Thorn by Tia Didmon

CHAPTER5

Ella sucked in a musky, scented breath as Thorn stood, pulling her body against him. His blue crystalline eyes locked on her as he lowered his head slowly. He was giving her the chance to move away, to refuse his advance. While her mind told her to run, her body refused to obey.

Thorn's large body blocked the sun. His shadow fell over her body as his lips hovered over hers. She understood predators, but he was the ultimate. His stillness had her heart pounding in her ears. Danger surrounded him like a shroud. His confidence. Magic. Power. All more dangerous than anything she had encountered.

Thorn's tanned skin, muscular build, and ancient eyes made it impossible to guess his age. His lips parted, revealing white teeth before he pressed them against hers, taking her from the arms of the amazon to a mystical place where pleasure reined and desire were the main course.

Thorn's mouth was sensual, and erotic as it moved over hers. His movements were gentle and insistent as he claimed her. Worshiped her. She was prepared for the man. The Dragon. But not for a mate. There was no denying what he wanted, but she wasn't sure she could give it to him.

Ella should have been appalled, but it aroused her. Her lips moved with his as her hand slid down his side, over his naked rear. His thick arousal moved against her stomach before she took a stuttered breath and moved away. She couldn't slow her heart's erratic pace.

Ella touched her lips, shocked at her reaction. She paused on his heavy erection as she gazed over his perfectly masculine body. She looked away quickly. "Can you do something about that?" The air around them moved. When she glanced back, he was wearing clothes similar to Draco.

Thorn held out his hands. "Better?"

She didn't comment on the way his Khakis strained in the front, confining the monster within. "Yes." She didn't know what to say to a man who was both dragon and wolf. "You're lucky to have the family you do."

Thorn's eyes narrowed on her. "I am." He clasped hands with Draco, then Cole. "Tell me about the clan. My wolf's interpretation of his pack differs from that of a man or dragon."

Draco hugged Thorn. "It's nice to have you back. I never thought this day would come."

Thorn glanced at Ella. "The spell is not broken. It's far more complicated than you realized. I will explain in time, but tell me about my family."

"Mara is the Seer. Legion is wholly taken with her. She envisioned this quest and set us on the path to recovering your Dragon. Zara is Bram's mate. She is a detective and has the power of protection. She will shield the temple when it's returned to our world. Freya is Connor's mate and is a fire elemental. Mara and Freya's discs have been returned to the temple. Adara waits for us to return her children."

"The wolf sees and recognizes the members of his pack, but he has no concept of magic, or the temple," Thorn said.

Draco frowned. "It sounds like your imprisonment was more complicated than a form alteration. Right now, the family is looking for Mara's sister, Alana. She is the seeker and is unruly. She has caused quite the dissension between the ladies." He pointed to Cole. "He woke recently, just before we departed. Cole has only met Mara, but has acclimatized to the century, well."

Goosebumps rose on Ella's skin when Thorn looked at her. "Can you give me a few minutes alone with my woman?"

Draco nodded. "Cole and I will go hunting. You start a fire. I will be back with dinner in an hour." The men walked away, disappearing into the brush before Ella felt the tingle of magic.

She glanced in the air, looking for the dragons.

Thorn followed her gaze. "They are using a glamour, so they are invisible to the humans. You are too far away from it.”

Ella fidgeted with her hands. "Are you okay? Do you feel normal?"

"Not quite. I appreciate you helping me. My wolf thinks it's hard for you to trust. Your compassion is a gift I will be forever thankful for." He moved to the black tree, running his hand over the black bark.

"You speak as if your wolf is a separate being. Is it different from your Dragon?"

The cracking sound echoed in the air as Thorn pulled a branch from the tree. "My dragon is part of me. The wolf is a separate being, forced to carry the curse of my enslavement into his body."

"I'm not sure I understand, but I like your wolf. It comforted me when I was recovering from the attack. You saved me." Ella said.

"We enjoyed staying with you. My wolf loves your sculptures."

Ella laughed. "Because they are all of him?" She wrapped her hands around her waist. "This is so weird. I know you're a wolf, but..."

"I'm not a wolf, Ella. I'm a Dragon. I grew up flying the skies with my clan. Legion, Draco, Connor, and so many more."

"Does this mean the wolf is gone?"

Thorn broke another dead branch from the tree, dropping it to the base. "He's still alive. I understand what happened. How the mage trapped me. The extent of the curse."

Ella pointed at the tree. "I'll help you break the limbs off while you explain the spell cast on you."

"The spell was designed for Legion and his power, so the effect on me differed from the mage’s plan. Although no one could have expected Ren."

Ella snapped a branch in half. The black wood crumbled like an old cork. "What is Ren?"

"He is the wolf the mage inserted my consciousness into. The mage expected a wolf to fight off and kill an invading host. Even if the merge had been successful with Legion, he would've been mortal. They created the spell to bind his power. His power is one that I don't possess."

"Ren is real. What happened to his body when we transformed you?"

"Our souls are merged so completely that I doubt we can separate."

She dropped the wood to the ground. "He's trapped within you now?"

"Yes. He is sleeping. His soul is tired. Ren is mortal, and I have kept us both alive for two-thousand years. He has given me more than I have the right to ask."

She moved close to him. "He seemed happy."

Thorn's smile reached his eyes. "Ren loves his life. He doesn't regret what happened. He accepted the dragons as his new pack. Fighting for them is in his nature. He will do anything to protect them and me."

"Can't you keep going the way you are? Keep Ren with you and let him out when he needs to run."

Thorn ran a finger over her cheek. "I wish it were that simple. We have been connected for so long I have no desire to lose him. He kept me sane these last two-thousand years. While I kept him alive, he was the one who saved me."

Ella searched his face. "That's why you are asking about your family. When he's in control, you are not... there."

"I slept the first thousand years. Ren conversed with my clan as best he could. My magic was weak, and it trapped me within a foreign, mortal body, and couldn't speak. Once I learned how to communicate with Ren, he did his best to relay my wishes to my family. Until recently, I wasn't able to use my magic."

Ella smiled. "I'm glad you have Ren."

"As am I. He is ready to move on. He waited for you to reverse the spell. To claim me and separate our souls. He wishes me to live, and I will eventually perish if we remain connected. Despite his wishes, I'm uncertain it's possible."

She frowned. "Claim you?"

He cupped her face with his hands. "This spell is temporary. There is an artifact we need to separate my soul from Ren’s. You're the only Druid who can perform the incantation and you must cast it before this spell wears off or we will return to our wolf form forever."

"I don't know what that means."

Thorn's gaze searched hers. "You are a Druid. My mate."

Her lips parted before she forced herself to acknowledge the pull. "I feel the connection between us, but I need time."

"I would give you anything. The world, if you asked it of me. But time is the one thing I don't have. Ren is dying."