Emersyn

by Nicole Bedford

  His mouth slanted over hers, hard, hungry. His claws left her softness to glide back over her flat stomach to rest on her breast. Her nipple pebbled against his palm. Perfect, he growled to her. You are so small, but you were made for my pleasure.

  Emersyn curled her hand around his neck, fingers spearing through his gloriously silken hair. She returned his kisses with unfettered enthusiasm. Her core throbbed with each thrust of his tongue into her mouth. She squirmed in his arms, blinded by desire, the heat of his body surrounding her. Burning inside her. He helped her to straddle his thighs before pulling back. She tried to follow, a moan of need on her lips.

  His dark eyes narrowed. Nostrils flared as smoke curled from them. The fire within his stomach threatened to burst forth.

  I love you, whispered in his mind. Your strength. Your power. Your sense of honor and responsibility. All of you.

  Ki sizzled between them. Mana flamed hot. He looked into her eyes and pulled her down onto his cock. Felt her clenching heat slowly accept his hard length. The muscles in his neck strained and he threw his head back in a snarl at the incredible pleasure pain. She was so tight. Her sheath squeezed him in a vise grip more punishing than any fist. He moved slowly, knowing he could hurt her if he was not careful. A surge of Ki blistered its way from him into her, sharing with him the slight pains her small body suffered as she received him for the first time. Dalaric took it for himself, relieving her of the burden of suffering. Gloried in the slight tearing of flesh that allowed him to finally slide home.

  Emersyn panted against his chest. He filled her. Hard. Hot. She pulsed around him. Felt nothing but him inside her. She was pinned to him, her lips brushing against his chest, and bit down on the skin there when he broke through her maiden barrier to slide all the way home. He howled, gripped her head tightly and held her to his chest. He rolled his hips and her breath caught. The bone of his pelvis rubbed against her in just the right spot and the hard length inside her hit an area that sent a wave of pleasure so raw up her spine that her back bowed and she cried out.

  It was intense. Too intense. Emersyn’s fingers clenched his arms, blunt nails digging into his skin. He pulled out, almost to the tip, lifting her off his length, before dropping her back down. Over and over he took her, lifting her only to slide home with a tilt of his hips that had tears leaking uncontrollably down her cheeks. The slide of him inside her grew more frenzied. Eased by the blinding pleasure, her wet heat accepted him with a less punishing tightness that made her grow wetter. Hotter.

  Dalaric!

  The water lapped at their flesh when he growled above her, pulling her down onto his cock once more before rolling his hips. He gloried in the feel of her surrounding him, clenching down on him while she lost control enough to bite him harder than before, drawing blood. His fangs snapped in the air above her head and his cock jumped when she did it again. His flesh would bear her marks for only a moment, but that she had so lost control fed his hunger to push her further.

  I have you, my jewel. Fall into the fire. Let the flames take us both. He reached between them and pinched the pearl as he surged into her again.

  Emersyn cried out, head thrown back while every muscle in her body tensed and shook. She rippled around his cock, milking him fiercely. His fangs bit into his lip when her release washed over him, coating him in the essence of her body while her mana exploded around him, through him, in a delicious torrent of pure pleasure.

  Mine, he snarled with one last thrust into her throbbing sheath. His seed surged from his cock, claiming her body as thoroughly as she had taken possession of his Ki. He shuddered over her, back bowed to clutch her to him while his cock continued to pulse the last of his release. She dropped to drape over his arm while the waters stilled around them.

  She was his.

  ∞∞∞

  Dalaric watched the play of moonlight across Emersyn's features when she slowly opened her eyes. She blinked up at him and he leaned down to kiss the blush on her cheek. He had carried her from the basin and claimed her many more times in the bed.

  The promised tray had been brought into the room and he fed her by hand, gentled by the worship he saw deep within her indigo eyes. Then he took her into the waters again. He was not satisfied until her scent changed. Until he breathed in the delicate aroma and could smell himself as a part of every little nuance.

