Frozen Heart of Fire Read online

  “Yes, they all believed it,” Prince giggled.

  “It wasn’t true?” Noah gasped. His father had been convinced of the Witches’ betrayal by his own brother. He believed the strange tribe of Ice Witches had committed the deepest of treachery.

  “Not a word,” Prince sniggered.

  “This is a moot point since all the Ice Witches died that night,” Joshua hissed as unpleasant thoughts danced inside his head. Could they have been wrong? Could his clan have committed the worst of sins? He stared at his drunken cousin as Prince’s head dropped and he surrendered into a noisy drink-induced slumber, his mouth open with saliva dripping down his chin.

  “Let me go,” Eva hissed, her mouth free to speak as she dug her sharp nails into Joshua’s hand. But he held on tight, not wanting to relinquish his hold on her as the realization of his family’s mistake struck him. It had led to the destruction of this woman’s entire species. How did anyone correct that?

  “Make sure he gets home.” Joshua stood up, the woman struggling in his grasp as he lifted her into his arms. He nodded at their sleeping cousin.

  “Let me go, you bastard,” Eva snarled, breathing deep and searching out her chilling power. She could freeze the blood in his beautiful body before he took another step. She could gain a measure of revenge, of peace, for her family. But it wasn’t there. Her own power hid from her touch.

  “We need to talk,” Joshua hissed in way of an explanation, but he didn’t know what he was going to say. What could he say?

  “We don’t need to do anything,” Eva struggled, her nails digging into the skin of his neck. She didn’t want to spoil his face. Oh no, his face was too fine to mar. He carried her through to his bedroom, lowering her to his unmade bed, ignoring her struggles and her threats. Unless she was going to reintroduce that brain numbing pain, he was determined to show her how sorry he was for his family’s immense error.

  Chapter Eight

  “Let me go .”Eva sent her hand across his face but Joshua barely felt the slap.

  “Shut up,” he muttered as her robe fell open. The delicious sight of her beautiful breasts stole his need to talk as another desire rose in his body. His hand pushed her flat onto the bed, his lips kissed her skin from her neck down to the softest part of her body, his hand delving, lifting the tips of her breasts to his hungry mouth. Her hands entwined in his hair, an effort to force him away, but it felt so right, he felt so right and the hair pulling him away began to hold him to her. His lips were just as hot, his tongue lapping at her flesh.

  Her head fell back against the soft pillows, Joshua’s multi-colored hair falling on her skin, a silky caress as he suckled sweetly at her breast. She groaned faintly, a gentle echo in her throat as Joshua’s target changed. He slid down her body, the belt at her waist tugged open on his journey. He smiled as his head rested on the curve of her hip, his hand gently stroking the feminine triangle of pale hair. She wasn’t fighting him, wasn’t defying him. She wanted this too.

  His hand moved lower. She knew she should stop him, but this power he had over her held her still. She wanted to know what he would do next; she needed to know more. The excitement in her body, the building tension needed fulfillment and he could do it to her, and only he. An urge within her needed to know how he would feel inside her. How big was he? His arousal leaned against her leg, rubbing, announcing itself like a present to be opened. She wouldn’t deny him now; she couldn’t.

  A slow warmth built as his fingers touched her in that special place, gentle probing, flicking, creating such delight, and when his tongue caressed her inner core, she gasped in pleasured surprise.

  She was his—she would always be his now. He would mark her as only his; he would never let her go and he knew the only way to possess a woman for life was to make her want him. He laughed at the sound of the woman as she shuddered in pleasure, her hips rising from the bed seeking his tongue, his fingers and he heard a whimper escape Eva’s throat.

  “My turn,” Joshua’s voice was tender but firm. He wouldn’t be denied, not now. He wanted her body full of his seed, his child in her womb. He wanted her to be his, forever.

  He moved over her, his knees resting between her thighs, his hands on either side of her head as she stared with those strange pale eyes. He waited for her consent—he wanted this to be right— but desire stole any rational thoughts from his mind. He was swollen with need and only the soft warmth of her body could ease his wanting.

