when he was telling her about this meeting stone, he’d seemed on the edge of laughing. She’d probably end up on YouTube sitting on the stone, singing her little heart out. Sighing, she rubbed her arms. She came from the flat part of the Midwest. It hadn’t occurred to her it would get cooler at higher altitude.

The wind tore at the sketchpad tucked under her arm. She’d spent the afternoon shopping for a present, but either couldn’t afford what she’d found or thought the trinkets were too cheap. This was her sister’s life she was bargaining for, so what she brought had to be worth something special. Dragons hoarded treasure, according to her friend. What would another piece of gold be to someone who probably owned mounds of it?

She’d decided to risk it all and go with her heart on this decision.

Higher on the barren side of the volcano jutted out a large flat rock. That must be her stage. No trees grew here. A few scrubby bushes and weeds scattered around the hillside, then petered off in the higher altitude, but the view of the ocean was spectacular.

Different shades of blue as far as she could see. She’d never seen anything quite like it.

The stone stood about two feet off the ground and she climbed on, careful not to tear her dress. On wobbly heels, she gazed at the clear sky and the top of the volcano. Could she sing loud enough for him to hear her? The top was distant.

She didn’t have a full repertoire of songs to choose from. Most of the ones she remembered were from preschool. She doubted he’d want to hear a hearty rendition of Pop Goes the Weasel. She scanned the sky once more. Maybe she could flag him down if he flew by?

* * *

Yawning until his jaw cracked, in dragon form Koishi stretched inside the entrance to his lair. He could watch the rock he’d placed from here, and had been waiting all day. That rock was heavy so she’d better show. He rolled over and eyed the spot once more.

Sandra stood upon it in a dress matching the blue of the ocean behind her. Short sleeved, buttoned to her throat, with the hem below her knees. She looked like she belonged in a church, not on the side of his home waiting to make a deal with a monster. He shook his head. His new toy was becoming more and more amusing.

Except she wasn’t following the rules he’d set. Where was the singing? He couldn’t very well show up without some kind of summoning. That broke all kinds of etiquette. He scratched his chin and watched as she scanned the sky once more as if he flew over the island in broad daylight every day. Like it or not, there were some laws to being a gatekeeper, and not riling the locals into a pitchfork-wielding mob was one of them. He’d take a hummed ditty at this point.

His gaze kept drifting to the thing she carried under her arm. It must be his gift. He hoped he liked it. Even if he didn’t, her company the last two days was enough for some small trade.

She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath–about time–and belted out an off-key rendition of The Star Spangled Banner.

He jerked and slammed his head against the roof of the cave. Very well. It was a song, an odd choice, but a song nonetheless. He rubbed his head absently before soaring onto the mountain side.

Her voice petered off.

“Don’t stop on my account.” He called out as he crept closer.

The color had drained from her face.

“Finish.” He waited. She was about to pass out or run screaming. Either way, he prepared to catch her.

Sandra swallowed visibly and shifted her weight on the heels she wore.

He appreciated the curve of her calves. She had nice long legs. The kind that could fold around a male’s hips and give him leverage.

Taking a deep breath, she continued singing with a shaky voice.

Good girl. He liked her spunk and misguided courage.

She wanted something badly from him. Of his riches there were quite a few valuable items, but Sandra appeared less and less of a treasure hunter. She wore little gold, except that splendid necklace, and didn’t dress like someone who enjoyed wealth. Nothing about her matched his expectations, which was charming.

He blinked. The song must have ended.

She stood staring at him, poised as if ready to jump off the rock. “I–I brought you a gift.” She opened a pad of paper, flipping through the pages, and then held it up for him to view.

Squinting, he peered at the picture. It was a charcoal sketch. Of him? The drawing depicted him flying in the storm. Grinning, he glanced at her. It wasn’t the same one she’d shown him yesterday afternoon. This picture contained more detail, and skill that almost brought it to life. She’d made a real effort to please him.

She trembled and one knee gave out a little but she didn’t fall. She straightened. “You don’t like it.”

He tilted his head to the side and remembered to stop smiling. Mortals always mistook it for a snarl. “No, it’s nice work. Koishi told me that you watched me fly in the storm.”

She nodded. “Can’t the lightning hurt you?”

He let loose a snort of laughter. “Sure.” Her curiosity had won over her fear. A good sign. “That’s the point of flying in a storm. There’s not much in this realm that can hurt me. It was quite a flight.”

“You were thrill-seeking? You’d think guarding the gate would be enough.”

“It usually is, but I find myself less occupied than usual and searching for…entertainment elsewhere.” He slid his long neck over the rough surface of the ground to circle the flat rock she stood upon. Sandra had an independent streak he didn’t want to squash, and abducting her to his den would probably not win her over. He liked his females willing and eager.

His human form was considered attractive. The game of seduction always appealed to him, but he’d been immersed in the Asian culture for so long, he wasn’t sure how to proceed with a woman from America. The thought left a fluttery feeling in his empty stomach. How interesting.

Twisting one way, then the other, she regarded the full length of his body. “You’re much bigger than I expected.”

“Why else would the gate have chosen me?” He expanded his wings for her inspection. He truly was a splendid specimen. “All the better to fight with.” He enjoyed the way her eyes traveled along his form.

He drew closer to her and examined his portrait still in her hands. “I will accept this gift, but I fear I may tear it.” He wiggled the claws of his hand. “Give it to Koishi and he’ll bring it to me.”

“Okay,” she whispered and closed the book, tucking it under her arm.

“Why have you summoned me, Sandra?”

She retreated a little. “How do you know my name?”

Fuck. A dragon face was less expressive than a human one, thank goodness. “I–uh–am the dragon Ishi. I know all that happens on this island. How else am I supposed to protect the Takai Crossing?” That sounded wise. Sort of. His human-self could have mentioned her to his dragon-self, right?

“I was told you owned a saji.”

His lungs burned, since he seemed to have forgotten how to breathe. Who had shared that information? It wasn’t the most powerful item he owned, but somehow she knew exactly what was in his hoard.

She stood as if turned to stone. “I’d like to use it.” Clearing her throat, she met his gaze. “Please.”

Just like that? Trade a hand-drawn picture for the use of his supposedly-secret magical item? Either she truly was incredibly naive, or the most intelligent thief he’d ever met, because he had half a heart to say yes. He leaned on his elbows and brought his head level with hers. She smelled of truth, and he snorted the disturbing scent from his nostrils. This left him little choice. His honor demanded the trade.

Magic didn’t exist in Inverness, but some magical items could be charged in Outremer and used here. He owned a few and a saji was among them. He didn’t lend things, though. That was so pedestrian. “I don’t–”

“I have some money. I could rent it.” She swallowed visibly. “Maybe.”

He leaned in closer until his nose almost touched her. “Rent?” The question was all he could manage while attraction and insult warred inside his heart. One didn’t rent things from a dragon. They stole or traded or tricked it from him.

She stepped away, but her ankle twisted and she fell to her knees. Her gaze traveled up to his. “Yes.” Her answer came out soft as breath.

Gently, he snaked his tail around her waist and lifted her. “How would I know you’d return with it?” He watched the twinkle of sunlight dance upon her golden necklace. It sparkled with an intense sense of personal attachment. That made precious metal extra appealing. The love ebbing from it almost made his teeth ache. “I’d rather make a trade.”

“I don’t own much.”

“I like your necklace.” He never did use the saji. It wasn’t a weapon or anything practical. All the thing did was heal. Her piece of jewelry, on the other hand, drew him like a mother’s embrace–warm and soothing, offering him the acceptance his real mother never had. He didn’t own anything that ebbed love as this necklace did. It would be…novel.

Her hand strayed to her neck and she traced the chain with her fingertip. “It belonged to my mother. My father gave it to her when they first met as a token of his love. It’s all I have left of them.”

“That explains a few things.” He held out a claw.

Staring at his hand, her eyes took on a faraway look as if she fought an internal battle. “Fine.” She undid the clasp and held it out. “It’s only a piece of jewelry.”

Before he hooked the necklace with his claw, a familiar tug yanked at his soul. He hissed and blinked. The gate shone before him with five goblins standing on the wrong side of it. Fuck a duck, he’d been transported from Sandra before he could get the necklace.

He roared. The sound shook the cave walls and made the pebbles on the floor jig. “This is not your lucky day, boys.” He stabbed the first goblin through the chest with the tip of his tail.

Damn it, he’d been so close to holding that necklace. He bit the head off a screeching goblin as it ran back toward the gate. If they had only waited another minute to cross, he would have had it. He deflected a sword strike with his claws, disarmed the creature and stabbed it with the weapon.

One would think the pile of bones and decaying bodies he left at the mouth of the gate on the Outremer side would be a cause for concern before crossing. But no, they kept trying. He stepped on the next one until it popped underfoot.

The last one made it back through the gate.

He huffed and shook the body from his tail. What a mess. He couldn’t hunt Sandra before she changed her mind like this. The stench of rotting goblin was hard to clean off the skin. He had learned that the hard way in his youth, trying to court the local fairy princess. Twisting around, he spotted Urgle watching from his chained post in the other room.

Stomping across the area toward his new pet, he shifted to his human form. He grabbed a leather collar from his worktable and waved a hand over it while speaking a few magic words. Goblins, as a whole, were stupid. Urgle probably wouldn’t realize magic didn’t work here. He exchanged the metal collar for the leather one and set the goblin free from the chain. “The spell I cast on this collar will make your head explode if you leave my lair or touch my treasure.”

The goblin nodded and fell to his knees. “And if I went through the gate?”

“Well, I’d be summoned, then I’d make your head explode. Do we have an understanding?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Toss those bodies through the gate immediately, then clean the place.” This display of bloody carnage would keep Urgle in line for a few days. While the goblin took care of the mess, he could shower a few times and then find Sandra.

Chapter 5

Sandra stared out at the ocean, a half-empty bottle of sake resting on her lap. The first few sips tasted like dirty sock water and burned her throat like battery acid, but after a few more swallows it went down easier. Her sore feet, resting on the balcony railing, hurt a whole lot less.

Twirling the necklace hanging from her throat around her finger, she tried to focus on the crash of the waves and not on the events of this afternoon. Metal bit into her flesh, cutting circulation in her finger, and she let the chain unwind once more.

Damn Ishi for vanishing. What should she do now? In the morning, she’d have to hike the volcano and sing another flipping song. This time he’d hear her hearty rendition of Pop Goes the Weasel. Maybe she’d throw in the hand movements with it. She giggled and took another gulp of liquid fire.

The last of the sun’s rays crested the horizon. She’d been on this island for twenty-four hours and done things she’d never considered trying. She’d taken a ride from a handsome stranger, met a dragon, then watched him vanish in thin air, and gotten drunk on sake. A nice adventure for a girl from Crab Apple, but she wasn’t here for fun. She’d almost refused his offer before she’d recalled the reality of Beth’s illness.

Someone knocked on her hotel door. She glanced over her shoulder and sighed. The soft chair, the cool ocean breeze and the sunset had her reluctant to leave her spot. “Go away,” she shouted at the housekeeping.

The pounding returned. “Sandra?”

She jolted from the chair at the familiar voice, the bottle slipping from her numb fingers and crashing onto the balcony floor. “Koishi?” She stared at the door, unable to move yet. Had Ishi sent him, or was he here to see her on his own volition? She couldn’t decide which would please her more.

“Do you plan on opening the door?”

Smoothing her hair and straightening her dress, she tiptoed around the broken bottle on wobbly legs to let him in. She swung the door open, her heart fluttering at the sight of him. “What are you doing here?” He wore a crisp, button-down white shirt and khaki pants with his black hair combed to perfection. He’d been handsome yesterday in his farming jeans and t-shirt. Tonight he was edible. Or was that the sake talking?

He gave her a slow, inviting smile. “You’ve been drinking.”

“Just a little.” She pointed to the now broken sake bottle lying on its side on the balcony. The remaining contents had spilled on the concrete flooring.

“Sure.” He stepped past her and circled her room. “Nice view.” Finishing his short tour, he held out his hand and fixed her with a stare. “I came for Ishi’s necklace.”

She clasped it within her hands, disappointment dragging its red claws over her silly hopes. Why would someone as handsome as Koishi be paying her a visit unless forced by a dragon? “What happened to him? One minute he was making me a deal, then he vanished.”

His smile turned feral for a fleeting moment. “The gate called him. There was an incursion onto this realm that he needed to…squash.”

Her stomach clenched. “Is he all right?” While she’d been wallowing in self-pity and sake, Ishi had been defending the world.

Koishi’s eyes widened. “Uh, he’s fine.” He rubbed his jaw and flinched.

She looked closer and noticed a purpling bruise. “You’re not! Were you part of the fight as well?” She hurried to the bathroom and soaked a facecloth in cold water.

He trailed behind her. “What are you doing?” Raising his hands, he retreated as she held the wet cloth to his face.

“Don’t be a baby. The cold will help the swelling.” She followed his retreating form until the bed caught behind his knee and he ended by sitting on its edge. His legs were spread open and she stepped within the space. Pressing the cloth to his injury, she was suddenly aware of the heat emanating between them.

He leaned in close. Too close. Close enough for her to notice how dark his eyes had grown.

“Don’t bother telling me you didn’t help.” Her voice had grown low and husky.

“I won’t.” Amusement twinkled in his dark stare. “But I’m fine as well.” Placing his hand over hers, he removed the cold compress. “Your concern is considerate.”

She licked her dry lips and noticed his gaze tracking the movement with intense interest. “Tell me about it.”

He chuckled. “Goblins have been trying to take over this island for as long as he, Ishi, has been guarding the gate. It’s been unusually quiet until today. Some dwarves have been stirring trouble on the other side and driving the goblins through.”

The world tilted to the side and a wave of heat spread over her body. “Dwarves?” What would have happened if the dragon hadn’t stopped them? She blinked at the concerned expression on Koishi’s blurry face. A hand slipped under her elbow and guided her to the bed. “As in Snow White?”

“Sit.” He knelt and took the compress from her hand and ran it over her forehead. “No, more like chop-your-head-off-and-steal-your-gold. When was the last time you ate?”

“Dwarves?” She couldn’t pull her gaze from his. So dark and intense, his eyes ate at her soul.

“Yes.” He nodded and slid the cloth to the back of her neck. “Breathe slower, Sandra. Easy, it’s safe. All the gates are guarded well. Ishi wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

“He wouldn’t?”

“You still have a trade to make.”

She shook her head. “I never knew about all this stuff until a few days ago. It’s a lot to take in.”

“Most mortals don’t understand and I think, after watching your reaction, it’s best they remain in the dark.”

“Mortals?” She raised an eyebrow and took a deep, settling breath. “That’s an odd word to use. Are you from Outremer?”

“No, I’m from here. I meant to say humans, but Ishi calls us mortals. It rubs off when you hear it enough.” He cleared his throat. “You never answered my question.”

“You asked me something?” She rubbed her clearing head. The booze hadn’t helped with the shock.

“When did you last eat?”

“This morning. I was too upset to eat after Ishi disappeared.” The cold of the cloth felt good against her skin. So did Koishi’s confident hands.

“Let me buy you dinner.” He helped her rise and paused, his lips close to hers. “Why did his leaving upset you?”

“We never finished the deal.”

He nodded and stepped away. “That’s why he sent me. I’ll bring him the necklace. Tomorrow he’ll meet you at the rock and give you the saji.”

“Just like that?”

“What were you expecting?”

She shrugged. More of a struggle, or a fight to make the deal? Maybe the saji didn’t work and he was swindling her. She didn’t have much of a choice at this point. It was her only hope. “Koishi.” She took his hand. “Can I trust him?”

“With the deal? Yes. With your virtue?” He laughed. The low, smooth sound caressed her with unspoken promise. She seriously doubted a dragon would care for her virtue, but she wasn’t sure about Koishi.

“My virtue was compromised a long time ago to a smooth-talking senior in high school.” She released Koishi’s hand.

* * *

The loss of her touch left his palm cold and wanting. When was the last time he’d spent so much time talking to a female? The late 1920s? Geishas shouldn’t count. They’d been paid to spend time with him.

The life of a gatekeeper’s lover wasn’t glamorous. Mortal women were entertaining to a certain extent, naked and in his bed, but their needs and wants never had anything in common with his. It left a lack of conversation or growth in a relationship. On the other hand, supernatural females came on occasion, with their sharp wit and high demands, but none stayed. This world held nothing of interest to them, not even him, and the journey through Outremer to his gate was a dangerous one.

He was trapped and alone. Battle his only true companion, death his only release.

“Enough worry for one night.” All this concern for a saji? He kept his gaze on his new toy. She really had brightened his last two days. It deserved some kind of reward. “I know the best sushi place on the island.” Maybe after a little more sake, he’d find out what her trip to his home was truly about. No one would travel halfway around the world to confront a dragon for a little healing magic. His treasure room contained much more valuable trinkets. This had to be a trick.

She made a sour face. “I don’t think I can eat raw fish.”

Grunting, he shook his head. “Sushi is a delicacy, not raw fish. First, you must try it, then you can give me your opinion.” He took her hand once more, pleased at how comfortable she seemed with the gesture, and led her out.

The restaurant was within walking distance and the evening still held some of the day’s warmth. He didn’t release his hold on her and soaked in the amicable silence. Glancing over his shoulder, he halted at Sandra’s grim expression. “What?”

“Why are you being so nice?”

“Is it against the law?” He kept from laughing as she considered the idea.

“You were such a jerk when we first met.”

“I gave you a ride. How was that being a jerk?”

“You charged me.” She scowled at him, but didn’t yank her hand from his. Such a contrary and spirited creature, in comparison to everyone he had contact with.

“You dared me to give kindness a try.” He tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear as an excuse to touch her more. Reaching inside his pocket, he pulled out the silver earrings she’d paid him to drive her. “I will start with this. And dinner.”

The small twitch at the corner of her lip told him he’d won. It was good thing he’d thought to bring the earrings. “We’ll see if I like sushi first before you can add it to your list of good deeds.”

Setting the hoops on her outstretched palm, he chuckled. “It’s amazing what the world will reveal if you keep an open mind.” Oddly, he was applying that philosophy to himself. Should a gatekeeper show kindness? Mercy could lead to devastating consequences. Then again, it was only a set of poorly made earrings and dinner.

She attempted to insert the hoops through her ears, but missed. “Ouch.”

“Let me.” He grasped the loop, drawing closer to her so the heat of her lean body licked along his flesh. Sliding it into the hole, he closed the clasp and repeated on her other ear. “There.” Tugged by her proximity, he couldn’t keep from meeting her gaze. Sorrow welled deep in her blue eyes. He hadn’t noticed it until now. “You’re still worried.”

She shrugged with a slight shift of her shoulders.

“Dragons as old as Ishi always keep their word.” His gaze traveled beyond her to his home on the mountain. “If you want, we can travel to see him.”

“It would be too dangerous in the dark for a hike.” She retreated from him. “Thank you for offering. I can wait until tomorrow. I have an open-ended ticket for my flight back home.”

