22. Sam

A dragon.A full-size firebreather rises before me, its form shimmering with an otherworldly glow, scales gleaming like burnished gold in the moonlight. For an instant, I’m awestruck, my mind reeling as it tries to process the impossible sight before me. But then, as the reality of the situation sinks in, panic slams into me like a tidal wave, icy fingers of fear clawing at my throat.

“Oh, fuck...” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper as I take a slow, cautious step back from the mythical creature standing just a few feet away.

The dragon’s wings rustle, the sound like the whisper of a thousand silk banners in the wind. It backs away, guided by some primal instinct, until it reaches the center of the vast front lawn. And there, it straightens to its full height, its powerful neck arching, its chest puffed out in a display of dominance and strength. With a sudden, violent gust of wind, its scintillating wings unfurl, stretching out to their full span, and the force of it nearly knocks me off my feet.

The warm air whips through my hair, tossing it around my face in wild tangles, but I barely notice. All I can do is stare, my eyes fixed on the mighty beast before me, a creature that no mortal has laid eyes on in centuries.

What the hell do I do now?My mind races, panic and confusion warring within me. I know my way around bear shifters, but dragons? This is so far beyond my realm of experience that I can barely even begin to wrap my head around it. I swallow hard, my throat dry and tight, as I take in the sheer size of the firebreather—its colossal form looming over the surrounding trees, its head nearly reaching the top of the manor”s towering roof.

The dragon sways its head, looking almost as bewildered as I feel. Its slanted pupils narrow, glinting in the moonlight as it examines its own body, taking in the powerful limbs, the long, sinuous tail that coils behind it, the scales that gleam like polished gold.

It’s breathtaking. Terrifying, yes, but also so heart-stoppingly beautiful that it steals the air from my lungs.

“Oh, boy...” I breathe, the words slipping out before I can stop them. This is more shocking than that first dino scene in Jurassic Park, more surreal than anything I could have ever imagined.

The creature’s neck swings towards me, its head cocking to the side as it locks eyes with me. Intelligence gleams in those dark, fathomless depths, a spark of something that’s not quite human, but not entirely animal either.

“Okay... So, you heard that.” I lick my lips, trying to keep my expression neutral, my voice steady. “That’s some fine hearing.”

A low growl rumbles in the creature’s chest, the sound vibrating through the air, through my bones. It studies me, its gaze intense and unwavering, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s trying to decide whether I’m prey or predator.

“Nik,” I breathe, my body frozen in place, my heart hammering against my ribs. “Nik, do you know who I am?” The words feel foolish, inadequate, but I have to try. Have to reach him somehow, even if it seems impossible.

The growl deepens, growing into a roar that shakes the very ground beneath my feet. And then, with a slow, deliberate motion, the dragon unhinges its jaw, revealing rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. Just like in the movies, the creature’s throat begins to glow, the light shifting from a deep, smoldering red to a brilliant, blinding yellow as the fire within its belly rises up, spilling into its maw.

Instinct takes over, and I dash behind the stone bench, throwing myself to the ground just as a stream of white-hot flame erupts from the dragon’s mouth. The heat of it sears my skin, singeing my hair, and I can smell the acrid stench of melting stone as the balustrade crumbles under the onslaught.

My breath comes in sharp, ragged gasps, panic clawing at my insides. “I don’t think that’s Nik anymore.” This isn’t the man I know and love. This is a beast, a creature of myth and legend.

“Fuck!” I hiss, my hands shaking as I try to pull myself together, to think past the fear that clouds my mind. It’s all I can do not to give in to the terror that threatens to consume me.

The tea.Juliette’s recipe. It has to do something, right? But how long will it take to kick in? How long before the dragon’s temper is soothed, before the man I love comes back to me?

“Nik!” I peer over the bench, my heart in my throat.

The dragon cocks its massive head, its eyes narrowing. Does it recognize the name? Does some part of it remember who it used to be? I can’t tell, and the uncertainty is maddening.

But I’m desperate, willing to try anything to calm the beast that wears my lover’s heart. Juliette’s words echo in my mind, a mantra that I cling to like a lifeline: “Willem mastered his beast—but I tamed the dragon.”

I suck in a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage I possess. “I will tame you, firebreather,” I say, my teeth clenched in determination.

Rising to my feet, I square my shoulders, my chin lifted in defiance. “Nik!” I shout, the little bear inside me growling in challenge. “You’re being a bad dragon right now!”

The beast leans forward, keeping a safe distance, and for a moment, I wonder if it’s as wary of me as I am of it. Good. Let it be afraid. Let it know that I’m not some helpless damsel waiting to be rescued.

But then, its nostrils flare, and a gust of hot, stinging air slams into me, flinging me back like a rag doll. I hit the stone balustrade hard, the impact driving the breath from my lungs, and for a moment, all I can do is cling to the rough-hewn stone, my fingers scrabbling for purchase.

One glance over my shoulder, and my blood runs cold. The drop behind me is dizzying, the jagged rocks below promising a quick and painful death. If I had fallen...

Anger surges through me, hot and fierce, chasing away the last lingering tendrils of fear. My jaw clenches, my muscles coiling tight as I push myself upright, my hands balled into fists at my sides.

I’m a formidable witch, or so I’ve been told, my power growing stronger with each passing day. But in this moment, facing down a creature of legend, I feel woefully unprepared. My mind races, searching for any scrap of knowledge, any whisper of a spell or incantation that might help me tame the beast before me.

But there’s nothing. No ancient wisdom passed down through generations, no secret rituals hidden away in dusty tomes. Juliette, for all her talk of taming dragons, never mentioned if there were any magical means to do so.

I’m flying blind, armed with nothing but my wits and my stubborn refusal to give up. It’s a daunting prospect, but I can’t let it shake me. I won’t let it break me.

I yank down my skirt, smoothing the fabric with a sharp, irritated motion, and then I’m marching forward, my steps fueled by a newfound determination. If Juliette could tame her dragon, then damn it, so can I. I won’t let this beast, this creature of smoke and flame, take Nik away from me. Not now, not ever.

The firebreather snorts, a plume of smoke curling from its nostrils. And then, slowly, inexorably, its mouth begins to open, the fiery glow building in the back of its throat once more.

Here we go again.

Fuck. It’s going to be a long night.

But I won’t back down. I won’t give up. Not on Nik, not on us.

I am Samara Alexeev, daughter of great bears and talented witches. I have faced worse than this, and I have survived.

And I will survive this too, no matter what it takes.

So bring it on, dragon. Give me your worst.

I’m ready for you.