"So let me get this straight-May's a virgin lesbian doppelganger wyvern's mate?" Jim pursed its lips as it looked me over before turning to its demon lord. "I think she's got even you beat, Ash."
I had finally had enough. I stood up and looked sternly at everyone present, but mostly at the man standing next to me. "I am not a virgin, nor a lesbian! I am a doppelganger, but the wyvern's mate question is not proven."
"You drank the dragon's blood without any ill effect," Drake mused, his arm around his wife.
"I'm immortal. It can't kill me like it could a mortal," I pointed out.
"Yes, but you kissed Gabriel without any problem," Aisling said. "Even an immortal would have been affected if she wasn't a mate. I'm afraid that's a pretty good indicator."
Hrmph. "Do you mean to say that no other woman has ever survived a kiss from you?" I asked Gabriel, disbelief dripping from my voice.
"On the contrary, I've never killed a woman I've kissed." He leaned closer to me, his eyes blazing like sunlight off a polished mirror. "But there have been a few close calls."
Gods, but he smelled good. My body went into a full-fledged battle with my mind, the former wanting to grab his head and kiss that knowing half smile right off his face, the latter pointing out that one kiss could hardly be decisive.
"You're right," he said, almost against my lips. "More is definitely better in this case."
"Stop reading my mind," I whispered, groaning to myself when his lips curved into a smile.
"No woman has ever taken my fire," he murmured as I stared into those glorious eyes. I teetered on the brink of indecision, wanting more than anything else at that moment to taste him again, to feel his body pressed against mine, to revel in his closeness, but the sane corner of my mind worried that if I gave in, I'd have to face facts that I'd be much better off avoiding. "Tell me you want it."
I tilted my head just a smidgen, just enough to allow my lips to caress his. That's all it took. With a low-pitched primal noise that seemed to emanate deep from within his chest, his mouth claimed mine, the fire pouring out of him and into me. His lips were hotter than I remembered, hotter than I thought possible, moving over mine in a fashion that left me both satisfied and craving more.
"More," I murmured, my hands in his hair, tugging on the dreadlocks. I was dimly aware that I was behaving in a manner wholly at odds with my normally unemotional self, but there was something about him that seemed to release all the inhibitions I usually held.
That thought scared me to my toenails.
Dragon fire whipped around me, spiraling up from my toes to my waist as Gabriel kissed me with a thoroughness that left no secrets undiscovered. I was shocked at the depths of my desire for him, a man I'd just met. I couldn't hide from the fact that I wanted him, all of him, with a hunger that left me weak with sudden need. I moaned into his mouth as his fingers dug into my hips, pulling me tighter against the hard lines of his body. He tasted like fire, hot and exciting and dangerous, and I wanted more. The fire grew around me, twisting my desire higher, building my need until I thought it was going to burst from me in a primitive cry. The fire roared from me back to him, leaving me a blazing brand that threatened to burst into a million incandescent sparks.
"Sweet May," he groaned into my mouth as he rubbed my hips against his. "Sweet, sweet mate."
The words pierced my being like little bullets of ice, slicing through my almost out-of-control desire and returning me to reality with a shock that left me reeling.
With a cry, I pushed back, pulling my mouth away from his. "Don't call me that," I said, my voice hoarse and shaky.
Confusion filled his eyes.
I shadowed and twisted out of his arms, backing away a few steps. I touched my lips with a trembling hand, feeling empty inside, as if I'd lost something integral to myself.
"May?" he asked, taking a step toward me, evidently seeing me despite the darkness of the evening. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just... I just don't like that word," I answered, clearing my throat and glancing around.
Everyone was standing where they had been before Gabriel sucked all my attention from the room, their faces displaying varying emotions.
Cyrene turned shocked eyes to me, but I sensed an underlying emotion that didn't make any sense to me: pain.
"I'm sorry," I said, feeling the need to apologize. "I didn't mean to turn the evening into a peep show."
"You-" Cyrene started to say, then stopped, biting her lip as she looked away.
"I liked it," Jim said, plopping its big butt down next to a chair. "You don't often get to see a wyvern claiming a mate. It's better than Skinemax. Is there going to be an encore? If there is, can you hold off until I make some popcorn?"
Aisling spoke a few hurried words and, before the demon could do more than open its mouth in protest, banished it to the Akasha. "I'm sorry about Jim. I think a little time-out is in order. I'm afraid, though, that it might be right about one thing."
I slid a glance toward Gabriel. He was watching me with an intensity that both flattered me and made me uncomfortable. "Yes, I'm afraid that it is... It would seem that despite the fact that I'm a doppelganger, I appear to be your mate."
"I don't understand how..." Cyrene 's voice trailed away to nothing as she sank rather less gracefully than normal into a nearby chair.
"The how is not important," Gabriel answered, his dimples slowly emerging. "What matters is that the impossible has happened. I'm delighted that you understand the significance of being able to share my fire, May. I never expected to have a mate, but now that I've found you, I am very pleased."