“Oh, you plan on leaving tomorrow?” What the hell was he doing? He was supposed to come for the necklace, and instead he’d allowed her vulnerability to play him. Thinking with his dick was never a good plan.

“Once I have the saji, yes, I have to go back.”

Retreating from her lush scent, he shoved his heart back inside the shoebox in his chest. Stupid of him to pull it out in the first place.

She sighed as she strolled next to him. “I wish I could stay.”

His eyelids fluttered shut. “Why?”

“It’s so different here. I’d love the chance to explore everything. The culture, the people…” She grabbed his hand with both of hers. “The food.” Her smile was infectious. “My biggest adventure back home is doing groceries on busy Saturday mornings.”

“I’d like you to stay.” The words were out of his mouth before his brain registered his lips were moving. “I–I could show you the sights.” Nice, he was a dragon gatekeeper turned tourist guide. His fellow gatekeepers would string him up and use him for target practice if they ever heard about his offer. He had to shut up. “We’ll start here.” He gestured to the restaurant. “Your first sushi.”

A blush bloomed over her cheeks as she cast him an interested look. The fire of yesterday’s anger was an echo in her heated gaze.

He bent forward and drew her into his arms, tracing his fingertips over her soft skin. Growing fond of her was dangerous. He wanted to take things in a different direction, try something new. She never had to know about his real identity. Her stay would be short, but, oh so sweet, for both of them. He needed this, and it seemed she needed it too.

She trembled at his touch, their lips a fraction of a breath apart. “Koishi.” The way she spoke his name had changed. She’d always said it with an edge of frustration. Now, it was something warm that wanted to curl inside his chest.

He closed the gap. Her lips were delicate as they parted on a quiet sigh. Hands sliding around her waist, he pressed her curves against his body and luxuriated in their softness. He wouldn’t allow himself to caress any of them, to mold them in his palms until her sighs became moans. Mauling on the first date was usually frowned upon by most races, including his.

Part of him expected her to push away, but when she didn’t, he compensated by tilting her chin so his mouth moved more fully over hers.

A slender hand curved around his neck as Sandra rose on tiptoe to follow his kiss. Her breasts slid over his shirt, taut nipples crushed against him.

Groaning, he ran the tip of his tongue across her lips, coaxing her to open and let him devour her. A warning tingle ran over his body, running along his soul, and it had nothing to do with Sandra’s kiss. He gasped and pushed at Sandra, turning his head away. The gate was calling.

Shit, and a truck load of it!

Her nails dug into his neck, as if not wanting to let him go. It made his entire body ache.

There was no place to hide from her. “I have to apologize. I can’t stay.”

“Is this another game for you?” She fisted her hands, ready to pummel him, then her eyes grew wide. “You’re fading.” Without a word of warning, she jumped him, wrapping her arms firmly around him.

Chapter 6

It was the boat trip all over again, but worse. Sandra’s stomach rolled and her head spun. She couldn’t even sense Koishi in her arms.

Then in a flash he was there again, his hands under her elbows, and gently guiding her to the ground. “What the hell? Why did you have to do that?” He stepped in front of her, blocking her blurred vision of a shimmering force field, which had to be the Takai Gate.

Something dark with oddly shaped limbs moved toward them.

She blinked and rubbed her eyes. The nausea vanished.

A creature from a horror movie stood before them wielding a massive sword. Dark green skin covered its thick, muscled body. Bumps and scars pocked its scowling face.

On weak legs, she scrambled to her feet. If dragons were real, why not other monsters, but was it a friend or foe? The sword hinted at the latter. She rose to her feet and retreated a few steps.

The gate gave off an unnatural glow, which lit the room. Stone walls surrounded them like a huge cavern with streams of lava meandering around the room via canals carved in the floor. Tunnels exited the room in multiple directions and angles. Some of them were so steep she’d never be able to climb them. She completed her survey by viewing the liquid surface of the gate, and gasped.

Other, similar green creatures stepped out of the gate wielding a multitude of weapons that consisted of sharp edges and pointy spikes.

Koishi glanced at her over his shoulder, his eyes changing to red before her. “Run!” His word turned into a roar as a glow surrounded him.

Ishi stood where Koishi had been, in all his red-scaled glory. They were the same person–creature–whatever. The bastard had tricked her. He’d made her sing and pretended not to know what she wanted from him. If those monsters didn’t stab him to death, then she would.

One of those things leaned to the side and caught a glimpse of her. A wicked grin spread across its face.

She’d stab Koishi later. First, she needed to save her own ass. Making a one-eighty, she ran for the closest tunnel. The clash of weapons and cries of pain followed her escape, but so did the jingle of armor.

Someone was behind her.

Running blind, she took the first right, then kept hitting more junctions and splits in the tunnels until she’d taken so many turns she didn’t know who was chasing whom anymore. She slowed and leaned against the cold wall. Out of breath, she tried not to pant so loudly. Only the drip, drip, drip of water sounded in the tunnel. The noise of battle faded the deeper she went.

This tunnel was lit by torches, smoke staining the rock ceiling. Brighter light spilled from an entrance not far from her, and the scent of roasting meat drifted to her nose. As she tiptoed toward it, she caught the sound of jingling armor.

She pivoted and met the gaze of the armed creature with its evil smile. Her heart froze. Nothing good would come from this meeting. With a leap, she raced into the brightly lit room and came face to face with a similar monster, except this one was cooking.

Its big green eyes widened at her arrival as it sipped from a ladle. The liquid dribbled from the side of its mouth.

She’d run into a kitchen, of all things, with a dead end. A cast iron pan rested on the cutting board next to a large carving knife. She grabbed the pan’s handle and spun around in time to meet the swing of a sword.

The cook squealed and dove behind a long, wooden table in the center of the room.

Her hand went numb with the impact, but she didn’t let go of her only weapon. She’d never had to fight, and assumed she’d be better with a skillet than a knife. It was bigger and carried more weight.

She dodged the next sword swing as she swept around behind her attacker, using the momentum to smack him across the back of the head. The pan rang and her fillings vibrated.

The thing stumbled forward a step but then straightened its spine, twisting to face her with a slow turn.

Her stomach bottomed out. “Oh shit.” She shuffled to the other side of the table and joined the cook.

He squealed again and made an attempt for the exit.

Their assailant blocked his way with a slap of the flat of its sword.

The cook fell to his knees with a cry as the sword was raised over his head.

Her heart jumped into her throat and she raised her hand. “Stop.” Over the creature’s head, a set of red inhuman eyes peered through the door. She met the dragon’s gaze and sighed, almost dropping her pan with relief.

* * *

Blood pumped through his body with a surge of heat. Filled with battle fury, Ishi raced through the maze of tunnels, hot on Sandra’s trail, to find her fighting with kitchenware.

Pride swelled in his chest as his little human took on a goblin three times her weight. This was no meek mortal waiting for rescue. She still needed it, this goblin was a warrior after all, but she fought back and even seemed to protect his pet.

He snatched the back of the goblin’s tunic with his canines and tugged him out of the kitchen. The place would need a good disinfecting. Tossing the goblin against the far wall, he smiled at the satisfying crunch the goblin made upon impact. It didn’t move.

Sticking his head through the door, he eyed both his pet and his toy. “Are either of you injured?” He used the kitchen only in his human form. It wouldn’t accommodate his dragon size.

Urgle scurried under the table and remained silent.

Sandra strode around the table, wielding his largest frying pan.

The knot that had formed inside his chest when he’d seen the goblin pursue her finally unwound. “Sandra?” He leaned closer, but couldn’t spot any visible injury or smell her blood. If they had harmed her…

She took a wide stance and swung the pan in a two-handed arc that smashed across his jaw. “You lied to me.”

His head snapped back at the unexpected assault. Sharp pain flared along his jaw. He tongued the inside of his mouth. “I think you cracked my tooth.” Standing at his full height, he loomed over her so she couldn’t get in another cheap shot. “I didn’t lie. I just didn’t disclose the full truth.” He pointed to the spot she’d hit. “I have my reasons.”

“You didn’t tell me you’re Ishi because I might hit you? You’re a dragon. You could swallow me in one bite.” She wielded the pan as if it were a baseball bat.

“That’s something I wish you’d keep in mind while swinging that thing.” He plucked it from her struggling hands before she did either of them more damage. “I don’t trust anyone who comes searching for me and my treasure. No matter how pretty.”

She sighed and appeared to deflate. Leaning on the table, she sagged. “I can’t believe I’m alive.”

“Me either.” He stroked the back of his claw along her arm.

She recoiled. So much for the kiss they’d shared. She jerked once more without his touch and cried out while swatting at her leg. “Don’t touch me.” She directed her command at Urgle and scrambled toward Koishi.

The goblin withdrew his hand to his chest, his wide-eyed gaze on her. “Soft.”

She pressed her body behind his foreleg and pointed at Urgle under the table. “What is it?” Apparently, dragon flesh was more appealing than goblin.

“Urgle is a goblin, like the others, but he’s my pet. Don’t whack him unless he really deserves it.” He eyed the roast cooking over the fire. “It’ll burn if you don’t rotate it.”

“Yes, Master.” The goblin shuffled from his hiding place, not turning his back on the deadly human female.

Koishi resisted the urge to stroke her again. The goblin was right. She was soft.

With his tail, he poked the goblin he’d tossed out in the tunnel. It was as dead as its comrades. Shape shifting appeared safe now. He glanced at Sandra and the knives within her reach. Somewhat safe. He changed form.

Her eyes went wider than Urgle’s, if that were possible.

“You’re pale.” Maybe her injuries were internal? He swept her into his arms and carried her past the carnage of the gateroom to his private quarters.

He kept both a large bed and a nest of gold to sleep upon, depending on the form he wore. Setting her on the blankets, he ran his hands over her chest and abdomen. Neither seemed hard or bulging. He began to undo the buttons down the front of her dress.

“What are you doing? I’m fine.” She shoved his hands away. “Stop it. Of course I’m pale. I just fought a goblin for the first time and I haven’t felt well since we–we teleported here.” Dropping her head onto his pillows, she relaxed into the cushions and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Grabbing onto me was an unbelievably dangerous thing to do.”

“You were fading, like Ishi.” She gave him a pointed stare. “Like you did on the mountainside. I wasn’t letting you get away. Not again.”

Escaping this female was the last thing on his mind. His gaze traveled over the generous curve of her breasts, along the graceful sweep of her waist, to the juncture–

She tapped under his chin. “I’m up here.”

He gave her a small smile and watched the blush rise on her cheeks. Leaning closer, he whispered, “I’m very, very aware of where you are, Sandra.”

Chapter 7

Koishi’s softly spoken words re-awoke desire in Sandra. The man appealed to her. However, the dragon terrified her. She couldn’t believe they were one and the same. Even after watching him change form twice.

The oxygen in the room seemed to have vanished and she found it hard to catch her breath as he drew closer. His dark stare sent a thrill of lust straight to her core.

“You should spend the night, just in case you’re injured and aren’t exhibiting symptoms yet.” He ran his fingertips along her arm. “I’ll stay close and watch over you.”

She pressed her hands against his shoulders and tried to restrain him, but the strength of a supernatural monster was contained in this body. He could do whatever he wanted; she couldn’t stop him. “I’m fine. That thing never touched me.” She had the impression he wanted to do more than just watch her sleep. Deep down inside, she wanted more too.

He traced a line over the buttons of her dress. “Maybe I should check and make sure.” He popped one open. “I’d hate to leave a bruise unattended.”

Muscles low in her stomach clenched as he undid another. “And if I said no?”

Circling the next button, round and round, he regarded her as if not understanding.

Like a shot in the dark, it struck her. “Oh my God, no one has ever said no to you?” She thrust his hand off her chest and sat up, leaning against the massive wooden headboard. With a glance over her shoulder, she swallowed a hard lump in her throat. The thing had handholds carved into it. She was so out of her league.

His soft laugh grew louder. “Of course some females denied me. They went down well with a bottle of Bordeaux.” He patted his stomach.

She shot him a look. “I wouldn’t believe you unless you showed me their bones.” He’d been playing with her head since the moment she arrived on the island. She blinked. Didn’t he have better things to do? “Shouldn’t you be guarding the gate?”

His amused expression vanished, replaced by something much deadlier. “I always am.”

“When you’re down at the dock buying sheep, how can you be guarding it?” She crossed her arms, mentally patting herself on the back for changing the subject from a sleep-over party.

“My skills as a guardian are not for you to judge.” His dark eyes faded to the dragon’s red.

She swallowed and pressed her back flat to the headboard. “Fine, then let’s make the exchange and point me in the right direction of the nearest village.”

He jerked away and ran his fingers through his hair as he gazed at her. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’d never hurt you. Or any mortal, for that matter.” He gave her small crooked smile. “Stay? For dinner, at least? I did promise to feed you.”

How should she respond? Sure, she’d love to have dinner with a dragon. Please, don’t eat me as an appetizer. Or the one answer that kept nagging her Yes, and do it to me hard. She took a shaky breath and crammed the last response back deep into her brain. “I’d be fl–flattered.”

His smile vanished, replaced by a frown. “No, you’re not. You’re frightened.” Sighing, he stood and offered her his hand. “The only way off the caldera is to fly. I’ll take you home.”

She took a deep breath, the easiest one she’d had since drinking sake on her balcony. Koishi had an uncanny talent for stealing her breath away. Shouldn’t a woman have that in her life? A person who she’d never thought would desire her taking notice and sweeping her off her feet, in her case, literally.

But this was Ishi, the guardian of the East. She hadn’t been told too much of the other gatekeepers, except they existed, and were tougher than any mortal army, let alone a soldier.

Yet, Koishi had tried to make her coffee and almost poisoned himself. He’d been taking her on a date when all this happened. He’d kissed her.

She placed her hand in his and allowed him to aid her to her feet.

His large hand engulfed hers, and she pictured how a dragon’s personality could do the same to hers. They weren’t equals. They’d never be. An attraction doomed before it even began. Why should they even try?

When Koishi met her gaze, the sparkle that had danced in his eyes each time he’d teased her had vanished. That sparkle had been in Ishi’s gaze earlier today as she sung on the mountainside. His dull stare made her heart ache.

He infuriated her and pushed her to do idiotic things, but she had enjoyed their small adventures. It was the most fun she’d ever had. She didn’t have any excitement in her life, and she’d discovered a new longing for more.

She didn’t let go of his hand as he led her from the bedroom. “Why can’t we teleport like before?”

“I can’t do that. It’s the gate that transports me when it’s breached.”

Stopping, she waited for him to face her. “So that’s why you can travel away from it and aren’t stuck in this den.” Hope fluttered in her chest. “Is there a limit to how far you can travel?”

He shook his head.

“Maybe you can come visit me?” The question was out before she’d thought it through. He wasn’t looking for a long distance relationship, just a little nookie.

“I’d like that. I’ve always wanted to see your world.” The smile on his face held a touch of sadness.

The flutter in her chest died. “But…” She was such a fool to open herself up for rejection.

“But the gate’s transport is one way. If I were in America I’d be returned here when the gate needed me, then what? Fly back only to be transported again?”

“So, you’re trapped here?’

“In essence, yes. The same principles apply in Outremer. At least there, I can fly in my dragon form and not rely on flimsy machines.”

She followed him through the gateroom and into another set of confusing tunnels. “I don’t know how you find your way through here.”

He shrugged. “I created most of them and have lived here long enough to know them blindfolded.”

She slowed her steps and stared at the high, smooth ceiling carved out of the volcano. “I thought lava created these.”

“It did, but I guide the flow, one of my many talents. The island shook for weeks afterwards. Great clouds of ash rained over everything.” He winked. “I made sure the natives were gathered in one area so they’d remain safe.”

“Natives?” Her eyes went wide. “How long ago was this?”

“A very, very long time ago.”

They exited onto a large ledge facing the less populated side of the island. The moon gleamed on the ocean’s surface and a cool breeze cut across her skin.

She shivered. A long time ago…he was ancient.

Koishi took off his shirt and settled it across her shoulders. “I don’t feel the cold.”

And neither did she, not after he bared his chest and cut abs. God, why was she returning to the hotel? The image of the handles carved in the headboard of his bed flashed in her mind. She tried not to picture him gripping those, skin covered with a sheen of sweat, as he used them to propel his hips and–

“Sandra?” He’d approached her while she’d been lost in fantasies. “Are you sure you want to leave?” Like magic, the sparkle was back in his eyes again.

“No.” It came out as a whisper.

“Good,” he whispered back. “Now, stand back while I shift.”

“I thought you wanted me to stay?” She blinked and scrambled back inside as a glow surrounded Koishi.

“I do, but only when you’re absolutely sure it’s what you want.” Huge wings grew from the light and loomed over her, followed by the rest of Ishi’s red-scaled body. Fangs the length of her arms protruded from his mouth as he crouched on the ledge, gesturing for her to draw closer with his claws.

All thoughts of staying disappeared. It took all her courage to take the first step toward him. This was Koishi in Ishi form. They were the same person. Would Koishi eat her?

Maybe.

She might have misunderstood the hunger in his gaze as a sexual invitation. He could have been measuring her pounds of flesh instead.

“Closer.” He hooked a claw around her waist and pulled her in. “I won’t bite.”

A tight band constricted around her chest as his red eye hovered close to her face. “Are you taking me home?”

“Of course. I don’t keep prisoners. It’s too much work.”

“Urgle?”

“Has nowhere else to go except the grave. I give him purpose.”

She nodded. “And he gives you company.”

His eyes narrowed and his claw tightened around her body. “I don’t require companionship.”

Should she argue with him? That would border on suicidal. But he was wrong. Everyone needed friends, and from what little she knew of Koishi, he was isolated from both worlds. He called Urgle his pet. What other use was a pet except for company?

“Okay.” She squeaked out her response as he settled his chin by her feet. “It’s kind of you to take care of him, though.”

“I’ve grown too merciful for a gatekeeper. If the others ever found out they’d–” He closed his eyes for a moment. “Never mind what they’d do to me. I will send Urgle back home after I deliver you to the hotel.”

“That’s not what I meant.” This glimpse of Koishi’s life showed her his gentler side. Something she could relate to. A common bond they could share. If he destroyed it, then what hope could he have of finding human friendship? She rested her hand on the bridge of his nose, the scales smooth and hard under her touch. Heat radiated from him, warming the air around her. “There’s nothing wrong with being kind.”

He snorted. “It’s a weakness. Good warriors have few flaws and great ones have none. As a guardian I am expected to be great. If the others ever found out about Urgle…” He shuddered down to the tip of his tail. “The ridicule alone would kill me.” With a slight nudge, he urged her hand along his scales. “That feels nice.”

She couldn’t resist the urge to slide her other hand over his eye ridge. “You’re much harder than you appear.”

“You better believe it.” He sighed and leaned into her. “Scratch.”

Never in a thousand years would she have guessed that one day she’d be standing on a ledge off a volcano scratching a dragon’s itch. She giggled.

A low pleasant rumble came from his chest. “That’s nice. It’s been awhile since I’ve had anyone touch my hide. It could use a good scraping and an oiling.” He gave her a sideways glance. “But not tonight. Let’s fly, Sandra.” When he said “fly” it held the wistful tone of a long-lost lover.

