The hard lines of anger around his forehead and mouth did not hide his worry. I remembered those lines very well; I had seen them up close and personal one night when I had walked home late from the park with a few of my friends. I had known my parents weren't going to be home. So instead of heading straight home after dark, I had walked around with my friends, enjoying a ten year old's sense of freedom.By the time I had made it home, it had been close to my bedtime, and I thought my brother was going to blow a vein in his forehead. It had taken me a while to understand that his anger was just a cover for how worried he had been about me. Erik had yelled and stomped around the house for hours. He went on and on about all the things that could have happened to a ten-year-old girl.Though my parents had grounded me for my stunt, it was my brother that had made the biggest impact on me that day.And it was that look and that tone that made me pause to listen to him now."What can I do to
Erik bowed once more. -I leave my sister here in your care, Magnus. Thank you for helping her learn the ways of our people. -Nerrian bowed back. -I will see she is kept safe, Champion. -My brother turned to me and gave me a look that warned me to be careful despite the Sorcerer's words. He left the room and closed the wooden door with its signature creepy squeak once more.I tried to quell the urge to chase after Erik and force him to come back. I chose instead to focus on not fidgeting uncomfortably.-Be calm, Lady Mara. Though I know your brother is concerned about your safety. As he should with a traitor in our midst. You are safe here. - Nerrian told me gently.I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax a bit. "How did you know about the traitor?" I asked him.He stepped closer and tapped my head. -Speak to me from here. My spell only works with mind speech. -I sighed reluctantly, not wanting to encourage this way of communicating.-You must understand. This is normal for u
-That's archaic. - I scoffed. Nerrian just shrugged. -The Sororians are still doing it. Daughters are nothing more than a tool to increase that male's status. - Nerrian explained. I shook my head in disgust. -Why? --Well, this goes back to that time. When the King's Uncle took the Princess to his lair he mated and impregnated her. This was the beginning of the fall of the Sororian's monarchy. -My eyes widened as I became engrossed in his story. A picture formed in my head and began to play like a movie. That's when I realized he was showing me this story more than telling me.-Once the princess came back mated and full of child her father became enraged and wanted to behead her mate rather than see her giving herself to someone 'below' her. -I felt her pain and anguish deep inside me.-To save him and her child, she ran away through the portal with him. He was the last to know the secrets of the portal. With the princess gone, The King of the Sororians declared war on the Torshari
The sun was setting over the Sororia Mountains when a knock sounded at the door."Enter," Nerrian hissed in Draygonian.I was still reeling, trying to figure out how I would remember all the words he had already taught me. All I could do was cross my fingers and hope that my talent to learn the other words would give me an advantage.The door opened, and Treddian stepped in bowing reverently to Nerrian.Treddian hissed too fast for me to understand."Speak slowly," Nerrian instructed him.He hissed something else then translated his words in my head. -She is still learning.- "Good evening, Magnus," Treddian repeated slower so I could understand."Magnus Nerrian, the King wishes his mate to join him for dinner," Treddian told him.Nerrian's voice rumbled in my mind translating the words I didn't understand. I was so proud of myself for starting to distinguish the separate words. Even if it was only when they spoke slowly. "Very well," Nerrian replied to him, then turn to me. "Come bac
"Excuse me?" Tohr asked quietly. "I believe, I said no," I repeated, unfazed by the growing tension in him. "I do not believe I asked a question or made a request, Mara," he ground out between clenched teeth. "I do believe. However, I gave you my answer to your order," I told him daringly.Tohr advance on me, the fury in his golden eyes almost caused them to start sparking. "You will watch how you speak to me, little human. I am your King! And when I give you an order, you will follow it," he growled. He turned to Erik and hissed something at the wide-eyed man, who immediately hissed something back. Out of nowhere, Tohr let out a roar that echoed, making the glass in the windows rattle. I scooted a bit towards my brother, feeling the rage that laced the roar sending a lance of fear through me. Tohr's jaw was clenched so hard that it was twitching while his eyes elongated, taking on his draygon's pupils."Fine," he snapped, then stormed from the room with a dense puff of smoke fol
My stomach did a flip-flop. Even though I denied this submissive behavior, the command in Tohr's voice made me quiver, and it had very little to do with fear. I slowly walked towards him, feeling the air growing heavier as I stepped closer and closer to him. I stopped a few feet away and just watch him, waiting anxiously.Tohr was not willing to let even that much distance between us. He moved closer then circled me like a vulture around its prey. He leaned in and sniffed the back of my neck. He growled again, a sound of displeasure if I had ever heard one."You smell of another man, girl," he growled. "Strip." I gasped in shock. "What?!" "You smell of another man," he snapped even angrier. "How? Why? What? I don't understand what's going on," I admitted. "You're my Mate. My mate should never smell of anyone but me. Should never be held by another but me. It took all my control not to kill your brother on the spot. And the only reason why I didn't was that he is your brother. But i
