A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire 1)

Putting space between was the exact opposite of what one did when they wanted to seduce another. I looked down at the arm held firmly around me. And despite how cool his skin was, the feel of him was…pleasant.

A deep, chuffing sound jerked my head up. One of the hills shuddered and rose. That was no hill ahead of us. My mouth dropped open. Wings swept out and then up into the starry sky. The ground around us trembled, scattering what was left of the mist as something thick and spiked swept across the road. My gaze followed the sidewinding tail to the creature that was at least twice Odin’s size.

Black and gray under the starlight, it stood on four muscular legs as it shook its great body, sending a fine layer of dirt into the air. Spikes traveled from the tail and along the thick scales of its back, some as small as my fist, others the size of several hands in length. The creature twisted sharply, faster than I would’ve ever anticipated something that size to move, turning its long, graceful neck in our direction.

Air thinned with each breath. I choked on a scream that never made it past my throat as a massive talon landed in the center of the road, claws wide and sharp. A moment later, the frilled head was directly in front of us—a head nearly half the size of Odin’s body.

I fell back against Ash, staring at it—at the flat, broad nose and wide jaw, the pointed horns that sat upon its head like a crown, and eyes that were such a vibrant shade of red, they contrasted sharply with the pitch-black, thin, vertical pupil.

I knew what I was staring at. I’d read about them in dusty, heavy tomes. I knew what purpose they served. They were the guardians of Iliseeum. I knew they were real, but I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing one—couldn’t believe I was face to face with a dragon.

A very large dragon with gray and black scales and many, many teeth. It leaned in even closer, its nostrils flaring as it appeared to sniff the air—sniff us.

“It’s okay,” Ash told me, and I realized I was once again clutching his arm. “Nektas won’t harm you. He’s just curious.”

Just curious?

I flinched as the dragon’s hot breath lifted the hair around my face.

Nektas let out a soft purring sound as he tilted his head even closer and then lowered it so it was only inches above Odin’s mane.

“I think he wants you to pet him,” Ash said.

“What?” I whispered.

“It’s his way of knowing you mean him no harm,” he explained, and I wondered exactly how in the two realms I could ever be a threat to this creature. “And him allowing it is how he shows you that he won’t hurt you.”

“I believe you—him.” I swallowed.

The dragon made that low trilling sound again.

“Where’s all that bravery?” Ash asked.

“My bravery ends when I’m faced with something that can swallow me whole.”

Nektas puffed out a hot breath as he cocked his head.

“He’s hurt that you would think he’d do such a thing,” Ash observed. “Besides, I don’t think he can swallow you whole.”

My mouth dried as I continued staring at the beast. He was beautiful and terrifying, and I didn’t know if any mortal alive today had seen one. I swallowed again, slowly easing my grip on Ash’s arm. My breath caught in my throat as I reached out.

If he bit my hand off, I would be so very disappointed.

Nektas vibrated with sound once more. The very tips of my fingers touched his flesh. I pressed lightly, surprised to find that his bumpy scales felt like smooth leather. I petted his nose rather awkwardly. The dragon made a chuffing sound again, this time sounding very much like a laugh.

Pulling his head back, Nektas’s gaze focused over my shoulder and then he turned. The ground trembled as he pushed off his hind legs. Air whipped around us as powerful, clawed wings swept back. He lifted into the sky with a shocking surge, rising fast.

“See?” Ash held Odin’s reins tightly. “He will not harm you.”

I touched a dragon.

That was all I could think.

“You can lower your hand now.” Amusement danced in his tone.

Blinking, I pulled my hand to my chest. “It’s a dragon,” I murmured.

“He’s a draken,” he corrected as Nektas flew ahead. “They are all draken.”

They? Draken? The remaining hills weren’t hills, either. They shuddered and lifted their diamond-shaped heads to the sky, tracking Nektas. Wings unfurled against the ground, stirring dirt and dust as they rose, stretching their necks. They were smaller than Nektas, their scales a shimmering onyx in the starlight, but no less powerful as they pushed off their hind legs and launched into the sky.

“You…you have four…draken protecting you?” I asked, my stomach sinking. It wasn’t like I’d forgotten who the Primals’ guards were. But seeing it was a shock.