Her stomach clenched as she gazed over the edge at the tiny lights below. “There has got to be a way I can climb down.”

“I’m insulted you’d think I’d make it that easy to travel to and from here.” He rose to his feet, releasing his grip on her.

She retreated toward the exit, but bumped her backside against something. He’d laid his tail across the doorway, blocking her escape. “Have you ever flown a human?”

“Yes, and I haven’t dropped one in over a decade.”

“What?” Her voice rose, almost piercing her eardrums before he scooped her into his clawed hand. “Koishi!”

He brought her up to his face. “If I had a harness, I’d let you ride on my shoulders. Unfortunately, you’ll have to ride in my hand. Just don’t move too much. I’m ticklish.” With those last words of warning, he launched off the cliff.

People living on the main island of Japan probably heard her scream. She wasn’t sure how she sustained such a long shriek, given that her stomach tried to switch places with her lungs on the dive to the ground. She never closed her eyes. Instead, she clung to Koishi’s fingers and stared death in the face.

He spread his wings and caught the wind, easing into a slow, spiraling glide. He bent his head toward her. “How are you doing?”

“Don’t look at me, watch where you’re going.”

His chuckle traveled through his arms and shook her slightly. “What am I watching for? There’s no one else up here. Just you and me, the moon, the stars…”

She pried her gaze from the ground and took in what Koishi described. The night expanded before them, the cool air ran over her skin with an intimate touch, and the moon sparkled over the surface of the calm ocean. The horizon combined with the ocean and it became one big ball of stars. “Wow.”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” He turned in a slow, wide arc and circled the caldera.

She blinked away tears. It truly was a marvel. She was flying. Another giggle bubbled up with an edge of hysteria. Releasing her death grip on Koishi’s fingers, she extended one hand and allowed the air currents to run over her arm.

“Do the other arm too.” He watched her from above. “Fly with me.”

She didn’t need any more encouragement and did as he suggested. Spreading her fingers, she stretched against the wind and glided with Koishi until they landed by the holding area for his livestock.

“You can use my truck. The keys are in the ignition.” He held onto her as she found her land legs.

She stared at the vehicle. “Aren’t there car thieves on this island?”

“Who’d dare steal from a dragon?”

She stroked the sharp edge of his claw, unable to meet his gaze. “Can you change shape for me?” She sensed a small jerk in his hand. It was nice to know she could surprise him.

A glow surrounded him for a moment and his shirtless form stood next to her. “Your wish is my command.”

She slid her hands over his chest, doing her best not to follow with her tongue, and slipped them around his neck.

A teasing smile played upon his lips. “I can fly us back up.”

“I think one flying lesson per day is my quota.” She pulled him into her embrace and brushed her lips over his. The soft press of his mouth contrasted with his hardness.

He moaned and pulled her tight against him, burying his hands in her hair.

She opened her mouth and sent an exploratory lick over his bottom lip. Never had she been so torn over someone before. She wanted him. There was no doubt about it, but how could she survive this entanglement with her heart intact? Falling in love with this dragon would be too easy. And dangerous.

Koishi seized her invitation to plunge inside her mouth, stroking along her tongue, coaxing her to explore him, and then finally rewarding her by sucking hard on hers. This male would never be satisfied. He’d take and take and then take some more. He was a warrior and only knew how to conquer.

God, he was doing a great job of defeating her. A little more and she’d ride him all the way back to his den. She squeezed her hand between them and gave a small push on his chest.

He let loose his iron hold. “I should go.”

Please, no. “Yes.”

A glow surrounded him once more as he strolled away, then Ishi burst from it in a vertical takeoff toward his home.

Her left knee gave out and she sat hard on the ground. No one would ever believe her back home. They’d say she’d been on an acid trip or worse. Even her little sister wouldn’t buy such a– Damn it, the saji.

He never gave it to her.

Chapter 8

Sunlight warmed the scales of his full belly. He rubbed it and stretched farther on his back, spreading his wings out on the ground for balance while on his ledge. He’d neglected hunting yesterday and the ewes for breakfast had tasted exceptionally well. So well, he’d over-eaten. Closing his eyes, he listened to the croon of the wind. He should add some wind chimes to the ledge. That could be a new project for Urgle. He could construct them from odd ends in his cave. Ishi had to keep his pet occupied so he’d stay out of trouble.

The wind, however, did carry an odd tune this afternoon, a little off key. He scratched his ear to make sure it was clear of debris, but the sound didn’t change. It grated on the nerves rather than relaxed them.

Rolling over onto his stomach, he crept to the edge to assess the danger. It had been ages since the mortals of this world had tried to ambush him, yet a good warrior never let his guard down. On the side of the mountain, where he had dropped the large flat stone, stood a familiar female dressed in jeans and t-shirt.

She sang.

Terribly, but she still sang for him. The warmth from his belly spread to his chest. She’d forgotten the saji last night. He grinned as she turned around doing a little dance. For some reason, she sang about weasels.

He dove off the ledge and spread his wings to glide over the ground, landing by the rock on light feet. “Sandra.” He purred her name and enjoyed the blush blooming on her cheeks. When had he put so much effort into a seduction? If he’d known how pleasant it was, he may have tried it sooner.

“Koishi.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “I’m here to make the exchange for the saji.”

“I don’t have it with me. It’s in my den.”

“I can wait–” Her words ended in a surprised shout as he scooped her into his hands and leaped into the air. She was an excitable thing. He loved watching the expression of wonder on her face as she experienced flight.

“Don’t worry, I think I’ve got the hang of this flying thing.” His grin was so wide his cheeks hurt.

She slapped his claw. “At your age, you’d better have.”

The teasing was even better when she gave as good as she got. He slowed for a soft landing and set her down first. “Did you sleep well?”

She stroked her hand along his flank after he settled next to her, last night’s anxiety gone. “Yes.”

“Did you dream of me?”

Her hands slowed as she fondled him. “Your scales gleam beautifully in the sunlight.”

So she had dreamed of him. He chuckled and resisted the urge to nudge her closer.

She picked at his hide. “You’re very dry here.”

Twisting his long neck, he examined the spot. “It’s an old scar. I can’t reach there to take care of it properly.”

“Maybe your pet can help.” She continued her exploration along his tail.

“Grooming is a personal matter and I’m not attracted to goblins.”

She hesitated in her progress. “So touching is an intimate thing even in this form?”

“I’m male. Touching in any form is intimate.” He set his nose by her feet, inviting more caresses. She’d been interested in Koishi, his human form, until she’d discovered his true identity. However, she’d kissed him goodnight. Maybe it had been shock, and not fear, he’d seen in her eyes. The only way for him to know for sure was to remain as Ishi. “Would you oil the spot for me?” He nudged her hand with the tip of his nose. “Come on, you know you want to.”

She tossed her head back and laughed. The wind caught her hair, fanning it around her face.

He sighed. Beauty came in all shapes and forms, but this ease between them was rare.

“Show me where you keep the oil.” She scratched the sensitive ridge along his eye. What would she say when she found out it was considered foreplay?

“Climb aboard, I’ll carry you there.” He dipped his shoulder. When she backed away, he set his tail behind her. “Come on, don’t you want to ride me?”

The blush on her cheeks deepened and made him want her even more. She wouldn’t escape today. Nothing would keep him from having her in his bed. He ran the tip of his tail along her calf, climbing between her legs to her thigh before she swatted it away.

“Behave or I’ll change my mind.” Her voice shook. Pushing the loose strands of hair that had slipped from her ponytail behind her ears, she approached him. “You’re not going to fly?”

“Never. Not without a harness. Don’t you trust me?”

She raised any eyebrow at him.

It speared his heart. “I’m wounded. I haven’t harmed you. If anything, I’ve gone out of my way to help you.”

She snorted and clambered onto his shoulder, muttering things under her breath like trickster and twisting the truth. He might have done a little of both, but it had been all in fun. Never harm.

He waited until she settled between his shoulders, legs hanging around his neck. He’d truly be a liar if he said he didn’t enjoy the press of her sweet body against his scales, but he kept silent. He did want her to tend that patch after all. Walking on all fours, he carried her through his maze of tunnels to a hot spring deep enough for his dragon form to soak. With a small flaming breath, he lit the torches on the wall.

“Handy trick.” She clung to him, running her hands back and forth. He could spend the rest of the day under such attention.

Tendrils of steam floated from the water; the scent of minerals tinged the air.

“Nice.” She drew out the word in appreciation. “Koishi, help me climb down.”

Ignoring her, he scooped up a stiff brush with the tip of his tail and stepped into the pool. The water was warm, but wouldn’t burn her.

She rose to her feet while still on his shoulder as he swam farther from shore. With a twist of his back, she tumbled off. Sputtering, she surfaced from the depth. “My clothes are all wet!” She splashed the back of his head.

“You’ll have to take them off and let them dry.” He circled her and fluttered his eyelashes. “It’s not like they’ll be ruined. Oh! I hadn’t considered you might have wanted to undress first.”

With sure strokes, she swam for shallower waters.

He snaked his tail under her and stopped her progress by blocking her way. The brush dangled from the tip. “The area needs to be scrubbed of loose scales before you can apply the oil.” With a couple small kicks, he floated next to her. “It’s less painful if the area is soaked.”

She tossed him a glare that any warrior would have been proud to own, and then grabbed the brush. It didn’t take her much effort to climb from the water. On her hands and knees, she found the spot and applied the blessed brush.

Purring deep in his throat, he pointed his chin to the ceiling. “Oh yeah.” The tough bristle bit into his itchy flesh. He’d been ignoring the spot far too long.

She put her back into the scrubbing. “There’s a lot flaking off.”

His vision tunneled. “To the left. To the left.” A shiver ran over his spine and sent a spasm into his back leg. The harder she brushed, the faster his leg twitched. “Dear God, woman, you’re merciless,” he cried out.

Her soft chuckle echoed in the spacious cave, carrying a tint of evil. She sat on his spine and stopped cleaning the spot.

He spun his head around to check it out, almost giving himself whiplash. “I can still see loose scales.” He rose out of the water a bit so she could have a clearer view of his back.

“I know.”

Narrowing his gaze, he twisted his neck to face her. “What are you up to?”

She ran the tip of her finger over the sensitive area, sending his body into spasms. “How were you injured? I can’t imagine something harming you.”

He watched as she moved her hands gently over the old scar. “A cave troll broke through the gate.” A groan escaped his throat as she ran her fingernails over the spot. “They’re quite resistant to lava and magic. It was the size of a small house. We fought for three days.”

“In these tunnels?”

“Yes. Yes! Do you plan on torturing me all afternoon?” The glide of her nails over the tender new scales growing beneath the dry skin would have him at her mercy.

“Will I have the saji before I leave here today?” She ran the brush over the edges of his scar where nothing itched.

He stretched his back, reaching forward with his neck, trying to find some relief. “You’ll see it. I promise.” His bellow shook the cave. But he’d only comply after he fucked her into oblivion and showed her exactly who she teased.

She scoured until old scales floated past his submerged head. He had decided it was best she didn’t hear anymore of his pleasure noise. However, he couldn’t control that damn back leg.

Breaching the surface, he glanced her way.

“Don’t look at me like that. The spot is scrubbed clean.” She waved the brush at him before doing a cannonball off his back. The splash sent a small tsunami over his nose. She had used his weakness to coerce a deal from him. Part of him was proud, and the rest wanted to drown her.

He stomped out of the pool and lay on his side as he observed her leisurely swim to the shore. When she exited the water, all thoughts of murder vanished since the blood main-lined straight from his head to his cock.

Her wet t-shirt clung to her curves and the cool cave air perked her nipples to hard, suckable nubs. The transparent lace of her bra hinted at how perfect those breasts would appear above him, bouncing as she rode his hard–

“Where do you keep the oil?” She swiped her hair from her face.

He hid his arousal by lying on it, pain throbbing through his cock at the mistreatment, and he dragged his gaze back to her face. “Over on those shelves.” She held him captive. Him! He shook his head and wished the hot springs were filled with ice. Instead, he focused on memories of his mother. A couple of those should freeze his heart, let alone his balls.

Small bare feet climbed his spine until Sandra settled with the oil bottle in hand. She poured it directly on the spot and massaged the area with firm, hard strokes.

He buried his face under his claws to stop a moan of ecstasy, and resorted to desperate measures, a vision he had tried to burn from his mind for centuries, walking in on his parents as his father mounted… A shiver wracked his body.

“Are you cold?”

“I am now.” Right down to his soul.

She slid off his back and set the empty bottle on the floor. Rubbing her arms, she approached him. “It is kind of cold after being in the pool.”

He kept his gaze pointed over her head. “Let’s find you something dry to wear.” The last thing he wanted to do was terrify her with a dragon boner.

She appeared so small and shivery by his feet.

Tossing a glance over his shoulder, he checked out his hide. “You did a very nice job.” He couldn’t resist nudging her closer. To share his body heat. “Thank you.”

She pressed against his scales and made a happy noise in her throat. Oh yeah, baby.

“Climb aboard. We’ll go faster this way.” And she wouldn’t spot his hard-on from his back. No point in fighting it. She wasn’t leaving his nest today, tonight, or tomorrow. Her anxiety of his dragon form seemed better. He carried her to his living quarters and into his bedroom. “Why don’t you undress?” He shifted to his human form. “Let me help you.”

Chapter 9

A fluttery, empty sensation took over Sandra’s stomach at Koishi’s offer of undressing her.

He was, of course, naked. Why didn’t this shock her more?

She fought with her gaze. It kept wandering south along his well-defined chest, to his abs… She jerked her chin up once more and cleared her throat. The edge of the bed hit her mid-calf as she retreated, causing her to sit hard on the mattress.

Koishi followed until their knees touched. She couldn’t avoid his erection from this vantage point and he was formed like a dragon should be. Thick and hard, made to give a girl a hot flash and beg come on baby, show me what you can do.

Heat radiated around her face as a blush ignited over her cheeks.

He tugged the edges of her t-shirt from her jeans. “You’ll catch a cold in this.” The concern in his voice sounded so genuine she had to laugh. “You don’t think so?” With one swift motion, he slipped it over her head. It landed on the floor next to the bed, discarded with no thoughts to allowing it to dry.

The cool air pricked her skin and sent a shiver through her limbs.

Trailing his fingertips over her goose-bumped flesh, he traced her collarbone. “How will I warm you?” He gave her a gentle push, laying her across the mattress, and followed.

“Koishi.” She whispered his name before all the air vanished from her lungs. Pressed into the bed, her body went from ice cold to boiling in seconds.

He leaned over her, a mere fraction of an inch from touching, his gaze locked on hers. “Ishi,” he whispered back. “I should be Ishi to you. This form is just a pebble of what I am.”

She took a shaky breath as the intensity of his dark gaze bored into hers. What he said was true. This male was so much more than the one she’d first met on the dock, and the more time she spent with him, the faster she fell. Good thing he knew how to fly.

His fingertips traveled to the necklace around her neck. “What does this mean to you that you hesitate to part with it?” He fingered the heart-shaped pendant.

Fisting the blanket under her, she resisted the urge to pull it from his grasp. “It’s the symbol of my parents’ love.”

“They loved each other very much?” A tender smile pulled at his lips.

“Yes, as well as my sister and me.”

He kept running his fingers over the necklace, his gaze intent on it. “Family can be…complicated. My parents tolerated each other’s existence.”

She nodded, unable to speak around the knot in her chest. Reaching around the back of her neck, she unclasped the necklace.

Ishi leaned away as she set it around his throat and locked it closed. He bent his head to stare at it. “It is a heavy burden. There’s a lot of love in this metal.” He closed his eyes as if basking in the sun.

“You can sense that?”

“Sure, I’m a stone dragon after all. Metals are from the earth and have a special bond with my kind. This necklace has a link to you, too.” He leaned and set a gentle kiss on her lips. “It’s like having you by my heart.”

Any hint of her resistance to this charming dragon melted. “You’re very good at this.”

He purred a rough rumble in his chest and caressed her breast with a firm hand, giving it a squeeze. “I’ve barely begun.” Bending, he sucked her budding nipple through her white lace bra.

She arched at the sudden electric sensation as it traveled from his mouth straight to her core. How long had it been since she’d been with a man? Way too long. She gasped as he bit and rolled the nub between his teeth. Never with a dragon. Oh God, please let this be screaming-until-she-lost-her-voice good. Hooking a leg around his hip, she pulled him against her.

The action jerked her nipple from his clenched teeth, giving her an extra sharp zing to her pussy. He landed on top, hunger blazing in his glare.

“Don’t hold back.”

“I wasn’t planning to.” He took her mouth, his lips crushing hers as he forced his way inside. Hot and moist, his tongue along hers, he coaxed her to explore. Kisses were meant for affection, but this one set her on fire from the tip of her curled toes to her flaming ears. Ishi cradled her head within his hands as he nipped at her lips, then flicked his tongue back inside, claiming her once more.

With a groan, she followed his gifted mouth as he retreated from her and she caught a glimpse of her body. “Why am I not naked yet?” She reached for the front clasp of her bra.

He chuckled and scooped her in his arms. “You’re trouble, Sandra.”

To her horror, she squealed a little at his manhandling. “Me?”

Setting her against the headboard and those mysterious handholds carved into it, he straddled her legs. “Seducing me with your little games.”

She ran her hands along his strong thighs, digging her fingers into his flesh to reassure herself this wasn’t a dream. “I’m not the one who played games, Mr. Trickster.”

He rolled his hips, inviting her hands to wrap around his hard cock.

She squeezed as she stroked him.

“Oh yeah, that was me. You’re the one who wants to make deals with dragons.” He grinned and thrust his hips in time with her touch, his breaths becoming more rapid. “Open your mouth.”

“Wha…?”

He rose to his knees and presented his cock to her lips. “I won’t hurt you. Trust me?”

She swallowed reflexively and tried to calm the flutter in her chest. She’d given BJs before, but not in this position. It left her vulnerable to his control and Ishi liked to lie.

He ran the tip over her lips, a playful twinkle in his eyes.

She had to laugh. With Ishi in this mood, how could she not want to please him? She licked the tip before letting him slid it between her lips.

In and out, he teased her by barely entering, but the twinkle faded, consumed by something hungrier.

This position left her hands free to explore his body, yet it exposed her to his will and his control. How much of it did she want him to lose while at his mercy? She leaned forward while clutching his ass with her long fingernails, and sucked him deeper.

With a hiss, he gripped the headboard.

She wanted to add making a dragon gatekeeper her sex slave to her resume of life experiences. As if possessed by Aphrodite, she put her back into deep-throating, and clung to his thrusting hips as he whispered words she didn’t understand in a breathy voice.

“Enough.” He yanked away from her arms and sat back on his heels, breathing hard.

* * *

When was the last time he’d had a lover? Too long to recall. Females of his race didn’t understand his sense of humor, and most left in a puff of flames. However, sweet Sandra kept coming back.

