Vander opened his bedroom door and ushered Faye into his private domain. His dragon was pleased that she was in love with the castle. When he explained how he came to live in the castle, he left out the real reason his parents gave them to his brother and him. It was so that they could prepare their dragon horde in preparation of them finding their mates.

For years, his dragon had worked on preparing their home for the one day their mate would walk through the doors.

She was now here.

“I just can’t stop gushing over your home,” she exclaimed. He had allowed her to make a quick phone call to her parents and best friend, using an untraceable phone. He wouldn’t want her family worried, and getting the Blue Creek Police Department involved. “It’s absolutely beautiful. I can’t believe that I’ll be spending a few days in a real castle.”

He chuckled as he watched her run and dive onto his oversized canopy bed.

A few days?

How about forever? A voice whispered to him in the back of his mind.

“You can pretty much have the run of the castle,” he announced as he closed the door behind him. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed near her. She rolled over and turned to him, excitement lining her face. “I shouldn’t be gone but a few days. Farta and the house staff will keep you safe.”

“You’re leaving me?” The smile disappeared from her face as worry set in. She pulled herself up and leaned back against the headboard.

He loved the sight of her in his bed, surrounded by his pillows. No other woman had ever had the privilege to visit Dragon’s Keep, or sleep in his bed.

“Yes, but only for as long as it will take for us to catch Gamair. Between the three of us, we’ll end him.” His words ended on a growl as the passion burst forth. Gamair had done unspeakable things, but now, he’d messed with Vander’s mate, and for that he would surely die. Vander would not stop until the Death Lord existed no more.

“But what if he comes here while your gone?”

“Dragon’s Keep is one of the safest places in the world. It’s protected by magical wards to keep evil away, and nothing will harm you for as long as you are here. Trust me.” He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. He placed a soft kiss to her knuckles, before shifting their hands to entwine their fingers.

“I do, but I’ll worry about you. What if you get hurt?”

He stared at her with a raised eyebrow. Had she already forgotten how they met? They both burst out laughing. Faye’s laugh was musical, and made him want to continue finding ways to make her laugh, just so he could hear it.

“I’ll still worry,” she said, wiping the tears from her face.

“There’ll be no need for you to worry. I’ll be fine,” he assured her. He leaned forward. He couldn’t resist getting one last taste of her lips before he left. The kiss was soft and sensual. She immediately opened her mouth to him, allowing his tongue to duel with hers. She wasn’t shy in her kiss, allowing her tongue to coax his.

He reached up and cupped her jaw as he tilted his head so that he could get closer to her. The need to protect what was his grew, the closer they grew. He needed this woman, and when he returned, he would make sure she knew that she was his forever.

He pulled back slightly, not wanting to end the kiss. But he knew if they went any further, he’d find himself buried deep within her, and any desire to leave would disappear.

“Promise me, you’ll be careful,” she whispered with wide eyes. She clenched his shirt tight as she hung onto him.

“Believe me, I will return. This time, I have something worth coming home to,” he murmured, leaning his forehead against hers.

“And what is that?”

“You.”

* * *

Vander walked around the side of the Blue Creek General Hospital, where Faye had said Gamair had approached her. His dragon blew out a hot breath at the thought that they could have lost their mate that night. The black dragon was vile and evil, tempered and obsessed with death. He could have done much worse than freeze Faye’s friend. He could have killed her easily, along with Faye, but Vander was sure that Gamair wanted to terrify Faye, to showcase his powers.

He glanced around, not seeing anyone milling around the smoke hut. He shook his head, not understanding why humans would want to pollute their bodies with the little white death sticks. Humans had enough issues on their own, so why would they smoke? Being a shifter, he was immune to the common human illnesses and diseases.

Vander wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but figured he’d look around the last spot he knew the evil dragon had been. He would need to use magic to help him.

He was the only one in the parking lot. He reached into his pocket and brought out a small object that would help give him a clue as to where to look for Gamair.

The Orb of Erlo was an ancient artifact that was given to him by a powerful mage a few centuries ago. By looking through the orb, Vander would be able to see the past. He’d focus his mind on who he was looking for, and the orb would show him what he wanted to see.

Vander brought the orb up to his eye and focused his mind on Gamair. It warmed slightly in his hand. His eyesight, while looking through the orb, became blurry for a brief moment, then cleared, and the object of his search stood a few feet from where he was now standing. The brief encounter between Faye and Gamair played out in front of him.

He was able to see everything that was exchanged between them, but was not able to hear what was said. The Orb didn’t allow them to hear, but they could see, feel, and smell anything that passed on that night.

Vander could feel the apprehension and fear that Faye experienced as she sat on the bench. But what gained his attention was the smell. The smell of death and decay, along with the smell of water, surrounded Vander.

He pulled the orb from his eye and knew where he had to look. He released a curse as he pocketed the magical lens and stalked toward his car. He hated that he had to drive while in town. His dragon was far too large to just shift and fly off. A dragon hadn’t been seen for hundreds of years. Today would not be the day to show his dragon. It would cause an uproar in town if a dragon was seen flying over Blue Creek.

He hopped into his dark sedan and figured he better reach out to his brother and Jodos.

“I know where Gamair has been hiding.” He used their telepathic link to reach out to both of them at same time.