I wanted to shadow, to go find a quiet spot where I could think over recent events by myself, without any other distractions. I was a thief, dammit, a shadow walker, servant of a demon lord, keeper of Cyrene 's common sense, and responsible only for myself and her well-being. And now I found myself bound to a stranger? I shook my head. I just didn't have experience with men, let alone dragons. The situation seemed untenable at best.
"I don't understand any of this," Cyrene said, giving me a hurt look. "You do like men?"
"I'm sorry," I said, dropping to my knees next to her. I took her hand and gave it a squeeze. No matter how scatterbrained she was, no matter how many times she got herself into scrapes and expected me to pull her out, she was still my twin. I owed my very existence to her. "I didn't like deceiving you, but it seemed like less stress for everyone if you thought I wasn't interested in men at all."
"You're a dragon's mate," she said slowly, as if she was absorbing this new image of me. "I still don't... Are you sure we're not both your mate?"
Gabriel considered her for a moment.
"We are identical," she told him, her expression earnest. "May is an exact copy of me. Well, she's not a naiad, but other than that, she's my duplicate."
I have never minded being called her twin, but for some reason, her insistence on referring to me in dehumanizing terms rankled a bit. I stifled that as best I could; with the exception of her common sense-a trait that had been given over to me at my creation- she wasn't saying anything that wasn't absolutely true.
"You were born," Gabriel said gently, taking her hand from me. "The black dragons are cursed to never have a mate born to them."
"But if May-" she started to argue.
"This is a question easily settled," he interrupted. His fingertips suddenly burst into flame, causing Cyrene to squawk and leap backward, yanking her hand out of his when he touched a spot on her wrist.
"My apologies if I hurt you," he said, bending his head over her arm. Cyrene watched with openmouthed amazement as he first breathed on the small burn mark, then lowered his mouth to it, his tongue lathing the spot.
Rage burst into being within me, startling me with both its presence and its intensity. Gabriel was lickingCyrene.
"Er...," I said, taking a step closer.
"It's all right, don't be alarmed," Aisling said, watching them with interest. "Gabriel has the most amazing saliva. All the silver dragons do. They make a wonderful healing ointment out of it, but it's not quite as potent as when it comes from the source."
"Um..." I tapped Gabriel on the shoulder. He looked up with a distinct twinkle in his eyes. "That doesn't look very hygienic."
"I assure you, it will do her only good, and no harm," he said, smiling as he returned Cyrene 's hand to her with a little bow.
We both looked. The small red burn mark had disappeared.
"That was amazing," Cyrene breathed, gazing at him with wonder.
I stifled the last little bubble of irritation, reminding myself that he was just doing his job.
He didn't have to enjoy it quite so much, though, did he?
"And now May," Gabriel said. I looked at him a moment, wondering what sort of a man it was that fate had bound me to. I held out my hand, watching with dispassionate interest as he traced a symbol in flames on my wrist. It burned merrily on my skin, although I felt nothing more than a mild heat.
"Dragon mates have the ability to share dragon fire. They can use it, mold it to their own desire, drawing power from it when needed," he said, watching me as I coaxed the little flame to my fingertips. It shimmered there, as if it was about to go out. I held my other hand out over it, willing it into a small ball, smiling to myself when it obediently formed a sphere. I held it in the palm of my hand for a moment, admiring the beauty and power held within it, before throwing it directly at Gabriel.
A slow smile spread across his face as the flame ball exploded against his chest, bathing his upper body in fire for a few seconds before it evaporated into nothing. "I believe that answers your question, Cyrene."
"It doesn't even begin to cover the questions I have," she said softly. I took a few steps away from Gabriel, startled by the undertone I had heard in Cyrene 's voice.
"Well, as you said, what does it matter how it happened-it did, and it's a miracle. I hope you both will be very happy," Aisling said as she gave Gabriel a hug before turning to me to do the same.
I frowned. "I'm not sure I follow you. Happy doing what?"
Her smile slipped slightly as she glanced quickly at Gabriel. "Er... happy being together."
It took me a few seconds to understand what it was she was talking about. "Oh, we're not together. At least, not in the sense you mean."
"You're not?" she asked, looking downright confused.
"No. I can't. It's just not possible," I answered, turning to Gabriel. "I'm sorry if you assumed there would be some sort of a... for lack of a better word, romantic relationship between us."
His eyes turned to molten silver. "You have just accepted that you are my mate."
"Yes, it seems foolish to deny it when all the evidence points to that conclusion. But that doesn't mean we are... you know, a couple."
Drake looked at his wife. "You've infected her."
Aisling's mouth dropped open a smidgen. "I have not!"
His green eyes narrowed upon me. "You have an American accent."
"Yes," I answered, wondering what that had to do with anything. " Cyrene was living in Louisiana when I was created. I moved to the West Coast shortly thereafter." I didn't mention the reason for my sudden move away from my twin-Magoth, fascinated with the early movie industry, had based himself in Hollywood, and bound to him as I was, I had little choice but to follow.
