“Oh, damn it all,” Blaze groused, but the edges of his lips curled up in a grin. “You just undid my temper with that first question, you know? Because no, I don’t want to be like her.” Then he shuddered. “And ew. She screws my brother, so that’s really, really gross. No way do I wanna be like her!”

  Griff giggled. He was relieved to have helped Blaze out, but there was still the very real threat to him from that queen.

  And, admittedly, Artaxis wouldn’t be thrilled. It’d be within his power to even break the bond if he wanted to, especially since it was a newly established bond. At least, that was the way Griff thought it was. Gods, he wished he could remember for sure.

  “Why are you frowning?” Blaze asked. “You should only be happy, but not that creepy kind of happy where you walk around all day and night with a big, toothy smile and crazy eyes. Not that you would, but I was thinking about this guy who was actually a gryphon shifter and he had an addiction to this plant that is usually toxic to most— Well anyway, he always smiled, and it wasn’t anything like your smile so maybe never mind all of this and just—”

  Griff kissed him, hard, deep and sincerely. How could he not fall for a man who could ramble on like that? And as they kissed, a crazy, wild idea began to form in Griff’s mind.

  Chapter Fifteen

  When Griff kissed him like that, Blaze could hardly keep from rolling onto his belly and begging Griff to fuck him. Blaze held back, however. He was a little nervous about getting fucked.

  And what they were doing felt so good, the way Griff moaned softly when they rutted against each other.

  Yeah, it was beyond good. Blaze cupped Griff’s butt. He was certain they’d both get off in a matter of minutes just from humping on each other.

  But Griff pulled back, panting.

  Blaze blinked and loosened his grip on the fairy. “Wha’s wrong?” Oh wow. His tongue felt thick and heavy, his lips hot and swollen from those kisses.

  Griff shook his head, pressing a hand to his chest.

  Blaze put his hand over Griff’s. “You okay?” Concern had him focused. “Something wrong?”

  Griff giggled, albeit breathlessly, then winked at him before standing up. “You just arouse me to the point where I feel like I’ll combust if I don’t have you.”

  “Well, we can’t have you combusting,” Blaze purred, rising as well and moving closer to Griff once again. “So—”

  “But I was trying to think,” Griff cut in.

  Blaze groaned and covered his face with his hands. “Aw, man. Thinking instead of fucking—that’s never fun. Can’t we just have sex?”

  “Just?”

  Blaze peeked between his fingers at Griff. “You know what I mean.”

  Griff’s expression was hard to read. “You mean, you want me to fuck you?”

  Blaze clenched his ass, his pucker almost aching. “Er, well I thought…”

  Griff gestured at him to go on.

  “Urm.” Why did he get the feeling saying what he’d thought was going to land him in deep shit? Blaze knew he wasn’t the brightest star in the sky, but he did have a bit of a glow left in him—he wasn’t totally stupid. He uncovered his face but didn’t answer.

  But Griff wasn’t stupid, either, although judging by his laughter, he was amused. “You thought you’d be fucking me, didn’t you? Because I’m smaller and skinnier and weaker. Or because my brain—”

  “Don’t even go there,” Blaze growled, shaking a finger at Griff. “Don’t you insult me, or you like that.”

  Griff blushed delicately and averted his gaze. “It’s me. I know my brain is messed up, and I don’t know why you wouldn’t want the bond between us broken so you can be free to have a normal lover.”

  Blaze had a temper. There was no doubt about it. Right then, he wanted to shake Griff and hug him at the same time. But he knew he’d never do anything that could possibly harm Griff, so the shaking was out.

  But Blaze could scowl and snort with the best of them. “You’re saying I’m a shallow prick.”

  Griff jerked his gaze back to Blaze’s. “I did not!”

  Blaze crossed his arms over his chest. “Yeah, ’cuz I can’t want you since you hurt your head?”

  “And I can’t fly!” Griff cried out. “I’m damaged—”

  “You’re going to be damaged if you keep making so much noise!”

  Blaze spun around, and Griff gasped.

  Blaze recognized Griff’s sister Gia immediately and clenched his jaw as he moved to keep her from taking Griff away from him again. “No,” he growled, putting on his best menacing air.

