Blaze: Volume 3: A Dragon Romance

By Donna Grant

Volume Three of an exclusive four-part volume by New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant.

She opened her eyes and gazed into the blackness of his gaze. They were fathomless, bottomless. She could sink into the obsidian orbs and happily give up her body – heart and soul – to him.

Devon loves her job at the firm. But sometimes she wishes she could find a man—a real man—who isn’t threatened by her success. When she first meets Anson, she’s overwhelmed by his powerful masculine presence and disarmingly gorgeous smile. But when he reveals his true mission—and his ability to transform into a dragon—she’s irresistibly drawn into an epic battle between humans and immortals, magic and technology, danger and desire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: May 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781250149381

Donna Grant

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s written more than thirty novels spanning multiple genres of romance including the bestselling Dark King stories, Dark Craving, Night’s Awakening, and Dawn’s Desire. Her acclaimed series, Dark Warriors, feature a thrilling combination of Druids, primeval gods, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children, a dog, and four cats in Texas. "Dark, sexy, magical. When I want to indulge in a sizzling fantasy adventure, I read Donna Grant." --Allison Brennan, New York Times Bestselling Author

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Chapter Twenty-five

There is a moment, a nanosecond that feels like a lifetime, where your brain blanks and freezes when facing something you can’t reconcile. Seeing an enormous animal standing just in front of you that isn’t supposed to exist is just such an event.

A scream fell from Devon at the sight of the dragon that suddenly appeared. The appearance of the creature caused her to jerk back and fall hard on her butt. Panic then had her scrambling to the nearest wall, twisting her ankle in the process, thanks to tripping over a piece of wood in her high heels.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the beast. He snarled, smoke billowing from his nostrils to snake up around his face. Metallic scales the color of chocolate shimmered even within the dim confines of the warehouse.

The next second, the soldiers began shooting, the bullets raining down upon the dragon. The sound was deafening, and she quickly covered her ears with her hands. The barrage of gunfire didn’t faze the dragon. His onyx eyes were focused on Upton and Harriett.

The jaws of the dragon parted, showing dozens of razor-sharp teeth. His head lowered, giving her a glimpse of two membranous frills that ran from the base of his skull and down his back to the tail that had a hook-like extension on it.

Devon shook her head. She couldn’t believe that she’d seen Anson change into this monstrous creature. It couldn’t be real. It couldn’t.

And yet . . . it was.

She pressed herself against the wall when the dragon drew in a deep breath. Her eyes bulged when she saw more smoke coming from its nostrils. He was going to breathe fire and kill all of them!

I thought Dragon Kings made a vow to protect humans, Upton shouted over the shooting, his face pale.

The dragon hesitated. Devon watched the CEO of Kyvor. Stanley wasn’t faking the slight shaking of his hands that hung at his sides, or the sweat that trickled down his cheek despite the cold. He couldn’t force his face to drain of color—unless it was all real.

She wanted to close her eyes and pretend that none of it was there, but she couldn’t even look away.

The dragon’s throat rumbled with a growl as he snapped open his massive wings that slammed into the soldiers up in the rafters. His tail took out four more of the armed men that rushed toward him.

In a matter of minutes, all twenty-five of Upton’s men were no longer moving. Whether they were dead or unconscious, she didn’t know.

Devon saw the door. With everyone staring at the dragon, she might make it outside to freedom. Then she would run as far and as fast as she could to get away from all of this.

She used her hands to help her stand against the wall. A look in the direction of Stanley and Harriett showed that both were staring open-mouthed at the dragon, looks of part fear and part excitement on their faces.

Kicking off her shoes, Devon prepared to make a run for the door when two men suddenly appeared before her. She gasped when she saw their red eyes—just like the men she’d seen Anson fighting earlier.

It wasn’t just their eyes that startled her but the thick stripes of silver within their black hair, as well. Not to mention the look of pure glee on their gorgeous faces at finding her.

She tried to step back, but the wall blocked her. What the hell kind of nightmare had she marched into, and why couldn’t she leave?

Halt! Upton bellowed when the dragon took a step toward him.

One of the men grasped Devon, yanking her beside him as he turned to face the dragon. The man’s hand wrapped tightly around her throat.

The second one held out his hand as an orb began to form. It was shimmery with ribbons of energy swirling through it, and it continued to get bigger.

Devon was tired of people manhandling her. She was sick of being terrified. It was time she did something. She elbowed the man holding her in the ribs. As soon as she felt his hold loosen, she made a break for it.

She only got a few steps before the second man was suddenly standing in her way, still holding the orb. He grabbed her, turning her so that her back was against his chest.

Then he brought the ball closer to her. She didn’t know what it was, but she knew that she didn’t want it touching her. The more she fought him, the stronger his hold became. Until he swiped the orb against her arm.

The pain was instantaneous and debilitating. She let out a scream, and thankfully, blessedly, the ball didn’t touch her again.

When she was finally able to open her eyes, she found the dragon staring at her. She met those black eyes of his, and her heart missed a beat.

She knew those eyes. It was Anson—even as her mind refused to believe it.

If you want her to live, you’ll come with us, Upton said, breaking the silence. Shift back.

Devon was so wracked by agony that her legs gave out. The man holding her forcefully kept her upright. She couldn’t move her injured arm, nor did she want to. It might make the agony even worse.

Upton motioned toward her as he spoke to Anson. You know what the Dark will do to Devon. Look at her. She’s in pain. Do you want her to experience more of it?

The dragon swung its head and glared at Upton for a long minute. Then the creature was gone, leaving Anson standing naked in the middle of the warehouse.

Anson’s hands were fisted at his sides, and his gaze didn’t move away from Upton. Release her, he demanded.

Stanley barked with laughter. With Devon in our grasp, you’ll do exactly as we say.

I could kill you all in the next second.

Upton shrugged indifferently. Do that, and the Dark Fae will take Devon away. If you manage to find her again, it’ll be too late.

Devon blinked. Had Upton just said Dark Fae? Is that what he was calling the men with the red eyes? Was everyone crazy? Magic, Dragon Kings, Dark Fae—none of it could be real.

Anson took a step toward Upton. If you harm her again, I’ll—

What? Stanley interrupted. Kill me? I get that threat every day. So stand in line.

She might not know Anson well, but Devon could practically see the fury surrounding him. She was there to keep him in line, to make sure that he did whatever it was Stanley and Harriet wanted. Though she knew without a doubt that Upton would gladly hurt her just for the hell of it.

The Dark holding Devon lifted her in his arms. The motion was so unexpected that the throbbing in her arm intensified, consuming her with such anguish that she welcomed the blackness that took her. Even then, she thought she heard someone shout her