Page 19 of Wild Fire

Finally, Warrick began to spiral down toward what looked to be a deserted mill of some kind. It had a huge water wheel and upon closer inspection, she could see that the building was sturdy and intact but had been made to look as though it were decrepit and in ill repair. Warrick touched down with a dexterity and ease that impressed her. He stopped in front of the building, extending his foreleg so she could step down.

Once more the chaotic storm of sound, color, and light enveloped him and then the man emerged once more. He was kneeling on one knee and seemed far more tired than she imagined he normally would be.

She ran to help him stand and he tried to shake her off. “Don’t be a jackass. You just carried me how many miles after being held captive and tortured for months? If it helps, I am suitably impressed with your skills, abilities and stoicism. I’m sort of hoping this place is nicer on the inside than the out.”

He grinned. “It is indeed. We should be safe here. No trace of us should be spotted unless someone knows what to look for. The wheel works and will provide the electricity we need, but this place and the three closest towns were abandoned more than a century ago.”

With Warrick leaning on her, they entered the building. It was far smaller on the inside than she’d imagined. As if reading her mind, he continued, “Most of the building is used to house the fortifications and the things we’d need if we have to make a fight of it. There are also extensive computer and other networks that are untraceable, and an alarm system that is as deadly as it is hidden. Do not leave the building without me until I have had a chance to show it to you.”

“You’re kind of bossy, you know that?”

“I am dragon,” he said, grabbing a pair of faded Levi’s off a hook just inside the door and pulling them on. It didn’t do anything to hide his gorgeous physique, but at least it seemed to contain his massive hard-on. God, did the man ever get truly soft?

She rolled her eyes. “Well sit down before you fall down. Let me get you some water and something to eat. Is there anything?”

“There should be meat in the freezer. Last time I was here I made and sealed some lasagna and other things that will be easy to prepare. The freezer is on a separate low-voltage generator. You look after the food, and I’ll get the wheel started.”

“Won’t that draw attention to us?”

“I wouldn’t think so. For one thing, it moves very slowly. The actual wheel that produces the electricity we need is beneath the surface. Besides, we have it on a timer to go off randomly throughout the year. People believe it to be haunted.”

“Oh my god, this is the haunted mill of Silver Creek.”

“It is indeed,” he said with a smile.

“I always wanted to hike up here, but everyone said it was far too dangerous to hike alone and I couldn’t get a guide or anyone else to come with me.”

“Some of our perimeter alarms will give someone a good zap.”

“Sneaky,” she said admiringly.

Dani went into the kitchen and began to bring food out, selecting a freezer bag labeled “beef bourguignon” with a date that seemed safe. There were instructions to put it in the red dutch oven and set it to low to allow it to thaw and come up to temperature.

Warrick glanced at what she’d selected. “Good choice. It was the first recipe of Julia’s I really perfected.”

They enjoyed their meal but as night fell, exhaustion began to quickly overtake both of them.

“So, what are the sleeping arrangements?” she asked.

“I’m afraid there’s just the one, extremely comfortable, large bed, a very uncomfortable loveseat, an even more uncomfortable cot, one of the kitchen chairs, or the floor.”

“That’s not happening Warrick.”

“We’ll see,” he said with a mischievous grin. “As you pointed out, I am still healing and have expended more of my reserves than I should have. I am sleeping in the bed. I would like to remind you it is quite large and very, very comfortable.”

She wasn’t sure how something that big and that fierce could have a mischievous side, but he did.

“That doesn’t work for me.”

Warrick shrugged. “Suit yourself, but you’re welcome to join me at any time.”

CHAPTER 9

WARRICK

He should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. If he’d learned nothing else from his more than two thousand years on this earth, he’d learned nothing worth having ever came easy—or maybe it did, but rarely and never for him.

Warrick lay with his back turned toward her as he listened to her try the loveseat—too soft and mushy, He could hear it sinking under her and had to bite the inside of his cheek when he heard her muttering as she tried to extricate herself from it. He knew from past experience that trying to get out of that thing was a bit like trying to escape from quicksand.

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