He moved further down until those teasing lips found one hard nipple. His tongue licked and teased the overly sensitive bud. My back arched wantonly, my body silently begging him for more. He chuckled softly, bringing me out of my stupor for a moment, and I realized that I wasn't really being silent at all. My pleas were loud whimpers, and my nails dug into his wrists as I tried to break free so I could force his head down further on my aching nipple. He took pity on me and latched on to the hard nub sucking it deep into his mouth, licking, nibbling, biting hard only to soothe the sharp pain with a quick swipe of his tongue. I was drowning in the fire, and even the slick leather rubbing against my clit was not enough to dowse it. "Oh god… please," I whimpered. "Yess, little one. I want you to hear you come," he whispered against my chest. "More… oh god, please, please, more," I pleaded.He transferred my wrists to one giant hand, and the other slid down my body, sending goosebumps
"Good girl," he whispered against my thigh, pressing a soft kiss to the smooth skin.The pride and happiness in his voice made my pounding heart warm and melt behind my ribs. I couldn't think clearly through my oxygen-starved brain. Yet, if I could have, I would have been horrified at how easily I had submitted to his demands or, hell, how easily I had begged for everything he had done to me. However, I felt content, and the heat that was threatening to boil under my skin since I had met him was nothing more than a simmer. It was still there, though it had alleviated a bit. That also should have made me worry as well. However, I was simply happy it was easier to manage.Tohr crawled up and covered me with his body as he took my panting mouth in a deep kiss.-I can't wait until the day I can claim you. You may not be ready, but your body is begging for more. - He whispered as he continued to plunder my mouth.His words were like a dash of cold water on me. A slight panic rose, and he pu
He squeezed my hand one more time before letting go. It was a small gesture, however with Treddian, who was raised in this world to not show affection to another man's woman or risk death, it was a huge step. I turned my attention to the last two people who stepped up to me and raised my eyebrows when I saw it was Ethallia and Synne. "What is it you need, my ladies?" Tohr asked them gently. "Your Majesty, we wish to plead our loyalty to the Queen, as well. Without her here, our lives would have been very different, and now we would be honored if she would accept them in return," Synne replied softly. "That is not necessary," I replied to them."Your Highness, with all due respect, you gave us our lives back and the courage to take charge of them. There is nothing we want to do more than to pledge them to you," Ethallia countered. I looked to Tohr for help. But he had stepped back and was allowing me to handle this. I stood and walked up to the ladies and took their hands. "Are yo
"Caylan," I called, getting his attention. Caylan turned and his icy blue eyes pierced through me as they started to turn slightly Draygonish. "Please… be patient… this… this is not our way, and she may end up hating you if you push too much," I pleaded with him. Caylan nodded to me. I wasn't sure if it was an agreement or acknowledgment. Either way, I was forced to stand there and watch as Caylan carried my new friend off to his 'Draygon lair'. "She will be fine, Mara. You know as well as I do, my little fyre, that a Draygon will do whatever it takes to make sure his mate gives him their heart," Tohr reminded me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed the top of my head. "Most of all, she is safe and protected." I nodded and sighed heavily, hoping one day she would forgive me for this. I felt as if I had to feed her to the wolves.Before I could contemplate or worry about anything, else Tohr was pulling me towards the front of the hall where the thrones were and had me s
-Little fyre. I am damned proud of you. You fought him with all the fyre inside your soul. Sólas would still be after us no matter what you had done. He is the one to blame for what we are going through right now. - I gave him a small smile and tried to let his words soothe me. "Thank you for warning me," I told Caylan. "I appreciate all that you have done for us." "You do not have to thank me, Your highness. It was the least I could do after everything you both did for my people. I, however, did wish to thank you for bringing our princess back." My eyes widened. "Gabby?" As if my words summoned her, Gabby walked in like the princess she was descended from. She looked around the room. As soon as she spotted us, she made a beeline for the group, and the look on her face was one of anger. "Ohhh hell," I whispered in English. "You!" she snapped at me. "You have been back for how long? And you have not stopped to say hi?" "Gabby, I'm so sorry! I just… Ummm," I floundered for a reas
