[Carnelia]
He claims my lips before the crowd, and they all begin to cheer, watching as his mouth explores mine and he bends me over backward to the delight of the onlookers. It is quite a show, but not unexpected for someone who has the reputation of being an adventurous bard who spends his time traveling the world, wooing princesses and fine ladies all across the realms. Lifting me into his arms, I hold on tightly to his neck as he runs up the stairs to our room, everyone cheering behind us, pounding their glasses against the bar and tables.
When we reach our suite, he pushes the door open with his hip, closes it with his foot, and sets me down gently, before t
[Carnelia] “Carnelia,” his chest is heaving. “You marked me again.” “Well you bit me first,” I smirk. “And I didn’t hear you complaining about it last night.” I try to adjust my dress from a seated position having done a poor job of lacing my corset by myself, but my fingers seem to not be working as they should, distracted as I am by his predatory gaze. Since our mating, his need for me has become ravenous and all-consuming as if one taste of me was enough to spiral him into addiction. It is a miracle he ever lets me out of bed. “Do you know what that does to me?” he pants.
[Primus] “You have angered your Prima,” Carnelia stood above me in nothing but her split knickers, corset, stocking, and heeled shoes. Lying on the ground I have a perfect view of the mark I left on her mound, her lower lips taunting me with their delicious smell. As soon as we arrived, I began stripping her of her outer layers one surface at a time without a care as to who could see us. In the foyer, it was her dress, which I ripped off with my teeth, much to her delight. Of came her blouse on the stairwell up to the third floor, which I liberated from her corset, devouring her beautiful breasts as they bounced loosely above her stays as I hammered her sweet pussy into the ground, sucking and biting her delicate nipples until she called out my name loud enough to wake t
WARNING: this is a fairly disturbing chapter detailing some disturbing scenes regarding human experimentation. Read at your discretion.[Segundus]Watching Primus’ face turn red as he read the note from our father was worth the trip west. It was a subtle rose at the onset, but like a sunset over the water, Primus’ face shifted through red and magenta, settling on purple as he tried to contain his anger.“Do you know what is in this missive?” my brother demanded as he took in my smug expression.“Of course not,” I lied rolling my eyes. “That would be treason.”“Did you tell him?” he roared, his eyes flashing green.
[Carnelia] “We need to get out of here,” Primus is rushing around the room, grabbing things off of shelves and shoving them into bags. “We are not going by official means. We need to leave, now!” “Primus, slow down. What is happening? What is going on?” I try to stop him from spinning, to focus on one thing and communicate his needs, but he is unable to do so. His body is moving supernaturally fast in a way that I can hardly track. He is so much stronger than I am, there is no way I can physically stop him without hurting myself. “He knows,” Primus is sweating, his
[Primus] All night we mated like tomorrow might never come. At that moment, we couldn't know if it would or not. Things have never been easy for a pair like us, but now everything has gotten so much more difficult. Our world is so uncertain now that we must claim every bit of happiness that we can. There is no way to know what tomorrow will bring. And while it may be impossible to predict the future, there are a few things we can do to prepare for it. So when we were not making love, Carnelia and I strategized. We still don't have a solid plan of what to do next, but after cataloging the things we do know, we have at least some idea of what we might be facing.
[Carnelia] I thought flying in the cart was terrifying. Flying on Primus’ back is far, far worse. Dragon scales are extremely slick. It allows rainwater to just roll off of them and protect their tender flesh. They are also extremely hard to hold onto, and very sharp if you move against them the wrong way. Also, the ridges on a dragon’s back are very pointy and painful to sit on for any amount of time. There isn’t enough space between them for a body to rest without being a little impaled, especially if the dragon is moving and flapping his wings, jostling you about. It is also a lot colder being on a dragon’s back rather than in his arms. None of these points were things th
[Primus] “I’m sorry, Ona, but did you suggest we get married?” Ona grins. “Yes,” she replies evenly. “In secret, of course, but in a way that would be legally binding. It will make it impossible for Father to force you to marry someone since you’ll already be married.” “But is that even legal,” I inquired, “I’m Crown Prince. I cannot get married without royal permission.” “I’m about 99% sure we can get our mother to approve. And if we get Tritius involved, we’ll have at least 3 royals connected to the throne in attendance. Father would have a hard time convincing the council and the rest of the court to disavo
[Carnelia] “I’m sure you know the official story, the one that the Imperium and our Father have been promoting. Ignore it. None of it is true, except for their attempt at complete genocide for no good reason other than their own greed.” She brings over a small globe, a representation of our planet, and sets it down in front of us. “This is our world,” she gently spins the globe. “So large, so gloriously diverse. Like so many of us elemental masters, not just the dragons, but the Fae, the ogres…have you ever wondered why we are so different from all the other creatures on this planet? We share almost nothing with them, not in our true forms. Dragons are no more giant lizards than a dragon prince is a human man. We are completely alien.
