Dragon's Kiss (21 page)

Dragon’s Kiss

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and met her gaze. The love and support was so blatant that both he and the dragon recognized it.

Nekane backed down and Kei relaxed. He had to control this meeting. He sent a mental reminder to the grousing dragon to stay calm. Lorran wasn’t going anywhere. To reinforce the thought, he pulled her in front of him.

“Brother, I believe it’s still considered treason to attack the King.” His voice was calm with just the right amount of arrogance. He pressed his hips against Lorran and felt her shift to accommodate his growing erection. Even with the Kings’ Council before him, Kei’s body was eager for Lorran’s.

“You’re no longer King,” Kafe sneered. Desperation made his voice crack on the last word.

King Evelant stepped forward. Though there was no official leader of the Council, Evelant took charge more often than the others. “Rumor has it you were bitten by a dragon and completed the final transition.”

“Well,” Kei said, wrapping his arm around Lorran’s waist and holding her tight against his bare chest. “I had to think of some story to tell the world while I courted my wife, didn’t I?”

“Your wife?!” The lone female in the crowd shouted the question. Kei bent forward and whispered in Lorran’s ear. “Who is that?”

“My mother,” she answered, barely moving her lips.

“How close are you to your parents?” he asked.

“Not very.”

“That’s probably good then.” He straightened and called across the clearing. “Yes, m’lady, my wife. You may refer to her as Your Majesty and I graciously accept all your congratulations.”

“Tell me you haven’t actually married him,” a small man with a rather large head announced. It had to be Lorran’s father. “You are determined to make our family the subject of scorn. We’ll be ruined once the world finds out you’ve married a dragon.”

Evelant stepped forward, ignoring the interruption. It was one of the many reasons Kei liked Evelant to be in charge. He was diplomatic enough to let people talk but he stayed focused on his task. In this case, he was searching for the truth.

“We have witnesses who say you made the final transition into a dragon.” He said the last word with disdain. Evelant, like others, hated and feared the beasts. He relied on warriors like Kei to get rid of them but abandoned those who sustained bites. Nekane rumbled. Kei bent his head and placed a kiss high on Lorran’s neck, behind her ear. He drew in a deep breath, inhaling her scent to keep the dragon calm. Kei looked up and smiled. “Were those witnesses members of my brother’s guard?”

He scanned the rock ledge. “I don’t see any sign of a dragon here.” Kei stared at the six other members of the Kings’ Council—almost daring them to contradict him. They looked a little less frightened and a little less confident. “Lord Kafe’s been playing one of his tricks again. I go away for a honeymoon and suddenly I’m dragon-spawn.”

“You’re spending your honeymoon in a cave?” Evelant’s disbelief was obvious but Kei was almost positive none of them had the courage to accuse him directly. Tielle St. Clare

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“We wanted to be alone. I thought this would be a little out of reach for most people. I was obviously wrong.” He leaned down so he could look into Lorran’s face.

“We should have climbed higher.”

She nodded in response.

“Dammit, he turned into a dragon. I saw him.” Kafe waved his hand toward Riker.

“
He
came here to kill him. Riker knows the truth.”

Riker widened his eyes and stared between his two brothers. Then he shrugged.

“Kafe, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Riker said. “He looks normal to me.”

The corner of his mouth kicked up—the epitome of the arrogant warrior. “Rather surly, but Kei’s like that.”

Rage radiated from Kafe’s body as he turned his attention to Lorran. She steeled herself. He was obviously hoping she wasn’t as accomplished a liar as Riker and Kei.

“She saw it, too,” Kafe accused, pointing his finger at Lorran. “She saw him turn.”

She felt Kei’s fingers dig into her shoulders. She knew he was holding himself, and Nekane, in check.

She was being asked to lie. To her parents. To the Council. To her enemy.

She tilted her head to the side in what she hoped was a look of genteel confusion.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. I’ve only ever seen the man that I love.”

Evelant relaxed and nodded. Kafe spun around and faced him. “She’s lying. They’re all lying. I saw my brother turn into a dragon.”

“I’ve never heard of anyone turning back into human form after they’ve made the final transition,” one of the lesser Kings offered.