I turned and grabbed her shoulders. "Even if you weren't mated to my brother and my favorite guard, you would still belong here." The tears Ethallia was holding back burst open and poured down her cheeks. I hugged her again until the sniffing stopped, and I could tell she was feeling better. I caught bits and pieces of her thoughts, and they were just as sweet as her words. I gave her one last strong hug struggling to control my own tears.-You okay, mate? - Tohr asked concerned. -Yes, mate. I am just so happy right now. - I replied, coating my words with the love I felt for him and these people. He sent back his love letting it wash over me. -I'm so glad, my little fyre. Now hurry so I can have you in my arms again. -I laughed slightly and pulled away from Ethallia. "Alright. My own mate seems to be whining cause I'm not close. Can you help me finish this up?" I asked her, pushing at my quickly drying hair. She nodded and pushed me towards the chair. Under her quick and daft fing
I giggled breathlessly yet didn't deny either of his claims. He set me down on my feet, being sure to hold onto me until I was able to stand on my weak knees. With my head cleared of him, I realized that we were still in one of the main hallways to the castle. Anyone could have walked in and seen what we were doing. Tohr chuckled. "I'm pretty sure the whole world heard you coming, mate." His wink on the innuendo, then again knowing him it wasn't an innuendo at all, caused my cheeks to flush, and I smacked his arm. He laughed and pressed a kiss to my nose before pulling me down the hall to our room.When he opened the door, I saw Ethallia and Synne standing there waiting for me. The adjoining door to the bathroom area was open, and I could smell the scented oils they used for the bath. A wide smile crossed my face, and I practically raced to the bathroom. I slammed the door shut on their surprised faces before I jerked the veils off and practically jumped in. The water was a little t
-Green, huh? - I thought with a smile. -So apparently, my mate is a descendant of the Narhas'fa, huh? - I gave him a goofy Draygana grin. -I guess I am. Do you think you can live with that? - He smoothed his hand down my scales sending shivers down my spine. "Yes, my mate. Even if you had never been a Draygon at all I would still love you the same," he admitted before backing away and changing. As his own Draygon was released, he braced his front feet and let out a loud yell calling to his mate. Me. I braced my feet and returned the call. To anyone else, it would have sounded horrifying or scary. However, to us, it was a beautiful ballad. With one hard flap of his wings, he was off into the sky and began to circle the area waiting for me. I watched him for a moment admiring the grace with which he soared through the sky. For such a big creature, Tohr was agile and swift that I loved watching him fly. The need to join him overpowered me until I was shoving off the ground and s
I only looked back up when I knew they were fully changed. Treddian was an enormous Golden Draygon. Beautiful and vibrant, his head sprouted two horns that bent slightly backward but ended with two extremely sharp-looking tips. His back was relatively free of spikes until the very tip of his tail held one deadly-looking spike. I couldn't remember seeing anything like that on Tohr and made a mental note to ask about it. -Treddian's has some Silver Draygon in him. - Tohr explained. -They sport those tiny spikes on their tails and a little mustache that comes out the sides of their nostrils. It is a rare thing nowadays to see a silver Draygon. They were obsessed about only mating with their own kind. As such, they have almost driven themselves to the brink of extinction. - Tohr explained. -I thought you guys only mated with the ones you bond with. But according to Sólas and now these silver Draygons, it seems not necessary. - I asked, suddenly remembering Sólas's words about how that wa
Quiet voices woke me slowly. They sounded close but not close enough for me to make out what they were talking about. However, even those quiet voices were not the reason I had woken up. No, my Draygana insisted that I investigate why voices were disturbing our sanctuary and why our mate was not beside us. I groaned in agitation and tried to quiet her down. -Be still, my mate. It is your brother and his mates who come to check on us and give us an update. - Tohr's voice ran through me like fingers stroking down my spine in comfort. I smiled softly and allowed him to soothe both my Draygana and me. She purred and preened, then dropped away calm now that she knew he was okay. I couldn't help rolling my eyes at her internally, then stretched, allowing myself to wake up a bit more. Realizing I was still naked, I flushed hard and looked around for something to cover myself with. I heard footsteps heading my way, and the search became a bit more frantic, not knowing who it was who would
I heard his growl once more pulled from the depths of him. His Draygon reared his head and pushing Tohr to give in to his mate. "Then you will have me, little fyre," he growled out loud, his voice sending shivers down my spine. He rose above me and locked his eyes with mine. I spread my legs wide, feeling his hard cock pressing just slightly against my dripping wet channel. I winced a little as he began to push in. I was by no means a virgin. However, I was not well experienced either. However, neither one of those men had been anywhere near as big as Tohr. Not to mention they had been a while ago. Despite how turned on I was, it was like he was my first again, and my body was struggling to allow him in. "Relax, sweeting. Your body will let me in. You are made for me," he whispered into my ear. His hands slide down my body finding my nipples and began to play with them once more. The discomfort began to slowly be replaced by pleasure as his fingers pulled and twisted at my nipples.