[Carnelia] When I sat there, tied to that wagon almost a year ago, I had no idea how my life led me to that place. I couldn't even remember who I was or where I came from. It is amazing how much can change in such a short amount of time. When I was a hurt, angry girl, I had no idea that one day I'd wake up and be seen as the mother of a kingdom, or that my children would not only be heirs to all of Luxandra, but to the Solar Throne of the Southern Continent, a rebirth for a royal line thought long dead. Nor did I understand that my old life, and everyone who existed within it, would be nothing but ash and sour memories before the next summer blossomed. All I knew as I fought against my bindings was that in the next few minutes, my life would either end drastically or it would be changed forever. Because even if my body were not destined to die as a dragon’s meal that evening, something in me realized that the girl I had been up until that moment would die that day. There was n
[Eleanora] “Your Majesty, you shouldn’t be down here,” the small man sniveled as I entered the new lab. "This is no place for a lady." “Where else would I be?” I demand, cracking my knuckles as I stare down my nose at the human technician in charge of keeping my husband’s body from dying. “My husband is here, so I am here. I wanted an update on his condition.” “We could have written a report and sent it…” he begins to sniffle but I raise my hand and he bows low before me, his back deeply bowed as is proper. “I wanted to SEE him, you dolt,” I correct the fool shaking before me. Humans are so weak-willed and this one is weaker than most. I brought him from my family home because I can trust he will be loyal. He'd sooner tattle on himself for a perceived mistake than risk being accused by someone else. Similarly, he's the first to report when anything seems amiss. The perfect little worm to place in any apple. Because while he is telling on everyone else, he is also spying for
[Segundus] “Greetings citizens of Imperial City,” My queen and I shine brightly as the sun begins to set, our white clothes studded with diamonds so that when the spotlights shine on us, we gleam like fallen stars, fitting since our intention tonight is to make celestials fall from the heavens. “The Celestials have lorded over us for several millennia. Living in their sky throne, they control our resources, taking what they want and leaving nothing behind. Their children, the Sun Dragons, were especially notorious. They controlled the power that fueled our cities, and if we didn’t make proper payment, they would burn our cities, raid our farms, and send their blight to wipe all life from our land.” I pause to let my words settle into the hearts and minds of those gathered. A gentle hissing roar throughout the crowd assembled. My wife, Queen Eleanora, squeezes my hand in encouragement, smiling sweetly, projecting her confidence and trust. “My brother, Segundus, sought to alig
[Carnelia] There is a bright glow as I close my eyes and I know that it is the last time I will ever see Cressida, that she sacrificed her spark to save me. My screams turn into howls of pain and sorrow. Cressida, the kind mother who nursed me through the birth of my babies, and accepted me into her family even when she thought I was a human. I didn’t even really get a chance to know her, and now I am mourning her, along with the loss of my mate, trapped on the other side of a gate I cannot cross. “CLOSE THE GATE!” one of my captors bellows through the entry gate as we arrive at the Northern Sky Portal, “By order of Queen Cressida. This is her final command!” The drakes at the gate go immediately to work, tapping buttons on clear surfaces lit from within with swirling and changing images of blue, red, and green. The surface beneath our feet shifts and shakes and I scream in fury as I watch the large metal iris of the portal snap shut. “How could you,” I pound the chest of m
[Segundus] “Sir,” one of my aerial knights bows before me as I ready myself for the next phase of the war. I had just sent my generals from the room and was looking over a map of Luxandra. I already have an idea of what this knight is going to say before he opens his mouth. Looking at the map, I have marked several cities that have recently been destroyed, each one a hub for an energy hub. I had them each commit to continuing the story of Skyfell, telling the untruths of how the treacherous Celestials came down to Terra, burned our cities, and stole our light. In many ways, these new attacks on major city hubs are feeding into our story, except for the unpredictable element of them being completely untrue. “Report,” I am getting irritated by all the bad news I have been receiving. My generals didn't have anything good to report from their respective lands, and the lack of resources coming into the capital was starting to make me anxious. It has become harder and harder to hide the
[Primus] Ever since I first saw her tied to that cart, there was something about her, something that captured my heart. Seeing her taken from me, held roughly by the hands of those trying to save her as she is taken away, screaming my name--that broke my heart. So much has happened since that fateful evening when she was left as a sacrifice at the foot of my mountain. She had fire in her then too, but it was buried deep within her, almost smothered by a lifetime of hate and abuse. Once I started to brush away the ash and soot of her previous life, she began to glow, her fire mostly directed at me, but fire nonetheless. Even when she tried to extinguish it, when the weight of the world and her sadness threatened to crush her spirit, she came back to me, her fire bright and true. Loving her has been hot and pure and never boring, never predictable, almost like flame itself. Right now, burning with rage, with righteous indignation, she is the brightest I’ve ever seen her.
[Carnelia] The still of the morning is shattered as everyone moves into position to protect Primus, Cressida, and myself. We all drop to the ground as another beam of light shoots over our heads. “How many do we have below,” the queen bellows, commanding her men, her body rigid with fear and power. If she is afraid, it is impossible to see, her movements sure and precise. “At least a full platoon of air drakes with another half platoon of fire, My Queen.” One of the guards answers back as another shot zooms overhead. “Possibly more hidden beyond the ridge.” “Un
[Segundus] My back aches as I land near Hatchery L11. It is early morning, just after dawn. Eleanora was still sleeping when I left. I have a feeling the doctor will give us auspicious news today about her health. Based on the color of her cheeks and her increased appetite, I am certain she is carrying our first clutch. I leave my small group of guards behind in a nearby town. I cannot have anyone who enters these facilities other than myself cannot leave once they enter. We cannot risk trade secrets leaking out to our competitors. I know that Elfholm is considering creating its own factories using a different breed, but as it is now with energy being one of our main exports, I do not want to give away anything that will lessen their dependency on our sources.
[Ona] The fighting has stopped. We are vastly outnumbered. Thankfully, the Imperium soldiers on board were given orders to stun and contain us, not shoot to kill. Even so, we lost more than a handful of sun dragons to the battle that ensued. Including Daax and myself, the number of resistance fighters on the boat is down to 36. Four days ago, at the start of this adventure, we had more than 60. By the time we reached the end of the tunnel, we numbered 42. I try not to think of all the bodies we lost during the evacuation of Segundus’ lab. So many had never awakened when released from the pods--and there had been hundreds of them. Drakes, drakaina, and some little more than hatchlings. Watching them die as they took their first free breaths in decades is a memory I will torment me for all the remaining moments of my life. There were more bodies on the ground than walked out of that room. I have been fighting this battle against the Imperium for the last four decades but on