Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(57)

Flynn grinned. “We use elections here and not order of succession.” Flecks of green glowed in his eyes. “When Father died, Desmond threw his hat in the proverbial ring of fire, and I did not.”

Desmond nodded. “Your brother prefers the front line and being a soldier. Said he’d rather have to eat his own fire than run for office.”

“Amen to that.” Flynn eyed his cousin. “Although I may have to take a run for it if the current administration doesn’t change a law or two.” He glanced at Simone and then back. “You understand what I’m saying, Desmond?”

Desmond stilled. For the first time, the predator lurking inside his handsome body became visible. “If you want to challenge me, do so.”

“I don’t want to lead. You know what I want.” Flynn held Desmond’s gaze, no give on his hard face.

“Our laws are our laws,” Desmond countered. “I’m not changing them for you or anybody else, and even if I wanted to, the nation wouldn’t agree and you know it.” He smiled at Simone, all charm again. “Our people need to approve changes to ancient law by a two-thirds vote.”

“How democratic.” She shivered at the definite chill in the air, and wondered what the hell they were arguing about without arguing about. Either way, she needed to change the subject before she threw up from the tension. “What about your mother or other siblings, Flynn?”

“My mother is a dragon who is currently on a cruise in the Bahamas, and she hasn’t mated anyone. You and Bear are my only siblings.” Flynn took a healthy drink of his water.

Simone coughed. Dragons on cruise ships. Who knew? She might as well try to understand as much as possible about these new relatives of hers. “I still don’t understand why Roman decided to kidnap me.” Her instincts focused on the problem.

“He most likely would’ve left you alone after meeting you initially.” Desmond nodded. “But when Roman investigated you, he discovered you were seriously dating a demon, and that pretty much was that, as they say.”

Simone frowned. “Excuse me?”

Flynn finished chewing. “Even though our father had lost his hold on reality, his fear was well founded. At the time, of course.”

Simone sat back, her nape tickling. “How so?”

“Well, dragons and demons can’t mix.” Desmond nodded at Flynn. “Right?”

So that was what Bear had been talking about when he’d insisted Simone break it off with Nick. It wasn’t demons and bears that couldn’t mix, but demons and dragons. “I’ve heard rumors,” Simone murmured.

Desmond laughed, the sound a little too loud. “Think about it. Demons attack minds, but dragon minds can’t be attacked.”

She studied him. Serious. “That’s a nice gift.” Damn, she wished Nick was there to prove the theory. With his age and powers, if anybody could slice into a dragon brain, it’d be Nicholai Veis. “So?”

Flynn sighed. “So, imagine if you, a witch-dragon, mated a demon and produced offspring. That child would possibly be the most powerful and deadly being on the planet. The biggest threat to dragons, for sure, because it would be able to mind attack.”

Simone shook her head. “You don’t know that.”

“Unfortunately, we do,” Flynn breathed.

“It has happened before?” Simone whispered.

“Yes. Where do you think the human legends about dragons come from?” Desmond said, pushing back his plate. “A millennium ago, such a creature actually existed, and it took out half of the dragon and witch races.”

She frowned. “There was a legend, one I didn’t believe, about a fire-breathing shifter that harmed my people.”

“Yes.” Desmond nodded. “There was a cross breed, a crazy being, and it killed for sport. With its skills, it was nearly infallible, and that can’t happen again. The Coven Nine and the Guard hunted all dragons down at that time, believing them to be mutated multis. We had to create this island just to survive and protect ourselves from the witch nation.”

“Witches and demons are now allies. Why don’t dragons come back into the world and do the same?” Simone asked.

Flynn leaned back. “I think it’s time we stopped hiding, but Desmond doesn’t agree.”

“No. Hidden we stay safe,” Desmond countered. “We can counter witch fire, avoid demon mind attacks, and fight as well as vampires or other shifters. We’re too dangerous to be allowed to live, and the other species will combine to take us out. Again.”

Simone swallowed. Perhaps the world had been that way before, but now peace reigned. “I think you’re wrong.”

Desmond studied her. “Maybe, but look at the bright side. Fate obviously stepped in with you, Simone.”

She tilted her head to the side. “How so?”

Desmond smiled. “You see, it’s a good thing you didn’t mate the demon and procreate our worst nightmare. The second you were with child, we’d have had to kill you.”





Chapter 22


Nick had faced death before, several times, and yet this was the worst. Guided by moonlight, a bear-dragon hybrid mix held him high above the churning sea, flying in what could only be described as a turbulent mission. He strengthened his hold on the pack holding clothes and weapons.