Ondrej (6 page)

It wasn’t long before she writhed beneath him, bucking her hips up to meet his mouth and fingers. He instinctively knew where to touch, how to move his tongue that kept her on the edge, but not quite pushing her over.

Ondrej wanted her to go higher and farther than she ever thought she could. That’s what mates did for each other in bed, and out of it.

He loved the taste of her—of
them
. The sounds she made, the way her body responded to his ministrations.

She was so close.

He decided to grant her mercy as much for her as for himself. Ondrej wanted to be inside of her again.

He needed it.

Ondrej tasted her orgasm before her body convulsed and she cried out. He withdrew his fingers and rose above her, “Taste us.”

She didn’t hesitate. She took his two fingers deep into her mouth and the sensation of her hot tongue flicking over his skin was something he’d store up for when he was alone.

His dragon roared inside his head, nearly splitting his skull.

She was his, yes. But it was why he had to let her go, if that’s what she wanted.

She was his mate, and it might kill him to let her go, but mating with him shouldn’t be a sacrifice. She shouldn’t have to choose between her people and him.

His mate before himself in all things.

He was more than his dragon.

He was all the things he demanded a Drago Knight be. This was honor. This was bravery.

This was what humans would call love.

“
W
here did you go
?” she asked, breathless.

Krysanthe knew some dark thought had intruded in their idyll.

“I’m here with you.” He pulled her forward so that she straddled him while he sat upright, his cock hard again.

She descended, taking him deep. This was position was a new sensation, probably because he was so big. The sensation of being utterly and completely filled was almost too intense, but just when she thought she’d have to cry mercy, his big hands on her hips lifted her and slid her back down slowly.

“You’re so strong.”

“Flattery will get you more of the same.”

She gasped with the intensity, but from that tight place inside of her, bliss unfurled languid and warm. Krysanthe took over, bracing her knees on the ground and moving at the pace she desired.

He thrust up to meet her and she was seeing stars again. It had never been like this with something. She’d never wanted to touch all of them, taste all of them. She’d wanted to be a good lover, but with Ondrej, their bodies seemed to already know each other.

Fucking him was so much better than dancing.

This could be her forever. Gods, she wanted it so much.

She couldn’t think about that, not while she rode this tide of ecstasy. Krysanthe was over the edge again so fast she hardly knew what hit her. All of her nerve endings were alive and sending symphonies to her brain.

“I didn’t know it could be like this,’ she said after the storm had rocked them both.

He held her tenderly and leaned back in the grass. “I’d heard. I mean, I’ve had some pretty good sex, but nothing like that.”

“We’re bonded together now forever and it’s so strange that I feel I know everything about you, but nothing at all.”

“The only thing that’s missing between us is our history. The small anecdotes that make up pieces of a life. We know the core things that matter.”

“That our bodies fit together?” she teased.

“That’s secondary. Our hearts know each other’s. As do our subconscious minds. We just have to wait for the rest to catch up. I can prove it to you.”

“How?”

He pulled her close. “When I think you, Krysanthe, I see a princess who lives her life for her people. I see your honor, your loyalty, your truth. I see the love you have for your family, you people. You’ve never once taken your position a princess lightly, nor have you ever been spoiled and self-centered. I see someone willing to sacrifice for something greater. That’s all I need to know when I think of what I value in a mate.”

She considered for a long moment. “When I think of you, I feel safe. Voshkie would tell me not to because you’re a dragon, but your dragon is amazing. I feel like when we’re together, everything is right because you’ll make it right. I see the same things in you that you saw in me. The way you simply gave yourself to me with Dezo, with no concern for yourself. The way you care for those under your protection. Even when they’ve done evil. I heard what passed between you and how you still tried to save him.”

“Then what more do you need than these things? We’ve already proven we’d die for each other, so living for each other the best part.”

“Then why do you sound so grim when you say it?” she asked.

“I know this wasn’t what you’d planned for your life. If there is really no other way to save the Orlaith, I can do no less than make the same sacrifice you’re willing to make.”

Something inside of her recoiled as if she’d been slapped. Her primal self didn’t want to hear those words, but to her logical mind they were a balm for all that hurt. All that she feared.

“Doesn’t it hurt to be parted from your mate? Can you take another?”

“Never. I wouldn’t want to.” He held her tighter. “Don’t worry about the pain. I’ll do what I must so that you can do as you must. That’s my prime directive as your mate.”

“I’d always heard that you shifters were so possessive. That you’d do murder and worse to keep a mate by your side.”

“Rest assured, if it was required, I would.”

“I also heard that for a mating to be true, you’d have to try and Turn me.” This was her deepest fear.