  Eva reached out, her eyes darkening with her own desire. She’d never been in this situation before but it felt right, damn it felt wonderful. Her hands touched his neck, urging him closer. No man needed more reason than that as he slid easily inside her, her legs wrapping around his thighs, welcoming him home.

  She felt a moment of pain, a mere second as he eased past her innocence and laid his full length inside her and she heard his sigh, as he began to move, a rhythm born of nature, a dance of love neither of them could refuse. She was so tight around him, her flesh so willing, so welcoming.

  He cried her name out loud as need crashed around him and he exploded inside her, his arms holding her to him, refusing to let her go. She was his woman now and nothing could tear them apart. He moved to his side, pulling her with him, refusing to relinquish his hold on her.

  “That wasn’t talking,” Eva’s voice was soft.

  “It was better than talking,” Joshua replied, a proud grin on his lips, his tongue poking out to taste her on them.

  “I don’t understand. What happened?” she asked. How had it happened? She didn’t know him and she wasn’t the type to leap into bed with a man she didn’t know. What did this make her?

  “You are mine,” Joshua declared, leaning on his elbow to stare into her delicate face. “Did I hurt you?” he asked, that damned frown returning to his brow. She hated that frown.

  “Only for a moment,” she told him, “but it was amazing before and after. I never realized how wonderful it could be.”

  “You’re mine,” he told her again, as though he needed to be convinced too.

  “I don’t know you, I don’t know anything about you,” she gasped, realizing he really did believe that soulmate rubbish. She didn’t admit to how she did know about him—she’d read all the available data on him but little of that related back to him. Being with him, touching him, negated every dangerous detail she’d learned about Joshua Ravenwood.

  “You’ll get to know me.” He leaned over to kiss her again, his hand resting easily over her breast as though she and he fit well together.

  “I’ve never seen you before today,” she sighed at the stubborn look on his face.

  “And I never believed you existed, but you’re here with me and I’m not letting you go.”

  “That’s ridiculous. You’re a Xandry man and I’m an Ice Witch. We’re enemies. I shouldn’t be here; we shouldn’t be doing this.” But no matter how much she tried to rise, he wasn’t budging, wouldn’t let her move.

  “I don’t care what you are. You’re my woman and this is where you belong—in my bed with me.” His voice was the coldest she’d heard it and she didn’t like it aimed at her. “We didn’t know,” his voice dropped lower, dripping with regret and she wondered at the change in him. She shivered, although he moved closer to pull her tighter against him, his naked flesh bringing warmth to her chilled skin.

  “Didn’t know what?” she asked. If only she knew what subject he’d changed to, but, as he spoke, she realized.

  “We didn’t know. We thought the Ice Witches had turned traitor. We didn’t know,” he whispered, his voice low, still unbelieving. How could any member of his blood, his own clan, be so deceitful? Joshua and Noah had been raised in the Xandry tradition; in honor and fidelity, in the same manner their father and uncle had. It was unthinkable. How could anyone repair the damage?

  “We didn’t turn; we were faithful to the very end. My parents tried to reach the Xandry Prince, but a man with dark hair and eyes came to our house. He promis
ed to speak to the Prince on our behalf if my mother would leave with him. He offered our lives if only she would become his woman. My father refused and they fought. Both our parents died that day.”

  “How many of you survived?” Joshua refused to look at her.

  “Just two—my sister and I. She was only little and asleep under the stairs where we’d both crawled to watch the stranger my father welcomed into our home. He didn’t know about us—children were never permitted into the view of other races— so he didn’t know to kill us, but I saw his face, I will never forget his face. It was the same man who led your people into our stronghold.”

  “You’re lying.” Joshua sat up, thrusting her away from him and leaping off the bed. “Don’t even think of accusing my father. He never would have done such a thing. He was an honorable man. He loved my mother until death.” He avoided her eyes, but refusing to allow anyone to debase the memory of his father.

