Page 43 of The Mating Claim

Theydid.

“Dragons rule,” Billy yelled out. “I wanna ride adragon.”

Oh boy, this wasn’t working out how she intended. Laceysighed.

“Remember kids, don’t mess with dragons, like I told you last week. Anyone rememberwhy?”

Baby Sonia babbled. “Dragons are dangerous. Dragon fire. Dragon roar. Dragon can destroy alllife.”

Unease crept over her, though Sonia’s mother had a smile on her face. “Well, not all life. Dragons are contained by the Coldfire Wizard, just as all Others have a wizard to keep them inline.”

“Sometimes,” Ciaramurmured.

Ignoring that odd comment, Lacey began reading aloud. After, she spent a few moments asking the children what they thought of it, and then answering questions about dragon shifters. About five minutes before story time ended, a soft pop of air, blue smoke and a shimmer of magick indicated the arrival of awizard.

Drust. He’d foundher.

Materializing at the room’s front, he glowed with power, his brilliant blue gaze softening as he swept it over her readinggroup.

The children all gasped, while Lacey rolled her eyes. “Don’t you ever knock,wizard?”

He looked at her a moment, then rapped his knuckles on the door frame. “There. Iknocked.”

Ciara giggled and Sonia squealed. Seeing them, Drust gave a wide smile as theywaved.

The children stared while Lacey bit back a smile. Maybe Drust was severe and glowed with practically omnipotent power, but he had a winsome sarcastic streak sheliked.

Just like you.The thought startledher.

Billy, the child who’d spoken up early, pointed at Drust. “You’re, you’re… him, the one my daddy says is the dragon wizard! My daddy says you’re new and our wizard is more powerful. But Tristan can’t shoot coldfire out of his eyes and my daddy says youcan.”

Drust’s mouth twitched. He squatted down to the wide-eyed Billy’s level. “That’s right, I can. Tristan is as powerful as I am. But I’ll share a secret. I can do something that Tristan can’t do. Would you like tosee?”

At the child’s nod, Drust fisted his hand, which had started to glow blue. He opened it to reveal six bluediamonds.

The other children gathered around with cries of oooh andaahhh.

“Are they diamonds? They look like diamonds,” Billy said, marveling. “My mommy has whitediamonds.”

Drust shook his head. “Frozencoldfire.”

Cries of “cool” and “wow” came from thechildren.

The wizard glanced at her, his expression inscrutable. “I’m quite talented with myhands.”

The double entendre didn’t escape her. Flustered, she backed up a step, remembering the delicious taste of him as he’d kissed her, his lips feathering across her throat, those wicked palms kneading her flesh before he’d stopped and she’d pulledaway.

The Coldfire Wizard regarded the children before him. His smile dropped as he studied Willow, still standing apart from the other children. He gave her a long, thoughtfullook.

“Who are you?” he asked in his deepvoice.

Willow whimpered and went to Lacey, wrapping her arms around her waist. Lacey slid a protective arm around Willow and glared atDrust.

“She’s here to learn. Got a problem with that?” shechallenged.

He frowned and glanced at Ciara and then shrugged. Drust turned away, made a fist again and this time his palm was filled with bright bluemarbles.

“May I?” Billy asked, his eyes shining. “I know how to playmarbles.”