She’d searched him out at his small farm, climbed the mountainside, jumped him when the gate teleported him among goblins to fight, and after all that, still returned to sing to him.

The saji either meant very much to her or maybe…he mentally shook himself. He wasn’t going to travel down this path. It only led to pain. Better to enjoy what he could in the present.

Gazing at her eager, beautiful face, he caught his breath. He had much better things to do than worry about his feelings, like convincing a certain human female she never wanted to leave his den.

With a sharp tug, he snapped the latch on the front of her bra open and let her rounded, firm tits tumble loose. They were even better than he’d imagined, and he had a pretty good imagination. He swept her into his arms and brought those perfect globes closer for a better inspection.

She gave a small cry of surprise at the sudden motion. Her chest rose faster. “You’re still very strong in this form.”

He licked one hard bud.

Gasping, she buried her fingers in his hair and clung to him.

Tender skin caressed his taste buds. So soft and bitable. He sucked on the nipple until she writhed in his arms, then he moved to the other. Silly of her to continue thinking of him as human after everything she’d seen.

“Koishi.”

He growled low in his throat and nipped her sensitive bud.

“Ow! Ishi, I meant Ishi.” She pulled at his hair, trying to flee his teasing suckles.

Spreading his hand over her spine, he had an excellent hold. She could fight all she wanted, but there’d be no escape. He grasped her breast in his free hand, molding it, enjoying the weight, while he ran a wet tongue over her swollen areola. Cream and silk slid over his tongue. How could a creature be so soft?

Wet jeans scraped against his chest as she spread her thighs. Words like Oh God and please kept slipping from between her lips.

He blew over the damp skin of her nipple and watched it harden even more.

She went silent as a shiver ran through her body and she arched her back.

Watching her lean form captured within his arms in a moment of ecstasy, he couldn’t pry his stare away. The way she lost herself to the passion threatened to sweep him in her wake. Like a storm, she’d rolled over his life and would leave him in shambles. Releasing his hold, he set her upon the mattress and yanked on her wet jeans. They stuck. With a jerk and a gnashing of teeth, he finally peeled them from her like a second skin.

Pink lace covered the apex of her thighs. A noise close to a purr rolled in his throat. The entrance to tantalizing flesh and the doorway to hours of pleasure, all wrapped in a pretty package. He bent between her legs, setting her heels to rest upon his back so she wouldn’t tire. He had plans for her energy later.

Tracing the edge of delicate material with his tongue, he slipped inside long enough to steal a sweet taste of his Sandra. He glanced at her face. His? His gaze traveled from between her thighs and along her heaving breast until it met hers.

The desire within her eyes flared.

Very much his. Her panties didn’t have a chance. He hooked his finger under the crotch and tore them from her hips with a sharp jerk. His balls ached as they clenched at the sight of her fragile flesh. He leaned closer and licked between her labia, searching for her sweet spot.

Long ago, in Outremer and in Inverness before the gates were guarded, virgins were tied to altars as a sacrifice to appease dragon kind. He was too young to have experienced that type of worship, but the way Sandra lay across his bed made him wish such traditions continued. Then he could demand she be his forever.

She ran her fingertips through his hair, allowing his locks to slide between them.

The intimate gesture curled around his heart as if she caressed him there instead. How could he want Sandra to stay against her will? His stomach curdled. He wanted her to stay of her own free will. His kin would accuse of him of being around humans too much. Was it so terrible that he needed her to want him? There was something to be said about love, as evidenced by the necklace around his throat.

Latching on to her clit, he fondled it with teeth and tongue. He loved the little nonsensical noises she made.

She squirmed and pulled at the sheets on the bed.

“Take me,” she cried and tried to wiggle beneath him.

With a chuckle, he planted his hand on her abdomen and kept her in place. So eager and easy to please. Such behavior should be rewarded. Grasping her nipple with his free hand, he twisted it and simultaneously flicked her bud with his tongue.

Her moans turned into a sharp gasp. Pumping her hips, she struggled for breath while repeating, “Yes” over and over. She gripped his hair as if he were the only handhold while she dangled from a cliff.

Before her orgasm dissipated, he crawled over her and rolled them so she sat straddling his hips.

She blinked at him, a little dazed.

“Ride me.” From below, he drove his cock into her wet and ready pussy.

Tight, silken flesh gripped his rod as she convulsed around it. She threw back her head, sweat gleaming on her skin with the torchlight of his chambers.

He pushed deeper, in time with her strokes. Breathing became difficult. “Wait.” He didn’t want to come, but the sight of her bouncing breasts as she arched back undid him. He grasped her hips and let her take them both over.

As if kicked from behind, he thrust hard and spilled his seed while she cried his name and milked his cock.

Slowing her thrusts, she slumped, then curled onto him, her chest heaving.

He stroked and cradled her against his drumming heart. Who would have known that such a change came on the wake of the storm that brought her to his island? Not him.

He’d spent a large part of his life protecting the gate, an honor bestowed on only the greatest of warriors, except he fought for all the wrong reasons. He’d done it for the title and the glory of battle.

What if something broke through and hurt this world? His Sandra? How could he expect her to stay by his side when danger lurked in his den? Gatekeepers kept the balance of two worlds, yet one little human female could distract him enough to forget his duty.

Maybe the gates chose the greatest warriors not only for their skills, but for the isolated lives they lived. Odd, how empty his existence seemed now.

She traced her necklace where it lay on his chest. “I never thought I’d be willing to part with it.”

His heart twisted. The metal weighed heavy and he had trouble breathing.

“I’m glad you have it.” She placed a kiss upon his skin next to it. “You understand how precious it is.”

He took a deep, shaky breath and squeezed her close. “Come let me give you the saji.”

Chapter 10

Sandra’s brain was shutting down one system at a time, so she didn’t catch exactly what Ishi had said.

Exhausted muscles trembled in her limbs as she lay across his warmth. She never wanted to move again. His hard body was the best mattress she’d ever rested on. She didn’t want to return home; she’d found everything she craved in life here.

Sighing, she rolled off and sprawled across the blankets, staring at the cave ceiling. She had to leave. Her desires didn’t matter, saving her sister’s life did. She glanced at Ishi, who stared at her with such interest it broke her heart.

“Come on.” He nudged her shoulder. “The treasure room isn’t far.” His gaze traveled from her face, caressing her nude form as it moved along her body. “I could carry you.”

She laughed. “I’m not that worn out.”

He buried his face against her neck. “Not yet.”

“But I’m not going anywhere naked. Not with that–that Urgle running around.”

His quiet chuckle by her ear melted over her heart. “I think you remaining naked is an excellent idea. You know, there once was this king in Outremer who made it a law in his kingdom that no female could wear a top.”

“You’re making that up.”

He laughed harder. “No, it’s true. The females revolted.”

She snorted. “Like they should.”

“Wait, there’s a moral to this story. Even though they protested, they still had to do it half naked or be arrested. Merchants began diverting their routes to pass through this city of bared breasts. They brought more commerce, and tourism flourished. As money began to flow into the city, the revolt was forgotten. To this day, it is one of the wealthiest places in Outremer.”

Rolling to her side, she eyed him. “I’m not seeing the moral.” What an odd world he came from.

“Breasts bring prosperity, of course.” He tweaked her nipple.

She groaned and swung the closest pillow at his head. “That’s a terrible story.”

“It’s not a story. It’s fact.” He grinned at her behind the pillow. “I’ll take you there if you’d like me to prove it.”

Her pulse slowed almost to a stop. “To Outremer?” She’d never even dared dream of crossing the gate.

Turning his back to her, he settled the pillow where it belonged. “Sure.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You’d have to go topless.” Then he winked.

She tossed another pillow at his head.

“Stop that. Are you forgetting what I am?”

“An egotistical dragon with a terrible sense of humor and a bad case of scale rot?” She climbed out of bed and grabbed her wet jeans. Without a tube of lubricant, she’d never get them on.

“Is that what you think?” He pulled her against him. “And you still had sex with me? Must be true love.” His mouth found hers before she could respond. Firm, full lips devoured her as she went limp in his arms. It was exactly what she thought of him. He was perfect.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. If only…

With a sigh, he retreated from her hungry lips. “I have some spare clothes in a trunk around here somewhere.” He strode to a pile of rolled carpets, discarded blankets and pillows. Tossing things to the side, he revealed an old wooden chest and pulled it free. He opened it and pulled out one brightly colored garment after another.

“Where did you get these?” She leaned against his back and peeked around his shoulder. Inside lay a pile of dresses and blouses made of very fine fabrics.

He held a bikini-like top made of brass disks.

“No.”

His grin faded. “You’re not any fun.”

“Fine.” She snatched it from his hand and tried to make sense of how to wear it. “I won’t even ask how you got it.”

“That’s a good policy.” He dug in the box and came out with a pair of filmy transparent pants.

“Were you dating a genie?” She latched the top and could barely squeeze her breasts inside the cups. Apparently, a much smaller sized female once owned this.

“Better for you not to know.”

She took the offered pink pants and dressed, tying the sash around her waist. With a shake of her shoulders, she made the metal disks chime.

“Whoa.” He stepped back. “I retract my offer to bring you to that city. I’d have to fight off hordes.”

“And I retract my statement as well. Where did all these clothes come from?” Wearing an old girlfriend’s outfit made her skin crawl. She reached behind her to unclasp the bra, but Ishi grasped her hand.

“Most are from travelers immigrating to Inverness. I can’t let them into your world wearing clothes like this. They have to discard their past and leave here looking human.” He drew her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “That outfit was from a fairy princess who ran from an unhappy engagement.” Brushing his fingertips over the metal, he gave her a smug grin. “You make those chimes ring much better.”

“So some supernatural creatures live on my side of the gate?”

He shrugged. “Sure. I do, don’t I? Other gatekeepers, those who wish to leave magic behind or are in hiding or fall in love with a human–there are a lot of different reasons I might let them stay. This gate leaves it up to me to decide. I think it trusts me.”

Goosebumps rose on her arms. “You talk as if it’s sentient.” Magic and dragons, now smart gates. What next?

He scratched his cheek as he spoke. “In some ways, I think it is. Every gate is different and each one chooses its keeper.”

“So every keeper is as different as its gate.”

“Yes.”

“What if you tire of guarding it? Can you quit?”

“No, until my death do we part. I’m bound to the gate as long as I live.”

“Or it gets destroyed.” She imagined dragons could live very long. It seemed like a terrible fate.

Ishi’s sudden and intense glare made her uncomfortable. “I don’t think they can be destroyed. I’ve never heard of it happening. Nor have I ever tried.” He chucked her chin with his knuckle as if pleased. “You’re very fun to talk with. I’m glad I pursued you.” He pulled out a pair of black silken pants from the trunk and dressed. The material clung in all the right places. Maybe the cloth was magical, because no male should look that good in silk.

She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. “You pursued me? I didn’t see you tromping the mountainside trying to attract my attention.”

“Why would I do that when I had you doing it for me?” He grasped her hand and made her follow. “The treasure room is this way.”

Gaping at his back, she all but swallowed her tongue. He’d led her around like a puppy and she’d jumped every hoop he tossed her way. Why had he gone through all that trouble? “Why didn’t you just tell me you were the dragon when we met?”

“And miss all the fun?”

“Of tricking me?” She stopped and tore her hand from his.

He tilted his head as he regarded her. “No, of getting to know you as a human does. You never would have been comfortable with me if you’d known.” He gave her a shy smile. “I like how you still treat me as if I’m only Koishi.”

“Oh.”

“This way.” He turned through a doorway next to his chamber.

She took a deep breath. He had pursued her. Every moment in the past two days had led to now. Here, standing in a fairy princess outfit outside a dragon’s treasure room, finally the truth sank in.

He liked her.

If it were just sex, he could have seduced her the day they’d met. He had those skills in spades.

“Sandra?” He poked his head around the doorway. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” Warmth bloomed in her stomach and filled her empty heart. “I’m great.” She stepped inside and her legs stalled at the threshold.

Ishi was making his way around a great golden mass of melted together–stuff. Cups, jewelry, and other miscellaneous things stuck together in a–a nest-like shape. He turned her way. “It’s my bed.”

She pointed outside the door. “And what were we just lying in?”

“I can’t very well sleep on that in dragon form. First, it’s too small, and second, it would catch on fire.” He rolled his eyes. “Gold retains heat and molds itself to my shape.” Gazing at the metal, he stroked it with a lover’s touch. “Can’t say that about the mattress.”

“Isn’t it hard?” She approached the large mass and rose on tiptoe to glance inside.

“With my body heat, it softens.”

She clenched her fists and glanced at the precious necklace hanging from his neck.

His gaze followed hers, and he fingered it. “I wouldn’t melt this for my bed. I have a place for special things.” He crooked a finger at her to come closer.

Like a good little human, she raced into his arms. Honestly, after that kind of sex, what woman wouldn’t?

He ran a possessive hand along her waist to her ass. “I’ve always liked fairy fashion.”

“I thought you preferred me naked.”

Wicked longing sparked in his eyes as his gazed darted to meet hers. “I do.”

“Then I wouldn’t be able to do this.” She made her breasts chime.

His nostrils flared and a growl rumbled in his chest.

Before he could melt the bra off her body, she raced away toward an exit on the other side of his bed. On fleet bare feet, she padded into the room and came to another full halt.

Ishi was a step behind her and slammed into her body. “Hey.” Catching her in his strong arms, he kept her from doing a nosedive off the ledge of a low cliff.

Her heart did a jig. She stared at the room below them, at the pile of gems and precious metals, pieces of art sitting on display stands, weapons hanging on the wall. She exhaled, not realizing she’d been holding her breath. “The treasure room, I suppose?”

He chuckled. “Yes.”

“Wow.”

They descended along a narrow stairway. “This is my hoard. I don’t let just anyone in here.”

“I’m honored.”

“You should be.” He took her by the hand. “I know every piece in my collections. This area in the far back is where I keep my more dangerous and powerful items.”

“Like the saji.”

“No. The saji doesn’t require much magic, which is why it will work in this realm.”

She glanced at the area he pointed toward. “There’s not much stuff back there.”

“Not anymore. Wizards and witches used to create such unbelievable works. Things that could bring the dead to life, swords that could kill angels, even some items that could feed whole nations.” He shook his head, sadness shadowed his eyes. “Those days are long gone. I don’t know of anyone who could wield that kind of power anymore. Just a few items scattered through Outremer remain.”

“Probably in other dragons’ hoards.” She patted his shoulder and pretended to care. She wasn’t a dragon and didn’t give a rat’s ass about gold, but he did. His hoard meant something to him, so she’d do her best to learn to care.

“Excellent point, Sandra. They probably are in others’ hoards.” He tapped his chin. “It’s been a long while since I raided one.” He returned to the front of his treasure room, where odd objects lay discarded against the wall. Kneeling, he sorted through it until he held a pewter colored spoon. He rose and placed it in her hand. “This is a saji.”

Her eyes went wide as she stared at it. “A spoon?”

“A magical spoon.”

Running her finger along the cold metal, she sensed nothing special. She shot him a look. Was he playing another trick?

He cupped her hands with his. “I forget how magic-deaf humans are. I can sense it pulsing in your hands.”

She closed her eyes and held her breath. Pouring all her concentration into her palms, she felt…she felt…nothing. “I’ll have to take your word for it. How does it work?”

“It heals the sick. Feed them with this spoon and they’ll become better.”

“That’s it?”

He nodded.

“No chanting, pentagrams, or sacrifices?”

“Nope. Items like this carry their own magic so it doesn’t need to be channeled, but you can only use it one time before it has to be returned to Outremer for recharging.”

“I only have to feed her with this?” Tears made her eyes swim and she blinked them away.

“Who–” He paused as if hearing something. “Stay hidden in here.” Then he vanished.

Chapter 11

Scanning the gateroom as soon as he arrived, Ishi spotted five squat creatures racing through the gate. Unlike goblins, these figures wore spiked helms and sturdy armor. They came to a sudden halt at the sight of him.

The leader gave him a brown-toothed bearded grin. Swinging his axe in a lazy arc, he prowled forward. “Cover the exits. This one’s mine.” He spoke to his comrades in their gravelly language.

Ishi gnashed his flat human-like teeth. Dwarves. Finally, something with fighting skills. He thumped his chest with a double fisted beat. Bring it on. Shifting to dragon form, he laughed as their eyes grew wide at his transformation. Really? The hill of bones at the gate entrance on the Outremer side still wasn’t enough of a hint?

Calling forth lava from the streams that flowed through the room, he snapped them like whips.

The intruders scattered, but there was no cover to be had. Using his control over stone, Ishi had smoothed the area ages ago. However, the dwarves’ gear didn’t melt or catch flame when touched.

Damn them and their metal magic. Lava wasn’t effective enough on these well-armored enemies. Only their skin burned, and even that didn’t deter this tough lot.

With the coordination of a well-trained unit, one distracted him by attacking him head-on as the others jumped him from behind.

Dropping his control over the liquid stone, he rolled across the floor, squashing a hard armored assailant, and unsheathed his sword from its place on the wall. In unison with his sharp tail, he parried their assault. The heavy weapon would have been cumbersome for most large species, but he was Ishi, Gatekeeper of the East. Swinging low to the ground, he cut a dwarf in half. The spray of blood arced over his remaining companions.

“What do you want in this realm?” Ishi shouted at them. Dwarves rarely crossed into Inverness. They valued gold and gems…

He set his clawed feet firmly on the ground at the realization of what they were truly after and drew upon the lava flowing throughout the mountain. No one would get his treasure. He’d melt it first. They couldn’t escape. The fools would bring further confirmation of his existence and next thing he’d know, his den would be infested with the metal-clad vermin. Touching his hoard, stealing it down to their mines, and melting his delicate gold and shiny silver for their own crafts.

Currents of lava increased in flow into the gateroom as his vision narrowed on the dwarves. He’d erupt the fucking volcano before they laid one pudgy finger on his stuff.

Sending his power deep into the Earth, he called to the liquid stone. He’d flood his treasure room if they got past his defenses. The mountain groaned, unbalancing one dwarf to pinwheel his arms and then topple over onto the ground.

Ishi impaled him through his stomach with the tip of his tail.

The other two stopped mid-swing and met each other’s gaze, then raced for escape, leaping toward the gate.

With a twist of his torso, he blocked their way using his tail once more, skewered dwarf still on it and all. Blood dripped from their dead companion.

“Ishi?” A soft voice called out behind him.

He spun around, ankle deep in dwarven menace.

Sandra peeked around the doorway, a vulnerable target.

His heart bronco-ed as he placed himself between her and the intruders. “Get out of here!” he shouted at her. Pain lanced into his shoulder. The sharp burn arched down his arm. He glanced back at an axe embedded above his wing. The little snot just missed, either by bad aim or his dumb luck.

The volcano rumbled again since he was still connected to the core, except now he remembered something more precious than gold stood not far from him. Destroying his den would kill Sandra.

He roared in the face of his enemies. Spit flew from his lips, landing on the horned helm of the nearest dwarf. Drawing upon his power, he focused his call on the lava. A headache blurred his vision with the effort. Spilling the liquid stone across the room from the stream, he encased the closest of the living intruders in molten heat. Their magical armor would survive, but not their exposed flesh. The dwarf screamed and flung himself through the gate.

