What do you think? Should Merethyl have gone with him?
I hated leaving Merethyl. Every fiber of my body hummed in irritation as I flew away from her. It took everything in me not to turn around and go back to her. But Tana has been captured by the scientists and Kenna is injured. Since Cedric is not a dragon, he wouldn’t be able to get Kenna out of the skies. And if her mother is in danger, I know Kenna would do anything to try and save her. I’m aggravated that I have to leave Merethyl but I’m also aggravated that the Lycan couldn’t protect his mate and daughter like he told me he would. I had trusted that he would keep them safe, especially since Tana is so close to delivering their second child. When I get to Cedric’s pack lands, I can see that I was premature in my judgement. There are dead creatures all over their pack lands. Creatures, not animals. this is the work of the scientists. The forest is scorched, I can only guess by Kenna, and there is something that looks vaguely like it was a dragon, or part dragon that is burned and l
As I head back to my homeland, I mentally prepare for what I will find. I’m not sure if Naremyn will immediately challenge me, or if he will wait, undermining me and hoping I’ll either concede or leave again. On my way, I run into Kayid again. “What are you doing out here all alone, fox?” I ask him. “Looking for a beautiful woman. And I see I’ve found one.” He says. “Where’s Mr. Tall, Dark and Broody?” “He had to go help some friends.” “The dragons?” He asks and I narrow my eyes at him. “How did you know?” I ask. “All the shifters are talking about it. If they can capture a dragon, a fire dragon at that, then we need to be extra careful.” “I know she was pregnant, and I think their pack was attacked. Something about the younger dragon getting injured.” “Did they catch her too?” He asks and I can see the real fear in his eyes. “I don’t believe so, but I didn’t have a lot of time to ask Avani what happened.” He nods. “Mind if I escort you?” “You are escorting me? It seems lik
I tell Kenna everything about Merethyl. I don’t know what it is about this young dragon, but I have and will most likely always have a soft spot in my heart for her. “You’re in love.” Kenna says excitedly but stays quiet. She knows that her father and I aren’t exactly friendly. I look back at the fire. “Yeah, I am." I look back at her. "A dragon's love." She looks shocked for a moment. “Wow, the mighty Avani is tamed." I snort, but I can't deny it. "I’m really happy for you, Avani. And no matter what you think, Momma is happy with Papa as her rider. He doesn’t boss her around, he listens to her, he wants her to be who she is, not some puppet that does his bidding. Maybe your elf is the same.” “That’s funny, because she doesn’t want to claim me. She’s afraid of abusing the power that being a rider will give her.” “All the more reason to trust her.” Kenna says wisely. The next day, we get up, planning our next search area when we hear it, Tana’s dragon call. Both our heads whip
It’s been weeks since Avani left to find Tana. Because I don't have a phone, he doesn’t have a way to get in contact with me. Shiv has been flying around trying to get information on his whereabouts. All he’s heard is that there are still dragons searching all over the forest lands, hundreds and hundreds of miles. It also sounds like he’s found some other abandoned laboratories, but I can’t be sure about that. Naremyn has been a whole other problem. While he moved out of my parents’ room the day after I arrived home, he has taken every opportunity he can over the past few weeks to question my decisions and try to put doubt into the minds of our people. Today is no different. “Have you heard anything from the dragon, Queen Merethyl?” He asks me in the middle of breakfast, just like he does every morning. “Naremyn, why would my answer be any different today than it is every other day. I already told you he doesn’t have a way to get ahold of me. When he returns, you'll know it, as will
By the time I get to Merethyl’s elf lands, I'm exhausted. It has taken everything for me to fly all this way with this huge hole in my wing. When she calls my name, I nearly collapse with exhaustion. But then, the other elf attacks me and, in this condition, there is no way I can defeat him. I didn’t have to worry about that though because my mate, the fierce Elvish Queen, stood in front of me, announcing to everyone that I was HER dragon, HER mate as she protected me from Naremyn and his claim over me. Something swelled inside my heart at hearing her say that. I realize immediately when she pours the lava over me that her intention is to keep Naremyn from claiming me. But I also realize that in my state, she could defeat me and she wouldn’t even know it. She is so focused on the fight, that she doesn't realize that I'm caught. Watching her fight for me, claiming me with her words, and remembering what Kenna said, I submit. I give myself to this incredible woman. I push my strength
I grit my teeth as I look in the mirror. I said I wanted him to stay exactly as he is. I close my eyes and repeat that mantra over and over in my head before I open my eyes again to look at his smug face which I currently want to punch. I narrow my eyes at him, but it doesn’t phase him in the least. “Did you intentionally put your claws around my nipple?” I ask, looking at Avani’s image on my chest. No, not my chest, my breast. The image that is now permanently embedded into my skin and flesh is an exact replica of my arrogant dragon. It looks like I decided to paint my breast with emeralds. The image of him is upright so his entire body covers my breast. As if that wasn’t enough, his wings are extended and his tail curls around the underside of my breast. His head is extended as if he’s challenging anyone who comes near me and then the icing on the cake? He encircled my areola with the claws on his back paws. Basically, he’s highlighted my nipple letting everyone know that it’s hi
