Burn (Dragon Souls) (26 page)

Massaging the back of her neck as he sipped from her honeyed lips, licking his own when she broke away panting, wild eyed and griping his waist, he knew hunger, desire and gut-clenching need.

Silence descended over the table.

Viktor guffawed and nudged his Sire with an elbow.

Uncaring of what they thought, Koen braced himself to take her again, to drag her over the table to truly feast, when the warriors ringing the table erupted in a clamour of approval, hooting their pleasure.

Shaking his head to dislodge the mind-numbing lust, he pulled back.

Vadik rolled his eyes before hunching and shoving his chopsticks back into his rice bowl.

Bits of bread were tossed their way when they separated. The heckling grew rowdier when Marina flushed to the roots of her hair, and buried her grin in the flat of her palm.

Smug, sensual mouth quirked lazily at the friendly taunting, Koen winked at Viktor, much to the delighted youngling’s worshipful admiration.

Used to seeing Marina and Koen’s titillating sexual chemistry, Daniil was the first to dampen the frivolity. “As wonderful as this all is, Rina, we have been lax in your training.”

“Yes, well, we were attacked last night. I think that qualifies as extenuating circumstances.” Marina’s cheeks were filled with food. Foot hooked around Koen’s calf, she sipped straight from a tall pitcher of water. “We deserved a day off. After a full night of uninterrupted sleep I’ll be all yours to torture and tame.”

The noise level of the room nose-dived.

A defensive fury swelled from the ranks, much to Koen’s liking. Yes, let them feel protective. The more bodies he could put between his Treasure and danger the better.

“Attacked?” Sevastyan demanded an explanation the warriors wished they had the status to ask. “Who would dare?”

“Mages,” Marina replied. Her eyes crossed jokingly when Daniil shot her a murderous look. “Oh, lighten up, Dani. They would have found out eventually. A delegation of Battle Mages visiting the Kingdom would have been a dead giveaway something major had happened. This way the tittle-tattle might have more than a grain of truth to it. Besides, they need to know what’s going on since I’m living here now.” She reminded him of her new living arrangements with a hint of evil glee.

Vadik was fully engaged.

Attentive, he leaned over the table, rice forgotten, chopsticks held aloft like twin daggers. “Barren Ones attacked our High Princess?”

“And the King,” Koen added.

He shrugged fatalistically when Daniil made a noise of protest, giving him a look to suggest he was as hopeless as his mate.

“You decided to call the Eldernmoot to account,” Vadik surmised. “Not that any good will come of it. The Barren Ones are perfidious snakes.”

“I do
not
like that name,” Marina snapped. “We call them Mages.”

“It matters?” Viktor asked curiously.

“Our offspring is of them,” Koen said evenly placing his hand on hers. For the first time he too experienced a sting of affront hearing Boy’s kind spoken of in such derogatory terms. After meeting with Elder Khan it was clear the people of the Wasteland were not
barren
, merely different. Enemy or not they deserved respect. “It matters.”

Vadik grunted yet made no apology.

Why should he when he spoke the truth of experience? He would respect the royal offspring regardless of his origin.

“Wine,” Sevastyan hollered. His expression turned troubled when he looked between Daniil and Marina. “There is more to this that I would know. Now is not the time.”

“Agreed.” Daniil relaxed, yet his manner towards his liege remained sullen and disapproving.

Koen ignored him.

He gave his attention to Marina when she presented him with a gift she bought at the souk, and animatedly told him of her afternoon exploits.

It would take more than his Second’s brooding to tear his eyes from her radiance.

Daniil quietly drank and took in his surroundings. He did not like that so many knew of the attack so soon. It was already a political disaster, and discretion was best until they had more information. Yes, the truth was a powerful weapon, but only when used sparingly. House Ryu had yet to probe itself loyal, blood relation or not.

O
nce again the stylish aristocracy of the Dragon Lands gathered. They clustered closer to where the start of the quest would commence. The tournament of Aver had never been so gripping, the clandestine plays for power so spine-tingling. This would be an event to remember. They felt it in the air. Even those who looked upon the returned High Princess with doubt began to believe. Began to see they were privileged to witness a mighty dynasty in the making.