  She still blushed. He found it adorable. With her, he could entrust every softness. Each beat of his heart would be visited upon her gentle soul. Safely ensconced within the bond they had. With her love.

  Dalaric nosed her cheek when she wrapped her arms around his neck, sliding her body against his as she sought his heat in the cool of the room. He wrapped a heavy leg over her hip, stilling her and giving her what she desired all in one.

  Will you tell me something? she asked sleepily.

  What is it you wish to know? He stroked her back with his claws, content to allow this moment to be without thoughts on darkness or laws or clan needs. It was the first time in his memory he had allowed himself a time to be not a warrior but just a male. Her male. Her Sydae-Ra in truth.

  She chuckled softly against his chest. You have Caelwin but have not been with another female since Aegwin?

  He huffed. Such a curious female he had. It pleased him she wished to learn more about him. About the people who were now hers, too. Most female Akkadians lay an egg outside of their body every few years. If they desire to gift it to one not their mate, they may do so. Male seed will penetrate the shell and give to the child his essence.

  So, you were gifted an egg from a female?

  Kylara. Aegwin’s sister. It was how I met him. I had traveled to the south where her parent Sydae lives to negotiate for the egg.

  Does she ever see him?

  The first lines have been invited to the palace for Caelwin's presentation and to greet you. Kylara, as mate to Dorian, will attend. It will be her first greeting of the son of her egg.

  Emersyn stilled. She had not thought about meeting Caelwin’s mother. Will she like me? she asked. Will she think I am worthy to be near her son?

  Do not think such ridiculous thoughts. He slapped her bottom hard enough to sting but not hard enough to cause actual pain. She yelped and he leaned down to steal her breath in a heart-pounding kiss. This is what you will receive for every time you question your worth. Even before you were mine you were above her. Above them all.

  Emersyn smiled up at him. His Ki surged. Dalaric's forehead dropped to hers. She needed to receive some sleep before introduction to the other clans, he knew. Meghara would not have much time to instruct Emersyn on what the ceremony entailed. Unable to resist the allure laid out within his arms, however, his hands drew her against his hardness once more. Her eyes widened, mouth opening on a breathy moan.

  His Ki hummed. The hell with sleep. Ceremonies, clans, human politics, and the impending war would be there in the morning. Tonight, tonight belonged to them.

  The end . . . for now.

  Author’s Note

  For those who read this story before – I hope I answered some questions that you had and that you enjoyed the additional scenes. If I was a filmmaker, this edition would be what I consider the director’s cut. I had labored under the idea that I need to be within a certain word-length to keep the pacing fast enough to not bore folks. Good intentions aside, it was a bad decision to cut out so much of the story when, looking back, the additional information not only added to the storyline but also to the characterizations.

  The next story, Dalaric, will be posted in two weeks and each successive book will be released every two weeks following that until Rivvox. Each book will be updated to be unabridged and also another mistake check by yours truly. I apologize it has taken me so long to get to this point. I had wanted to put out Rivvox (book five for those who are new to the serial) in January, but life emergencies interfered. Turning lemons into lemonade, I am now grateful that I was forced to slow down and re-think the decisions I had made bas
ed on research and not my honest feelings. I love my story and my characters and this is a labor of love. For those it touches, welcome to The Dragon Sydae. Where love is never wrong and the story does not die – it only transforms into something greater than it was before.

  Next Book in the series: Dalaric

  Well and truly claimed, Emersyn wakes to a new world. Akkadian First Sons and their Sydaes are descending on the palace. The visions that had darkened her dreams return with a vengeance and only the gentle touch of her Sydae-Ta can soothe them away.

  What is Dalaric to do when the enemy is hidden inside Emersyn's mind? The secrets that had once seemed sacred to the deep past of the Akkadians is unraveling into mysteries that make a lie of their origins. The key to their history is within Emersyn's memories.

