Insidious Touch

Prologue

"There weren't always dragons in the valley" His hypnotic voice tempted her to move closer as he swayed.

Savigne smiled and let her wicked intent flash through her eyes. "Is that what you are?" She allowed a soft chuckle to slip from her lips. "You weren't quite what I was expecting."

He closed the distance between them and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. "Were you expecting wings?" He brushed his lips over her soft, slow pulse and inhaled her almond scent, almost tasting her power. "Shit!" He pushed her away from him, but it was too late; her hands were already slamming into his chest.

"Well then, dragon, give me everything you have to offer." She stared at him with snake-like glowing gold-green eyes.

"You shit!" He snared in pain, resisting the urge to move and potentially making matters worse for himself.

"You tried to kill me, and I'm the shit?" She laughed at the irony. "Bet you're not even dragon." Her grip tightened around the pulsating heart as she started the tedious task of pulling it out. His shrieking scream filled the night air. "What? Don't like dying?" She took pleasure in his pain as she whispered, "What number would I have been, 27… 50?" She twisted the heart still in his chest, enjoying the sound of his scream ripping from his throat. She laughed again, "Whatever happened to you being a great dragon?"

He gritted his teeth as his nails dug deeper into her arms, tearing flesh as he attempted to stop her; it was pointless. She gathered her strength, dug her heels into the ground, and ripped the shriveled organ from his chest in one final push. His body fell limply to the ground. His empty eyes stared up at her as a slow, soft smile touched her lips, and his heart burned to ashes.

Savigne clapped the dust from her hands and knelt down, attempting to touch him as little as possible. She pressed the tip of her finger to the center of his head and whispered, "Lux lucis, tenebris, vitam et mortem, nos unum sumus." Savigne could feel what was left of his power filling her every cell. The taste of new power, an addiction that was a constant seduction into unfathomable darkness. His body slowly dried up until he was nothing but ashes blown away by the wind.

She stood up, allowing the rush of foreign energy to settle into her. She flexed her shoulders, allowing the power to roll and move throughout every cell. She could taste the very essence of the man who passed it. It tasted of red hot chillis. She could feel the searing heat burning over her senses, but the adrenaline made it all worth it. Perhaps dragon blood did run through his veins.

"You're playing with fire." He stood in the shadows, watching her every move.

She turned to him and allowed a sweet seductive smile to touch her lips. "That's an understatement. Since when is it any of your business?

Kendrick stepped out of the darkness with his muscular arms folded over his chest. "How long are you planning to keep this up?"

She looked into his deep brown eyes. Heat, sex, and satisfaction vibrated as memories of their last encounter filled her mind. "Maybe with the right mentor, I'll learn to live more righteously." She stepped closer to him, her skin hummed in anticipation of touch. She flicked her tongue over his earlobe and whispered, "Is there a reason why you're stalking me Kendrick." Each word was spoken seductively.

He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her closer to his body. "You have a bad habit of hunting his the valley.”

She smiled, "Someone has to deal with the monsters.”

He brushed her hair to the side and tucked a loose strand behind her ear. "You really think you can handle a dragon?"

Savigne tried to step back, feeling a sense of unease, but his hands were fastened to her hips, and in an instant, her sexual awareness switched to self-preservation. She pressed her palm to his chest, ready to defend herself. But, instead, she felt herself falling into his deep brown eyes. There was something dangerous lurking within them. "What do you want, Kendrick?" Her voice was strong, instantly shifting the mood.

His mouth formed a cold smile and eyes slowly shiften into slits "If there was another way, I would take it, but I can't trust anyone else. It has to be you."

"Cut the crap and tell me!" The words were hissed in a dangerous warning.

But he didn't speak as he crushed his mouth to hers, sending shock waves of energy thrashing through her entire body. He pressed his hands to her head, and images of formulas and detailed instructions filled her mind. But then, there was something else, something that rippled through her body. She couldn't breathe as she felt her body losing strength, then darkness.

Her eyelids fluttered open, and she found herself flat on the floor. Savigne blinked a few times, noting the night sky. She pushed her body up slowly, trying to calm her nauseating dizziness. She looked around searching for him but there was nothing. "Shit." What the hell happened? She stood up, head now throbbing. There was no time to panic as she dragged her aching body home. What did Kendrick do? She shoved a shaking hand through her head of matted curls and nervously backed away from him. Kendrick, you jerk! What did you do now?

He watched a woman stumbled out of the alleyway and step onto the sidewalk, disoriented. Her long black hair bounced over the curve of her back, and the ends brushed the round bottom that swayed sensually from side to side. Her mocha skin glowed under the full moon. He was intrigued by the turquoise aura that enveloped her. Yet, the electric blue that stuck tightly to her body was layered separately from the vibrant natural turquoise with gentle strokes of yellow that enveloped her. That electric blue aura invaded her natural harmony.

Kendrick was the only man he'd ever known with such an electrically charged aura. Kendrick wasn't around, but it was clear that the woman had some kind of relationship with him. So he followed her, careful not to alert her to his approach.

The woman disappeared around the corner. He quickly turned the corner, and to his surprise, she was leaning casually on the building.