Ishi sucked in a deep breath and blinked his vision back into focus. Had he given himself an aneurysm?

The scent of roasted dwarf filled the air. Maybe Urgle was hungry?

Something would have to be done about the dwarven colony usurping the goblin hoards. He didn’t care for either race, but the goblins were stupid and easier to manage.

Breathing heavy, Sandra clung to the rock wall. She stared with wide eyes at the cooling glob by the gate. “You fight like this all the time?”

Shrugging, he stepped forward and blocked her view. “This was a small skirmish.” He tilted his head as he watched the color drain from her face. “I’m a gatekeeper. It’s my job.” He stood in a shallow pool of lava, his scales designed for this hot liquid. “Careful.” A small drop would sizzle right through her delicate body.

He had almost sent the flood of lava into his treasure room where he had left her. Fool. He could have killed her.

An aftershock shook the room. Stumbling forward, she wheeled her arms, trying to maintain her precarious balance.

Time slowed as his searing heart froze. As if having a mind of its own, his tail snaked out to catch her, but it dragged with the weight of an impaled dead dwarf still stuck on the barbed end.

The lava wasn’t deep; however, it would sizzle the flesh off her bones.

She let out a high-pitched shriek and tumbled forward.

His lungs seized as he stretched forward, doing a belly flop, to have her land on his face, his mouth, anything else but the lava.

He heard nothing and opened his eyes, surprised to find they were closed.

Sandra hovered over the liquid fire. A thick green arm was wrapped around her waist.

Ishi’s gaze met Urgle’s.

The goblin set her back on her feet, far from the ledge. “I do good?”

The dragon nodded, still sprawled across the receding lava pool. “You did great!”

The goblin grinned. “Okay.”

“Give me time to think of a good reward for you.” He rose to his feet and brushed off his dignity. He was a dragon, not some lounging hound dog.

“Okay.” His pet ambled back toward the work area where he had set him up to work on wind chimes.

Ishi eyed Sandra. “Did any land on you?” He couldn’t touch her like he wanted while still covered in the molten stone. “A drop splash on you?”

“I–I’m fine. Just shaken.” She reached for his snout.

“Don’t. I’m still too hot.”

She jerked away, but a secret smile pulled at her lips.

He narrowed his eyes. “What?”

“You were worried about me.”

His grin matched hers. “I know. Who would have guessed?”

* * *

Not her.

With her soul leaping and whooping at Ishi’s statement, Sandra struggled to keep from grinning like a grade school girl. He cared about her. She had traveled halfway around the world, ready to battle a dragon if need be, and instead, he’d swept her off her feet.

Her heart throbbed with a dull ache. She’d almost forgotten what happy felt like.

“Urgle.” He called down the hallway after the goblin who had just saved her life. “Before you go, I need a hand with this.” He plunked his tail onto the ground next to where she stood. A dead, half-charred person was impaled on the tip.

Her tender heart took a nosedive into her stomach, sending a back splash up her throat. She pivoted, falling to her knees, and gagged on her last meal. Oh God, when did she cross over to the Twilight Zone? Dragon lover? Goblin savior? Roasted dwarf? Finally, nothing was left in her stomach and only dry heaves remained.

She listened to Urgle’s grunt as if he struggled with something heavy, but she refused to glance over her shoulder. Could someone theoretically vomit their stomach out? It sure seemed like she was close.

Something wet plopped on the ground and she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Pull the axe out of my shoulder now,” Ishi instructed his pet. More grunting, followed by the ping of metal hitting stone. He sighed. “That’s better. Take away the body. I don’t care what you do with it, but keep it out of her sight.” She sensed Ishi kneeling next to her before he brushed her hair away from her face. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m as bad as the goblins. Isolation tends to make manners unnecessary.” He gathered her into his human arms, the skin of his bare chest still heated from the lava.

“I’m okay. I’m just not used to–to…” She glanced around the gateroom with the cooling lava on the floor already turning into stone. “This.” Plopping her head on his shoulder, she sighed. “Don’t you ever get tired of fighting?”

“No.” He stared at her as if she’d grown an extra eye in her forehead.

“Afraid?”

He grunted. “Of what?” He scooped her in his arms and carried her toward his bedroom.

“Nothing frightens you?”

His step faltered. “It scared me when you almost fell.” The intensity of his stare weighed heavy upon her. “You need to stay away from this room. The need to protect you makes me sloppy.” He gestured with his chin at his shoulder.

With her hand, she explored the spot and found it slick with something wet. She glared at the blood on her fingertips. “You’re hurt.” She wiggled in his arms. “Put me down.”

“I’m trying. Stop squirming.”

She half fell, half landed on her feet, but none of that mattered. Skirting around him, she saw the wound on his back, close to his shoulder blade. “Oh dear, you need stitches.”

He twisted his back so he could get a better view. “It’s just a flesh wound. I’ll be fine. Little bugger almost clipped my wing, though. That would have pissed me off.” Rubbing his stomach, he turned to face her. “Nothing like a good fight to make a dragon hungry.”

She made a face. “There’s charred dwarf.”

“Too chewy.” He took her hands in his. “I promised you sushi.”

She made a worse face. Raw fish was for cats. “That’s a promise I could bear to be broken.”

His grin grew wider and his eyelids heavier as he drew closer. “What if I promise to feed you by hand?”

“As long as you wash them.”

He burst into laughter. “Done. First, a shower.” He eyed her I Dream of Jeannie outfit and gave a sad sigh. “You should change.”

She nodded and strode into his bedroom. Her jeans were still wet, so she returned to his trunk of clothes. What would she find next?

Strong hands snaked around her waist, spinning her to face him. “Before you change, make them chime for me again.” He stared at the metal disks hanging from her breasts, and ran his hands along her sides. The carnal hunger in his gaze placed her nipples on the hard setting. If his smolder grew any hotter, she’d melt in his arms.

She was pathetic.

But happy.

She chimed her boobs with a good shake and couldn’t help but laugh as a smug grin spread across his face. “They’re not toys.”

He snorted with an accent of a dragon. “Says you.” He cupped them with a firm grip. “I could play all day. On second thought, maybe we should get take-out.”

“That sounds nice.” She leaned into his touch. “Before we devolve into grunting animals, I need to use the phone.”

“I like grunting.” He pinched her nipple, sending a hot streak of desire straight to her core.

She liked him grunting too.

He leaned away so he could meet her gaze. “Why do you need a phone?”

“I have to call the airline and book a flight home.”

Dropping his hands, he retreated as if slapped. “Home? You just got here.”

The puzzlement in his eyes tore at the thin fabric of her happiness. She hadn’t planned on any of this to happen, but she had to return. “You don’t understand–”

“I understand perfectly well. You got what you wanted from me and now it’s time to leave. Just like a human.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the cave walls, his gaze as hard as the stone around them. “I brought you into my den.” He pointed toward the tunnel with a sharp jab of his finger. “I showed you my treasure.” The muscles along his temple ticked. “I shared my bed.”

“I know–”

“You should be nesting by now, preparing to have my babies. Not running away.” She could count his teeth as he yelled in her face.

She swallowed, remembering the roasted body that had decorated his tail not long ago. “But I’m not a dragon.” She managed the words in a whisper.

“No shit?” He rolled his eyes at the ceiling. “You’re just a distraction.” Storming past her, he headed to the bathroom and stopped by the doorway. “The phone’s in there.” He pointed to small alcove carved off the bedroom, then slammed the door behind him.

Chapter 12

Sandra had found a lovely button-down pink dress in the trunk of misfit clothes. It came down above her knees with a flare that danced in the wind, but she may as well have worn her wet clothes for all the notice Ishi showed as he strode onto the ledge.

His suit jacket flapped in the gentle wind, and the open collar of his white dress shirt hinted at the solid muscles of his chest. Water dripped from the ends of his freshly washed hair. “I can’t fly us down. The wound is deeper than I thought. I have to let the muscles knit together, or risk worse damage. It should only take a few hours.”

“Oh.” She stared down the side of the volcano at the ocean and the far away docks where she’d have to catch the ferry back to the main island of Japan.

“This isn’t a ploy to trap you here.” He scowled at the ocean and possibly the same docks. “We’ll drive.”

“I thought you said there wasn’t any way to get up here but by flying.”

“I lied.” He jumped off the ledge by the entrance.

She raced to the side, expecting to see his body squished on the side of the volcano. “Ishi!” Freezing in her tracks, she met his gaze.

He stood on a narrow shelf. “What?” he bit out the question.

She choked on her relief, almost sinking to her knees. Even if he’d jumped off, he’d probably survive. He was a dragon, after all. “How do I get down?”

Holding out his hands, he gestured her closer until he grasped her hips and lowered her to the shelf. Pressing against his body stirred a mix of desire and sorrow.

She wanted to take the saji from her pocket, toss it off the mountain, and declare she’d never leave him. Duty and love could really suck lemons. Her sister needed her more than Ishi did. Life and death trumped love and happiness.

He led the way, holding her hand. She didn’t doubt that if she fell he would shift shape and catch her, no matter how injured he was. Her faith in him had grown fast over the last few days. How could she have reservations about a creature who’d spent such a long time defending a world not his own?

Honor, strength and power were fused to him in such a way that she doubted he was even aware of it. Afraid of what? he had asked, as if bravery was a given, fear nonexistent for him.

It was very real for her. Hovering over her for the last twelve months, the fear of losing her family had consumed her to the point of–of making deals with dragons.

She glanced at his broad back. But he had admitted to experiencing fear when she almost fell into the lava. She squeezed his hand.

He didn’t respond and released his hold when they reached a dirt path with his parked, well-used 4x4 truck. After opening the passenger side door, he helped her inside.

The ride consisted of bumpy trails, rocking the truck to the point where she thought they were going to roll over. Not exactly a time to clear the air between them. She clung to the chicken bar and prayed for asphalt.

By the time they hit the city road, she was too car sick to give a shit about making amends. She stared out the window and tried to calm her nausea, not wanting to toss her cookies. She’d already puked in front of Ishi once today, so why would a second time matter?

They parked in front of the restaurant, where he jumped out and opened her door. “You look a little green.”

“I prefer your flying over your driving.” She oozed out of the vehicle and rested her head against his chest. He was so solid and warm. She could stay there forever.

“I’ll remember that.” He ran his fingertips over her spine. “When do you leave?”

“In two days.” It was the soonest opening on any flights to America, unless she went stand-by.

He buried his face in her hair. “We’ll make the best of that time.”

She chewed on the inside of her cheeks, anger boiling in her belly. Male miscommunication apparently crossed species as well as worlds. She punched his injured shoulder, glaring at his pig-headed handsome face. Men!

“Ouch.” He winced. “What was that for?”

“I can’t come back to see you?”

He blinked and worked his jaw like a pelican with a full maw.

“You didn’t think of that, did you? You storm around your den like–like…”

“A dragon?”

“A stupid dragon.”

“I never claimed to be smart.” He grinned and eyed her fists. “I thought you were leaving for good.”

“See, that’s the problem, you were thinking. Leave that part to me. Stick to the fighting.”

He swooped in, molding her to the truck, and pinned her hands to her sides before smothering her with a kiss. Hard and hot, he entered her mouth, plundering her senses as if he owned the rights to her body. Heat washed over her as the press of his flesh ignited her passion anew.

She jerked away and gasped for breath. Hot damn. “Let’s take dinner to go.”

His dark gaze traveled along her curves before returning to her face. “Patience.”

Gaping, she kept from stomping her foot like a three-year-old. “Two days.”

“But you said you’d come back. I think maybe we should wait until you return. It would make the meeting so much sweeter.”

She gave her best impression of a dragon snort. It came out more piggish. “You won’t make it.”

“I’m a dragon. Patience is in my blood.”

She ran her fingertip over the fly of his pants.

He jolted as if she’d used a cattle prod.

“So is sex.” She slipped around him, making sure to rub her breasts against his arm as she passed, and moseyed to the restaurant. She held in a laugh at the sound of him taking a deep breath before he followed her with a hurried step.

Inside the restaurant he exchanged words with the hostess, who knew him by name and acted as if they were old friends. When the hostess touched his arm with her delicate fingers, Sandra wanted to bite them off.

She ground her teeth and stared at the mutant goldfish, called Koi, swimming in a tank by the doorway instead. All the while, images of dumping that tank over the hostess’s head kept her occupied.

Ishi took her hand and led her to a private table in the back. “I already ordered our meal.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You must come here often to know the menu by heart.”

“I hate to cook, and they do it so well.”

“Hmm…” She watched the pretty Asian woman who knew him by name cross the room. “Sample anything else here besides food?”

The waitress set a warm bottle of sake between them.

Pouring it into small ceramic cups, he grinned. “I remembered you like this.” So did she. Except, she had chugged the sake straight out of the bottle the last time she drank it.

* * *

What was so urgent in America that it couldn’t wait a few more weeks? Ishi liked his new toy very much. She made him laugh and was fun to play with. She was strong, with just enough muscle to punch like a man. He rubbed his shoulder. Nothing like the delicate flowers he’d plucked from the island from time to time.

How could he not admire a female brave enough to approach him to make a deal? Most humans cowered or cried, or worse, pissed themselves when he was in dragon form. She’d cared for his hide and treated both his forms as equals.

The air seemed too thin to breathe all of a sudden as his gaze met hers. Sweat trickled down his back. By his grandfather’s hairy balls, she cared for him. He tossed his sake back like a shot. Worse, he cared for her.

She made him happy.

“You look a little pale.” She placed a hand over his. “Maybe you should take it easy on the sake. I don’t think I can carry you home.”

The image made him chuckle. “It would take more than a bottle to get me that drunk, sweetie.” He did sip his next cup, though. These feelings swirling in his chest worried him. Normally he’d stomp them out or deny their existence, but they wouldn’t let him ignore them. They’d been there all along, ever since she asked him for directions to a brothel instead of a hotel. He had thought his attraction was only carnal.

“Should I ask what I’m going to eat, or is it better I don’t know?” She finished her drink and made a face. “I won’t eat tentacles.”

Warmth that had nothing to do with the sake spread from his belly. She had such a lovely way of expressing herself. “Nothing bad. I promise.” She opened a new world for him. All he had to do was step in and conquer her heart.

“This, coming from someone who has eaten goblin.”

“Dragon taste buds are different from human ones. I won’t eat dog in this form.”

“Dog?” She leaned away from the table.

The serving wench returned with a tray. Samples of their culinary art were displayed for Sandra.

She regarded dinner with a strategic expression.

He plucked a piece with the chopsticks provided. “It won’t bite. It’s dinner, not a battle.” Lifting it to her mouth, he waited. First, she needed to learn to trust him. He’d never harm her.

With a huge sigh, she opened her mouth and closed her eyes.

He wasn’t feeding her entrails, but she acted like it. The sushi roll he’d chosen didn’t even contain meat. He popped one in his mouth as well, with a generous piece of wasabi and ginger.

Nodding, she chewed with more vigor. “Not bad. So if your tastes are different depending on your form, why don’t you hunt in Outremer as a dragon? Or are you not allowed to pass through the gate?”

“I can pass, yet it calls me when it’s breeched. Like here, I might be able to fly in any direction, but I always get called back.”

“What about just outside the gate? Like here?” She struggled with the chopsticks. Pieces of sushi kept slipping from her grasp, and then with the bravery of a warrior, she used her fingers, tucking one in her mouth.

“Not exactly a place I want to stay. Shadowburn is populated by the darker brethren of supernaturals.”

She paused in taking a sip of her sake. “In English now?”

“It’s where the bad monsters live.” He offered her a roll with tuna hidden inside. “The goblins have a huge nest outside my gate. Well, had a nest. A colony of dwarves have driven them out of their cave system. They even herded a few groups through the gate so I’d do the killing for them, lazy metal grinders.” He shook his head at their audacity. “That’s how I got Urgle.”

She gave a crooked, gentle smile. “You have a soft spot for him.”

“Of course I don’t. He’s just a pet.”

“Most people love their pets.”

“I’m not sleeping with Urgle. No matter how much you beg. I’m not into that kind of thing.” He understood what she meant, but he loved how she threw her head back when she laughed and how her eyes sparkled.

“Okay, so no menage with the goblin, and no vacations in Shadowburn.” She blinked. “Where do your people live?”

“Oh, we can’t bear to live together.” Just the thought sent a shiver down his spine. “But most of us live in Upper Firth. There’s a high concentration of humans in that realm. You’d like it there.”

“You’re isolated from everyone.” Her eyes turned sad.

That was the last thing he wanted to see on her face. “They visit and I can’t wait until they leave. This island provides enough entertainment.” Until recently…

“Oh, well, that’s good.” Her gaze traveled to the waitress serving another couple.

He offered her another piece of sushi.

“You know I can feed myself.” She took the morsel, the delight in her eyes tempering her words.

“I believe you can, but why should you when I’m here?”

“Very smooth.” She dabbed the corner of her mouth. “Don’t you miss your home?” The wistful words caught at his heart and sizzled on its surface. She obviously missed hers.

“The gate is my home. I’ve been here so long, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I didn’t guard it.”

She leaned forward. “How long exactly?”

Ah, the age old question every human eventually asked him. Experience had taught him discussing time with short-lived species always made them sad. He didn’t want her ever being like that around him. Yet, time would stalk her, unlike his race.

“Long enough for me to think of this realm as my own.” He waved at the waitress and signaled for another bottle of sake, since theirs had emptied quite quickly.

“Fine, Mr. Evasive, how did this become your job, then?” She jabbed a piece of sushi, spearing it viciously with both chopsticks, and offered it to him.

He appreciated a ferocious streak in his females. Chewing the piece she’d fed him, he considered his toy–companion. “A long, long time ago, in a land far, far away–”

She held up her hand. “Does this involve a man in a black outfit and helmet?”

“It does!” He grinned as she rolled her eyes. “Except where I come from they use real swords, not those fancy light gadgets.”

“Sabers.”

He shrugged. “A dark knight tried to take over all of Outremer. I fought in the war against him.” It was a bloody time in the realm. His mother had thrived on the battles and he had learned there could be more to a dragon’s life than gold.

“And you killed him?”

“No, his son did, but the boy was my squire for many years before obtaining his own knighthood.” The good old days, the clash of metal against metal, the cries of the fallen, the wenching…

“Ishi.”

He blinked, returning to the present. “I may not have swung the killing stroke, but I led many armies against evil and trained even more warriors in my wake. When this gate lost its keeper, it called me. I’ve guarded it ever since.” Goblin hordes had killed the last keeper and almost taken over this island. The offer to fight and defend a helpless realm rang true with his soul when he’d agreed to it.

“Fighting goblins and whatever else that comes through the gate, protecting us.” She took his hand in hers and pressed her lips to his knuckles.

He scanned the room to see if anyone had noticed. “What are you doing?” Males kissed female’s hands. Not the other way around.

She rubbed her cheek against his palm. “You’re a real live hero.”

