Page 32 of Dragon’s Rogue

“My what?”

He had no idea what she was talking about. Thorne? he said in his head. Little help here? I’m on the terrace outside the study. He projected a picture of its location. Come from outside. Cloak yourself. We’re having an issue with the lovely Ms. McKenna.

Saw you leave. Already on my way.

“Your coven tattoo.” Blaze jerked her hand back, walked around behind him, and magically ripped the back of his shirt and jacket as well. He shivered at the sudden touch of the night air on his bare skin.

Or maybe it was her making him shiver.

He felt her fingers on his left shoulder blade, and sucked in his breath involuntarily. Just that small contact sent electricity shooting through his body.

She thought he was a sorcerer. An evil one, if the way he was hanging from his wrists like laundry on a clothesline was anything to go by.

“I’m not in a coven,” he told her. “I came here in good faith to—”

She came around to face him again. “Stop lying. You must be. You’re too powerful to be solo, and I felt power in the others, too.”

There was a sudden gust of wind, and Zane felt Thorne’s dragon presence just above the terrace. Then his brother shifted mid-air, uncloaked and landed on the terrace behind Blaze, in human form.

Watch out, bro. She has a spell—

Too late.

The minute Thorne’s feet hit the balcony, more silken ropes sprang to life and he was strung up the same way Zane was. Blaze whipped around and tore Thorne’s shirt open with her magic.

Damn. Beautiful witch: 2, Dragons: 0

Not the heroic first impression he’d intended to make.

Blaze backed up, looking from one to the other. “All right,” she said. “No tattoos, no coven. So spill it. Who are you people, why are you after my idol, and how much pain do I have to put you through to get it back?”

Thorne said, “We’re not after the idol.”

Blaze snapped, “Don’t give me that crap.” She looked accusingly at Zane. “You’ve been hounding me for weeks, and when I wouldn’t meet with you, you came to my house and stole it.”

“I was the one who asked to meet you,” Thorne said—fairly politely, considering the circumstances and Thorne’s temperament. “I’m Thorne Greystone. This is my brother Zane.”

Blaze seemed momentarily taken aback when she realized she’d targeted the wrong brother, but she continued her attack. “Big deal, you’re not the one that broke in,” she said to Thorne. “All that means is you send minions to do your dirty work.”

Minions? That stung. “Hey,” Zane protested. “I’m hanging right here. No need to be calling names.”

He could hardly concentrate, she looked so gorgeous, furiously angry and crackling with power. A worthy mate, his dragon rumbled.

Mate? The word speared through him like lightning. He’d hoped, but… she wasn’t a dragon. How could she be one of the Three Mates of Destiny?

Unless she wasn’t. What if she was just… his?

There was a shadow at the French doors, and Tyr appeared. Of course. The locked study doors wouldn’t have been a problem for him.

Blaze backed up a step, her arms going up in preparation for another spell. Tyr at least had the sense not to step on the terrace, avoiding the rope trap spell.

Witch: 2, Dragons: 1.

Tyr stayed just inside the study, leaning on the doorjamb, taking in the sight of his bound, bare-chested brothers with their shirts and jackets in tatters. “Well. This looks like a kinky yet potentially fun game. Sort of a reverse harem thing going on. Can I play?”

Thorne said impatiently, “She’s looking for coven tattoos.”

“I’m looking for answers,” Blaze said.