  Aegwin does not know how to heal away memories, but he will do everything that he can to claim his place at her side so that he can keep further pain from her heart. Just as the world seems to be going their way, a new enemy is found from the most unlikely of places that threatens to destroy the dragon shifters and everything they had worked to build.

  Cast of Characters (Updated Each Successive Book)

  Aegwin: Green dragon and second to Dalaric. A healer who is more than his breed says he should be, Aegwin had given up a life of luxury and laziness to pursue studies in land management. He convinced Dalaric to give him a chance and now he stands in line to become Emersyn’s Sydae-Ta.

  Aiken’s Sydae: Aiken is the First Son of the brown dragon clan. His Sydae-Va is Lyrissa who is also of the brown dragon breed. They have five Sydae-Tas. Tyrin – Warrior of the black dragon breed. Lyron – Brown dragon earth shifter. And three younger Sydae-Tas who have not been named.

  Alvin: He was responsible for teaching Will before the young boy’s untimely death by Nialle. He is 45 and was to become a professor at Ilfarai (the school for all sages in Wulfram) when he finished his Journeyman training by helping Will. He loves a good joke, and has hands much quicker than the eye can see.

  Bannon: Dalaric’s nephew. Meghara’s grandson. Son of Varian, Bannon is an Annunaki. A half-blood. His mother was Alendria. Due to his mother refusing to allow Varian to present their son to Meghara, Bannon was left in the village after his parents were killed. Meghara was unhinged by her son’s death and could not abide a reminder. Husband to Sarah and father to Willa, Bannon is brash and is struggling to contain instincts he pretends do not exist.

  Dalaric: First Son of the white dragon clan. Dalaric is the son of Varian and Meghara. His grandfather was Dalaran. He had two brothers, Landar and Varian.

  Dorian: Wastrel blue dragon First Son who has allowed his lands in the east to go to waste. Mate of Kylara and father of Melia.

  Emersyn: A bound witch, she is 19 and is told she has been marked for the Rite to help Akkadian younglings Ascend into their powers. Unable to use her mana, she has long despaired of being a proper witch. Daughter of Sariah (a witch) and Gabriel (a sage).

  Jaela: Warrior of Liindre and sister to Emersyn. She was raised to harness the dark power hidden inside the dagger she chose at a tender age. A woman of many secrets, she is not above breaking the law to see a job done. Saved by Emersyn, she has tried to return the favor by protecting her for many years now.

  Jocale: Kidnapped as a youngling from his murdered clan, he was a whore in countless brothels then became a slave to Nialle. He was freed by Dalaric and now works to help his savior track down Nialle.

  Kylara: Caelwin’s mother. A green dragon who is mated to Dorian and also has a daughter named Melia. Sister to Aegwin.

  Meghara: Mother to Dalaric and pseudo-mother to Aegwin. Grandmother to Caelwin. She watched one son die (Landar) and then had to kill another (Varian). This has hardened her – though her introduction to Emersyn and Caelwin’s salvation has thawed her once frozen heart.

  Nialle: Mother to Alendria’s friend who was killed on accident by Meghara, she has now become bitter and filled with hatred for all Akkadians. A dark witch, she has sacrificed her power to become one of Ashra’s minions.

  Paelia: Emersyn’s mentor and coven leader who is powerful in her own right. The witch who took her in after Emersyn’s mother died, Paelia despairs of Emersyn’s lack of control until learning she is marked. Old-fashioned in many ways, Paelia is jaded to the world and has a deep distrust for all sages. She has come to see her role as a mentor who should be rewarded for her efforts.

  Sarah: Emersyn’s sister. Former friend in their home of Kildair, she followed Emersyn to Gilvern. Shortly after, Sarah’s family was killed by the sickness being spread by Ashra’s specters. She found herself lost, and then decided to marry Bannon. Mother to Willa, Sarah is strong-willed and finding marriage is not all it was promised to be.