  “But I saw him, The hour was early, but the sun already touched the sky. He was tall, with dark hair, damp and falling across his face. He swept it away after he’d murdered my mother—a blow with his dagger meant for my father. I saw the deep scar across his face,” Eva insisted. This Xandry man might try to cover up the truth, but she’d been there.

  “A scar? Where was this on his face?” Josh knelt on the bed, touched his hand to hers, but she was locked into some memory of the past and barely noticed the warmth of his touch.

  “It covered his cheek. The left one. A fine line which looked like it had never healed completely.”

  “Mathias, my uncle. Not my father. If only we’d known…” Joshua’s voice was etched with bitter regret, but a loud knock on the door prevented either from speaking further.

  “Josh, you’d better get out here, and bring the Witch with you,” Noah called loudly through the wood.

  “Sounds important.” Josh glanced briefly at Eva as she reached for the soft robe. They stepped out together, hand in hand, in partnership. Neither expected the sight of Noah standing stiffly, a small gun raised to his temple and a young woman who looked remarkably like Eva, holding the weapon.

  “A friend of yours?” Josh spoke softly, trying to hide his amusement, but not quite managing it.

  “Eva, are you hurt?” The woman with long pale hair and eyes of a subtle green asked, but she never lost concentration on the man she held captive.

  “Lena, put the gun down. You’re going to hurt somebody.” Eva stepped forward but Joshua’s hand on her arm pulled her back.

  “Isn’t that the point?” Lena snapped, her eyes narrowed, when she noticed the hold on her sister’s arm. “Let her go, you bastard, or I’ll kill him.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t.” Noah tried to smile but the woman didn’t fall for his helpless man routine which was a shame because she was rather cute in a gun-wielding Ice Witch kind of way.

  “You’re Xandry,” Lena hissed, thrusting the gun harder against his skull to make her point. “You deserve a painful death.”

  “Only one Xandry death a day. You should pace yourself.” Noah shrugged at Josh.

  “One a day?” Josh asked as though they were discussing the weather, but his eyes searched the woman’s face for intent.

  “Sorry Bro, this one killed Prince before I realized what was happening and then she stuck this gun at my head.”

  “And you’re next if he doesn’t let my sister go.” Lena shook the weapon a little to emphasize her point.

  “Joshua is trying to protect me from my insane sister.” Eva stepped forward.

  “You don’t need protecting from me. I came here to rescue you,” Lena snapped. But Eva snatched the gun from her hand and threw it to Joshua. He smiled, since the gun was too light to hold bullets. “What did you want to do that for?” Lena cried, her clout dashed in one easy move.

  “Did you ever think I might not need rescuing?” Eva turned a caustic eye to her sister’s reddening cheeks.

  “I saw that bloody demon walk out and, when you didn’t follow, I guessed you’d been killed, or at least, were being held against your will. Instead, I find you here having sex with a Xandry man. They killed our parents, or had you forgotten?” Lena snarled as her eyes took in Eva’s lack of clothing.

  “I’m not dead nor being held against my will.” Eva faced her sister. It would be difficult to convince her about what really happened when their parents died. Lena had only been a baby and hadn’t witnessed their deaths, but Eva now knew the treachery had been on the part of Joshua’s uncle. She knew she should be furious and trying to kill these Xandry men, but she also knew she was in love with Josh. It was like she’d always known him, always wanted him, and she would protect him against her own sister if she had to.

  Prince is dead? Joshua didn’t sound too upset.

  She turned him into a fish finger, Noah chuckled. It was the damnedest thing I’ve ever seen. One minute he was threatening to throw up on the carpet in the lift, then the doors opened, and this little Ice Witch stormed in. He’s the stiffest I’ve ever seen him. Remind me never to piss her off. Noah wasn’t too upset either.

  “But you were having sex with a Xandry man,” Lena hissed. What was going on? Why did Eva stand so defensively in front of the man she should have iced?

  “No,” Eva snarled back. She knew Lena only had enough power for one flash of freezing. After that, her power waned, which was why she’d fooled Noah with the empty gun. “I was having great sex with a Xandry man.”