“For wolves. For some dragons. Not for the Knights.” He kissed her forehead. “And not for us. You’re perfect the way you are. If it was something you wanted, we could see if it was possible, but I don’t feel that’s what you want.”

“I don’t. I love your wings, and I loved flying with you, but being a gold nymph—the old stories aren’t too kind to nymphs who try to change their spots. I’ve seen it with the nymphs who’ve been bitten by wolves. It’s a dark and horrible death.”

“I don’t want to change you, Krysanthe. I only want to keep you.”

“I wish we could stay here on top of this mountain forever. I wish that things were different for us.”

“This is the lot we’ve been dealt. All we can do is make the best of it.” He was silent for a long moment. “But did you ever think that maybe everything that’s happened to both of us has led to this moment? That’s made us who we are, so we fit together?”

“That sounds pretty spiritual for logical dragon,” she teased.

“Perhaps, but it’s hard to be logical when I’m with you under the stars. It’s all magick now.”

“It is, isn’t it?” She looked up at the sky again. “I was thinking that same thing earlier. I don’t see the stars very often as I’ve lived most of my life underground. I think if I were to go back under, I would miss them.”

“It’s why I like that part of Kansas so much. It’s the nights in those hills with their green pastures, the occasional rebel tree so warped by the wind, and nights away from city lights and endless view of the sky. I can fly there, spread my wings, if only for a little while.”

“It has a stark sort of beauty, when we’re not being chased by ghouls.”

“It’s curious how Dezo raised him with his blood. Did you see that?”

“He wasn’t a witch, so there’s still another player.” She shuddered thinking about him.

“That’s still out there, and so are the others. If the ghouls are as smart as I think they are, they destroyed the bikes, and I’ll take a sweet revenge for that.”

“How are we going to get in touch?”

“I’ll call them. They’ll hear me no matter how far underground they’ve gone. I have a plan. I don’t like it, but I think it’s all we can do.”

She nodded for him to go on.

“We get everyone here, and we camp through the day. When night falls, we fly to the Remus compound. We’ll know soon enough if Borgia is part of the problem.”

“If he is, then what?”

“I’ll eliminate him and his entire pack.”

“That’s an outright act of war from you.”

“It is. And I don’t give a fuck. I’m not leaving you with a male who tried to kill you. As it is, if you decide there’s no other way to save the Orlaith, I’ll never be too far away. If you need me.”

Emotion choked her. She’d never felt so many things at once. “I don’t think I’m strong enough to leave you, even if that’s what it takes.”

“We’ll do what we must.” He rolled over and kissed her. “Because that’s who we are.”

The orange fingers of dawn had begun streaking across the sky, pulling back the blanket of darkness and stars.

She realized he was right.

She also realized he made her better, made her set the standards for herself higher. She didn’t think that Borgia Remus would be able to do that.

Krysanthe started tugging on her clothes and just as she’d stuffed her feet into her boots, Imre and Aranka landed in the crater.

Aranka had pancakes and bacon.

“Where did you get that?” Krys ran to her and hugged her.

“Silver Dollar City tourist trap. Here.” She handed her the takeout box. “We’ve got one for you, too.” Aranka shoved one at the thankfully now dressed Ondrej.

Krysanthe shoved a bite of pancake in her mouth. “Sometimes you have great ideas.”

“I have great ideas all the time,” Aranka replied.

Ondrej swallowed all three pancakes in one bite.

“I told you we should’ve brought more,” Imre said.

“Well, it’s not like I can miracle gold from my ass like my sister can.” Aranka took a bite of her bacon.

It took Mikolas and Voshkie longer to arrive, but when they did, Vosh headed straight for Aranka. “Tell me you got some for me.”

Voshkie was bloodied and dirty, as was Mikolas.

“Looks like you ran into trouble,” Ondrej said.

“Yeah, quite a bit of it. Voshkie has an idea and I don’t like it, but it might be the best plan we’ve got,” Mikolas nodded and watched as Voshkie ate two portions of pancakes. He rolled his eyes.

“Vosh, that was for Mik,” Aranka said.

“Sorry?” She arched a brow.

“Here. There’s an extra one,” Imre handed Mikolas a box.

“Where are Fabian and Dezo?” Mik asked around his bite.

“I don’t know where Fabian is. He hasn’t responded to my call. But Dezo isn’t coming.”

Krysanthe wanted to support him, to hold his hand while he had to tell his brothers another of their own was not only gone, but that he’d betrayed them.

She stepped beside Ondrej and put her hand on his shoulder.