He saw her now. Her features were as erotic as her body. The shape of her eyes spoke of Asian descent, but her bright green color held mysteries. Her lips were full soft, and supple. Her hair was long, black, and silky as it glowed under the full moon. Her mocha skin appeared smooth to the touch, yet her body held dangerous curves that screamed of a sensuality that was every man's fantasy.

The power of her green eyes held him captive as she looked up at him. Her full pink lips curved into a sensual smile. "Hey, handsome, is there a reason you're following me?"

The woman was aware of her own beauty, and she wasn't shy about using it. "Tell me your name."

She blinked slowly as if analyzing a complicated equation before she finally spoke. "It's only right that the person asking, introduce himself first."

He smiled, enjoying the sultry sound of her voice, "Sebastian Bonifacio, and you are?" He saw it then; her eyes flashed with knowledge. She had heard of him, but that wasn't surprising.

"Savigne. Is there a reason why you're following me Mr. Sebastian Bonnifacio?"

He leaned in closer, taking his time to search her exotic green eyes. "I'm looking for man."

Her eyes flashed with panic, but she covered it with an innocent smile as she said, "Aren't we all?" She quickly shot out a hand, fingers straight and stiff as she stabbed them into the center of his stomach. He had no time to protect himself as she swerved low and slid her legs to knock him off his feet. But Sebastian was quick as he flipped backward, avoiding a direct hit. He crouched down and watched with great interest as she moved her body from side to side. She appeared almost snake-like as her hips moved hypnotically. It was difficult to tell when she would strike. Her glowing green eyes seduced him to move closer. But this viper had shown her fangs.

"I don't want to hurt you sweetheart."

She smiled then as she continued to move from side to side. "That's a shame. What's pleasure without a little pain?" She pulled a diamond dagger from the back of her hustler. A gold serpent wrapped its body around it, ending at the hilt where its tail encircled a letter "K."

He dodged her kick and was almost hit as she swung her body around and nearly sliced his chest. He grabbed the hand that held the dagger. "Kendrick gave you this." It wasn't a question. He held on to her, feeling a sense of excitement that he hadn't felt in years. He looked into her seductive eyes and realized she was enjoying the dance.

Sparks were beginning to form around the hand and wrist that were linked. The sparks spread up his arm and filled him with a sense of being… complete?

She snatched her arm away, and the sensation was gone. Her eyes stared at him accusingly. "I can't help you." She turned to leave, but he stopped her again by blocking her path with his arm.

"You know Kendrick don't you? My brother." He watched her intensely as those bright green eyes darkened with awareness.

"And what does that have to do with me?"

"That's what I'm wondering."

She shrugged her delicate shoulders. "I have nothing to do with anyone by the name of Kendrick anymore."

"That's funny, because you reek of Kendrick."

She shrugged her shoulders again. "That's no surprise, we had something speacial once. But that was along time ago."

He felt something ugly come over him. Kendrick had had this woman within his embrace. Had he tasted her? teased her?… He shook the thoughts out of his head. Whatever happened between them didn't matter. Instead, he focused his attention back on her.

"And when was the last time you saw him?'

"Don't know. One day he just disappeared." This time she used something beyond physical force and shoved his hand out of the way.

He quickly stood in front of her, blocking her path. "What coven are you from?"

She shook her head and angled her hand on her hip, "If I recall, you're looking for Kendrick. I don't know where he is. I have nothing more to do with him. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to go on my merry way."

He saw it then, the white fog of dishonesty. "You know something."

She smiled, "I know that I have my own business to take care of, and it has nothing to do with you."

He smiled, "That's where you're wrong. It has everything to do with me."

She watched closely as his hazel eyes eerily saw her. She felt uneasy at the idea that someone could see her so intensely. She felt naked.

'You always did have a problem with intimacy.'

She heard it as clear as a bell. Kendrick's voice vibrated over her senses like an earthquake. She looked around herself, but the only man standing in front of her was Sebastian Bonifacio.

"Are you alright?" His eyes watched closely.

Kendrick was behind this. The bastard was going to pay for messing with her.

"I'm fine. But if you'll excuse me, I'm not feeling to well and I'd like to go home."

Sebastian smiled, "I'm sure you do, but I'm not quite done with you."

She smiled a sultry smile that always got her out of trouble with men. "Well, I've never been one to worry about my partner's satisfactions." She winked and split her body into three separate replicas, running off in three different directions. While camouflaging the controlling part of herself to the wall that stood near her.

Sebastian stood in place, and to her surprise, he was laughing. She thought she'd been caught for a second as he smiled and said, "You're a clever little witch." Then, he flipped open his phone and made a call. "Hey Luke, I need some info on a woman. Yeah, he name, Savigne." She held her breath as he said her name. She was afraid he knew where she was hiding, but instead, he walked away, ignoring the replicas she had created of herself.

After she was sure, he was gone. She made it home and sat on her plush futon. The gentle scent of lavender eased every part of her senses as she sunk deeper into the comfort of her couch. Kendrick had done something, but what, she didn't know. She was still too new to the magi. There was so much she didn't know.

'And yet, you've managed to master the little bit you do know, turning yourself into a little Rouge Badass.'

Savigne was still. Kendrick's voice was as clear as day. "How are you doing this Kendrick?"

She could hear his soft laughter. 'Go to the mirror.'

She did just that. But instead of coming face to face with her own reflection, she saw Kendrick staring back at her.