  “I don’t understand,” Lena said because Eva had come here to sort out the Trajien demon, not to make out with one of their enemies.

  “Let me explain.” Eva placed her arm around her sister’s shoulder. “The one you killed, the one in the lift…”

  “You mean the one not including the Trajien demon that’s now inert fertilizer in Geralder’s Park?” Lena boasted. She couldn’t watch such a dangerous creature escape to wreak more havoc and destroy more innocent people’s lives— especially since she’d believed Eva had fallen prey to it. Lena had surpassed herself today—she’d iced the demon, although it hadn’t taken much effort, it was rotten on the inside and she’d frozen the drunken Xandry man in the lift.

  “The one you killed in the lift was the son of the man who brought destruction down on our people. He killed Father and then Mother when she tried to defend Father. That Xandry man lied to us, he lied to his own and you’ve just killed his only child.”

  “Sounds about right,” Lena grinned too.

  “We didn’t know. Our Father believed the lies. He believed the story his brother brought to him.” Noah had turned serious; the deaths of the Ice Witches was no joking matter.

  “It doesn’t change anything,” Lena spat at the dark-headed man. He was quite cute for someone who was going to die very soon. It was a shame but what was Eva’s place in all this? Surely she wouldn’t choose a man, a Xandry man, over her own blood? “You’re going to die anyway.”

  Chapter Nine

  “We’re not going to kill him,” Eva stated coldly.

  “What about the other one?” Lena asked, as Eva turned her around, their backs to the brothers. “Can we kill him?”

  “No, we’re not killing him either.” Eva smiled softly. “We can’t kill him because I think I love him.”

  “He’s Xandry, are you out of your mind?” Lena needed to shake her sister back to some kind of sense, but that man, the younger one had caught her eye. There was something about him, something she liked, something she recognized in him and it dove deep into her body like a spear of heat. She wasn’t so sure she wanted his death now, not yet. Maybe later.

  “These men had nothing to do with our parents’ deaths. They were children themselves, like us. Their people were fooled, tricked into killing ours. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of hiding away, frightened that these men will want us dead too. Joshua is kind. He won’t hurt me, and he won’t hurt you,” Eva’s chilled hand on her sister’s face brought her pale green eyes to look at
her. “This is a chance for a new start, for our people to live on in us. It’s time for us to come out of the cold.”

  “That one.” Lena nodded her head at Noah as he lifted his head to catch her eye. He turned to open a bottle of champagne, demonstrating his trust that Eva could placate her sister. The younger woman was enchanting and, with such a temper, which take a lot of soothing. He liked the thought of melting her heart with his own blend of power. Yes, he liked that thought a lot.

  “The other brother is …?”

  “Noah.” Eva smiled, she could see the attraction building between them.

  “Is he attached? I mean, does he have anyone special?”

  “No one special enough.” Noah slowly approached them, two glasses bubbling and fizzing with that huge Xandry smile plastered all over his face. “To a long and lasting alliance between the Ice Witches and the Xandry clan,” he announced loudly but Joshua’s groan stole their attention.

  Joshua slid to his knees, one hand slipping down the glass window as he fell with a thud. He couldn’t see, as his mind began to boil with the rage of pain thudding through his brain. Hot tears flooded his face, searing his skin as he was reduced to a small boy crying out for relief. Noah was the first to reach him but Joshua hit out, knocking his brother across the room in his fear and agony. Noah hit the wall just below the plasma screen, his head slamming against the painted plaster, but he was up on his feet and racing across the room back to his brother in seconds.

  “Stay away from him,” he warned the woman who’d beaten him to Joshua. “He doesn’t know what he’s doing.” But Eva did know and her hands reached out, clutching the man to her as though her touch would be enough to protect her and him.

  “Be calm now,” she whispered, feeling how he reacted to the sound of her voice, the feel of her chilled hands. Joshua sighed in stunned relief, grasping the soft robe at the sound of her voice and the feel of her hands on his face. “I’m here.”