Laughing, he leaned across the table to kiss her lips before she could notice the blush burning across his cheeks. She had surprised him again. Touche. Settling back in his seat, he pinned her with his stare. “So, who’s dying?”

She sat up straighter in her chair. “What do you mean?”

“You came all this way to obtain the saji from me, a dragon. There has to be something big to drive you to this extreme. People don’t come looking for me, Sandra.”

She fiddled with the edge of the tablecloth. “My little sister. Well, she’s not exactly little, she’s in her twenties, but she’ll always be little to me.” A small chagrined laugh escaped her. It endeared her to him, tying her strings around his heart even tighter. “Anyways, it’s cancer.” She glanced at him. “A wasting disease.”

“I do read and have television. I have a clue.”

“It’s non-operable. Chemo and radiation were shrinking the tumor in her head, but three months ago they found spots on her liver and lungs.” She clutched the pocket on the chest of her dress tight in her hands. “It’s her only hope.”

“You have the saji with you?”

“Yes, I didn’t want to risk leaving it in the den.”

He leaned across the narrow table. “Why?”

“You were in such a foul mood I wondered if you’d take me back to the den.”

A drum began to pound inside his head in time to his heartbeat. “You still don’t trust me?” Her actions cut him deeper than any weapon ever had. Pain sliced through his chest where she’d been weaving herself around his deprived heart. Was all this aching worth it? First her leaving, now this. Sure, she made him happy, but she also gave him insurmountable distress. He grabbed her wrist across the table so she wouldn’t escape.

“You’ve been tricking me ever since we’ve met.” She struggled within his iron gaze. “What do you expect?”

He tossed enough bills on the table to cover three meals, and dragged her from the restaurant. Once outside in the cool air, he pulled her into the alley next to the restaurant for privacy and spun her to face him. “For fun, but nothing I did hurt you except maybe your pride. You should ship the saji to your sister instead of waiting for the plane flight. I’d pay for expediting the package. We could have it there by tomorrow morning and she’d be healed before you ever reached her bedside.”

She stood up straighter as if poked by a sharp stick. “You’d do that?”

A growl escaped him and he almost snapped his teeth. All this time, she thought him a monster, yet treated him like a person. Who was the one being tricked now?

She jumped. “It’s doesn’t matter. I can’t ship it. No one believes in magic where I live. They’d never use it on her.”

He retreated farther down the alley.

“Where are you going?” She didn’t follow.

“I’m taking you back to my den where both you and the saji will be safe until it’s time for your flight.” He shifted form, tucking in his tail so it wouldn’t roll out onto the street. The night should cover his flight well enough. Even then, most residents knew about him in some form.

“I don’t think–”

Not bothering to listen anymore, he snatched her in his claws and took flight. His injury was sore, but he could manage the short flight now.

Sandra punched at his palm until a sharp pain ran up his finger.

He winced. The bitch had bitten him.

Chapter 13

Watching his step, Ishi landed on the ledge, making sure not to squish his precious cargo, even though she had teeth small enough to pinch the skin between his fingers. What was he thinking when he’d admired her ferocious streak?

He sat on his haunches and opened his hand, but Sandra didn’t tumble free.

She bit down even harder.

“For the love of all that’s golden, let me go.” He shook his arm and watched as she dangled from his flesh like a human turned pit-bull. He brought her up to his face. “That hurts.” With his claws, he plucked her by the dress and yanked her off.

The sound of material tearing filled the silence. Sandra slipped from his grasp and landed hard on the stone ledge with an umph.

Shifting to human form, he raced to her side. “Sweetie, did I hurt you?” He rolled her over. Only his centuries of training saved him from the punch she swung in his direction.

“You jerk!” She rolled to her feet, not an easy task in a torn dress, and he marveled at her grace. Her sleeve hung loose, exposing the smooth pink skin of her shoulder. Stepping forward, she took aim again.

He caught her fist in his hand. “Easy, Rambo.”

“Stop lugging me around like baggage. I thought you were too injured to fly.” She attempted to jerk her hand from his grip with no result.

Her struggles ignited something primal in his dragon soul. It bloomed deep in his gut and he fought the strange urge to–to mark her. “I heal fast.” He tugged her into his arms and held her tight against him. His arousal was hard and ready, pressing into her thigh.

Damn it, he should have recognized the signs before now. He’d seen enough males of his race go through this. He was courting her as a mate. His stupid animal instincts were so powerful. He wanted to take her against the ledge wall and rut with the passion of his kind.

“Let go.”

“Why? You didn’t when I asked.” He stopped her acid response of foul language with a kiss, plundering her mouth with his tongue. He expected her to bite it, was a pinch disappointed when she didn’t. Instead, she swung her knee between his legs.

His balls screamed in silence just before he blocked the cheap shot. “Easy, I have plans to use those.” With a simple move, he bent her over his shoulder and carried her to the bedroom. He understood her need to return home, but he’d leave his mark so she’d remember to come back.

“Put me down.”

He winced as her fists pounded against his back, her legs flailed about, their odd angle the only reason he didn’t receive a black eye from a well placed kick.

“You ogre!”

Ignoring her, he captured her legs with one arm, tilting up until she squealed and grasped at the back of his shirt.

“Is there a problem with your hearing? Let me go, Ishi.”

He didn’t answer.

“What are you so upset about? So I took the saji with me.”

That she had showed just how much she trusted him. He’d thought they were progressing in their courtship. He’d lured her into his den, helped her shed her fear of him, seduced her and yet, she still treated him like–like some common thief.

She made a frustrated noise and slapped his back.

“While you’re at it, can you slap a little lower?” He slid her farther along his back so she’d have better access to his ass.

She went limp.

He passed through the threshold of the bedroom and paused to glance over his shoulder. Had she passed out? “Sandra?”

She began to shake.

Gently, he knelt to set her down, but she swatted him on the ass before he released his hold. The sound of her laughter finally reached his ears.

Sliding onto his knee, she grinned. “You’re impossible.” She leaned and pressed a tender kiss on his forehead. The gesture meant more to him than any blowjob or fuck.

He closed his eyes at the soft feel of her lips and sighed. Nothing would keep him from claiming her. If she didn’t come back, he’d fly across the ocean to find her. No matter how many times the gate returned him here, he’d go out and try again. “Remember that trait, Sandra. You’ll never escape me.”

“Why would I ever want to?” She rose to her feet and meandered to his bed. When she pivoted toward him, he saw she’d already undone the buttons running down the front of her dress. She let it slip to her feet. The saji clanged again the stone floor.

They both stared at it.

The symbol of their separation.

It didn’t matter. Her reason for leaving was honorable. He could wait. He picked it up, set the spoon on the bedside table. “It’ll be safe here.”

She ran her hand over his forearm, leaving a trail of heat on his skin. “I know it will be.” Squeezing her hand, she drew closer until she pressed against his side. “I’m sorry. I do trust you.”

He met her wide-eyed stare and raised his eyebrow. “Prove it.”

* * *

How? What could she possibly do to make him understand she’d seen the error of her ways? Sandra trusted him with her sister’s life, and her own. She had to work past her first impressions, but he’d left a memorable mark with his tomfoolery. “Will you swear, no more pranks?”

His frown grew deeper. “They were only in fun. None of them hurt you.”

She laughed at his defensive tone. “No, only my pride took damage.” She took the saji and placed it in his hand. “Give it to me when I leave.” Before she left, she needed to find the guts to tell him her true feelings for him, but courage was fleeting in the wake of her emotional storm.

He twirled the old, tarnished spoon along his fingers, possibly capable of destroying it with a single fist. “Okay.” With a flip of his wrist, he sent it flying in the air.

She gasped. Her heart fainted dead in her chest.

He caught the precious artifact before it hit the table and then gently set it on the surface.

For a moment, the muscles in her neck wouldn’t relax, seizing at a vision of the saji shattering. He wasn’t human. She couldn’t expect him to have slow reflexes like one, so there was never any chance of him really dropping it, right? She took a deep, calming breath and met his gaze before punching his arm, again.

“Ow, stop that.”

“You want me to react this way, or you wouldn’t keep teasing me.”

Scooping her in his arms, he grinned. “You’re right. It’s too much fun otherwise.” He set her on the bed. “Let’s see what other reactions I can coax from you.”

He undressed, tossing his clothes in whatever direction, all the while pinning her with one of his extremities or another. “Do you want things hard or gentle?”

“Does it matter? I think whatever I answer, you’ll do the opposite.”

“Or I could do what you want just to surprise you.” A touch of playful evil tugged at the corners of his lips.

Her traitorous body responded, all shivery with wanton desire. It liked the macho, alpha stud act. Damn, he made her feel alive and potent, beautiful and dynamic. The Sandra from the Midwest who’d arrived on this island had been a gray blob of boring until she met Ishi. Now, she was colored with passion, anger, and joy.

For the first time in her life she realized her full potential.

He straddled her hips and gripped the front of her bra with both hands. With a sharp tug, he ripped it apart.

She gasped at the sheer power and hunger that radiated from his body. His cock stood erect from his body, hard and thick. Very ready to take her in any way he wanted.

He fell upon her breasts. Sucking, tugging at her nipples, fondling her flesh as if in carnal worship. His groans and thrusts against her thigh were his prayers.

Her cries joined in. She spread her legs so she could draw him closer in her embrace, to give herself over to him completely.

Guiding her hands, he set them on the handgrips at the bottom of the headboard. “Don’t let go.”

Someone set loose a bunch of squirrels in her stomach when she clutched those wooden handles as if her life depended on it. She’d been fantasizing about this headboard ever since she’d seen it, and wanted to watch him unleash his draconic passion.

Heat radiated from Ishi’s body in waves as he hovered so close the small hairs on her skin rose as if aching for his touch.

Sweat beaded her skin, and he licked at the small drops pooling along her collarbone as if savoring her taste. The delicate caress conflicted with the hard need he ground against her core. His hand traveled over her abdomen. Anticipation tingled ahead of his fingers until they slipped inside her panties and cupped her mound.

He ran the rough tip of his tongue over her jaw line and as he reached her ear he whispered, “I took you like a man yesterday. Now I want you with a dragon’s appetite.”

Her hips jerked when he tore her panties off, leaving a burn around her thighs.

Before she could gasp, he entered her with a hard stroke until his balls pressed against her ass.

She arched her back, never letting go of the headboard, at the combination of bliss and sting. A moan crept from her throat as she tried to remember how to breathe. He filled her. Oh God. It burned, yet stretched in such a good way.

He built his rhythm from a letting-her-warm-up pace to I’m-going-to-fuck-your-brains-out pounding.

Things she’d never thought she would say came out of her mouth in a flood of fuck me’s and oh yeah baby’s.

His mouth found hers, sending the room into silence.

Closing her eyes, her world went fuzzy, the pleasure so intense she bucked and thrashed against the onslaught of sensory overload. She gave him everything she had as he thrust and teased and penetrated.

Except release escaped through her grasp and she couldn’t fall over the cliff’s edge into orgasmic heaven. Desperation made her yank from his kiss with a sob.

He must have sensed her frustration, since he surged against her, spreading her legs wider and bending them to his chest, cranking her into a tight ball. His hands landed over hers, gripping the handholds. He drove deeper inside her, harder, faster.

Pinned in this position left her completely in his control. She didn’t want him to slow, but it forced her to trust him completely.

She watched his powerful body work above her, his abs undulating as he took her with a primal hunger.

His grunts began to sound more like growls as he arched over her, sweat streaming down the length of his chest. The headboard banged the wall with a tribal beat. Heavy breathing sawed in their throats. She rode his desire, taking him. With a roar, he orgasmed, his cock kicking violently, and took her along for the ride.

The blinding bliss of her climax was interrupted by someone screaming.

Her.

Something crashed.

Maybe one of the bedside tables?

When he slowed and partially collapsed on her, she finally pried her fingers from her hold. She was soaked and her limbs made of noodles.

The nightstand on the other side of the bed had fallen. Ishi lifted his head and met her blurry gaze. “Ready for round two?”

His question sent dragon coils of hunger twisting through her exhausted body. “Damn straight I am,” she answered between gasps for oxygen.

Chapter 14

Next morning, Sandra collapsed on the bed, sweat trickling over her skin. Her lungs heaved with the need for cool air. The more her dragon exerted himself, the hotter the air grew in the chamber.

Ishi lay next to her, staring at the ceiling. He’d been so attentive to her needs during the night. Coaxing her confessions of her darkest fantasies, then satisfying them. Did he really care about her? It was hard to imagine.

She wasn’t a fairy princess or anything special. Why had he pursued her? Did he really want to her to come back? If she returned and he shunned her, it would tear her to shreds. He was asking for so much trust. To peel open her heart and soul to him, a creature who ate those things for breakfast on regular basis. What if this was all a cruel dragon game?

“You’re far away, what are you thinking about?” He had rolled over, with his hand supporting his head, as she had spaced out.

She cleared her throat. “Stuff.”

“Seems serious.” He ran a finger over the bridge of her nose. “Don’t shut me out.”

She had closed him off, but it was so hard to peel away her defensive layers. “Why–why me? I’ve seen all the beautiful women on this island and I don’t even know about those on the other side of the gate.” Her voice faltered and she dragged her gaze away from his. The pounding in her chest didn’t come from exertion. The room felt too big. All of it, the den and the volcano were too much for her to exist in.

A callused finger rubbed her chin before drawing it back up so she could meet his stare and shy smile. “You’re wonderful. Isn’t that enough?”

Leaning on her elbows, she rose until their foreheads touched. She wanted to believe him, yet she was just a woman among billions. He was the only known dragon on Earth. How could she compare to that?

She sensed his muscles go stiff like they always did when the gate called him. Their gazes met and he faded from her sight. She slapped the empty spot he’d left in the bed, still warm from his body.

The gate had terrible timing. She buried her face in the pillow and listened for the clash of metal on metal, but nothing rang in the air. Rolling her tense shoulders, she peeked over the footboard toward the doorway. What if whatever came through the gate injured him, or worse, killed her dragon?

She jerked in surprise as he stormed back through the doorway naked, his skin blistering with blush.

“That was fast. Did you eat them on sight? I didn’t hear any battle.”

Tugging on his pants, he pinned her with a glare. “Stay in here.”

Her stomach knotted. “It’s not gone?” She pulled the blanket to her neck, covering her nudity. “How dangerous are we talking?”

He stopped before exiting. “It’s the worst thing that could happen to this world.”

“What the hell is it?” Her innards cramped as they suddenly shrank in terror. All manner of monsters flashed in her mind. She scanned the room for places to hide and things she could use as a weapon.

“My mother.”

She stopped with one bare foot touching the warm stone as she prepared to arm herself. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I’m not. Stay here.” He pursed his lips. “Uh, maybe hide under the bed.”

Raising her eyebrow, she gave him her best what-the-fuck expression.

“Her favorite bedtime snack is human, Sandra. For her, the idea of my bedding one is as appealing as someone shagging sheep is to you.” His scowl deepened. “Stay out of sight. Remember, she’s the one who trained me how to fight.”

She swallowed a lump of fear and scurried to find some appropriate clothing.

* * *

Ishi’s mother lay across the gateroom expanse. Her black scales glistened in the torchlight as she swished her tail back and forth with a whip-like snap. She didn’t look at him when he returned. “Why did you run off so quickly at my arrival?” Something on the floor held her attention.

“Because being naked around you has proven to be dangerous in the past. I still have the scars to prove it and I’d like to keep certain aspects of my anatomy unscathed.” He moved to get a better view of what she was playing with. A green arm flailed under her clawed paw. He ground his teeth. She always destroyed his things. “Did you find that here?” He pointed to what he suspected was his pet.

“Why, yes I did. You really should take better care of the gate. Goblins are nasty things.”

He crossed his arms and tried to see past the red in his vision. “Get off of him. He belongs to me.”

She lifted her foot with a grimace. “Why would you want one?”

“He’s useful.” He approached Urgle, who slowly rose to his feet. A trickle of green blood came from his nose. “Are you injured?” He knew the goblin had to ache. Ishi didn’t need a degree from a human medical school to know that, but he wanted to know if he had to send Urgle back to Outremer to seek magical healing.

Shaking his head, the goblin weaved on his feet.

“Go lie down.” Ishi clapped him on the shoulder and watched him wince. “Good boy.”

Urgle left the gateroom, sending fearful glances at the black dragon over his shoulder as he exited.

“Things must be direr than I’d thought if you’re seeking company from goblins.” She lowered her snout so they could see eye to eye. “I smell human on you. Do you have any leftovers?”

“Mother, what are you doing here?” Of all the creatures in the universe, why did she have to be the one who visited him today? She was the least tolerant of his beliefs and practices. What he saw as progressive, she saw as weak. She never did understand why the gate chose him as keeper.

Maybe part of the reason was his fondness for humans. Considering his duty was to protect a world full of them, it seemed like a job requirement.

“Can’t I just visit my only offspring?”

“You rarely have before. Why start now?” He crossed his arms and stared at her with false boredom. He hoped to draw her gaze and keep it away from the tunnel leading to his bedroom. Even he could smell Sandra from here. Fuck.

A familiar evil smile was her answer. “I noticed you have a dwarf infestation growing close to your gate. Are you interested in hiring someone to take care of it for you?”

He snorted. “Is work so sparse you have to come to me?” To his mother’s horror, he had joined armies for the glory of battle. She, on the other hand, wanted to be paid in gold and gems.

“Pa-sha.” She waved her hand in the air as if she didn’t care. “I happened to see them as I flew in this direction. You can’t expect me to ignore a business opportunity. Those things are hard to root out once they make a permanent base.” She grimaced. “You should take care of it sooner than later. They’ll smell your gold eventually and come for it.”

He hated to admit it, but she was right. Sighing, he nodded. “I know. I know.”

“They’ve already tried once, haven’t they?” She chortled and rolled on her back, clutching her stomach.

“I took care of them. If you’re hungry, I’m sure there’s still some roast dwarf around.”

Still laughing, she shook her head. “Too chewy.”

The acid in his stomach rose. Too bad human medicine didn’t work on him. He sure could use an antacid. “Let’s get on with this.” She made his blood boil.

He might be her only child, but it didn’t mean she doted on him. No way. The day he could crawl without landing on his head, she’d shoved a sword in his hand. He’d tromped across Outremer with her band of misfit mercenaries fighting for coin for decades. Then one night he’d had a drunken conversation with a knight about a thing called honor.

He’d been hooked and quit her crew the next morning to join the king’s army.

She didn’t speak to him for a hundred years. When he accepted the gate’s offer as keeper, she had come to berate him for three whole days about his life choices. As the years passed, she visited once in awhile, mostly to steal from his hoard.

What could he do to possibly piss her off enough to leave him alone for centuries again?

“I was thinking about a vacation–”

His heartburn became molten. “You’re not staying here.” The last time, she had stolen half his hoard.

“I wouldn’t inconvenience you.” She shifted to her human form, wearing her well-used armor and weapons.