Wild ones soared through the wispy clouds, clung to the rocky mountainside. They looked curiously upon the half-breeds with whom they shared the earth.

Nestled at the shallow basin of a great canyon, the black lagoon was a perilous terrain the two-legged normally avoided.

They knew the alpha female of their distant kin’s world was chosen when they descended upon this anarchistic landscape, and so the wild ones watched with complacent munificence, wondering if their water dwelling brothers would catch the hapless prey willingly entering the dangerous province.

Sensing an almighty Phoenix in their midst they quieted, drew back, and respectfully lowered to their bellies.

A magnificent male blotted the rising sun.

He landed on a jutting outcrop of rock, ebony wings flapping wildly as ridged talons gouged the hard surface.

Baring his fangs and shaking his great body to scatter droplets of morning dew, he snorted thick grey smoke speckled with fiery embers.

His mysterious slanted eyes flickered restlessly as he took in his bleak surroundings.

The wild ones allowed the ancient male leave to recline with them as he attentively followed the movements of his offspring who readied below.

Mikhail knew his offspring would not appreciate an ostentatious show of support from him, their relationship as tattered as it was. In deference to her wishes he would watch from afar, worrying as only as a parent could for her safety.

He prayed the great Dragon Goddess who gifted mere men the ability to transform would keep her from harm.

Directly in contrast to Mikhail’s resigned acceptance of the Princess’ wishes, the incensed Dragon King verged an apocalyptic breach of calm.

Bathed in sweat, he was a wrong word away from exploding into a beastly rage.

Earlier that morning he’d flown over the lagoon his beloved would traverse and peered into the murky waters.

The malevolent eyes of a Dragon male glared back at him. The monster was over fifty feet long and alpha male of the depths.

Koen Raad saw death in the creature’s eyes.

Panicked, he’d raced to the Citadel intending to grab his Treasure in his claws, hide her in a cave, and stop her from ever nearing what may become her watery grave.

He was not successful.

She was gone by the time he arrived and his brother talked him down from following and doing as he planned.

He’d always wanted to avoid Aver, knowing it was hateful his female must put herself in danger simply to be with him, but watching Marina battle the ice wolves had terrified him on such a deep, visceral level he experienced waking nightmares because of it.

He’d avoided thinking of the lagoon quest too often, knowing it would be difficult to allow her to once again risk her life. He hadn’t realised it would be
impossible
. The trip to the lagoon had meant to be a way to mentally prepare for the second quest since the impact of the first left him shaken and heartsick. The effect had been exactly opposite.

Marina was dressed in a loose tunic, her legs and feet bare.

She looked achingly vulnerable against the giantesses either side of her.

Fia bobbed in the water in-between two hulking male water dragons that provocatively rubbed her sides.

These were gentle males under the control of their mistresses, and
still
they were attracted to the female in their midst. What would happen to Fia as she travelled through the domain of feral male water wild ones – and the horror of all horrors – with
his
precious Treasure holding onto her back?

Koen had witnessed the thrashing lagoons during a water Dragon mating many times. The waters churned and splashed violently as the creatures wrestled for dominance.

The thought of his beloved trapped between two thrusting males trying to mount Fia had him powering forward with the sole intention of dragging her the hell away from this madness.

They would crush her small bones. She’d die in agony as her body shut down from her injuries, drowning alone in the dark.

Daniil and Nikolai’s grip on either of his arms had ceased being comforting and turned restraining.

This made his Dragon less willing to cooperate.

He growled and snapped menacingly, his eyes burning, angry smoke billowing from his nose and mouth. Frost seeped from his pores and slicked the ground they stood upon with ice.

As he looked upon her she seemed so alone. Her Dragon mount was less than half the size of the other Chosen’s steeds, and Fia’s light purple scales stood out starkly. She was a glowing target. It would be worse when her pheromones seeped into the lagoon waters, unconsciously drawing the predators towards her rider.

Koen’s heart felt as if it would beat right out of his chest yet his blood slowed to cold sludge.

