Page 62 of The Mating Frenzy
A hissing sound filled the air, like a gas line opening. He knew what was coming. With all his might, he threw Ella into the surf, covering her, and taking the flames on his bareback.
Searing heat scorched him, along with white-hot pain. Kieran gritted his teeth and then turned as the Hellfire Hound opened its mouth to blow fireagain.
“Not on my watch,” he muttered and drew back hisarm.
Sparkling ice sailed out of his hand, landing on the Hellfire Hound. It encased the creature in pure white, immobilizingit.
How had he done that? He could not throw ice here, only in the Winter Kingdom. He didn’t care. Kieran did it again and an iceball landed on the taller creature’s head. It clawed at its flesh, trying to scrape it away. The ice melted quickly, but the creatures squealed, backingaway.
Right towardDrust.
As if sensing the wizard, they turnedaround.
“Kieran, step back, please,” the dragon wizard said politely. “Use your Winter powers to shield youboth.”
He knew coldfire, knew it would penetrate salt water. Kieran grabbed Ella and jogged several feet away. Holding her tight, he thought of the coldest, purest ice and saw a white bubble encasethem.
The coldness felt soothing on his burned, agonized flesh. He held tight to Ella and she did not shiver. Kieran watchedDrust.
“Bye bye, assholes,” he told the darkcreatures.
Drust opened his dragon mouth and blue flames poured forth. The two creatures were incinerated inseconds.
The ice shield faded around them, and as it did, the pain returned. He released Ella, staggered and sat on the sand, overcome by agony. He didn’t even want to know what his back looked like. Probably worse than the midsummer festival when the Winter King liked to fry effigies of hisenemies.
“Son of a female feline,” he gasped, the pain making his eyeswater.
Barely able to focus, he rocked back and forth, wheezing. Ella squatted beside him, her expression worried. “Oh, Kieran, I’m sorry. You protected me, took the brunt of the fire to save me. What can Ido?”
Mustering a smile, he shook his head. “Naw, I’m fine. Just a bad case ofsunburn.”
“Liar,” she said softly. “My brave, stubborn cat. What unique abilities you have, what amazingmagick.”
Cupping his face, she pressed a sweet, gentle kiss against his trembling lips. Kieran closed his eyes. Burning pain in his back eased as he focused on the subtle sensuality of her mouth, on her fragrance of crisp snow and pure female, on the single tear that trickled down her cheek that she cried because hesuffered.
He broke the kiss, tracing the tear with his thumb. “I will be fine, Ella. Do not weep forme.”
Eyes huge in her face, she gave him a woeful look. “I wish I could kiss your back and make it feelbetter.”
“It feels better now,” he murmured. Kieran gave her a hopeful look. “Can you kiss something else and make itbetter?”
Ella laughed, but the worry still shaded her gaze. “If only I had that power you keep saying I’ll have. I could heal you. Take away yourpain.”
The pain in his back would not be as agonizing as the pain in his heart when he was forced to let her go, as she embraced her future. Kieran swallowed hard.When did I fall in love with you, Ella-mine? When did you take my heart and heal it with your laughter, your courage and your fiery independence and your willingness to live life to thefullest?
Lifting his head, he watched Drust walk past the two burned spots on the sand, and squat down besidehim.
The wizard laid a gentle hand on his back and the pain immediately vanished. Kieran dragged in a deep, relievedbreath.
“Thanks,dragon.”
Drust stood, dusting off his hands. “The Skins saw nothing more than two lovers frolicking on the sand. I used my powers to mask everything. I may be a new wizard, but I’m getting better. Practice makes perfect when it comes to killing darkcreatures.”
Ella stared at Drust. “You’re anotherwizard?”
Drust gave a small, formal bow. “My lady, Ella. I am Drust, the Coldfire Wizard. A pleasure to meet you, although the circumstances could be morepleasant.”
“I don’t get it.” She looked at the black patches of sand, all that remained of the evil creatures. “What were those things? I felt only the need to challenge them, and fightthem.”