  Gia flapped a hand at him. “Oh, get over yourself. I’m good with whatever makes my brother happy.”

  “Oh.” Well, that took all the steam out of his sails. “Okay. Good. That’s…that’s good.”

  “We’re bonded,” Griff added. “And, er, we’re going to get dressed before this conversation goes any further.”

  Gia nodded. “Please do, and as to the bonding thing… Well, duh. You said it started the first time you two—” She whistled. “So of course if you did it again, the bond must be established.”

  Blaze didn’t trust her. He kept an eye on Gia as he and Griff quickly put their clothes back on. Gia seemed too accepting after calling him all sorts of names before. And he had admittedly had bad experiences with the females in his life. Granted, Bonny was the only female in his life…

  “You have to stop doubting yourself because of what happened to you,” Gia said, moving closer to Griff. “Your spirit is still the same, whether you can remember everything or not. I can tell you, you’re still the same incredible brother of mine you’ve always been. Different from me, and most of our frolic, sure, but incredible nonetheless. Even a dragon would know how lucky he is to have you for a mate.”

  “Hey!” Blaze exclaimed, narrowing his eyes at her. “Even a dragon?”

  Gia shrugged. “You don’t seem overly bright. Griff is really smart—he just has memory issues.”

  “And no wings,” Griff said before adding, “Blaze is smart. Be nice, Gia.”

  Gia rolled her eyes. “If I have to.”

  “You do,” Griff told her. Then he snapped his fingers. “Oh! I was planning on getting you away from here before your queen can hurt you again! I knew there was something I was trying to think of, and I remembered!” He bounced on his toes. “I remembered!” But his exuberance was short-lived. “Now, why can’t I remember where I lost my wings?”

  Gia looked pained.

  Blaze had some questions about that whole deal. “Why hasn’t your king sought out the thinning of the veil where that occurred?” was the first one, and he lobbed it at Gia. “If someone could harm Griff from the boring realm, isn’t that a problem that should be eliminated?”

  “Artaxis sent fairies out to look for the thinning of the veil, but none was found,” Gia explained. “We know where Griff was headed when he was hurt. There was nothing on the path he’d have been on.”

  “Maybe I went off-trail,” Griff murmured. “I can’t remember.” He glanced at Gia. “Am I the kind of fairy who’d have done that?”

  Gia pursed her lips. “Well, I’d have said no, but you were planning to run off with Blaze, weren’t you?”

  Griff’s entire face lit up. “I was! But only because his queen hurt him. The pain I felt earlier, she was hurting him, Gia. I can’t let her do that again.”

  “Wow, what a bitch,” Gia groused. “Maybe instead of running away, you should dethrone her.”

  “No, no, we can’t do that,” Blaze protested. “My brother loves her. Or is enchanted. Or bespelled.”

  “Or being blackmailed,” Gia snarked. “Maybe she has some dirt on him that keeps him under her thumb. I noticed she’s rather controlling. Saw it when we first got here. I’m glad our king isn’t like that.”

  “But he won’t be happy about me and Griff being bonded,” Blaze said.

  “He’ll get over it. Artaxis isn’t unreasonable.” Gia bit her lip.

  Griff shivered. “He could break our bond. Artaxis doesn’t think I’m capable of much since I was hurt.”

  Gia didn’t deny it, and Blaze felt a bright burst of anger on Griff’s part. For all that Griff did have memory problems, he was still smart and articulate, and he felt things, emotions, for fuck’s sake.

  Blaze had never been away from his own kind, but now he had someone who was his and to whom he belonged. Didn’t that take precedence over his own kind?

  “How did I know I’d find you here?”

  Gia yelped, and Griff squeaked, but Blaze just sighed and watched as his brother floated gracefully down to the ground. Blaze had never been able to do that, to shift from dragon to man in the air and land easily. He always hit the ground hard, unable to control his descent.

  But not Fyre. He could shift and fly silently, which could be a real pain in the ass at times—like now, when Blaze wondered how much his brother had overheard.

  Well, running away probably wasn’t going to happen now. He’d have liked more time to figure out just how to tell Fyre what had happened, but there was no point in putting it off.

  He tucked a very tense Griff closer to his side. “We’re bonded. You can’t make me leave him.”