He envisioned Marina tossed from her Dragon and choking for air, silently screaming for help as her body was battered, and he was forced to stand helpless on the shore because of a stupid contest.

The quivering in his bones intensified until he swore his whole body quaked.

“Breathe, Koen,” Nikolai murmured. “You make it harder for her to concentrate this way.”

“Indeed,” Daniil said solemnly. “Think of how this will distract her. Seeing you, her male, lose faith in her abilities to survive this. It will crush her. The last thing we need for her to do is panic when she is in the water.”

“Please?” The husky voice broaching manhood snapped him out of his tight-lipped fugue. “What he says is true, and I need her.”

Blinking, Koen lowered his head to see Boy crouched a
shaku
from him.

The youngling did not look traumatised as Marina fretted when she couldn’t locate him. Yes, his face was thinner, strained, but his eyes were filled with steadfast conviction.

A fear Koen had not known he carried uncoiled.

Seeing their offspring reminded him Marina had so much to live for, so much to fight for.

She could not conceivably fail.

Devastated this situation spiralled beyond his control Koen Raad drew on his reserve of strength and composed himself.

Just in time, as Marina turned.

Her expression was anxious as she searched the sea of unknown faces until she spotted him.

Seeing the two males flanking him, their stances edgy, her brows pulled together even as she smiled, expressive eyes apprehensive and questioning.

Koen felt like a bastard.

She needed his support, to see it, and feel it when she couldn’t hear it.

Swallowing hard, he nodded firmly and placed a hand over his heart. Then he touched Boy’s shoulder and drew him closer both for comfort and to lend the detached youngling support.

Marina beamed and visibly squared her shoulders. Turning back to the murky waters she knelt and slipped into the water to straddle Fia.

Daniil clapped his shoulder, his rigid hold easing.

“Swear to me if this goes wrong you will help me get to her. You will keep them off me until I get her safe.” Koen grabbed the male’s tunic. His voice was a hoarse whisper. “
Promise me
.”

“We vow it,” Nikolai said. He roughly hugged Koen across the shoulders. Butted their foreheads. “Be easy. Nothing will go wrong.”

“You underestimate her.” Daniil jerked his chin. “Come. Watch your female triumph.”

“You have a death wish.” Lady Anastasia of House Vor stared at the smooth-backed water Dragon with undisguised horror. “She is House bred. You know what will happen if those wild ones get a hold of her?”

Cringing, Marina ran her hand soothingly over Fia’s textured rump.

She knew exactly what would happen.

The males would fight to mount Fia, strongest to weakest. Though an animal, Fia was sentient, and Marina loved her. The thought of the playful dragoness forced under so many males sickened her.

Being an animal the female Dragon wouldn’t see it as rape, but as dominant males taking their right. Still, Marina knew wild ones preferred to mate for life, and were emotionally impacted when they were dominated outside of a lifelong mating.

Should anything happen to the aquatic dragoness Marina would be directly responsible.

“I know.” Treading water, Marina kissed Fia’s delicate wet snout. “She’s fast and clever. We’ll survive this.”

Anastasia mounted her fierce-looking male.

With a crest of sharp fins climbing his spine, his scales were a deep red appearing black. The shade eerily reminded the admirer of dried blood. It blended with the water perfectly.

The crimson of Vor House colours made Dragon and rider look an angry pair in an angrier environment.

“You are either brave or addled, Princess.” Anastasia paused. “I believe you are part of my future. I am not sure if this thrills or terrifies me.”

The statuesque Chosen dug her naked heels into the tough hide of her male steed, holding onto a smooth curve of his crest with one hand. The other clutched a short-hafted spear.

Her Dragon grunted, blew water as it breathed, and waded towards the entrance to the black lagoon.

Marina watched her go with no small amount of awe.

The woman was fearless.

Giving into one last urge to look at Koen, she sought his distinctive form in the crowd.

Her heart gave a little skip.

He stood in the shadows between Daniil and Nikolai.

It was the gangly form crouched at his feet peering at her worriedly that drew her attention first.