Something in his heart ached at the sight. The pain seemed similar to envy, but why? He had weapons and he’d stopped using armor, since his opponents weren’t worthy. He rubbed at an ache in his chest. Was that it? He missed the thrill of fighting real warriors? To walk around in armor as if it were a second skin, his sword on his back, and the wind his only map.

She poked his stomach and it didn’t budge. “You’re getting soft.”

“I know.” He shrugged. Why argue? “It’s not like I have a choice, Mother.” Chewing his bottom lip, he regarded her hard form. How unlike Sandra. “How much gold do you want?” He only had two days with his human companion and he tired of wasting it on the one female who’d never really cared about him.

She raised an eyebrow. “It’s that bad?”

“Bad? What’s bad?”

“I’m your mother, Ishi. Showing up naked at the gate smelling like fresh sex and delicate human female flesh?” She strolled toward the tunnel leading to his bedchamber. “Willing to part with gold so you can go back to her? That’s the tragedy.”

He blocked her path. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Hmm…fine.” She glanced over his shoulder. “Nothing except heartache will come from it. They don’t live long, you know?”

Years of experience helped him school his expression, but inside, his heart shattered. He did know this and it didn’t matter. “You’ve nothing to worry about.”

Chapter 15

As soon as Ishi left, Sandra dressed with the first things she pulled out of the trunk and then paced the room. What was going on? Why was his mother here? The room shrank. This morning it had seemed so big that she thought she’d float away, but now it didn’t contain enough space to hide. She was waiting on two dragons, who were probably discussing her. Would his mother try to eat her?

She could imagine him asking, “Mother, would you like dark meat or white?” Shaking the thought from her head, she edged closer to the bedroom door. He wouldn’t do that. Trust, she’d promised trust. He’d already had every opportunity to hand her over to his mother and hadn’t done it.

Creeping down the hall, she stopped when she heard talking. The urge to peek inside the room was intense, but she managed to curl herself into a small ball on the tunnel floor instead and like an idiot, she eavesdropped.

Ishi told his mother she had nothing to worry about when it came to falling in love with a human.

Sandra’s heart settled somewhere between her ankles. If something struck her, she was sure her chest would ring hollow.

On numb feet she rose, using the wall for balance. She wanted to throw up. To think, she almost would have wasted her limited finances to return here. Boy, the joke truly would have been on her. Best prank her dragon could have pulled.

She wiped a stray tear from her cheek. Her worst suspicions were true. She’d fallen in love with a creature who would never return her feelings.

Blinking the tears away, she tightened her gut and tugged her soul from despair. She deserved better. What the hell had she been thinking? That a dragon would fall in love with her and sweep her into a happily forever after? What a moron. Inside her heart, she’d known this was the truth, but she had allowed herself to believe in his lies.

“Mother!” Ishi’s command snapped Sandra out of her pity party for one. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere special.” Around the corner strode a female of stature and strength. She seemed more than capable of knocking Sandra back home with one punch and saving her the airfare. Her long black hair reminded Sandra of Ishi’s, except instead of flowing behind her back it hung in dreadlocks. Their gazes locked. “Well, well. Didn’t your mother teach you that eavesdropping is rude?”

Ishi almost ran her over. “Sandra!” His eyes narrowed as he tossed her a why-don’t-you-ever-do-as-I-ask look.

“I wasn’t…” She pressed her hand to her chest, then let her shoulders sag. She’d been caught fair and square. “Sure she did, but it doesn’t mean I listened to everything she told me.” She shrugged.

“Is this human from this world or ours?”

Sandra raised her eyebrow and set her hands on her hips. “She’s from this one.”

Ishi skirted his mother and drew Sandra further away. “Why don’t you return to the bed chamber?” It was more of an order than a request. He emphasized it with a little push in the right direction.

“Are you afraid I’ll eat her?” His mother didn’t follow as Sandra took a few steps in the direction he encouraged her to go. “It’s unnatural to bed them. If we were intended to mate, they’d have a life span to match ours.”

Sandra hesitated at the threshold at those words. His mother was right, wasn’t she? Escaping into the bedroom, she resumed her pacing. If she ate right and exercised, maybe she’d live until her nineties. That was what in dragon years? One? She hung her head. They were doomed before they even started.

Bet his mother had never been in love her whole superlong existence. Sandra stopped in front of a full-length mirror and stared. She loved him. She hugged herself tight. Hell.

The next couple of decades wouldn’t be so bad, but she’d age, and eventually it would catch up to her. Flying with him would become detrimental to her health, let alone the invasions through the gate, or living in a volcano.

Did she want to see the desire in his eyes fade?

With a heavy heart, she shuffled to the bedside table and pocketed the saji. He’d given her the best couple days of her life. No man would ever compare to him.

He had ruined her for anyone else.

It wasn’t fair. She whirled around and raced to the doorway, listening. The tunnel was quiet. She peeked and found it empty of dragons or goblin. On tiptoe, she went in the direction of the ledge and the only exit on foot from Ishi’s den.

She’d rather fade into a happy memory. The alternative would only destroy her…and possibly Ishi. The gatekeeper deserved a female who could stay at his side forever, not for just a few fleeting years.

* * *

Ishi guided his mother to the gate by the arm. “Nice of you to drop in. Now it’s time to go.” For good measure, he tried to shove her through, but she ground her heels into the stone. The solid material moved as if made of putty to give her better leverage.

She always was better at controlling the element. A great warrior knew how to use both weapon and magic with equal skill. His mother might appear a common grunt, but magic pumped within her blood and she’d had many more centuries than him to hone those talents.

“Leave me be, Mother. I enjoy her company and I’ve grown weary of these empty tunnels.”

“At least choose one from our lands. She’d understand you better, with less expectations upon your relationship.”

“I’m not looking for a whore.” He scrubbed his scalp, hoping to loosen some thoughts.

“I’ve sent you some lovely dragonesses to warm your den. The last two said you sent them away moments after they arrived.” She caressed his cheek with a tenderness she hadn’t displayed since the day of his birth.

He groaned and turned away from her touch. “Is that what this visit is about? I don’t need you to play matchmaker.”

“Of course you do. You’re stuck out here all by yourself.”

His groan transformed into a growl. “Mother, you’re going to drive me to bed males. I’ve been living in Inverness for so long that I’ve begun to think like the humans.” He retreated from her, but never turned his back. “I socialize with them, I eat with them, and I’ve become immersed in their technology.” Pointing in Sandra’s general direction in the bedchamber, he confronted his mother. “I have more in common with that woman than any dragoness you’ve sent me.”

Mother scowled. “That’s what I’ve feared. This damn gate business is a trap, a prison for my only child.” The corners of her lips turned downward. “I won’t stand for it, Ishi. You’re worthy of happiness but this damn gate won’t let you have it.”

He sighed and gathered her into a hug. He had always known she didn’t approve of him accepting the gate’s call. “I am happy.” Now that he’d found Sandra–but it didn’t need saying.

She grimaced. “I can’t bless this union. However, I promise not to eat her.” With those words, she shrugged out of his embrace and passed back into Outremer. May the gods have mercy on any dwarf that crossed her path.

He chuckled and shook his head. She meant well, but, wow, she needed to stay out of his life. Hurrying, he needed to explain his mother’s attitude to Sandra.

Life with a mortal mate would prove to be interesting, especially when part of his family considered her an appetizer.

Entering the room, he scanned the empty bed. She wasn’t there. A cold foreboding settled on his shoulders, the weight almost buckling his knees. He half-walked, half-jogged to the kitchen, where Urgle stirred a pot on the fire. A booted foot stuck out of the stew. He now knew what had happened to the roasted dwarf. “Have you seen Sandra?”

“Soft female?” He shook his head. “No. Hungry?”

“No, maybe later. If you see her, report to me.” He rubbed his chin. Could she have gone to the hot spring? His treasure room? As he passed the bedchamber, something odd caught the corner of his eye. He stuck his head through the doorway. The bedside table surface was bare.

The saji was gone. His heart caved in. She’d said she trusted him. Her scent grew fresher as he strolled to the ledge and gazed at the ocean.

Gentle waves rolled over the beaches with a lover’s caress. Stars twinkled from the clear night sky, calling him to fly high and join them in their cold emptiness. Clenching his fists, he listened to the distant rumble of the caldera’s sympathy. Sandra had left him.

Jumping, he shifted mid-air and stroked his wings, climbing high above his home. He traced the path that led from his den, and spotted her.

Running.

She’d used him.

Roaring, he dove and landed to block her way. Fire burned in his gut. How dare she? He pawed the ground, yet couldn’t unleash his fury.

“Well? What are you waiting for?” she shouted and stood her ground. “You claimed you cared for me and now I’m on the menu?”

He blinked. “Claimed? I do care. I’m not the one running away. You claimed to trust me.” He lowered his snout to meet her glare. Wrath flowed around her as she stepped closer into his field of vision. The wind tugged at her dress and her hair billowed around her head like a halo of chaos. By the gods, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

“That’s not what I heard. I quote, ‘You’ve nothing to worry about’ when your mother mentioned me possibly breaking your heart.”

The cold claws of surprise squeezed his chest and extinguished the heat of his fury. “Is that what this is all about? I had to say that. She’ll see my affection for you as a weakness and destroy you. I told you. She’s very dangerous.” He reached for her, but she retreated from his touch. “I’ve never had your trust, have I?”

“Trust is something that is earned, not given. I want to. God knows I do.” She shook her head. “But it’s not why I’m leaving. Your mother has a valid point. My lifespan is nothing in comparison to yours. I’ll just be a blip in your memory.”

The ache in his chest worsened. “I don’t mind that, Sandra.” He’d take whatever time she’d give him.

“I do. It’s not fair to ask me to sacrifice my life to keep you company. I deserve more than being your toy.”

Her description of herself rang true. He’d begun this adventure thinking of her exactly as that. However, he’d changed.

She dabbed the corner of her eye with a fingertip. “Let me go, Ishi. I have a plane to catch and a sister to heal.”

He nodded. “You’re right. You’ve been nothing but a toy.” Nothing he said would keep her here. She had more important things to deal with and it was better if their ties were cut cleanly.

She squared her shoulders before walking by him, avoiding any eye contact.

With a cooling heart, he watched her descent until the curve of the mountain hid her from sight. He could have loved her, if only she’d allowed it. He leaped into the air and returned home on leaden wings. Landing on his ledge, he stared out over the world he protected and for the first time since accepting the gate’s offer, resented it.

“Master?” Urgle shuffled onto the ledge, a huge bowl of stew in his arms. “Hungry?”

He gave his pet a half-smile and took the meal, even though his appetite had vanished with Sandra’s painful words. Sitting in his den, alone, would drive him insane. He never should have brought her here. Everywhere he’d look, her memory would haunt him.

The trouble with being a dragon was the amount of time needed for memories to fade. He had to stay busy. Staring at his pet, he stirred the stew with his claw. “Do you think any of your clan still lives in the area outside of the gate?”

“Yes. They hide in the hills. That where I be when the dwarves hunt me here.”

“I don’t care to have dwarves as my neighbors.” He licked the thick goo from his finger. “Go arm up, Urgle. Time we went to war.”

Chapter 16

Sandra had taken a taxi straight from the airport to the hospital when she finally arrived back home. The trip had stolen two days because of a long-ass layover in Los Angeles. The hospital corridors gleamed with unnatural light at this ungodly hour of the night. She squinted after entering from the dark, and hurried through the building to her sister’s room.

The saji weighed nothing in her pocket, yet she sensed every time it slapped against her thigh. Please let it work. Who she prayed to, she didn’t know. Anyone who’d listen, she guessed. What would she do if it didn’t cure Beth?

Ishi seemed confident in the old spoon. However, he came from a world immersed in magic, where she existed in one of science. But her world had failed her. She hoped his wouldn’t.

As Sandra hurried onto the unit, a nurse rose from her station, blocking her path. “May I help you?”

“I know it’s late but I’ve flown a long way and I want to see Beth in room 304.”

The nurse titled her head and frowned. “There’s no Beth in that room, and visiting hours ended a while ago.”

The blood drained from Sandra’s head and the hall spun. “Where’d she go?” Her voice sounded weak. She’d taken too much time to find a cure. She shouldn’t have lingered with Ishi, or maybe she should have mailed it like he had suggested. Dear God in heaven, she was alone in the universe. Her little sister was gone.

“Whoa, honey. Sit down.” The nurse yanked a rolling chair behind Sandra’s knees before her butt kissed the floor. “Let me check where she went. What’s the last name?”

“It’s Welden. Beth Welden.” She spelled it for good measure as her center of gravity stopped doing the hokey pokey.

“She was transferred to the ICU yesterday.”

Sandra jumped to her feet. “Why didn’t anyone call me?” Not waiting for a response, she pivoted around and gazed at the halls. “Which way?”

“Hey, it’s the middle of the night. They won’t let you in at this hour.” The nurse set a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I’ll call over and see how she’s doing, okay?”

Slowing her breathing, Sandra watched as the nurse returned to her station. Once she was out of sight, Sandra left on swift feet, searching the walls for a map of the hospital. At the elevators she found what she was looking for.

Following the blue line on the floor, she located the intensive care unit and its locked doors. She rattled the knob and swore under her breath.

The door cracked open and a younger nurse peeked out. “I just got a call saying to expect Beth’s sister. Are you her?”

Sandra nodded, her voice strangled by the constrictions in her throat.

“Normally we wouldn’t do this, but we’ve been trying to reach you. The number on file goes straight to your answering service.”

“I’ve been out of the country. Can I see her? Please.” She held out her hands, pleading.

The nurse gestured for her to enter the ICU. “Just be quiet and fast. Once we start bending the rules for one person, everyone expects us to bend them.”

Sandra took a deep breath, steeling her spine, and followed the nurse through an area decorated in machines that beeped and rang. She couldn’t imagine why they’d worry about what noise she’d create.

The nurse stopped by an open sliding glass door, pointed to the bed and left Sandra on her own.

Racing inside, she stalled as soon as she stepped inside the room.

Beth lay sleeping, hooked to a heart monitor and oxygen. Sandra didn’t have a medical degree, but she knew a heart rate of one hundred and forty wasn’t a good sign.

She crept to her sister’s bedside and knelt on the floor, taking her hand. “Beth?”

Her eyelids fluttered open.

“I’m back. I got it.”

Beth gave her a weak smile. The alarm on her monitor went off and she could see her heart beat faster and faster.

“Shhh…” Sandra stroked her hair. “I’m here to save you.” Searching the room, she mentally beat her brain to a pulp. She’d been so focused on finding her sister that she’d forgotten to bring something to feed her with the saji. Spotting a water jug, she carried it back to Beth and pulled out the spoon. “You will never believe who gave this to me. I’ve got so much to tell you.” She scooped up a spoonful and held it to her lips. “Drink.”

As she slid the spoon into Beth’s mouth, Sandra sensed a tingle along the metal between her fingers. Her heart raced along with Beth’s. It was working. Desperation had driven her to acquire the spoon, but she hadn’t dared hope it would work.

The beep, beep, beep on the monitor slowed to a regular rhythm more akin to a march than a heavy metal drummer on crack. Color returned to Beth’s cheeks, making her appear like the twenty-year-old girl she was, instead of a living corpse.

Beth smiled at her. “You’re not a dream.”

Like a high school wide receiver making his first touchdown, Sandra jumped up with her arms in the air and did a stupid dance.

Her sister laughed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Where did you go?”

Sandra sat on the edge of her bed and clutched her hand. “I went to Japan and met a dragon.”

Beth snorted. “Sure. That would be the day.” Her gaze traveled down to her throat. “Where’s your necklace?”

“Let me tell you…”

* * *

Ishi traced the delicate gold chain hanging around his neck. Yanking his hand away, he set it back on the pommel of his sword. He should melt the necklace from his neck and be done with it. Yet, every time he found his fingertip touching the piece of jewelry, he never went through with it. The love embedded in the metal was a constant reminder of what he’d lost. Even though the emotion inside it was aimed at Sandra, and not him, it eased his loss. It was the only piece of her he had left.

Three days had passed since Sandra had abandoned him. In that time he’d organized the goblin rabble. Armed them from his own stores and sent them underground to drive the dwarves out into his waiting maw.

Things hadn’t gone as he’d planned. What battle ever did?

The handle of his sword bit into his flesh and he loosened his hold. Like days of old, he wore his armor and assessed the remainder of his troops. What the goblins lacked in skill or grace, they made up for in enthusiasm and brute strength.

His plan had been simple. Let the goblins flush out the dwarves and he’d bake them. Barbeque for everyone. They were rooted in the goblins’ old cave system, so his allies knew the territory well.

Then the dwarves got smart. The scout that had gotten away must have mentioned him appearing out of thin air when they entered his den. Someone must have rubbed two brain cells together and associated it with the gate. The dwarves sent sacrifices through the gate so he’d vanish back home and away from the main battle.

He had to admit the strategy was brilliant. Every time he got close enough to make a dent in their numbers, poof, he ended up back in the gateroom with a terrified dwarf to finish off. He tried setting some goblins to guard the gate, but they weren’t the smartest race in Outremer. One of the idiots always decided he’d take a look on the other side for dwarves. Poof, off Ishi went again. How had that species ever evolved and survived? He led an army consisting of creatures with the general IQ of a tomato.

He stood on the edge of the battlefield, at the entrance of the dwarven colony, and watched as a goblin ran from a group of dwarves. He kept looking over his shoulder at his assailants until he ran into a large boulder.

Ishi shook his head. Tomatoes were smarter.

The horde of dwarves never stopped pouring out of the fucking mountain. He’d underestimated their numbers.

Sighing, he drew his weapon. Time to change his strategy. They didn’t know of his human form, so he’d fight like this until one of the sides won. Either way was a win for him.

He had nothing to live for.

Chapter 17

Ishi’s flame fizzled and stung his tongue. It took energy to make fire. The goblin army had deserted him and a mass of dwarves swirled around his dragon form. He blinked at the sight of his clawed and scaled hands. When had he shifted? The tide of their numbers sucked him into a whirlpool of axes and pikes. He’d stopped feeling pain hours ago.

Blood trickled along his limbs, pooling in the dirt under his feet to make a gruesome mud. His claws were useless to find purchase in the slick mess. Once he went down, he wouldn’t get back up.

The gate would need to find a new keeper to trap in its lonesome embrace.

And Sandra...

She deserved better.

A familiar grip tightened along all his limbs. The gate called. In a flash, he was returned to his den, staring at the magical entrance to his world and a pair of familiar eyes he’d seen since the day of his birth. “Mother?”

She had passed through the gate and unintentionally saved his sorry ass by making him transport back to Inverness. “What are you doing?” Her eyes went wide as she assessed him with a general’s quick look. “You’re dead on your feet.” She shoved a shoulder under his before he hit the floor. “Where is your silly human girl during all this?” A pendant hung from her grip. “I brought her a present.”

Pain ebbed back along his nerves. How many times had a pike found its way under his scales? “I ate her.” Shifting back to human form, he slipped from her hold and lay on the warm stone floor at the foot of the gate. It was a fitting place for a keeper to die.

