Page 75 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
“You’ve never paid tribute before.” I followed his line of sight to Willow who stepped from the protective shield of my back.
My entire being ached with the need to reach out and pull her into my arms.
“An oversight on my part.” Clariot licked his lips.
My dragon roared his claim.
Clariot smiled. “Especially with all these new lives you’ve been saving lately. It’s rude of me to not thank the guardian for protecting my food supply.”
Smoke billowed from my nostrils as more shadows raced toward me.
Willow’s hand found mine.“He’s just trying to get a rise out of you.”
I knew that and yet I wasn’t clear-headed. It was hard to think with Willow this close to danger.
“Why are you really here?” My fierce mate stood taller and I was torn between wanting to whisk her away or stand behind her in battle.
“So the rumors are true.” Clariot raised his eyes toward mine again. “You’ve found yourself a pretty little human to bed.”
Willow’s fingers tightened over mine.
I didn’t blink. “My mate asked you a question.”
“Did she now?” Eye contact with a vampire was intense. With Clariot it was even more so. But my nature wouldn’t let me look away, so when he did, I breathed a small sigh of relief.
“Forgive me,” he said to Willow as he patted the red painted fingernails of the female vampire who still held onto his arm. “When my own little bird, Sabine, spoke of the guardian and his vengeance that destroyed our only other hope for survival, I had to see what all the fuss was about with my own eyes.”
Sabine’s smile was lethal. “As he said, we came to pay tribute. But you are a beautiful surprise.”
“Only other hope?” My mind was reeling as the pieces clicked into place. Clariot was one of the ancient supernatural beings with enough sway to change world events his way.
He could’ve filled Cain’s head with false confidence and made him believe he had a chance in taking over my role.
“You bewitched him,” I said.
“Not me, dear boy.” Clariot chuckled as he placed a hand over his heart. “I have no need for black magic or enchantments. But you must’ve known we couldn’t continue to bet on you and your prophecy while another dragon of your size lived. Hope is fleeting. A wise man knows how to make more of his own.”
“Then who?” I growled.
I hated Cain, but I hated it more that he was a pawn in the games of others.
“You know the way of things,” Clariot dismissed my anger with a sigh. “We all spoke a little of this and a little of that. The right mixture of words create magic of their own. We can’t help if that magic found a willing host.”
“And who is your next victim?” I glanced back at Lucan who stood waiting for my commanding call.
He was the only living dragon that rivaled me in size. Would they turn my own brother against me? I looked to his right, seeing Riley’s worried face.
Would he have a choice?
“You misunderstand, guardian.” Clariot smiled at Sabine. “We’ve decided we’re on your team for now. Is your mate’s womb filled yet?” He paused to sniff in Willow’s direction. “When do we expect a new guardian to arrive?”
My blood turned to ice at the calculating gleam on his face.
Never.My dragon agreed with me then.
“You can take your tribute and—”
“Not yet, but maybe soon,” Willow cut me off.