  Fyre’s eyebrows winged up his forehead. “Wow. Bonded? For real?” Then to Blaze’s shock, he started laughing.

  Blaze, Gia and Griff exchanged confused looks while Fyre doubled over, cackling like mad.

  “Has he lost his mind?” Griff whispered.

  “Who could blame him if he did?” Gia replied. “I met his queen. Sheesh.”

  “Fyre?” Blaze tentatively reached for his brother’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  Fyre gasped a few times, then managed to stand up straight. He wiped at his cheeks. “Ah, yes, yes. It’s just—Bonny’s going to shit lava over this.”

  Blaze was shocked by the vulgarity. Fyre generally kept himself above the use of such sayings.

  But it did fit.

  “Well, Artaxis won’t be thrilled, but he won’t hurt Griff,” Gia snapped. “Or Blaze.”

  “He could break our bond,” Griff murmured. “Can you promise me that he won’t?”

  “Yeah.” Fyre angled his chin at Gia. “Can you? Maybe he’s no better than Bonny.” Fyre’s eyes went wide, and he covered his mouth with both hands. “I can’t believe I just said that.”

  Blaze thought that was what he said through two layers of flesh and bones.

  Gia sniffed and turned her nose up at him. “Whatever. Artaxis is reasonable. He’s all for love, too. Sex is fantastic, but if someone finds they’re bonded, that is a blessing no one with any sense would seek to revoke. Artaxis is no fool.”

  “But Bonny is?” Fyre snarled, his eyes flashing with orange and yellow sparks. “I know she isn’t perfect, that she—”

  “Whatever.” Gia flapped her hand at him.

  Fyre sputtered and stuttered, nothing comprehensible leaving his mouth.

  Gia smirked at him. “Can’t believe I interrupted you? Think you’re too important for that?”

  Fyre managed to close his mouth.

  Blaze cleared his throat. “If you two are done flirting—”

  “Flirting!” they both shouted, turning on him.

  Blaze only shrank back a little. “Hey, I meant, er, arguing. Yeah, arguing. If you two are done arguing, can we get back to me and Griff?”

  Fyre and Gia both harrumphed. Fyre stepped around her to stand in front of Blaze.

  “As much as I hate to admit it, it might be best if you and Griff disappeared for a while,” he said. “Bonny’s become more and more…unreasonable, as of late. I don’t know…”

  “Are you kicking me out of here?” Blaze rasped, aching inside in a way he’d never experienced before.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “No, No, that’s not what—” King Fyre stopped and grimaced. “Well, kind of, but not like you mean. I’m just encouraging you and Griff to take a lovers’ holiday.”

  Blaze looked so hurt that Griff couldn’t stand it. He pressed closer to Blaze and glared at Fyre. “How long?” Granted, Griff had been planning to talk Blaze into running away with him, but that was totally different from Blaze being cast out.

  “Yeah, how long?” Gia asked, poking King Fyre in the chest. “That’s harsh, sending your own brother away.”

  “I’m not sending him away!” Fyre protested, raising both his hands in surrender. “I’m not! I’m suggesting that he and Griff go on a lovely vacation where they can spend uninterrupted time alone and strengthen their bond while I…deal with the fallout here.”

  Gia scowled. “You mean that—”

  “Gia, enough,” Griff warned. He thought King Fyre probably meant well, and it sure sounded like he’d be in a heck of a mess with the queen over this. But why? “Why would there be a problem? You and Artaxis wanted to join forces. What better way than this—a joining, a bonding between the two?”

  “And for one of the bonded to be the brother of the king, that’d be kind of like royalty,” Gia added.

  “Kind of?” Blaze asked. “Hey, me and Fyre had the same parents, I’ll have you know, and I’m just as royal as he was. Is.” He slumped a bit. “Well, I would be if our royalty worked that way.”

  “I don’t understand.” Griff was afraid he’d already forgotten something important that had been said in the conversation. “You’re royalty?” he asked Blaze. It made sense, but Griff hadn’t even thought—

  “No, I’m not,” Blaze said.

  Gia snorted. “That makes no sense, dragon.”