"I miss New Orleans," Cyrene said wistfully. "I'm living in London now, and of course, it's very cultural, but there's none of the je ne sais quoi of the U.S. "
"I knew it," Drake said, nodding at Aisling. "It's something in the water that makes American women the most stubborn beings on the planet. Try to deny it."
She smiled at me. "We're not stubborn, sweetie- we're smart. We simply want to know what we're getting into before we agree to anything."
"Well... there is that, yes," I said slowly, unwilling to say too much. "But there are certain obligations I've got to consider, and I'm afraid that right now, I'm just not in a position to maintain anything but a distant relationship."
"You are my mate," Gabriel said with an obstinate glint to his eye.
"Yes, I believe we've established that fact," I said, glancing at my watch. "It's very late. Since Cyrene appears to have recovered from the injury, we'd better be on our way."
"You can't leave!" Maata burst out, her disbelief evident.
"I'm afraid I have some prior commitments that I must attend to." I turned my attention to Gabriel. "We should probably stay in touch. Do you live here in Greece?"
"No, we are here simply to make plans with Drake and Aisling while they are on holiday. My home is in Manukau."
I frowned in question.
" New Zealand," he answered. "I have taken a home in London since that is where Kostya is believed to be basing himself. I cannot address the obligations you mention until I have more information, but I assure you that the job of wyvern's mate will require much more time and attention than can be conducted by a distant relationship."
The emphasis he put on the last couple of words was unmistakable. So was the light in his eyes.
"The sheer hell she's going to put you through," Drake muttered, shaking his head.
Aisling whomped him on the chest. "For what it's worth, May, I think you have the right idea. Take your time to get to know Gabriel. Don't let anyone rush you into anything. Being a wyvern's mate is time-consuming, yes, but there's no reason you can't do your own job as well as take care of Gabriel and the silver dragons."
"She is a thief," Drake pointed out.
"Well, so are you," she countered, leveling a look at him that I'd have been afraid to even think of. "And I'm sure she has a very good reason for being a thief, too. Cyrene and May probably have an ailing mother, or there's someone else May has to take care of, and doing a Robin Hood act is the only way she can get by."
All eyes turned to me. I lifted my chin and smiled at no one in particular. "It's something like that. Now, if you'll excuse us, Cyrene and I should be on our way. Do you have a phone number where I can reach you in London, Gabriel?"
Silently, he pulled out a card and handed it to me. I tucked it away in an inner pocket of my leather bodice. "Thank you. I'm sorry about disturbing your evening. It's been... a pleasure. Good night."
I grabbed Cyrene 's arm and started to hustle her through the door, but I had a feeling we weren't going to be able to make an escape without hearing from the quicksilver-eyed dragon.
"We will accompany you to your hotel," Gabriel said, suddenly standing in front of us, holding the door open.
Aisling murmured something about erasing the ward on the front door, scooting past us to do so. I looked behind me. Maata and Tipene wore matching expressions... neither gave me much hope they'd listen to reason. "Weren't you... weren't you just back there?" I asked Gabriel.
"Dragons can move quickly when they so desire. Drake, Aisling, my thanks for a very enjoyable evening. I will be in contact with you regarding the phylactery. And now, my dear...," Gabriel said, gesturing toward the open door.
I tried to exchange a glance with Cyrene, but she was looking at the floor, apparently avoiding my eye. "You don't know where we're staying," I said. "We could be greatly out of your way."
"You are my mate," Gabriel said, a sudden flare of emotion in his eyes making a hot flush start at my belly and move upward. "Nothing you can demand of me will be too great."
"Excellent. I demand you leave us alone. I'll call you in a few days, when we're back in London," I said, pushing Cyrene out the door as I slipped past him.
"Alas, I wish it was that easy, but I am bound by sept tradition to see to your welfare," he said, following us out to the driveway. Tipene went off to where a black BMW sat. I eyed Cyrene for a moment, unsure if I should trust Gabriel with her. I hadn't seen anything in him that led me to believe he would harm her, but dragons were strange beings-they looked human, but clearly didn't operate in the same manner. Still, he didn't strike me as the type of man who'd take out his wrath on an innocent person.
I tried to catch Cyrene 's eye, but she continued to avoid looking at me. That hurt, but now was not the time to smooth her obviously ruffled feathers. I allowed Gabriel and Maata to escort us toward the car, but the second we were far enough away from the lights of the house, I shadowed, spinning around in the opposite direction, merging myself with the blissfully dark shadows.
Gabriel shouted my name, but I paid him no heed as I dashed alongside a high hedge, keeping myself immersed in the densest parts of the shadows. He might be able to see me at a close distance, but I was willing to bet he couldn't when more than a few yards separated us.
I ran down the street, through yards, around gardens, moving in a direction opposite the mage's house until I could no longer hear signs of pursuit. I doubled back, slowly picking my way, cautious of every looming shape, but no one leaped out to grab me.
Gabriel, it seemed, didn't bother to try to find me. I was oddly disgruntled by that fact, but decided it was foolish and immature, and there were much more important matters to concern myself with than the puzzle my heart wanted to solve.
Steeling myself, my chin high, my shoulders set, I made my way back around to the mage's house.