“That’s true.” Lorran drew the attention back to her. “I’ve studied dragons for years, since my first husband was bitten. There are others who study the creatures, and no one has been able to reverse a transition.” Until now, she added silently. The small crowd milled around, clearly unsure what to do next. They’d arrived with the intent of outlawing a King and killing a dragon. What to do now that the dragon had disappeared?

“I’m sure it was all just a misunderstanding.” Kei stepped away from Lorran and walked forward until he was directly in front of his twin. Lorran watched the brothers and realized they looked nothing alike. Kei had a power that came from deep inside him—a personal strength. Kafe was weak and used the power of his birth to bully others. “My brother must have gotten confused by something he saw.” Kei stared hard into Kafe’s eyes. “Isn’t that right, brother?”

Kafe took a sharp, tight breath. And Lorran knew Nekane was staring out of Kei’s eyes. Kafe swallowed and then nodded. “Yes, that’s right.” He turned to the Council, breaking the hold of Kei’s gaze. “I apologize for any confusion.”

Tension fell collectively from the members of the Council. It was obvious Kei was willing to fight for his Kingdom and no one on the Council wanted to face him.

“Well, then,” Evelant said, “I believe there’s nothing here. We should return home and let King Kei and his bride continue with their ‘honeymoon’.”

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“But you can’t. I refuse to allow my daughter to remain married to him,” her father announced to the group. “Despite what’s been said, we all know the truth and I won’t have my daughter married to a beast.”

“He’s not a beast. He’s a man,” Lorran countered as she stalked forward and placed herself next to Kei. She’d never talked back to her father before. She felt powerful as she stood next to Kei. “He’s a wonderful King, who cares about his people and his land. He’s a warrior and a gentleman. And he’s the finest man I know.”

Her father crossed his arms and squinted as he glared back at her. Kei had the sudden urge to protect her from her father’s disapproval.

“How much will he want you when he discovers you can’t bear him an heir? That’s right, Your Majesty, you don’t want her. She’s
barren
.”

Lorran tensed in Kei’s arms and it was his turn to give her comfort. He rubbed his hands up her arms and eased his hard cock against her backside, silently letting her know he desired her, whether she could provide him children or not. He glanced at Riker. Riker would remain his heir and Riker could be responsible for producing the next generation.

The now familiar haze that warned of Nekane’s presence was pushing at the edges of his mind. Kei smiled and had the satisfaction of watching Lorran’s father lean back.

“Lorran is mine, now and forever.” Kei stepped away, taking Lorran with him. He was done with this conversation. He had more important things to do. “Now, gentlemen and madam, you’re on my land. My brother, Riker will escort you down the mountain and off my land.” He looked at Kafe. “All of you.”

Kei didn’t wait to see if they complied. He turned and dragged Lorran back into the cave. Once out of the sunlight, Kei spun around and faced her. Lorran gasped at the brightness in his eyes.

“Did you mean it?” he demanded.

“What?”

“All that you said about me to them.”

The words were out there—hanging between them. She had one chance. The dark light that glittered in Kei’s eyes was a mix of he and Nekane. They both wanted, craved the answer from her.

“I love you.”

“Do you? Or do you feel sorry for the dragon?”

She’d never expected Kei to be in need of reassurance.

“I don’t feel sorry for Nekane. He’s a beautiful creature.” The memory turned her smile sensual. “With a very talented tongue. But—“ she stopped Kei before he could protest. “I fell in love with the man before I ever met the dragon.”

“You’ll never be free,” he warned, still holding himself back.

“I don’t want to be
free
.” She let all her love flow openly into her eyes. “I love you. Both of you. You and Nekane will learn to live together.” She walked forward, finally confident in her love, in her strength. Kei needed her and she needed them. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. “And until then, I’ll stay close.”

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* * * * *

She hadn’t realized how true those words would be until two weeks later. Lorran closed her eyes and let the warmth of the sun heat her skin. She was exhausted. Kei and Nekane had been relentless, loving her, mounting her or licking her on an almost hourly basis. Today was the first moment she’d had to herself. Finally shouting that she needed a rest and she needed a moment alone, she’d locked herself in the bathing area two hours ago. More evidence that Kei and Nekane were adapting to their situation—neither had done more than playfully growl at her extended absence. The bath was lovely—heated by hot springs and placed in a walled garden. She’d soaked in a scented tub, soothing her tired and well-loved body with the warm, spring fed water.