  Varian: Father to Dalaric. Sydae-Ra to Meghara. Absentee father and mate. Responsible for allowing Liindre to steal the bones of the dead.

  Will: Young sage potentiate. He was orphaned by the sickness. Alvin was training him to become a sage for Wulfram. He was murdered by Nialle in a ploy by the witch to force Emersyn to burn out in a mana storm.

  Recommendations

  I love a good book! I have been reading like a fiend and want to give some links to some of my favorites. ALL of these books (unless noted) are available at the time of this publication on Kindle Unlimited. Please enjoy, and remember, reviews are the lifeblood of indie authors! These authors are successful – but I would like to keep them that way! In following books I will add some more indie authors as I discover them.

  Ice Planet Barbarians By Ruby Dixon - I cannot say enough about this author. I also enjoy her Shadow God series so check them out as well! From HER description:

  “You'd think being abducted by aliens would be the worst thing that could happen to me. And you'd be wrong. Because now, the aliens are having ship trouble, and they've left their cargo of human women - including me - on an ice planet.

  And the only native inhabitant I've met? He's big, horned, blue, and really, really has a thing for me...”

  Stolen By An Alien by Amanda Milo - I love most of her books as well! Hours and hours of reading between Dixon and Milo. My favorite is the first and also Blind Fall, so if you only have time for two, check them out! She writes in MANY genres and has a unique voice. From HER description:

  “AROKH

  I broke the rules and stole an auction item from her buyers.

  Because somehow, they’d managed to abduct a Gryfala princess.

  Though… she doesn’t look, or act, or sound quite like I thought one of her kind would.

  But I’m merely a Rakhii gladiator; this is the closest I’ve actually ever been to a princess.

  I’d be considered lucky indeed if she chose me to guard her.

  Instead, I want more.

  I need her to claim me.

  Because she doesn’t know it, but now I can’t let her go.

  ANGIE

  Woke up in a freaking auction pen.

  With no coffee.

  But there were aliens. And they didn’t bid on me out of the goodness of their hearts.

  FML.

  Then this nice alien showed up in the nick of time, but he keeps referring to me as “Princess” and I’m starting to worry what he’ll do when he finds out that there’s been a little case of mistaken identity, that I’m not royalty - see, I’m not even whatever alien he mistook me for…

  I’m just a human.”

  Chosen By a Beast by Miranda Bridges – AGAIN so many good books by this author. I enjoyed how she took two different species and had them work together THEN divvied up the women. From HER description:

  “I’ve been abducted. Twice.

  And now my situation with this new group of aliens has gone from bad to worse. I was with a bunch of elf-like aliens who had unparalleled technology, but now I’m in the midst of a group of primitive gargoyle aliens running around in loincloths.

  Which doesn’t hide much, let me tell you. There’s one gargoyle in particular who watches m
y every move, but what’s under his loincloth scares me more than his beastly appearance.

  To be sure we’re worthy to breed with, the savages have us each perform a rite of passage.

  And by that I mean a test of survival. Navigate the terrain, scavenge for food, defend myself against wildlife—basically all the things that could cause bodily harm or death. So that’s fun.

  And as much as I’d like to be rescued by the alien who’s stalking me, it looks like I’m on my own. Maybe I shouldn’t have flipped him off, but how was I supposed to know I’d need his help?

  Now, I’m going to have to tap into my survival skills or I’ll be dead by morning. May the odds and the aliens be ever in my favor. Or something.”

  About The Author

  Nicole Bedford

  Soon to be Nicole Bullaro (Married March 5th, 2021) - I love reading but must admit I have found writing to be so much more fulfilling. My children give me purpose, my husband fulfilment, but writing? Writing is the most wonderfully selfish pursuit of all that I am. With COVID taking so much from us all, I am proud to say I have finally found a voice that cannot be edited, abridged, or silenced.