“Bullshit, I saw that look in your eye. You’re in love with your food and I brought something that’ll even the odds between the two of you.” She glanced around the gateroom. “Where’s the battle?”

He stared at her and blinked. “You’re too late. She’s gone.” The room faded around the edges of his vision as if he’d drunk too many bottles of good sake. He smiled at the memory of his last drink. It had been over dinner with Sandra.

With the last of his strength, he called upon the core of the volcano. No one would cross the gate while he still drew breath. He’d blow the mountain as soon as the dwarves breeched his home, and take his enemies to the grave.

“Ishi?” His mother’s voice sounded faint. “Shit, where’s that useless goblin pet of yours?”

* * *

Sandra helped Beth carry the groceries into their apartment. The doctors claimed her recovery was a miracle. Sandra knew better. People of Inverness might not believe in magic, but she had learned hope came in all shapes and sizes. She ran her free hand over the pocket of her shorts.

They seemed empty. She dropped the bag of food in her other arm onto the sidewalk and checked both her pockets.

“Sandra?” Beth halted behind her by the trunk of the car, overflowing grocery bags in her arms. “Did you lose the keys?”

She stuck her hand deeper and felt around. It had to be there. She always carried it with her every day, but her hand came out empty. Without a glance at her sister, she raced to their apartment on the third floor, taking the stairs two at a time. Maybe she’d left it on her dresser?

Fumbling the key in the lock, she finally managed to enter. She could hear Beth’s faint call in the stairwell and hesitated. For years she’d been her sister’s caretaker and she’d just left her on the street alone.

So much had changed over the last few days. Her sister was a different person, almost a stranger. She was cured now and could manage her own life for the first time in years.

Sandra left her calling and went inside to her bedroom, halting at the doorway. There it was. On her bedside table, the saji lay where she’d left it before sleeping last night. Like any old spoon, the metal appeared tarnished and dinged, but magic had once lived inside the saji. That magic had transferred to her sister.

It was her only link to Ishi.

She crossed the room and sat on the edge of her bed before her weak knees gave out. With shaky fingers, she cradled the saji and ran her thumb over the cold metal. What the hell was she doing? It was just a spoon. Ishi wouldn’t magically appear if she rubbed it like a djin’s lamp.

Beth leaned against the doorjamb, out of breath. “Spill it!” She wobbled across the room and knelt in front of her. With a fingertip, she touched the corner of Sandra’s eye and showed her the unshed tear. “You haven’t been yourself since coming back from Japan.”

Sandra stared at the wall behind Beth and bit the inside of her lip. Her sister knew about Ishi and the deal they’d made, but not that she’d shared his bed and lost her heart to him.

She missed him. His silly pranks and his teasing, the way he made her laugh and feel free. She’d always miss him. How could she ever fall for a man after Ishi? Sighing, she set the spoon down. “Nothing happened. I thought I lost this. That’s all.”

“It doesn’t work anymore.” They’d secretly tried it on another patient in the ICU before Beth was transferred out. He didn’t recover. Ishi had said it would only work once in Inverness before needing to be recharged in Outremer.

“I know.”

“Maybe we should send it back to the dragon. He should have an address, right? Maybe a PO Box?”

She frowned and clutched it to her chest. He had his little farm with sheep and dogs on the side of the mountain. “I wouldn’t know how to find the address.”

“Dude.” Beth grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Snap out of it. I’m cured. We should be partying. Hitting the clubs. Maybe go on a vacation. Instead, you’re acting like–like you’re depressed or heart bro–” She let go and leaned onto her heels. “Heart broken. Oh my God.”

Sandra stared at her.

“Oh my God.” She whispered it this time. “You fell in love while in Japan.” She slapped Sandra’s shoulder with enough force to send tingles to her fingertips.

She grimaced and rubbed the spot. “Ow.”

“Who is he?”

Her stomach twisted in knots. “Maybe you should start with what is he.”

She gasped. “No fucking way. The dragon?” She clasped her hands together as if her fairy godmother had just appeared. “Does he love you?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m human. My lifespan is just a blink of an eye for him. I’m more like an amusement.” But he had never treated her like one. She rubbed the sore spot on her arm.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Beth gave a look of disbelief. “And you let him get away?”

Sandra rose so her sister didn’t loom over her. “He didn’t get away. I left and brought the saji home.”

Beth blinked. “I’m cured. You should go back.” Her voice softened. “I’m a big girl and I’ve got lots of catching up to do. You don’t need to care for me anymore.” Opening her arms, she invited her in for a hug.

Leaning against Beth’s thin frame, Sandra closed her eyes. If only the answer were so simple.

“Big sis, if there’s one thing I learned while being sick, it’s that time doesn’t matter.” She squeezed her. “You love him. Go be with him. Lifespan be damned. Hell, he could get struck by lightning tomorrow.”

The knot in Sandra’s heart loosened. Could the answer be that easy? Just love and not worry about the future? She shook her head. “I think we’ve hurt each other too much for encores.” She patted her hand. “Why don’t you make us some coffee while I bring up the rest of the groceries?”

Beth nodded, doubt on her face.

Sandra descended with more grace than when she had climbed. There was only the bag she had dropped on the ground left to carry. She gathered errant cans and a bag of rice before returning to their home.

Beth rested on the island in the kitchen, leaning forward as she listened intently to the news. “Evacuations are still in progress on Izu Oshima Island. The refugees are being taken to the main island of Japan until the state of Mount Mihara can be determined. Many vessels are in use to transport…”

Sandra set the bag on the counter top. The buzzing in her ears drowned out the news reporter as she stared at a familiar volcano. A dark bloom of smoke poured from the caldera.

Ishi controlled that volcano. What was he doing? Had something happened to him? She gasped. What if he’d been hurt in a battle?

She hurried to her bedroom once more and searched her drawers until she pulled out her passport.

“What are you doing?” Beth stood in her path.

“That’s his island. It’s his volcano.” She pointed to the television. “Something’s wrong. I have to see him.”

Chapter 18

A dark cloud hovered over Izu Oshima, much like the first time she’d come here, except instead of a storm this was ash. The military had almost finished the evacuation according to the news reports, so she stood alone on the deck of the ship going back to pick up stragglers. She wasn’t sure if it would come back for her.

She stared at the dark sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of red wings. The calm of the ocean contrasted with the raging tempest in her soul. What if she got to his den and he was all, “What the hell do you want?” She cleared her throat and tried to ease the uncomfortable tightness.

She couldn’t spot him anywhere. It was unlike him to let something threaten the island. Dread anchored her spine with a snap. Until now, she’d had some hope everything would resolve by the time she arrived, but the volcano continued to erupt. Something had happened to her dragon.

Squaring her shoulders, she glared at the volcano. I’m coming, Ishi.

The boat docked and she jumped off before the captain could say anything to change her mind. She hiked up the street toward the empty main road. It would be a long climb to Ishi’s den.

Many cars were left on the roadside as their passengers had parked to board the ships to leave the island. Hell, she needed a vehicle. As she passed them she peeked through the windows looking for one with a set of keys, but to no avail. Muttering curses to the taxi gods, she jogged out of town and followed the road that would take her to Ishi’s farm.

On top of the hill, she found his house empty and his livestock gone. She stared at his old truck parked by the abandoned house and searched the unlocked vehicle. The keys weren’t inside. She leaned her forehead against the steering wheel and wished she had the ability to magically start any car. Climbing out, she muttered under her breath about paranoid dragons and lack of keys.

The ground suddenly heaved under her feet and her knees buckled. Pressed against the vehicle, she clung to the Earth as it shook. A roar cracked the air. She crawled on her hands and knees. Her heart triple-flipped with joy, yet it wasn’t red wings flying above. Black ones beat the ashy air.

His mother? Sandra flattened her body to the ground. Things were worse than she’d thought. What if she was too late? What if he was already dead and gone to the grave thinking she didn’t love him?

The earthquake stopped and she rose to her feet. What if his mother was hungry?

Weaving through the air like a drunken flier, the black dragon almost collided with the mountainside.

Sandra gasped at the almost hit, then saw small creatures clinging to his mother’s back. She was under attack. That meant the gate had been breeched. Sandra spun and searched the empty streets. They’d evacuated the island under the guise of an eruption, but she knew there were powerful forces in her world that worked with the gatekeepers. The evacuation was also for possible invasion.

Fuck. And she stood in the middle of it.

Another roar caught her attention. Ishi’s mother crashed not far from the farm. Clods of dirt and plants rained on Sandra’s head. Ducking, she missed getting brained by flying debris. Without a rational thought, she raced toward the dragoness. As she jumped the wooden fence, she watched the dragon tear the last moving dwarf apart and add his body parts to the carnage around her.

Her gaze swiveled toward Sandra and pierced her soul.

She froze.

His mother moved so fast that even if Sandra had tried to escape it wouldn’t have mattered. With her bloodied hand, his mother grasped Sandra’s body. “You? Where have you been? He keeps calling for you.” Not waiting for her to answer, she took flight.

Caged in her claws, Sandra had to contort her body to avoid being pierced. Ishi’s mother’s rough handling made her miss his gentler grip, but her heart still rang with clarity.

He was alive.

Sandra clung to Ishi’s mother’s fingers until she dropped her on the ledge. Not waiting for the battle-crazy dragon to land, Sandra charged inside the den, leaping over half-charred carcasses, discarded weapons and a crazed donkey braying as it ran in circles. She entered his bedroom.

Ishi lay on the bed. Blood soaked through his clothes; a broken arrow shaft protruded from his stomach. His skin appeared waxy.

Quietly, she hurried to his bedside and caressed his face. “Ishi?” He felt cold and clammy under her fingers.

Flicking his eyelids open, he tried to focus. “Am I dead?”

“No.” Not yet. She forced a smile on her face. “I came back. I–I…” Just say it, dumbass. She’d traveled thousands of miles into a battle zone only for her tongue to tie in knots.

“Sandra.” He spoke her name as if it was a magical love spell. “It’s not safe.”

“No, shit. We need to get you some help.” She searched the room with her gaze. Not sure how to call Outremer’s version of nine-one-one.

Heavy boots clopped into the room. His mother in her human form filled the doorway. Her black hair was twisted into dreadlocks and fell past her shoulders. The darkness in her gaze would send any sane person away screaming. “He’s refusing to be healed.” She pointed in the direction of the treasure room. “The dwarves stole some of the outer chamber’s treasure where he kept his healing items stored. There’s nothing left for me to use. Every time I try to transport him to Outremer, the fucking gate calls him back. Those little dwarven buggers are smart. I’ll give them that.”

They were using the gate against him.

She bent over to rest her head against his, but something poked her in the side from her pocket.

The saji.

Standing, she pulled it out of her jean pocket and showed it to him. “It worked. My sister’s cured, but it’s out of magic. How do I recharge it?”

“We only need to bring it back to Outremer. The magic in our realm will automatically regenerate the spell in the spoon.” Ishi’s mother crossed the room and clasped her in hug so tight, stars flashed in her vision. “I’ll go right away.”

Ishi groaned and arched his back before vanishing from the bed.

“Mistress! Mistress!” Urgle scrambled into the bedroom and groveled at the black dragon’s feet. “They’re coming through the gate.”

She swatted him across the head. “Tell me something I don’t know.” Unsheathing her sword from her back, she ran from the room.

Sandra stared at the empty bloodstained bed. The gate was killing him. Every time someone crossed it, Ishi was summoned. Injured or not, the gate wanted him to fight until he was dead. And the dwarves knew it.

With the saji back in her pocket, she grabbed Urgle. “Let’s arm up. We have a mission.”

* * *

The gate appeared in his sight, replacing the vision of Sandra. An army of dwarves marched through. Funny how the mind could play tricks, summoning one’s greatest desires and most horrid nightmares within seconds of each other.

He laughed at their stunned expressions as he materialized in their path, a bloody apparition. More ghost than reality at this point. “Beware. All ye who cross will not return. Heed my warning!” He wailed in his best impression of a phantom as his knees gave out.

“Put it out of its misery.” The leader pointed to one of his soldiers and shoved past Ishi.

The soldier raised his axe over Ishi’s head. Their gazes met like lovers gone bad and the dwarf grimaced. “It’s for the best. Yer dead either way.” The dwarf’s eyes widened and glazed as the axe slipped from his fingers.

Ishi cocked his head to the side. That wasn’t how to behead someone.

Falling to his side, the dwarf landed next to him with a dagger in his chest. He recognized the hilt. He’d given that dagger to his mother ages ago.

She swept into the room, a hurricane of blades and molten magic sweeping across the intruders. “Get off your ass, son.” She tossed him a blade.

By reflex alone, he caught it and swung at the soldiers pouring through the gate. The blade cut right through them like butter, and the momentum swung him around. He raised his head and his gaze rested on Sandra.

She skirted the edge of the battle with Urgle at her side. Cast iron frying pan in one hand and a short sword in the other, she fought toward him.

The veil of weariness lifted from his heart and soul. It wasn’t a dream. He watched as she pounded the pan across one dwarf’s head and Urgle defended her back. His worst nightmares had come true. He’d failed the gate. An invasion had broken into Inverness and his Sandra was caught in the center of it.

Worse, his mother had to rescue him like he’d just broken from the egg.

Ignoring the pain in his gut, he called to the volcano core, to the deep lava rolling in its heart. He unleashed all his draconic magic, not restraining an ounce of it, and pulled it to the surface. The ground shook and the mountain groaned, but he waited. He needed Sandra to be safe before unleashing the might of Earth and fire on his home.

Sandra traveled toward the gate, Urgle not far behind.

He knocked away anyone stupid enough to break his concentration, and waited until she faced the gate, then he called forth the power of his people. Shifting, he lunged forward. The ground cracked and bucked. Poisonous gases poured into the room, followed by the sweet bliss of lava. Clasping both Sandra and Urgle in his claws, he crossed the gate to Outremer.

With a cry, he dropped them before he crushed their bodies with his poor landing. On his side, he faced the gate and watched his mother step through the magical veil, a thick coat of lava on her flesh. It wouldn’t harm her, but it would cook the invading dwarves. Sadly, it would also destroy his hoard.

His mother didn’t bother to shake the dripping lava off as she skewered with the tip of her tail any dwarf who tried to leave the erupting volcano on the other side of the gate. There weren’t many stragglers.

The strong magic in the gate kept the blast from crossing. The eruption would only be on the Inverness side. As he stared, the gate flickered. The water-like surface vanished for fraction of a second.

“Did you see that?” He raised his head. The gate had never changed once in all the times he’d looked at it. Why now?

Sandra stepped in front of him and blocked his view. She cradled his head. “I have the saji. I’m going to save your stubborn ass before that stupid gate zaps you away again.” She gestured to Urgle. “Give me your water skin.”

The goblin handed over the bottle hanging from his belt with a shrug.

She poured the liquid in the saji and fed him. The healing magic coursed through his flesh in a flash of heat. Tissue knitted back together and blood restored from his loss. Unfortunately, the fluid she fed him oozed down his throat, destroying all his taste buds in its path.

He roared at the after taste and shifted to his human form, hoping the flavor would improve in that shape.

Sandra clung to him. “I think it’s killing him instead of healing.”

“No, honey. He’s fine.” His mother knelt next to her. She’d shifted to her human form as well. “You gave him goblin ale. Don’t ask how they make it.”

Sandra assisted him to sit. “Stopping being a baby. You’re not dying.” She brushed the hair from his face and grinned.

“I like her.” His mother nodded and eyed the necklace he wore on his neck. “That gold holds a lot of love. Did she give it to you?”

He gathered Sandra in his arms. “You came back to help. What about–about us being so different?”

“I don’t care.” She hugged him tight as if nothing could pry him from her arms. It felt nice. He rested his head on her shoulders, ready to sleep there for a week.

“Dwarves gone?” Urgle asked.

He gazed at the gate. It flickered again. “Yes, I think they’re dead. Your home should be cleared. Go get your people. I’m setting you free.”

A huge grinned spread across Urgle’s face. “After fighting, mostly just females left.” He bowed low and left their group.

Sandra raised her eyebrow. “I think you just gave him a harem.”

“Every male’s dream.”

She swatted him.

“Hey, I was just injured there.” He rubbed the spot, thrilled to have his feisty human back in his arms. His spirit had never been so light and he so happy.

“And you will be again.” She gave him a meaningful look, something he planned on exploiting as soon as they were alone.

His mother made a disgusted noise. “Well, at least, she’ll keep you in check.”

“Mother!”

“I knew the two of you would be the death of me, which is why I left–”

“Don’t let me keep you from your busy schedule.” Whatever family ties they’d reconnected were snapping fast. He didn’t want to hear about loving his food too much. He narrowed his eyes and met her glare.

“Ishi, she fought to keep you safe.” Sandra hands soothed the heat of his anger.

“You don’t need to defend me, daughter.”

Sandra went stiff in his arms. “What did you call me?”

His mother opened a pouch on her belt and pulled out an amulet. “I left earlier to retrieve this. I saw how infatuated you were, Ishi. I’ve never had a male express such love about me. I think such a thing should be preserved and cherished.” She set the necklace around Sandra’s neck. “Even though I know you don’t believe it, dear son, I do want to see you happy.”

Sandra gasped and jerked. Her eyes widened as she gazed at the jewelry. The metal melted into her flesh. “What is this?”

“It will give you the lifespan you need to love and care for my son.” She caressed his cheek. “I can’t be the mother you want, Ishi, but I can give you someone who can love you like you need.” With that, she rose and shifted. “I have wars to start and battles to fight.” She leaped into the air and took flight.

Sandra touched the golden tattoo around her throat with her fingertips.

“Does it hurt?” He lifted her tangled hair for a better view.

“No, just a little cool. Is this the kind of magic you spoke of? The stuff wizards don’t make anymore.”

He nodded his head. “It’s very rare. I don’t even know that there’s anyone alive powerful enough to have wrought such magic.” His mother must have gone to her secret hoard. This piece was a treasure of untold worth, but it didn’t compare to the woman who wore it. “I love you.”

She gave him a shy smile. “That’s good. Otherwise, this would be a little awkward.” Pulling him into her arms, she stared into his eyes. “I love you too.”

“That’s a good thing, considering I plan on keeping you a really, really long time.” He molded his body against hers and watched the gate fizzle away. “That’s bad.”

She turned. “Where did the gate go?”

“I think I broke it.” He sat straighter. Was it possible? He rose and approached where the gate had once stood. The water-like surface had vanished. Waving his hand, he met no resistance or trace of magic. “It’s…gone.”

Sandra stood with her hands over her mouth. “I’m trapped here?”

Surprise shot through his body. “No!” He shook his head and gathered her close. “There are other gates.” He swung her around in his arms, delighting in her cry of surprise. “But I’m free. The gate was destroyed in the eruption. I don’t sense its call anymore. I’m free!”

His beautiful, young Sandra had breathed new life into him. The gate had set him free.

“What are we going to do first?” She grinned and trusted him to make plans for them both.

“Let’s start with a nice inn and a meal. Then I plan on keeping you naked for at least a week.”

Content

Koishi
GateKeepers - 1
by
Annie Nicholas

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18