She reclined on the stone sleeping step and let the sun warm her body, her mind clearing from the long list of duties she had.

They’d left the cave two days after the Council had departed, when Kei was desperate for food that didn’t include berries. They’d quickly found a Spirit-Guide to marry them. She might be the dragon’s mate, he explained, but she would be his wife. And then they’d begun the slow process of settling into their life. Kei had proven to all that he was in control. No man had ever succeeded in controlling a dragon. Many discounted the rumors that he’d turned at all. Lorran was slowly learning her way around the Castle and adapting once again to royal protocol. It had been thirty years since Kei’s mother had died so no one quite knew what to do with a Queen. Lorran decided to make her own way and quickly set about running the Castle and assisting Kei with the daily operation of the Kingdom. It felt nice to work alongside Kei and made it convenient when Nekane or Kei decided they needed a little attention.

The boys
were slowly adapting to each other. There were still battles for control. Some Kei had lost. Lorran had to calm Nekane when that happened. She smiled at the memories and let her body relax. Nekane would hold Kei back until he’d loved her long and deep with his tongue.

As she drifted into sleep, she heard the soft click of the bedchamber door opening. She sat up.

Kei was leaving?

He hadn’t gone out without her. The emotions were too raw and Nekane’s reactions too uncertain. The servants were just now adapting to the possibility of living with a dragon. Neither Lorran nor Kei wanted the concept turned into reality just yet. So, where was Kei going?

Curious, Lorran stood and pulled a silk robe over her naked body. A strange voice hurried her to the door.

A female voice.

The sexuality of dragons was known across the Seven Kingdoms. That was how the myth of sacrificing virgins survived and why some women willingly went to the altar. Lorran cracked open the door to the bathing room and felt her lip curl in disgust. This was no virgin waiting to be sacrificed. This was Mara. In learning the daily Tielle St. Clare

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operation of the Castle, Lorran had heard much about Mara. She’d been one of Kei’s favorites. She’d bragged about the hours of fucking she received from Kei. The stories still circulated through the kitchens, even now that the King had a wife. The woman stood in the doorway, a jug of wine in her hands. And a look of pure sex in her eyes. Lorran started to interrupt but something stopped her. Maybe it was insecurity, maybe it was a wife’s curiosity. Maybe it was wanting to see how far the dragon’s need for sex would take Kei. The dragon lusted after Lorran. But now that he had her, he might crave others.

Lorran watched through the slight opening as Mara stepped forward and set the wine on the table.

“I was wondering when you’d call for me, Your Majesty.” With a quick, practiced movement, the servant unsnapped the straps at her shoulders and the heavy gown slithered to the floor. She was naked underneath. Kei was also naked, as he often was in their chambers. Because his back was turned, Lorran couldn’t see Kei’s expression but he didn’t look away from the servant’s slim curves. It was all Lorran could do to hold herself back but she dug her fingertips into the doorframe and waited. Mara sank to her knees and ran her hands up Kei’s strong thighs.

The muscles in Lorran’s neck tightened to the point of snapping. Her husband stared down at the bare servant. Mara opened her mouth and leaned forward, moving ever closer to Kei’s crotch.

Kei tilted his head and sniffed the air.

Lorran recognized the movement. Nekane was in charge. He looked down at the naked woman and shook his head.

“Not mine.”

Mara looked up adoringly as her blond hair swished across her bare back. She blinked and smiled sweetly. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, I don’t understand.”

“Not mine,” Nekane repeated, a little louder than before. “Where’s mine?” Nekane looked around the room, searching for his lost mate. The dragon’s bellow erupted from the human mouth. Lorran ripped open the door and hurried into the room.

“I’m here. I’m here.”

“Mine? Gone?”

“No, I was just taking a bath.”

He pulled her hard against his body when she was within reach, completely ignoring the woman kneeling at his feet. His mouth closed over the base of Lorran’s neck, licking and tasting her skin while his hands slid down her back and cupped her ass, pulling her pussy against his growing erection. Her mind blurred at the first kiss. She had just enough coherence to look over her shoulder.