If I had known that being claimed would feel this good, I would have done it the moment I realized that Merethyl was my mate. Or maybe it’s this good because we waited. Either way, it’s fucking incredible. Sex with Merethyl was the best of my life before she claimed me. But now that we’ve marked each other, it’s more than that. I can feel her emotions. They are stronger than I expected and mixed with mine, it's damn near exquisite. After she claims me, she takes me to her room and we curl up to sleep. I’m exhausted, having been in a fight with hunters, then flying while injured, then having to give Merethyl my strength while she battled Naremyn and finally, submitting to her and being marked by her. When I finally wake, I’m alone. I sit up, disoriented for a moment, but then, I hear her in my head. I could get used to that. Feeling things as deeply as dragons do, more deeply than any other supernatural and more deeply than any human could imagine, the thought of always having Mereth
Avani is gone for three days. This time, he made sure he had a number for me, so I knew that he had found Yhendorn. Or at least, he thinks it’s Yhendorn. I met with Ivasaar. He was a friend of my brother’s and he has supported me since my return. He is a good elf and will be a good leader if Yhendorn and I don’t return. I let him know that we think we’ve found Yhendorn and that he is in an arena. “Ivasaar, if Yhendorn and I don’t return, I want you to lead our people. You have a good heart and a strong mind. Those are good qualities for a leader.” “My Queen, let me go. You stay here and lead our people. You shouldn’t risk yourself.” He says to me. “What kind of Queen would I be if I sent you and stayed here, safe and sound.” I ask him. He smiles. “A typical royal, which is not you Merethyl and not a dragonrider.” “Avani will be here tomorrow, and then we’ll be going to get Yhendorn. I hope to have him back here in the couple of days, but if the worst happens…” “I will take care
After Enki was born, Merethyl and I spent one more week together, letting Merethyl readjust to the loss of dragon DNA in her system. I had noticed it after Gaia’s birth, but I’m noticing it even more now, her body is absorbing dragon DNA every time she gets pregnant. She still had some dragon tendencies after Gaia, and now, after delivering Enki, she has even more. Her ability to cdonnect to me mentally, sift through my memories and thoughts, is nearly as strong as mine. It doesn’t bother me that she has the abilities that she has, it’s more that I’m worried about the long term effect of her body taking on the dragon DNA. Once things are settled with this assassin, I'll be taking her to visit the doctor. When we get back to the elf lands, I know I can’t stay long. I’ve been out of the hunt for two months and Ancalagon is still missing. But, when we arrive and my little girl, now nearly 8 months old, comes toddling out of the castle, her arms raised to me, I refuse to leave without sp
Four months later We still haven’t found Ancalagon. I’ve searched with Avani periodically, but between our daughter needing her mother and my belly starting to grow with our son, I’ve stayed home more than I’ve gone out with him. A few months ago, Ishir started finding shifters that had been murdered. At first, it was a rare occurrence, one in the first month. We assumed that it was some sort of lucky hunter kill. Then there were three more in the month after that, then more. Lately, it feels like Avani and Ishir are finding a dead shifter or supernatural every few days. Not only that, but the ones they are finding now are apex predators or leaders of their supernatural groups. Avani had told me that they had found a high priestess of a coven along with a very powerful warlock. Avani has refused to allow me to leave the pack lands in the last month and has asked Kenna and Bajaro to guard us. Kenna is happy to stay here. She wants to protect her mate, even though Yhendorn doesn’t lik
Being loved and cared for by my mate goes a long way to making me feel better. I’m still distraught, still angry that I can’t find my son, but at least now I feel like I have the strength to start again. I fly Merethyl to Cedric’s pack lands. I already knew that Zephyr wouldn’t be here. She hasn’t stopped and unlike me, she doesn’t have a rider to care for her. I know Mere thinks that Ishir is her mate, but without being claimed, the draw to her son, the need to protect him, will be stronger than the draw to her mate. When we arrive, I pull Mere into my lap. She is all that is keeping me sane, having to be here, listening to this when I should be out searching for my son. I know this meeting is important, but I’m struggling with this feeling of helplessness and weakness. ‘You’re not weak,’ Mere says in my mind. ‘Or helpless, and they may be able to help us. It’s good that we’re here.’ Kaylani begins telling us that the most recent dragons that they have found are hybrids, all of th