“What happened?” Mikolas asked, obviously unashamed of the tears in his eyes. “I know he’s gone, but what happened.”

Even Voshkie showed a gentler side and gripped his shoulder.

“He betrayed us, my brothers. He was aligned with whatever or whoever is controlling the ghouls. He made his bid for dominance.”

“Where’s his body?” Imre asked. “I know he dishonored himself and us, but don’t we at least get to say goodbye? Won’t you burn him in the Alpha fire?”

Ondrej turned his face away for a long moment and took a deep breath. “No, he almost killed me, and if not for Krysanthe, he would’ve.”

“If not for you using your fire on those ghouls, they’d have gotten me too.”

Voshkie dropped her food and rushed forward to Krysanthe, checking her over for injuries.

“Vosh, I’m fine. I’m really fine.”

“Did you do it?” she asked.

“I did.” Krysanthe held up her hands to keep Voshkie from launching herself at Ondrej. “Hey, no. I chose to do it and it didn’t hurt me. He took it all.”

“Will someone please tell me what the fuck we’re talking about?” Mikolas asked, his voice full of emotion.

“The princess’s power. She can turn anything to gold, but if she uses too much, tries to turn something too big, it can kill her. The power comes from her life-force. This is why Orlaith Princesses don’t belong with dragons, with their lust for gold, they’re liable to break their toy with their demands.” She stared at Ondrej.

“No, Voshkie. He gave me his. He stood with me and I had no pain.” Krysanthe explained.

“Well, fuck.” She went to retrieve her second tray of food and found Mikolas had shoved it in his mouth. She growled at him. “On the plus side, looks like we’re not going to West Virginia. I hate werewolves more than I hate dragons.”

“You don’t hate me. You want to hate me. But you don’t,” Mik said.

“Shut up. No one’s talking to you,” Voshkie crossed her arms over her chest.

“So you turned Dezo to gold?” Imre asked quietly.

“I had to. First it was just his fire—”

“Wait, you faced him off while he was Changed? While he was a dragon? Now I know your crazy comes in three flavors.” Vosh shook her head.

“Ondrej would’ve died. He’d used the last of his Alpha fire to save me from the ghouls that Dezo raised with his blood. So I turned him to gold and the earth took back the gift she’d given.”

“That’s some damn dark magick right there.” Imre nodded, but then scrubbed a hand over his head. “Fuck. Dezo, you shit.”

“I’m sorry,” Ondrej said, obviously full of grief.

As the group moved as one to comfort each other in what could only be described as a huddle, Krysanthe understood the Alpha/pack equation much better than she had before. He wasn’t the word of law and the hammer of gods because he took the power. He was Alpha because they gave it to him. It was biology, but it was sociology, too. They trusted him as the best of them to endure their pains, to keep them from harm, and in turn, they made him stronger.

Even Voshkie joined the huddle.

“Brothers before gold,” Mikolas said, his voice still thick.

“Loyalty before gold,” Imre said.

“Honor before gold,” Ondrej finished. “Drago Knights. With honor, loyalty, and brotherhood.”

The way the words reverberated around them, it was almost as if they were part of some spell that shored them up against the slings and arrows of the world. Some magickal weaving that made them invisible.

But it wasn’t, not really. It was shield of the Drago Knights brotherhood that united them. They were more than a motorcycle club, more than a pride… they were one unit and even though they’d lost two of their brothers, that didn’t beat them down. It didn’t stop them. It made them get up, made them keep going, made them fight harder.

Now, it seemed as if she, Aranka and Voshkie had been included in that shield—that family. This was what she’d get with Ondrej Tatsu. This life. This bond.

It was what she wanted almost as much as peace for her people.

When they broke apart, it was Mikolas who was all business. “So what’s the plan, brother?”

“We stay here until dusk. Then I fly to West Virginia with Krysanthe.”

“You can’t still mean to go?” Voshkie was incredulous.

“I have to. We’ll never be safe. I need to know if it was Borgia, or his witch,” Krysanthe said.

“Makes sense,” Aranka agreed.

“We’ll tweak my plan, then.” Voshkie sighed. “You’re hell bent on going. So Mikolas and I will head toward the compound one way. Aranka and Imre the other. We all look enough alike to pass for Ondrej and Krysanthe at a distance. So we’ll keep any eyes and ears on the road in confusion while you handle your shit at the compound.”

“That leaves you too exposed. If I take out the compound, the rest of Remus will come. As will their allies.” He shook his head. “You know if Borgia planned this, that’s what I have to do.”

“We’re with you.” Mikolas gave him a pointed look. “And this is the best way to make sure we get the answers we need. Exposed or not.”