  “It’s the way of our kind,” Fyre said. “Only the firstborn have ever been considered royalty. All other siblings born after are commoners. And before you ask, death of the oldest doesn’t change that. If the oldest child dies, all other offspring are, er, eliminated in some manner, and the king and queen begin again.”

  Griff felt as horrified as Gia looked. “That’s awful! How could you do that?”

  Fyre shook his head. “I haven’t. But it’s been a very effective method for keeping the younger siblings from murdering the oldest for the throne. It also gives them impetus for protecting the oldest and seeing to his or her health. As far as I know, there’s been less than half a dozen instances of a royal cleansing.”

  Griff thought he might just be sick. “So if you were to die today…”

  King Fyre glanced over his shoulder, back toward his palace. “Well, I have suggested you and Blaze both slip away for a while.”

  “You think your queen would kill you?” Gia asked, sounding outraged.

  “I think she wouldn’t do such a thing intentionally, but lately she’s been…” He didn’t finish, and after a minute, Blaze took over.

  “She’s been meaner than a harpy with her tit caught in an orc trap,” Blaze said.

  “Ouch.” Gia grabbed her boobs with both hands. “Those metal teeth.” She shuddered.

  Blaze nodded. “And I can’t leave my brother here to deal with that.”

  “You don’t have your powers back,” Fyre pointed out. “And as Bonny took them from you, only she can return them to you before the set period of time she dictated as punishment.”

  “Unless she were to die,” Blaze muttered. “Not that I’m suggesting such a thing. Or hoping for it.” He blushed when everyone looked at him. “What? I mean it. She hasn’t always been cruel to me. I think she’s angry ’cuz she hasn’t ever produced an heir and she’s running out of time to spit out a princess or prince.”

  “Running out of time?” Griff asked, glancing from Blaze to Fyre. “What kind of weird laws do you dragons live under?”

  “They aren’t weird to us,” Fyre retorted. “They’ve kept our species alive and thriving for many millennia.”

  “So have ours, and we don’t kick out a queen for being infertile,” Gia snapped. “Gods, you dragons—”

  “No, you fairies have just broken off into a hundred sub-frolics, unable to get along if any of you are the slightest bit different, so you have Love fairies and Water fairies and—” Fyre flapped his hands in the air. “This is a ridiculous argument.” He focused his orange gaze on his brother. “Please, just escape here for a little while. Let me deal with Bonny. She won’t be that unreasonable.”

  “Then why would you want him—us—to go away?” Griff asked.

  “To remove any temptation on her part,” Fyre explained. “And, even though Artaxis might be reasonable, he was very angry about my brother and you being together before. He might not be as calm as you or Gia expect him to be.”

  “Well, Artaxis has always wanted Griff in the harem,” Gia mused. “I suppose he might be a bit miffed.”

  “He wanted you in the harem?” Blaze sounded shocked and angry. “And he’s banging your sister?”

  “He’s banging a lot of people,” Gia declared. “It’s his right as king, as long as all harem members are willing. No one is forced to be his.”

  “And we wouldn’t be the only siblings in his harem.” Griff frowned. “Or the only people related. I believe there are entire mature families in it.” Wasn’t there? He looked at Gia.

  Gia nodded while Fyre and Blaze both muttered their non-approval of such things.

  Before Gia and Fyre could get into any more squabbles, Griff tugged Blaze away from the other two. “I wanted you to leave with me. I’ve never done anything so spontaneous—that I can remember—as I have with you. Even when I was going to court another, I’d planned everything out.”

  “Court another?” Blaze narrowed his eyes.

  “He seemed a safe, logical choice,” Griff offered. “And I would have been miserable with him, and he with me. We certainly wouldn’t have bonded.”

  “Well, duh. There’s only one bond that could have happened for you, and I’m it.” Blaze grinned, and caressed Griff’s jaw. “So I guess I shouldn’t be jealous, much.”

  “At all. Sometimes, I can almost see him, other times…most of the time, I forget how he looked completely. But I know this—he wasn’t a fine, sexy man like you, with so much beautiful skin and freckles that make me want to—” He remembered they weren’t alone and stopped himself from getting graphic. Griff settled for waggling his eyebrows at Blaze, which in turn got a deep gut-laugh from the man.