Zephyr told us that she had left Ancalagon with the mountain goat shifters, while she went into town. She was oddly vague about where she was or why she was gone, but it doesn’t matter. Ancalagon should have been safe. He’s nearly a year old now. When she had returned, Zephyr said she could smell death and the paralytic. The hunters had killed all the goats and paralyzed Ancalagon so they could take him. Zephyr had been frantically searching for a day, when she finally gave her dragon’s call, knowing she needed help. We began searching immediately, Avani tearing apart every hunter’s lair and laboratory that we could find. He had contacted Ishir to get more intel, but he wasn’t able to tell us much. He gave us a few more laboratories, but most of them had been destroyed when Kaylani, Cedric and Ishir had hunted them down, rescuing the dragons. I had to split my time, hunting for Ancalagon and taking care of my newborn. I love my time with Gaia, but I worry about my mate every moment
I walk Merethyl to the stage that is set up for the event. As his only living relative, she will be leading the coronation ceremony for Yhendorn. She looks gorgeous as always, but dressed as she is right now, the royal blood in her is much more obvious. She was meant to be a queen. I’m just the lucky dragon that gets to claim her as MY queen. She stands beside Yhendorn, who also looks regal in his dress robes. Merethyl begins speaking in elvish. I don’t understand the words, but I understand the intent as I sift through her mind and feel the words she’s speaking. A peace settles over the people, an acceptance of their new King. I look out over the elves, watching as they begin to sing and chant in Elvish. I look behind us at where Kenna is laying, being here for her mate in her dragon form. The air around us begins to feel magical and I look over at Bajaro. She’s holding Gaia and I swear, my daughter looks like she’s paying attention. Maybe she is, both Mere and I have the earth as
After Avani dropped me and Gaia off on the mountain and went to get me some clothes, it wasn’t long before I hear an eagle’s call. I look up to see Shiv and it’s only a moment later when I hear Bajaro in her hyena form and Kayid in his fox form yipping as they run up the side of the mountain. As soon as she gets to the top, Bajaro shifts and walks toward me. “Please tell me you’re going to let me hold that little one.” I walk to her, putting Gaia into her arms. She immediately starts to purr, gently rubbing her face over Gaia’s. “Bajaro, meet Gaia,” I say, stroking my daughter’s hair. “She’s beautiful. She smells like you and the earth dragon,” Bajaro says quietly. I can tell that Avani was right. She will want to be a surrogate mother to Gaia and will protect our daughter with her life. “Speaking of the earth dragon, where is he?” Kayid asks. “He went to get me some clothes.” I say, watching as Bajaro begins humming a strange tune that I’ve never heard. It’s a gentle but hauntin
We stay in our cave for another week after Gaia is born. We carefully take her out every day, making sure she has fresh air. Merethyl lays her in the grass and then will use her element to grow flowers around her. My mate is back to normal now. As much as I loved having her desire for me run as deeply as mine does for her, there’s a reason she’s my mate. I need the balance that she gives me. So, I'm glad she's back to normal again. “We need to head back to the elf lands, love,” I tell her. “I know. I’m just enjoying this time, with only the three of us. But Yhendorn has waited long enough to take over as king and it’s time to introduce our daughter to my family and to your son.” “I wanted to discuss something with you before we return,” I tell her. “What’s that?” “You know that the Chief’s son is still out there. I need to help hunt him now that you’re back to your normal self. I don’t know how you feel about me leaving…” “No! I won’t let you go alone. What if something happened
I love being in our cave of treasures. I can feel the metals singing to me, calling to me. I feel their differences, their density and weight making their song different. The gemstones also have their own feel to them. I’ve found a couple that I like, that seem to speak to me louder than the others. But mostly, I love having my mate here with me. I can’t get enough of him. There will never be enough of him. He is everything, the world is nothing without him, my mind, my body, my soul are incomplete, empty without his touch, his caress, his presence in my mind. I’m just starting to wake when I feel the first pain. I look down, my stomach large and swollen. As I watch, I see the muscles in my stomach contract, sending another shooting pain up my side. I look around. Avani isn’t here. Our child, I need to protect our child. I rub my stomach, cooing at our daughter. I can feel her mental presence in my body. She is agitated and irritable. She wants out. “Not yet, baby girl,” I coo at h
The scent of evergreen and cinnamon fills my nose. I’m so drawn to the scent that I try to burrow myself deeper into the warmth where the scent is emanating. I hear voices, men’s voices, speaking around me. There’s a deep rumbling sound and it reverberates in my body, making me hum. Then I hear a female voice. My eyes flash open and I snarl. “MINE!” I snap at the beautiful woman that is standing too close to my mate. That’s who I smell, who I feel inside me, in my mind, in my soul. My mate. I feel him begin to purr behind me and my body calms, relaxing back against him. His hand touches my face, moving the hair away from me. I lean back against him, rubbing myself against him. “Merethyl, do you know where you are?” “With you, my mate, my love, my life.” “Yes, you are with me. Do you know where WE are?” I open my eyes again and the beautiful woman is still here. I growl at her. “I don’t want your mate, Merethyl. I’m here to help you. Do you know who I am?” “The water dragon.”